And I've got it! We'll get to see a bit of Optimus' past in this one...and Optimus gets to see someone special...hmmm who could it be? :) Anyway, here's Sick Mind.
This girl does not own Transformers, (but the OC's are mine bwahaha! The realm of Cybres is mine) but she wishes she did, because, frankly, that'd be awesome!
My Characters-Trans Counterparts Mentioned in this chap.
Karrick- Bumblebee
Silver Greyman (Silverstar Ivorra)- Arcee
Tomosal Ivorra- Optimus Prime
Healer- Ratchet
Nightiron-Bulkhead
Starscreecher-Starscream
Stunshot-Knockout
Starshooter-Jazz
Isabella Ivorran- Elita One
Moranthi Ivorra-Megatron
(Human Counterparts: Same first, different Last)
Jack Wheeler- Jack Darby
Miko Tanikawa-Miko Nakadai
Rafael Cortez-Rafael Esquivel
Chapter 13
Proof of Your Love
Dusk POV
"Ow, ow, OW!" I yelped, "Hatchet! Seriously!?"
"If you don't sit still I might accidently do some damage to your spark," he snapped.
"I am sitting still,"
He glared at me and I glared back. Having him work on my spark while I was still awake was probably not the smartest idea I've had.
But what other choice did I have? I didn't want him poking around me when I was unconscious…I was too paranoid about what he might do.
Years and years of pranking and watching the Hatchet get his revenge on the Twins this way have taught me to be careful around him.
"And I think I might have it," Ratchet hummed, messing around a bit more…
I felt something pinch my spark and I gave a yell. A tendril of blue-white light lanced out from my spark and flung Ratchet away, dissipating as soon as the medic hit the ground.
"Ratchet?" I asked as he sat up, rubbing his helm, "You ok?"
"I just got flung twenty feet by your spark's energy," he snarled, "How do you think I am?!"
I closed my chassis. He was not going to be working on me anytime today! That was certain!
He got up, groaning, right as the consol started beeping insistently. He looked at the screen, curious…and then his optics went wide.
"Optimus!" he cried, "You're not going to believe this!"
Dad walked in and I jumped. He had snuck up behind me and I hadn't even heard him.
"I've just pinpointed the location of the Decepticon warship," Ratchet explained.
"How did you penetrate their cloaking technology?" Dad asked as the others joined us, even the kids.
"I didn't…" Ratchet started slowly, "I've been working on Dusk for the past hour or so…and I've been experimenting with variable frequency wavelengths…and I stumbled upon it,"
"Yeah, after Dusk threw you," Ben snickered, earning him a venom filled glare.
"Even still…their ship must be experiencing some kind of electromagnetic breach," Jolt reasoned.
"With Megatron deceased…and the element of surprise…" Arcee started, smacking her fist into her palm.
"We can cause some serious damage," Bulkhead finished, optics brightening.
Suddenly, another image popped up on screen.
"Also on the same frequency…an Autobot emergency beacon…" Ratchet breathed.
"The Decepticons can wait," Dad growled, "There may be Autobots in distress, Ratchet…bring your medical kit. You and I are going to help,"
Optimus POV
We walked out of the Groundbridge and towards the ship. The sand blew up around us, blinding us and getting into our gears. I was reminded of Egypt, where Dusk died and was made Prime, bringing me back from the dead.
Sand was not one of my favorite substances. It always took many hours of cleaning to get it all out.
I looked up at the ship.
"A crash landing," I noted, "buried here for centuries,"
"It's probably the best idea to go see if any of the Autobots inside have awakened from stasis," Ratchet reasoned.
I nodded and Ratchet knelt at the edge of the ship, bringing out his blowtorch and cutting into the side of the ship. Once he had finished, I pushed on the slab of metal and walked into the hull of the ship.
"If they traveled in stasis mode, there may be survivors," Ratchet said as we both turned on lights.
The ship creaked and moved, throwing both of us on our knees.
It stopped as soon as it had started and we made our way forwards again until we came to a door.
I walked forwards and jammed my fingertips into the creases of the door, forcing it open wide enough for Ratchet and I to get through.
We went inside…and froze.
An Autobot frame lay on the floor…
"Optimus!" Ratchet cried, scanning one of the bodies, "These Auotbots didn't perish in the crash! They're displaying the effects of a virus,"
I looked around…noticing there were more and more bodies lying lifeless in pools of their own infected energon.
"This is a plague ship," I murmured.
I froze as I saw two, a mech and a femme, lying in each other's arms. I recognized them…
The mech had two familiar glyphs on his shoulders. Prima and Liege Maximo.
"Optimus," Ratchet breathed, "I…I'm so sorry,"
I closed my optics and turned my helm.
"I knew they had been infected…I did not know if they had been able to find a cure or not," I murmured, "My creator and carrier offlined together…as they would have wished,"
I walked forwards and Ratchet stopped me.
"Don't touch anything!" he snapped, "The virus could still be active…"
The ship rumbled and shifted again, throwing us off our pedes and onto each other. Again it stopped…and I got up.
I heard a harsh clang and looked up…
Right as a body dislodged from the ceiling and a drop of energon leaked from it…dripping into my optic.
I yelled, thrashing to get it off…it burned!
"No!" Ratchet breathed.
I shook my helm and fell to my knees. The virus was quick in its infestation…just as its creator intended it to be. I knew that it would only last longer and longer and get more painful as the stages of the Plague went on.
"Get me back to base," I ordered, "Now!"
And my vision went dark.
Jack POV
"Ratchet to Base, do you copy!?" the medic sounded almost hysterical.
"We read you Ratchet," Arcee confirmed, "Everything ok?"
"Are Dusk and Bumblebee in the room?"
"No…" Arcee said, "Why?"
"Don't let them come in. I need Bulkhead or Jolt or both of them to come to my location…hurry!"
"You didn't answer my question," Arcee grumbled to herself as Bulkhead and Jolt walked towards the Bridge and went through.
"Where are those two anyway?" I asked.
"Sparring," was the reply, "They tend to like beating the scrap out of each other when Ratchet works on one of them,"
"Ow! Ok! OK! I give!" Dusk yelped as she and 'Bee walked in…with Dusk in a headlock.
The scout released Dusk and gave a series of chirps and whirrs to Dusk rolled her optics.
"After I take a breather, 'Bee, you're toast," she threatened, transforming to her human form.
Bumblebee responded teasingly back, making Dusk stick out her tongue.
She then turned to Arcee.
"So…when are Dad and the Hatchet getting back?" she asked, "I want to tell Dad about how I managed to pin 'Bee in three seconds flat,"
Said scout immediately burst into angry chirps, making Raf cover his ears.
"What he say?" Miko asked.
"You don't want to know," he answered.
"Well it's not my fault you didn't see my knee coming at your faceplate!" Dusk snapped, "You need to watch…"
Ratchet, Jolt and Bulkhead came through the Groundbridge…each one helping to carry an unconscious Optimus.
They sat him on a berth and Dusk and 'Bee immediately ran towards it.
"Daddy?" Dusk asked.
'Bee gave a soft whirr that I guessed was the same as Dusk's question.
"Dusk! Bumblebee! Back away!" Jolt ordered, shoving her.
"Virus," was all Ratchet said as he scanned the Prime, "Optimus was exposed to it…and…"
Dusk let out a piercing shriek and pointed at Optimus.
"WHAT THE PIT HAPPENED!?" she demanded as the elder Prime's optics sparked to life.
"Dusk…" he groaned softly, "Bumblebee…"
The siblings tried to get closer to the Prime…but again they were shoved away. I got a good look at Optimus' faceplate…he looked like he was rusting away in some areas…especially his right optic…and that I think is what caused Dusk to scream like that.
Ratchet finished his scan.
"Cybonic Plague," he confirmed, "It's only contagious if contact is made with the infected energon,"
"What was a plague doing in an Autobot spaceship?" Miko asked.
"It's passengers were infected," Arcee explained, "The Virus wiped out millions on Cybertron in the Great War,"
"The people in the Dark Ages did the same thing to those infected with the Black Plague," Ben added, "It was to keep the virus from spreading in the city…but it spread to most of the known world because of it,"
"Cybonic Plague was engineered in the Decepticon biological warfare program," Jolt said, "By Megatron himself,"
"You…have a cure…don't you?" Raf asked.
A soft moan came from Optimus and the great Prime turned his helm towards us…I could see the defeat and pain in his optics as he looked right at us.
"…No…cure…" he ground out.
Dusk and 'Bee both bowed their helm/head.
"Optimus, please," Ratchet pleaded with gentleness I rarely saw, "Save your strength,"
"Ratchet…" Dusk breathed and the medic turned to her, "I…I don't feel so good,"
'Bee whirred an affirmation as he nodded his helm.
I looked at them both.
Dusk's face was ashen and I could see a faint discoloration in 'Bee's armor. Raf grabbed my arm hard, eyes wide.
Jolt noticed the twelve year-old and put a servo on the scout's shoulder.
"He's not infected, Raf," Jolt explained, "Neither is Dusk…it's the bond they've got with Optimus. It's so close with him…that it's effecting them. If he passes…which I hope not…they won't die with him…they'll be out cold for who knows how long. Severed bonds…they hurt like the Pit and are devastating to those you're bonded with,"
There was one thing they were forgetting…and I think it was because of my mom being a nurse that I thought of it.
"Would Megatron create a virus without having a cure?" I asked.
Everyone looked at me.
"I mean…what if he caught it by accident?" I explained.
"It's not like we can ask Megatron, Jack," Bulkhead said, shaking his helm, "He's pushin' up lugnuts,"
"But…" Ratchet interrupted, "We might be able to access the Decepticon database…"
"For the moment…we still have a fix on their warship's location!" Jolt exclaimed, "Ratch, you're a genius!"
Arcee thought it over and turned to 'Bee.
"I can't persuade you to stay…" she sighed, "can I?"
He shook his helm firmly, optics set and hard.
"Alright, Bumblebee…come with," she said and they walked towards the Bridge.
"Arcee…" Ratchet whispered, "Quickly,"
"We will be," she nodded, starting up the Bridge and she and 'Bee walked through.
Arcee POV
We came out of the Bridge, blasters ready. I turned to 'Bee.
"You ok?" I asked.
He glared at me.
"I'm fine," he growled, "I only look bad. Dusk is the one that's getting hit hard,"
I shrugged.
"Let's start with the lab," I suggested, he gave a nod and we quickly made our way through the ship.
A door opened in front of us and we hid quickly as Knockout walked through. He paused, casting his helm around before shrugging and continuing on his way.
'Bee and I snuck into the lab and I went to the consol, typing as fast as I could.
And…I was in.
"I'm in the database," I announced.
Optimus POV
I slipped back into oblivion and recalled the better days of my life. One memory stood out for me…when I was a young mechling, barely out of the sparkling stage…
"Orion Pax!" my carrier yelled, "Megatronus! What in Primus' Core have you two been doing!? And why is Orion all banged up! Megatronus…you were to be protecting him!"
"But it was not my fault!" Megatronus whined, "He did it all on his own!"
My carrier's optics latched onto me and I shrank down.
"What…" but she was cut off as the door sealed shut.
"There are my two warriors!" my creator called, scooping my brother and I into his arms.
A huge, well built mech of deep black and bright gold, my Creator was a Gladiator. The glyph of Prima emblazoned on his left shoulder, above his spark, and the glyph of the Liege Maximo on his right, representing our ancestry to the Great Primes of the Thirteen.
"How was the fight, Creator?" Megatronus asked, "Did you win?"
"Am I standing before you?" my creator chuckled, "Megatronus…you amuse me greatly,"
My brother grinned, his blue optics shining brightly.
"And…Orion…who did this to you?"
He gently prodded the dent around my optic, making me wince.
"You should have seen him, Creator," Megatronus chuckled, "He got in a fight!"
My creator stared at me.
"Orion Pax…the little peacemaker…got into a fight!?" he demanded, "How!?"
I looked down.
"There was a youngling picking on a sparkling femme…not much younger than Orion," Megatronus said, "He fought the youngling off…and got hit in the optic. But the femme was sure interested in him!"
My creator grinned, looking down at me.
"And who was this little femme?" he asked.
"Oh…it was one of the triplets!" Megatronus exclaimed, "What was her name Orion?"
"A-Ariel," I muttered, rubbing my faceplate where she had kissed me.
"Orion Pax, your carrier named you justly," my creator rumbled rubbing my helm, "Peaceful…until someone hurts another that is less powerful then they…and then you hunt them down and bring them to justice,"
"M-Megatronus has b-become class l-leader, Creator," I stuttered.
"And you've fit into your name as well!" my creator laughed, setting Megatronus on his shoulder, "We named you after a Prime for hope that you would have the leadership and charisma of one…but be warned, my son, that you do not fall prey to the arrogance of that certain Prime,"
"I won't Creator!" Megatronus promised.
"W-When you become P-Prime brother," I started, "R-Remember me,"
"Don't worry, brother," he smiled, "I will never forget you!"
I awoke to see Ratchet fretting over me again. I figured that there had been no progress…and so I said nothing.
I saw Dusk out of the corner of my optic, leaning on Ben for support. I could not do anything to comfort her…and that sickened me.
"R-Ratchet," I stuttered, "Were…you…"
"Infected?" he asked, "No,"
At least…I can die knowing that I will be the only one.
Bumblebee POV
I felt the slight twinges in my spark from Dad being sick...looking at Arcee…she felt it too but she wasn't as connected to Dad as Dusk and I were.
"If it's here, I don't see it," she said.
"Are you certain Arcee," Ratchet growled.
"I searched every file," Arcee insisted, "Nothing,"
I started poking around Doc Knock's lab. Maybe he had something…
"Well search again!" Ratchet snapped, "Clearly you missed something!"
I felt anger rising up in Arcee and I winced. Arcee was one 'Bot you didn't tick off. Dad and Mom were the other two.
Hatchet was the third.
"I scanned the entire database!" she snarled.
"Ratchet, I wouldn't tick her off," I warned, looking at the wall.
Hello…that's not a wall.
That's a door.
I opened it just a bit and…
Oh Primus.
"Did you use a redundant quantum algorithm?" Jolt asked.
"Don't tell me how to research!" Arcee snapped, "You think you're the only one who cares about Optimus?! He's the only family I have left!"
"Arcee…I think you should really look at this…" I said, pointing at the door urgently.
"What. Is. It!" she snarled, storming over to me.
I gestured to the wall and let her look…
"What is it? What's going on?" Ratchet demanded as Arcee gasped.
I opened the door all the way…and stepped into the room with Megatron in it.
"It's Megatron," Arcee stated, "He's…alive,"
Optimus POV
I walked into our home and was greeted by Elita.
"Congratulations on being renamed, Orion…or should I say, Optimus Prime?" she teased.
I shook my helm.
"Elita, this is no laughing matter, Megatron was very upset that he was not named," I said, "I fear that anything else might spark a war,"
She gave a sheepish grin.
"I have a confession to make," she shrugged.
"What happened…Arcee and Chromia did not sneak into our house and wreck it again did they?" I asked, looking around…everything seemed in order…
"No its not about them," Elita sighed, "It's about us…our family,"
"What do you mean?" I asked.
She came up to me and put a servo on my chassis.
"Orion…Optimus…we are going to have a sparkling," she smiled.
"A sparkling…" I breathed, and my knees went out, "A little one…"
She nodded happily.
"I found out the moment you became Prime," she grinned, "A sparkling of our own!"
"How many know!?" I demanded.
She looked up.
"Well…"
"Elita…"
"I told Arcee and Chromia," she admitted.
"Then all of Cybertron knows, Lady Prime," I deadpanned.
"Oh come on, Optimus," I heard Chromia snort, "Not all of Cybertron knows!"
"Just the immediate area," Arcee shrugged.
I turned around and saw Chromia, Ironhide and Arcee standing in the doorway.
"Congratulations, Optimus," Ironhide smiled, "I get to have a nephew,"
Chromia elbowed him.
"It could be a niece!" she growled.
"Primus let's hope not," the black mech teased…earning him a hard stomp on his pede.
"Come on, let's go celebrate," Arcee begged, pulling on Elita's arm.
My sparkmate turned to me and shrugged.
"It's either you go willingly or you get glued together," Chromia threatened.
Needless to say, we went willingly.
A few hours later and we were all coming home…I could not stand very well and Ironhide supported me.
"You should have known that a drinking contest between you two would end badly," Elita chastised Ironhide, "You know that!"
"Not my fault he can't hold his high grade," Ironhide snorted.
"Ironhide, I am going to offline you as soon as I can find which one of you is the real one," I slurred.
"That will not be necessary," a darkly familiar voice growled.
I regained sobriety long enough to see two crimson optics above me. I knew that voice.
"Megatron," I started, "What is the matter?"
"You are having a sparkling with her…aren't you, Orion Pax," he growled, "Or should I call you by your title now…Optimus Prime!"
"You know I did not want this title," I growled back, "And Elita is my sparkmate, not yours, she chose me,"
"Only because she was blind to the real brother," Megatron sneered.
"More like I was seeing clearly," Elita snapped, coming closer to me, "I saw darkness in your spark Megatron…just as I do now,"
"Then you are blinded, and see power as darkness," my brother snarled, "Power which would have been yours, Lady Prime…if you would have joined me,"
"Over my cold grey sparkless shell!" Elita snarled.
"That can easily be arranged, glitch,"
Anger flared in my spark as I shook off Ironhide's steading servo and stood before my brother.
"Any insult you wish you can inflict on me," I growled, "But if you insult Elita…you will be dealt with,"
"Mark my words Prime…you will pay for this day," he snarled, "You will never forget it either!"
I frowned at his statement…until he ejected his blade…
And rammed it through the midsection of the closest Cybertronian to him.
Chromia.
The femme screamed to the heavens and Ironhide roared, charging at Megatron, the gladiator dodged and disappeared, leaving Ironhide to cradle his slowly dying sparkmate.
Chromia put her servo on Ironhide's cheek, tears streaming, as she kissed him…
And her optics winked off, her armor greying as she died.
The first casualty of the War.
I heard Megatron's voice scream to the night sky.
"DECEPTICONS! ATTACK!"
I raised my own voice, feeling Primus' power course through me as one of his warriors.
I named my followers in that moment.
"AUTOBOTS! ROLL OUT!"
I jolted awake, Bulkhead gently held me down, so as I would not hurt myself.
"Easy," he murmured, "Arcee and 'Bee are still looking. They might have found something though,"
And that's when I heard it.
"It's Megatron," Arcee stated, "He's…alive,"
"What?!" I heard Jack demand.
"That's not possible!" Ratchet shouted.
"Well I'm staring right at him."
"And it's kinda creepy," Bumblebee muttered.
"Good news is…" Arcee continued, "Megatron isn't exactly staring back,"
I turned my helm weakly towards Ratchet.
"Mega…tron…?" I asked softly.
Ratchet turned to me.
"Cure…" I ground out.
Dusk POV
"He's critical," Arcee reported, "Hooked up to life support. Time to finish this once and for all…"
"WAIT!" Ratchet shouted, making me wince at the loud noise, "DON'T!"
"One good reason," Arcee hissed, "Quickly,"
"I'm with 'Cee," I growled, "Why,"
"Megatron might be Optimus' only chance of survival," Jolt said, his faceplate showing obvious disgust.
"…What are you talking about?"
"Does he display brainwave activity?" Ratchet asked.
"Spiking hard…his sick mind is still at work,"
"Perfect!" Jolt exclaimed, "If a cure exists…Megatron may be the only one who knows it. You must enter his brain…and find it,"
"Enter his brain!?" Arcee screeched, "Jolt, Ratchet, are you two out of your fraggin' minds!?"
"Language,"'Bee warned.
"The Decepticon laboratory should contain all the equipment you need for a Cortical Psychic Patch," Ratchet explained.
A what!?
"NO WAY!" Arcee balked, "Have you ever performed the procedure!?"
"No," Ratchet admitted, "But I have thoroughly studied the theoretical literature,"
"Invented by Decepticons…outlawed by Autobots," Jolt finished.
"Then why are we using this?" Amber asked.
Apparently, 'Cee agreed.
"Whoa…can't we just haul Megatron through the Groundbridge, buy us some time to figure this out?" she begged.
"Time is one thing Optimus does not have!" Ratchet screeched, "One of you must try this! I WILL NOT ALLOW OPTIMUS TO PASS KNOWING THAT MEGATRON WILL OUTLIVE HIM!"
"Ratchet…I would lay down my life for Optimus anytime, anywhere," Arcee said shakily, "But a mind/body split…"
"I'll do it," Bumblebee murmured.
"You will?"
"No…no not him. Not my Bumblebee…" I heard Dad growl over bond.
"N-No…" he growled softly, but they ignored him.
"Are you…sure Bumblebee?" Raf asked, tears evident in his tone.
"'Bee's the best scout there is," Bulkhead nodded.
Optimus POV
"Optimus!" Jazz yelled, "Ova 'ere!"
I ran over to him, dodging blaster fire and taking shots as I ran towards my Second in Command.
Jazz looked up at me.
"'e looks bad, man," he choked.
My spark seized as I saw the small, broken form lying in front of me. The tiny doorwings were crushed under his back, one of them was lying in a pool of energon not but a few feet away. His armor was shattered, the glass components in his chassis was either gone or it was broken into razor sharp shards. His helm was dented severely in the side…but the worst part was his throat.
A giant, star-shaped hole gaped in it, energon pouring from the wound. It was surprising he had not offlined yet.
"Get Ratchet…NOW!" I growled, picking up the poor young scout.
I ran back to the makeshift base just in time to meet Elita on the way out.
"Optimus what…" she froze, optics wide with horror, "Who…?"
"Megatron," I hissed, setting the young mech on a berth, "WHERE IS RATCHET!?"
"I'm right here," the medic said, "Optimus…I need you to leave,"
"I'm not leaving him,"
He shoved me back.
"I can take care of him but I can't do it when you're hovering over me like a newly made carrier!" Ratchet snapped.
Elita and Jazz grabbed me by the shoulders and dragged me out as Ratchet set to work.
It seemed like ages before Ratchet came to me.
"I…did what I could," he sighed, allowing me to come into the recovery room.
The little mech's optics blinked on, pure sky blue that cycled and whirred as they focused on me.
A joyful smile split his faceplate and he opened his mouth to speak.
"Creator! I thought I would ne…" he froze, putting a servo to his throat and horror washed through me.
My adopted son…
His voice was gone. Replaced with the purest form of Cybertronian.
Whirrs, chirps, and whistles.
"Ratchet…what have you done," I growled as my son began to sob hysterically, lamenting over his lost voice.
"I repaired what I could," Ratchet replied sadly as Elita embraced our son, "But his voicebox…"
He bowed his helm, tears leaking from his optics.
"Megatron tore it out…I…I'm so sorry, Optimus,"
I wrapped my arms around my sparkmate and my son.
"I will never let him touch you again, Bumblebee," I promised, "He will die the day he does,"
Bumblebee POV
Arcee had just finished hooking up the device to Megatron and was making her way back to me. I gave her a thumbs up.
"Ratchet…we're ready," she whispered.
"Initiate Cortical Psychic Patch," Ratchet ordered.
"Let's do this," I said and she attached my end to my helm.
I heard it starting up, my vision pixilated and I felt like I was falling through a field of multi-colored sparks. When I reached out to steady myself though…I found I was standing.
I looked my servos over, clenching them and flexing them to make sure I was all there.
Thank Primus I was.
Alright…let's get that cure for Dad.
I started forwards down a walkway that reminded me eerily of Kaon.
Wait a click…
Megatron's mind…it probably is Kaon.
"Whoa…where's that?" I heard Jack ask, making me jump.
Huh, Ratchet must have went ahead and put up a communications line. Whatever I see or hear…they do.
"Looks like Kaon, the 'Con capital," I told him and I heard Raf translate.
"Be careful, big bro," I heard Dusk say weakly, "If its Bucket Head's mind…there could be all sorts of traps,"
I felt a big twinge in my spark and I stumbled.
Dad.
"Ratch…Optimus' vitals…" Bulkhead started.
"I know," Ratchet choked, "Quickly Bumblebee. I know you're in unknown territory, but you must figure were information might be filed in Megatron's mind,"
"Gotcha," I nodded, walking a little faster.
Hang on Dad…just hang on.
Optimus POV
The others had gone…except Jack. He was the only one that stayed with me.
"How you holding up?" he asked.
"H-Hurts," I stuttered, my gears hinging up.
"Don't worry," Jack said, "We'll get you all better, 'Bee's getting the formula,"
I closed my optics.
I could always count on Bumblebee…a sparkling when I found him in his old home…his carrier and younger sibling lying offline, shielding him. I had found his creator and elder sibling lying outside, brutally murdered by Decepticons. Bumblebee was a very lucky sparkling. Something that had been proved over and over again. His murdered family, Tyger Pax, Mission City, Egypt, Chicago, the Scraplet invasion…
I remember when I brought him home with me. Elita was ecstatic. We would have a sparkling to care for long before our own would be born.
"…Elita…" I groaned, "Where is Elita?"
"Who?"
I looked at Jack…no it wasn't Jack…
A Cybertronian youngling knelt before me…and he looked like me. A blued version of me…with Elita's optic shape…but my optic color.
Brilliant royal blue threaded with the electric blue of my clan, there were stubby, incomplete finials on his helm and I knew…
He would be a Prime. Like me.
"My son," I breathed softly, putting a servo on the youngling's arm, "I have a son,"
"Optimus?" the youngling asked…and its form flickered to being Jack, "Optimus…"
No…my son…where did he go?
Jack POV
I heard Optimus murmur something and I got closer to the Prime.
"Did you say something, Optimus?" I asked.
"…Elita…" he groaned, "Where is Elita?"
That name…something…something was familiar about it…
"Who?" I asked.
His weakly sparking optics locked on me. And I felt a surge of electricity flood me as he did.
The royal blue gaze widened slightly and his servo moved…towards me.
He murmured something in Cybertronian, but it was a deep rumbling dialect that I'd never heard before…and the shaking, coal black servo touched my arm.
"Optimus?" I asked, feeling the surge run through me again as he touched me, "Optimus…"
His optics looked pleadingly at me and he repeated what he said.
Ok…he was still freaking me out…
"Jack…" Dusk started.
I turned to face her.
The Halfling looked horrible, her eyes were dull and hot and bloodshot. She looked on her wits end…and I didn't blame her.
Now…she looked kinda of scared.
"He's delirious," she whispered sadly.
"Why?" I asked, "What he say?"
"Doesn't matter, it's the Plague talking," she sighed.
"I want to know,"
"He said 'my son. I have a son' in the Primes' language,"
I frowned.
"Optimus had a son?"
"'Bee," she shrugged, coming up to Optimus and putting a pale hand on the Prime's chassis.
A low rumbling purr emitted from her chest, an even deeper one rumbled from him as he weakly moved his servo to put on her back.
I left the two alone and wandered back to the others.
Bumblebee POV
I finally came to the top of the stairs…
And was face to face with Dad.
Dad! They got him better without me!
I ran forwards…and Ratchet stopped me.
"Bumblebee, that is not Optimus," he said, "But a figment of Megatron's mind. It cannot see or hear you,"
I heard a dark laugh and my frame trembled. I knew that laugh…better than I should. I could still feel the cold metal punching through my throat and ripping my voice away…
"Optimus Prime!" Megatron called, "Your Autobot armies are defeated! Bow before your new master!"
"Never, Megatron," the Dad-figment said, turning around ,"One shall stand…"
His blade ejected.
"One shall fall," he finished.
"So be it," Megatron growled, ejecting his own blade and leaping off the throne.
The two charged at each other…and Megatron slashed through the Dad-figment.
I bit down a scream.
"That never happened!" Bulkhead protested.
"It's not a memory," Jolt said, "We're seeing Kaon as Megatron's recreated it…in his darkest dreams,"
I stayed hidden behind my rock. Nothing could happen to me while I was behind that rock…right?
Yeah…and the rock crumbled, revealing a second Dad-figment.
"Megatron…" it started, "Your treachery ends here,"
Megatron retracted his blade and aimed his fusion cannon at the figment's spark…
I don't know why I did it…but I leaped forwards and put myself between the shot and the figment…
It went right through me and crashed into the figment, dissolving it.
Wha…!?
I heard pedesteps behind me and I whipped around, a squeak dying in my throat.
"The Autobot scout," Megatron snarled, cracking his neck, "Punishment for trespassing in my domain…is your destruction!"
He raised his blade and slashed down at me.
I gave a harsh scream, ducking my helm…
The blade passed through me.
I frowned, looking at my servos.
"I…I'm alive?" I asked.
"How can this be!?" Megatron demanded, repeatedly slashing at me.
Each slash went through me…but that doesn't mean I tried to dodge.
"Megatron can't touch 'Bee?" Raf asked hopefully.
"Because he's not a creation of Megatron's mind," Ratchet explained, "Bumblebee is immune to his physical attack,"
Well…that helps to know.
"You are not wearing phase displacement armor; your eyes tack my movement so you're not a hologram. And I do not believe in spirits," Megatron said starting to analyze my situation instead of attacking it, "So tell me scout! What are you?!"
"Megatron," came the voice of another figment of Dad.
But this time he had a figment of Bulkhead and me with him.
"Uh-oh special guest stars," Miko announced.
"This is not good," Ratchet declared.
"Well this is…weird," I said running over to my figment self then waving to its face, I greeted it "Hello! Anybody hoooommme!?"
I heard Megatron yell and bolts of violet energy shot past me and into the figments…causing them to be destroyed.
"You are real, they are not," Megatron said realizing the truth, he then laughed, "Coracle Psychic Patch. How unexpected,"
"We've stirred Megatron from his oblivion, he's becoming self-aware," Jolt stammered.
"If this is my sub-conscious, what are you doing inside my head!" Megatron demanded, getting so close to my faceplate that if I had a nose…he would have bitten it off.
There was some sort of conversation going on between 'Cee and Ratchet while that went on…but I couldn't hear it.
"The only way you'd be able to enter my mind is via Coracle Psychic Patch," Megatron reasoned, "But the question remains, what happened to me!?"
Suddenly, realization dawned on his face…he knew…
"The Spacebridge explosion…and yet if…if you're in my head, I am not…one with the All Spark…"
I really had to refrain from saying what I thought. Dusk wasn't as restrained.
"TO THE PIT IS WHERE YOU SHOULD HAVE GONE YOU PRIMUS SLAGGED SCRAPLET!" she shrieked.
I heard Amber yell at her. I would have to give that girl a hug when I got back.
"So tell me scout, do I still function?" Megatron asked.
"Bumblebee we are out of time!" Ratchet warned
"We need the cure for Cybonic Plague," I said.
"Cybonic Plague, someone besides myself is…is unwell?" the Warlord asked.
I hesitated. How much should I say? No…it doesn't matter…he'll know who it is. They are brothers after all.
I gave a nod.
The Warlord's crimson optics dimmed for a moment…looking almost…soft…before hardening again.
He felt it. Just like 'Cee, Dusk and I did. He felt Dad dying.
"OPTIMUS!" he finally shouted and then laughed maliciously,"Such irony! For after ages of endless battle the mighty Optimus Prime is fell by a simple virus from a distant past. And what makes you think I would save the life of my oldest enemy?"
"Megatron…" came the voice of yet another figment Dad, "Your treachery is…"
Megatron swiftly shot him down.
It was a sight to cringe at.
I dug deep into that small part of me that Dad always said could lead an army. He said that one couldn't be around a Prime without some of them rubbing off on you. And that's what I reached for.
"To get what you most want," I finally said.
"Oh. And what is it I want most scout?" Megatron sneered at my title.
I might be just a scout…but I'm a good one.
"The destruction of your brother. By your own hand," I answered back.
Megatron cackled.
"Did you not see? I do slay my brother by my own hand, at will whenever I desire!" he argued.
"Yeah, I saw…but what glory is there in slaying an illusion?" I asked, "if you let the Plague destroy the real Optimus. You will never get the chance to do it yourself. They'll tell stories of the Mighty Megatron…and how he failed to offline his own brother…instead letting a puny virus do the work for him! They'll say the Last of the Primes died because of a simple virus…not from the terror that is Megatron, Overlord of the Universe,"
I might have embellished a bit…ok a lot. But it seemed to work…
"After our deep history together, to notwatch the Spark ebb from my brother's eyes with my very own…" Megatron started.
"Would be a crime in itself," I finished.
"Well played scout," Megatron growled, "Optimus taught you well…you would have made a fine Decepticon though with that deception,"
"I'm happy where I'm at," I growled.
He brought up a 3D hologram of what I guessed is the cure.
"The chemical formula for the cure you seek, not that I expect you know how to read it," he said.
I reached for it…but he retracted the formula back.
"What the…?" I started.
"Not yet,"
"Seriously!?"
"And how am I to accomplish terminating Optimus as you propose, while I'm trapped here in a perpetual daydream? Once you release me from this prison, you will have the cure," Megatron growled.
I smirked behind my battlemask and rewound what I saw until I had the formula. I took a snapshot of it and sent it to Ratchet before taking it out of my sight.
"You must guarantee my recovery, or Optimus fades to gun metal grey. The realOptimus," Megatron snarled.
"Arcee we have the formula, disconnect Bumblebee now!" Jolt ordered.
I felt a sharp pain in the back of my helm and the landscape began to crumble.
"You were watching…" the Warlord breathed, "YOU TRICKED ME!"
I looked down at my servos…watching as mist streamed off them and taking the color with them.
"NOOOOO!" I heard Megatron scream, "TAKE ME WITH YOU! TAKE MEEEEEEE!"
I jolted awake, scrabbling at the ground before looking up to see Starscream leaning down to peer into our hiding space.
"What in…!?" he started, right as a Groundbridge fired up behind us.
"Let's go!" I shouted, running in.
"Intruders!" Starscream shrieked.
"Allow me," I heard Arcee say.
I turned around long enough just to see Arcee take a shot at Megatron.
"This is for Chromia," she snarled, and let fly a shot before following me.
We made it out right as Ratchet looked up from Dad's side.
I froze.
"D-Dad?" I asked, coming over and looking at Dad's faceplate, "Is he…?!"
"No…I am not dead," I heard Dad growl softly.
I looked down as the infection started to disappear from around his optics.
"DAD!" I cried, embracing his neck.
"Bumblebee…" he rumbled, "You risked your life for me…if you ever do that to me again…you will never see the light of day again,"
"It's a deal," I chuckled as Dusk rushed over and leaped onto Dad's chassis, rubbing her face in his neck cables.
"I'm glad you're safe…" she purred, "Both of you,"
"Alright, alright," Ratchet growled, "Both of you off,"
We looked at him, whining.
"Now!" the medic snapped.
"Go," Dad said.
Authoress POV
"That's it, steady," Ratchet said as he put Optimus' arm around his shoulder.
Everyone in the room started clapping, cheering and thanking God, Primus, and Prima that the Great Prime was now healthy and getting back on his pedes.
"Please, reserve the hero's welcome for my physician and my scout. My son," Optimus said.
Naturally everyone instead started clapping and cheering for Bumblebee, who was hamming it up and taking the opportunity to take a couple of bows…but he suddenly stood upright and looked blankly ahead.
"I'm out!" Megatron's voice hissed within the young scout, "Or should I say…IN!"
And the Warlord laughed.
A/N So...what you think? I thought I'd go into the Prime's past...and possibly the future (if you count his reaction with Jack) in this version, Optimus is secluded from the others...separated by a big wall and so the others don't see the two when that happens. Anyway...next is Out of His Head...which you all might be wanting my blood for.
Title from For King and Country's: The Proof of Your Love (chose it because of 'Bee's willingness to go into the Warlord's head just to save his Dad...that's powerful love there)
Anyway, hope you liked it. If you did, please R&R! :)
Qui vállë tóquetë, ván tecë (If no review comes from y'all; no story comes from me)
Máriessë ar mára tecië
Farewell and fair writing
Elhini Prime signing off.