CHAPTER 2

As soon as he was far enough from the bar, Deadlock transformed back in his robot form. He stopped then leaned against the wall, catching his breath. He put down the bag full of energon. Unfortunately, he wouldn't make it. That's barely enough for one week. He must find other cubes of energon quickly.

Deadlock let out a sigh. Wherever he would go in Cybertron, energon was becoming increasingly rare. Everything was for Megatron and his armies. If it wasn't about Megatron, it was about Autobots who used energon as a bargaining chip for an allegiance. Deadlock rolled his optics. He grabbed a cube to drink it.

They could say whatever they wanted, Cybertron's agony was caused by both factions. None of them spared Cybetronians. One was as selfish as the other. Sadly, a clan must be chosen nowadays. Neutral Cybertronians didn't survive long enough. First, that's because of the drained energon that was used to satisfy one or the other faction. Then…because people were distrustful toward them. They were -sometimes wrongly- viewed as traitors who could switch sides every time. One of the last homeless bots who was living in his area, Gasket…had been found murdered in a street two days ago.

Autobots'd murdered him…

Deadlock mustn't end up like Gasket. Gasket had warned him. He must choose. Truth to be told, the choice hadn't been that difficult. Deadlock had chosen to display Decepticons' red. He had chosen that faction because of many reasons. First, Megatron – aka Megatronus- had been right on many topics. The High Council ruling Cybertron had been corrupted. Deadlock had been put in the most underprivileged caste. He had been a miner. He'd spent 18 hours per day into digging, seeking for energon or other various treasures. And he could never possess these so-called treasures either. The High Council immediately took them. One of miners had tried once. He had been cold-bloodedly shot in the head.

They killed themselves with work…and the High Council'd made money off their backs.

Megatron had been right. It couldn't last forever.

The other reason was Megatron himself. He was able to make firm decisions. They could be viewed as ruthless for some. Yet they were still better than Orion Pax's decisions, now named Optimus Prime. His decisions were too weak, too soft…At least, Decepticon's side provided them some safety.

Then…People would never take an Autobot seriously. A Decepticon was able to kill if they didn't get whatever they wanted.

Deadlock finished his cube. He threw it off. From far, he could hear bombing. That's always the same. Kaon had become a Decepticon-controlled city. Yet, Autobot rebels were still around. Autobots committing attacks against Decepticon authorities.

Deadlock looked down. He'd been living like this…for 2000 years. At the beginning of the war, everyone'd thought it was just a joke. Megatronus had been viewed as insane. Then the Great War went greater. Deadlock had been forced to leave mines. Just like his miner colleagues had thrown their tools off to join Megatron. They'd only wished for better living conditions. However, Deadlock had tried to stay apart from this…even if it'd become more difficult each day…and leaving the City wouldn't make things better.

Then, he'd been spending his days like this…During the daytime, he'd been digging into deserted areas, seeking for unexploited energon. During the night time, he'd been attacking bots who'd been possessing something. Of course, he wasn't really proud of it. However, he wouldn't survive otherwise. His life was above everything. He hadn't been targeting Autobots. He'd been targeting everyone, if it was necessary.

He put his laser-gun back then stood up. It hadn't been the only one thing. He'd caught sight of a Decepticon bar here. He stopped in front of the door entrance. The bar wasn't full of customers. That's his chance. Maybe the owner would listen to him.

He came inside.

The owner was here, near the counter. He looked up at him, a haughty stare on his face. Deadlock decided not to pay attention to it and headed for him.

"You, again?"

He glanced back at the bag that Deadlock was holding.

"Okay. Give them to me"

He handed the bag over. The owner grabbed it then counted the number of cubes in. He stared at him again, a bit in disbelief. The bar will be closed down if Deadlock didn't bring energon back. Of course, Deadlock had kept cubes for himself. However, that's another way to gain money. The owner never asked where they came from. He'd probably guessed.

He opened his chassis. A metallic arm came out of it, holding a bag full of Shanix. Nevertheless, as soon as Deadlock checked inside, his disappointment was great.

"…Is that all?"

"Business is bad. You already know it"

Yet he'd been taking advantage of Deadlock's energon. The orange bot glared at him. However, he didn't speak his mind. He remained calm. In the end, the owner turned around to serve another customer.

"Listen, Crashthunder…"

"What?"

He sounded irritated. No matter. Deadlock hadn't come there for nothing.

"I wondered if…I could do something…"

"You bring energon to me. That's already enough"

Yes. I bring energon for your damned bar, Deadlock thought. I should enjoy it.

"I know. However, it's getting risky every day. Bots will learn to know me. They'll know my face. They'll know I'm working for you."

"And so, what? Aren't you clever? You had never been caught."

"I mean it. I could help you, in another way…"

"Really?"

He cackled.

"In another way?" He repeated.

"I don't know. I could help you with…serving customers, for example"

"You?"

Deadlock gritted his dentas. Of course, he'd already expected a negative outcome and yet—

"Are you kidding? As if I didn't have any problem! Eh. Must I remind you that if you ever came to become my employee, it'll mean more charges. I'll have to pay you and I can't."

That's odd, Deadlock thought. Every time he came in his bar, Crashthunder wasn't short of customers.

"Then. Just imagine if you were ever caught. If they learned your business…you stealing other bars to help mine. I would fall with you. I recruited a robber, a homeless bot who attacks others…No. I can burn my bar and say goodbye to it"

Easy to say. He took the energon and Deadlock was on his own. This time, he couldn't suppress the anger in his voice.

"…I do it for you"

"Oh! SHUT UP! I gave you that job because nobody else will ever recruit a miner! You can join Megatron's army if you wish to be paid. At least, you'll be useful here. We don't need useless homeless bots who just aggravate Cybertron's situation!"

Nearby, they could hear the other customers' laughing. Deadlock chose to ignore them. But deep down, this sentence…He just wanted one thing: pointing his laser-gun at Crashthunder and pulling the trigger. Oh, he could. He could just take his cubes of energon back. Afterward, he could use the cash register.

But there were too many witnesses…

No. He wasn't worth it.

"Speaking of" Crashthunder said, grabbing a Pad. He touched the screen to read something. "You haven't paid your debts."

"What?"

Deadlock was surprised. Which debt? It must be the contrary. Deadlock must be paid by Crashthunder.

"You owe me 1000 Shanix"

"What for?" Deadlock almost spat.

"Well. For the place. For every time you needed a shelter as soon as acid rains happened"

The world upside down. Okay. Crashthunder had granted him such a shelter. However, it had happened twice. Deadlock thought he'd paid his debts by stealing energon for him, risking his life every day.

"Well. Give me the Shanix back, to start with"

He needed it. He glared at him.

No way he'll let him do.

"I owe you nothing" He replied, a cold tone.

"Excuse me?"

Deadlock shook his head.

"You and your Shanix…go get scrapped"

"WHAT?"

Crashthunder stood up. All around Deadlock, customers had mimicked him. Three bots came closer to them. Heavy armoured-bots.

"I need it"

"And I need them for my bar!"

His own life wasn't at stake, after all.

"Our partnership ends here" Deadlock replied.

"Good! I didn't mean to keep you around anyway! However, you'll give my Shanix BACK!"

"Dream of it"

He turned around. The three bots didn't move. They will not let him leave that place.

"What's your problems, you bastards?"

One of them went closer, fists at ready. Deadlock's servo touched his laser-gun. If they ever tried anything…

The bot threw himself at him. Quickly, Deadlock grabbed his weapon and shot in his attacker's chassis. He fell down, screaming in deep pain.

All around, customers screamed as well. Some of them rushed out of the bar while Crashthunder lowered down. The two other bots charged.

Deadlock shot again. He missed his target. Two seconds later, his enemy appeared in front of him. His servos went over for the weapon to grab it away from Deadlock. In response, the orange bot kicked him hard in the leg. The other tried to assault him by behind. Deadlock turned around and gripped his neck, pushing him hard into the wall, the cannon of his laser-gun in the bot's intakes.

"TRY AGAIN!"

His colleague hadn't had enough of it. Before he could reach him, Deadlock turned around again to shoot him, right into the stomach. He focused back on the one whom he was strangling. He wasn't defending himself. He whined in pain, his claws planting into Deadlock's wrists to get away from him. Deadlock punched him hard in the face. It knocked him out.

"Hey!"

Crashthunder had his own weapon, now. An assault weapon. He pointed at Deadlock.

Deadlock didn't waste his time. He pointed his own laser-gun at Crashthunder's head. He should have done it a long time ago.

He'll take Crashthunder with him if it was necessary. The bot will not make it either.

He pulled the trigger.

Crashthunder pulled the trigger.

Only one detonation could be heard.

Deadlock's laser-gun's detonation.

The laser ricocheted around the counter.

A sword was planted through Crashthunder's chassis.

Deadlock blinked.

Someone was behind Crashthunder.

A bot he'd never met. This one moved…and Crashthunder collapsed on the counter.