Mirage watches as his own body move in accordance like the puppets of Earth for human amusement. For a while Mirage wanted to scream and shout at Megatron to watch out not because he was the leader of the Decepticons because the lack of control. Ex-leader of the Decepticons, Mirage corrected himself in his internal dialogue. Killing Megatron would not an act of, Autobot, but of a puppets. Mirage hated his tormentors trapping him in his processor whereas the body was acting on the faux Mirage.
Megatron is much quicker than Mirage could ever anticipate he no expression on face a smile or a frown for this is the zone of battle. His objective is clear Mirage has to be subdued or the former noble will die by his hand. Megatron had seen the medical scans on the spy his systems are erratic. Medical stasis is the only real option for saving the former noble. Megatron did not want this death on his hands there has been so many, but now is not the time when someone may be controlling him.
Ravage watch the two the scents were strong. Megatron is still the gladiator of Kaon and in truth Mirage has no chance ever defeating him. Mirage systems were overheating and Ravage smell no poison the former noble as if his own processor is rebelling against his frame. Ravage own Energon turns cold when he saw the gold optics of the spy it was pleading to be stopped. Megatron wanted the spy to stay alive that much is clear. Ravage leap into action biting the arm that hold the gun and to distract the spy from his intended target.
Mirage jump back in surprise and his hand feels the teeth of Ravage sinking in and making drop the weapon. Mirage focus shifted off Megatron and towards the cyber cat as the source of pain. It gave Megatron the opening he needs to plunge syringe into Mirage's neck to force the spy into medical stasis. Mirage slump to ground as Megatron catches the Autobot.
"Why boss? Why spare him?" Ask Ravage
"Mirage was not control of his actions and someone made him do this." Answer Megatron
"So kill him." Snorted Ravage
"If it comes to that, Ravage, I will do that." Spoke Megatron placing Mirage on the medical berth. "I more interested in who done this to him?"
"So?"
"Ravage, Mirage is an Autobot but he is Cybertronian like us." Spoke Megatron slowly activating the berth to keep Mirage medical stasis. "If someone did this to Mirage, what is stopping them from doing this to a Decepticon?"
"Boss he is in agony." Spoke Ravage
"Putting him recharge would have kill him." Spoke Megatron more to himself. "It is a nasty hack."
"Why would an Autobots do this to him?" Ask Ravage. "The others approach."
Nightbeat frown deepen as he sees Mirage in medical stasis. It brings up old memories of the time he spent with Nova Prime. It is in the past. "I know, Mirage."
"Know what, Nightbeat?" Ask Megatron
Nightbeat look up in surprise at the co-Captain of the Lost Light. "Is he?"
"Stable for now…." Spoke Megatron
"He kind of pretty when he is sleeping." Noted Getaway
"No touching Getaway." Spoke Megatron "I need answers from you both. According Magnus, Getaway you work for Prowl."
"That is correct." Answer Getaway
"Nightbeat?" Spoke Megatron looking at Detective as he stared at Mirage. Flickers of emotion anger and sadness were on Nightbeat. Megatron thought for moment not to disturb the detective. "Does he care about, Mirage, no he had been in the same position."
"Megatron, who did this to Mirage?" Ask Nightbeat
"I don't know, but you had been there." Spoke Megatron
"Yes." Nodded Nightbeat
"Prowl did not do this to him." Spoke Getaway
"Hardly a ringing endorsement, Getaway, he is pretty dirty when it comes to his agents." Spoke Megatron "However, I am going to concede the point that Prowl is not behind this."
"Mind control is part of the New Institute." Spoke Nightbeat
"Urban legend, Nights, that to scare mechlings into behaving." Spoke Getaway
"What do you know about Urban Legends, Nightbeat?" Ask Megatron coming up to the Autobots::Keep an eye on Getaway. He knows more than he lets on, Ravage.::
::Smell fear on Nightbeat.::
"That they do exists, Megatron." Spoke Nightbeat. "The New Institute does exist but they were very good at hiding. I suspect the High Council have an elite clique in the chambers of the Senate. My estimation if they exist it would mean that they have strings all forms of influence. "
Megatron canted his head towards Nightbeat. "Influence in High places, but given your stint in the Dead Universe it would stand to reason."
"That ghost stories Megs…" Snorted Getaway
"It is like someone else is facing the nightmare I faced." Spoke Nightbeat
"It is a mystery, no?" ask Megatron
Nightbeat look at Megatron for a moment. "You are setting me up. "
"You need a mystery and you're a detective." Smiled Megatron
"Someone life is on the line." Spoke Nightbeat "I was scared when it happened to me and I never want to hurt Hardhead. He was right though some of the Autobots are being controlled."
"Just giving an incentive to solve this." Spoke Megatron "Now Getaway I know you are special ops. Skids shot a gun at Tyrest because he went insane."
"Skids didn't make him crazier." Spoke Getaway
"That is debatable, Getaway…," Spoke Megatron "the point is that the gun Skids had erase memories. Erasing memories but completely controlling mech like this is another. Where Skids get the gun?"
"I actually don't know, the Boss, got it." Spoke Getaway
"Did Prime, knew about this?!" Spoke Megatron enraged
"I am not sure how much Optimus Prime knew, Megatron." Answer Nightbeat "There was a lot going on that was not brought to his attention."
"Megs, might I make a suggestion." Spoke Getaway "I am no Doctor, we need to know if there is more nasty surprises that were done to Mirage. I mean finding Chromedome is imperative.
::I can hunt him for you.:: Spoke Ravage
"Getaway will go with Ravage." Spoke Megatron
::Boss I don't trust him.:: whined Ravage
::Neither do I.:: respond Megatron
The pair leaves med bay. Megatron begins to stroke Mirage's cheek gently.
"Megatron, you care about him?" ask Nightbeat
"It was night long ago." Answer Megatron. It is a pleasant memory of the Noble and holding Mirage in his arms felt so right at the time. It was one night, Megatron felt a pang of guilt of taking Mirage's berth. Megatron is still gifted orator and Mirage made him feel special and took some convincing to share the berth. Megatron recharge with the Noble in his arms. "It was just one night."
"It is hard to lose something that you have sworn to protect." Spoke Nightbeat "I had been there once."
"We are not lovers." Spoke Megatron
Nightbeat merely smiled at that in strange knowing smile. "Getaway is an aft, but I had seen you glower at him when he was remarking Mirage's beauty."
"Getaway has his own dark secrets. " Spoke Megatron
"It is those secrets we all have that are going to haunt us." Spoke Nightbeat "The crew still blames Prowl for the Overlord incident on Lost Light."
"I regretted that decision to make Overlord into an instrument of destruction." Spoke Megatron "He was trying to become a mnemo-surgeon under Trepan tutorship."
"Overlord believes that you kill Trepan." Spoke Nightbeat
"Actually I didn't" Spoke Megatron "I never killed that depraved mini-bot."
Nightbeat turned to face Megatron in shock with a thought. "It can't be true that both believe that they are telling the truth. Trepan taught Chromedome in mnemo-surgery he can easily alter a memory about his death with Overlord. If that the case then it is possible that Trepan is alive."
"I failed Mirage." Spoke the Ex Warlord.