The Choice Part 1

Title: The Choice Part 1
Pairing(s): None
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Geishaformers, mentioned death, TFA
Notes: If you don't not know much about geishas and stuff, go here - fav.me/d4r7ekh.

XXX

Charlotte sat quietly in her cell, putting yet another mark on the wall. She looked over the markings and shook her head in despair as she saw them, wishing it wasn't true, wishing she were on Earth.

She herself had never been there before. She was the third generation of inbred humans to live in these cells. Still, even she understood that a life on a planet filled with her own kind was probably far better than a life trapped in a clear container like a lab rat. There were some that accepted this lifestyle, this imprisonment. Even Charlotte understood that it could be worse.

They were given food three times a day, though it did taste like crap and incredibly bland. Everyone had their own individual cell, unless a man and a woman were required or wanted to breed together and when a child was under the age of five. They stayed with their parents until the scientists put them into their own cell; they did keep the cells close though. Everyone had clothes – men wore a basic white jumpsuit while women wore white dresses that came down to their knees. In midday every day, everyone was allowed to interact with each other in a large and secured room, which was monitor, for a total of four hours. It was a safe life, to be honest.

But Charlotte was not part of the group that simply accepted this. This wasn't life as a human. This was life as a prisoner. The watching, the constant demand for staying clean, the lack of education they really needed – this was a not a life at all. They were simply lab rats, those being fifteen or older eligible to be tested on.

She honestly didn't know what experiments these Cybertronians, these Autobots were performing. They didn't keep it a secret either. They even told them every now and then that the humans were being used for the great good of science. Whatever lie they gave them, the humans simply took it. It wasn't like they could defy their captors. They could easily squish them with their feet! But any time they took a human away, that human never came back.

It didn't take a genius to figure out what happened to them. But the faces of the families, the friends – it was just too hard to look at it. This was not a life they should have been living. But being the third generation of humans living here, there was just nothing they could do. No escape. They didn't even know how to get to Earth! God only knew how far away Earth was away from wherever they were.

Charlotte looked across from her cell, spotting her fifteen year old friend Marissa sitting quieting on the floor. She gave a small wave to her when she looked up, smiling when the younger girl gave a shy wave back. Despite Marissa being eleven years younger, Charlotte enjoyed Marissa's company. Not to mention her heart went out to the girl. Both of Marissa's parents had been used in experiments, her father when she was six and her mother when she was twelve. Twelve and an orphan – it simply wasn't right.

Age was irrelevant when it came to friends. Charlotte knew and was close to others of all ages. It was for survival. The elders knew how things worked around this place while the younger ones knew how to make everything seem perfectly fine, even when it was complete hell. Charlotte found a balance with her friends and so far, it had kept her safe and sane.  

She heard a knock against the side of her cell. She looked over and saw her friend and neighbor Zachary. She stood up and walked over to him, not particularly liking the look on his face. It was full of worry, of dread. She frowned.

"What is it?" she asked softly. Despite the glass, it was pretty thin and things could be easily heard.

"I counted the days since the last experiment," he said. "And I've heard from the scientists conversing with each other… They're running another one today. As to who they picked… All I know is that the cell number begins with a seven."

Charlotte couldn't help but to be slightly relieved. Her cell number did not begin with a seven, but she had friends that had cell numbers that began with it. She huffed and shook her head. "This isn't fair."

He shrugged. "It happens… The most we can do is just–"

The door to the room that their cells were in opened and the entire room hushed as they saw the robot by the name of Perceptor walk in. For the most part, Charlotte more or less liked him. He seemed to be very cold and calculating with that monotone voice of his. Still, he listened to complaints when they were made and tried to fix him the best he could. She spotted the small jar in his hand, the same jar many of people have gone into and never returned to their cells. She swallowed as he walked toward her area, nearing the cells that were labeled with seven at the beginning.

Her heart dropped when she saw the red mech approach Marissa cell, which carried the number label 748904. Marissa cowered toward the back of her cell as Perceptor opened it. Charlotte shook her head in horrified disbelief. No – Marissa was too young! They couldn't have selected her! She wasn't even an adult yet! She was just a kid! A terrified and orphaned kid!

"Stop it!" Charlotte screamed, slamming her palms against the glass cell. "Not her! Please! Not her!"

Zachary's eyes widened as he looked at her from his cell. "Charlotte!" he hissed. "Shut up!"

But Charlotte wouldn't shut up. Marissa was like her little sister in a way. Ever since she was orphaned, Charlotte had taken care of Marissa, had watched out for her. She wouldn't and couldn't just idly sit by and do nothing. She just had to do something, anything. And at the moment, screaming and begging was the only thing that came to mind.

"Stop it!" she begged. "You-You can't! Not her! Please! Don't do it to her! You can't!"

Perceptor turned away from Marissa's cell and looked at the petite, brown-haired woman curiously. "I can do whatever is necessary for the experiments and her cell was selected."

"Then…! Then pick someone else!" she shouted. "Please! J-Just not her!"

There was a collective murmur throughout the cells, but Charlotte paid no mind to it. Her focus was on Marissa. What she had just said was selfish, was cruel to the others. Yes, she did favor this girl's life over the others, but to hell with survival. She couldn't let this happen to the orphan. Not when she was so young.

Perceptor continued to look at her with a blank expression. "Then who would you suggest to be a good candidate for this test aside from her?"

The words died on Charlotte's tongue. She wouldn't dare call out on anyone else, even if she hated that person. This experiment was basically death. No one had come back after being taken away. She couldn't wish that upon anyone else, but she certainly couldn't allow it to happen to Marissa. But if she didn't say anyone else's name, Marissa would be taken away.

Her stomach tightened as she pressed her palms hard against the glass window, biting her bottom lip. No. It was suicide. She couldn't just give herself away like that. She wanted to live just as much as any other. Still, this eventually happened to everyone. It wouldn't be long until they would pick her. And even if she saved Marissa, it would happen to her eventually too. But this way, she would have more time to grow, to find some form of life in this hell.

When the human didn't answer, Perceptor turned back to the other human female cowering in the cell's far right corner. Just as he reached in again, he heard the other human said in a small, but strict voice, "I… I'll do it…"

It felt like an eternity as Perceptor turned around and stared at her curiously. The other humans just stared at her in horror, eyes wide and mouths agape. Charlotte couldn't be serious. She was willing to do this? To simply give herself away for someone else? This had to have been a lie, a trick.

But Charlotte looked up at the red mech with a hard and determined expression, her hands clenching into tight fists. Marissa was too young. She was only fifteen. Charlotte was twenty-six. She understood and knew her fate would be sealed eventually. She was prepared for this day to come for her. She could take Marissa's place, gladly.

"Are you certain?" he asked, wondering if this was simply bravado on the female's part.

"I wouldn't be saying I'd do it unless I meant it," she growled, glaring at him.

Perceptor stared at her for a few more moments before nodding. "Very well." He closed Marissa's cell and walked over to Charlotte's opening it up and pulling her gently out of the cell. She couldn't help but to pale a bit as she was lifted up and place in a jar. Needless to say, it was nerve-wracking to be carried through down the aisle, all eyes on her.

She inhaled deeply, trying to calm herself down. She did the right thing. She saved Marissa from possibly getting killed and she was fine with that. Sure, she had been preparing herself for this day to come for her, but the idea of dying was still not a comforting thought. Truth be told, she was terrified, but she had made a choice she didn't regret. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw what looked like a thousand eyes on her as she was carried out of the room, probably to be never seen again.

It was okay though. She had made the choice and it was one that she did not regret.