Spotlight: Drift

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File:Spotlight Drift Coller Lafuente.jpg Look, Scratchy! It's our new friend—Poochie!
"The Transformers Spotlight: Drift"
Publisher	IDW Publishing
First published	April 8, 2009
Cover date	April 2009
Written by	Shane McCarthy
Art by	Casey Coller
Colors by	Joanna Lafuente
Letters by	Chris Mowry
Edits by	Denton J. Tipton
Continuity	IDW continuity
Chronology	Pre-All Hail Megatron

Everyone deserves a second chance.

Synopsis

On an alien planet, inside a seedy bar, a female alien and her two cohorts meet with a shrouded figure. She gives him two cards, saying that they would take him so far as to the docking platforms. The cloaked figure thanks her, but she says that the thanks isn't necessary, but just as he's about to walk away, she mentions that the cruiser is Cybertronian. The stranger confirms it, as the female alien wonders why Cybertronians have docked on their planet. One of the female's cohorts take the time to mention his disgust of all Cybertronian, but the female shuts him up. When the cohort tries to remind her that she hates them as well, the figure mutters the word "Decepticons".

The female goes on to say that the cruiser is a Decepticon vessel, and that they apparently came from the outer reaches, damaged and with Autobot prisoners. The alien is curious about the figure's interest in the vessel, and wants him to reconsider, saying that Cybertronians are the plague, bringing death and destruction with them. The figure isn't interested in her concern, but when she touches him, she realizes that he's Cybertronian as well. The figure bows and thanks her, then walks off. Outside the bar, the cloaked Cybertronian looks up and sees the Decepticon vessel above the city. Moments later, on top of the vessel the Cybertronian tosses his cloak away, activates some switches to turn off the vessel's security systems, then jumps inside. Landing quietly, he slides over to a hallway and sees some Decepticons talking. But just as he's about to make a move, a sudden explosion does the job, and the Wreckers, led by Kup, enter the vessel. The Cybertronian laments "So much for quiet".

On the bridge, a Decepticon soldier warns Commander Turmoil that the ship has been breached. Turmoil angrily asks who did this, to which the soldier said that it's a small assault force that the sensors didn't pick up. Turmoil slams his fist in anger, realizing that it's Kup. Meanwhile, the Wreckers battle the Decepticon soldiers, all while wondering who the mysterious white Cybertronian is. He doesn't have a faction symbol on his chest, and the swords that he wields look familiar. Kup asks him why he's here, to which he replies that he was trying to sneak in. Perceptor examines him and is amazed that he had been recently upgraded in a matter that he hadn't seen since centuries. Kup isn't impressed and orders the Wreckers to move, while asking the Cybertronian to come with them. The Cybertronian insists on taking the lead, since he's here for the same reason.

In a large room, Perceptor senses Turmoil's group behind on of the locked doors, and they're attempting to break in his locks. But then, they suddenly stop. Perceptor decides to add several more blocks to the ones that he had planted in the system, and doesn't imaging that they will break through. Without warning, a beam pierces Perceptor in the chest, as Turmoil and his group fire away at the Wreckers. The Cybertronian rushes at Turmoil, ignoring Kup's orders. The Cybertronian is stopped by a small explosion, and Turmoil recognizes the Cybertronian as Deadlock. Deadlock runs away as Turmoil orders the traitor be destroyed. Turmoil as he charges his cannon arm and fires at a wall, causing Kup and Deadlock to fall down below.

When they land, Kup now knows who Deadlock is: a Decepticon who slaughtered quite a few Autobots. Deadlock says that he no longer goes up that name, and is no longer a Decepticon. Kup said that long ago, there used to be a third faction (actually more of a faction against factions), which was a large group of Cybertronians that refused to have any part of the Great War. Kup believes that this faction either died or went into hiding from Cybertron. Most of the Autobots didn't care about them, because they were concerned about the war. Looking at Deadlock's sword, Kup is beginning to think differently, and asks him if the meeting had to do with him leaving the Decepticons, to which Deadlock confirms. Kup thinks he's getting a second chance, but Deadlock says that he already has one. Kup knows, because Perceptor (who normally wouldn't be along with the Wreckers) kept an eye out on Kup, repairing and upgrading his body, making him even more better. With the talk over, Kup decides to move out, but Deadlock stops him; although he's not an Autobot, he has an idea to bring the ship down, and Kup is listening.

Later, inside the ship's core, Deadlock is finishing setting the core to overload its system in several minutes, which will tear the vessel apart. Kup is amazed that Deadlock knows about the ship, to which he replies that he used to serve under Turmoil. Kup says that Springer and the other made it out (except Perceptor) and are bringing their ship out. Deadlock sets the core system, but Turmoil appears from behind a part of the wall he blew up. Deadlock tells to go, and Kup manages to exit just as Turmoil blasts at them.

Turmoil says that he thought he'd lost Deadlock. Deadlock says that that name is dead—he now wants to be known as Drift. Turmoil doesn't care and fires at him again, but Drift manages to evade the blasts and stabs at Turmoil's shoulders and slashes at his chest. Drift tells Turmoil that they're going about it the wrong way in the Great War. After countless centuries of fighting, the Autobots are a step away from the Decepticons when they started, and the Decepticons became something worse than they could imagine. Turmoil says that the Autobots would never accept an outcast like him, and asks Drift to kill him and run, proving that he's nothing more than when he left the Decepticons. Drift knows what he came for, then leaves the room just as the core starts to overload. After transforming briefly, Drift grabs Perceptor and they jump off the vessel just as it explodes.

Later on, Springer tells Kup that they will be docking with the Trion shortly, and that all six Autobots are accounted for, but Kup corrects him, saying that it's actually seven. Kup tells Drift that he's forming a new unit, and wants him to join. Springer is stunned, but Drift accepts. Springer whispers to Kup that it wasn't wise, but Kup says that Drift proved himself down at the Decepticon vessel, and that there's more to fighting the war than blowing heads off. Besides, as Kup says, "everyone deserves a second chance".

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Others
Deadlock/Drift (4) Twin Twist (10) Perceptor (11) Kup (12) Roadbuster (13) Springer (14) Topspin (15) Whirl (16) Sandstorm (17) Broadside (18) Blurr (19) Blaster (20)	Turmoil (16)	Cohort 1 (1) Female alien (2) Cohort 2 (3)

Quotes

• TBD

Errors

• TBD

Items of note

• Cameos: Misc. Decepticon crewmen, misc aliens.
• This issue explains what happened to Kup after his Spotlight, and alludes to Perceptor's upgrade in All Hail Megatron. It also explains why the Wreckers aren't a group in All Hail Megatron, and shows some of the Autobots that would later be in Kup's group.

Covers (3)

• Cover A: Drift, about to draw a sword, against a manga-styled background, art by Casey Coller and Joana Lafuente.
• Cover B: Semi-shadowed Drift, with a half-Decepticon, half-Autobot symbol behind him; art by Guido Guidi and Joana Lafuente.
• Cover RI: Drift with his swords drawn against a red "rising sun" background on top, with Drift in car mode against a black "rising sun" background on bottom; art also by Casey Coller and Joana Lafuente.

• He has to go now; his planet needs him!
  He has to go now; his planet needs him!
• Cover B
  Cover B
• Note—Drift died on the way back to his planet.
  Note—Drift died on the way back to his planet.

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• "Spotlight: Cliffjumper"
• TBD