VII

Orion awoke to the sound of the Energon cuffs clicking on the bars beside him. Moving slightly, he felt them tug against his wrists. Feeling like he was dreaming, he lifted his head to look around. The guard scoffed, kicking Orion's heel. He moved his foot in. The guard walked off, slamming the gates closed behind him. Orion groaned, resting his head on the bars, allowing his optics to look around.

He was in a dark room, walls lined with bars to keep prisoners chained. A large pillar stood in the middle of the room, preventing Orion a good look at the opposite side of the room. He did manage to see the foot of another bot, which swiftly moved out of sight as Orion shifted slightly. He heard a bot chuckle, allowing his optics to wander to his right. A red armored bot, hands chained over his head, gave Orion a wink.

"What are you in for?" he commented.

"What…" whispered Orion, still getting rid of the sleepy feeling.

"He got hit in the head, Knockout. Leave him alone," grumbled the unseen bot on the other side of the pillar.

"Sorry," grinned the red bot, Knockout. "I bet you're a little dizzy."

"Where am I?" gasped Orion, looking around, tugging at his chain.

"Prison," remarked Knockout. "Well, a holding cell for those awaiting trail by the council."

"Prison? Trail?" pleaded Orion. "I didn't…I didn't do anything wrong…"

"They always say that," grumbled Knockout. "Though, I suppose not everybody. I'm guilty…I know that."

"Guilty?" whimpered Orion, looking over at Knockout.

"I may have…torn a bot's insides out," smirked Knockout. "He was…on my nerves or something like that."

"Didn't he attack your friend?" remarked the mystery bot.

"Shut up, Shockwave!" ordered Knockout, tugging at his chains. "He deserved it!"

Orion pulled his legs in closer, lifting himself closer to his chained hand. A sinking feel ached in his spark as he looked around. The walls seem to close in, darkness surrounding him. He gulped, shutting his optics, listening to the buzzing of the lights. Knockout chuckled lightly, relaxing.

"Don't worry, whatever your name is," mumbled Knockout. "You'll probably get out before any of us, assuming you are innocent."

"I was just…in my house…" whispered Orion.

The ironclad door swung open, slamming against the wall. Orion looked over. A large bot looked around, pointing toward the back wall. He stepped aside as two bots marched in a took him away. Orion caught a glimpse of him as he was dragged away. Purple, one optic, a destroyed servo. He glanced at Orion was he was dragged away. It made Orion uncomfortable. The door slammed shut behind them.

"Well…that was something," commented Knockout.

"What did…he do?" gulped Orion.

"Invented," shrugged Knockout. "Something called a Cortical Psychic Patch…"

"What does it do?" questioned Orion.

"Links two minds together," yawned Knockout. "Boring if you ask me."

"Links two minds…" perked Orion. "Interesting."

"If you get out before I do, can you pay my bail?" mumbled Knockout. "These chains are really putting a kink in my shoulder."

Orion looked at him questionably. The door opened again, the large bot returning. He had tall shoulder pieces, a stiff lip, and glimmering optics. He looked around, addressing his data pad once before glaring over at Orion. He moved over swiftly, unlocking Orion's cuff from the wall. Orion leapt to his feet.

"Orion Pax?" the bot asked.

"Yes, sir," whispered Orion. "Can I ask what's going on?"

The bot began tugging Orion by the wrists. The hall was bright, lined with white walls. He gulped, hearing the calls of others from the nearby cells, the clack of other footsteps and the echoes of conversations. The tall shouldered bot, turned his attention back to his data pad, mumbling to himself.

"Orion Pax, you are under arrest for conspiracy to overthrow the High Council, conversing with known criminals, forming unregistered parties against the High Council, falsifying medical reports, and attempting to destroying priceless Cybertronian History," recited the bot. "I am your holding officer, Ultra Magnus, is there any questions at this time?"

"I didn't do any of those things!" gasped Orion.

Ultra Magnus glanced behind him, raising an eyebrow at Orion. He sighed, rolling his optics as he opened another door. It opened into a small room with two chairs and one table between them. Ultra Magnus sat Orion down in one of the chairs, standing behind the other.

"You are saying that you didn't do any of these accused things?" Ultra Magnus commented.

"I didn't do anything wrong. Last thing I remember I was in my house, on my berth, having a panic attack, when I get hit in the head and wake up here!" argued Orion, voice slipping into worry. "I work at the Hall of Records, I wouldn't destroy any artifact, I would sort it! Overthrowing the High Council, that's ridiculous! Conversing with known criminals, who? Forming a party, who?"

"We have reason to believe these accounts. You regularly converse with known criminal, Megatronous. You are forming an illegal party with Ratchet, which leads to false medical reports, illegally bringing said party to the private workplace, and having him wander said place unmonitored," explained Ultra Magnus.

"Megatronous is an old friend. I only visit him to make sure he's okay. It's not like I'm planning anything!" Orion felt like shouting. He snarled, shutting his optics. "Ratchet didn't do anything…he just wanted to help…I'm the one…who screwed up."

"Ratchet is already in custody," Ultra Magnus added.

"He didn't do anything. Throw me in jail for life…just don't punish Ratchet," whimpered Orion. "All he wanted to do was help me with my crazy disillusions."

"Disillusions?" perked Ultra Magnus. "Are you saying you are not in control of your own actions?"

"I don't…" Orion instructed. "I haven't been well a while. Headaches, blackouts, panic attacks."

Ultra Magnus showed a split second of worry before turning away and turning his attention back to the data pad. Orion groaned, resting his head on the desk. Ratchet. He had dragged Ratchet into this. Was this what Megatronous felt like, when he convinced the council to not arrest Orion? He was doing the exact same thing now, Orion thought fondly. He was pushing for Ratchet's freedom, just as Megatronous pushed for Orion's. Everyone deserved that.

"How long have you lived in Iacon?" Ultra Magnus questioned.

"My whole life," answered Orion, voice muffled as he desk was pressed against the desk.

"Every left Iacon?"

"No."

"Do you have any education?"

"History."

Orion heard the door open, though he didn't lift his head to see who it was. There was a muffled conversation and then the door shut again. Ultra Magnus coughed lightly, tapping on the desk. Orion lifted his head, sitting up. Ultra Magnus set the data pad on the table.

"Your bail has been paid," Ultra Magnus nodded.

"By?" perked Orion.

"Ratchet," grumbled Ultra Magnus. "One of the Councilmen would like to talk to you though."

"Let me guess," snarled Orion, narrowing his optics.

Ultra Magnus stepped out as the familiar face of the Councilman stepped in. The door shut behind him. Orion groaned, leaning back. The Councilman took the seat across from Orion, linking his fingers together and leaning on the desk.

"Well, well," he hummed.

"You did this…didn't you?" hissed Orion. "I didn't do anything wrong!"

"I know," chuckled the Councilman. "I'm teaching you a valuable lesson, Orion Pax. Don't be like you friend, Megatronous. Stop this foolish idea of the Matrix bringing light. Find a different medic. Do your job. Live the life that's been given to you."

"I don't think I got your name," commented Orion, leaning on the desk.

"Is that important?" snapped the Councilman.

Orion leaned back slightly. "Shouldn't it be public information?"

The Councilman stood up, sliding his chair back into place. "Just do as I instructed, Orion, or else."

"Sir," Orion hummed. He pushed himself into the best smile he could. "Thank you."

"You are welcome," he nodded, walking away.

Orion groaned, slamming his head against the desk again.