CHAPTER 60

Light went on again.

Jetstorm blinked. He'd probably fallen into recharge without he'd been aware of. As soon as he sat up with difficulties, his stomach growled. Jetstorm winced. His reserves were low. He'd to take some energon. But the noise was like a call.

A few minutes afterward, a servo reached out across the cage's bars to give his daily cube of energon and pet his head.

"Did you recharge well?"

"…Slipstream?"

That's the question he'd been asking since his arrival here. The servo didn't release him. He never caught sight of the owner's shape. The cage got his vision diminished.

At each time, the bot never replied. He ignored his question.

"…Will you be good today?"

"…What?"

"We have a customer"

A customer…?

The servo left away. The bot had already vanished. Suddenly, the light slightly darkened. The visitor's shape. Jetstorm forgot about his cube and crawled up to the bars to observe the newcomer.

For one moment, he'd been hoping that it was Mister Drift.

He would get him free…together, they'll free Slipstream as well.

But from the bot's loud voice, this one must be old enough. It was enough to crush his hopes. Jetstorm shivered, trying not to let fear and disappointment overwhelm him.

At least, that wasn't Shadow Raker, he thought.

By the way, did he know where they had been?

He heard a strange noise, as if someone kicked something. A moan was heard. Jetstorm raised his eyebrow.

Was there…more than one visitor?

"That's exactly what you wanted' The owner's servo stated.

"Do you think I wanted that?"

A new blow. Who was he hitting? Jetstorm paled, thinking for one second that it had been Slipstream. But it wasn't the case.

"You're a crook! I have more to do than taking care of glitched Minicons!"

"Boss…Please, stop!"

"Shut up, you!"

A new blow.

"Else I'll get you melted! Understood? Shut up!"

More noises from the other.

"Torpedoes are reliable. You have no reason to worry"

"Reliable? They are incompetent! They aren't able to bring a bounty back!"

"Master, I swear we do our best!"

Not the same one as before…there were two of them.

At least two Minicons accompanied the customer.

"Do you wish the same thing?"

A silence. The customer spoke again.

"I want to change them"

"Products cannot be changed or returned." The owner said. "If you wish to make things better, change your behaviour. Torpedoes are loyal to their owners. I think they don't understand why their services displease you."

"They know pretty well!"

"I can't do anything" The owner replied. "You're free to separate from your Minicons in every means you choose but not through me"

They heard a growl.

"So, give me some others!"

"Prices can be high"

"I don't care! You damned, scraped crook!"

"So why coming over in my store?"

Jetstorm realized that both shapes walked away. He sighed then leaned against the wall.

Sometimes, customers came over…The owner told them to be good. But most of time, they left empty-handed. A few of them was apparently satisfied.

A Minicon store…in one way, it got Jetstorm reassured if no one was satisfied. He'd been afraid of being chosen…of being separated from Slipstream…

Especially since customers seemed far from being nice…and seeing the way they treated their Minicons…it didn't reassure him.

"What are you looking at?"

Jetstorm startled. He looked all around.

"Down there"

He looked down.

A Minicon stared at him. Free. The customer's, apparently. Jetstorm jumped. He hadn't realized that he'd remained. Yet the second one wasn't with him. He was probably with their Master, while this one stayed.

The Minicon was purple, a black helm. His armour was red blood, the Decepticon insignia obvious. He had long arms, leaning over all four of his members. He gave him a crooked smirk.

"…I wasn't talking to you" Jetstorm sighed.

"Do you like that place?" The Minicon sneered, mocking.

Jetstorm was about to ignore him but the Minicon didn't seem to want to leave him alone. As soon as he crawled away to take his cube, something jumped on the bars. Jetstorm suppressed a cry out of surprise. His spark beating hard, he focused back at the Minicon. This one was still on the ground.

He'd jumped…to get him scared. Jetstorm noticed the sharped claws at the end of his servos.

He didn't wish to know what he'd been doing with them.

"You'll stay here for a very long time" The Minicon kept on, his expression remaining the same.

"What the scrap is your problem?"

"I'm glad to know I'm not locked up in that mess anymore"

Jetstorm growled. No way he'll let him do whatever he wanted. He grabbed the bars.

"Sure. Your situation is any better! You'll return here anyway"

"You think so?"

"Isn't that the reason why your Master is here?"

Apparently, the Minicon liked his response. He'd got his arms crossed, a self-confident smirk.

"He can't return us"

"It doesn't mean that he can't get rid of you in another mean" Jetstorm retorted, an angry tone.

"You think so?"

The Minicon winced.

"I had an owner like yours" Jetstorm said. "I know what I'm talking about"

"Have fun here"

The purple Minicon turned around.

Suddenly, Jetstorm's optics widened. He'd just…realized something.

His claws…they were threatening but…if that was possible…

"Release me!" He screamed.

He stopped. The Minicon's smirk went bigger.

"And why would I do such a thing?"

"…I must join someone"

"What can I gain from it?"

Jetstorm stayed open-mouthed.

He was right…what could he gain from it? The Minicon shrugged.

"I see. What do you think I am? Optimus Prime? 'Let's save everyone'?"

"Please! That's important!"

The Minicon didn't smile anymore. He was bored now. A bad sign.

He'd to find something…but what?

Jetstorm got it. Soon, a smile appeared on his face as well. A self-confident one, just like the Minicon's in front of him.

"…I think you are ugly" The orange Minicon said.

"Excuse me?"

He apparently hadn't expected this.

"Yeah. You're submitted. Submitted to your Master. Like a good dog getting kicked and asking for more" Jetstorm added.

"I'm a submitted?"

"Yes. Submitted and slave along with that"

"That's what we are!"

No. They weren't.

Whatever Shadow Raker had done to them…it hadn't been their fault.

Apparently, it'd worked. The Minicon growled. He was angry now. Good. That's what he wanted. He slowly walked over to the cage.

"Do you want me to rebuild your face? Seeing who is the submitted one?" The Minicon questioned him.

"Come on. Get me. I'm waiting for you"

The Minicon stopped.

His smile reappeared. Jetstorm's vanished.

Not a good sign.

"…I see"

He'd understood. He'd understood what Jetstorm had been planning.

Suddenly, the Minicon jumped on the bars. He took a tight hold of it, his arms coming through bars. Jetstorm moved back to dodge the Minicon's claws that'd missed his chassis. He'd almost scratched him. The Minicon took his arm off and remained hanged on bars, laughing mad. Fear came over Jetstorm. But he mustn't be impressed.

And the Minicon reached out for something located near the cage.

A beep could be heard. The Minicon jumped.

Jetstorm froze. He didn't realize it. He didn't realize that the cage had been opened.

He stared back at the Minicon. Had he really done it? The latter smirked.

"That's what you wanted, right?"

Jetstorm nodded.

He couldn't believe it…he was free…he had been released out…

After all these days locked up in…how long, by the way?

He had only one chance. He had to take it. Jetstorm jumped out of his cage.

And he found himself pinned against the wall by the Minicon. Immediately afterward, terror took the Minicon back. His opponent laughed again, his sneaky optics staring back at him.

"I said I would rebuild your face for what you told me, right?"

The latter grabbed his shoulderplates, his claws up. Jetstorm growled back and headbutted him. It made him move back, holding his helm, a bit dazed.

Exactly like Mister Drift had said…

They faced each other, ready to attack.

Suddenly, voices came out from behind the door. They both froze. They understood what it meant. They were coming back…

"You should hide" The Minicon told him, rushing over the door to welcome his Master.

Jetstorm got it. He looked all around. He couldn't get out of here…he couldn't abandon Slipstream…he was here. He could feel it…

He couldn't abandon him…

In the end, he ran over to hide behind a pile of scraps as soon as the door opened back. The customer was yelling at the owner.

"You're a damn crook! Broken Minicons, incompetent fools, that's all you have to offer?"

Jetstorm noticed that he pushed something away with his pede. Or rather someone. Someone with a small size. The second Minicon. But he was located too far for Jetstorm to discern him.

"Another store would get you what you need" The owner smiled, still calm.

"I'm sure you aren't the only one owning a Minicon store at Sistex!"

"All good. Thanks for your visit"

The Minicon joined his owner back who was still yelling, even outside. The door was closed behind them while the owner leaned over a desk in a corner of the room, something that Jetstorm hadn't noticed before.

Jetstorm covered his mouth, horrified. Fear overwhelmed him again, much stronger than before at the time he'd been locked up in.

He realized what his situation actually was.

The owner will notice he'd escaped.

He was trapped here…and he couldn't get out.