CHAPTER 9

It'd started as a normal day.

Since Deadlock's Creation Day, the orange bot had fulfilled his promise. During Shadow Raker's repeated absences, without telling him, he and his Minicons headed for the Dojo to train up together. It usually lasted until very late at night before the three of them fell asleep, exhausted.

He only did it for their sake. However, a few months passed. Deadlock'd realized they were slow learners. Even very slow learners. Slipstream had been a bit better than Jetstorm in self-defence technics. Otherwise, that was far from being satisfactory. After all, they'd waited for Shadow Raker to leave in order to train. They usually forgot everything that they'd learned at the previous session. It irritated Deadlock even though he tried to understand. They'd never had any training before. They'd always served their Master without taking part in it.

Furthermore, he wasn't their Master. He had no right on them.

However, Deadlock didn't hide his irritation whenever he performed an attack on them and both Minicons forgot to dodge it as he'd taught them to.

He was afraid that their next enemy would send them fly off before finishing them and that they'd no time to transform in their disk-form.

During their break, Deadlock and Shadow Raker often read last news. They tried not to pay attention to Cybertron's conflict. It got worse every day. Both Autobots and Decepticons alternatively collected victories and defeats. However, it didn't matter right now.

They'd learned that Polyhex's energon resources had been drained out. Here, inhabitants were starving. The number of corpses were increasing…only because Megatron's armies needed to be fed.

That conflict was killing their planet. Nobody did anything. There was still energon left but it was only a matter of time before the other cities suffered from the same fate.

Deadlock let out a sigh. He wanted to pay attention to something else.

An Autobot, a stranger for medias, had been found beheaded. In a place not very far from there. His head had vanished. Probably brought back to Megatron. Some witnesses had apparently caught sight of the murderer's face. A bounty hunter. Deadlock had found the picture of a purple bot displaying a malevolent smirk in newspapers. He'd twitched at this.

The conflict wasn't enough. There had to be serial killers near their place.

At least, no one would find them here. They were isolated and protected. And his mentor would definitely know how to deal with any bounty hunter.

Suddenly he heard a thud in the Dojo. As if glass had shattered…as if something had been shattered. Shadow Raker didn't react. He kept reading. Deadlock let out a frown then stood up to check.

As soon as he came in the training room, he froze, realizing what'd happened.

The first thing had been Jetstorm, his head down.

The second thing had been pieces of metal scattered around the Minicon.

Then he looked up back at the shattered sword Jetstorm held.

"…What have you done?"

The Minicon startled at Deadlock's question. He immediately moved back. Jetstorm's face displayed a horrified expression.

"I…I didn't want this!"

"Yet you did it!" Deadlock dryly retorted.

He recognized that black and purple blade pretty well. One of Shadow Raker's blades.

How had it been shattered? He took a step ahead. He ordered Jetstorm to give it to him. Jetstorm handed it over, looking at his pedes. Drift scanned it. Then he picked up a piece of metal. He had been a miner. He'd been taught to repair things. Maybe he could-

No. The blade's metal was so rare. So refined. He couldn't do anything. He would only damage it more.

He focused back on the Minicon. This latter knelt down.

"Please! Forgive me!"

Fear and anguish could be read in his voice. Deadlock gave him a stern stare.

"Tell me what you did."

He paused, trying to guess.

"…You haven't cleaned it right, have you? You didn't do it in the counter-clock wise motion as I told you?"

"…No…"

Jetstorm covered his face.

"For Primus's sake! Speak!" Deadlock insisted.

"…I just…wanted to use it…for our next session…"

It left him speechless.

"Forgive me! Please…I…I didn't want to…"

Of course, he hadn't wanted it.

But…Had he used his Master's sword because…he'd wanted to become a better fighter?

Deadlock wasn't sure of how to react.

Jetstorm was shaking in terror.

"You weren't allowed to touch it!"

"…I know…I'm sorry…"

"Forgive me!"

"I'm so sorry!"

Deadlock stared at the broken sword.

Fear took over him as well. A feeling he shared with Jetstorm. Behind, he heard Slipstream come in the room.

He wanted to say anything…But it was a serious mistake. He'd broken a sword…he'd broken a weapon…

"I'm not the owner of these swords…"

Yet he wished he had been.

Jetstorm wasn't shaking anymore. He was now unmoving, planted in the ground. Unfortunately, any act had consequence. His mentor always repeated it.

If he had been able to repair it, he would have tried. He would have acted as if nothing had ever happened.

It couldn't be repaired…unless it was a professional. The only thing to do was telling Shadow Raker what'd happened quickly. He would discover it anyway.

"…Stand up, Jetstorm"

The Minicon obeyed. Terror didn't leave him. Deadlock gave the sword back to him. He wished he could say anything to reassure him. He took a breath.

"…Let's talk to Shadow Raker. Now. More you'll be waiting, more you'll be suffering…"

Jetstorm looked down again. He didn't want to. Of course.

"Listen…"

The only thing he could say to ease his pain…

"…I would be right here. Okay?"

That would be more difficult if he was alone. Slipstream seconded him.

"Me too"

Jetstorm didn't react. Yet he could feel he'd eased his worries for a bit. He gave them a nod, holding the sword tightly.

"…Thanks, Mister Deadlock…Slipstream."

"…You shattered my sword?"

Shadow Raker didn't yell.

In front of him, Jetstorm knelt down. The sword was laying on the floor, between them. Deadlock and Slipstream remained close. Deadlock didn't dare look at his mentor. He just focused on Jetstorm.

Shadow Raker stood up.

"You touched my sword."

His Master's expression was unsmiling, emotionless. Yet his tone…that's definitely cold rage. His anger gave Deadlock chills.

Jetstorm cowered. He didn't dare look back at him.

"For-forgive me…"

"Do you realize what you've done?"

Jetstorm teared up. Understandable…but that was not a good idea to cry in front of Shadow Raker.

That was unforgivable. Deadlock wished he could say anything. He wished he could stand up for Jetstorm, justifying it as an accident. However, his mentor wouldn't listen to him.

"I-" Jetstorm started. "…Please, forgive me! I will repair it!"

"There is nothing to repair"

His tone was calm.

"…Forgive me! Please! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Jetstorm repeated.

"You think your excuses will be enough for this? You think I care about a tool's excuses?"

A tool…

In spite of himself, Deadlock clenched his fists. Jetstorm kept begging with all his strength while Shadow Raker walked closer to him.

"You deserve a punishment…"

"Please! I'll do anything to redeem myself!"

His Master stopped.

"…Redeem yourself?" He repeated.

There was some surprise in his voice. Jetstorm nodded.

"…Yes…I will do anything to redeem myself, Master…Please! Forgive me!"

Shadow Raker remained silent. Deadlock met his optics. He seemingly took his words in consideration.

Everything to redeem himself…

Jetstorm was his Minicon. He couldn't kick him out…

Right?

"…Very well." Shadow Raker stated.

What was he-?

"Stand up." His mentor ordered him.

Jetstorm hesitated. However, he couldn't keep him waiting. He immediately obeyed.

As soon as he did, Deadlock noticed Shadow Raker's smile over his face.

A smile he'll never forget…Shadow Raker grabbed his sword. The one Jetstorm hadn't shattered.

"…Master…"

"I'm willing to let bygones be bygones, Jetstorm." Shadow Raker stated.

That wasn't good…

Deadlock stared at the Insecticon.

He wasn't the kind to accept any mistake from his student…

He wouldn't be merciful toward his Minicon…

He wouldn't be merciful toward a tool…

"Under the condition" he completed, "that you win a match against me"

That was a bombshell.

"Master!" Deadlock cried out.

Jetstorm froze. He stared at Shadow Raker, horrified.

An…one-on-one match? Against him?

"Stay out of this, Deadlock" His mentor replied. "That's not your Minicon anyway. That's between he and I."

"…But…"

But it was suicide!

A fight against Shadow Raker…that was a false mercy. Deadlock couldn't even beat Shadow Raker after many months of training…

Jetstorm wouldn't last five minutes…He'd had no training. He was smaller. He had no weapon…

What kind of game was he playing at?

"…Master…"

"That's your chance for redeeming yourself, Jetstorm" He said. "If you don't want…"

He should refuse it…

But what would happen if he refused?

Jetstorm immediately shook his head.

"No. I will…I will do it…"

He was brave yet…

He was lost. Slipstream knew it. Deadlock knew it.

"Good" Shadow Raker approved.

He gestured him to follow him in the Dojo. Jetstorm obeyed again. Slipstream was about to object and running after them though Deadlock grabbed his arm.

"No"

Shadow Raker's cold stare discouraged them to intervene.

Slipstream could suffer from the same punishment…

Deadlock bit his lip. He should have defended him…

He should have offered himself instead of Jetstorm…he knew how to use a sword…he would have resisted much more…

Shadow Raker wouldn't have harmed him…

And Jetstorm did this…because he'd wished to become better in Deadlock's trainings…

That's all his fault if Jetstorm-

It hadn't even lasted five minutes…

In the garden, Deadlock and Slipstream had reluctantly witnessed it. Shadow Raker hadn't given the signal, he hadn't allowed Jetstorm any time to prepare himself…

He'd attacked right away.

He'd started with a blow in Jetstorm's ribs. The Minicon had been sent hard into the wall. He hadn't got any time to stand up. Shadow Raker had kept on with a kick.

"I'm very disappointed, Jetstorm…Very disappointed."

At first, Jetstorm hadn't screamed.

Shadow Raker had no handicap. He hadn't even given him any chance to strike a blow. He'd struck another attack on Jetstorm's face by using his blade…it scarred Jetstorm's left cheekplate…

"You're supposed to serve me! That's the duty of a Minicon! That's what a tool is made for!"

Deadlock'd covered his mouth in horror.

Jetstorm'd received another blade's blow straight on his forehelm.

"You're unable to fulfil a tool's role!"

Another blade's blow at the right forehelm.

"I took you in! I gave you a roof, a shelter! I gave you a job! What do I have in exchange?"

Another kick in the stomach.

"A disappointment! A glitch!"

Another in the head.

"…Forgive me…Master…" Jetstorm'd tried to reply.

Shadow Raker hadn't listened to him. That wasn't even a match…that was a parody…

A slaughterhouse…

Deadlock moved back.

He should have helped him…

He should have offered himself instead…

"Forgive me, MASTER!" Jetstorm'd cried out. Shadow Raker'd thrown him on the ground.

Shadow Raker'd never stopped. In the end, he'd given up on his blades. He'd leaned himself over him to send him a hard punch in the face.

Then another.

"Please!"

Shadow Raker'd kept on.

Some energon'd formed a pool around them…some energon running out of Jetstorm's mouth…

"You don't deserve me!"

"Please! PLEASE!"

Jetstorm'd screamed. Jetstorm'd called for help.

He'd begged. All this time…

And Shadow Raker had remained indifferent to this…

That hadn't even been indifference. That had been pure cruelty.

"FORGIVE ME, MASTER! YOU ARE RIGHT! I'M A DISAPPOINTMENT! I DON'T DESERVE YOU!"

Another blow.

"FORGIVE ME!"

Deadlock'd gritted his dentas. He'd looked away.

"PLEASE!"

He'd still heard noises. Noises from Shadow Raker showering Jetstorm with kicks and punchs.

"GIVE ME ONE LAST CHANCE!"

Shadow Raker…his Master…his mentor…beat his Minicon. Someone who couldn't even defend himself.

He beat him without any thought about consequences.

What kind of person was he?
-

It had been too long…

Finally, Shadow Raker stopped. His body hid Jetstorm's on the floor.

"…Deadlock…"

No.

Deadlock wasn't moving.

He helplessly watched as Shadow Raker grabbed his Minicon's neck…as if it was just a tool.

He still didn't see him.

"Tie him up to a tree"

"What?"

What was he-?

"You heard me? That's his punishment. He'll be tied up to a tree for a time…until he realizes what he's done."

Because that fight hadn't been his punishment? That excuse for a match?

No! Shadow Raker punished him again!

"I'm kind. Any other Deployer would have already killed him."

"Master…"

"Deadlock. Just obey."

Shadow Raker turned around. Finally, Deadlock could see Jetstorm.

He couldn't suppress a horrified scream.

Why?

Why?