Chapter Four

Teela stood in the doorway of Jaxx's makeshift bedroom, leaning against the doorframe and staring at the now-teenaged-looking Jaxx. It was well after midnight and she was in her dressing gown.

Who are you? she wondered, her thoughts directed at Jaxx. Where did you come from? Why have you been sent to us?

Jaxx stirred slightly in his sleep. He was tall, his frame now hard, lean, and muscular. He slept on a regular bed, having outgrown his crib long ago.

All at once, Jaxx began writhing in his bed screaming, "NO! NO! I WON'T DO IT! I WON'T KILL HIM! NO! NO!"

Teela rushed to Jaxx's side and shook his shoulder. "Jaxx! JAXX!" she called to him, trying to rouse him. "Jaxx, wake up!"

Jaxx's eyes suddenly popped open. "Who's there?" he asked.

Teela switched on the light that was sitting on the nightstand next to Jaxx's bed. "It's only me, Teela."

"What was that?" Jaxx asked nervously.

"You were having a nightmare," Teela said softly. She stroked Jaxx's shoulder, trying to soothe the terrified young cyborg. "It was just a dream."

"A … dream?" Jaxx asked haltingly. Having only been born a few days ago, he had no concept of either dreams or nightmares.

Teela sat down on the bed next to Jaxx. "It's not real," Teela replied reassuringly. "It's all inside your head," she said, playfully tapping a finger on Jaxx's skull. "Wanna talk about it?"

"M-m-monster," Jaxx stammered. "Ordered me to kill … King Randor."

Teela gently stroked the back of Jaxx's head. "Tell me about this … monster," she said softly.

"This man … thing. He had blue skin … and a purple hood," squeaked Jaxx. "No head … just this yellow floating skull."

Skeletor! Teela thought. I might've known. Just like him to try something like this.

"He can't hurt you here," said Teela softly.

"I can't kill King Randor," squeaked Jaxx. "You've all been so nice to me … I can't do it."

"No one's making you do anything," said Teela soothingly.

"Ah, Teela … I see you've found my new toy," said a grating masculine voice.

Teela turned towards the voice. Skeletor was standing in the doorway, Trap-Jaw and Evil-Lyn standing directly behind him.

"JAXX, GET DOWN!" Teela cried. Instinct kicking in, she rolled Jaxx off the bed and onto the floor. She then reached over and punched a large red alarm button that was sitting on the nightstand. Within moments, the air was filled with the sound of wailing alarms.

"Get out while you still can, Skeletor," warned Teela. "This place will be crawling with guards within seconds."

Awakened by the alarm, Prince Adam peeked outside his bedroom door to find Trap-Jaw and Evil-Lyn standing in the hallway.

This looks like a job for He-Man.

Inside the bedroom, Jaxx lay curled up in a fetal position in the corner with Teela standing between him and Skeletor.

"Out of my way," sneered Skeletor to Teela. "The boy is mine."

"You want HIM?" Teela shot back. "You'll have to go through ME."

At that same moment, cries of "PUT ME DOWN!" and "TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF ME!" could be heard coming from Trap-Jaw and Evil-Lyn in the hallway. Skeletor turned around to find the two of them flying through the doorway and landing in a heap on the floor next to him.

"I believe ... these are yours," said He-Man from the doorway.

'HE-MAN!" Skeletor exclaimed. "No matter … I have what I came for." With a gesture, Skeletor, Trap-Jaw, and Evil-Lyn all vanished into thin-air.

He-Man looked at Teela. "Are you all right?" he asked.

"I'm all right," said Teela. She turned around, only to find an empty corner. "They've taken Jaxx," she said.

An armed guard entered the room. "Captain Teela," he asked. "Are you all right?"

"Yes," said Teela. "Stand down Red Alert."

"Yes, Captain." With that, the guard left the room. Within moments, the wailing alarms were silenced.

"Jaxx … he's the boy, isn't he?" He-Man asked. "Prince Adam was telling me about him."

"Yes," said Teela. "Where could they have taken him?" she asked with a sigh.

At Castle Grayskull, The Sorceress lay asleep in her quarters. Her boots sat neatly on the floor next to her bed.

"My Lady … My Lady…" said The Spirit of Grayskull, calling to The Sorceress. "Teela-Na!" he cried, calling out her true name.

The Sorceress awoke with a jerk. "Spirit," she said, pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Evil approaches," said The Spirit. "Skeletor and his minions are on the bridge."

What the…? Instinct kicking in, The Sorceress leaped out of bed, scrambled to her feet, and ran towards the window. She saw Skeletor, Trap-Jaw, Evil-Lyn, and an unknown person - a teenaged boy - gathered on the bridge.

The Sorceress reached out with her mind to the teenaged boy, hoping to identify him. The reply she received horrified her. Oh, no…

He-Man! The Sorceress cried out telepathically. Skeletor and his minions are at Castle Grayskull. They have the boy … Jaxx … with them.

"Skeletor has emerged at Castle Grayskull," said He-Man to Teela. "Unfortunately, Jaxx is with him."