The Sound of Silence [Transformers Fanfic]

One Step Closer to the Edge

“Spring Break session is eventful. Research has been going along well. How’s your break been, specimen?”

Sam blinked blearily. Was…he actually talking to him? This was the first time any of them had talked to him and it was even the head scientist. Or researcher. Whatever the hell these people were.

He opened his mouth, but it was so dry that he couldn’t say anything. So he merely blinked twice more in answer.

The man laughed lightly. “You’ve done wonderful work for us, specimen. Did you know –because of you we are on our way to a safer cure for cancer?”

‘Good for you. I feel like I have fucking cancer’ was what Sam wanted to sneer back. Though inwardly, a part of him was a bit surprised and glad that something good was coming out of his suffering, at the least. He even felt a bit prideful.

Wait –was this Stockholm Syndrome?

Probably not, but it was enough to make Sam start hyperventilating. It made the man noticed, but he said nothing of it.

“You’re perfect,” the man murmured. “Absolutely perfect.”

The man moved and Sam warily watched him, seeing him wedge the block of wood more between his tied together ankles, just now noticing it. Then he noticed the sledgehammer.

He wasn’t…going to hobble Sam, ala Misery-style, was he? Oh shit, he was.

“We’re going to attempt a possibly lasting injury to continue examining your healing capabilities. We also would like to see how your healing compares to a normal human.”

Just as the sledgehammer was brought up, he forced himself to black out.

“Sam, get up.”

Sam didn’t want to. He wanted to lie on the floor, feeling the echoing pain traveling from his ankles. Couldn’t Mikaela see? His ankles were broken. He couldn’t just get up. He was broken.

“Get up.”

“I can’t,” he muttered.

“Yes, you can. Your mind is strong, Sam. In here, you can do whatever you want. Get up.”

Sam bit his lip, tentatively pushing himself to his hands and knees and then unsteadily standing on his feet, surprised he didn’t buckle back down and that his ankles didn’t stop him. He looked down and they were fine.

He cried.

He didn’t care that Mikaela was watching him or that he was shedding tears. He was standing and could walk and there was no pain.

He felt her embracing him through his tears, and he knelt his head bracingly into her neck, still crying.

When he opened his eyes again, it was to the bright lights of the ceiling overhead. His lower half felt completely numb and he blankly lowered his head as much as he could, glimpsing the abnormal angles his ankles had bent to. He felt so apathetic right then that he couldn’t even feel the need to start sobbing.

“After the success of the appendix experiment, impromptu as it was, we would be much obliged if you could lend us your liver, specimen. I’m sure it’ll grow back.”

This time, he didn’t have the luxury of passing out before the operation could be complete.

“We made the mistake of taking out the entire organ last time. It took too long to regenerate; the CMO alien caught it and we almost exposed ourselves. It’s a good thing the documents were quickly forged for his ‘appointment’ to have it removed. We’ll leave a piece in the specimen, let it regenerate for two months like our sample –just enough time before his next break –and the part we take will regenerate within 24 hours.”