Yes I know it's been awhile, it took me forever to write this. But like always, thanks to everyone who is reading and reviewing, it makes this story keep going. Keep up the good work.

Chapter Nine: Dizzy Spell

Blood; it dripped from the ceiling and streaked down the walls. There was so much of it, and Brenna's lifeless body lay in the center of the room, gray, cold, and unmoving. The blood pooled around her body coagulating; bloody handprints were smeared along the doors and windows. Suddenly a man came wading through the crimson flood, he had a gun and it was pointed at Mercy. He motioned for her to come to him, which she did. Without warning, his hands came around her neck and began squeezing the life out of her.

"I want you Mercy," he declared and Mercy suddenly felt the gun pressed to her abdomen, "Choose me or die."

She screamed.

Megatron jumped awake when he heard Mercy scream. He sighed angrily when he checked his internal clock only to find out it was nearly two o'clock in the morning. The decepticon leader yawned and rubbed the sleep from his optics, thinking about how he could get Mercy back for this. Slowly he stood and made his way to the android's room. He opened her door only to find Mercy tossing and turning on the bed, one of the sheets wrapped tightly about her neck. Megatron sighed and went over to the girl well aware that she was having a nightmare.

"Mercy, wake up."

The android remained asleep and Megatron removed the sheet from Mercy's neck unsure of how it had gotten wrapped around her like that. He then shook her a bit hoping that would wake her up. Mercy gasped and sat bolt upright. Megatron smirked at her reaction and then said, "I see you're awake."

"H-He's coming for me," Mercy stammered, "H-He's going to kill me."

"Who is Mercy?"

"He killed Brenna, and now he wants me."

"Mercy, what—

"No! I won't let you hurt me," Mercy cried, blindly slamming her fists into Megatron's torso.

The decepticon leader saw she was awake, but still out of it. He grasped Mercy's shoulders and gave her a good shake. He didn't stop until he heard the android say, "Megatron, what are you doing?"

Removing his hands he replied, "Waking you up, you were having a nightmare."

"Why do you care?"

"I don't, you were screaming and woke me up," he explained, "Now go back to sleep."

"Wait," Mercy exclaimed grabbing his hand, "Can…can you stay here? Please, at least until I fall asleep."

"Why should I? You lied to me, disobeyed my orders, and you murdered Brenna putting us into one hell of a situation."

She pressed her lips into a tight, thin line and glared at him, "I gave up my life for you and you're just too stuck up in your pride to do something for me. I didn't even kill Brenna."

Megatron glared back at her and yanked his hand out of her grip growling, "You don't deserve my sympathy."

Mercy pushed him away from her bedside and got up from the bed. She left her room and headed for the front door. The android had every intention of leaving, she couldn't stand Megatron anymore. He took everything away from her and expected her to do every little thing that he said. She was sick of the beatings and didn't want to hear him falsely accuse her again. Mercy didn't know where to go though; she had other family members, but they were all either too busy or too poor to take her in. None of them would recognize her anymore anyway now that she was an android, and she could thank Megatron for that. Still, she wanted to get away, even if she had nowhere to go. Mercy took the doorknob in her hand and went to open the door when a hand landed on her shoulder.

"Megatron," she gnarred.

"Going somewhere Mercy?" the decepticon leader inquired.

The android shifted and Megatron tightened his grip. Mercy tightened her grip on the knob, "Yes, I'm going somewhere, and it would mean the world if you let go of me."

"Don't you think it's a little late to be going out?" he taunted.

"Do you think I care?"

"Let go of the doorknob Mercy, or suffer."

Reluctantly, the android let her arm fall away from the knob and back to her side. Megatron turned her so that she was facing him. Mercy glared at the floor not wanting to look at the monstrosity before her that was ruining her life. Megatron cupped her chin in his hand and tilted her head so that she was looking at him. With a look of evil amusement upon his face he said, "I believe that we have to set up some new rules Mercy, to show you this isn't a game anymore."

"A game? Do you really think I'm viewing everything as a game!?"

"You couldn't fool me."

"You sick creep."

"Clearly you do not understand my superiority. Shall I lay out the rules now?"

"Go ahead and waste your breath, I'm not going to follow them."

Megatron raised an optic ridge at her, "Oh really? We'll see about that. From now on, you are to address me as Master Megatron—

"Get a life."

"If you do or say anything I don't like, you will be punished," he stated and watched as Mercy rolled her eyes, "And you will do as I say without comment. Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal, but I refuse to bend to your will," she remarked and broke out of his grasp. Mercy turned back to the door when suddenly something hit her in the back of the head. Her legs gave way beneath her and she fell to her knees. Pain was just beginning to course through her skull as she collapsed face first onto the floor and into darkness.

Mercy woke up with a dull ache in the back of her head. Her shoulders were throbbing and her vision was foggy. The android went to rub her eyes to drive away the fog, but her hands didn't come to her, and something extremely uncomfortable was beneath her back. Casually, Mercy managed to blink away the fog only to notice she was tied and gagged lying on the sofa in her room. Her arms were pinned painfully beneath her, her shoulders hurting just as much as her head did; unbearably, and it was all because of her arms. She thought her shoulder joints had been replaced with torches and knives. It felt like someone was dropping fist-sized rocks on her head, slowly, one by one, all hitting in the same spot. Mercy looked over to see Megatron sleeping peacefully on her bed. Anger boiled through her circuits.

The android didn't have the energy to try and roll over on her side, and being in the pain she was in, she really didn't want to fall on the floor. Slowly she lifted her head and looked to see what Megatron had tied her up with. Bed sheets, clothing, basically anything her could find, and he had done a good job of it. Mercy could hardly move, no wonder she was so uncomfortable. She lowered her head back down to the cushion as she felt a wave of dizziness threatening to come crashing down upon her. She vaguely remembered Brenna was dead, and she felt a sinking feeling in her chest. Mercy had a gut feeling that she was going to be dealing with the police today. It was a good thing she had gotten the name of Brenna's killer before she died, it was the only thing that could get her out of this mess.

"So what was his name again?" she wondered.

A stab of nervous shock pierced through her suddenly. Mercy couldn't remember the man's name. Angrily, she gazed over at Megatron, who was still sleeping peacefully, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. He was on his side, facing her, dreaming, unaware of the nothing going on around him. He had ruined everything, her friendship with Brenna, her old human self, and her life. The android hated him, inside and out. He deserved no sympathy; he deserved nothing, nothing but exile to the void from which he had come from.

"Wake up Megatron," Mercy demanded and watched as his smile faded, "Wake the bloody hell up!"

He rolled over and Mercy prodded into his mind again and again, louder each time. Finally she succeeded when Megatron rolled onto his back, his optics flaring online. Mercy watched him, a glare written on her face but deep down inside she was awed by him. Megatron was so powerful, determined, and rather handsome for being a dead robot, but he was so overwhelming. Mercy knew she was learning the hard way that once Megatron set his sights on something, there was no running, only submission, surrender, or humiliating defeat.

"Something wrong Mercy?" he taunted sitting up and looking over at her.

"I refuse to waste my breath answering stupid questions. Now, let me go."

"Did you forget the rules I set up last night?" he questioned unleashing the dark energy in her mind.

Mercy grimaced feeling her head beginning to throb, "Did you forget I said I wasn't going to follow them?"

"Then suffer the consequences."

"Let me go."

"Beg."

"What?"

"Beg for me Mercy, I want to hear you beg."

Mercy rolled her eyes and looked away from him. Megatron could tell she was hurting, he could see that she was in a lot of pain, and it thrilled him. He loved to see people suffer because of him, and Mercy was no exception. She closed her eyes suddenly, she fidgeted her arms briefly, and then there was a pause. Megatron could tell she was concentrating on something, but before he could figure out what, Mercy slid her arms out from under her, sat up, and freed herself.

"I refuse," she stated once the gag had been removed from her mouth.

Megatron narrowed his optics at her, "If you could've untied yourself in the first place, why did you wake me up?"

"Because Master," she sneered, "You would've thought I ran away again and I'd be beaten by you for no good reason."

"I don't need a good reason to beat you Mercy," he smirked and then noticed burn marks on the sofa that hadn't been there last night when he placed Mercy there. Something was up, and Megatron would find out what.

Mercy ignored the decepticon leader and got up from the sofa, her head feeling like it was going to implode on itself. The dark energy still had a good hold on her CPU, or whatever it was attacking. Mercy went over to the dresser and grabbed a pair of jeans from them.

"Wear a shirt, one that says 'I'm not a murderer,'" Megatron retorted.

"You jerk."

"Mercy, you will abide by my rules."

"As you command Master Megatron."

"Do not toy with me Mercy."

Mercy finished selecting her outfit for the day and went to the bathroom where she changed into it. While she was in there, Megatron inspected the sofa and deduced that there were clearly fresh burn marks on the sofa cushion. He also noticed the cloth he had used to tie her hands together was burnt as well. Mercy was hiding something from him, and he didn't like not knowing. Megatron cursed under his breath just as Mercy emerged from the bathroom.

The android went out to her kitchen where she took out a can of unleaded oil hoping that it would relieve her headache. Just as she began drinking it, she felt Megatron release the dark energy's grip within her skull. Mercy felt light-headed suddenly and set her bottle of oil down on the counter. Even though some of the pain was leaving, there was still an enormous amount there. Her head felt heavy and ached, her shoulders felt like they had muscle spasms, and her heart felt ripped out of her chest. A dizzying fog covered her eyes suddenly and her knees buckled.

"What's wrong?" Megatron's voice suddenly sounded, a small hint of worry evident.

"You…hit me," she exclaimed losing her balance. The android was surprised when she fell back into Megatron's arms.

He immediately carried her over to one of the chairs at the kitchen table. Megatron had a gut feeling that he had let his anger get the best of him earlier that morning when he punched her. He feared he might of damaged one of the vital systems in her head. As soon as he set her down in the chair, he felt around the back of her head and found a swollen bump where he had punched her. It was a concussion; Megatron knew that for sure.

"Ouch, Megatron! Don't touch me there, it hurts," Mercy hissed.

Megatron grabbed her arms and knelt down so he was eye level with her. "Mercy, you can't go to school today," he said.

"I have to."

"No, you need to rest. I fear I gave you a severe concussion, it's not going to go away unless you get some rest."

"Megatron, no! Why do you do these things to me? I have to go to school today or else people will suspect I killed Brenna."

"I understand that Mercy, and I'll take full responsibility for this. You need to stay here."

"No."

"Mercy, don't make me knock you out."

"At least let me try," she argued, "Then things will be alright. You've got to let me try."

"Alright, but I strongly advise against this."

"This is your fault."

"Don't make me point the blame at you."

Mercy nodded and Megatron stood. He retrieved her unleaded oil for her and then sat across from her at the table. "What are you going to do about your backpack?" he asked.

"I'll check the news and then see," Mercy exclaimed standing and walking into the living room where she took a seat on the couch. She picked up the remote and turned on the TV. Megatron sat in a chair on the far side of the room.

"…authorities plan to question Mercy LeCroix sometime today as to why her backpack was at Brenna's home. Mercy hasn't been named a suspect yet, but still remains a definite person of interest…" the news reporter trailed off and the android turned off the TV.

Mercy rubbed her temples and Megatron could tell she was fighting off another round of dizziness, and thinking. The android was desperately trying to remember the killer's name, but nothing was coming to mind. Mercy replayed Brenna's final moments trying to remember.

"I…hope they don't…blame you for this crime."

"You'll be okay Brenna. Just tell me who that guy was."

Nothing, nothing but an empty, lost memory. There was no use in trying to remember, Mercy couldn't. She sighed heavily and stood. School was in session and the android couldn't afford to skip. Slowly she made her way over to the door and started her fifteen-minute walk to school, no backpack, just a sore and breaking body.

"Let me know if you start feeling faint."

"Is it just me or are you worried about me?"

He didn't answer.

Mercy arrived to school later than usual. It didn't really matter anyway, Mercy only had to grab a couple things out of her locker. As she took out a notebook she needed, she heard someone whisper, "Look there she is, the murderer." The android then felt numerous eyes upon her, heard a chorus of whispers, and then felt a presence behind her. Mercy shut her locker and turned around only to find Mr. Clarkson, the superintendent, standing there. "Mr. Clarkson?" she asked surprised to see him.

"Come with me please," he said.

Mercy sighed and followed after him. He took her to his office, and two police officers were inside. Knowing this was coming, the android followed him into the office. Mr. Clarkson offered Mercy a seat at a table in the conference area of his office. He then left the room giving the officers and the android privacy.

The girl looked across the table to where the officers were seated. She had a gut feeling that this wasn't going to go too well. One of the officers spoke, "I take it you're Mercy LeCroix, and I'm quite sure you know what this is about."

"Yes," she replied reading there nametags. The officer who had spoke first was K. Davis; the other officer was R. Andrews.

"Okay then," Andrews spoke up, "We found a backpack with papers that have your name on them inside at the murder scene of Brenna Meyers, do you confirm that is your backpack?"

"Yes."

"According to the parents of the victim, you were close friend's with Brenna. Is that true?"

"Yes."

"Were you over at Brenna's house yesterday afternoon between three-thirty and four-thirty?" Davis inquired as Andrews glanced at a video camera in the corner of the room.

Mercy was already sick of the questions as she responded for the third time, "Yes."

"Why?"

The android fought back the urge to roll her eyes, not only would her annoyed look be caught on camera, but also the officers might suspect something. She said, "On Tuesday, Brenna and I had made plans to hang out over at her house the next day after school."

"So you went to her house yesterday after school with her?"

"Yes."

"Were you at all angry with each other?"

"No, she had just saved my life Tuesday from Coach Hill."

Officer Andrews nodded apparently aware of that, but Officer Davis only smirked, "Did Coach Hill's attempts against your life inspire you to try killing as well?"

Mercy glared at him, "Inspire me to kill? Heck no."

"So what happened while you were at Brenna's house?" Andrews questioned.

"Well, right off the bat Brenna ordered a pizza. Then we talked and gossiped for a few minutes until there was a knock at the door."

"What did you talk about?"

Mercy thought quickly, "The hottest clothes, boys we liked, the usual girl talk."

"At any point did this turn into an argument?"

"No."

"You said someone knocked on the door?" Davis piped up.

"Yes, Brenna thought it was the pizza delivery person and went to answer the door. I stayed in the kitchen where we had been talking while she got the door."

"At any point did you leave the kitchen?"

"Who was at the door?" Andrews added.

"Well, when Brenna gasped and yelled at the person to leave I realized it wasn't the pizza guy. So to make sure everything was alright, I went into the living room where the door was only to see a man all dressed in black with a black ski mask on and a gun in hand. He had the gun pointed to Brenna, and when he saw me he got rather…excited. The man ordered Brenna to let him in, which she did. He then made me sit over on the couch while he gave Brenna the choice to choose him or die. I tried to convince Brenna to choose him so she could get help later. The man then came after me, Brenna stopped him, he kissed her, offered her the choice again, and she refused and then he shot her," Mercy explained.

"What happened after the man shot her?" Davis wondered.

Mercy froze, she hadn't thought about this part. Hoping this would work she said, "He freaked out, dropped the gun, and ran."

"Do you know why he freaked out?"

"Maybe because he had realized that he just killed a person, I don't know."

"What did you do?"

"I checked to see if Brenna was still alive, she wasn't, so I ran and started heading home," Mercy exclaimed jumping ahead in her story.

"Did you call the police?"

"No."

"Why?"

"I was afraid that you would suspect me as the murderer, and I was having trouble believing Brenna was really dead."

"You do realize that when you don't call to report a crime we're going to start pointing our fingers at you, don't you?" Andrews remarked.

"I understand that perfectly," Mercy smirked, "I also understand that you never read me my rights and that I can leave here when I choose, am I right?"

The officers glanced at each other realizing their mistake. Mercy felt the dizziness starting to come back suddenly. She struggled to suppress it and then said to the officers, "I didn't kill Brenna Meyers, that man did, he was her stalker, ask her parents about it."

"We already did, her so called 'stalker' is in Florida, where they moved from," Davis explained, "Do you even know that man's name?"

Mercy sighed heavily, "She told me, but I don't remember."

"Let me guess, that's my fault."

"You guessed right."

"You're such a liar. That story was the biggest load of slag I've ever heard."

"Is there anything else we should know? Other than you forgot your backpack at the crime scene?"

"No," Mercy replied. She didn't hear what the officer said next as the dizziness took control causing her to faint, slump to one side, and fall out of the chair.

The officers rushed to her aid and tried to revive her. When there efforts failed, Andrews went off in search of help. Though invisible, Megatron went over to Mercy and crouched beside her, opposite the side Davis was on.

"I thought I told you to tell me if you were feeling faint… Mercy? Mercy wake up… MERCY!"

"Y-you don't need to shout, my head hurts enough."

"You're going home; open your eyes."

The android opened her eyes only to see a somewhat worried Officer Davis. She blinked a couple of times before she asked, "W-What happened?"

"You fainted, don't worry, help's coming."

"Oh, no wonder my head is pounding."

"I told you that coming to school wasn't a good choice. That concussion's going to keep plaguing you until you rest."

"Are you worried?"

"No, I just need you healthy so I can collect energy from you. Don't expect me to baby you through this either."

"Your voice is hurting my head."

"Good."

Officer Andrews returned with one of the health clinic doctors at that moment. The doctor asked Mercy a few questions, took her temperature, and then told her she had to go home. Mercy was then helped to her feet, she could feel Megatron's presence behind her, a hand a on her shoulder supporting her incase the dizziness should return.

"Did you see what my temperature was?"

"Yes, it was slightly above normal."

"Ninety-nine degrees?"

"Ninety-eight point nine but close enough. What is the normal body temperature for a human?"

"Ninety-eight point six."

"I'm assuming that your normal body temperature is pretty close to that now. Let's just get home, the sooner you rest the better."

"Assume makes an ass out of you and me."

"Ha ha, very funny Mercy."

"Do you even get it?"

"Yes, it's all in the way you spell assume. Now enough of this nonsense, it'll do nothing but make you faint again."

"Would you like a ride home Mercy?" Andrews asked.

"I would greatly appreciate it," Mercy replied.

Andrews nodded and escorted the android to the police car while Davis got the video camera. When they got out to the car, Andrews opened the back door for Mercy. She glanced inside and then thought, "Master…are you coming in the car too?"

"It'll be a tight squeeze, but I will. You just got to pause long enough for me so I have time to get out."

"Do I?"

"Mercy."

"I'll think about it," she remarked and stepped into the car.

Andrews shut the door and then moved into the drivers seat. Davis came out a couple seconds later, put the camera in the trunk, and then got into the front passenger seat. Andrews began to drive out of the school parking lot, and out of curiosity, Mercy reached over into what appeared to be the empty part of the seat, only to have her hand run into an invisible barrier.

"That'd be my cockpit Mercy, go any lower and you'll be severely punished."

Mercy quickly drew her hand back, "I was just wondering if you were there, chill out."

"Don't tell me what to do, android."

"I'll make sure you stay right here in this cop car."

He didn't answer and Mercy turned her attention to the cage-like wall that separated the front seats from the back seats. She had a feeling the officers had offered her this ride to intimidate her, but Mercy wasn't intimidated. The android was looking however for a possible escape from the car, incase she was arrested. Her odds looked small though, there was no door handles in the back seat, there was no door lock she could pull to get out, no button or crank to get the window down, just nothing. Not to mention if she were arrested, she'd be hand cuffed and left with just her feet.

"Are you sure there is nothing else you would like to tell us?" Davis questioned.

"Are you implying that there is something more that I should say?" she refuted.

"Look, if you killed Brenna—

"I should confess, I know. But if I told you I killed Brenna, it would be a lie."

"So this man, do you remember any part of his name?"

"He was her stalker, ask Brenna's parents," Mercy said again.

The officers didn't say anything else and Mercy gave them the address of her home. It was a short drive, and a couple minutes later, Andrews pulled into the driveway of the android's home. He shut off the car, but neither him nor Davis moved to get out of the car. Mercy glanced to the front seat and noticed a small camera on the dashboard of the car. Apparently the questioning wasn't over.

"What about the gun Mercy, did you steal it or did the man?"

Mercy slumped back in the seat, "The man. I have no connections to any gun dealers, I don't own a gun."

"Not that this isn't interesting, but I would like to get out."

"You aren't the only one."

"Have you ever fired a gun?"

"No."

"Would you mind if we took a look around your home?"

"Let them, we've got nothing to hide."

"Nothing but several cans of unleaded oil."

"Right…I highly doubt they'll be looking in your kitchen cupboards."

"They better not."

"Mercy?"

"Yes, you can look around."

Both Andrews and Davis got out of the car and let Mercy out. The android paused long enough to let Megaton get out. She knew he was out when she felt him brush past her. Sighing, the girl allowed the officers to follow her into the house. Once inside, the officers abandoned her and began looking around. Mercy dragged herself over to the kitchen table and slumped into a chair. She crossed her arms and laid them on the table; she rested her head face down in her arms. Truthfully, she really didn't feel good. Her head throbbed; her shoulders were throbbing in rhythm with her head.

Mercy could hear the two officers digging through her things in her room, her parent's room, and even the bathroom. They then went through the junk room, her father's old office, and then proceeded into the living room. She was suddenly hit with the feeling that they were going to go through the kitchen cupboards. The android began trying to think of an excuse for the unleaded oil. Her head was pounding so much though that she couldn't think of anything reasonable other than the truth.

One of the officers stepped into the kitchen suddenly and Mercy glanced up. "When do your parents come home Mercy?" Officer Andrews asked.

"My mom, never, she neglected me. My dad, he's on a business trip and he'll be gone until the end of the month," she lied.

"So you've been left home alone?" Davis piped up coming into the kitchen.

"I can take care of myself. My grandpa stops in every now and then to check on me."

'Enough of the grandpa.'

"And who's your grandpa?"

"Oh crap," Mercy thought, "Leave him out of this, he's old and doesn't need to be stressed out over me."

The officers exchanged suspicious glances and then Andrews said, "Well, thank you for your time Mercy. Sorry to bother you when you're ill."

"Whatever, aren't you going to search the kitchen?"

Andrews looked to Davis who swept the kitchen with his eyes, "There, we searched it. We'll see you later Mercy," replied Davis and both he and Andrews left.

As soon as the police car was out of sight, Megatron reappeared. Mercy looked over at him, "Well, you were right. They didn't look in the cupboards."

"I wonder why," he mused, "Something's not right."

"Whatever, I'm going to bed. Unless the world is about to end, don't wake me up," she said getting up from the chair.

"Mercy, I think it'd be best to get out of here for a while."

"If I leave now, the cops will think I committed the murder."

"They already think you committed the murder. Mercy, why didn't you listen to me when I said to stay away from Brenna? Have I not made it clear that I know what's best for you?"

"Oh, you know what's best for me, do you? Beating me on a daily basis, setting up bogus rules, and telling me what I can and cannot do?" argued the android, "You think you know what's best for me?"

"Mercy, don't make me give you another concussion,"

The android sighed heavily and looked at him. "You're right okay? I should've listened to you, but you were just being so mean and controlling that I couldn't—wouldn't let myself listen to you," she admitted.

"I'm not going to change my ways, but you will change yours if you want to get through this."

"It's too late now…I'm going to bed."

"I suggest you highly consider running."

"Whatever," Mercy exclaimed and disappeared into her room.

Megatron glanced after her for a moment; he knew she didn't feel good and was in pain. He didn't feel any pity towards her though, just a tad bit concerned. The decepticon leader felt himself being rather amused by Mercy's efforts to resist him. No one, not even Starscream, had ever refused to listen to his direct orders like this. Of course there were autobots foolish enough to try and defy him, but they were dealt with right away, before they became a threat. Mercy was an exception, she infuriated him nonetheless, but she was still amusing.

Mercy literally collapsed onto her bed. It felt so good to lie down, comfortable, warm, and calm. All the android wanted to do was sleep, maybe, if she were lucky enough, she'd wake up to find Megatron gone, the police off her back, and the world burning at her feet. Mercy pulled the covers to her chin and snuggled into the bed.

Sleep came to her slowly, like water dripping gently, each drop coming quicker than before until the soft dripping turned into a roar, and sleep had engulfed Mercy.

This chapter has made it to the record books by being the longest chapter I've ever written in all my stories. 5,202 words. Not too shabby huh? I have a feeling chapter eleven is going to be longer…maybe, but chapter ten comes first! And I for those of you who didn't get the "assume makes an ass out of you and me" part, think about the way it is spelled. Ass/u/me. Please be so kind as to review!