Ugh, here we go. Someone always wants to know my story. I don't really understand why, but since you're wondering... Well, here we go...

I wasn't born on Kreludor, where most grundos are born at. My parents were slaves for Dr. Sloth, and so I was born on the Virtupets Space Station. I pretty much worked with my mom- handing her tools and such- until I was old enough to work alone. At first I didn't mind being a slave. Well actually, I don't think I knew I was a slave.

One night I got put on a job in the Grundos Cafe. As you know, this area of the space station is open to free neopians. That was the first time I had ever seen anything that wasn't a grundo or a robot. At first, I was really afraid of them all, especially when they talked. Neopians and grundos speak different languages you know. Anyway as time went on, I started to notice other differences between us. They didn't get beaten if they spilled their food, and they always seemed to be smiling. Smiles among us grundos were rare. The most amazing thing I saw was that they could come and go as they pleased. I didn't know things worked that way. I had always thought that you had to ask permission to leave- as if your body wouldn't move until you did!

I was so confused by this freedom that I decided to try and walk off like the others did. Well... it didn't work as easily as I had thought. As soon as I stepped through the door, an alarm sounded (Us slaves have tracking devices hooked through our ears which looks like an earring). Three brutish mutant grundos came out of doors that were hidden in the walls. Two of them snatched me up, and the other reassured the customers. I didn't struggle, I was too terrified. It was the first time I had ever really gotten into trouble. We disappeared into more wall-doors, and I was marched through my cell block. The cell blocks are kinda like miniature indoor neighborhoods made up of rusty metal cells. All of my friends watched me walk by, and they looked afraid for me. My mom saw me, and I wished she hadn't. The look she had across her face was so filled with terror that you'd think I was about to be executed. I didn't like people making my mom feel bad, so at that I lost my helpless, scared slave attitude- forever.

Now I felt more angry than scared. How could they make my mom worry so much? I'm sure I'll be fine. After a series of corridors and other cell blocks filled with frightened grundos, we entered the tallest door I've ever seen. Inside was all kinds of computers, weapons, and a giant window looking out over the world of Neopia. We walked up to a large U-shaped desk, with a tall, dark chair sitting behind it. Yes?A voice, like nails on a chalkboard asked. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Your greatness... we caught this little slave trying to escape down at Grundos Cafe. Even this hulking grundo sounded afraid, and I realised why.

The chair slowly turned around to face us. Seated in it was the tall ominous figure of Dr. Sloth. I started to freeze up again, as his cold eyes scanned my face. His skin was green and looked slimy and disgusting. He smiled cruelly, and showed his numerous crooked yellow teeth. Hmph... I've never seen this one before... What is your name? His slow, cold voice made my skin crawl. It took me a second to get the words out of my mouth. Dark...I said it so quietly that I was sure he didn't hear me, but he did. Dark? That's an original name. I could tell he was being sarcastic, but his voice kept its creepyness. Well, Dark...He started to stand up, and lean slowly over the desk. Then at once he snatched me by the shirt so fast that I let out a small yelp. He pulled my face very close to his. I actually felt a little safer because the mutants still had a grip on my arms. I'm going to let you go with a... warning this time, since you seem to stay out of trouble. His breath was incredibly foul-like rotten neggs. I quickly glanced away, for fear of staring him in the eyes. He must have noticed, for at once he jerked me closer. You may get off easy this time, but for your sake, you had better pray that we never meet again... His grin had faded, and a complete look of hate took over his face. He then released his hold by shoving me into the gaurds. What would you like us to do, your Greatness? One gaurd asked, standing me back up. Sloth sat back in his chair, and the grin again traveled over his face. Give him a warning that he will never forget.

If I had known what was about to happen, I think I would have tried harder to escape. I was taken to a cell that was stained with something I think could have only been blood. There, I was beaten within an inch of my life. That is what most of my scars are from. I used to wonder how much a whip hurt, because I had friends who had been whipped. Now I really wished I didn't know what it felt like. My back was on fire, and I could feel the blood running over the gashes, which I think hurt worse. I had to spend a week in the infirmary before I could return to work.

I was afraid again; well for a little while anyway. I was very careful to do everything perfect so I wouldn't get in trouble and I'd never bother anyone or ask questions or- hey... I figured it out. That's what they want me to do. The beating was a way of trying to break me, and I wasn't about to be broken.
TO BE CONTINUED...