A/N

I did not expect people to still be watching this story nor did I expect like 3 people to review after I posted a new chapter. You guys are full of surprises.

XII

Orion opened his optics. He wasn't where he was supposed to be, at least, this wasn't where he remembered being. He stood at a console, hands hovering above the keypad. What was he doing a second ago? Looking up at the screen, he noted the detailed list of individuals, locations, plans, and other assorted information. He took a step back, trying to remember what he was doing.

"Optimus!"

Orion spun around, hearing the voice of a familiar friend. Ratchet stood, holding a data pad. This wasn't the right Ratchet though. This one was worn, dented, and looking tired. Orion sighed. It was another vision. This one seemed different though, more solid than before. He felt truly connected to this one.

"Yes, Ratchet?" Orion found himself mumbling.

"You need to rest," instructed Ratchet. "You can go over the plans later. Right now, as your physician, I must insist you sleep!"

Orion grinned, chuckling softly. This was still Ratchet, no matter what reality.

"What if I miss something?" Orion sighed, looking up at the screen. "What if I'm missing something important?"

"You won't…"

Orion tried to think about previous visions and questions he'd like to ask this version of Ratchet. What was happening? What went wrong? How'd he become a Prime? Names. Orion looked up at the screen. He knew two names from previous visions, Arcee and Bumblebee. The only probably was how to ask without sounding like he'd lost his mind.

"Bumblebee," Orion found himself mumbling as he scanned the list of names on one side of the screen.

"Bumblebee was in critical condition but after some surgery, he'll come through," Ratchet explained, referencing his data pad. "I'm worried about permanent damage, however, specifically to his voice box."

"I'm just glad he's alive," grinned Orion, glancing over his shoulder. "Arcee?"

Ratchet perked, raising a brow, but ultimately shrugged it off.

"Arcee was recovered a few hours ago and is intense care. She's physically fine but mentally…" Ratchet sighed. "Glad she's alive too, I suppose."

Orion looked up at the screen, watching the information scroll along without aid or instruction. Names. Deaths. So many. How could this have gone so wrong. Orion groaned, lowering his head.

"Ratchet, my old friend, I worry we've forgotten what we were fighting for," Orion felt the words leave him and it weighed heavy on his spark. He turned around, looking down at Ratchet. When was their heights so different?

"We were fighting for Cybertron," Ratchet nodded. "Megatron just made it a little harder to get there."

"Megatron…" Orion shook his head. Megatronus?

"I know you've said he meant well when he approached the council but still…" shrugged Ratchet. "Can't help but blame him for this trouble."

"Right…"

"At this rate," grumbled Ratchet, motioning to the screen. "We won't have a Cybertron left to fight for!"

Orion thought back to his previous visions. The destruction. The chaos. The energon spilled upon the ground. Dead bodies. Everything about this reality seemed horrible. Why was he fighting to know what this world meant? He raised his head, feeling a burning in his chest, like something else was beating in sync with his spark.

"We were never fighting for Cybertron," whispered Orion, turning away from the screen. He felt more powerful, standing over Ratchet. Something about him felt different, like confidence had finally found itself in his spark. Ratchet looked up, optics wide.

"Optimus?"

"We were never fighting for Cybertron," Orion repeated. "We were fighting for its people! We were fighting for their right, for their freedom. We are still fighting!"

Something inside of him was burning like a fire. It didn't hurt. It didn't burn. It was just an energy he couldn't ignore. He felt like smiling, but he couldn't find a good reason. Everything around him seemed horrible. He only wanted to smile, because he was so detached from what was truly happening.

"Megatron lit a fire, but it burned out of control," Orion continued. "We're here to set things straight again, even if that means leaving Cybertron…"

Leaving Cybertron?! Orion couldn't believe the words that had just left his mouth. Was out there really that bad? Was this the future? Orion groaned, feeling the fire leave his chest, fizzling out like a frozen breeze killed it. The pain in his spark returned as the world began to blur.

"Ratchet, old friend," Orion whispered. "Am I doing the right thing?"

Ratchet smiled lightly, putting a hand on Orion's shoulder.

"No one has their spark in the right place like you do."

"Will you follow me?"

He held out his hand. Ratchet took hold of it, holding it tight. The two smiled.

"I'd follow you to Kaon and back!"

The world shattered as Orion sat up on the berth. Ratchet was holding his hand, helping him sit upright. Orion looked around. The dark depths of this shady basement were oddly comforting. Ratchet patted Orion of the back, drawing his attention.

"Welcome back," cooed Knockout over in the corner. "Have fun?"

"Knockout!" hissed Ratchet.

Orion smiled lightly, putting his arm around Ratchet and pulling him in.

"I know where things went wrong…"