Chapter 20

A/N: I just own the story.

/comm/

Telepathy/mental planes

Synthesized voice capacitors

September 10, Autobot Base

Emerald laid on the couch in the rec-room with a bandage wrapped around her leg. It was still healing after the mission in Bialya, and Ratchet forbade her from doing anything strenuous till the stitches were healed, which thankfully judging by how her most recent check-up went, should be in a few days.

"I'm still sorry about shooting you," 'Bee apologized for what seemed like the millionth time. At least it wasn't as bad as when he first got his memories back, he couldn't even look her in the eye because he felt so horrible.

"It's fine 'Bee. You didn't remember who I was, so it's understandable," she chuckled. "Heck, even Superboy attacked us."

"She's right," he nodded before turning back to the video game trying to beat Wally, Robin, and Artemis in Super Smash Bros.

Erica grinned and yanked 'Bee down onto the couch between her and M'gann. "Besides, I'm pretty sure the universe was getting back at me for that string of pranks I pulled on the Corp a few months back. It took weeks to clean up Oa after that mess," she smiled getting a small one from him as he imagined the chaotic scene.

In the main room, Ratchet was typing away ignoring the noise coming from rec-room. Looking up at the screen he stopped as a signal appeared over China, it was the Nemesis.

"Optimus you're not going to believe this," Ratchet said pulling the Prime's attention away from the meeting he was having with the other mentors of the team. "I just pinpointed the location of the Decepticon warship."

"How did you penetrate their cloaking technology?" Optimus asked.

"I didn't; I was experimenting with frequency wavelengths when I stumbled across it," he explained. "Even so, they must be experiencing some electromagnetic breach."

"With Buckethead dead and the element of surprise," Flash said making a fist.

"We could cause some serious damage," Bulkhead agreed.

Another signal popped up on the screen in northern Africa. "Also on the same frequency, an Autobot emergency beacon."

"The Decepticons can wait, there may by Autobots in distress," Optimus said. "Ratchet, bring your medical kit."

-.-

Sahara Desert

Optimus, Ratchet, and the other mentors exited the groundbridge, looking up at the massive engines of the ship rising out of the dunes.

"A crash landing, buried here for centuries and we never knew," Batman said.

They cut a doorway in the hull and entered the ship cautiously as it moved under them as the sands shifted. "If they traveled in stasis there may be survivors," Ratchet stated as they approached a door.

Martian Manhunter used his telekinesis to open it, walking in they covered their noses as the scent of decay and death hit them. The rotting corpses of Autobot soldiers were sprawled across the room with a strange black and blue-violet substance covering them.

GL and Ratchet each scanned a body. "It wasn't the crash that killed them," Hal said backing away from the fluids spilled across the floor. "It was a virus."

"Put on your protection equipment," Batman said pulling out a few breathing masks and handing them out.

"Don't touch anything," Ratchet cautioned as Flash began to approach a body. "It could still be active."

"How? After who knows how many years, it should've died. Viruses need new hosts to survive, and no new ones have come in a long time now," he said.

The ship shifted underneath them and those who couldn't fly found themselves slammed into a wall. Something groaned above them and they all looked up to see a body drop down, hanging from the wires that kept it up there in the first place.

As it was jostled, fluid dripped off the body and into Optimus' eye.

-.-

Base

The others watched as Ratchet performed another scan on Optimus, they could see the discoloration in the veins surrounding his eye and the right side of his face, showing how fast the virus was acting.

"Cybonic Plague," Ratchet said grimly and those unfamiliar with the term noticed extremely worried glances get tossed between the Autobots. "It's only contagious if contact is made with the infected fluids."

"What was a plague doing on an Autobot warship?" Artemis asked.

"Its crew were infected, the virus broke out during the war, almost killed more people than the actual combat did," Arcee said.

"It was engineered in the Decepticon Biowarfare program," Ratchet said and their eyes went wide.

"Biowarfare?" Wally gaped. "Who created it?"

"Megatron," Ratchet growled.

"Is there a cure?" Batman asked.

"No…cure," Optimus ground out, gritting his teeth as more pain flared through his system.

Bumblebee took a step forwards to comfort his father, but Arcee put a hand on his shoulder, holding him back; leaving him only with the ability to do so through their bond.

"There has to be one," Flash said. "Creating a disease without a cure is improbable, what if the wrong person caught it?"

"It's not like we can ask Megatron, his pushing up lugnuts," Bulkhead retorted.

"But we might be able to access the Decepticon database," Batman said. "We still have a fix on their warship's location."

"Bumblebee, Emerald, Superboy, Batman, come with," Arcee ordered going towards the groundbridge.

"Arcee, hurry."

-.-

Nemesis

The group jumped out of the bridge, weapons drawn. "We'll start with the lab," Arcee said as they made their way through the ship.

Getting to the lab, they climbed/flew up to the upper corners of the hall as Knockout exited the med-bay. He stopped for a moment and looked around before shrugging and continuing on his merry way.

Arcee and Batman went to different screens and began their search, Emerald floating behind Robin as a translator. "We're in."

-.-

Base

Ratchet looked over Prime's vitals, trying to estimate how much time they had. "Ratchet?" Looking over he saw Optimus looking at him worriedly. "Was anyone else…?"

"Infected? No," he answered. This seemed to appease him because he relaxed slightly and closed his eyes, trying to get some rest.

/If it's here we can't find it/ Batman commed.

"Are you certain?"

/We searched the everything. Nothing/ Arcee growled.

-.-

/Well search again! Clearly you missed something!/ Ratchet snapped.

"We've scanned the entire database!" Arcee snarled.

The others watched as she argued with the medic, but Bumblebee found something more interesting in the back. Going to the window, he peered in. "Uh…guys…"

/Did you use a redundant quantum algorithm?/

"Don't tell me how to research! Remember you aren't the only one who cares for Optimus!" she snapped.

"Guys, you'll wanna see this," 'Bee said a little louder.

"What is it?!" Arcee snapped walking over as the others looked between each other and shrugged. Going to the window, she almost jumped back in shock. And when she opened the door, the team saw why.

/What's going on?/ Robin asked.

"It's Megatron," Batman said. "He's alive."

-.-

Multiple gasps were heard from those listening in. "That's not possible!" Flash said. "He was right in the middle of that explosion!"

"He's right! There's no possible way he could've survived!" KF agreed. "He would've been crushed in the initial implosion, and his remains would've been scattered by the fallowing explosion!"

-.-

Arcee and Bumblebee pulled out their guns and carefully approached him. "Well we're staring right at him," Emerald said.

"Good news, he isn't exactly staring back," Arcee smiled. "He's critical, hooked up to life-support. Time to end this."

/No wait!/ J'ohn exclaimed.

"One good reason, fast."

/He might be the only hope for Prime's survival/ the Martian replied.

"How?" Arcee asked immediately lowering her weapon.

/Does he display brainwave activity?/

They looked at the monitor and scowled. "His sick mind is still working," Batman stated. "Meaning that if there is a cure he's the only one that knows it."

"In case you didn't notice we didn't bring a telepath," Emerald muttered.

"How exactly do you expect us to get the cure?" Conner asked.

/The Decepticon laboratory should contain all the equipment you need for a Cortical Psychic Patch/ Ratchet said.

"No way!" Arcee said, remembering her own experience with one. "Have you even performed the procedure?!"

/No/ he answered. /But I have studied the theoretical literage and actual results. It was invented by Decepticons and outlawed by Autobots/

"Can't we just drag Buckethead through the bridge, and buy us time to figure this out?" Superboy asked.

/Time is one this Optimus does not have! One of you must try this! I will not allow Optimus to pass knowing Megatron will outlive him!/ the medic snapped.

"Ratchet, I would lay down my life for Optimus, any time anywhere," Arcee said. "But a mind-body split…"

"I'll do it."

"You will?"

-.-

Those at base looked between themselves nervously. "Are you sure Bumblebee?" Aqualad asked.

"'Bee's the best scout there is," Bulkhead said. "If anyone will find the cure, it's him."

-.-

Nemesis

"Why has the electromagnetic shielding not been repaired?! Starscream demanded.

"The crews are working as fast as they can Lord—!"

He slapped the man, silencing him. "We are leaking a trail! All the Autobots need do is access the correct frequency wavelength to pinpoint our position! Accelerate your efforts!"

"Yes Lord Starscream," they said departing.

"Doctor in the house," Knockout said walking in.

Starscream sighed, perhaps the medic finally had some good news. "Ah, Knockout. And how is the patient doing today?"

"Same old."

Finally! Something to lift his spirits! "And in glorious fate, that he remains in this vegetative state?"

"On the contrary, Megatron's body may be scrap, but his mind in still percolating," Knockout replied.

And there went his good mood.

"Keep that to yourself!" he snarled quietly. "That blasted Soundwave sees and hears everything!"

"He's the eyes and ears of the Decepticons," the medic said.

"As long as their master remains in limbo, so does their cause. The Decepticons need a strong alert leader!"

"One who'd require a loyal SIC," Knockout suggested.

Starscream grinned sinisterly. "A candidate would need to earn that post, by making a strong case to said eyes and ears."

"A case for showing mercy, Lord Starscream?" he smiled.

"You scratch my back, I scratch yours," he replied, his good mood returning.

-.-

Arcee slid under the berth Megatron laid on and attached the chord to the port in the back. Going back into the vent they were hiding in, she looked at the teenager before her. "You ready?"

'Bee gave a thumbs-up, moving some of his hair so she could attach the other end to the base of his skull, right where it met the spine.

"Ratchet we're all clear here," Batman said.

/Initiate Cortical Psychic Patch/

Getting the thumbs up from the Dark Knight, Arcee carefully aligned the piece. "This may hurt," she warned before pushing it in. All she heard from him was a soft exhale as his eyes rolled back and he went limp in her arms.

Bumblebee looked around the new environment. Raging fires burned below the path he was on, smoke circling around the Cybertronian towers. At the end of the path stood Kaon's crown jewel, the gladiator arena.

-.-

"Communications downlink activated," Ratchet said as an image appeared on the screen. "This will allow us to see and hear everything Bumblebee does while in Megatron's subconscious mind. It will also allow us to communicate with him."

"Whoa, where is that?" Black Canary asked looking over the desolate environment.

/Looks like Kaon/

"Wasn't that the Decepticon Capitol back on Cybertron?" Wally asked.

"Indeed," J'ohn confirmed.

"Ratchet…Optimus' vitals…" Flash trailed off.

"I know…"

-.-

/Quickly Bumblebee, I know you're in unfamiliar territory but you must find where information is stored in Megatron's mind/ Ratchet said.

Going up the steps towards the arena, 'Bee balked at the sight of his father standing there. Sending a slight push through the bond, he got a response confirming that he was still safely at base.

/That's just a figment of Megatron's mind, it cannot see or hear you/

"You think I didn't figure that out?!" he said getting irritated with everyone telling him how to do his job. Hearing a familiar laugh, he dove behind the remains of a column, peering out cautiously.

"Optimus Prime," Meagtron sneered from between the statues of him and his sisters, "your Autobot armies are defeated, bow before your new master."

"Never Megatron," the fragment said pulling out his sword. "One shall stand, one shall fall."

"So be it," he sneered bringing out his own sword. Jumping down they charged each other, ducking under the Prime's swing, he slashed through him, and his enemy evaporated into dust.

-.-

"That never happened," Bulkhead said.

"It's not a memory," Ratchet replied. "We're seeing Kaon as he's recreated it; in his darkest dreams."

"What happened at the real Kaon?" Green Arrow asked.

"Optimus' wife showed up and sent the Cons packing," Bulkhead laughed as he remembered their terrified screams as the women walked onto the battlefield. "No one wins a battle against Solarlfare, not even Megatron and Soundwave fighting together."

"She sounds like someone I'd like to meet," Artemis smiled.

"Believe me, she is," Bulkhead chuckled. "I swear I'd never seen Megatron run so fast in my life...though I think anyone would run from someone screaming at them to 'DIE' while waving around a giant axe."

-.-

'Bee took deep breaths, trying not to act in rage. The rock he was hiding behind broke apart and another Optimus stood up, making him jump.

"Megatron, your treachery ends here!"

The tyrant turned around and put his sword away. Lifting his cannon, he fired, making dust fly past him.

'Bee watched the scene only to realize his mistake when the warlord's eyes locked with his. He lost his hiding place.

"The Autobot scout," Megatron sneered looking down at the child. "Punishment for trespassing in my domain…IS YOUR DESTRUCTION!"

Before 'Bee could dodge, the sword went through him, but he wasn't hurt. "Huh?"

Megatron looked just as confused. "How can this be?!" he growled slashing again.

'Bee just smirked behind his mask and started posing randomly as the sword went through, just to irritate the man. Which worked as he tried to shoot him, hit him, strangle him, and chop him up.

-.-

"He can't get 'Bee?" Wally asked.

"Because he's not a creation of Megatron's mind, Bumblebee is immune to his physical attacks," Ratchet explained.

The group laughed as they saw the warlord's absolutely irritated face as 'Bee continued to taunt him.

-.-

Megatron took a breath and began to circle him, trying to figure out just how he was avoiding his attacks. "You're not wearing a phase shifter, your eyes track my movements so you aren't a hologram, and I don't believe in spirits. So tell me scout: what are you?!"

"Megatron."

"Apparently I'm you," he said and the Decepticon leader tossed him an annoyed glance as they saw Optimus, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Batman, Superman, and the team appear.

-.-

"Looks like we're special guest stars," Wally said.

"This is not good," Ratchet said.

-.-

"I'm just gonna, go over here," 'Bee said backing towards the group as Megatron looked between them and him.

Looking between the two Bumblebee's Megatron's frustration began to grow. With a roar he shot his cannon, and all but the one scout that he was interrogating before disappeared. "You are real. They were not!" he snapped meeting the teen's glare. He started to pace, when an explanation came to him. "A Cortical Psychic Patch. How unexpected…If this is my subconscious…WHAT ARE YOU DOING INSIDE MY HEAD?!" he demanded, getting in the scout's face.

"Just what are you doing in there?" Emerald wondered as she glanced back to her friend's prone form from where she was keeping watch along with the others.

The door opened and she bit her lip as three Decepticons walked in: Starscream, Knockout, and Soundwave, all heavy-hitters.

"Knockout, would you be so kind to provide your medical expertise," Starscream requested. "For the historical record."

"Simply put, unaided, Megatron could remain in this deathless slumber forever," the doctor stated.

"Our master would not have been wanted to be seen this way," Starscream said. "To stand idly by as he remains captive in his own body, is not just."

The silent man walked closer, and pointed at a monitor. "Brainwave activity," Knockout identified, "not evidence of consciousness, but merely of and endless dream from which Megatron may never wake."

"Soundwave, we must face reality, Megatron is lost to us," Starscream implored.

"The only honorable option would be to show him mercy," Knockout agreed.

"A simple throw of the switch, quick, painless, compassionate."

"Are you getting this?" Batman asked.

/If Megatron perishes, Bumblebee's mind will remain separated from his body, forever/ Ratchet replied.

"We'll lose 'Bee and Optimus!" Superboy growled, barely keeping himself from attacking the three Cons threatening his friends' lives.

"The only way you could've entered my mind, is via Cortical Psychic Patch," Megatron stated. "But the question remains: what happened to me?!" He glared into the fierce blue eyes, and the image of the spacebridge implosion flashed for a second. "The Spacebridge…but…if you're in my head. I'm not one with the All-Spark."

"Not that you'd go there anyways," Bumblebee mumbled.

"Tell me scout, do I still function?!"

/Bumblebee! We're out of time!/ Ratchet informed.

"Look, I don't have time for a Q&A. What I need is the cure for Cybonic Plague,"he said cutting straight to the point.

"Cybonic Plague?" Megatron asked looking shocked and genuinely concerned. "Someone besides myself is…is unwell?" Bumblebee nodded and the man thought before he started laughing. "Optimus! Such irony! After ages of endless battle, the mighty Optimus Prime, is felled by a simple virus from the distant past!" He wiped away the tears that came with laughing so hard before looking at the irritated teen. "And what makes you think I'd save the life of my oldest enemy?"

"Megatron, your treachery is—" The image was destroyed as the warlord shot it, anticipating the scout's answer.

Bumblebee smiled as the sight gave him an idea. "Because, if you didn't, you wouldn't get what you want most," he said circling him.

Intriguing answer. "And just what is it I want most scout?"

"To kill Optimus Prime yourself," he replied darkly.

"Did you not see? I do slay Optimus at will! Whenever I desire!"

"But it's not the real one,"he stated. "Be a shame if you couldn't watch the life leave his eyes as his spark extinguished. Guess you'd just have to settle for all these dust bunnies instead."

"Soundwave? Do I take your silence to mean you concur with Knockout's advice?" Starscream asked grabbing onto one of the machines keeping Megatron alive. "Speak now, or forever hold your peace…going…"

Arcee aimed her gun at Starscream as the others prepared to attack as well, no way were they going to let them kill their friend.

"…Going…"

Soundwave pointed at something and the group cursed silently, he was pointing at the cable for the patch.

"After out ages of endless battle, to not watch the spark edge from Optimus' eyes with my very own…"

"See, you let the plague kill him, and you won't get that chance."

"Well played scout," Megatron grinned, opening his hand and the formula appeared. "The chemical formula for the cure you seek, not that I expect you to know how to read it." 'Bee reached for it, but the warlord just closed his hand and held it closer to him. "Not yet."

"What now?"

"And how am I to accomplish terminating Optimus as you propose, while I'm trapped here in a daydream," he questioned. "Once you free me from this prison, you will have the cure."

"But how can I trust you to give the cure to me?"

Megatron chuckled, the boy was smart. "Are you sure you're not a Decepticon at spark?"

"I'm sure of my side, which makes me doubtful of your trustworthiness to fulfill your side of the deal."

"I swear on my honor as a gladiator. You guarantee my recovery and I will provide you the cure," Megatron swore. "Otherwise Optimus fades to gunmetal gray; the real Optimus."

"We have the cure! Disconnect Bumblebee now!" Batman orderedgetting the all clear from Ratchet.

Emerald rushed over, and carefully started to remove the device implanted in her friend's neural systems.

The world around them began collapsing, and Megatron shook with rage. "They were watching! YOU TRICKED ME!"

"It's called deception Megatron, thought you'd know it by now," 'Bee smiled as he retreated back to his own mind with a mocking bow.

"NO! TAKE ME WITH YOU! TAKE ME!"

" Hurry 'Bee!" Arcee said as the cable was fully disconnected. The others rushed over and made a defensive line as Emerald helped 'Bee stumble to his feet.

"What in—?!" Starscream gaped as he saw the Autobots and their human pets. A groundbridge opened behind them and they started rushing through. "INTRUDERS!"

"Allow me!" Arcee said firing her gun and hitting Megatron's life-support before jumping through the closing bridge.

The sound of Megatron flatlining rang out through the med-bay and Starscream hid a grin. "It was the inevitable outcome."

"Put him back on the life-support, now!" the TIC said pointing at him.

"Of course, it would be wrong to allow him to perish at an Autobot's hand," he conceded. "Knockout."

The medic shrugged before reattaching the equipment.

-.-

Autobot Base, September 11

"Easy Optimus," Ratchet said as he helped his old friend to his feet.

"Yea!" the team cheered.

"Please, reserve the hero's welcome for my physician, and my scout," Optimus said making his son blush and rub the back of his neck nervously.

"Good job man," Superboy said slapping him on the shoulder.

-.-

Nemesis

"And how is the patient doing today?" Starscream asked walking into the med-bay.

"Funny you should ask," Knockout said. "I'm not sure what the Bots did in there, but Megatron's displaying zero brainwave activity."

"Meaning?"

"Physically he's stable. But now, there's no one home…"

-.-

Base

Bumblebee walked back to his room, eager to get away from the limelight and get some much-needed rest. Laying down on his bed, he rubbed his temples as a dull ache spread through his head.

"There you are…"

Mwah-ha-ha! Cliff hanger!

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