CHAPTER 19

"If you ever need help, come to join me to the Crystal Cities"

Deadlock had thought about it all along.

He'd thought about it as soon as Shadow Raker had returned to the domain this last night.

He'd thought about it when he'd scolded him hard because he'd ran away, abandoning him to his fate. Who knew what could have happened to him? He could have been seen, arrested by Decepticon authorities…

"I'm tired of your excuses."

He hadn't hit him. No. Shadow Raker hadn't needed to do this to Deadlock. He wouldn't lower himself to such a level, unlike with Jetstorm and Slipstream.

"You must understand. When we become Shadows, we lost concern for others. Concern for others is folly. There is no good, there is no evil. We Shadows only exist in order to satisfy ourselves »

Then Shadow Raker had sent him back to his room. He would punish him later. He'd repeated over and over how much Deadlock was lucky.

Lucky…

No good, no evil…Deadlock had embraced this point of view. And it had been a big mistake because with how Shadow Raker used this concept to justify and excuse his actions.

Yet Deadlock had obeyed.

While he joined back his room, he came across Jetstorm. As if the Minicon was waiting for something. What was he waiting for?

Probably his punishment. After all, Shadow Raker needed to take it on his "tools".

Was Wing watching them right now?

He noticed that Jetstorm was staring at the garden.

Deadlock followed his gaze. He lingered at the graves. Blue flowers were still there, surrounding them…

They were gone…

Deadlock had been the best student Shadow Raker had ever trained.

They remained motionless during a few moments, observing flowers on graves…

He should have noticed it earlier…

There was something wrong from the beginning. Deadlock forgot Shadow Raker's order then walked over to the graveyard.

Shadow Raker…a "caring" mentor…a mentor who planted blue flowers for his fallen students…

He touched flowers.

He'd known it.

"Jetstorm…"

Blue flowers were fake.

"You told me once…they left and would never come back…"

The Minicon didn't reply.

"…Shadow Raker got rid of them whenever they failed him, right? He quieted them whenever they were about to go…"

He didn't even bother to turn around.

His silence meant everything.

Deadlock knew it. Wing had been right.

Whatever happened…He couldn't remain here.

Deadlock had cogitated during the entire night.

He'd thought about the bot he'd killed to prevent Slipstream from doing it.

He'd dreamed about the deaths of Shadow Raker's students, killed by their mentor.

But most of all, he'd spent the night to imagine a plan to escape…

Unfortunately, he found nothing. He thought he could escape during night. However, Shadow Raker wasn't a fool. He'd guessed that Deadlock had left the domain to take energon for Jetstorm. He would find him.

He could confront then attack him…but he would lose.

None of these options were good.

He heard Jetstorm's screams from Shadow Raker's room.

Tonight, he couldn't bear them.

In the end, he got up. He walked over through the halls, coming closer to Shadow Raker's door. From outside, he could notice lights on.

He bit his lip. Jetstorm's sobs kept on.

He could hear Shadow Raker's whispers. As if he tried to calm him down…

Sobs turned into whines.

Deadlock took many breaths. That killed him…

He remained motionless during a few minutes, listening. Then he pressured the button to open the doors.

They opened. Deadlock didn't step inside.

A chill went through his spine as soon as he realized what's happening on the other side.

Bruises, scratches on Jetstorm's armor…

Nobody reacted. Even not Shadow Raker. He seemingly didn't care if Deadlock walked in them or not.

Shadow Raker was lying down on his berth, right above Jetstorm. Deadlock didn't catch sight of his mentor's face. He just watched Jetstorm's terrified expression.

No. Not terrified. The word was weak.

Broken.

Shadow Raker didn't react. He just caressed Jetstorm's cheek while muttering.

"You don't have to be afraid, Jetstorm"

His tone sounded oddly affectionate.

"You know…everything I do…is to spoil you. I want to give you a good life. That's love. Love means pleasuring you whenever you deserve it…"

His servo went down to the chassis then reached Jetstorm's legs.

"…and damaging you as soon as you go too far"

The dead bot haunted Deadlock's nightmares every night…however, it was nothing compared to the scene he's witnessing right now.

"I'm the one who created you, Jetstorm. I will destroy you the day I'll decide."

Jetstorm let out a whine in pain. His wounds had reopened. Shadow Raker gently put a digit on his mouth.

"Minicons aren't individuals. They don't have any dream, no past, no future. That'll always be me. If I must kill your mind to have your body obey to me…I would do it without hesitation."

So Jetstorm had this…?

Shadow Raker's optics met Deadlock's.

The Insecticon gave him a friendly smile.

Deadlock understood.

He had to escape…

…But he wouldn't escape alone.

He had to find the chance. The opportunity.

Deadlock hadn't recharged. He couldn't recharge else he dreamed of his own death.

He didn't want to dream of Shadow Raker's students rising up from dead.

He didn't want to dream of Jetstorm's expression in his nightmares.

Shadow Raker joined him back to the table to take his cube of energon. Deadlock looked down. If he faced Shadow Raker, he would puke.

"Deadlock"

Even his voice went unbearable. Deadlock didn't react. Shadow Raker sat down near him.

"You don't have anything planned for tomorrow, right?"

Since when did he have a freedom outside of Shadow Raker?

He belonged to him. He was his property, after all.

Deadlock shook his head.

"Very well" Shadow Raker replied, approving. "Because we're leaving tomorrow"

It startled him. He turned around to Shadow Raker, an inquisitive look on his face. Shadow Raker smiled back.

"I said we would take a vacation, Deadlock. We're leaving tomorrow. For one week."

Vacations…

Ha yes, he remembered. Deadlock didn't want to hear about this. Yet he felt forced to ask him.

"…Where will we go, Master?"

How could he call him "Master" after this?

"The Rust Sea" The Insecticon informed him. "I told you. That's quite nice, here. Did you already go?"

He shook his head. Rust Sea was for rich people.

"Minicons will come along if you wish to know" Shadow Raker said. "As I promised"

As if nothing happened the day before…with Jetstorm…

"But the Rust Sea…It's quite far from here, right?" Deadlock questioned him.

"Yes. That's the reason why we'll take my ship. It'll be way faster"

His ship…

Did Shadow Raker have a ship? Yet he had never seen it, in the domain…

"Yes. It's well hidden. I put it somewhere, in safety"

Suddenly, Deadlock didn't think anymore.

He gazed at Shadow Raker, stunned.

He'd just realized it.

He'd found the solution.

"Do you like it?" Shadow Raker asked him, definitely noticing his expression change.

"Yes…Much, Master. Thanks you very much"

Right at this instant, Shadow Raker'd just given him a key to escape.

As soon as Deadlock put his optics on the ship, he thought it was sinister. Black, with shades of red…it suited Shadow Raker's colours. Then they stepped inside. That was all dark, without any light. The only lightened room was the control room because of the sun coming through windows. The view was extremely beautiful.

"Nice, isn't it?"

Deadlock nodded.

He didn't care if that's beautiful. However, it sounded efficient. He could watch Shadow Raker pilot it to learn how to use it afterward.

Wing was right.

That wasn't a life.

Nearby, Jetstorm and Slipstream cleaned around before assisting Shadow Raker to take off. Nevertheless, it looked like Shadow Raker didn't truly need some help. As soon as Jetstorm came near Deadlock, Deadlock couldn't help but mutter to him.

"Everything will be alright"

The Minicon's expression changed. He stared back at him, without understanding.

Yes…everything will be alright.