A/N

Sorry, NordicAutobotGirl. I tried to make it longer this time. I made the minimum of your request though XD

X

Ratchet refused to take his optics off Knockout, who was setting up a table as Shockwave was instructing. Orion was talking with them as well, though Ratchet couldn't hear them. He watched Knockout move the knives and wires around. Knockout looked up, meeting eyes with Ratchet and grinned. He then winked. Ratchet turned away.

"Who's your friend?" purred Knockout, glancing at Orion.

"Ratchet. He's my doctor. He's been with me since this whole mess started," explained Orion.

"You've been experiencing black outs and visions?" questioned Shockwave, pulling a long tube off the table. "You want to share these experience with your doctor?"

"Yes. Is that possible?" Orion sighed.

"If this works, yes," nodded Shockwave.

"If this works!?" shouted Ratchet, leaping into the group. "You mean it might not work?"

"There's a chance," instructed Shockwave. "This remains untested."

"Orion!" gasped Ratchet, grabbing his friend's arm. "You made me release criminals for a medical procedure that hasn't been tested?"

"He was arrested before it could be tested," perked Knockout.

"Arrested for what?" gulped Ratchet, glancing at Knockout.

"Inhumane medical practices," grinned Knockout. "Shall we get this party started?"

Ratchet turned back to Orion with widened optics. Orion chuckled lightly, leaving his friend's side. The small procedure room had the small table, two berths, a monitor and a large tank of some unidentified substance. Orion took the berth on the left, resting his head on the back. Shockwave stepped behind, inserting the system into the back of Orion's head.

"That's…weird," choked Orion. "Is it supposed to…feel like…"

Orion's optics slowly fluttered, closing as he drifted into recharge. Ratchet groaned, sitting on the second berth. Knockout pressed on his shoulder, forcing Ratchet to lie down. Ratchet gulped, glaring at Knockout.

"This better work," he snarled.

"Why are you mad at me? This isn't even my thing," grinned Knockout.

"You're apart of this and the closest one to me right now," hissed Ratchet. "I know how to kill you and make it look like an accident."

"Funny," whispered Knockout, leaning in, "So, do I…"

Ratchet's optics widened again. A sudden click occurred behind him as the other half of the system plugged into the back of his head. Ratchet tried to yell out but choked on his own words. The panic slowly faded as a lull of numbness and tiredness. He closed his optics slowly, world falling black.

"Ratchet…Ratchet you there?"

Ratchet opened his eyes slowly, looking around. He stood in a darkened room, nothing but black apart from the spotlight that showered over him. Orion stood in front of him, arms crossed. The two greeted each other with a weary smile.

"So…this is…" cringed Ratchet. "Your head or mine?"

"Neither," hummed Orion, looking around. "I hope…"

"So, I guess think. Think about the flashes or whatever," Ratchet instructed.

"I don't know how to…which one do I think of?" grumbled Orion.

"Latest one…the one that happened when I was gone and you were with the guard," nodded Ratchet. "The closer the memory the clearer it should be, right?"

"Right…" whispered Orion, looking around. "The…last time I was…"

The world suddenly flowed in around them. It displayed itself as the exact duplicate of the outside of the prison. It even displayed everyone wandering by. Ratchet perked, pointing pass Orion. Turning around, Orion spotted himself by the doorway, talking with Ultra Magnus.

"This…is weird," Orion gulped.

"This…is incredible," cheered Ratchet. "Creepy but incredible!"

"Magnus released me," Orion narrated. "Then you came to…"

They turned, greeted with the appearance of a duplicate of Ratchet and Orion talking. Ratchet's grin was uncontrollable. He stepped up to the duplicates, hands hovering over them. Orion chuckled.

"They're so real…" chuckled Ratchet. "I look like this?"

"You left," continued Orion.

The Ratchet duplicate left. Ratchet himself seemed slightly upset by this. Orion sighed, stepping up beside his duplicate. Ratchet turned back to the two.

"That's when it started," whispered Orion.

The world shuttered, cracking. Ratchet braced himself as if readying for an quake. Orion could feel the same emotion, the pain, the light. The memory of Orion groaned, falling to his knees. Ratchet glanced between them. Orion looked up.

"Everything went black this time," Orion continued.

The world shattered to black, leaving them in the dark void they had started with. Orion shut his eyes, feeling the void, trying to recover the memory. Though he didn't want to remember it.

"A light," murmured Orion. "There was a light…"

A light appeared, just slightly above their heads. The world around them remained dark though metal walls and a single platform could be seen. Beneath the platform, which was the end of a long hallway digging into the darkened void, was an endless hole.

"This…is real…" whimpered Ratchet, staring up at the large glowing orb in the center of the room. "This isn't some dream. This is real. This can't just be…"

"A voice," interrupted Orion.

"Voice?" perked Ratchet.

"Optimus."

A loud booming voice echoed throughout the area. Ratchet stepped back. Orion remained fixed in his position. Ratchet grabbed onto Orion's arm.

"What was that?" whispered Ratchet.

"I'm…" mumbled Orion, stepping forward.

Ratchet's attempt to restrain Orion failed, allowing Orion to step to the edge of the platform. Ratchet yelped, leaping forward as Orion continued to walk forward. Failing to reach in time, he watched as Orion walked on the air.

"How are you…?" questioned Ratchet.

"Optimus."

A glow curled around Orion, wrapping around every part of him. His optics glowed as well as his chest-plate. Ratchet attempted to follow but found the space between the platform and the orb was in fact nothing. Orion took a deep breath.

"Orion?" shouted Ratchet. "Orion! Orion are you there!?"

"Optimus Prime."

"Primus…" whispered Orion.

Ratchet opened his mouth as if to call out again but it instead remained open in awe as from the orb something emerged. A small device lowered, falling gently into the hands of Orion. Orion's appearance glittered, almost changing before Ratchet's eyes.

"Orion…" he gulped, shaking his head. "Orion! Wake up! This isn't real!"

Orion glanced back but didn't speak. His armor had shifted, changing design. Ratchet snarled, stepping to the edge of the platform.

"Shockwave! Knockout! If you can hear me, unplug us! Unplug us now!" ordered Ratchet. "Orion! Wake up!"

Orion's sullen face suddenly perked, the light falling away. The world shattered, disappearing into darkness. The platform disappeared. Ratchet screamed, falling into the void. Orion stood, floating a moment but soon was free falling with Ratchet. The two soon hooked up, linking hands.

"What…what is happening!?" shouted Orion.

"You…you were in this kinda trance. This voice…it was like…the sound of Primus…" panted Ratchet. "It was…it was Primus! Oh my goodness, Orion! You've been chosen by Primus!"

"What?" howled Orion.

"How long are we gonna fall like this?" Ratchet pleaded, glancing down.

The two's grip on each other loosened. It felt as if something was pulling them apart. Orion let go first, feeling his body melt away. Ratchet shut his eyes, feeling the same sudden flush of numbness. Everything was gone.