In between, continue.

Day 4 still evening

Break the Spell

He was surrounded by nothingness. That was pretty much all he knew. It took him a moment to realize what had happened.

'The damn patch worked!' Ratchet uttered disbelief, his voice echoing in the darkness around him.

He was in Orion's processor.

He realized something else as well. He could actually walk. He did not appear to have any of the wounds he received while in the tunnel. A smile formed across his face plates but it quickly faded when a thought occurred to him.

Where was Orion?

'Orion do you hear me?' Ratchet called into the darkness.

Nothing,

For a moment Ratchet believed that something had gone wrong. Just as he began to think the worst had happened, a voice echoed in the darkness.

'Ratchet?' It was Orion!

'Orion! Where are you?' Ratchet yelled as he tried to search for Orion in the darkness.

'I don't know…'

Ratchet suddenly stopped dead in his tracts. He wasn't sure, but for a moment Orion's voice seemed to sound a lot younger than it had moments ago.

Suddenly a landscape began to materialize around him. He dimmed his optics as light suddenly filled his vision. He opened his optics as they began to adjust to the sudden brightness. His optics widened at the sight before him.

He was in Iacon.

He appeared to be in an ally. Up above him the sky was bright as the sun shined through the bee hive like structure that surrounded much of the planet.

'How…' Ratchet said in awe. How was he in Iacon? The sun had not risen in centuries and yet there it was in the middle of the sky. He gazed around the ally he was in moments before spotting a familiar red and blue youngling run into the alley alone.

This was a memory from Orion's past. Ratchet quickly realized.

'Orion?' Ratchet said, knowing that he most likely did not know he was there. The youngling looked exactly like Orion, minus the scars, and he appeared to be looking for someone.

"Alpha!" the youngling Orion cried out before running past him, or more correctly through him. Ratchet blinked in surprise as he watched the young Orion run deeper into the alley.

As Ratchet followed the youngling Orion through the alley, it becomes clear to him that Orion had somehow gotten separated from his caretaker.

As Orion wandered through the back alleys, unsure where he was, he stopped when he suddenly heard a commotion nearby. Ratchet stopped as well.

Nearby he could see two bots, one clearly smaller than the other.

"I'm only gonna say this once; give. It. Back." the bigger bot yelled at the smaller one, who appeared unfazed by the bigger mech.

"Sorry wrong number, please take a message." The smaller bot said moments before the bigger mech grabbed him by the neck and slammed him into the wall. "Hey! It's not my fault you were created with a defective hard drive!" the smaller mech said, still unfazed.

Ratchet watched as the bigger mech, who is clearly not amused by the smaller mech, pulls him arm back to punch the silver bot, only he never gets the chance.

Ratchet watched, stunned as the young Orion suddenly tackles the mech's legs, knocking him to the ground. Even as a youngling Orion seemed to know right from wrong.

"You okay?" he asked the smaller mech.

"Yeah," He said as the bigger mech suddenly got up.

"You're gonna pay for that, runt!" he screamed, but before he could even get close, the silver mech suddenly jumped to his feet and placed a strong and well placed kick in between the mech's legs, causing him to crumble to the ground in agony.

Orion stared at both mechs, stunned.

"Run," the smaller mech told Orion as he held back the urge to laugh. Before Orion could even respond, he was being dragged by the surprisingly fast silver mech far from the other mech.

Ratchet ran after them and struggled to keep up. In a few moments he caught up to them. They had stopped at an entrance to an alley.

"Thanks for that," the silver youngling said panting slightly. "That guy's gonna be sore in the morning." He said, smirking.

"No problem." Orion said, who was also panting, "What was that about anyways?" Orion asked as caught his breath.

"Ah nothing important, I was just selling some stuff, he thought I stole something that 'belonged' to him." He said as he brushed himself off. "Name's Jazz by the way, what's yours?"

"Orion…Orion Pax" the young Orion said as he held out his hand.

Jazz cocked his head slightly and appeared to study him.

"You don't look like an Orion." He said after a few moments. This seemed to confuse the young Orion.

"That's my name isn't it?" he said.

"Course it is. A name is a name after all." said Jazz, which only seemed to confuse both Orion and Ratchet.

'Was Jazz ever this confusing?' Ratchet wondered.

Orion appeared to remember something and began looking around frantically.

"You look lost, lucky for you I know my way around here." said Jazz.

"I'm looking for someone. He's my caretaker." said Orion.

"You don't have any creators? Same here," Jazz said cheerily, as if it was a good thing.

"You don't have any creators?" Orion asked.

"Nope, I live out here on my own." Jazz said proudly. "Well not exactly on my own, I have my brothers with me."

"Shouldn't you all be living at the youth sectors?" asked Orion. Jazz shrugged.

"Probably, but we ran away from that place."

"Why?" asked Orion.

"Man you ask a lot of questions!" Jazz said before he began laughing.

Both Orion and Ratchet weren't exactly sure at what.

'This is when I first met Jazz.' A voice behind Ratchet said. Ratchet turned around. Behind him stood the real Orion, who watched as the two younglings walked off in search of his caretaker.

'Orion! There you are!' said Ratchet.

'I think I'm beginning to remember things again.' Orion continued his optics seemed to contain a hint of hope, which was more than Ratchet had ever seen in his usually emotionless optics.

'Perhaps because you're finally beginning to open up.' said Ratchet.

Orion nodded as the memory suddenly began to disappear and they were back in the darkness.

'I remember more things, not just what we saw now. I remember working in Iacon, in the archives. I always loved knowledge. I think I was a data clerk. That's how I knew a lot of things about history.' As Orion spoke, random memories began to float around them like hologram projectors.

Ratchet noticed they were mostly memories of his youth, though none of them seemed to contain memories of Ariel.

'Orion, you know if you want to remember everything, you are going to have to let go.' said Ratchet.

Orion closed his optics, the memories still floating around them.

'It's alright, you're not alone.' said Ratchet.

Suddenly the memories around them disappeared, engulfing them in the darkness once again. Orion breathed in deeply and slowly exhaled.

'You know how I never told anyone what happened the night in Tagon? It's not only the fact that I don't want others to know, but it's the fact that can't tell them. '

'Orion, I am a physician, I was the one who repaired Ariel. I know exactly what happened.'

'Knowing what happened is nothing comparing to being there when it happened.' Orion said quietly as he kept his optics closed. 'Every time I try to remember what she looked like before…back when she was alive…all I see is her broken frame and her dead optics staring at me... They say that it gets better, in time. I think it's true for some bots. But some wounds just run too deep to heal.' Orion said as he opened his optics.

"Wounds can heal, but there's always a scar left behind in its place. And they stay with you forever, both physical and emotional scars."

'That may be true, but just as we've all done back in the tunnel, you must find light in your darkest hour.' said Ratchet.

'Connections are what make Autobots strong, but it's also our weakness.' said Orion. 'Ironhide told me it's also what gives us a reason worth fighting for, unlike the Decepticons who fight for tyranny.' Orion said as he stared up at the nothingness.

'I believe the cave-in gave you reason to live again, just as Ariel did.' said Ratchet.

Orion nodded slowly.

'Are you willing to let go of the past, Orion?'

'I'll try…' Orion said as the memory slowly began to materialize around them.

Moments later they are inside Orion's old home, sitting in the center of a room is a battered mech holding the broken body of his mate close to his frame.

Orion's frame suddenly tensed moments before disappearing, leaving Ratchet alone in the memory. Ratchet knew he wasn't gone; he was experiencing the nightmare as he had countless times before.

Ariel was slowly dying in Orion's arms as he watches helplessly as her life slipped away. Ratchet knew the Orion he was seeing was the real Orion, now it was up to him to let go of the past.

Ratchet watched as Ariel spoke to Orion, her words barely audible as she slowly slipped away. He could not hear what she was saying nor could he hear what Orion was saying to her. Ratchet watched as Orion embraced Ariel one last time, moments before her frame slowly began to turn ash grey.

Orion shut his optics and gently placed Ariel on the ground, something he had not done after Ariel had died. Her dead optics stared sightlessly up at the ceiling. Without looking, he gently closed her optics. Had it not been for her darkened armor and damage she received, she would have appeared to simply been in a deep sleep.

Ratchet watched as Orion slowly rose to his feet. After that, several things seemed to happen at once.

The temperature suddenly seemed to drop drastically in a moment. A darkened servo suddenly grabbed Orion's wrist in a death lock. He looked down and was stunned to see it was 'Ariel'. Before Orion could even react, 'Ariel's' optics shot open. Instead of their normal baby blue, they flashed golden white, then to blood red. Moments later the entire memory obliterated around them, leaving Orion and Ratchet back in the darkness.

'What's going on?' Ratchet demanded, equally stunned as Orion. He was too stunned to answer and couldn't have answered the medic even if he wanted to. All he could think of at the moment was of his...

Nightmare…

Suddenly the memories Orion had regained earlier suddenly appeared around them. 'Ariel' suddenly disappeared, but he could still feel the iron grip on his wrist. Orion turned back to Ratchet, who appeared equally stunned.

Ratchet watched as a dark mass suddenly appeared behind Orion.

'ORION!'

Orion stared at him for a moment before finally realizing an entity was behind him.

Ratchet watched in stunned horror as Orion was suddenly engulfed by the darkness, at the same time, the memories around them seemed to shatter into pieces.

Orion's screams, mixed with Ratchet own, began to echo in the void before they were both plunged into darkness.

Ratchet woke with a start, having suddenly been thrown back into his body. For a terrifying moment he could not remember who he was or what had just occurred. Feeling a bit dazed, it took him a moment to register that Ironhide's yelling at him.

"What happened?" he yelled, bringing Ratchet back to reality.

Beside him, Orion is on the ground, curled up into a ball and clutching his helm in agony. The sight stuns Ratchet, having not seen Orion break down like this in ages. Ratchet tried to get up but quickly realized that he could not, having completely forgotten about his disability. He stared at his useless legs for a moment before turning his attention back to Orion.

"Orion, it's alright! Everything's gonna be alright!" Arcee said in an attempt to calm him down. Bumblebee was also beside him, watching helplessly as Orion lied on the ground in agony. And unknown to everyone else, the pain had returned to the wound on his left side.

Ratchet noticed that the cortical patch is on the ground beside Orion's helm, he would later discover that Ironhide had ripped it off when Orion's readings went off the chart. Everyone watched helplessly as Orion slowly began to calm down to the point where his screams of agony became shallow pants as his processor forced him into stasis.

"What happened?" Ironhide asked again.

Ratchet shook his helm.

"Something went wrong. He couldn't let go of the past. He wanted to but he's too far gone into the stasis depression." Even as Ratchet spoke those words, he did not believe them, something else, perhaps even stronger than the stasis depression was locking away his memories. That he was sure of.

"Is he going to be alright?" Arcee asked, clearly concerned.

"I don't know…"

Later

A dull ache emanated from the back of Orion's processor. Had he hit his helm on something? He wasn't sure. And why did he have the distinct feeling someone was watching him? Orion groaned softly as he forced himself to onlined his optics.

Orion blinked as two, large baby blue optics filled his vision. It took him a moment to realize it was Bumblebee staring down at him. How long had he been sitting there? Maybe he overslept? Orion tried to sit up, but his processor protested and began to throb painfully. He groaned softly and decided to stay on the ground.

Orion looked up as Bumblebee whimpered softly, it wasn't until then that noticed the dried energon on his faceplates. Had he been crying? Orion thought about scolding him for wasting his energon, but decided against it.

"You okay, Bee?" Orion asked. Before Bumblebee could answer, Orion heard a familiar voice, the voice sounding loud in the silence of the room.

"He's awake!"

Orion lifted his helm and was surprised to see nearly everyone either surround him or draw closer. By the relief in their optics, Orion could tell that something had happened to him.

"What happened?" Orion asked, surprised when Arcee wrapped her arms around him. A pang of sadness engulfed his spark for a moment as Arcee held him in her arms. Her embrace reminding him too much of Ariel.

"We…we thought you were dead." Arcee said as she pulled away from him. Sadie sat beside her, though her expression remained neutral, Orion could see the concern in her optics.

"How do you feel?" Ratchet asked, his concern surprising Orion.

"My processor feels like it's on fire. Other than that, I'm fine." Orion said as he leaned against the train cart, everyone's optics was locked on him.

"You look as if you've all seen a ghost," Orion said, almost causally before he realized they were all still staring at him with solemn optics. He blinked in confusion. "Why are you all looking at me like that?"

"Well you almost died," said Jazz. Orion stared at him, confused.

"Don't you remember? Ratchet went into that void you call a processor." said Ironhide.

"And then you started screaming as if you landed in a scraplet trap." Override said her usual sarcastic tone replaced with a humorless one.

"You gave us quite a scare, Pax." said Blaster, who was perched up on the train cart above Orion. Even now the music bot was still playing music out of his stereos.

Today could have been the first day of the rest of your life…

Orion blinked and stared at the three of them incomprehensively. What were they talking about? Ratchet appeared to sense Orion's confusion and spoke up.

"You don't remember." He said, more as a fact than a question. "The procedure must have erased your memories…" Ratchet said uncertainly, almost as if he didn't believe it himself. "What is the last thing that you remember?"

Orion thought about this for a few moments as he tried to recall his last memory before he had blacked out.

"Talking to Ironhide this morning." he finally said.

"You don't remember coming to me and asking to find a way to restore your memories?" asked Ratchet. Orion shook his helm. All he could remember of that day was talking to Ironhide, but now that he thought about it, he couldn't even remember what they had been talking about.

He wondered if it had been important.

But before Orion could dwell on the thought any further, Arcee spoke up.

"I told you two shouldn't have used at piece of scrap." Arcee muttered. "You could have ended up damaging his processor or caused him to forget everything," Arcee said, arms wrapped around Sadie.

"Or worse," She added. Though she seemed angry at the two of them, Orion could sense a hint of concern in her voice.

"Mechs are naturally stubborn, nothing you can do about that." said Override as she appeared to be staring at the ground. Her optics flickered for a moment before dimming again.

"We tried to use a cortical patch to restore my memories, right?" Orion asked as he turned to Ratchet. The medic nodded and looked away, almost appearing somewhat guilty. Orion nodded.

"That's what I thought…"

Sometime later, everyone returned to whatever they had been doing before. Ratchet had advised Orion to rest, despite his protests. Orion reluctantly did as he was told. He leaned against the train cart with Bumblebee recharging on his lap.

Orion could see Ironhide keeping an optic on the Decepticons while Sideswipe appeared to attempting to entertain his twin brother while Barricade seemed to be recharging, again. Blaster was in his usual spot atop the train cart. Though Orion couldn't see Jazz, he could hear him playing a few cords on Nightbeat.

Off in the distance, he could see Arcee talking to Override, Sadie sat beside her mother. Something about the way she composed herself troubled Orion. He figured that she was still affected by Tailgate's death. Orion shut his optics as he tried to push the image of Tailgate slowly bleeding to death out of his processor.

All that mattered now was watching over everyone else.

"Orion, are you alright?" Ratchet asked who was sitting beside him.

Orion nodded. Even with his optics closed, Orion could tell that the medic didn't buy it.

"Orion, how long have I've known you?" asked Ratchet.

"Ever since Tagon,"

"And when have you ever succeeded in lying to me?"

"Never," Orion said, not looking him in the optic.

"Now tell me what's troubling you."

Orion sighed softly and dimmed his optics.

"We tried to get my memories back, right?" asked Orion.

Ratchet nodded.

"I don't want to get my memories back anymore. Not while we're trapped in this tunnel."

Ratchet hadn't seen this coming.

"Can I ask why?"

"The patch, it could have killed me or made me lose what little memories I have left." Orion said before looking at him in the optics. "I don't want my old memories if it means losing me in the process, not when everyone needs me most... I do not wish to risk losing myself for the past." Orion said with utmost certainty.

Ratchet stared at the red and blue mech. He had changed much since he had woken up to the stasis depression. To willingly give everything away that he had held onto for so long for the sake of the greater good, gave him the qualities none of the past Leaders have had in a long time.

The makings of a Prime…Ratchet thought, smiling slightly.

For once, Orion was not torturing himself pointlessly. He was sacrificing everything to insure the survival of everyone else. This brought pride to Ratchet's spark.

"Bumblebee's right, the name Optimus does suit you."

Orion stared at Ratchet incomprehensively before smiling slightly.

"I still want to be called Orion though." Orion said as he stroked one of Bumblebee's antennas.

"Nope, you're Optimus now." Bumblebee said his optics still closed as he curled up on Orion's lap.

Orion chuckled softly and looked down at the now awake youngling.

"Well since you're up, let's get you some energon." Orion said as he lifted Bumblebee off of his lap before standing up.

"Okay," Bumblebee said as he rubbed the sleep out of his optics before following him.

Ratchet smiled as he watched Orion walk off with Bumblebee.

Orion didn't need his past to live; all he needed were bots who cared.

And even in the darkness of this tunnel, Orion had that.

He always did, he just never knew until now.

A/N: Dammnit, I did it again, cut the chapter in half again…okay a little shorter than the last chapter…oh wait…it's actually a page longer…W00T! Lol sorry, the fun begins in the next chapter! I promise! This just seemed like a good place to end the chapter…sweet little moment before things go downhill, heh

I'll try to work on chapter 9 but I got a stupid French project to do…POURQUOI MADAME GARD? Hehehehe, til next time, mon amies.