Author's Note:

So I wanted something fun, as I was stumped on starting the 1st prequel for my Treasure Planet series: "Starlit Life" entitled "By a Strand of Fate" (for more information on my series, see my profile)... What did I think up? Well… rather than working on my other fanfics (which I should probably be doing), I decided to create this series of one-shots featuring characters from Treasure Planet doing some random stuff. Think of these as plot bunnies, possibilities from alternate universes, episodes of a cheesy morning cartoon show, or spontaneous scenarios… if you will. Anyway, I guess I'll write up a few little drabbles, but they may multiply if I get enough inspiration… Enjoy!

Cast Line-Up: BEN, Mister Scroop

Drabble Rating: PG-13 (For mild cursing)

Suggested By: Original (Author's crazy thoughts)

Basic Scenario: (Slight Alternative Universe) BEN is guarding Scroop's prison cell.

1. Personal Hell

After all he had endured and survived, it had been the work of the same nosy cabin boy -now a captain for the Royal Navy- that had tossed the devious Mister Scroop in the slammer. The judge said that he had 'lucked out' in gaining prison time rather than a life sentence at the gallows, but now… Scroop was sure that the smug justice of the peace was being sarcastic. Worse of all, it was his prison guard that was less than tolerable for the crimson arachnid to last the next twenty-five years in prison.

A routine day in the high security prison block, filled with hundreds of the cosmos' scum and criminals, started near the crack of dawn. Two heavily armed robots would enter his cell, to double-check that his titanium-alloy chains kept him anchored properly to the cold prison wall, particularly regarding the thick shackles that kept his pincers from opening.

After the robots left, an inadequate breakfast was served to all of the prisoners. In the first few days as a prisoner, Scroop had denied himself all meals, up to the point were he was on the brink of starvation. The warden then ordered a squad to force-feed the arachnid. This, Scroop did not like, so he began eating the normal meals that were served on a daily basis to avoid the painful tub being shoved down his throat and having nauseous slime pour into his stomach, which he would often throw up after the ordeal.

Once he had finished off his breakfast the rest of the day would begin. This was the most strenuous part of the day, though it didn't involve any backbreaking labour. It was when his prison guard would pace near the front of his cell, idly whistling a random tune, with his rusty metal clunking at each footfall. He would chatter endlessly on about whatever was on his memory chip; something that Scroop personally wanted to tear out of the back of the android's head and rip to pieces.

The robot, whom always insisted being called: 'BEN', often blabbered on and on about his past life. He spoke to Scroop as if he were some old friend, and casually leaned on one hand against the barred door of the cell, taunting the cell's occupant to no end.

The first hour or so of the morning, BEN would often explain in detail about what went on the previous night; whether it was filling out paperwork, some party he attended, or exactly how many orders of purp juices he had to serve while waiting at the Benbow Inn.

Suffice to say that Mister Scroop could care less about the BEN's constant rambling, and hardly wasted words on the short robot. The arachnid had discovered -from the first few days of listening to BEN's annoyingly, high-pitched voice- that no matter how many choice curse words he bombarded the android with, the latter would continue with whatever he was talking about.

Next came lunch, which was similar to breakfast. Scroop endured a few more hours of the ranting robot until dinner, when the arachnid was blessed with a moment of peace as BEN switched with the silent robot on night shift duty. Then the next day would begin… the same as usual.

One day, however, was different for Scroop. He woke up, as per usual, ate most of his breakfast, though he wasn't feeling particularly hungry, and then waited for the annoying robot to begin his duty. Unfortunately for Scroop, there was a painful migraine developing in his red head. The first two hours of BEN's rambling was tolerable, but as noon approached, the light from the midday's sun filtered into his cell, causing him some sensitivity. After eating his lunch, Scroop found that the combine efforts of the sunlight and BEN's talking were like two serrated hands prying open the halves of his skull.

Scroop gritted his fangs together and tried to shield his golden eyes from the sunlight. But even through his closed eyes, BEN's voice kept the pain at its throbbing apex. How much time had gone by already? A minute? An hour? It was hard to tell through the intense headache.

"So there I was, with fifteen glasses of purp juice-"

"BEN."

The robot snapped out of his ramble to register that the crimson arachnid had actually used his name, for once. He was silenced for a moment, until he could recuperate from shock. "Y-Yes?"

"Shut up." Scroop hissed. "I have a headache."

"Oh…" BEN looked around the empty prison block, making sure it was deserted, and creaked away for a moment.

Scroop inhaled slowly, the echoing silence was thick enough to scour with a cutlass, though it wasn't kept for too long.

Soon BEN's squeaking gears reverberated through the hallways and the robot returned. He double-checked the empty prison block and then typed the code that unlocked Scroop's cell into the door's keypad. The metal door opened and BEN quickly clunked over to the chained prisoner.

Scroop narrowed his eyes at the robot, who was carrying a thick blanket of sorts.

BEN leapt -with surprising agility- up the wall, utilising two picks that had come out of his feet to anchor himself to the wall, until he reached the topmost window. The android unfurled the blanket and covered the window, shadowing most of the cell. BEN hopped from the wall, landing with a ceremonious crash on the hard floor; then the robot simply climbed back onto his feet and exited the cell.

After closing the door behind him, BEN waited outside Scroop's cell in silence. Scroop felt relief pass over his body from the cover of dark.

"Thanks." Scroop mumbled slightly.

BEN let out a sort of half-chuckle and then continued his silence.

Maybe the next twenty-five years in his personal hell wouldn't be that bad.

Author's Note:

By the way, if you want to see a particular drabble written up, I'm definitely up for suggestions.

Manga Girl # 6