Chapter 4

Despair. There was no other word to describe how Josephine felt. She'd held onto weak strands of hope for so long. Hoping against the odds that an opportunity for escape would present itself or that perhaps they would just never be sold and she'd live out her days in a cramped room with nothing but Simon for friendship. Either option, while not ideal, was still much more appealing than what they would now be facing.

And so cold despair was washing over her with every passing second. Josephine's very life was now tied to the whims of whatever those monstrous looking machines desired, and that frightened her most of all. Based off of how the grey and red one had acted, it seemed not to have a care in the world for her life, and so she was left to assume that it would have no problem ending her life should Josephine do something to upset it.

The guards wasted no time in moving Josephine and Simon out of their old prison and ushering them to their new one. It took a grand total of forty-five minutes to get them cleaned, reevaluated by more doctors on site, dressed in something other than medical gowns, and then marked as sold on some government records.

It was all a blur to Josephine. Every step brought her that much closer to a life that would be owned and dictated by aliens. Before tears trailed down her newly cleaned face, Josephine turned her thoughts instead to examining the very ship they were now headed toward along with looking for any last-minute opportunity to run.

Simon was ahead of her, and tension lined his shoulders. He was smart. He knew precisely what awaited them and what they approached.

The only thing Josephine could consider remotely positive was the fact that she now had actual clothes and shoes—a loose fitting, long sleeve shirt and leggings paired with lightweight tennis shoes. The outfit was simple, but it made her feel more human than she had in a while, and Josephine clung desperately to that feeling.

Simon also sported a similar shirt, its grey hue not only matching hers but also the metal of the alien that had dropped her. It had occurred to Josephine immediately that the colors matched that of their new captor, and her brain immediately took that thought and ran with it, causing alarm bells to sound off in her mind.

As they neared the ship, Josephine's heart thumped wildly in her chest. The pounding in her ears only grew louder as one of the aliens from the night before, the purple one, made its way down the ramp toward them. Even the guards surrounding her and Simon seemed nervous, backing off and releasing them with a shove forward.

Simon caught her before she hit the ground, an arm wrapping possessively around her body as though it would shield her from any harm.

"That was close to time, fleshies."

It seemed almost…jovial? Josephine wasn't sure what to make of this one, as it eyed them both before procuring what looked like an oversized iPad and checking it.

"They look to be the same, but we'll have Knock Out verify it before we leave. I would suggest," his gaze lit with a hope for violence as he eyed the gaggle of soldiers that had accompanied them, "that you alert your leader that should we find any problems or if you tried to deceive us in anyway with any of our new purchases, you'll be decimated within a nanoclick."

A quiet chorus of agreements followed the statement, which seemed to only make the creature more excited.

"I don't think I heard you." The shifting sound of metal and what sounded like a gun charging came from the purple metallic giant. "Do I make myself clear?"

The effect was instantaneous. Immediately, the guards answered with a resounding yes, shuffling further away from Josephine and Simon.

"Wonderful."

And either Josephine's eyes betrayed her or the thing grinned. She shivered and briefly glanced at Simon who was staring right at the alien. He was either not afraid of it or doing a very good job at looking as though he wasn't.

"You two," red eyes snapped to them, "You can either walk or I can drag you in."

Simon looked at her, as though trying to gage her reaction. And while she was presently terrified, Josephine did not want to be picked up by one of those things again any time soon. So, she forced herself to move forward and Simon walked in step with her, releasing his arm from around her and instead gripping her hand and squeezing it once as if to say, I'm here.

"Excellent choice. Follow me, fleshies."

For every step the alien took, Josephine felt as though she had to run to keep up. By the time they'd reached their destination, she felt like they'd run five miles. Even Simon, who had to have been in better shape than her, was out of breath.

"Knock Out's our resident medic aboard the ship, but if I were you I'd be careful," it's grin turned wicked in the dim lighting of the ship's interior. "He does tend to enjoy…experimenting on new creatures."

Josephine gripped Simon's hand tighter. She wanted to run and would have, were it not for Simon's equally strong hold on her hand.

The creature let out a booming laugh, "You should see your faces! Humans… so scared of every little thing, it truly is laughable how frail you creatures are."

The alien looked down at them with glee as it pressed a button on a keypad which opened the door behind them.

"Knock Out, I've got Starscream's two fleshies here. They're all yours."

It ushered them inside the room and then the door slammed shut, making Josephine flinch. Then the sound of footsteps echoed on the metal flooring before a new metal robot came into view. This one colored a vibrant red that didn't look as though there were a scratch anywhere on its smooth surface.

"Well, what do we have here?"

The voice made her skin crawl and before Josephine could think better of it, she yanked her hand out of Simon's and ran toward the closed door, praying it would open.

And for once in her life, someone heard her silent plea.

The door slid open to reveal another one of her captors, but Josephine didn't even take a moment to consider it. She just ran.

Vaguely, Josephine thought Simon called her name, but her focus was on getting as far away as possible. She darted between the huge feet in front of her and turned left, going back the way they had come.

A brief flicker of success flared within her chest, but it was short lived. Josephine had hardly put any distance between her and her prison when a large hand wrapped around her, yanking her back and up.

Panic replaced the adrenaline that had fueled her as she fought to extricate herself. Red light washed over her as she came face to face with the alien that had saved her life earlier that day.

Tears fell down her face, certain that now that she'd attempted escape her life would be forfeit. Instead, the creature's face tilted to the side analyzing her.

"You're…leaking."

Josephine flinched, wiping at her eyes.

"Why did you run, human?"

She could only muster a slight shake of her head.

"I would like a verbal answer, and I will not ask again."

The demand was clear and brokered no room for refusal.

It took a moment for Josephine to find her voice, "I will not be one of your experiments—I don't want to."

The creature looked at her and it looked confused.

She rushed on, "The one that brought us in here, the purple one, said something about your doctor doing experiments on us and I—"

"While Knock Out does perform…tests from time to time, he is only charged with verifying your health and that we were not sold a faulty product."

Josephine winced at the word: product.

"You are lucky it was not another 'Con on the other side of the door. You would have been shot on sight as you have not been entered into our systems yet. So, I would suggest," his fingers squeezed ever so slightly tighter around her, "listening to orders if you would like to live longer than twenty-four hours."

"Thundercracker."

Immediate recognition of that voice had both Josephine and the blue robot, who she now assumed was called Thundercracker, looking toward its origin.

"Yes, Commander?"

"What are you doing with my slave?"

"She had escaped Knock Out's care and I caught her before someone extinguished her life."

"Escaped?"

"If one could call her lousy attempt at running even that."

Josephine eyes narrowed on Thundercracker, mouth opening to say something she probably would have regretted but she was deftly interrupted by the return of Knock Out.

"I swear, when I get a hold of that little—"

"You'll do what, good doctor?"

The predatorial stare that the grey robot sent to Knock Out made even Josephine want to disappear.

"Oh, uh—Commander Starscream, I was just making note that this human perhaps needed a bit of an introduction to the Decepticons beyond our…niceties."

Knock Out glared at her and Josephine tried to shrink further into Thundercracker's hand, suddenly thankful that he was the one who had found her.

"In good time, Knock Out, but for now you have explicit orders from me. I'm sure Thundercracker has already dealt with the situation accordingly." The grey one, apparently named Starscream directed his attention back to Thundercracker.

He nodded, though Josephine had to wonder whether Thundercracker held the same definition of dealing with her in the way Starscream might have desired.

"Good." His eyes flicked back to Knock Out, "Then do as you are ordered and nothing more, do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Commander Starscream."

Starscream growled under his breath before stalking past them and down a different hallway.

Knock Out folded his arms and looked at Thundercracker, "What in the Pits of Kaon has him so touchy?"

Thundercracker didn't answer, instead walking back to what she assumed must have been a medical bay of sorts. She tried to pull herself free of his grasp once more but had no luck.

"Where would you like her?"

"On the table opposite the male one." Knock Out vaguely motioned toward a table.

Josephine spied Simon, wrists and ankles bound to one of the examination tables. He looked at her as though she'd well and truly lost her mind, and she didn't really blame him. The accusation in his eyes stung, but she knew once escape had welcomed her with arms wide open, Josephine would have tried to find some way to rescue him. Deep down Josephine knew it would have been impossible and guilt began to settle into her gut as adrenaline wore off and the reality of her selfishness sunk in.

Thundercracker placed her somewhat delicately on the table, and Josephine tried to extricate herself from him as he held her in place, restraints snapping over her ankles and wrists.

Instead of leaving, Thundercracker moved over to the doors, observing as Knock Out took vials of blood from them both and did a rather invasive exam that had Josephine and Simon both swearing.

After several moments of Knock Out looking at a screen that was filled with alien looking script, he looked over his shoulder at Thundercracker.

"Screamer will be happy to note they both seem rather healthy, I'll run a few more detailed tests on their blood for personal reasons, but he got what he came here for."

"Thank the AllSpark," Thundercracker muttered.

"So," Knock Out looked down at Josephine with a smirk, "do you have a preference for where you would like what you humans call a 'tattoo'?"

He brought out a needle that looked infinitely sharper than the one that had imprinted the serial number onto her a week ago. Josephine struggled against her restraints.

"Perhaps, here?" Knock Out indicated her sternum and she recoiled. "Or here?" He pointed to her forehead.

Josephine shook her head vehemently, "Please, no."

"Ah, so it speaks!"

"Please," she repeated weakly.

"Where do you think it should go, TC? Tell me someplace good." Knock Out's smirk sent a chill through her body.

"Cut the dramatics, doctor, and just mark them for Primus' sake." Thundercracker's growl cut through the air.

Knock Out snorted, muttering something under his breath about Seekers being unable to have any fun.

"If you must have a suggestion, than her left wrist. It'd be visible at nearly all times, or at least easily accessible, and it wouldn't interfere with her people's numbering of her. Same with the male."

"Boring and predictable, but fine."

Knock Out sighed before bringing the needle to life and meeting it against her skin. Josephine squirmed at the first contact and Knock Out ordered her to hold still or the pain would be even worse. She had a feeling that it would only be worse because he'd make it so, his voice had carried a hint of excitement that he could make it as painful as possible.

He repeated the procedure on Simon and only after that did Josephine look at her wrist, now marred by some marking that looked like a face.

Before Josephine could cry at the newest tattoo that marked her as just property, another needle jabbed into her neck and she cried out in surprise and pain.

"Just in case you decide to attempt another escape and are… successful."

Knock Out moved over to Simon, inserting whatever it was that had been jabbed into her neck.

"Are you done yet?" Thundercracker's voice held a note of impatience as he eyed the medic.

"Yes, yes, calm yourself. They're good to go," Knock Out waved Thundercracker off.

The restraints sprang free and the exam tables lowered enough that Josephine could safely get down to the ground, and as soon as her feet hit the floor, Thundercracker ordered them forward and out the door.

Josephine shakily moved toward Simon, who wouldn't look at her. She grasped for his hand, holding fast even as he tried to jerk it away. Simon finally looked at her then, and she mouthed, I'm sorry. It wasn't enough to explain, but for now it would have to do. At least he didn't pull away from her after that.

As Thundercracker directed them through the maze of hallways that made up the ship, Josephine's heart sank further with each step she took. It would take her forever just to find an exit. Everything looked the same. She could have sworn they were going in circles until they came to a new door and were guided into a room.

It was essentially a brig in Josephine's mind. Though much higher-tech. The glass or whatever material had been used as a doorway to the recessed cells blocked out all sound even though Josephine could clearly make out humans talking within, or at least they looked like they were attempting to talk.

That also surprised her—the amount of humans. There was no way that this was these aliens' first time here. In fact it looked as though they'd been doing this for years, perhaps since the whole ordeal had begun. It ignited anger within her at the thought.

Thundercracker moved toward an empty cell, punched a code into the wall that activated the door and gestured for her and Simon to enter. They both hesitated and she could feel the tension grow taut between the three of them.

"Wait," the sound of her own voice surprised her. She had too many questions she wanted to ask, but Thundercracker's narrowed eyes made her settle on just one, "What—what are you exactly?"

The question caught him off guard, Thundercracker's head cocked to the side, eyes not leaving her, "For the record, you're not to speak unless spoken to, unless you would like to end up back on Knock Out's operation table for something far more painful than you could ever dream up. But, since you are…not yet acclimated I will spare you that punishment."

Josephine swallowed, "But—"

"You don't get to ask the questions, human. You are nothing but slave labor." Thundercracker knelt down to her level drawing close enough that both her and Simon took multiple steps back. "Is that understood?"

She nodded and he backed off, once more allowing them entry to a shared cell. She didn't dare question the implications of that either as they walked into their prison and the door slid into place, a locking mechanism resounding afterward.

"We are called Transformers, specifically Decepticons. Starscream, whom you have met, is in command of this vessel. You would do well to obey whatever orders he gives you," Thundercracker's gaze locked onto Josephine's, "without verbal protest."

Her eyes lingered, noting his blue coloring accented by red and grey, before landing on the engraving on his chest that was identical to the tattoo on her wrist.

He noticed her stare because he tapped a long metal finger on his own marking, explaining before she could verbally try to ask.

"This is the Decepticon insignia. It's a badge of honor to those who bear the symbol, no matter whether they be a Decepticon through and through, or a lesser lifeform."

The last phrase was pointedly directed at her, but she chose to ignore the jab. Josephine looked back to her wrist, fingers trailing over the unusual marking.

She wanted to ask more, but Thundercracker had already left, and that was dismissal enough.

Josephine could feel Simon's gaze on her as she sighed and took in her new living arrangement. It felt colder than their previous cell, and Josephine was suddenly grateful for the long sleeve shirt she'd been given. Their beds were less actual beds and more like cots, only a thin scrap of a blanket covered them, and there were no pillows or anything that might give them some sense of comfort.

Tears threatened to fall once more as the dark metal floor and walls seemed to make the space feel that much smaller and constraining.

"I'm sorry about earlier," she finally stated. The words easing a small weight off of her chest. Josephine glanced to Simon, worried at his silence.

He worried his lip before looking back to her, "I know it was less intentional and more reactionary. I was just caught off guard is all." Simon shrugged, "No hard feelings at all though, okay?"

Josephine blew out a sigh of relief, thankful that he at least understood that in the moment her first thought had been to get away and get out.

"I've been running for so long, and I think instinct for me at this point is to try to constantly run and find a way out." She paused and leaned back against one of the walls, "It's also been a long time since I've had to consider another person."

Simon walked over to her side, nodding, "It's weird after so much time of thinking singularly about yourself, one would think it would be almost a relief to have another person around. And it is, but it makes it harder too. We both have had a lot of time focused on just surviving, making it to tomorrow, and praying to live until someone in this universe got some sense knocked into them and fixed the world."

She huffed a laugh in agreement, and he echoed it. They both glanced at each other before he continued on, "And it's not going to be rewired in a day or a week. Especially considering the hand that fate has dealt us."

"Is this your way of breaking down our fight or flight responses?"

"For my own sanity, yes."

Josephine nudged his shoulder, "I'm not leaving this place without you. Two heads would be much better than one if we make it out of this alive."

"When," he corrected her.

She snorted, "It's a major if, Simon. You saw them just the same as I did."

"I choose to believe you and I will work the system in our favor. Not all of them seemed that bad."

Josephine raised an eyebrow.

"Okay so the Thundercracker one didn't seem that bad…"

"He literally threatened me with becoming that so-called medic's next experiment if I step out of line."

"But, he also saved your life earlier," Simon pointed out.

She rolled her eyes, "I'm pretty sure they just didn't want to have to pay for something they wouldn't get to keep."

"Someone," he gently said.

Josephine looked away at that. It was a conversation she was not ready to have yet, so she redirected it and, thankfully, Simon didn't press the subject further.

"What do you think they actually want us here for?"

He sighed, "Prayerfully, for something dull and stupid."

She laughed, "Yes, I like the sound of that." A small smile touched her lips at the thought of these gigantic metal robots needing them for something menial like cleaning. It was laughable, but at the end of the day, what could they actually use a human like her for? Josephine felt a sense of relief at the thought and it carried her over the next several hours; even as the ship lifted from earth's atmosphere and took her and Simon into the vastness of awaiting galaxies.