AN – Hey guys, it's me, Prodigal. Sorry about the delay, but when I saw what people were saying in reviews I HAD to continue. So, here's the next chapter!
PS – There have been some minor changes to the last chapter, but none too important.
Chapter 3 – Disturbed
Jack's POV
I sprang upright in bed for the second time. At least that's what it seemed like to me. At that moment I was completely confused; was that entire 'conversation' just a dream? Was it all a mental problem caused by the shock? Or... is there really something going on here? These and other questions plagued my mind, and at that moment, a headache decided to be a glitch and erupt. I clutched my head in agony as it spread, like a fire really was inside my brain! I was forced to fight back the screams in my throat, lest my mom hear them.
Just when I felt I had reached my limit, when I couldn't take anymore, it stopped. And I let the sigh of relief escape my lips. I chose that time to glance at my alarm clock; it read "07:47". I was awake at an unusually early time, but hey! I guess having a headache will do that to you.
"Ok, think about Jack. There's no way you can have the mind of an alien warlord inside of your brain, is there? Then again, I've seen stranger..." That was the only though on my mind for a while; I didn't want to think about that "dream" if that was what it was. I hoped to god that my fear wasn't needed. I proceeded to get washed, get ready and prepare my school stuff. When I got to my bedroom door and opened it, I remembered. "Oh, hey mom."
"'Hey, mom', is that all you can say? You came in last night from god knows where, claim to have been at a friend's house, and then try to brush me off?! Look, Jack..." She suddenly wrapped her arms around me. Didn't see that coming! "I know you don't like to burden, but you had me worried last night." She admitted, tears coming to her eyes.
"You... You're not mad?" I asked, though I was hesitant to do so. Come on, she was yelling last night and now she's suddenly completely concerned? I guess I don't understand moms yet.
"Mad? Of course I'm mad! But I love you too much, and when I found you might be sick I... I rethought things. Are you feeling better?"
"I'm still having headaches, but otherwise I'm fine. Am I allowed to go to school today?" I had to go, even if I didn't like it. She wiped her tears with her left hand and then pressed her right one to my forehead. Then she lifted my shirt and pressed it to my chest.
"Well, you're temperature's down, so's your heart rate. Alright, but any sign of trouble in school then you come straight home. I'll give you a note for your teacher." Mom explained to me.
"Cool." I sighed, but then she said something else.
"But first, breakfast."
"Aww..." "Well, they say your brain works better with food in your belly." I thought. What? That's what Mom always tells me.
On the Nemesis
Starscream walked into the ship's medbay, schemes ever brewing in his mind. Though, right now he simply had questions for Knockout, the medic. Well, he isn't the best doctor, given his personality, but he was the only one the 'cons had at the time. He spotted the medic near Megatron's in-stasis body.
"And how is the patient today, doctor?" He asked the hot rod, who turned from his position near the screens off to the side; clearly he had be monitoring the warlord's vitals. He had managed to stabilise Megatron after the autobot femme tried to destroy the life support system with her guns.
"Funny you should ask; don't know what the bots did to him in there, but he's now registering zero brainwave activity." That got the seeker's interest. Could it be..?
"Meaning?" He asked, and Knockout explained.
"Physically, he's stable, but... no one's home..."
In Jack's garage...
Arcee was waiting impatiently for Jack to come down; she had been since last night. Luckily, decepticon activity had been at a low with Megatron likely gone. Still, he had come through Primus knows what before... "Morning, 'Cee." Whispered the voice she'd been waiting to hear.
"Hey, Jack, sleep well?" She asked him.
"Actually I... I-I did ok." She noted the hesitation in his voice, but didn't pry. "What about you? Anything happen since last night?"
"Not really. So, school?" Asked the femme.
"Yep." The teen confirmed, and they set off. Arcee easily noticed that he was quiet for most of the ride, like something was troubling him. Again, she didn't want to pry, but she did need to find out if anything's changed about him.
"What's on your mind, Jack?"
"Uh, nothing. I just had a weird dream last night."
"You want to talk about it?"
"Not really." He said quietly as he shook his head.
"Well, you should at least talk to your mom about it." Arcee suggested, becoming concerned. If only mildly. He didn't say anything after that, like his mind was seriously... disturbed...
Jasper High, Jack's POV
The ride to school had been surprisingly boring, when compared to my normal days. I just can't stop thinking about last night. That "dream" or whatever you want to call it has really burned itself into my mind. I got off of Arcee when we arrived, and pretended to park her properly. Not that I needed to, but the 'bots are undercover after all.
"See you around Arcee." I said as I turned to walk away.
"See yah, Jack, don't go looking for trouble." I heard her say. "Yeah, but trouble usually finds me, you should know that by now you idiotic—Whoa! That was over the top. Where'd that come from?" My train of though was interrupted when I caught site of a certain redhead messing with a certain kid.
"Great." Breathed to myself. Vince couldn't have picked a worse time to star bullying Raf.
"Come on! Give it back!" Raf pleaded, trying to get his bag back from the bully who was holding it out of reach. "I need my papers!"
"Ah, now that's a shame, isn't it?" Vince mocked him. "Why that no good, hot-headed son of a glitch!" "Be a shame if something happened to it." "That's it; I can't just stand and watch this happen!" I walked over to Vince, and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around with a scowl on his face. "What the hell do you want, Darby?!"
"Vince, it's too early for this. Just leave him alone."
"Or what?"
"Do you want to know what happens?"
"Oh yeah! I'm guessing, I break your nose and you run away screaming 'mommy!'" This was getting nowhere fast.
"Vince, come on We both know I'm your favourite target, don't we?"
"So what? Doesn't mean you're my only one!" "Damn it, he's just not backing down!"
"Well I wish I was, 'cause then no-one else would have to put up with your unbelievable stupidity!"
"What'd you say?" He dropped the bag and walked over to me. "Oh, scrap." "I couldn't hear you from all the way over there." He pointed to the position two metres away where he was just standing! In that moment, I think I lost it. I don't know what happened; I just remember completely losing my temper.
"I said you are an idiotic low-life who prides himself on constantly tormenting those who he thinks are less than him!" I stopped for breath, and realised what I'd just said. Then saw him send his fist flying at my face. Before I could register it, I moved out of the way and grabbed his arm. Then, I swept his leg and got him on the floor. I didn't even want to do it; it was like my own body acted of its own accord! I got control again though. Before he got up I walked over to Raf, grabbing his bag as I did. "Here, take it and go, Raf. Just go!" And he and I took off inside.
Class
I gazed at the complicated equation on the board mounted on the wall. It wasn't the hardest of work I've done, but we all had to revise for the exams at the end of the year.
"So when you apply the formula assuming that a=13 and b=-7 you..." I zoned out the teacher's conversation while trying to avoid the evil looks that Vince was giving me. How evil were they? Well, it looked like he wanted to stab me in the throat right now. He probably wouldn't, he'll probably settle for my shoulder. Still, he wasn't my major concern, I mean, what the frag was going on? I was struggling to keep my cool after what just happened outside; I never act like that. Getting mad over someone or something to the point of losing my temper. "Wait a minute... I t happened before didn't it? In the autobot base."
"And you wonder why, don't you?" I froze. That voice, it couldn't be! In my head?! Actually talking to me?
"...Megatron?!"
AN – Don't forget about how economy works now. Chapters cost reviews. Reviews that you WILL give to me!
