Chapter 4

As 7 crouched on the ground, holding her throat. 1 glared down at her with silent satisfaction. "That'll shut you up."

She raised her head to glare at him. How dare he take her voice! He had no right!

He stared at her and sighed. "Maybe now you'll stop complaining."

Oh, he really thought so? Well she could tell him how she felt other ways! _ She looked around on the ground and grabbed up a piece of metal, then threw it at him in a fit of rage.

The male stitchpunk easily dodged the projectile and rushed at her, grabbing her wrist. She tried to pull away but he tightened his grip painfully on it. She yanked out of his grip in pain and then the two stood, glaring at each other.

"Time will break you in," he stated after a moment.

She raised her hand and gave him her middle finger.

He grinned. "Very nice," he said in a voice full of admiration. "No voice and yet still so expressive."

This statement made her shoot him a dirty look and turn away.

He chuckled, amused by this. "Well..."

She walked off a short distance and sat down, her back to him, fuming. Who did he think he was anyway? Did he expect her to just smile and suddenly become some kind of compliant airhead? That wasn't her at all.

He obviously wasn't happy about her behavior. Maybe he really had expected her to start behaving since he ripped her voicebox out.

"Don't be like that," he said to her. "You keep that up and I'll be forced to do a little surgery but that would defy the point."

She didn't turn back, only making dramatic gestures with her arms, pretending to act out what he intended and giving off a strong impression that she wasn't happy about it. She rolled her optic at the thought. Of course you would, you jerk.

"I won't do so, however," he contradicted her.

'Whatever', she thought, dropping her arms and getting to her feet. She hid behind the rock again, and sighed. She was beginning to feel tired but she wasn't going to let herself fall asleep. Who knew what he would do to her if she did? He seemed to be a predator, just waiting for a chance to pounce on her when she was vulnerable. She wanted to be ready for that.

'Stupid jerk', she thought, folding her arms.

1, meanwhile, was watching the rock and smirking. He didn't make any moves to bother her however, seemingly content with just staring.

The female stitchpunk could practically sense his optics boring into the stone but she chose to ignore him. She looked up at the windows, sighing and wishing she was outside where her freedom lay.

"Seven..." 1's voice floated to her, low and taunting.

She tried to ignore him, imagining for a moment that she was outside rushing away from this place, laughing and vaulting from stone to stone. It was such a lovely thought-

"SEVEN!" his voice had risen. Obviously he wasn't going to leave her be until he got her attention.

She covered her audials, trying to block out his voice. 'Leave me alone. Just stop talking to me. I don't want to hear you'!

A set of mechanical hands came down and grabbed her arms, prying her hands away from her audios. She gritted her teeth in frustration, wishing she could scream at the top of her voice. Was it so hard to leave her be for ten minutes? Did he have to be so pushy?

"Seven... why do you choose to defy me?" he asked her.

She frowned. Did he really expect her to answer that after he'd stolen her voice? She shook her head.

"Things would be easier if you didn't."

She didn't want to hear it; she didn't want to hear anything from him!

"Listen to me!"

"No!" she wanted to scream.

"LISTEN!" he shouted in rage.

7 had had quite enough of him and had no desire of hearing his voice anymore. She shook her head stubbornly and jerked her hands free, gritting her teeth. She stepped back out from behind the rock, seeing him walking toward her. When he was close enough she kicked him hard in the chest.

He gasped, doubling over in pain as his optics flickered.

She kicked him again, harder this time. He growled angrily as she shoved him away from her then took off running.

"If you try," he said, loud enough for her to hear as he panted leaning against the rock. "You'll die."

That made her stop. She'd forgotten again.

She turned, stomping her foot in anger. She waved her hands at him in a violent gesture.

He stared at her in confusion. "What do you want to tell me?"

The female stitchpunk ran her finger over her neck in a slashing motion.

He rose a brow. "You want to die?" he asked. When she pointed at him he said. "Oh, you want me to die." he chuckled when she nodded. "That won't happen."

She made a face at him then turned and walked off. Once she was a good distance away she stopped, folding her arms and keeping her back to him. She knew she was acting childish but could anyone blame her?

"Fine, then pout," he said to her back.

'Oh!' she thought angrily, clenching her fists. If she had her spear at that moment she would have thrown it right through the other stitchpunk's chest.

1 sighed, exasperated by her behavior. "Seven… if you stop that foolishness,"

She shot him a killer look over her shoulder.

He smirked, finishing his sentence. "I might be designated to give you back your voice…"

She glared at him. She would not take bribes.

"Well?" he asked impatiently.

She shot him a very rude gesture.

He glared at her. "Have it your way!" he snapped.

7 rolled her optic and sat down again, turning her attention to the window, brooding. Dumb jerk, why couldn't he just leave her alone?

She looked back briefly and saw him walk away. Good.

She stood up and paced. She was feeling tired but was still too afraid to fall asleep. He might mess with her head if she tried. She looked up, seeing he was gone and sighed with relief. She looked around and found some fabric that would make a nice bed and laid down on it, trying to get some sleep, unaware that he was watching her from the shadows.

Half an hour later she fell into a restless sleep, curling up into a tiny stained white ball of canvas.

From where he waited, 1 grinned. Perfect. He came over to the bed she'd made and sat down.

7 moaned in her sleep, having a nightmare. She rolled over, her hands grasping the fabric tightly. The male stitchpunk reached down to touch her.

When she felt his hand on her fabric she sat up instantly and grabbed his wrist.

He snarled, angry.

She shoved him away. Why couldn't he stop bothering her?

When he grabbed her neck she punched him. He growled, digging his claws into it. She started to gag, choking, and kicked at him. Not this time, buddy!

Suddenly he slit the side of her head open with his claws. She winced, grabbing where he'd cut her open, oil oozing out of her head. He shoved her over, yanking her hand away from it. The stitchpunk reached inside, severing a wire. Her optics went blank and she went limp, blacking out,

1 quickly grabbed her up and began to carry her away. As he walked something clattered to the ground by his feet. He reached down and picked up her voice box. He picked it up, putting it back inside her. "Let's see..."

"Mmgh..." she started to come around.

1 held her, slowly stroking his hand over her cheek. 7 slapped his hand. He pulled it away quickly. "Seven?"

She opened her optic and stared at him without a word.

He set her down. "How are you?"

The female stitchpunk sat up and grabbed her head. It hurt were he'd cut it open and it was still bleeding, she was surprised she hadn't stopped functioning by now.

"Now tell me," he prompted.

"My head hurts," she muttered, not looking at him.

"That will go away in time, my dear," he told her. "Otherwise?"

Otherwise? She looked up at him, frowning. "What did you do to me now?"

He smirked. "..Surgery..."

Surgery...? She suddenly understood what he meant. She gritted her teeth, shooting him a killer look. How could he do such a thing to her?

"Don't look at me like that," he ordered.

An order. Her face started relaxing against her will. She turned her head away, fuming. He'd taken her free will from her. Now she had to do what he said.

Not if I can help it!

He seemed amused by her reaction. "Now I ask you again..."

"You're horrible," she stated, angrily. She didn't care about the question; she already knew what it was.

"Will you be my queen?" Yup, there it was again.

"I know how it will go now..." she said after a moment.

"How?" he pressed. "Tell me then."

She really wished she didn't have to but she didn't have much of a choice. "If I say no you'll just tell me to say yes and I'll have to say yes anyway."

"Exactly." he seemed elated that she figured it out so quickly.

She looked at his smile, wanting to smack him. It wasn't that hard to figure out anyway and she hated him even more for it.

"Say yes, to spare us the trouble."

She didn't have a choice but saying it like this was still saying no because she wasn't doing it willingly. "Fine whatever." she grumbled.

"Say it nice," he snapped.

"Yes! Happy now?" she spat.

He knelt down, taking her face in his hands. "That's better."

She pushed at him, hating his touch.

He frowned at that. "Stop that." When she tensed up he snapped. "What now?"

She didn't respond, merely dropping her hands.

"Stop that! Now!"

She glared at him. "I did stop!" What else did he want from her?

"The whole demeanor of yours," he clarified impatiently.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Now he wanted her to change her personality?

"Why?" he wanted to know.

"Are you trying to control my mind or something?" she spat, folding her arms. "I'm not going to get over it and, unless you plan on changing my entire personality, get over it."

He just stared at her. "I know you will if I tell you to."

She rolled her optic. Oh brother.

He frowned, not liking her attitude. "Stop that."

She looked back at him, clenching her teeth together.

He smirked. "Better."

She reached up and slapped him across the face. Loud mouthed control freak!

He glared at her now. "Stop that too."

She clenched a fist, dropping her hand and growling, opening unhappy.

"WILL YOU STOP?" he roared.

She fell silent, inwardly screaming in frustration.

He smiled, satisfied. 'That's more like it."

She'd had enough of this. She started backing away from him. He shot her a command. "Stay." then turned.

She froze in her tracks, her expression changing to pure rage. Was she a dog now, to obey every command he made without question?

"Come with me," he ordered, raising a hand and making a 'come hither" gesture with his left index finger.

"Why should I?' she demanded. She did NOT want to go anywhere with him, especially after what he'd done to her.

"Because I say so." he shot back."

She stood up, frowning. Where was he going to take her anyway? Maybe it was to his bed to force her to soulbond with him. She shuddered at the thought.

He didn't look back as he walked away and began to climb up to the rafters. She followed after him, wishing she didn't have to. When they reached the top he sat down and pulled her up, forcing her to sit next to him. "Look down," he commanded."

She sighed and looked down.

"What do you see?" he asked.

She shrugged carelessly. "Trash."

"Besides that?" he pressed her.

"More trash," she said emotionlessly. There was nothing appealing about this place.

"What else?" he yelled, beginning to get impatient.

She looked at him. "A burned down building!"

"And besides that!" he pushed onward.

She glared at him. "What am I supposed to see?" she snapped, frustrated with his questions.

He had an answer ready. "A promise."

She frowned. A promise? "I don't get it."

"You don't know the purpose that the Fabricator was meant to serve?"

"No." Should she? "And?"

"It's still present." he smiled.

He wasn't making sense again. "You said it was dead." she pointed out.

"It is dead," he replied confidently. "But its purpose isn't."

She folded her arms. "So it serves you then..." she stated.

He frowned at her, a little confused.

"Explain what you mean already."

"Its purpose was to help make a better world," he told her. "We will make that happen."

He sounded so confident, so sure. "You already messed that up," she countered, turning away. 'Twice."

He looked at her, frowning. "How so?"

"No one can make the world better by forcing their will on someone," she explained. "That's tyranny."

"I am not trying to force you," he stated indignant. "I am trying to make you see."

"Not trying to force me?" she exploded, turning back to him, her optic flashing with rage. "You forced me to be plugged into this dumb thing, and you're forcing me to obey you when I don't want to! Don't tell me you're not forcing anyone!"

He turned away from her, not even dignifying her accusation with a response.

She pulled her legs up to her chest. Her outburst had worn her out. She was tired, damaged, and she hurt all over. All he cared about was making her think like he did! She looked at him but he didn't even turn back to her. She turned away, sighing and rested her head tiredly on her knees.

Still 1 didn't move. He seemed to have fallen asleep which is what she desired to do so. She sighed and started to doze off...

1 looked back at her as she lay down on her side, sleeping soundly. He smirked and moved close to her reaching out to rub her side. This made her relax and she started uncurling.

He smiled at this and leaned over, kissing her gently.

The sensation made her wake up instantly. She started to struggle but he grabbed her arms, holding her down. She squirmed madly and punched him in the side of the head.

He snarled with anger as she shoved him away.

"I wanted to be nice," he hissed at her.

"Be nice?" she demanded hotly. "By kissing me in my sleep?" That wasn't nice it, it was creepy!

"Yes!" he shouted loudly

"Leave me alone!" she shouted at him.

"I won't," he responded, stubbornly. "And you know it."

'The least you could do is giving me some space!" she snapped at him. "Can't I even sleep without you forcing yourself on me!"

He scooted away suddenly. "Fine."

The female stitchpunk stared him down before laying down again, her back to him. If he tried that again she'd rip his optics out of his face and make him eat them.

1 sighted, tapping his claws with disappointment.

She ignored him felling back to sleep again.1 looked away as if he had lost interested. It wasn't long before she alerted him again by having a nightmare.

"Stop..." she whimpered in her sleep.

He leaned closer to her, curious.

She started thrashing around. "Let me go!" she shouted desperately. "Stop it!"

1 frowned at her. "Seven?"

Suddenly she began to scream

He didn't like that and slapped a hand over her mouth to silence her.

She screamed through his hand, fighting to get away from him even as she slept. He pulled his hand away from her.

She started whimpering loudly, panting. "Please stop..."

"Stop what?" he asked.

She moaned again and opened her optic. She turned her head and looked at him tiredly.

1 sighed, seeing she'd awakened.

She sat up and backed away from him.

1 just stared at her.

"Can't you give me any space?" she demanded.

"Fine." he stood up.

"Just let me sleep." she said to him. It was a simple request. If he wanted to get on better terms it would be best if he did what she asked.

"All right..." he turned away from her.

She lay back down, trying to get back to sleep. 1 didn't bother her for the rest of the night and she was able to sleep without any more trouble.