Chapter 12: Sweet dreams
It was getting dark but no one could really sleep. Perceptor had taken the Autobots to the school where their human friends had taken him earlier on. Each were spread out, Bumblebee on the steps, Prowl near the lockers, Ironhide near the door and Perceptor farthest from the others. It was dark inside and hard to tell what it was outside.
"What should we do?" Bumblebee asked.
"Well?" Ironhide asked, looking toward Perceptor.
"Let me sleep on it," he offered.
"We can't stay here!" Ironhide hissed.
"I know!" Perceptor returned.
A momentary silence formed, creating an awkward moment. Perceptor was growing restless. Everyone was putting more and more pressure on him about these things. He seemed like the only key home to all the others around him. Even the Icarly crew looked toward him for safety. He wasn't a soldier. He was a scientist and not made for this kind of things.
"Are the others in this world?" Prowl whispered.
This seemed almost a surprise to all. Bumblebee sat up and Ironhide leaned around the corner to look at Prowl. Still, Prowl was far from joking. Now of all times, this was nowhere near a joke. Perceptor taught carefully though. he felt that unwanted pressure though, scaring him more and more. He contained it though, gulping before giving his answer.
"Hard to say," answered Perceptor. "They could be anywhere, anything as well."
"Great," grumbled Ironhide.
Perceptor suddenly felt a burning within him. It was unnaturally familiar. It hit him. It was that odd power he'd seemed to acquire along this trip. He remembered the screams of Sam and Freddie and the flickering of shattering lights. He felt startled by himself and held in his emotion. He felt eyes resting on him though. he needed to say something, something that would turn everyone away from him for the moment.
"Let's rest for now, alright," Perceptor assured.
"Fine," Prowl sighed.
Silence fell upon the group, leaving Perceptor to his restless thoughts. Eventually he did rest into slumber but something of it was unusual, nothing was truly normal to him. At first it was nothing but darkness, a shadow that made him rock and toss.
Then a light formed at the end of tunnel. Perceptor looked down it and eventually was drawn to walk toward it. The land opened into a new world. Buildings grew tall around him and cars rushed down the street. A large dome roofed building stood before him. Several people passed in front of him. One man in a black suit with a colorful tie and socks with an odd belt buckle passed with a woman in a tucked in shirt and long brown hair.
Perceptor looked around, confused why he was here. Why am I here, Perceptor thought, why do I feel so drawn here? The energy within him began to sting, like a piercing knife in his spark. Suddenly someone caught his eyes. Three people in fact. One looked like Ratchet, the others the twins. They rushed down the street, disappearing behind a passing truck.
Suddenly a gunshot sounded, startling Perceptor almost till he awoke. Something locked him to sleep, though and he continued in his nightmare. He felt something sharp against his chest and collapsed. The world fuzzed around him, becoming nothing but darkness. Suddenly someone shone in the blinding light surrounding him. It was familiar but distant. He reached a hand outward. Perceptor tried to reach for it but failed…
"Optimus!" Perceptor gasped, awaking in a cold sweat.
A/N
In case you don't get it, the dream really means something very important to the future of this story. Maybe not in this book however, but in future ones. *wink wink* Imaginary bonus points to those who guess the place Ceptor was at in his dream!