CHAPTER 5

"No, Deadlock…I repeated it over and over"

Deadlock couldn't even get closer. Shadow Raker'd already appeared behind him to kick him straight in the back. Deadlock yelped in pain, dropped his weapon that flied away, a few meters far from them. He didn't turn back around; Shadow Raker's blade was already on his neck. He could feel the icy metal.

"How are you fighting? You look like a child trying to get the upper hand on a high-skilled warrior!"

Deadlock caught his breath. Yet, Shadow Raker didn't let him explain.

"I hardly believe you survived outside. Your attacks are pathetic"

"I-I told you, Master…" Deadlock said, his tone weak. "I'm not used with swords and—"

"Deadlock…"

Shadow Raker lowered his weapon. He let him stand up. As soon as Deadlock looked up back at him, he felt a harsh strictness in Shadow Raker's optics.

"How long?"

"Excuse me?"

"How long have I been training you? Two months, maybe?"

Deadlock let out a nod though he didn't reply. He was right. Two months, already. He had lost track of time. Shadow Raker had his arms crossed.

"Since your arrival here, you haven't really improved. Even not at all."

"I'm doing my—"

"Don't interrupt me!" Shadow Raker dryly warned him.

He put his sword back. It meant one thing: training was over.

"If you were saying 'I'm doing my best', well I regret, Deadlock! I don't care if you are doing your best! It's not enough and I don't expect such a thing from you!"

Deadlock bit his lip hard. He tried to look away but he'd learned that's a bad idea. His mentor viewed it as a weakness and he couldn't bear it.

"How can you tell me that you give everything you have for this?" Shadow Raker questioned him. "This morning, you made me wait again"

He'd just woken up a bit later than usual. He'd spent his entire night to practice. He really wanted to improve. Unfortunately, Shadow Raker thought it wasn't an excuse.

"You know, Deadlock" The Insecticon said. "I think you aren't motivated"

"I swear, Master!" Deadlock replied.

As usual, Deadlock bowed to him. Shadow Raker remained impassive.

"You are not motivated. You only wish a shelter"

"No!"

He paused.

"I'm motivated. I really want to learn swordsmanship. I desire to serve you. You took me in. I swore loyalty."

"So, make sure your loyalty is efficient, Deadlock"

Deadlock didn't stand up. He stayed in the same position.

"I promise. If I must train more, I'll train more. If I must wake up earlier, I'll wake up earlier…I will do whatever you want."

Shadow Raker's expression didn't change. He simply ordered him to stand up.

"Very well. If you say so…However, remember. Don't disappoint me, Deadlock."

"I will not."

The Insecticon let out a sigh. He then kneeled. Deadlock mimicked him. He sat down near him. That's the salute.

Two months ago…In spite of the time, Deadlock wasn't still accustomed to fixed schedule, a room to sleep in, an Onsen to bath in…That's a blast from the past, millenaries ago. Time when he'd got a roof, a job…War had taken everything away from him. Shadow Raker had just given these things back to him.

A daily routine came up. Day after day, Deadlock woke up every morning before the sunrise to join his Master. They trained until lunch. Then they trained again until late in the evening. Deadlock had little to no time for himself. He always had one hour. He spent it in the Onsen before falling into recharge. Days were exhausting. Shadow Raker rarely allowed him to rest. He was a very strict teacher with high standards. Any mistake irritated him; Deadlock got it. He did his best not to disappoint him. At first, he'd been wary of him. Yet afterward, he'd decided to train harder. Yet, Shadow Raker wouldn't keep him around. He knew it.

Truth to be told, he didn't want to reunite with his old life in the streets.

Outside training, Shadow Raker wasn't really talkative. Just like his Minicons. Jetstorm and Slipstream. They only talked to him whenever it was necessary, whenever Shadow Raker ordered them to. These three remained a presence. However, Deadlock still felt lonely after all these years. Getting a shelter hadn't eased things up.

Shadow Raker ended the salute. They stood up again.

"Deadlock" He declared. "I will not stay here tonight"

Deadlock gave him an inquisitive look. The place was isolated. Shadow Raker rarely left it.

"Don't ask me questions" The Insecticon added. "I have business on my side. That's an emergency. You'll be on your own tonight. Well, there are Minicons though—"

Jetstorm and Slipstream…They hadn't been around since this morning. Shadow Raker was ready to go.

"Master…about my job…" Deadlock started.

Shadow Raker's stare almost stopped him.

"Well?"

"I would like to know…When will I be able to accompany you?"

After all, he'd recruited him for this reason. The Insecticon shook his head. He nearly chuckled.

"As soon as you'll be ready. Only when you'll be ready"

"Master…"

He realized he'd interrupted him. Shadow Raker frowned again. Deadlock silently apologized. The Insecticon moved closer. Deadlock felt his servo over his shoulderplate. It almost startled him. His mentor wasn't one to show affection, outside training. His voice went smooth.

"Do only what you're told, Deadlock. Do you wish to be useful? Train. Become stronger. Be proud to be my student."

Deadlock gulped. He just nodded in response. He didn't insist further. Shadow Raker removed his servo.

"Good. Take care of the Dojo. If you need anything, Jetstorm and Slipstream aren't far. I think I'll come back soon."

Then Shadow Raker vanished.

Night fell down. Deadlock followed his mentor's advices. In the Dojo, after the usual salute, he repeated everything Shadow Raker had taught him…Technics. From the easiest to the most difficult attack.

He'd hated swords and sabres. At first. But these weapons were eternal. He'd been using them for two months now. He'd finally abandoned his laser gun in his room. That's like a transition. The laser gun symbolized his old life. Blades were his new life.

He must keep working, training.

Unfortunately, it felt like it was a complete waste of time. He felt like he could do better. He couldn't be efficient if he trained alone.

"Excuse me?"

Deadlock stopped. He turned back to the voice source.

That's Jetstorm. He held a bucket at servo as well as the equipment made to polish Shadow Raker's weapons. Deadlock knew they often took advantage of Shadow Raker's absences to clean up the Dojo. Jetstorm slowly moved back as soon as Deadlock looked back at him.

"I—I thought you finished."

"Oh. Yes. I finished."

Deadlock handed his sword to him. Jetstorm clumsily received the weapon to the point he accidentally dropped it. He jumped then rushed over to pick up the sword.

"Sorry! I didn't mean-sorry!"

Deadlock frowned.

"Be more careful, next time" He warned him. "Weapons are fragile, you know"

"…I'm sorry…"

Jetstorm sat down. He started to polish the blade. Deadlock watched him and remembered his mentor's words about how a blade must be polished. The Minicon didn't do it right. Deadlock felt irritation in his mind. He served Shadow Raker longer than Deadlock did…and Jetstorm didn't know basics?

Fortunately, his mentor wasn't around…

"Jetstorm."

"Hmm…yes?"

The Minicon looked up at him.

"You do it wrong"

"What?"

"You must do it in the counter-clock wise mention. Not in the clock-wise mention"

"Oh!"

Right afterward, Jetstorm pulled things together then went back to it. Deadlock noticed his anxiety. Not only he was anxious but exhausted as well. If Deadlock spent his nights in training, Minicons went in recharge as soon as their tasks were accomplished. Pace was as intense to them as it was to him. They didn't take part in exercises, yet they were always on full alert to retrieve swords, settling carpets up, giving them material…

Yes. Shadow Raker wasn't only stern toward him. However, they wouldn't be performing if they didn't get the recharge needed…

"I'm going to help you" Deadlock said.

"Excuse me?"

The orange bot sat up and took the bucket.

"You two have too much work…I can contribute as well"

"Hmm…Mister…Deadlock?"

Jetstorm held his arms out. He silently asked to get the bucket back.

"The Master wouldn't want it. It isn't your duty"

"I'm part of this house too."

"We are Minicons! That's our task! The Master ordered us to treat you with respect. He wants you to feel welcomed. Accepted."

"It wouldn't help me, watching you kill yourselves at work"

The Minicon jumped. He stared at him in disbelief.

"But…I'm just a Minicon. You don't have to do anything…"

Deadlock didn't pay attention to him. He didn't know much about Minicons' culture. Truth to be told, even if they were viewed as tools by Cybertronian society, he didn't understand why he should leave all the work to them…only because they were shorter.

Yes, they were tools…but he could still help.

"Please" Jetstorm said. "I don't want to be in trouble"

"You will not be"

"But if the Master-"

So, was he afraid of his Master's reaction?

Deadlock just shrugged.

"He will not know anything" He softly said.

Maybe he would scold him a bit if he knew. However, there was no point to make a big deal about. In any case, he wasn't doing anything wrong. Jetstorm shouldn't be afraid.

"I won't say anything to him"

It left the Minicon speechless. Deadlock grabbed the broom.

"Keep on with blades. I'll take care of the rest"

"…Thanks" The Minicon said, his voice low.

Deadlock didn't reply anything. No sooner said than done, they went back to their respective tasks. The Minicon polished the weapon in the right motion this time. Silence fell down during long minutes. After a few moments, Deadlock spoke up again.

"He's strict toward you, right?"

Jetstorm didn't look up to him.

"He…he's a good Master"

"I don't doubt it"

Deadlock scattered dust. It flied away in the garden.

"He's strict toward me too. But it's probably because that's his way to be" Deadlock replied, a dark look on his face.

He kept thinking about their last argument. He wondered if this extra training would make him better tomorrow.

Jetstorm didn't comment on it. As soon as they finished, he put weapons back to their usual spot. Deadlock looked back at the garden. Holographic statues were visible even at night.

"…Tell me, Jetstorm"

"Yes?"

"Shadow Raker's old students? What have they become? I'm not the first, right?"

Jetstorm shook his head though he didn't reply to the question.

Yet, Deadlock already guessed.

"…Are they gone? They will never return, right?"

"…You're right"

So, it would explain why Shadow Raker was that strict toward him. His other students had been buried here, near the Dojo. Sometimes, he could watch his mentor wandering around the graveyard, stopping in front of the statues…

It must be a terrible pain to him. Deadlock had never dared ask him…though he could perfectly imagine how he must feel like. He didn't want to commit the same mistake with Deadlock. He wanted him to become strong.

"…I will not go anywhere" Deadlock declared, a determined look on his face. "I'll keep on…Until I'll be ready"

At first, he hadn't liked blades. He'd loathed everything about them.

But now, he was here. And he'd taken a liking in. Jetstorm nodded. He was about to leave the Dojo when Slipstream came in. His optics widened as soon as he put them on Deadlock holding a broom.

"What's going on, Slipstream?" Jetstorm asked him.

"…The Master is back."

Both turned back to him, staring at Deadlock deeply. The orange bot sighed. He understood. He put the broom down as if he'd never touched it. Jetstorm looked relieved then both Minicons left the Dojo to welcome their Master back, followed closely by Deadlock. A few moments later, Shadow Raker appeared in front of them, carrying something in his arms.

"Ha. Deadlock. Weren't you recharging?" He gave him a smile.

Deadlock shook his head.

"I was training" He needed to justify. He wanted to prove his worth. He didn't want to make Shadow Raker regret to have taken him in.

The Insecticon raised one eyebrow, a bit surprised.

"…It wouldn't be necessary"

Then he displayed them. Deadlock moved closer.

Weapons. Black and purple. A sword and a sabre. Deadlock looked back at Shadow Raker, confused.

"I don't understand"

"From tomorrow, you'll train with these weapons. Maybe they'll be more suitable for you. Maybe the other ones are way too heavy."

Deadlock didn't react. He didn't tear his optics off the weapons.

"…Don't you like them?" His mentor asked.

"Yes, yes! It's just…you shouldn't have—"

He didn't know what to say.

"Consider them as a welcome gift."

"They are beautiful…"

"If you wish to be proud to be my student, just do whatever it takes." Shadow Raker completed with a smile.

A warm smile. He wasn't used to this.

Deadlock grabbed them.

Their weight was…perfect.

"Just do whatever it takes"

His determination was strengthened.

He'll keep on until he'll be ready.