Mixed-Up
Chapter 1: Hallucinations
The next thing Optimus saw was the living room floor as he stumbled and fell to his pedes.
"Ugh," Bulkhead groaned. "I think I'm gonna blow a gasket."
"I must concur with that statement," Prowl said as he rose to his heeled pedes, looking as steady as normal.
"Never again," Ratchet growled as Prowl helped him stand.
After Optimus followed their examples he looked around and suddenly realized several things. "Uh, guys?" he said. "What happened?"
"I don't have any idea," Prowl answered then his optics widened when he saw what his leader had indicated.
"Primus," Ratchet whispered.
"Just how long were he gone?" Bulkhead asked as he too looked around.
When they had left there had been a couch, coffee table and TV in the living room but now…While these articles of furniture were still there they were all in need of repair. The TV had a big hold in the middle of the screen, the coffee table was missing a leg which made it wobble precariously while the couch was missing not only the cushions but the majority of its stuffing was gone as well as one of the arms. Dried energon and a few body parts such as arms and legs covered the floor, spider webs hung down from the ceiling but most surprising was the wall directly in front of them with the words 'Death to the Autobots, Long Live the Neutrals!' written in energon.
"I think," Prowl said slowly, "we were gone for longer than a few seconds." Optimus could only nod in agreement, words failing him.
Just then they heard footsteps and shortly afterwards Black Arachnia walked in. She ignored them and, transforming into her spider mode, began to climb up one of the walls where she began to make another spider web.
After exchanging glances with the other members of his team and deciding that it couldn't hurt, Optimus stepped forward and hesitantly said, "Black Arachnia?"
"What?" she asked then glanced downwards, her optics widening. She stared at them then shrieked, "Bumblebee!"
Optimus frowned, confusion evident on his faceplate. Why would Black Arachnia call out for Bumblebee of all bots? It didn't make any sense.
Seconds later Bumblebee zoomed into the room then transformed; stingers and an energon sword at the ready. "What's wrong?" he demanded.
"Them," Black Arachnia replied, pointing one of her legs at Optimus and his crew.
Bumblebee looked at them then lowered his weapons and sighed. "Black Arachnia," he said slowly, "they are not real but are merely hallucinations."
"Since when can I see your hallucinations?" she grumbled.
"I don't know," Bumblebee said. "Don't forget that you have first watch tonight," he reminded her.
"I won't forget."
It was then that Optimus realized that Bumblebee was different. Not only did his voice sound harsh and cold but his body was different as well. His left arm was purple, his right one was gray; black paint covered his chassis, effectively hidng his Autobot symbol while his legs were blue and orange. His helm was the only thing that had retained its original yellow color although his optics were now violet, like Black Arachnia's were.
"But we're not hallucinations!" Bulkhead protested. "Are we?"
"I don't have time for this," Bumblebee announced. "I have far more important things to do instead of talking to bots that aren't even really here." With that he turned and walked out of the room.
"What now?" Prowl asked drily.
"I don't know," Optimus admitted.
Not entirely sure what to do the Autobots were fixing to go explore the base when Black Arachnia spoke. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"Why not?" Ratchet grunted.
"Even if you are hallucinations the others won't think twice about shooting you and if you bots do turn out to be real Bumblebee will have to kill whoever shot you and we can't afford to lose anymore fighters," she explained.
"Thanks but I think we'll be fine," Optimus said then headed towards the hallway that led to the rest of the building when Blitzwing walked in followed by Starscream and Skywarp. The Decepticons were halfway across the room when the triple-changer abruptly stopped causing the two fliers behind him to crash into each other.
"What the slag was that for?" Starscream demanded.
"Ve have intruders," Blitzwing announced calmly, pointing at the four Autobots.
Skywarp shrieked and hid behind his Creator who angled his body so that the clone was completely hidden from view. "Stay away from him," Starscream hissed threateningly, his optics (violet as well) showing flecks of red as he pointed his weapons at them.
"Well this is a surprise," Prowl commented, raising an optic ridge.
"Hold it, boys," Black Arachnia ordered as she lowered herself to the floor before transforming back to her robot mode.
"They are Autobots; they deserve to die," Blitzwing insisted.
"They're not real," the femme informed him. "They're hallucinations."
"Since vhen do ve see Bumblebee's hallucinations? Ve have enough problems to deal vith right now; ve don't need to be seeing things that aren't there as vell," Blitzwing complained, lowering his weapons.
"Don't complain about it to me," Black Arachnia sighed. "If you have a problem take it up with Bumblebee."
"Ve just might do that," Blitzwing said then stalked over to the couch and sat down, crossing his arms with a huff and scowling at the broken TV.
"Does that mean they can't hurt us?" Skywarp asked hesitantly, his violet optics eyeing the Autobots nervously.
"That's precisely what it means," Bumblebee answered as he re-entered the room.
"Oh, ok," the cowardly clone relaxed and cautiously edged out from behind his Creator.
"Excuse me but can someone tell me what's going on here?" Optimus asked.
"You mean you don't know?" Bumblebee sounded surprised and slightly shocked.
"No," Prowl said, shaking his head.
"But you usually do," Bumblebee protested. "Unless," he slowly came towards them, "you're real." He stopped directly in front of Optimus and reached out a servo, hesitantly touching the taller bot's chassis. When he realized that his servo had encountered metal Bumblebee's faceplate lit up. "You're real," he whispered in disbelief. "You're real," he repeated. "You're…"
"We get the point," Black Arachnia interrupted, looking rather annoyed.
"They're gonna torture us!" Skywarp cried, hiding behind Starscream once more.
"Can ve shoot them now?" Blitzwing asked eagerly, his violet optics shining.
"No!" Bumblebee snapped, turning to face the Decepticons, his optics beginning to turn red. "They are not to be harmed. If any of you try to do so I will personally hand you over to Sentinel Magnus. Is that understood?"
The Decepticons, who had all paled at the name, nodded.
"Sentinel Magnus?" Optimus questioned.
"He's in charge of the Autobots now," Bumblebee explained. "He took over after Ultra Magnus was murdered a while back. Of course everyone thinks he did it and we're one hundred percent positive that he did especially since he blamed us."
Optimus would have asked more questions but just then one of the computer consoles began beeping.
"Autobots!" Skywarp shrieked again.
Bumblebee turned to the four Autobots standing behind him and said, "I would stay out of the way if I were you." He powered up his weapons, the Decepticons doing the same and then they waited.
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