A week or so later, things were going to go a bit haywire. After one particularly nasty battle, Optimus suffered a wound to his helm. The Autobots had managed to carry him back to the safety of the Autobot base and he was still online, but no one yet realized what he would be like when he woke. Mirage was a constant visitor to the med bay, hoping that soon Optimus would come to and hoping that Optimus would be alright.

"I've fixed what I can Mirage" Ratchet stated, it was little comfort, but Ratchet felt obligated to say it. "Now it is up to him."

Mirage sighed. "I hope he comes around soon. Our dozen little sparklings and I miss him" Mirage replied.

Suddenly, Optimus started coming around, but Mirage knew instantly something was wrong. "Where am I?" Optimus said, sounding like Orion Pax. Mirage tried not to show it, but Mirage was fearful of what would happen now.

"You are in the med bay, baby, you got hurt" Mirage replied, talking like he always did when Optimus played little Orion in their room.

"I am? Am I sparked?" little Orion asked.

"No" Mirage replied, "You were hurt, in battle"

"I don't fight, I just give pleasure" Orion replied. Now Mirage was really worried. He looked to the medic.

"Alright…" Ratchet stated and he scanned Optimus. There were a few crossed wires, but nothing he could repair without killing the bot. They would have to repair on their own. "Mirage, I can't fix him. Only time can."

Mirage didn't like the sound of that, but he knew he would have to be strong. "Ratchet, could you please comm Jazz and Orion here? I need to speak with them urgently." Mirage had learned a short time ago that while Prowl did not know Optimus' history, Jazz did.

Orion just watched as Ratchet did as Mirage asked. Orion felt safe in the med bay so long as Mirage was there.

Soon, Jazz and Orion came to the med bay. Before seeing Mirage, Ratchet updated them on the Prime's condition. IT was only then that both understood why. Jazz and Orion entered the secured area.

"MAMA!: Optimus eagerly shouted, worrying Mirage, Jazz, and Orion.

"Hush, now my little one" the elder Orion said, "You need help."

"I do?" Little Orion asked.

"Yes, little one. I will help, but your sweet Mirage will have to help you most of the time" Orion stated. Little Orion nodded.

Mirage spoke with Jazz. "I think you need to be acting Prime until Optimus returns to us" Mirage stated, knowing Optimus put a lot of trust in Jazz.

"Agreed. I will also take some of the sparklings off your hands. Orion agreed to take the youngest eight. Prowl and I will take the oldest four – you know Keeper, Flasher, Slugbug and Kryptonight" Jazz stated.

Mirage nodded, relieved. "I just hope he snaps out of this soon" Mirage stated.

"We all do, take care, Mirage, and remember, if you need help you can always ask Orion, Hide, Illusion, Prowl, Wingspan, and I for help."

"I will remember that, thanks" Mirage stated, starting to feel a little better.

Jazz and Orion soon left the med bay, heading to take the sparklings. The younger eight were no problem to take, as they were too young to know better. The older four sensed something.

"Where are mommy and daddy?" Flasher asked Jazz.

"Your daddy is sick and mommy has to care for him. Your mommy asked that I care for you four until daddy is better" Jazz stated in a way that the young ones would understand. The four nodded and headed out with Jazz.

Back in the med bay, Mirage was preparing to head home with his mate. Little Orion looked eager to get out of the med bay for more reasons than one. "Alright sweetheart, in order to get home, we need to play a game" Mirage stated.

"What game?" Little Orion.

"It's called the quiet game. Whoever can get to the room without making a sound wins" Mirage stated. He was doing this so that no one heard Optimus speak in a way that was less than the Prime. Mirage didn't want Optimus' leadership to suffer because of this. Optimus/Orion was eager to play. He liked pretending and playing games.

As they headed out, Mirage took many back ways to their quarters, which meant they really saw no other bots. They got home and Mirage entered the code. Once inside, Mirage spoke first.

"I win!" little Orion said, "You talked first!"

Mirage nodded and smiled, hoping and praying that this little fiasco would only last for a short time.

Meanwhile, Elsewhere, Illusion wasn't feeling so good. He wasn't sure what it was that was bothering him and so he went to the med bay. Ratchet was there, cleaning up after Orion had made a bit of a mess in the med bay.

"Ratchet? You here?" Illusion asked, still feeling like crud.

"I am. What is wrong?"

"I don't feel good" Illusion stated.

"That's kind of a broad statement. Can you be a little more specific about your symptoms?" Ratchet asked, hoping this was just a virus.

"Well…." Illusion started and began listing symptom after symptom of what a sparked bot typically has when sparked.

Ratchet sighed. HE went to get the deep scanner, and he expected to maybe find twins if Illusion was sparked, as Prowl was a tower bot and had twins as was Mirage. What Ratchet didn't know, was that Illusion had a slight glitch in where he would always carry between 2 and 6 sparklings, depending on things. Ratchet scanned and was a bit alarmed when he got four beeps on the machine. He scanned many times and got the same result. "Well, Illusion, you are sparked" Ratchet stated, waiting for the clank of a passed-out bot.

Illusion blushed and turned many colors of red. He hadn't expected that, but he welcomed it. "Thank you, Ratchet. I shall go tell my mate."

"You bonded?" Ratchet asked.

"Yep, to a sweet mech named Buster" Illusion replied.

Ratchet nodded. "Good, it will be better for them and you." Illusion raced out of the med bay, as he had to tell his mate the exciting news. Ratchet just laughed. Truly, Illusion was one of a kind.