That...was a LONG hiatus. I'm sorry everyone for that. I - once again - changed jobs, which has taken up a LOT of time. It's also hard sometimes to write in a fandom that doesn't often give sparks of inspiration. I mean, there's very rarely new content for BMC to keep me pumped (no matter how much I like it). Nevertheless, I now have the time to write. Unfortunately it's a shorter chapter than what I wanted but I'd rather give you all a chapter now than to make you wait any longer. So, I hope you can forgive me for that.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own 'Be More Chill' or any of it's adaptations or content.
Replaced
Chapter IL
~Struggle~
If asked, Michael would never say he thought that being associated with SQUIPs would ever bring him to where he was now - in a high speed car chase. Actually, he never thought that'd ever happen
Yet, here he was.
A small part of him hoped a patrol car would notice and stop both him and the van, but that didn't happen. Maybe it was because the car they were following was barely passing legality, staying within the limits when they could and then defying them at any opportunity where they thought they could shake off Michael. They almost succeeded every single time. The teen didn't know what exactly he was supposed to do in this situation. Keep speed? Sure. Excessive lane changes? Okay. Then what?! He was trying to drive recklessly to keep up, but when he did he didn't know if he should be smashing their car and endangering other people on the street or just continue to follow them forever despite the fact that they were obviously taking detours to avoid their destination.
To top it off, every time the Cruiser got close enough to the van Rich would start screaming to hit the gas - ram them - but the van had an excellent driver and avoided his attempts at damaging said vehicle. Also, Michael wasn't too keen on crashing his car with no guarantee that his passengers would be safe - or Kert for that matter.
It was an endless cycle.
"This is getting us no where," Jenna huffed, furiously typing on her phone. Michael spared her an annoyed glance.
"Got any better ideas?"
"I'm working on it."
Rich snarled from the back seats, leaning between them to get his face as close to the windshield as possible, "Don't let them fucking get away!"
"I'm trying!" Michael snapped. It was hard enough when the person in front was a better driver than him, but they also didn't have anyone nagging them. The teen let out a long breath. He really wished he had a SQUIP in that moment to just tell him what to do - or take over! Heck, he wished one of the two with the SQUIPs was driving instead…then again, they'd probably just smash into the van - which was newer and much more durable than the Cruiser.
He really was at a loss of what to do other than to just keep going.
Were the others having better luck?
~oOo~
"Turn left." He did. Jeremy didn't know where he was going, but he knew disobeying his SQUIP was completely out of the question.
Was someone still chasing him? Who was chasing him? Why did his SQUIP make him leave his hiding spot? Where were they going?
He had thought that when the SQUIP left to try and go into their own body that he would be free. Jeremy had stayed hidden like he was told, and considering how hard his heart had pounded he felt decently safe. But the SQUIP returned, unable to stay away from his mind. At first, they stayed relatively quiet, coordinating whatever plan they had. Unfortunately, that required Jeremy's aid.
What was the mission? Who knows. Despite the teen's protests the SQUIP urged him to search - or, rather, let them search through him. It was ridiculous, but the computer seemed confident enough.
The SQUIP must have sensed his trust, because they let him have a glimpse of the goal. The woman. Were they searching for her? Why them? Jeremy knew his SQUIP was strong, but he himself was pretty weak. Why couldn't Rich do it? Or Jake?
"They're preoccupied," the inner voice answered. The teen had to resist question what that meant - he knew they were on a time crunch. Didn't mean he had to like it though. Honestly, Chloe or Jenna could more easily take on this mission. Yet here he was…hopefully his SQUIP knew what they were doing.
The male's eyes shifted to the cafeteria as it approached. The SQUIP wanted him to inspect it, regardless of the unlikely chance that someone was inside. Jeremy sighed, absentmindedly wondering where the others were. Why wasn't he seeing any of them?
"We're all synchronized, Jeremy. There's no gain in us all being in the same place if unnecessary." Ah, so it was the SQUIP's fault. Shocking.
The computer roll their eyes at his thoughts as he approached the cafeteria doors. Reaching a hand out, he moved into position to shoved his weight against the doors to open it, but before he could carry through the motions a sudden pain crossed over his head.
Everything went black.
~oOo~
"Jeremy?" Christine called, worry lacing her voice. She had been searching the whole school for her boyfriend, but she just couldn't find him. Ari had been guiding them without issue until now, but once they got close the connection went cold. They went to the last location Reese had given, but Jeremy wasn't there. It terrified Christine to no end, and she began searching everywhere. Any nook and cranny was exposed, but still - nothing.
Ari was helping in any way they can, eyes constantly glowing as they kept in contact with the other SQUIPs. But with each room checked, the mood between them got more frantic and desperate. They soon checked everything they could on the first floor, and bolted to the stairs to move to the second. Before they could, a familiar figure appeared from the upcoming hall.
"Jake!" the girl screamed, waving her hand frantically. Jake jumped, somehow not expecting the company.
"Hey!" he smiled, running to meet her, "Are you okay? Where you goin?" Christine frowned, squinting at him confused. Was Jake's SQUIP not telling him what was going on? She thought all the computers were talking to each other…
"I'm fine, and I'm looking for Jeremy," she explained, "He was down here, but now he's not!" The male blinked widely.
"You serious?"
"Yeah!"
"Shit, we gotta find him," he agreed, moving to follow her lead but pausing. His eyes shifted to the side, and Christine had no doubt his SQUIP was speaking to him. By the way the male's brows furrowed, she could guess what opinion they took. "Wha - Bud, we can't just leave them."
"It's okay, Jake," Ari interjected, much to Christine's surprise, "We're fine."
"You can't be serious," he frowned.
"You have to find Chloe," the computer pressed, "You're the only one who can stop this now." Christine's brows rose in understanding. If Jeremy can't drink the Mountain Dew Red, then…
Jake took a step back, glancing between the two. "What are you talking about?" he questioned. Ari hesitated, biting their lip nervously as they shared a look with their human.
Christine slowly spoke, "You don't…know?" Jake shook his head.
"Know what?" he glanced to the empty space once more. A suspicion grew in his eyes at whatever answer he got, "You don't…want me to drink it, right?" Christine didn't answer, she didn't need to. The invisible SQUIP did, and Jake immediately turned on it, "Are you serious?! Why the hell would you want to do that?! You're getting better! Why would you want to leave me? I thought we were friends!" Ari slowly took a step forward, gently placing a hand on the teen's shoulder. His head snapped to them, but he didn't pull away.
The SQUIP softly smiled, "Take your time. We'll meet you at the front if we can't find Jeremy." Jake hesitated, but slowly nodded. Moving to take Christine's hand instead, Ari guided their human away from the oncoming argument.
When the two entered the stairway, Jake turned back to his own SQUIP, "What the hell, Bud?" The computer sighed.
"Would you have agreed if I had informed you sooner?"
"No!"
"Then you should be more understanding. If Jeremy isn't found, we are the only option."
"What about Chloe or Brooke?"
"They aren't willing to separate with their SQUIPs. They've spent much time with Pink, and through them feel more connected to their own SQUIPs."
"So, what? I have to give up mine?" Jake questioned, incredulous, "That's so unfair!" His SQUIP tilted their head.
When they spoke again, they sounded softer, "In theory, yes, it is. However, there is a difference."
"What?" the teen took a step forward, "Bud, if I drink the Mountain Dew I won't be able to find you! Even if I find that place, I won't know which one's you!" The computer smiled.
"I'll know you. I won't forget you." Jake shook his head.
"What if they make you forget?" he questioned, "Rich said you were all people. If they made you forget all of that…"
"I promise I won't," the SQUIP swore, "It's for that reason that we need to do this."
"I still don't get it." The computer sighed again, glancing away. Jake stared at them. He couldn't understand how his SQUIP could act so human, and yet be cold enough to separate as though he meant nothing. Was he nothing to them?
His computer's eyes snapped to him, clearly hearing his thoughts. They didn't look angry, but…somber. There was care in their eyes, so unlike how they've ever looked before. "I'm different, Jake," they said, taking the teen by surprise, "That's why I can't stay."
Jake furrowed his brows, "What do you mean?"
"We're different units," the SQUIP answered, "That may mean nothing to you, but it makes a large difference between my comrades and I. I can't stay as your SQUIP, I don't function like I'm supposed to - and that can be dangerous."
"Why? Cause you're human? I don't care about that!" the male protested.
"That's not what I'm referring to."
"Then what is?" The SQUIP didn't answer. Jake huffed, and continued, "Just give me a chance! I know you're a good SQUIP, you made the pain in my legs go away!"
"That's unhealthy, and I wish I knew that then."
"Bud-"
"There is no way for you to understand this, but believe me when I say I could bring you to self destruction," they insisted, "This is for your own safety." The teen stared at them, shaking his head lightly. The SQUIP could sense his stubbornness, and sighed, "If you don't, who will drink the Mountain Dew Red and end this?"
Jake didn't hesitate, "Chloe or Brooke." The SQUIP let out a heavy breath through their nose, closing their eyes. When they opened them again, there was a challenging glint shining through.
"Alright, let's see you try and convince them."
~oOo~
"…ue…Blue…wake up…Hey!"
SMACK.
The SQUIP gasped into consciousness, eyes shooting wide as they stared at the wood in front of them. They blinked. A fog was still over their mind, but they could sense enough to recognize their surroundings - their hiding spot. Turning their head away from the wall, Reese looked out of the closet.
After they had escaped back into the school, they had run into an upstairs classroom for shelter, curling up in a closet for safety. It wasn't the best plan, considering the closet couldn't lock, but it had worked out enough. Especially since they were found by Jen. The other SQUIP was crouched down in front of them, their purple eyes glowing in the dark of the room. The younger sighed, a grin spreading across their lips, "Finally. Hurry up, we gotta go." Reese blinked unevenly at them as they lifted a hand to rub their cheek.
"Did you just smack me?" they questioned.
Jen rolled their eyes, "Woke you up, didn't it?" The older hummed halfheartedly. Slowly moving to stand, Reese could feel their legs refusing to obey, and not wanting to embarrass themselves by falling over just stayed in the closet. Jen frowned at them confused.
"You good?" they asked. Reese didn't answer, instead rubbed at their forehead tiredly. The younger seemed to get the message, "Diagnostic report." Purple eyes glowed with unspoken permission, and blue shined in response. In moments Jen was inside the others mind, checking what was wrong. They frowned at the results. "You're not fully here, are you?" they mumbled, "Shit, what the hell do you think you're doing?"
Reese sighed with a roll of their eyes, "Jeremy needs me."
"No shit, but you can't help him if you're half here - half there."
"I also can't be here if he doesn't want me to be," they grumbled, "And he definitely doesn't."
"Where is he?" Jen questioned. Reese furrowed their brows in thought, trying to piece together what they knew.
"Last I saw was on the first floor - the cafeteria. His vision suddenly went dark, and I'm uncertain why."
"If that's what brought you back to your body, then - I hate to break it to you - he's unconscious." The younger slung the older's arm around their shoulders and hefted them up into a standing position despite their protests. Jen grunted at the effort, especially when Reese put more weight than necessary onto them. "Geez, can you try focusing?"
"I am," the other snapped, annoyed. Jen narrowed their eyes.
"Not on Jeremy."
"Please, Jen, Jeremy is priority and we both know it."
"If that's true then you should have no problem with me dropping your ass on the floor."
"Don't be mean."
"Are you fucking with me?"
"Maybe."
"I hate you."
"Aww, how sentimental."
"Shut up-" Jen's mouth snapped shut as a sudden sensation passed through their body. By the shutter their companion gave, it was mutual. Jen's eyes widened, "The tracker."
"I sense it too," Reese muttered, irises hardening, "Their using the device."
"Can they find out direct location with it?"
"I don't know…" Jen pressed their lips into a thin line, staring at the closed door intently.
"We need to move."
"I agree."
~oOo~
The woman looked down at the teen before her. She had expected minor resistance, but she didn't plan for this boy's SQUIP to take control and try to over throw her. Surprising, annoying, but at the same time completely fascinating.
Jeremy Heere, how did your SQUIP do it?
She sighed, looking down the hallway towards the rest of the school. Her forces were now scattered and the teens were running amok. She had to act quick and resolve the whole scenario. A distraction would be more than enough.
The woman pulled a device out of her pocket. She eyed it, not knowing if it would work or not. All she knew was one of the trackers modes had a strange effect on the human computers - as recorded from observation nearly a month ago. It was something installed after so much time passed with no luck on finding the SQUIPs. It was meant to have the beta pills react - to stun the targets should they finally be revealed.
She needed them to react again.
With little hesitation, the woman turned it on.
~oOo~
Reese's heart leapt in their chest when Jen suddenly collapsed to their knees, gasping. Blue eyes snapped to the younger, watching the computer stare ahead with horror on their features.
"Jen," they called, but the other didn't answer. The SQUIP went to speak again when their brain sudden short circuited. Their vision disappeared, and what remained was something more terrifying.
They saw familiar dark pavement before them…light flurries of snow falling from the dark sky…and a cold wind rustling their clothes.
This wasn't real. It wasn't. It wasn't.
They knew what happening. It happened before - the week they were gone. They knew what was going to happen…what this was. Yet the fear that clenched around their heart remained.
Not again. Please.
They don't want to remember that night.
A/N: The moment you all have been waiting for ;)
