Deadlock could hear the sound of fighting below him and spared a glance to see that Ultra Magnus had engaged Tarn off a little ways away from everyone else. He had yet to see or hear anything from Moonracer after she drew the other Decepticon away, but he had to focus on rescuing Etsuko.
Kenji had kept a firm grasp on Deadlock's shoulder and Etsuko's jacket as Deadlock climbed up the scaffolding, face set in determination to not only hang on, but to rescue his daughter.
The two reach the landing they'd seen Etsuko on and Deadlock carefully jumps onto it, setting Kenji down and drawing one of his swords. He stays against the wall and slowly makes his way to a corner just ahead. Kenji follows closely, keeping his eyes out for anything that could leap out at them.
When Deadlock reaches the corner, he stops suddenly and uses the flat of his sword in front of Kenji to stop him as well. When Kenji glances up to see what was the matter, Deadlock is peering around the corner. Kenji walks the short distance to see what Deadlock is looking at and gasps, seeing the gigantic Bludgeon, who is kneeling, head down in meditation. And there, just off to the side at the edge of the building, watching Bludgeon with fear in her eyes, is Etsuko.
"Etsuko..." Kenji nearly sprints to her, but Deadlock stops him and pulls him back behind the wall. "What are you doing?" He whisper-yells at Deadlock.
The warrior simply stands, eyes now on Bludgeon. "Wait for an opening." Without another word, he walks around the corner, using his sword to point to what looks like an air duct just big enough for a human to crawl through. Kenji suddenly understands. He just needed to wait a little.
Deadlock walks up to Bludgeon, his sword held firmly in his hand, and occasionally sparing a glance at Etsuko, who took notice.
"Deadlock..." She whispers in fear.
Bludgeon chuckles. "I knew this would draw you out." He calls tauntingly, keeping his head down. "You should be grateful. The others are occupied, from what I hear." Deadlock doesn't respond, simply glaring at his old friend. How he had not seen Bludgeon's true nature before he didn't know. Perhaps he had willfully ignored it, but now it oozes from him like a bad odor. Bludgeon raises his head to face Deadlock. "If either of them got to you, you know what they would do to you. But I will give you what they never would; a quick death." He then stands, allowing Etsuko to fully realize how much bigger he is than Deadlock.
Her fear for herself quickly shifts to fear for her friend. However, despite Bludgeon's imposing stature, Deadlock remains cool and collected.
"I would never have thought that you would lower your standards to work with such vile beings," Deadlock said in a low tone, "I suppose that's what happens when you only do what is necessary for the Decepticons. Then again, now I see that with your disregard for defenseless beings, you fit right in with these monsters, 'brother'." He shudders at the word, gripping his sword tighter in anger. "Just calling you that disgusts me."
Bludgeon can't believe what he's hearing; his brother, who joined the Decepticons with him, is not only insulting him, but denying their long-standing friendship. Fury builds up in him as he tilts his head. "You also chose to join the Decepticons with me." He growls. "And now, you insult me, after all the years we trained and worked with each other?" Slowly, Bludgeon takes out his blaster and aims it at Deadlock. "I thought you were better than this, that you would never turn on me, but if that's the case, if all the years we spent meant nothing, then you will die with the rest of the Autobot resistance."
"Without honor?!" Deadlock snaps back, tone full of icy anger, causing Bludgeon to pause for a moment and Etsuko to stare at her friend in shock. "We both vowed that one of us would become a Metallikato master." Deadlock continues, recalling the better days spent training with Master Yoketron. "That one of us would best the other. And when that day came, we were both granted the rank. Even now, are you so far gone that you will not grant me the honor of a deciding match?"
YOU ARE READING
Transformers: Honor and Loyalty
Science FictionUpon his arrival to Earth, Ultra Magnus is tasked with finding the Decepticon deserter Deadlock and bringing him to the Autobots. However, he is not the only one on the hunt as Deadlock is also being pursued by an enemy far more dangerous then Megat...
