CHAPTER 20

Deadlock had always imagined that the Sea Rust was a beauty. For the number of times where he'd fantasized about leaving his job as a miner to live in such a magnificent place called one of Cybertron's pride. A place where he would have been proud to live in. Nevertheless, his illusions shattered as soon as the ship landed.

Their ship landed on Hydrax Plateau, an island in the middle of the Sea Rust. The first spaceport of Cybertron. The first thing Deadlock did had been remembering the ship's location as well as the Code to have access in. After all, he hadn't come here to enjoy his "vacation".

But as soon as they came closer to the "sea", Deadlock realized he had been right not to waste his time on his dreams. Yet Shadow Raker's smirk didn't vanish.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

In Shadow Raker's optics, desolation and destruction were beautiful.

However, Deadlock didn't hide his disappointment.

He'd heard about the first battle between Autobots and Decepticons. It had happened here. Decepticons had walked from Fort Scyk that they'd conquered at the east. Autobots had held south-west. And Hydrax had been surrounded.

This place wouldn't have survived anyway. Even if Decepticons had won, Deadlock would have wished to be part of favoured castes in order to visit it during Hydrax's glory days.

He knew it. Before the war, that place had been beautiful.

But today, the Sea Rust was…only a desert. Just a memory from the Great War. Even the spaceport was way richer during the Golden Age.

This place had become sinister.

Nevertheless, he nodded then said the exact words Shadow Raker wished to hear.

"You had a great idea, Master"

"Indeed. Jetstorm, Slipstream…come here"

Minicons obeyed. Shadow Raker took something out of his chassis. A Cybertronian device. He handed it over to them.

To take them in picture.

"Our first memory in the Sea Rust"

He smiled. Deadlock couldn't bring himself to mimick him. Instead, he gave a rictus that would convince nobody. Shadow Raker frowned while checking the picture but didn't add anything. He'd no time to waste.

"Good. A good weather to enjoy a trip."

Deadlock nodded again.

After all, that's the goal. Do whatever Shadow Raker wanted.

Obey Shadow Raker.

As Shadow Raker walked away, Deadlock noticed that Slipstream gave him suspicious glances.

Did he guess his plan?

He chose not to comment. He followed his mentor who praised the great view in front of them while taking many pictures of their surroundings.

Hydrax Plateau was ruled over by Decepticons. But even after having left Sea Rust's landscapes, they realized that cities surrounding it were just ruins. Streets had been deserted. Only Constructicons walked through to probably repair the most important buildings to use them afterward as control centres.

At one point, Shadow Raker stopped in front of one of them. A green and purple Constructicon.

"Bonecrusher!" Shadow Raker cried out.

The guy turned around. His optics widened.

"Shadow Raker!"

"How are you? It had been such a long time!"

They hugged as if they were two friends. Deadlock frowned. That was surprising to watch him behave like this. He wasn't the friendly one. At least, not toward him or his Minicons.

"Fine, fine. Everything is alright. I didn't think you would be rich enough to come here"

"Well I have a business here now, Bonecrusher."

"Ha yes. Shadows. I suppose that's one of them" the Constructicon pointed at Deadlock.

The orange bot didn't react.

"Exactly" Shadow Raker smirked. "The best student I ever have"

The Constructicon greeted him. Deadlock wished he could ignore him. However, Shadow Raker's glare dissuaded him to. Deadlock shook his servo.

"What manners! Are you sure he isn't an Autobot, Shadow Raker?"

"Don't compare me to them" Deadlock coldly retorted.

Shadow Raker chuckled.

"No problem with it. Deadlock makes me proud every day"

He paused, staring at Bonecrusher's work. A building's remains surrounded them.

"Wow. Destruction is always a master piece with you."

"Destruction and transformation are always a master piece with me" Bonecrusher politely corrected him.

"Maybe do you wish to come to my ship? We could take a cube and chatting about the old times"

Deadlock tried not to react.

He had to find the right time…however, Shadow Raker was always around. He never left them. He was always in his field.

That would be difficult.

"Oh…Unfortunately, I can't" Bonecrusher sighed. "Work. I don't want the other Decepticons to think my work is imperfect."

He turned into his alt-mode.

"But if you wish, there is a Decepticon bar not very far from here…Tell him that's for me"

"Well…it would be with pleasure. What about it, Deadlock? A bar…just like the day we met, right?"

Shadow Raker put his servo over his shoulder. Deadlock suppressed a chill.

"Come on, Deadlock! Relax!"

They had been in this bar for two hours now. Shadow Raker commanded two cubes of high-grade for them. Then, two more cubes.

More Shadow Raker drank, more he relaxed. Then he became joyous and tipsy.

"You don't have vacation every day. Enjoy."

Then he commanded two more cubes. Deadlock watched as Shanix were dropped in the waiter's servos.

It slightly surprised the orange bot. Shadow Raker, so greedy Shadow Raker, wasted his money in high-grade.

He turned around. Slipstream and Jetstorm had been left outside. Of course, Shadow Raker wouldn't have wasted anything for them. They had cubes left in the ship. They would have to serve themselves.

Deadlock stopped drinking, unlike Shadow Raker who kept ordering the waiter.

"Bonecrusher…You know, he had been one of my few friends during a long time…"

His voice went nasal. Deadlock watched him take another sip. Then another…

He had to stop him.

He nearly did.

He just listened the Insecticon without adding anything.

"Yes…He took me in…While I lived in the streets. He gave me a shelter, allowing me to rise up…just like I did for you…"

He paused. He hiccupped then took another sip.

"Yes. Here is the Decepticon Heaven…I should have lived here…instead of building that domain."

This place…A paradise?

Well. Shadow Raker didn't know what he was saying anymore.

Deadlock threw his still full cube.

"Hey. Do you wish to know why I have been a homeless bot?"

He wished he didn't know.

Deadlock nodded.

"..Because Insecticons are looked down upon. Nobody will ever want to recruit us for jobs. Even at the end of the conflict. Autobots or Decepticons…nobody will ever want us."

He burst out into laughing.

Maybe if he had been able to, he would have cried.

Deadlock didn't feel anything. Even not pity. He cried for himself, not for others.

"We are a race of criminals. Robbers, barbarians…I embraced my nature as a thief."

He took another sip.

"And you as well…I created you, Deadlock. I will always have an influence on you…You are a Shadow. Your training is…completed."

No. That wasn't true.

He wasn't a Shadow…He would have wished to become one before…but not anymore.

"Oh yes" Shadow Raker said, his voice going lower and lower. "You can say whatever you want…but I hold your training dearly…That's so important to me"

He felt Shadow Raker's servo over his. Deadlock took it off. He dared reply.

"Only money matters to you"

"Oh no, Deadlock"

Shadow Raker's face went closer to his.

"You're wrong. No, Deadlock. Money isn't the only thing I care about. Don't believe I did all this to become rich. I took a liking in it but…that's not my goal."

He wasn't a Shadow…

"My goal is my Shadows' glory. My Shadows will become like me…I will corrupt their innocent minds until they become as rotten as I am."

His voice faded. His optics went off.

Deadlock stood up.

It was time.

"Mister Deadlock?"

Surprise struck them as soon as Deadlock rushed out of the bar. Alone. Without Shadow Raker.

"Mister Deadlock?" Jetstorm repeated.

"We must leave. Now!"

His voice was firm. Minicons froze.

"What?" Slipstream cried out.

"Do what you're told! Now! We must leave!"

"But…what about Shadow Raker?"

Jetstorm's tone sounded terrified.

Deadlock should have understood. They were his. He was their Master. And he kidnapped them.

A Shadow…a thief…

He would remain a thief…

But he must do it. For every reason of the world, he must do it…

"If you stay here, you'll die!" He warned them. "We may not have any other chance!"

Jetstorm would die…Slipstream would die…

Both Minicons exchanged an unsure look.

Time was running…He could just leave them here to run to the ship. This idea came in his mind for one second…But Deadlock erased this thought, ashamed.

They couldn't stay here. He couldn't let them die…

Slipstream was the first one to step forward.

"…You killed for me, Mister Deadlock…I didn't kill them myself…"

He paused.

"…I'll follow you"

"Jetstorm!"

Jetstorm remained silent.

For a few seconds…

Then he bowed.

And followed his partner.

They'd to get across the city to go to the spaceport. While driving, Minicons as his passengers, Deadlock repeated himself the ship's location as well as the Code to access it.

Over and over.

They mustn't waste any time.

He repeated to himself again.

They will survive…

You'll remain a Shadow…

He felt like Shadow Raker whispered in his back.

Suddenly, something stood in his way. Or rather, someone…

Bonecrusher.

Deadlock remained in his alt-mode.

"Let me through!" He cried out.

"Aren't you with Shadow Raker?"

Deadlock didn't reply. He tried to cut a path…but Bonecrusher didn't move at all. A distrustful expression was displayed on his face.

"Where is he?"

"Let me through!"

"I don't think so"

He felt Minicons' fear.

"Come on…Explain to me" Bonecrusher said, spreading a malevolent smirk.

Deadlock took a breath.

"…Leave" He ordered the Minicons.

Slipstream and Jetstorm obeyed, not reassured.

Bonecrusher's smirk widened.

"Oh…So you stole his tools?"

He paused. Deadlock's servo went down to his sheath.

"That's not wise to steal his-"

He didn't finish his sentence. Deadlock grabbed his blade then sent him a violent strike in his side. Bonecrusher dropped his weapon then held his side with an obvious pain and shock on his face.

Energon was bleeding…

"YOU SICK BASTARD!"

Deadlock didn't leave him any break.

He pivoted, turning around to surprise him then gave him another deep blow but in his chassis this time.

You'll stay a thief…You'll stay a Shadow…

For this, his completed training was necessary.

Bonecrusher collapsed.

"Come back!" He ordered to Minicons.

Jetstorm and Slipstream complied again.

He'd taken the decision to bring them with him…that's his duty to protect them…

From far, he caught sight of other Constructicons abandoning their tasks to rush over to them.

They'd watched the scene…their comrade falling…

In a few minutes, Shadow Raker would also chase after them.

"Hold on!"

Deadlock speeded fast.

He drove as fast as he could…as if he'd never driven like this before…

"Deadlock…"

"Follow me! The ship is our only chance!"

"But…" Jetstorm repeated.

Constructicons ran behind. Deadlock must forget them…

He shouldn't think about them…for now, only the ship mattered…

"You can't stay here! That's for your sake!"

As soon as they'll be inside…they'll be saved…