XXIII

Orion entered their base with haste, heavily leaning on his cane. His legs were moving but numb. Soundwave walked patiently behind him, not a word spoken or screen showing anything. Upon entering, Orion found Ratchet and Knockout at the desk, and both looked startled upon his entry. Soundwave entered behind him, hands behind his back. The two at the desk got to their feet.

"Uh…" mumbled Knockout. "Friend?"

"I am Soundwave."

"Right…" nodded Ratchet, slowly turning his attention to Orion. "Are you okay? You're using the cane."

"Legs are numb but working," sighed Orion, stumbling over to the nearest chair. "I gotta ask you guys something…"

"Anything," grinned Ratchet.

"What happened during our escape?"

Ratchet glanced at Knockout, who shook his head vigorously. Ratchet looked back to Orion.

"I thought we already went over this," Ratchet offered. "There was a problem and the trucks stopped for some reason. Knockout and Shockwave broke us out…"

"Right," hummed Orion, looking over at Soundwave.

"What? You think we'd lie to you?" grinned Knockout, leaning on Orion's shoulder.

"You? Yes, in a nanosecond!" Orion grumbled, getting to feet to shake off Knockout. "Ratchet…only if it was something he didn't want to worry me with." Orion turned to Ratchet, optics narrowed. "Right, Ratchet?"

Ratchet mumbled under his breath, fumbling his fingers. Orion shook his head, slamming his cane downward, creating a loud bang that echoed through the room. Soundwave tilted his head. Knockout cringed.

"How did you find out?"

The group turned back to the entrance where Shockwave was standing. He had a data pad in hand as if reviewing something before entering. His optic looked between Orion and Soundwave.

"My arrest record," Orion responded.

"You can't trust that thing," snapped Knockout. "Council is making up things half the time."

"Half the time," pointed Orion. "This time…I get the feeling the assault charge on numerous officers is somehow correct. The problem is that I don't remember what happened. You three do…so, who wants to tell me what happened and what did Ido?"

There was silence. The three exchanged looks, eventually ending on Ratchet. The medic sighed, eyeing the ground. He lowered his hands to his side, shook his head and raised his eyes back to Orion.

"We're…not sure what happened to you," Ratchet gulped. "What we do know…is that when we left our trucks, you'd already taken out the guards and thrown the truck. You were armed…with a gun and a blade which appeared to be…interchangeable with your servos. You…" Ratchet looked away.

"You were primarily unresponsive," added Shockwave, continuing into the room. "You threatened Ratchet with your blade before he was able to reawaken your senses."

"Scary as Unicron," mumbled Knockout, slumping into the chair.

"If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say it was a defensive protocol. A means of defense provided by the Matrix but didn't finish downloading properly and thus is likely…uncontrollable," continued Shockwave, stepping in front of Orion. "It would then make sense that any perceived threat will active the defense mode."

"I don't remember any of this," Orion muttered. "I hurt those guards? I almost hurt you?"

"No, you didn't," Ratchet gasped. "You weren't going to hurt us!"

"Don't be too sure," remarked Knockout.

"What an interesting turn of events."

Orion groaned, rolling his neck slightly before walking off. Ratchet stepped forward but stopped in the doorway, watching Orion leave down the hall toward the rooms. Once he rounded the corner, Ratchet snapped his head around to glare at Knockout. The other medic raised his hands.

"What did I do!?" gasped Knockout.

"Blew it out of proportion!" howled Ratchet. "You freaked him out!"

"He freaked me out with that thing!"

"I suggest you talk with him," instructed Shockwave. "I will give our new guest a tour."

Ratchet sighed and nodded, walking after Orion. Walking there, he tried to figure out what he was going to say. In this moment, he wasn't entirely sure what was going through Orion's mind anymore. After the Matrix, a different side of him was beginning to show. He wasn't sure if that was an aftermath of abrupt disjoining with the Matrix or that this was supposed to happen once joining with the Matrix. Was this supposed to happen and if so, how could he help with the transition?

Ratchet gently pushed the door open, seeing Orion sitting in the corner, knees pressed against his chest and arms slung over his knees. His optics stared down at his feet, eyes glowing brightly. He didn't look up when Ratchet entered or when Ratchet closed the door.

"I'm…sorry," mumbled Ratchet, looking around.

"It's not you," whispered Orion, still unmoving. "It's me…It's always been me."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know who I am anymore, Ratchet." His voice was so quiet Ratchet could barely hear it. "I thought I knew and then I started getting these headaches and visions and just when I thought I was understanding that, I got the Matrix and things got even more complicated and now I'm dealing with this…defense mode persona! I don't know who I am anymore, Ratchet! What am I supposed to do?"

Ratchet could hear the shudder in Orion's voice as he spoke. A moment of silence passed before Orion looked up at him. His optics sparkled like stars, like a thousand civilizations at night. A thousand lives trapped in his optics.

"You're Optimus Prime," offered Ratchet, stepping further in. "You are a leader and above all, you're a good person."

"I don't feel it…"

"I've got your back. I trust your judgement." Ratchet sat next to him. "We've already been arrested and gone to Primus and back so…how much more can we go through?"

Orion chuckled lightly.

"I got a present," grinned Ratchet, reaching to his side. "I will admit, Knockout…may have opened it already."

Orion held out his hands as Ratchet set a large slab down. It felt light in his hands as it was placed in his palms. The side of it lit up with small slivers of light. The cover lit up with a quick logo before fading away. Ratchet leaned in.

"It did not do that before…"

"Ratchet…where'd you get this?"

"It was in that box you picked up from the archives. The one from Alpha Trion…"

"Do you know what this is?"

"No…"

Orion looked up, staring at Ratchet.

"This is the Covenant of Primus…"