Drift issue 3

	; Lockdown ate all my Energon Pocky. He must pay.
Publisher	IDW Publishing
First published	October 6, 2010
Cover date	October 2010
Written by	Shane McCarthy
Art by	Alex Milne
Colors by	Josh Perez
Letters by	Chris Mowry
Edits by	Denton J. Tipton
Editorial consultant	Andy Schmidt
Continuity	2005 IDW continuity
Chronology	Unknown

Caught between two sides, Drift has a decision to make...

Synopsis

After his meeting with Lockdown and the slavers, Drift heads back to the Crystal City. In an internal monologue, he questions why people fight and what it actually achieves. In the tunnels he's confronted by Wing who expresses his disappointment that Drift escaped to the surface. Drift reminds him that he's a Decepticon. Drift then questions Wing's motives and points out he's a knight but he breaks the knights' rules. Wing states that his highest aspiration is helping others, and that he thinks it's the right thing to do. Drift then transforms and speeds off to the council chamber. Confronting the council, Drift states that they're all in danger from the army of slavers waiting to take the city. When Dai Atlas asks how he could know this, Drift admits to making a deal to sell them out in exchange for his freedom.

In a flashback to the night before, Braid and Lockdown discuss how Drift was formerly a great Decepticon warrior who fought by Megatron's side. Lockdown then tells how Megatron is aware of Drift's (then Deadlock) spat with Turmoil, so Lockdown was dispatched to bring Drift in unharmed, as Drift is too valuable to let go. Drift is dubious of the deal. Braid explains how the slavers have similarities with Cybertronians. After many years of war, the Slavers emerged victorious with the one ambition of achieving immortality. They do this by combing the galaxy in search of lifeforms they can study and use to upgrade their own bodies. The Slavers have set their targets on Cybertronians after observing their resilience under war-time conditions. Noting that Drift has undergone extensive repairs since their last meeting, Braid concludes there's a large number of other Cybertronians on the planet. If Drift will reveal their location, Braid promises him freedom in exchange. Together with Lockdown, they plan an ambush.

Back in the council chamber, Dai Atlas is distrustful of Drift's explanation, pulling his sword on the one-time Decepticon. Explaining what happened, Drift urges the council to prepare for war, only to get backhanded by Dai Atlas who orders Drift be locked up. When one of the council members questions Drift's loyalty to the knights, Drift explains that he had an epiphany about how Crystal City represents everything he's ever been searching for. He also explains that the city's time is running out and they need to fight. Dai Atlas still refuses to fight, while Wing and some of the other members are coming round to Drift's suggestion.

Drift confronts Dai Atlas over his refusal to protect the city and goes so far as to accuse him of cowardice. Dai Atlas admits he'd rather hide than risk turning out like Drift. Wing then summons Drift to ask him to send the false coordinates. The rest of the Cybertronians position a crashed ship they can use as a distraction from the real city. The decoy rises to the desert surface with Braid, Lockdown and the Slaver army marching down on it. Axe announces a rebuilt Drift as the group's final member. Drift reflects that although he's fought in countless battles, none are like the one he's about to face.

Featured characters

(Characters in italic text appear only in flashbacks.)
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Decepticons	Others
Drift (1) Octane (5) Starscream (6) Megatron (7) Lockdown (8)	Wing (2) Dai Atlas (3) Axe (4) Braid (9)

Quotes

"Megatron clearly has faith in you. Let's hope it's not misplaced."

—Lockdown has his doubts.

"I had to do it. I'm not going to do it, but I had to make them think that I would."
"Confusing statements aren’t exactly in your best interest right now."

—Drift tries to explain his plan to Dai Atlas and fails

"What has all that fighting done to you, Dai Atlas? Made you a coward?"
"Maybe…But I'll take that over the alternative. Look what it did to you."

—Drift tries to goad Dai Atlas into action and fails.

Notes

Errors

Not in the comic itself, but the 5-page preview in the back for the Transformers: Prime comic calls it "Transforms: Prime".

Covers(2)

Cover A: Drift and Lockdown standing back-to-back; art by Alex Milne, colors by Josh Perez.
Cover RI: Dai Atlas standing over Drift; art by Guido Guidi, colors by Josh Perez.