Intricate Beginnings

Chapter 1

Hey guys, I just started this story. I have about seven chapters already written on my laptop so just let me know if you want me to upload more any constructive criticism would be appreciated! If you think the rating should be changed, let me know, as I was a little unsure myself. I'm planning on this being a Alexis/Starscream fic but that may change as I've never written romance before.

Pain.

It seemed that was the only thing she knew anymore. Each day brought a new form of torture whether it was chemicals, needles, slicing, or amputations. These things had become common place in her daily life. But it hadn't always been like this. She still remembered the day she had been taken to this hell-hole. It seemed like years had ago, when in reality it had only been a few months…

"Alexis, we're going to be late if you don't hurry up!" Alexis quickly grabbed her bags and headed to the front door of her two- room apartment. Her long time friend Kelly was leaning against the doorframe, an impatient look in her eyes.

"It's about time! Come on we have to go or we'll miss the tram!" Alexis glanced at her watch. The shuttle left in half an hour, they still had plenty of time. Kelly rolled her eyes and grabbed her friend's arm.

"I am not going to be late today! Not again Smexis." Alexis silently scoffed at the title. She knew Kelly meant no harm by it and had come to accept the nickname, annoying as it was. Kelly pulled Alexis through the doorway and hastily locked the door behind her. She then yanked on Alexis' arm, intent on making it work on time for once.

The subway was surprisingly empty that morning, making it easier to get to the platform without having to weave through crowds. The tunnel suddenly filled with light as the underground train approached.

"Oh thank god we made it." Kelly sighed in relief. The shuttle screeched to a halt and swiftly opened its doors. The ride to work was quiet and uneventful. Very few people got onto the shuttle. This made Alexis frown. Why were so many people missing today?

They didn't speak about it though, figuring it could be that the flu was going around. It was the season for it after all. Suddenly, the train slid to a halt, its brakes screaming in protest as they grinded roughly against the tracks. The intercom crackled as it turned on.

"Sorry folks, it seems we are having some minor technical difficulties. We should be up and running shortly." Kelly groaned.

"Well that's just freaking fantastic. Now we are going to be late to work."

Alexis shrugged, their boss was used to it by now and considering there weren't a lot of people willing to wash dirty jets in hot aircraft hangers, he was willing to cut them some slack. Suddenly the shuttle shook as a jarring explosion erupted from above. Pieces of rubble and rock rained down on the tram as a giant hole appeared in the ceiling of the tunnel. Kelly frantically turned to Alexis.

"What the hell was that?!" Alexis ran over to the window and peered outside. Her face drained of color and her eyes visibly widened. Hastily she scrambled to the back of the shuttle, yanking her friend behind her until she got to the emergency exit at the back.

"Alexis what was it? Alexis, what's happening?!" Alexis shook her head and pulled her friend towards an adjoining tunnel that was currently under construction. Oddly, there was not a single construction worker in sight. A partially built platform lay before them, a set of stairs leading up to the surface. Alexis practically flew up the steps and clamored through the front doors of the empty station, dragging her friend behind her. As soon as they burst through the stations doors Kelly let out a scream of terror. Alexis looked on at the scene with wide eyes.

The city was on fire.

Buildings crumbled while others were swallowed up in flames. Here and there explosions would shake the ground, causing plumes of smoke to smother the once blue sky. Brightly lit casino signs were shattered by bullets while the casinos themselves were blown out of existence. People were running and screaming in the streets, calling out for lost loved ones and others screaming out of terror. However Alexis barely glanced at the wreckage. Her eyes were fixed on the ones responsible for the chaos.

They were 20 feet tall at the least. Their armor seemed to glow in the light of the fire, giving them a hellish appearance. The metal giants were purple and silver. Where their eyes should have been was instead replaced with a glinting red visor. Alexis quickly glanced at their feet and saw they were soaked in blood and bits of gore, probably the people who had thought they could run past the creatures. A quick look at the robots hands revealed a gun of some sort, the source of all the explosions. Upon closer inspection she could almost make out the purple symbol on the beings chest. Suddenly Kelly shrieked as the giant turned in their direction. Alexis practically lifted her friend off the ground as she bolted towards a nearby building.

Before they could reach it, the building exploded. They turned around to see the giant behind them, a gun pointed directly at them. Kelly wrenched her arm from Alexis' grasp. She cast her friend a confused glance.

"You're on your own." She whispered. With that Kelly bolted, her retreating back getting harder and harder to see the farther she ran. Alexis looked up and saw the giant had switched targets. She watched in horror as he fired. The shot whizzed past her head, making her ears ring. Alexis turned to see her once best friend disintegrate before her very eyes. Before she knew what was happening she was running. She ducked into a nearby alley. Her chest heaved up and down as she tried to catch her breath.

Kelly was gone. Why had she abandoned her like that? Alexis mentally shook her head. She couldn't think about that right now, she needed to focus on getting out of there alive. Alexis glanced up at the sound of tires screeching in front of her. A black van had pulled up in front of the alley she was hiding in while men in black uniforms with black goggles in front of their eyes, pilled out of the van. One of the men pulled out a walkie-talkie.

"Sir, we've found another one. Shall we bag and tag it?" Alexis' shoulders slumped in relief. Finally, the military had arrived! Now all this madness could end! The men however, were not heading towards that metal giant like she thought they would. Instead they had gathered closer to her. Alexis frowned. What were they doing? Why were they edging closer to her, didn't they know the giant was over by the subway station? Without warning one of the men launched at her; in his grip a stun gun. Before he could reach her, Alexis gave him a swift upper cut. The man let out a grunt as he fell to the ground but quickly got up again. Alexis didn't give him the chance to grab her though, and dashed off. She ran deeper into the alley, away from the masked men. She was quickly stopped as she encountered a fence. She scrambled to haul herself over the metal barricade, cutting herself on the barbed wire on top of the obstacle.

'I'm going to make it!' She silently cheered as she cleared the fence and landed on the other side. She started to run but was stopped by a sharp pain in her shoulder. She reached behind her and pulled out the object that had embedded itself into her skin. To her dismay she realized it was a tranquilizer dart. The ground started to spin as she continued to walk towards the end of the alley. Her legs gave out, and she soon fell to the ground as the serum took effect. She glanced up to see a building on the other side of the street with people flocking around it, probably seeking a place of refuge. Behind her she heard the sounds of the men approaching. She chuckled at her misfortune.

So close.