- Runner-up for "Most Frightening" 2005
Walking in My Shoes
By: Lady Venom
PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not claim to own anyone mentioned in this fic that is the
property of Hasbro. I do not own the song at the end, from hence this story came
to me, "Walking in my shoes" is the property of Depeche Mode and I
recommend listening to it immensely. That and Dragulia by Rob Zombie which
inspired the escape of X. I own the plot, that is all, no more no less. It has
been two weeks in the making, please be kind.
Enjoy.
"Hey, you still alive in there!" A guard snickered, peeking into Hells
Hallway where many a bots lay in dormant. Awaiting the day the torture would
start again...their only purpose becoming once again apparent.
Some growled, some cried and screamed. Some lay still, in a form of self created
catatonia. Others, told the guard where to put up his exhaust port.
The newest, but certainly not the youngest, looked up, green optics glowing with
hatred at the free bot on the other side of the bars. "Your turn'll come
soon!" One bot yelled, although it was not the one watching. The one
waiting, he was beyond petty threats. They had stopped when he became their
prized possession. For what choice does a bot have, when a mere three bots
literally hold your sparks essence in the palm of their hand?
The guard chuckled, having broken the night shifts boredom by stirring up
trouble within the cells. The green optics watched the shadowed bot move away,
but could tell that he was still just outside the door, that reinforced steel
door that was locked three times by deadbolts; activated only by the key card he
kept on his left waist side, right by his gun.
An hour went by...Is it possible to measure time still? When every hour, minute
and year blend together as one and the same by the knives and lasers that cut
into your skin? He thinks, eyes staring into the cell of the bot in front of
him. The body of a small child-like transformer that had been, at one point, the
theories of being used as a decoy. Because, who would expect them to build a
bomb in a child you had rescued? But the plan backfired when the orphanage
decided the sudden sky-rocket in adoptions by the company seemed suspicious.
Especially when they never heard from the children again. So, the remaining
child has a ticker inside of him, waiting to be detonated. By the simple push of
a button, and the young bot's life is shrapnel.
It was enough to turn a weaker ones stomach. But you would find no such trivial
matters as emotions for the 'experiments' here. Here, they only turned out what
they hired. If you had morals when you were hired, you lost them before leaving.
Watched for the rest of your life to make sure you never breach the security
clause that you signed upon employment.
"Hey Freaks! Show time!" Came the same guards voice again; only this
time his voice was mocking. The sound of a buzz and the door swung open. In
walked five guards, each one armed to kill a small Predicon Army. They stopped
outside his cell.
"ON YOUR FEET!" Came the usual shout from the leader; a militant
wannabe. And as usual, he remained immobile. "I SAID 'ON YOUR FEET NOW
FREAK!'" Looking up from where he sat, hunched in a corner of chains and
his own waste. "Kiss my tail pipe..." Came his weary reply.
The leader motioned to the other four guards, they in turn raised their guns at
the large bulk of a bot, and fired a string of short burst of energon at him.
His enraged cries were no stranger to Hells Hallway; it became a regular thing
to see how many bursts he could handle before he passed out. Guards had been
known even, to bet on his regenerative capabilities.
Once subdued, the leader and his minions walked into the cell, guns at the
ready, even though it was quite apparent that he would not be moving anytime
soon. Clicking sounds were heard as large steel bindings were unlocked and heavy
leaden on the debris covered floor as they fell, their use no longer needed.
"Hurry up! Don't want to keep the Doc waitin'." He said, a grin
maliciously placed upon his black and white face. "I hear today he gets to
try the experiments without his power converter." He said happily awaiting
the sound of this one's screams.
Not today...No more!
Green optics flashed open briefly looking upon his -captor- as strong red hands
came up and crushed the neck, staving off his voice until there was nothing left
but the sound of a pop can being crushed, gears grinding and short, high-pitched
wheezings as the gears lost moving space. Other guards, not as quick on the
uptake watched what was going with mounting trepidation, they had seen
experiments fight back, but they were use to it. Every day occurrence. Right?
Right.
"DON'T JUST STAND THERE YOU IDIOTS SHOOT THE FUCKING FREAK!" Came the
second in command's terrified shriek.
The being, known as Protoform X looked over, malicious, eager, anticipating the
rewarding feeling of mech fluid coating his hands, a sweet revenge for bastards
sick senses of humour. He only wished he could prolong their life as they did
his for so long, as to make the sounds and feelings heighten as he would
inevitably discover more and better ways of death.
"HAHAHEHEHEHOHOHOHOAHAHAHAHAH!" His insane laugh bellowed, as bursts
of short stream energon waves hit his stomach and chest, leaving gaping holes
that instantly covered. His laughter instantly stopped, his face fall so sudden
that it was more worrisome and terrifying than the sight of their dead leader on
the floor.
Lightening quick, X grabbed one of the weapons from the hands of a guard, and
grabbed the arm of him as well, drawing him near. "Are you hungry little
one?" He asked, grinning. Taking the gun he shoved the entire length down
the gullet of the guard, watching as gears and pieces of metal bulged out along
his stomach and throat. The gagging sound of the guard greeted him as sweet
music that no composer around could replicate.
He looked around, after the one in his hands stopped struggling. It was no fun
when the bug that lost its wings stopped being a good sport and died. That
wasn't entertainment. He needed fun, he was starved for it...he had entertained
them for so long...Quid Pro Quo...
That grin...that end all to be all grin that foretold of impending pain in lieu
of pleasure. For them at least; for this behemoth, pain was his pleasure.
His optics, once cold and distant with the detached look associated with him and
his kind, now came alive with excitement. A different type of detachment graced
his features. No longer staving off the pain of probes and energon charges, it
now had a look of insane longing, a wanting. A wanting that the guards were not
so eager to discover.
"HAHAHAHOHOHOHOHOHHAHEHEHE!" His bellowing laugh came again. Catching
sight of a face through the bars, he recognized one of the scientists.
"DO SOMETHING!" A deep voice shouted to the cowering remnants of
Hell's Hallway patrol unit. The green and gold face showed annoyance more than
any type of fear. X knew this one, this was not just any bot from the sidelines;
this was one that liked to be upfront and personal. A bot that enjoyed
particularly torturing him, letting him know what an honor it was that he had
progressed as well as he did.
"Do WHAT sir!" Came a young voice. A small blue and gold bot at his
feet.
X looked down, smirking at the trembling fear that radiated off him in
convulsive waves. He breathed deep, sniffing the air for the scent.
"Are you afraid little one? Do you fear me?" He watched him, his
suddenly calm, collected voice startling the bot, who nodded, retaining his
defensive stance, useless gun at the ready. "What makes you fear me?
Please, tell me."
He looked at the others, wondering what in slag he should be doing, shouting, or
conversing with the bot who had just destroyed his Leader and friends. Gulping,
he looked back up at the towering hulk above him.
"You...you just killed Rummolas...and...Celika..."
"And you fear me because of their deaths, or do you actually fear the fact
that you too shall someday join in their death?" As he finished this line,
he reached behind the young bot and grabbed the older man that he had noticed
cocking his gun.
"Today young one, for your politeness, you shall not die...but you, I have
no such generosity about you!" Taking the gun he looked at it, a momentary
lapse in pursuit taken by his curiosity. The lacked a type of closeness, a sense
of brutality that he found himself to prefer. Instead, he threw the gun behind
him and grabbed the bots head between his hands and leaned in, taking his face
into his mouth and biting, ripping away with powerful jaws the very metallic
skin covering his upper half.
Pulling away, all that remained was his mouth and one cracked golden optic. The
robot, still alive, fell to the floor writhing in pain screaming as he clawed at
the missing half of his face. X merely chuckled, looking over to the one young
bot that he had decided to spare, mech fluid covering his face and dribbling
down his chin. Wiping some of it away, he was able to see more clearly through
the steak of leftovers covering one emerald optic.
"DEPTH CHARGE! FIRE! FIRE ON HIM NOW!" Came a new voice outside the
cell block.
Protoform X looked over, behind him to the young bot that he had spared.
"Come now, friend, surely you don't want me to revoke upon my fragile
promise to spare you?"
The young bot looked up at him, unsure of what to do. The remaining bot took the
distraction in stride, able to fire off three well rounded shots that hit the
killer square in his back before he too was joining the pile of metal rubbish on
the floor. His skull having been crushed by repeated pounding against the wall.
It was with this bot that he reached down, hand forming itself into a cup as it
drove into the chest plate of the guard. His hand closed around a fluttering
pulse of energy and he gave a content sigh. Sounding to those listening as if it
were an old lover that he had been reunited with. A sigh of feeling their bare
platings against his own.
X removed his hand, the dying pulse of its spark tingling his hand. With one
last, loving look he clenched his hand shut, feeling the sudden, frantic pulsing
beat before tossing it in his mouth, feeling every last emotion, every last fear
and anxiety as it slid down unhindered into his stomach.
Those watching through the bars both in and out of Hell's Hallway gasped. How
could one bot be able to do that? To devour a raw energon comprised spark such
as that? He had truly gone beyond their limitations.
"Tell me, oh creators of mine, are you proud yet?"
With one, forceful jab of his shoulder, the large door shook and buckled under
his weight as he began pounding his way through.
"Take cover! Everyone! To the shelters!" Came the deep voice of the
green and gold bot again.
The pounding could be heard as the bots ran in a flurry down the halls toward
the shelter constructed in the event of an emergency.
"Optimus! What's going on!" Came the voice of an irate Elder.
"Please sir, you need to evacuate! Protoform X is loose!" Came the
worried reply, as Optimus struggled against the wave of terrified, shouting
bots.
"I am not leaving! We must have him contained immediately! We cannot lose
him! We've risked too much!"
"There's no choice!"
"There is always a choice!" He said huffily, straining on the fact
that he would not allow some rogue bot to ruin what he had invested so much
effort and money into. Turning, he took off, quickly making his way through the
onslaught of scientists, doctors and guards alike. Optimus can recall never
laying eyes on that particular Elder again.
Pound. Punch. Kick. I WILL be free! Pound. Punch. Another dent. Close...ohhh...so
close...
The guard watched, gun aimed at the ready; the door was on its last hinge and
there was nothing he could do. One last, shuddering onslaught upon the door, and
it fell to the concrete floor with a muffled ding and wavering noises. Standing
there, before him, was the one he had always taunted; always teased...always
tormented.
Protoform X was free.
fin
Walking in My Shoes
Depeche Mode
I would tell you about the things
They put me through
The pain I致e been subjected to
But the lord himself would blush
The countless feasts laid at my feet
Forbidden fruits for me to eat
But I think your pulse would start to rush
Now I知 not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
You値l stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Morality would frown upon
Decency look down upon
The scapegoat fate痴 made of me
But I promise you, my judge and jurors
My intentions couldn稚 have been purer
My case is easy to see
I知 not looking for a clearer conscience
Peace of mind after what I致e been through
And before we talk of any repentance
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
You値l stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
Now I知 not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
You値l stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
Now I知 not looking for absolution
Forgiveness for the things I do
But before you come to any conclusions
Try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
You値l stumble in my footsteps
Keep the same appointments I kept
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes
If you try walking in my shoes
Try walking in my shoes