CHAPTER 10

"Forgive me! You are right: I'm a disappointment! Please, please Master!"

His words will haunt him forever.

"Deadlock. Focus."

No. He couldn't. They were inside the Dojo. In the garden, Jetstorm faced them, tied up to the same tree. Any time, Deadlock irremediably put his optics on the Minicon.

Any time, Deadlock felt like his spark was torn apart.

Jetstorm had been unrecognizable. Even whenever he couldn't see him, Deadlock couldn't erase the Minicon's expression off his mind. Jetstorm's face had been bruised, slashed, dented, marked with scratches, cracks at some place…Injuries hadn't been treated. He could barely open his optics due to Shadow Raker's blows having aimed at his optic-lids. Deadlock had thought that one of his optics would fall off. Fortunately, it hadn't happened. His finish was the least of his worries. However, he wasn't orange and black at some places…Shadow Raker had scratched him with his claws, his horns…

Why?

Why? Yes, he'd shattered his sword. That's a serious error. However, Shadow Raker's punishment had been way too extreme…

And the combat hadn't been the worst.

No. The real punishment was the worst.

Jetstorm had been tied up to a tree for three days now. Shadow Raker had forbid anyone to release him without his authorization. He'd wanted to make an example of him. That's a cruel and humiliating punishment. Jetstorm didn't assist them anymore. He didn't work anymore. He'd become a pariah.

…And Shadow Raker…

Deadlock looked down. He obeyed.

"…Very well, let's go back to self-defence now."

…Shadow Raker was acting as if nothing had ever happened.

Didn't he feel anything whenever he trained up near an agonizing Jetstorm?

Didn't he feel anything whenever he ate while Jetstorm hadn't received any energon for three days?

Deadlock stared at his mentor. The one who had taken him in, the one who'd given him a goal, the one who'd offered his blades…

Was he able to let a Minicon starve to death? Was he able to beat him like scraps and tying him up to let him die?

Jetstorm didn't let out any sound anymore…Deadlock was afraid that he would die without any warning. During their training, their dinner, their recharge…

Deadlock was afraid that he would die.

He wasn't a tool…he could be viewed as such but he remained a self-conscious mech.

How could his Master inflict such a pain? Deadlock didn't want to believe it.

How much time…

"…How much time?"

He'd spoken his mind out. He hadn't even realized it, as soon as the salute had been done. Shadow Raker let out a frown.

"What?"

"How much time, Master?"

He gave a nod at Jetstorm. Shadow Raker didn't bat one optic. He just pulled his swords back.

"We already talked about it"

Yes. They'd already talked about it.

During these days following this parody of a match…they'd talked so many times. Deadlock had stood up for Jetstorm, repeating that thing had only been an accident. He'd said Jetstorm'd regretted it. He'd said Jetstorm had already been punished enough.

But Shadow Raker had remained deaf to any of his arguments. Yet Deadlock must convince him to release Jetstorm. Or at the very least, feeding him and treating his injuries.

"Master…Jetstorm will die."

He knelt down in front of his mentor. He wanted to prove his point by acting in a submissive behaviour. Nevertheless, Shadow Raker's tone was hard.

"And so, what? Because of his fault, I almost died myself"

What?

"Indeed. Without my weapons, I'm dead"

But they were only weapons!

Then the blade had been repaired, replaced by another…

Jetstorm…

Jetstorm wasn't a weapon!

He was a living being!

No…He couldn't get carried away.

"But Jetstorm is…your Minicon. He won't be of any use like this"

The Insecticon shrugged.

"And so what? Slipstream is still here. That's a good thing anyway. Slipstream had always been more useful than Jetstorm. What happened just proves it."

Yes. Deadlock had already noticed Shadow Raker's preferences. He'd always been more polite, more patient toward Slipstream than Jetstorm. His behaviour toward the latter was way colder, more disdainful.

However, a normal person couldn't stay indifferent to Jetstorm's suffering…

"…He'll stay for a bit longer…"

"But he wouldn't survive!"

"He must understand the lesson that any act has a consequence, Deadlock. That's all."

What consequences?

Was a Minicon's life less worthy than a blade? Did he mean it?

"Deadlock. Don't forget what they are."

They weren't properties.

"Just…allow me to give him some energon. At least"

"You'll not touch Jetstorm, Deadlock" Shadow Raker suddenly warned him.

He wished he could insist. But this reaction…That's exactly the same one he'd had the day Deadlock had offered up to train them.

"THEY ARE MY MINICONS!"

Yes…they were his.

And now…this was a tone he'd never used with him before…

A threatening tone.

"If anybody ever tries to free him…He'll suffer the same fate"

Shadow Raker…

The Master in martial arts…just used his own technics against a Minicon who couldn't defend himself.

What kind of warrior was he?

What kind of mentor was he?

How could he teach him anything by acting like this?

How could he help him?

No.

Deadlock was sure.

He'd lost control of the situation.

And Shadow Raker dominated him. He dominated all of them.

He must regain control.

The fourth day ended. Deadlock had thought about it the entire day. He'd thought about it during training, during his break, during his bath…

It'd struck his mind as soon as he'd witnessed Jetstorm collapse for the third time during this day.

It couldn't end like this.

As soon as the session was done, Shadow Raker left to recharge. He left to Slipstream the rest of the work Jetstorm'd originally had to do. As soon as lights were turned off in his room, Deadlock joined back the Minicon in the kitchen.

He felt that's a very bad idea.

"Is there anything left?"

Shadow Raker had explicitly threatened them both.

Slipstream searched in closets while Deadlock searched the storeroom.

Nothing.

Nothing at all. No energon.

"I fear we used it all up" Slipstream said, looking down.

That meant Shadow Raker would leave tomorrow night.

After all, where did he go if it wasn't for energon?

However, Jetstorm wouldn't make it until tomorrow evening.

Deadlock understood what it meant. He looked around. He'd driven from here only once, he'd never left the mansion since his arrival. Nevertheless, he'd memorized areas in order not to get lost.

It was night. Shadow Raker recharged.

That's the good time.

On tiptoes, Deadlock went back to his room. Under his berth…he picked up the laser-gun he'd once used.

That gave him a strange feeling…seeing his old weapon again…he'd given it up for blades and katanas. Today he'll use it again.

These weapons are fleeting.

That's what Shadow Raker had said during their first meeting.

Despite all, this weapon would be useful tonight…He pulled it back then hurriedly joined Slipstream back in the Dojo. The Minicon worriedly stared at him.

"Where are you going, Mister Deadlock?"

"…I'm going to town."

He'll go back to Kaon.

He'll return to his native town…

"But…if the Master…"

That's the very reason why he'd left during the night. While Shadow Raker was recharging…He would never know of it.

"…I'll be back before sunrise."

If he was lucky enough…Shadow Raker wouldn't notice it.

However…if he met Decepticon authorities…or if Shadow Raker heard about it…he met Slipstream's optics. Then he met Jetstorm's.

That's an emergency.

He transformed.

"Mister Deadlock…"

"…Go back to recharge."

Without any other word, he crossed gates to leave the mansion in his alt-mode.

Three hours of driving to go to Kaon, like the first time. He'd to do it quickly. As soon as Deadlock transformed, he felt a bit disoriented. He wasn't accustomed to Kaon anymore, living in streets, escaping authorities, waiting for the first individual to steal what rightfully belonged to them…

…Nevertheless, that's survival. He repeated the same thing over and over to himself. If he could survive, he would do it.

Though this time, he didn't do it for himself.

Hidden in an alleyway, he waited for a bot to pass. He caught sight of many bots. A couple of bots with their children, a green mech stumbling, a grey one who desperately called for help in order to get some energon…

Misery had worsened in Cybertron.

A red bot was leaving a bar. He looked like he was in pretty good shape. Well he didn't seem to be starving. Probably one of last bots who didn't have been affected by the conflict yet…

Him.

Deadlock had made his choice. Slowly and cautiously, he pulled his laser-gun out. He was ready to surprise him to pin him against a wall. Nobody would react to it anyway. Now they were all on their own.

The bot passed near him.

Now!

"You aren't forced to do this"

Deadlock suddenly turned around.

A bot of his size, clothed in a cloak…A brown cloak…or maybe was it gold? That's difficult to distinguish.

That shocked Deadlock. Where was he from? Where did he come from? He should have felt his presence beforehand. Yet he'd appeared from behind.

Deadlock instinctively took a defensive stance. However, the bot moved back. He'd his servos up.

"Calm yourself, stranger. I'm a friend"

"A friend? Really!"

"You aren't forced to do this"

So, that bot was judging him. However, his voice didn't sound contemptuous. It sounded…compassionate.

What for?

A gold cloak…that bot must be rich.

"Here"

The stranger pulled something out of his cloak. Something shiny.

Energon.

Three cubes of energon.

"…What are you-"

"You need it. Let's not harm people who did nothing to you"

That was necessary!

What did that mech want?

"You want a price!"

He didn't reply.

"Tell me your price for this! Why would you do such a thing?"

Cybertron was burning…Everyone was fighting for energon…

Why would he just give him some energon? For free?

The mech looked up back at him. Deadlock only caught sight of his yellow, burning optics.

A Decepticon?

Decepticons weren't compassionate. They always had something in mind. There was definitely a catch.

Yet the bot explained himself as if it was natural.

"I don't have to know you, to mean you no harm."

Then he vanished.

Deadlock stared at his laser-gun. He'd thought he was dreaming…however, the three cubes of energon hadn't disappeared either.

That bot was…real. However, he'd helped him.

What for?

He owed that bot something anyway. Thanks to this bot, Deadlock had been able to come back much, much before the training began.

"Mister Deadlock" Slipstream whispered, welcoming him back.

He gestured him to keep it quiet. Slipstream hadn't recharged either. He'd stayed up to look after his partner. Jetstorm.

Minicons obviously displayed more compassion between each other than Shadow Raker to them.

Deadlock headed for Jetstorm. The Minicon didn't move, his head down. Deadlock's spark sped. He immediately wondered if he was dead. Though as soon as he touched him, Jetstorm moved. Deadlock discreetly grabbed him by his chin to keep his head up, forcing him to drink energon.

"Deadlock…"

"Shut up"

Jetstorm let him do. At the beginning, energon ran down to the floor. The Minicon had been unable to swallow it. Finally, after many attempts, he managed to drink some sips.

"…Where did you find it?" Slipstream asked him.

Deadlock remained quiet.

"…I stole it"

That's better to tell a lie rather than saying it was a stranger who'd given it to him. Slipstream wouldn't buy this tale anyway.