Aria hopped off of Arcee's vehicle form before Jack climbed off. As the femme transformed, the girl looked around and asked, "Hey, where's Optimus?"

A set of footsteps and something tapping the top of her borrowed helmet caused her to take it off and turn to see Optimus with a slight smile on his face. "Were you looking for me?" he asked.

"Yes," she replied. She hugged his outstretched hand as she asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Better," he said, "Ratchet said that I've completely recovered as well. But he does want me to take it easy for a little bit longer."

"But you'll be able to fight and drive again?"

"I will, do not worry."

Aria let go of his servo, looking up and smiling. "I'm glad that you're feeling better."

"And I'm glad to see that you're doing better as well." He lifted her up on his shoulder and asked, "How have you been doing?"

"I'm... not sure," she replied, shrugging. "I can let my guard down in here, but outside..?" She looked out the exit tunnel and gave a shudder. "Just try not to sneak up on me. At least before 'they' came along, I didn't attack the people that try to put their arm around my shoulders when I wasn't looking."

"That happened to Vince today," said Jack, nodding as Arcee tried to stifle a snigger.

At Optimus's inquiring glance, she said, "When we were picking her up, he tried to come behind her and slip an arm around her shoulder. She grabbed it and twisted hard."

"That is actually the first time that I heard him squeal like a little girl," said Jack, chuckling.

"Oh, that was Vince?" asked Miko from the balcony, "He sounded like one of my cats from Japan when I stepped on his tail. Bulkhead actually jumped at that." She laughed hard at that.

"Wait, Miko!" said Jack, "You were in the parking lot at the back of the school! You actually heard that?"

"I did."

"Not only does Vince squeal like a little girl," remarked Aria, "But he also apparently shrieks like a banshee."

"Undead spirit that screams really loudly," explained Miko at the Autobot's confused looks. The Autobots nodded, sort of getting the explanation.

"I am pretty sure that it's something different," whispered Aria in Optimus's audial receptor, "but that is a pretty close description right now." She then looked up and asked, "Where's Bulkhead?"

"Playing a game of basketball with Bee," said Raf, entering the room, "Where they learned the rules, I don't know."

"Are you sure that wasn't you?" asked Sideswipe.

"Defintely sure," said Aria, "It could've been Miko."

"My fault," said Miko.

"Told ya."

Aria looked over towards the training room, a slight mixture of confusion and worry in her gaze. Optimus noticed the look. "Aria?" When she looked at him, he asked, "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, it's just..." she trailed off, looking towards the training room again. "Does anyone think that Bee's been acting weird these past few days?"

"Weird how?" asked Arcee.

"Now that you've mentioned it," said Raf, "He kinda has been a litle distant. And he's been freezing a bit too."

Aria and Optimus cast concerned glances at each other. Something was wrong with Bumblebee.

"Until the cause is discovered, Aria," Optimus told her telepathically, "you probably should not use your powers."

"Understood Optimus," said Aria.

It was a few days later that the cause seemed to be discovered.

"Bumblebee's complaining of intermitent visions," explained Ratchet as Bumblebee powered down in the medical chamber, Raf and Aria at his feet. "Waking nightmares, if you will."

"Like, daymares?" asked Aria.

"Something like that," said Ratchet.

"But you said Bee was fine when you checked him over!" exclaimed Raf.

"Physically," said Ratchet. "But the experience he endured seemed to be having a temporary affect on his psychee. This induced power-down should force Bumblebee's mind to rest and recover."

Just then, there came a beeping on the consle. "Agent Fowler," said Aria, heading over to the computer station.

She guessed correctly as the group, plus Optimus, moved over to the computers andAgent Fowler's face appeared on the screen. *Prime. You spot any Decepticons wearing hula skirts lately?*

"No," quipped Aria, "but that would be a sight to behold on Starscream."

"I still haven't seen him in a dress!" complained Sideswipe in her head.

"Betcha a cube I can draw him like that!" said Sunstreaker.

"You're on, bro!"

Aria rolled her eyes and listened as Agent Fowler continued. *I was hoping that you would have a lead on the Cons who busted into the Kawaian Naval Observatory. Place looked like it was hit by an army of wrecking balls.*

"Why would Cons break into an observatory?" asked Arcee.

*Does the Heuck Nigoghossian telescope ring any bells?*

Raf stepped forward at that. "The space telescope," he said.

*As of last night, it's been missing it's primary lens.*

"It's difficult to guess Starscream's intent without knowing where the lens has been taken," mused Optimus.

*Good thing the lens has a tracking device,* said Agent Fowler. His face disappeared and was replaced with a map of the arctic, where a red box was beeping.

"The arctic?" groaned Arcee. "Great. Another chance to freeze our sparkplugs off."

Bulkhead looked at the screen and gave a low whistle. "That's an ND-7 class," he said. "Biggest unmineable energon deposit there is."

"Unmineable," said Optimus, "until Starscream melts his way down to it."

"With the help of the lens," added Arcee.

"So Starscream wants to use the lens to make a giant magnifying glass," said Aria. "When light goes through it and hits a concentrated area, it can cause a lot of heat. Set things on fire." At everyone's look, she said, "What? Back in Texas, the other foster kids tested it on paper and leaves. Pretty cool."

*Melting a glaciar that size could cause sea levels to rise at the largest coastal cities,* said Agent Fowler.

Optimus' gaze narrowed. "Autobots," he said, "Prepare for departure."

A few hours after everyone had left, Ratchet turned to Aria and said, "Shouldn't you be getting home?"

"Raf's still here," said Aria.

Ratchet glanced over at Bumblebee's comatose form, where he could see Raf at Bumblebee's feet, telling him a story. He walked over and said, "Rafael. I'm afraid Bumblebee can't hear you in power-down mode. It's getting late, why don't I bridge you and Aria home to your families?"

"Because I told Bee I'd stay," said Raf. "He's family too."

"Don't be ridiculous," scoffed Ratchet. "You're not even the same species!"

"That's being related! It's not the same thing," said Raf. "I'll show you." He pulled out his phone and showed the picture of his family that he had shown Aria when they had first met. "This is my family."

Ratchet kneeled down and looked at the picture. He straightened and mumbled, "Mm-hm. Yes, very nice."

"Very large!" corrected Raf. "Sometimes I can shout and no one hears me!"

"Yes, yes," muttured Ratchet, looking to the side.

"But Bumblebee always listens."

Ratchet looked down at Raf as he continued. "And I can understand him. Not sure why, but I do."

Ratchet turned to look at Aria as she joined the group. "There's a saying in one of my favorite books, Ratchet," said Aria. "'You can't choose your family, but you can choose your friends.' There's more than one way to call someone your family. Not just through species or blood, but by friendship and love for each other."

Ratchet looked at the two before his gaze softened. "And that's why you see him as family," he said gently.

"Don't you see your team as family too?" asked Aria.

Ratchet looked at her for a few seconds before nodding.

She was right.

"Rafael," said Ratchet. Raf looked up at him, with Aria on his shoulder. "We're going to the supply closet to find parts to repair this." He held up a tool that Bumblebee had broken earlier. "You know what that means."

"Don't touch anything," said Raf, smiling.

Ratchet nodded and the two of them headed down the hall. The medic noticed the look on Aria's face and asked, "Is something wrong?"

"Ratchet, I feel like something's off," she said.

"Off how?"

"Like... we're not the only ones in the base."

"Well," said Ratchet. "Rafael and Bumblebee are here."

"Besides them," said Aria. "Like... we've got an uninvited guest."

Ratchet suddenly looked wary. "What exactly do you mean?" he asked.

Before Aria could answer, there came a familiar sound down the hallway. "Is that the Groundbridge?" she said, startled. She gave a yelp as Ratchet took off down the corridor back to the main room. When they got there, they barely saw Bumblebee heading into the Groundbridge before it closed. Raf was standing in front of it, a worried look on his face.

"What did you do?" asked Ratchet.

"N-nothing!" exclaimed Raf. "Bumblebee just got up and-!"

"He was in power-down!" said Ratchet. "Where does he think he's off to?"

"Uh, Ratchet?" The medic looked down as Raf said, "Where's Aria?"

A pair of arms clambered back up Ratchet's shoulder. "One word, Ratchet," said Aria tiredly. "Seatbelts."

"Ha ha," said Ratchet. "I'm going to go after him." He quickly turned towards the Groundbridge controls as Aria hopped onto the catwalk. She brought up a screen and she paled.

"Ratchet. You're not going to believe where he went."

"No need to tell me," said Ratchet in a shocked voice. "These are the coordinates for the site of our previous battle with Megatron's undead. How did he know the coordinates? The only people who know are you, me, Optimus, and..."

"Megatron." Realization struck Aria. "Raf. Get up here, now and get behind me! Ratchet, prep the coordinates for the Nemesis once Bee's back through."

Ratchet sputtered. "W-why?" he managed to get out.

"Megatron's controlling Bumblebee. He went to that valley to get the shard of Dark Energon that he left there. And that's what he needs to bring himself back to life. And I have a feeling that if we don't do it, we'll be getting clobbered and squished real quick."

"Maybe we should call Optimus," said Raf as he climbed up on the catwalk.

"Optimus is busy preventing a polar ice-cap from melting," said Ratchet. "We'll need to handle this on our own." He pulled down the lever and turned as the Groundbridge opened.

The possessed Bumblebee stepped through, a purple shard of crystal in his hand. He looked up as Ratchet pressed the button on the controls and turned to Bumblebee. "We know that you're in there, Megatron," he said. "Just so you know, we'll be following."

Bumblebee stared at Ratchet for a few seconds, then darted forward and slammed his fist into Ratchet's head, causing the medic to fall to the ground. "Bee! What are you doing?" yelled Raf.

"That isn't Bee right now! Raf, stay behind me!" Aria pulled Raf behind her as Bumblebee stomped up to them. She was struggling to not let her powers show with the Dark Energon in the room, but it was very difficult.

Bumblebee raised a hand, then stopped. Several hoarse beeps came from his throat. He grabbed at his helm, the shard falling to the ground. "Bee." He looked up at Aria's voice. "We know that you don't want to hurt us. Take the Groundbridge and go. We'll be right behind you."

The possessed scout looked at her for a few seconds before his gaze returned to its narrowed stare. He picked up the shard of Dark Energon and opened the Groundbridge to the coordinates that Ratchet had put that, he ran through.

Ratchet gave a moan as he came around. "Ratchet!" called out Raf. "Are you okay?"

Ratchet rubbed his helm. "I'm fine," he said, standing up and walking over to them. "More importantly is Bumblebee. I fear youwere right when you said that Megatron was possessing him. Now we need to find out what Bumblebee wants to do with that shard."

"I think Megatron needs it to come back online," said Aria. "The Cortical Psychic Patch acted as a two-way conduit. When Bumblebee came back through, Megatron joined the ride. And now he's using Bumblebee to bring himself back online."

"And now Bumblebee... Megatron," Ratchet corrected himself, "has bridged himself to nearly the same coordinates Optimus used." He pulled on the lever and activated the Groundbridge. "Stay here you two."

"No!" said Raf. "Bumblebee needs me!"

"He needs more than his friends right now, Ratchet," said Aria, looking at the medic. "He needs his family."

Ratchet paused before turning back to them. "Of course he does." He held still as Aria picked up Raf underneath his arms and flew himonto one of Ratchet's shoulders before taking her place on the other.

"Quick question, though," said Raf. "How are we gonna get back?"

Aria held up her phone. "Small Groundbridge app," she said. "I'm connected to the bridge. Now let's go get our brother back," she finished as they raced through the Groundbridge.

As they stepped through the Groundbridge, Ratchet gasped their surroundings. "The Decepticon warship."

"Well, at Megatron knows where Starscream parks his car," quipped Aria as they headed down the hallway. When they turned the corner, they saw a few dead Vehicons who were practically ripped apart.

"Did Bumblebee do this?" asked Raf in shock.

"I fear Megatron's mind is dominant," said Ratchet. "And clearly he came here for one purpose."

"To bring himself back online with that shard of Dark Energon," finished Aria.

"Bumblebee won't let him," said Raf, clenching his fist. "Like he didn't let Megatron hurt us back at base."

"He's still hanging on." said Aria.

"I hope you're right you two," said Ratchet. He set the two of them down on the floor, then slowly moved forward, beckoning them to follow. When they turned the corner into the lab, they were shocked to see Bumblebee walking around Megatron's body, pressing buttons and pulling out a cable that was used during a Patch. He connected it to his helm and then atattched it to Megatron's. Ratchet's gaze narrowed and he rushed into the room.

"Be careful not to hurt Bumblebee," Aria's voice came in his mind.

"Bumblebee!" yelled Ratchet. Bumblebee turned and dodged the punch that he gave. Then he gave a massive slam into Ratchet's side, knocking him into the wall. As soon as Ratchet hit the ground, Bumblebee pulled out the shard of Dark Energon. As he started to move towards Megatron's body, he felt something grab the cable. He turned.

Aria had grabbed the cable, wrapping it around the table slightly. "Bee, you can do this!" she yelled. "Take control back!"

"Bee! Remember who you are!" called out Raf, rushing up to his friend. "Remember me! I know you always listen to me no matter what!"

Bumblebee turned to his friend, then froze again. His optics flickered from narrow to wide, showing that he was trying to take control back. *Raf! Get back!* he yelled.

"That's right, Bumblebee!" said Raf. "It's me!"

"C'mon kid! You can do this!" yelled Ironhide.

"You got this, Bee!" yelled the Twins together.

"Aria," came Primus' voice. "Let Bumblebee go. You do not have much of a choice in the matter of letting Megatron come back online."

Aria thought for a few seconds, then nodded. "Bee, I don't think we have much of a choice in letting Megatron resurrect himself! Let him! It won't be your fault! Just trust me!"

Bumblebee, still struggling, managed to nod. He could hear Megatron snarling in rage in his mind. *Guys! He's taking control back!* he screamed.

"Ratchet! Grab Raf! And Megatron! Get out of Bee's head and leave him alone!" Her powers acted of her own accord once more. Only Aria could see the bright light going up the cable and surrounding the Dark Energon shard. As the light turned purple, it flew into Megatron's chest. Purple light filled the air. Aria let go of the cable as Ratchet grabbed her, Raf already in his other hand.

Megatron's optics snapped open. Bumblebee and Ratchet stepped nervously back as Megatron got off the table. Several Vehicons entered the room, but froze at the sight of Megatron standing. "Decepticons! I have returned!" he growled. He looked at the group and said, "Get rid of these pests!"

"No thank you?" mumbled Aria. "Talk about ingratitude." The group lept to the side as the Vehicons started firing on them.

Bumblebee shot at a few of them as Ratchet carried Aria and Raf to safety.*Let's make like a bald mans hairline and recede!* yelped Bumblebee as he followed the three of them.

"I do not see what a man's hairline has to do with anything!" called out Ratchet as they raced away.

"He's saying let's get outta here!" yelled Aria. Ratchet handed Raf to Bumblebee, who held on to the boy tightly.

"I knew you could hear me," Raf said to his friend.

*And I'm glad I listened,* said Bumblebee.

The battle below on the glaciar was going well. Arcee and Bulkhead were currently preoccupied with fighting Breakdown. While that had been happening, Optimus Prime had climbed up one side of the glaciar. He now looked at the Nemesis, which was using the lens to heat up the ice to get at the Energon. He raced forward, transforming and driving up the ice-cliff, launching off the edge. As he flew through the air, he transformed, grabbing onto the edge of the wings of the ship, where he started to climb.

As he approached the lens, he heard Knockout say, "Don't the Bots seem... under-staffed?" The two Cons turned as an engine noise reached their audials, seeing Optimus in his vehicle mode racing towards them.

Starscream snarled and said, "What good is a second-in-command who fails to watch the rear?!" He shoved Knockout out of the way and kicked the Vehicon controlling the laser out. He turned the laser around, pointing it at Optimus.

The Prime staggered under the pressure of the laser, but gave a roar and continued to push through. Finally, he transformed and gave a roar of anger as he jumped in the air. Starscream let off one of his namesakes as Optimus's sword seared through the heat ray. A massive explosion filled the air. Even the Autobots and Breakdown on the ground were sent flying.

As Arcee and Bulkhead stood, the femme noticed who was laying nearby. "Optimus!" she called out.

Optimus laid on the ground, moaning from his overheated systems. The sound of a jet engine overhead caused his optics to crack open. He saw Starscream barreling down towards him in vehicle mode. "Megatron's greatest mistake was ever allowing you to live, Prime!" he screamed. Before he could crash into the injured Optimus, however, a familiar alien jet shot through, catching the Seeker and carrying him back to the Nemesis.

Optimus recognized the figure too well. "Megatron," he growled.

"He's back," murmured Arcee.

The two Autobots quickly helped Optimus up before the three of them turned to look at the Nemesis. "Should we get ready for an attack?" asked Bulkhead.

Optimus waited for a few second, then shook his head. "They're turning away."

"Looks like Starscream is in trouble with Megatron," commented Arcee.

As if to prove her point, a loud, energon-curdling scream filled the air. Finally, the Nemesis, it's back-end pouring out smoke, turned and left. After a few moments, Optimus raised a servo to his comlink. "Ratchet," he said, "We need a bridge."

"You are not the only ones."

The three Autobots turned as Ratchet and Bumblebee came around the corner. Aria and Raf were on Bumblebee's shoulders, waving to the three Autobots.

Back at base, with Jack and Miko, Ratchet nodded to Bumblebee in the medical chamber. Bumblebee lifted his arms, allowing the arm-rests to slide out. "Everything's back to normal," said Ratchet with a sigh of relief.

*Except for the fact that Megatron is back,* said Bumblebee, looking at the medic.

"Well," said Ratchet, "normal for Bumblebee," he corrected.

Raf entered the medical chamber as Bumblebee knelt down. *Raf, I'm sorry if I hurt you,* he said to his friend.

"It's okay," said Raf, assuring his friend.

*You must've been terrified.*

"Of course I was!"

*You were pretty brave to come after me with Aria and Ratchet.*

"I know."

*Well, thank's Raf. For being my friend.* Bumblebee extended a blick digit, allowing Raf to grab it.

Miko came forward. "What'd he say?" she asked.

Raf grinned. "He said thanks." He looked up as Bumblebee's optics smiled at him.

Aria, perched on Optimus' shoulder, leaned close to him and said, "Pairing the two of them together was probably one of the best things that you've ever done."

Optimus looked sideways at her, a smile on his own faceplates. "I know," he whispered back.

I am so sorry that this took so long! 'Out of his Head' is not one of my favorite episodes of Transformers Prime. I'm sorry for making you lot wait. But I hope you're pleased with this!