CHAPTER 14
Today, Deadlock fell sick.
A few days after his first mission, Deadlock woke up with an unbearable helmache. When he touched his chassis, how burning it was struck him hard. He tried to get up…However, as soon as his pedes touched the ground, he collapsed after a few steps.
What's going on?
"Mister Deadlock?"
Deadlock looked up with difficulties. His room's door was already opened. Slipstream was standing up in front of him, a concerned look on his face.
"Are you alright?"
"Not really…leave me be"
He glanced back at his nightstand. The Athena gem was still here. It never left him. Since Shadow Raker had allowed him to keep it, he fell asleep every night while contemplating its beauty.
He still hardly believed it belonged to him…to him…
Deadlock tried his best to stand up. Instead he just crouched down. He didn't even give any order to Slipstream. The Minicon rushed over to help him up. He gently supported him to lead him back to his berth. It kind of surprised Deadlock. He didn't imagine such a strength from a Minicon.
"Get back to recharge, Mister Deadlock" Slipstream advised him. "I'll take something to check your processor's temperature."
"…I'll be fine…"
Shadow Raker had already planned another mission tonight. He must be ready. He couldn't let him down…
And if it meant other items as beautiful as this gem…Shadow Raker had promised him such things…he had to keep on…
More he thought about it, more he pictured his new life…
A life where he'll become rich…Where he'll not be forced to steal to survive…
Slipstream came back with his Pad.
"It'll be unnecessary…" Deadlock gently warned him.
"If you are sick, we should be assured that you haven't caught any serious infection"
"You aren't a medic"
He wasn't. He wouldn't be able to determine whether it was serious or not. The Minicon just gave him a warm smile.
"I'm not. However, I learned to take care of my Master whenever he fell sick."
"I'm not…"
He wasn't his Master.
Slipstream didn't listen to him. He put the Pad just above his chassis to scan his body. Deadlock let him do. After a few minutes, Slipstream moved away to check results.
"…Your processor's temperature is way too high"
There had been a fierce warmth yesterday…Deadlock wondered if it had been the cause of his state. Slipstream pulled the Pad back.
"I'll prepare you a bowl of special energon"
"I'm not a child!" Deadlock scolded him. "I can do it myself"
"Yes. But I'm a Minicon. That's my duty to take care of you."
Slipstream left the room.
Deadlock stared at the ceiling.
He'd often fallen sick during his days in streets. Whenever it happened, he'd been forced to steal some medicine on his own to heal.
He'd forgotten how it felt…having someone who took care of him instead of being on his own…
It wasn't…unpleasant. However, it shouldn't be repeated.
Slipstream returned with a bowl of energon. He gently put it on Deadlock's knees. The orange bot grabbed it to have a taste.
Fresh energon. That's a different quality from others he'd been used to eat.
"Is it okay for you, Mister Deadlock?" Slipstream asked him.
"…Yes"
That's perfect.
However, he couldn't give him such a praise. He couldn't speak these words out loud.
"Take your time to drink it" Slipstream advised him.
He obeyed then took a few sips, enjoying any gulp of it.
That cooled him off…that eased his helmache…
That was so good…
"So. You don't want to leave your berth now?"
Deadlock abruptly turned around.
Shadow Raker was here. Arms crossed, a stern expression on his face.
Deadlock suppressed a sigh. Of course, he would know. Deadlock had been late for his daily training. Shadow Raker would definitely check what's going on.
"…I'm sick, Master" He justified, in a weak voice.
"So what? Is that a reason for being missing?"
Deadlock didn't have any other argument. Slipstream spoke up.
"His processor's temperature is too high"
"And will you accompany me tonight?" He questioned him, not paying attention to his Minicon's words.
He couldn't…He wasn't in good health…He'd to realize it. Even for every valued item of the world, his body came first.
Deadlock shook his head.
"You disappoint me, Deadlock"
Shadow Raker turned around, about to leave.
"If you aren't efficient, why would I keep you around?"
The orange bot twitched. He immediately sat up, forgetting his pain.
"Master…I couldn't help it!"
"So, is it my fault now?"
"No! That's not what I meant!"
He just thought about the stone.
Shadow Raker didn't seem convinced. Deadlock couldn't believe it. Will he kick him out…like this?
"I need you, Deadlock"
"…I know"
"Don't disappoint me. Be proud. You're my student"
Be proud…
Oh yes. He'd done everything in his power for making Shadow Raker proud…
But now…
Deadlock let out a deep sigh.
"…I'll go with you tonight."
"Good. You'll get another bowl of energon then you'll come with me"
Shadow Raker smiled again.
He needed him…while he'd been on his own before? When Deadlock wasn't ready for this?
Slipstream frowned. As soon as Shadow Raker left, he whispered to him.
"That's a bad idea, Mister Deadlock"
"I don't have any choice"
If he had any choice…
Though he'd come to realize it. Shadow Raker didn't care about him as a person.
He cared about his accomplice.
No more.
Unfortunately, he couldn't go…he couldn't leave…not in such a shape…not before he could reach his goal…
…Even if it would mean suffering from Shadow Raker's whims…
When the night fell, Deadlock didn't feel any better. However, the extra bowl of energon gave him a bit of strength to transform and roll, driving along with Shadow Raker to Kaon.
His mentor had found other houses where its owners were missing. He definitely managed his own affairs. Deadlock couldn't help but wonder where he got such information from.
Who knew? Maybe Shadow Raker did have other accomplices around?
They planned to visit three houses tonight. The first one wasn't very difficult. Shadow Raker was in front of the door while Deadlock and Minicons were searching around.
Shanix…some other Cybertronian money…
That pleased Shadow Raker. Deadlock was too. He wondered what his part would be. How much would he gain?
He preferred not thinking about it. He opened his chassis to bury items inside, despite how burning his chassis still was. He should have taken Slipstream's advice…he should have remained in berth. However, he couldn't. The only thing that mattered was him becoming rich…
"Leave it to me" Jetstorm said.
Deadlock moved back. Jetstorm held his arms out to receive items.
"I'll keep them for you"
Deadlock was about to say something. Yet Shadow Raker ordered them to transform again. They'd wasted too much time.
Deadlock gave him items then followed his mentor.
The second house was way bigger than the first one. Shadow Raker granted them extra time to search around.
Deadlock headed for berthrooms again.
No Shanix, this time. No gem either. Yet, as soon as he gave a second look, he realized there were other items.
Ornaments…Weapons…Knives, blades…He touched metal. He had been afraid to break it. They looked so fragile…so breakable…
Shadow Raker expected something else. Nevertheless, Deadlock could still convince him to sell them for a good price.
He grabbed two or three of them before joining back the group. Immediately, Shadow Raker frowned at the sight of weapons.
"Deadlock…"
"There was nothing else, Master"
"I don't believe you"
Jetstorm and Slipstream hadn't obviously found anything either. Shadow Raker growled in bad mood then grabbed his two blades.
"You incompetent fools! Stay near the door!"
Incompetent fools…
Deadlock and Minicons exchanged a worried glance.
They couldn't do anything if the house didn't own anything else.
Suddenly, as soon as Shadow Raker moved away, their heard engine noise from outside.
"What's going-?"
All four of them turned around to the door.
A car who turned into a bot.
A bot who headed for the house.
Their optics widened. Owners? However, Shadow Raker had assured them that they would be absent! Did they come back earlier than they expected?
"Primus…" Shadow Raker said. "Deadlock, stay close to me"
"What?"
The Insecticon didn't give him any other explanation. Deadlock just obeyed, walking over to his mentor's side.
The bot stepped inside, a confused look on his face. He didn't expect to find the door open…
"What-?"
He cut himself in as soon as he put his optics on the four intruders. Deadlock froze. He'd caught sight of their faces. He stared back at the Insecticon. Shadow Raker didn't even try to hide.
"Who are you?" The bot cried out, arms up.
He'd noticed they were armed.
Shadow Raker remained umoving. Finally, a smirk spread out his face.
"Give us everything you have" Shadow Raker politely asked him.
"But…I have nothing!"
"I'm sure you have something. You can't possess all these weapons without owning something else. Money, Shanix…"
He owned nothing. They'd searched around. The bot told the truth.
However, Shadow Raker didn't believe him.
Why didn't he believe them?
"A trunk…Anything"
"No! I swear! Listen! I'll keep my mouth shut about it…"
"You have something"
Why did they stay here? They had to leave! Others could be coming!
"Master…We need to go" Deadlock told him.
The situation worsened…
"Tell me the truth" Shadow Raker insisted. "Where are your Shanix? Where is your trunk?"
"I own nothing-"
The bot moved back.
"Take everything you want" He pleaded. "I'll stay quiet…"
Shadow Raker let out a sigh.
"…What a waste of time"
What a waste of time…
Suddenly, Shadow Raker dropped one of the two blades that Deadlock had found here…
The bot's gaze followed it till it fell down on the ground…
Then it happened.
Deadlock heard Jetstorm's scream.
The next moment, Shadow Raker faced the bot and ruthlessly stabbed him by using his sword and his katana. One blade in the head, the other in the spark.