Drift

''"Despite my attempts to move on, my past always lurks just behind me." '' Drift is a former Decepticon turned Autobot Tactician, Drift highly respects Optimus for he strongly believes whenever his leader is around their is hope for the universe, a calm and collected individual whom holds his ranking of a warrior extremely firmly and his own code of hounor and bravery will see him and his battle-worn comrades through to the very end.

History
Drift was among the Autobots whom went into hiding when Harold Attinger's Cemetary Wind began hunting the Autobots. During the span of four years he disapproved of Bumble Bee taking command of the Autobot's in the absence of Optimus Prime. Upon climbing a rock pillar he expressed hope and was relieved to see his sensei had returned. When Drift recited a 'Haikus' on humanity's betrayal it annoyed Hound enough where the two almost came into conflict before Optimus broke it up. Later when questioning about the whereabouts of the other Autobots, Drift sadly informed that they were the last five Autobots remaining. Drift then began to state his distaste for Bumble Bee's immaturity angering the latter, the two came into conflict with Drift having the upper hand, the atmosphere began to settle once Cade Yeager showed the footage of Ratchet and Leadfoot's demise revealing their fate.

Drift accompanied his team where they planned their infiltration on KSI whom spent during his spare time swinging his sword, he joined in the ordered assault of the facility upon viewing the footage of Ratchet's deceased head, he paired up with Bumble Bee where he gave the latter a lift in his helicopter mode and lifted him to where Cade was being interrogated and successfully rescued him. Drift and the others retreaded onto the main road where they found themselves attacked by Galvatron, after Lockdown captured Optimus he joined the others and infiltrated the Bounty hunters personal ship. Initially he recommended to use a stealthy approach but was immediately attacked by an alien specimen whom he swiftly killed; he ventured further into the ship accompanied by Hound and Crosshairs where they eventually found their leader with Drift freeing him from his dangling state. After they stole a separate ship they devised their next move where he learned from Optimus about Galvatron's intention of planting the seed reformatting Earth into metal, he later informed the others that Joshua Joyce had travelled to his other KSI facility located in China; he then boarded the commandeered ship once Optimus ordered them to leave Humanity behind after retrieving the seed, Upon arriving in Hong Kong their ship was shot down by KSI Decepticon drones where they then crashed in a nearby valley separating from both Bumble Bee and Hound. When hearing of their situation Optimus revealed the Dinobots he gazed at his leader bravely facing against Grimlock, he followed Crosshairs' lead and evaded to the sidelines to avoid the Dinobot's wrath with Optimus emerging victorious. Drift was highly impressed while Crosshairs pondered about Optimus' leadership Drift happily smiled and noted it was an initiate to Optimus. Drift mounted Slug and together they made their way into the city, the pair fought strongly together against Galvatron's army, with Drift quickly dispatching three Decepticon drones with his two swords, later he helped escort the Yeager family with the Seed in hand away to the hills making a stand on the bridge alongside Hound, Crosshairs and the Dinobots however Lockdown activated a gravity suction and the bounty hunter came close to capturing all of them, fortunately due to the combined efforts of Optimus, Bumble Bee and the Yeager family defeated Lockdown. With the battle over Drift regrouped with his fellow Autobots and parted on good terms with Slug, he and the other Autobots were then assigned by Optimus to protect the Yeager family while he left Earth in search for the Creators.

Personality
"I do not relish this Optimus I forsook guns to walk a more honourable path ." Drift is a calm and serious individual whom is rather kind and well mannered, a loyal and dedicated warrior who has a strong sense of honour through battle and has a personal respect for great Warriors such as Optimus Prime and Grimlock. It is shown that he is rather forgiving as he stated Humanity's betrayal in the form of a 'Haikus'

In Rise of the dark spark his story is explained in much further detail. He is haunted by his past of being a Decepticon where he hopes to find redemption in fighting alongside his new Autobot comrades. He also discusses to Optimus that he does not approve of long ranged weaponry and instead prefers using swords in combat.

Skills and Abilities
Drift is a skilled Warrior whom is highly proficient in dual - swordsmanship as demonstrated when he managed to single handedly kill three Decpeticon drones in a matter of seconds and has been able to easily dispatch numerous Decepticon's in the Game. In addition he is a Triple - Changer granting him the ability to transform into both a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse and an attack helicopter.

Optimus Prime
"Sensei." - Drift to Optimus

Drift highly respects Optimus to whom he refers to as his sensei and views him as a noble warrior, he is extremely loyal to his leader as he follows his orders without question. When the Autobots went into hiding he wished for Optimus to return and lead the Autobots; he was overjoyed to see his leader had returned, which he then bowed his head in honour. When Optimus was captured by Lockdown Drift gladly joined the Autobots in rescuing him, when they infiltrated Lockdown's ship they eventually found him, where Drift quickly released his leader from the cage he was imprisoned in.

After the ship was blasted down Drift witnessed Optiums releasing the Dinobots he was amazed at the site of his leader emerging victorious over Grimlock even so when Crosshairs mumbled about Optimus' dynamic leadership where Drift happily smiled noting it as an initiate of his leader, further expressing his belief in Optimus.

Bumble Bee
"Bumble Bee has held command despite his complete and total lack of anything resembling warrior discipline, he's like a child." - Drift regarding Bumble Bee Drift has shown to disapprove of Bumble Bee mostly due to his childishness, when the Autobot's went into hiding he did not appreciate Bumble Bee maintaining leadership over the other Autobots in the absence of Optimus, when the Autobots regrouped and Optimus returned Drift stated his disproval of Bumble Bee for he believed he did not possess the same level of discipline as his sensei and regarded him as a child; this angered Bumble Bee enough for him engage in a fight with him with Drift gaining the upper hand then holding the young bot by the throat with his swords where he stated that the latter's "puppy dog eyes" act was beneath Bumblebee.

Despite this the two put aside their differences and teamed together in their assault on KSI with Drift lifting Bumble Bee up in his helicopter mode to where Cade was being interrogated, and successfully rescued him. It could be assumed that after the battle was won, the two became friends.

Hound
"Cut the crap before I drop a grenade down your throat." - Hound threatening Drift Drift supposedly met up with Hound at some point after they arrived on Earth when the two reunited and Hound stated his disgust for humanity turning their backs on the Autobots, where Drift calmly told him to find [his] inner compass and explained humanity's betrayal in the form in a Haikus which irritated Hound for his use of high vocabulary whom then threatened to stuff a grenade down his throat to which Drift swiftly repelled him with his blades.

Hound most likely respects Drift for his skill as a warrior, where Drift in turn respects Hound for his strength and skill as a soldier.

Crosshairs
"Very Wise." - Drift to Crosshairs Though the two have had few interactions it is shown that the two have a rather neutral relationship; Whilst on board Lockdown's ship, Drift informed Crosshairs about their suspected time limit they had to save their leader. When the Autobot's were separated from the others, the two were both shocked and amazed at the sight of the Dinobots even so when Optimus fought against Grimlock. Crosshairs advised his friend to evade the fighting allowing Optimus to deal with the Dinobot to which Drift agreed, after Optimus proved victorious over Grimlock; Crosshairs commented upon Optimus' dynamic leadership where Drift smiled noting their leader's position.

Ultimately the two respect and care for each other.

Quotes
"At last there is hope after all."

"Hound find your inner compass, loyalty is but a flower in the winds of fear and temptation." - Drift's haikus

"Very its a spaceship."

"We must quick, we have the element of surprise, lets try to use violence as a last resort.... ah! I kill you, kill you" - Drift recommending a stealth approach doesn't go as planned

"I was expecting a giant car."

Trivia

 * Drift's physical appearance is heavily based around that of a samurai, wearing a helmet, shoulder armor plates, wielding two katana swords as well as possessing a Japanese accent which is most likely a reference to his voice actor Ken Watanable whom the latter portrayed Katsumoto Moritsugu in The Last Samurai whom the character was most likely based upon.
 * Much like his pervious incarnations, Drift is a former Decepticon 'turned' Autobot.
 * On his left cheek a scar is visible