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Chapter 8
"You have got be kidding me," Ultra Magnus muttered to himself, reading over the text.
"How did he write this? Scourge doesn't know how to read ancient Cybertronian. Hell Optimus doesn't even know. The only reason I learned was because Alpha Trion thought teaching me would be a good reason to spend more time together," Ultra Magnus shook his head.
"Could you wonder less and translate more," Optimus growled.
"Ok, it basically just talks about how Cerebros was afraid of being found and controlled by the wrong faction," Ultra Magnus explained.
"Well I'd say he was pretty justified in that way of thinking," X-brawn commented dryly.
"Yeah. So he shut away a lot of his power and knowledge in some nearly unreachable part of his processor. He was planning on transferring it into a reliable vessel if it ever looked like the wrong faction was going to get control of him. It would be transferred back once he was safely back on Cybertron with the Autobots. He did the transfer but it says the vessel was too fragile to for it to be kept on an accessible layer. The vessel wasn't even aware of the transfer," Ultra Magnus read.
"Why didn't he transfer it back? He's been back on Cybertron for years," Sideburn pointed out.
"The vessel wasn't though. It stayed behind," Ultra Magnus said.
"Wait. No way. No way in freaking hell, the Pit, or whatever" Sideburn said, catching on first.
"Wait. Are you saying Koji was the vessel?" Optimus asked.
"Well either Koji or that other kid," Ultra Magnus said.
"Carl?"
"Was he the one that got kidnapped after switching clothes with Koji?"
"Yeah."
"Then yeah. He and Koji were the only ones that interfaced with Fortress Maximus and that was the only opportunity he had to make the transfer," Ultra Magnus said.
"But they were organic. No pun intended but they don't have the proper hardware," Optimus shook his head.
"Well they did manage to interface with him. Plus the human brain is basically a bunch of electrical flares. It's not all that different from us except it's mostly liquid and some other organic matter," Ultra Magnus pointed out.
"Thank you for the biology lesson. Now tell me how that kid in there got close enough to Cerebros and Fortress Maximus to get this transfer," Optimus practically growled.
"Well obviously he is one of the two kids that interfaced with Fortress Maximus. So unless that Carl kid has been reported missing recently I'd say that kid in there is Koji," Ultra Magnus replied rereading the text.
"So that's Koji? He's really alive," Sideburn asked.
"Not necessarily. We need to run some test to check if his DNA matches existing samples from Dr. Onishi," Optimus said.
"Ok. This is the last time I'm saying this. Stop being so damn cynical," Ultra Magnus ordered.
"Um how about, NO," Optimus growled.
Cerebros opened his eyes. He could remain conscious for at least an hour. That should be enough time to explain to Prime what needed to be done.
Pressing the call button he asked the nurse to send in the lead Autobot.
"Hello Prime," Cerebros greeted.
"Where did you learn to write in ancient Cybertronian and who are you?" Optimus demanded.
"You are surprisingly forward when you're upset," Cerebros commented.
"Who are you?" Optimus demanded.
"Who am I? Or who does this body belong to?"
When Optimus didn't answer Cerebros smiled. "You really shouldn't have to ask. You already know the answer to both questions."
"You are not Koji," Optimus stated.
Cerebros's smile faded. "No I am not. But this body is his. If you don't recognize it, then it is because you do not wish to. Scourge recognized it."
"Koji Onishi died three years ago," Optimus growled.
"Where is your proof of that? They never found a body, a finger, or even a bloody footprint. What makes you so certain that the boy is dead?"
"We found his father. I know what they did to him. Koji had even less value to them than he did. Why would they keep Koji alive after killing his father?" Optimus demanded.
"Why did they go after him a second time? Surely the doctors told you about how Scourge rescued this body from a group of 'thugs'. Who do think they were? They were the people who tortured Koji for information he wasn't even aware that he had," Cerebros stated.
"This is Scourge's plan isn't it? To get at me through these mind games," Optimus accused.
To his surprise Cerebros snorted. "I afraid you're vastly overestimating Scourge's creative intellect. His plan was to win Koji's friendship and then rub your nose in it. That was his idea of the perfect revenge."
"But his plan for revenge did include you," Optimus demanded.
"His plan involved Koji. Getting me was an unexpected surprise that he is still unaware of," Cerebros said. "And if we're lucky he'll remain unaware until after I rejoin the rest of myself. He may be starting to find the right path again but it's best not to temped him."
"Why should I help you get anywhere near Fortress Maximus?"
"For one, things will be a lot safer once I'm running at full capacity. And second, Koji will finally be able to start healing mentally," Cerebros explained.
"How will that help this child recover?"
"The fail-safes will be removed. When those men were close to getting the information they wanted I had to activate them to keep them from learning too much. His headaches, the amnesia, and the fainting spells are all precautions to keep the secret," Cerebros explained.
It sounded logical, but Optimus still couldn't believe this was Koji.
"And how do I know you're telling the truth?"
"Koji remembered you as being a lot more trusting," Cerebros commented.
"If Koji has amnesia then how do you know that?"
"Koji has amnesia, not me. I was aware of mostly everything that went on around Koji. Like how two days before his kidnapping you and Koji spoke. He told you he thought of you as a second father." Cerebros knew he'd hit a nerve.
"Shut up," Optimus growled.
"And you told him that he was the closest thing to a son you had," Cerebros continued.
"Shut. Up," Optimus ordered.
"How many people knew that? Koji wouldn't have spread that around because it might have hurt his father. You wouldn't because you worried for Koji's safety," Cerebros said.
Optimus glared and then strode out.
Ultra Magnus had no time to register what was happening before his brother's fist slammed his faceplate.
"Optimus!" one of the Autobot brothers exclaimed in the background. Ultra Magnus really couldn't tell which through the pain. His brother could pack a punch when he wasn't pissed. And right now, it was hard to miss the rage radiating off the Autobot leader.
"Who did you tell, you bastard!?" Optimus yelled.
"Tell what?" Ultra Magnus asked, pulling himself off the ground.
"Who did you tell about my last conversation with Koji!?" Optimus demanded.
"No one. Why would I have told anybody?"
"Then how does he know what I said to Koji then?" Optimus growled.
"I don't know. Maybe it's because he is Koji."
"No," Optimus hissed. "He is not!"
"Optimus. I get it. You really cared about that kid. He disappeared and it hurt you bad, but Damnit you need to wake up and see reason. Koji's body was never found. There is no guarantee this boy isn't him. Before you go off the deep end just have the test run at the very least," Ultra Magnus advised.
"Fine. To put this matter to rest, I'll have the tests run," Optimus growled before striding off.
AN: Damn I wrote Optimus as practically being frigid. Oh well he'll warm up later. R&R.
