(Please see all previous disclaimers)
While Sandblaster stayed with Mirage at the quarters, Ratchet headed straight for Optimus' office. Ratchet knew the Prime wasn't going to like hearing this, but Ratchet knew that Optimus needed to know about this. Ratchet soon arrived at Optimus' office. Ratchet went in unannounced as he figured Optimus and hide were the only two in the office. When Ratchet walked in, he saw only Optimus as Hide had gone somewhere else for the moment. "Prime?" Ratchet uttered, finally announcing his presence.
Optimus set aside what he was working on and focused on Ratchet. "Yes, Ratchet, how can I help you?" Optimus asked, unaware that something was wrong with his mate. Optimus felt slightly off, but figured he was just tired.
"When was the last time you checked in with your mate, Mirage?" Ratchet queried, wanting to know. Ratchet needed to know how long it really had been.
"About an hour ago, when he explained to me why he was in Iacon when I gave no order allowing or disallowing it" Optimus answered, telling what Mirage had done in Iacon but Optimus sensed trouble. "May I ask why?"
Ratchet was relieved to hear that it hadn't been too long but still, Mirage was in trouble. "Well. It seems like Sandblaster got a feeling to check on your quarters about 45 minutes ago, like something was wrong. When she arrived, she found Mirage in your berth. At first she thought he was asleep, but something jagged at her that it was more than that. She checked further and realized that he wasn't sleeping, but was in temporary stasis lock. She commed me. It would seem that Mirage picked up a nasty virus while helping entomb bots in Iacon since that is what you said he was doing. It is an old Con virus. I am doing everything I can to help him, but you need to come home. Your bond might be the only thing that we can do to save him."
Optimus was stunned when he heard what the medic said. Optimus didn't want to lose his mate, and so Optimus left quickly and headed home with Ratchet following close behind. Optimus hoped that they could save Mirage.
Meanwhile, back at the quarters, Sandblaster had now been joined by Bumblebee. They both watched as the antivirus and energon drip was going to try and help Mirage. "I hope he lives, Bee" Sandblaster said.
"Me too, Sandblaster, but I have a feeling that it is all up to Primus now" Bee answered, hoping that Mirage did indeed survive this, but prepared if Mirage didn't make it. Only time would tell if Mirage would come back to them.
What no bot realized was that Megatron, while still living and creating the war and wreaking havoc, had planted an old con virus on the remains of Sentinel and Elita One that would attack grounder bots. It wouldn't affect flyers as Megatron didn't want his deadly virus killing cons who mostly flew, hence Skyfire and the other youngling who helped were immune to it. Ratchet, being as old as he was, knew of this dispicable virus and its origins as a con created virus, but it had a very low survival rate and Ratchet had no idea how Mirage had acquired it. Ratchet just hoped they had reached Mirage in time.