Well here is the promised Lucas POV chapter! Just a quick look at how he's feeling about everything. Hope you enjoy it and I'll update with the next chapter as soon as I can!
P.S. Who else is totally excited for Star Wars? It's so close now!
Lucas:
I was walking. I'd been walking for hours and yet I'd barely seemed to progress. All around me were tall trees and exotic plants that swayed in the gentle breeze. It was beautiful. I'd never seen anywhere so lush and full of vivid colour before. The jungle I was in was so full of life. It was a complete contrast of my home that had had death around every corner. The air was so clean and sweet. The grass covered ground was soft and yet firm. I could have happily walked for miles.
Yet I knew I was on a mission. I couldn't remember what I was doing or where I was going; but I knew it was of the upmost importance. I carried a backpack that I knew contained something valuable. Several times I'd nearly stopped and looked inside; but something told me not to get distracted. I had to keep moving.
Not even the fading light stopped me. As the night began to descend around me, casting its eerie shadow, I still marched on through the never-ending forest. Then suddenly above me, I heard a loud purring. As I looked up to the heavens, I saw something I never expected to see in my lifetime. A large meteor was burning through the sky. I stopped moving and just stared up at it in awe. I smiled up at the spectacle, feeling completely at peace for the first time in my life.
Then suddenly my peace was broken by an ear-piercing scream. A loud boom echoed through the trees as if someone had just set off a bomb. My alarmed eyes scanned around the area, looking for its source. At first there was nothing; the forest was silent once more. But then I detected smoke, slithering high above the trees.
My feet began slowly moving toward the source of the smoke. Then instinct started taking over and I sprinted forward. Although I couldn't be sure, the scream had sounded so familiar. Someone I loved was in trouble; I was sure of it. Running as fast as I could, I pelted through the forest, looking for the accident. As I stumbled out of the tree line into a large open space, I saw a vehicle in the distance.
Temporarily, I froze. A large tree had fallen right on top of the vehicle, surely crushing whoever was inside. Bright orange flames were dancing all across the bonnet. I knew the rover would be engulfed in a matter of minutes.
Without thinking, I started running forward once more. I dropped my rucksack on the ground behind me, lessening my weight so I could get to the accident faster. The heat intensified as I homed in on the rover. I tried calling out to whoever was inside, but I didn't get a reply. Then suddenly I was knocked off my feet as the vehicle exploded into oblivion. I got the feeling of falling and then there was nothing but blackness.
XXX
I woke with a start, adrenaline shooting through my veins. It took me a moment to place my surroundings. But then I realised I'd never left the hospital room I'd been locked up in. I sat up slowly in my bed, feeling my mind burning with confusion. I'd had that dream three times that week. Each time I ran to that rover and each time I never got there quick enough. I'd never seen the driver; yet I felt like I knew who it was. I felt like it was someone I cared about very much. My chest burned with real feelings of regret that I hadn't been able to save that person.
I massaged my forehead with my fingers, feeling a headache coming on. I'd never been one for sleep. Normally I was plagued with memories of Somalia. I couldn't even count the number of times I'd watched my mother die.
Unable to sit still, I climbed out from my bed. I crossed the small room over to the door that led into the attached bathroom. I flicked the light on and flinched at the brightness as my eyes adjusted. Then I went to the sink and splashed some cold water up onto my face.
Leaning my hands against the sink, I stared at the reflection in the mirror. It seemed impossible that I wouldn't recognise my own reflection. But I'd changed so much. My skin was tanned as if I'd spent a lot of time outside. I appeared more weathered, suggesting I'd lived through some battles. Turning my head to the left, I eyed the two large scars on the right of my neck. They had been the most shocking alteration. I couldn't remember meeting the monster that had provided me with them. The only recognisable feature of mine, were my green eyes that still contained the same look of hurt and sorrow. Everything else had changed.
I turned away, staring instead at the blank tiled wall. I wanted to remember. I needed to know what had happened to me. I hit my knuckles hard against my forehead three consecutive times, willing for my mind to start working again. It had never let me down before in the past. I couldn't understand why it chose to desert me then, when I needed its knowledge the most. I knew only I had the answers; I just didn't know how to unlock them.
XXX
"Lucas!" The old man greeted cheerfully as he walked into the room. He always tried to sound bright whenever he visited me, though I knew it was only an act. I could see he'd lost all of his hope when it came to me. "It's good to see you up and about." He remarked. I pulled a face. Instead of being slouched in bed, I was sat at the table opposite. My father had brought me in a chess set to keep me occupied; and like the loner I was, I was sat there playing against myself. He marched over and sat down opposite me, still keeping the smile on his face. "How are you feeling?" He questioned.
I shrugged my shoulders.
"Bored." I mumbled as I knocked over the black king with a white bishop.
"Well is there anything else that I can bring you?"
I rested my chin in the palm of my hand and looked pitifully over at the old man.
"My freedom." I replied.
He smirked at me.
"Lucas, you are a free man. You just need to be in here for now whilst they figure out how to reverse what's happened to you."
I rolled my eyes.
"Wake up old man. I'm not going to get better." I reasoned, sitting back up straight. "Those memories have gone and I'm not getting them back. That part of my life is dead. The best you could hope for now is that I can start a new one."
My father exhaled lowly. A glum frown formed on his brow.
"There are still things they could try." He announced.
I shook my head.
"What's the point? We all know it's not going to work."
"Well it won't if that's your attitude." He snapped.
I glared.
"Don't you think I want to be able to remember this amazing life I apparently ended up having? Of course I want to know everything that happened to me. I want to believe I somehow loved Skye. I want to believe I ended up getting over the pain I feel every single second of every single day for mom. But I'm not getting better. I've accepted that and I'm ready to move on. But I can't do that in this place." I clenched my fists. "It's driving me mad." I hissed.
The old man sighed.
"Lucas..." He frowned deeply, seemingly lost for words. He knew I was right. He just didn't want to believe it. "If you want to be discharged, then okay. I will sort that for you."
My eyes widened as I stared at my father. That hadn't been the reaction I'd been expecting. He was never that reasonable.
"What's the catch?" I questioned.
"There's no catch. If it's what you want, then fine. I won't keep you here for no reason."
I frowned quizzically, still refusing to trust him.
"So I leave this place, then what?"
He shrugged his shoulders.
"What do you want?"
"I don't want to come live with you." I replied.
He smirked.
"You're a grown man now Lucas. I wouldn't expect you to live with me. Besides, I don't think there's a house here big enough to occupy us both." He chuckled slightly to himself. Still I frowned mistrustfully. "No...I'll arrange for your own place."
"In Terra Nova?"
"Well where else would you go?"
"Back out in the jungle, alone."
My father's mouth fell open at that statement.
"You remember living out there?" He asked.
I smirked and shook my head.
"No. But I know that's what I did."
He narrowed his eyes at me. Then a look of realisation hit him.
"Skye told you."
"Someone had to." The old man angrily shook his head. He looked pissed. A deep, furious frown shaped his brow. "Where is she?" I queried suddenly. The old man glanced back at me, irritation still full in his eyes. "Skye." I clarified.
She hadn't visited me since I'd woken up from the surgery. But I wanted to see her. It was nice to have someone other than my father to talk to; and unlike most people, I didn't actually mind her company.
"She's been busy." He grumbled.
"Too busy for me?" I remarked, knowing it would piss off the old man.
He leant forward in his seat.
"She don't want to see you Lucas; and I ain't gunna force her too."
For a second, I actually felt hurt at his words. But I quickly pushed those feelings to one side and instead plastered a smug smirk on my face.
"Well I guess I'll be able to go see her when I finally do get out of this place."
The old man slammed his fist down on the table so hard that one of the knights on my chessboard fell over.
"Stay the hell away from her."
I slouched back in my chair, still smirking.
"Or what?"
My father looked close to erupting. His face was red from rage.
"Don't test me boy." He growled.
I smirked.
"And here's the father I know." I shook my head. "The real you is always there, isn't it? All that anger and regret, just boiling beneath the surface." I leant forward again. "You may have everyone here fooled, but not me. I can see you for what you really are and they will too one day. You will lose everyone...including your precious Skye."
At that, the old man sent the chessboard flying. I watched as the pieces crashed down to the ground. The grand Commander got to his feet.
"You can stay here and rot." He snarled.
I watched as he stormed out from the room, slamming the door loudly behind him. For a few moments, I sat there quietly, lost in my thoughts. But then the boredom began setting in again. So I knelt down on the floor, gathered up all the chess pieces and set about starting up my fifth game of the day.
