7. Orion Pax

"When we stormed the Iacon Hall of Records in the winning days of the war for Cybertron, we acquired highly classified files. Files written with Autobot codes which we had been unable to decipher." Megatron said to Knockout as they walked down a corridor aboard the Nemesis.

"Autobot codes which the Iacon archivist Orion Pax should have no trouble cracking." Knockout worked out as they stopped in front of the Cybertronion computer lab holding said archivist. Humming as he glanced at the door, the doctor asked "Considering what's at stake, shouldn't we beef up the security around here?"

"Knockout, I believe that Orion will perform most effectively if he does not feel threatened or confined in any way." Megatron said before he smirked and gestured down the hall where two Vehicon Drones were standing on either side of a doorway and continued "However, it is no coincidence that Orion's work-station is located in direct proximity to the Energon storage vault."

"Which is under constant surveillance. Well played." Knockout said, rather impressed with his leader's cunning.

'Well played indeed, not that it's going to help.' A hidden figure thought with a grin as he followed the pair inside.

In the room, Orion Pax's fingers danced over the keys, his optics flicking left and right as he isolated key parts of the text scrolling in front of them. He paused in his work though as Megatron asked "Orion! How fares project Iacon?"

"I am a bit rusty, I fear." Orion said as he turned around, and explained "I've only managed to decode three entries."

"And what do these entries comprise?" Megatron inquired.

"They were logged by Autobot archivists during the war after I entered stasis. My only knowledge of its content so far is that they are coordinates, targeting locations on this very planet." Optimus said, pushing a button that made a holographic image of said planet appear off to the side. Continuing, he said "I surmise that they could indicate hiding places for vessels shuttled from Cybertron for safe-keeping."

"Such as historical documents or cultural artifacts?" Megatron asked as he moved to stand in front of the hologram.

"My greatest fear would be weapons of mass destruction. Hidden away for later use." Optimus said and Megatron grinned eagerly to himself.

A moment later though, he did away with the grin and turned back to Orion and said "All the more reason it is essential that we do everything in our power to keep said vessels from Autobot reach. We are fortunate to have you on our side, Orion Pax."

As he began to leave the room, Orion said "Lord Megatron. I am puzzled by one particular finding. I have discovered several historic references to Starscream as your second-in-command. Yet I have not seen him aboard the ship." Orion pushed another button and an image of said Flyer appeared on the computer screen.

Turning around, Megatron said "Sadly, Commander Starscream is dead."

And with that, he left the lab, the doors closing behind him. A moment later, a disembodied voice said "Wow, I will admit, that was smooth, not even a moment of hesitation to come up with that line."

An understandably alarmed Orion frantically looked around the room as he asked "Who's there?"

"Who I am is not nearly as important right now as what I have to say." The voice stated.

"And what is it you have to say to me?" Orion asked, still vainly trying to find the source of the voice.

"Reality is not what Megatron claims it is. He says that he and the Decepticons are defenders of this world when in fact they are conquerors, and if you agree to remain calm when I reveal myself, I can prove it." The voice said.

Orion hesitated for a moment before he nodded and said "Alright, if you reveal yourself then I shall hear you out."

A moment later, he startled as the air shimmered in front of him and a completely black Cybertronian appeared, instantly taking a knee with hand over spark as he said "Orion Pax, Archivist of the Iacon Hall of Records, I am Night Shift, soldier under the command of Optimus Prime, the Last of the Primes, and the real leader of the Autobots." Looking up at Orion, the black Bot continued "And I am here to bring you back to us where you belong Sir."

Orion's optics widened and he asked "What do you mean, where I belong?"

Now standing, Night Shift said "You have been told that you have been held captive by us for eons Sir. But tell me, if you had been our captive, then why did you bear our mark?"

Optimus shifted his arm so that way he could see the Decepticon emblem that Knockout had replaced said Autobot insignia with, a troubled look on his face. After a moment, Night Shift continued "Sir, the reason why you cannot remember all of those eons is not because you were in stasis, but because your memories were taken from you. Please open your chest compartment."

Orion hesitated for a moment unsure, but did as asked. When he realized there was something inside, he pulled out the object and gasped with wide optics as he said in wonder "The Matrix of Leadership?! Then I'm-"

"Optimus Prime, our leader." Night Shift finished.

Orion could only stare stunned at the relic in his hands before he reverently put it back into his chest compartment and closed it as he looked back at Night Shift and asked "What happened?"

"It may be better for me to show you the relevant parts Sir." Night Shift said. The next moment, the air shimmered around them as Orion heard his voice, brimming with quiet confidence say "AND IT WAS WRITTEN IN THE COVENANT OF PRIMUS THAT WHEN THE 47 SPHERES ALIGN, A PERPETUAL CONFLICT WILL CULMINATE UPON A WORLD FORGED FROM CHAOS, AND THE WEAK SHALL PERISH IN THE SHADOW OF A RISING DARKNESS."

Scene Change: Autobot Outpost Omega 1

The atmosphere in the control room was tense. Night Shift had inserted himself on the Nemesis a couple of hours ago leaving the others with little to anything to do but wait for word of success or failure. Deciding to try to break the tension, Miko said "Soooo…Once Night Shift brings the Big Guy back, how do we get his memories back? Do we just slot that weird key thing he gave Jack into him like a computer disc or what?"

"Nothing nearly as simple as that I'm afraid Miko." Ratchet said with a frown. Turning his gaze to the device in question held by Jack, Ratchet said "What Jack holds grants access to Vector Sigma, which holds the Repository of the Wisdom of the Primes."

"Is that some sort of Super Computer?" Raf asked.

"So, we can just download Optimus's memories back into him? Great! Which one is the big V? Over here? Somewhere in back?" Jack asked, looking around hoping to find a computer that screamed "Repository of Wisdom".

"Vector Sigma is more than a "supercomputer", Jack. It is an ancient source of mystical power. On Cybertron." Ratchet said solemnly.

"Jackson Darby! You will NOT be travelling to another planet." June said sternly, going straight into parent mode.

"I'm in!" Miko offered eagerly only to be shot down as June said "You're not going either, Miko. Not while one of YOU can." She pointed at the rest of the Bots.

Fowler stepped up to back his fellow adult as he said "June's right. Why send a boy to do a bot's job?"

"Because only a Prime can access Vector Sigma. Or one chosen by a Prime. Optimus gave the Key card to Jack. It is now imprinted with his unique biosignature." Ratchet explained.

"So, you mean Jack's like some kinda honorary Prime?" Miko asked.

"Let's just say Jack is the only one who can return Optimus to the Autobot we knew." Ratchet said.

"But why would Optimus willfully endanger a human? A child?" June asked confused.

"I'm not a child, Mom!" Jack said angrily.

"Maybe Optimus believes there's more to Jack than meets the eye." Arcee said with a slight smirk.

"Yeah, what's that saying you humans have about big things in small packages?" Trip Wire asked with a grin.

"All of which is moot. The Key-card is useless to us without the means of reaching Cybertron, which we at present do not possess." Ratchet said, bringing up the rather serious hurdle they had to overcome to make this plan work.

"Dude. What about THAT?" Miko asked, jerking her whole hand at the Ground Bridge.

"Miko, the Ground Bridge barely got them into Earth orbit, remember?" Raf asked.

"Yeah, but Ratchet built it. Can't he just turbo-charge the thing?" Miko asked.

"Hm." Ratchet said with a frown.

"There is another option." Ground Quake offered.

"And what would that be Ground Quake?" Ratchet asked.

"The Decepticons were gathering resources to create a Space Bridge were they not?" Ground Quake asked.

There was a collective blink around the room before Storm Rider chuckled and said "You want the Cons to pay for our ticket to Cybertron?"

"It would certainly be a better shot then Ratchet modifying our Ground Bridge to reach such a vast distance." Ground Quake said before he glanced at Ratchet and added on "No offense Doctor."

"None taken, after all, I agree." Ratchet said with a wry twist of his lips before he frowned and said "Yet there are two problems with this plan. For starters, we would have to allow the Decepticons to acquire the power source they need for the bridge."

"Good luck getting the big wigs to allow that to happen." Agent Fowler said with a scoff.

"Indeed. And an even bigger problem is that we don't even know where this new Space Bridge is located." Ratchet said, his frown turning into a scowl.

"Uh, hello, if it's a Space Bridge then wouldn't it be…" Miko asked before trailing off in favor of pointing upwards.

"The term Space denotes range rather than location Miko, it could be anywhere. And in this case, no. We've been monitoring Earth's orbit since we destroyed the last one, if it was being built up there then we would have detected it by now." Ratchet said with a frown.

"So then it has to be down here on Earth right?" Jack asked.

"It would be like trying to find a servo in a scrapyard." Bulkhead said with a severe frown.

"Well maybe I can help narrow where it could be down. The Nemesis' computers have to have something about it." Ratchet said, adjusting his glasses.

Ratchet hummed before turning to Agent Fowler and asked "Agent Fowler, would it possible for us to borrow the needed power source?"

Agent Fowler grimaced before his expression firmed up and he said "It's not easy getting scientists to share their toys, especially military scientists, but one way or another I'll get you a big enough battery for that sucker."

"Then it seems we have a plan." Ratchet said with a decisive nod.

Scene Change: The Nemesis

"Your leader works for me now."

The holographic Megatron ran into the Ground Bridge, the portal immediately shutting off, the hologram soon shimmering out of existence as well and Night Shift crossed his arms as he asked "Any questions?"

Orion shook his head and said "None. It's just…I can hardly believe that I was so capable a warrior, being able to stand on equal footing as a Gladiator of Kaon, and even surpass him for a time…"

"Not was, Orion, are. As soon as we get you your memories back, you'll be in top form once again." Night Shift said before he nodded his head at the computer behind Orion and continued "But for now, let's get a copy of that database back to base."

Pulling out a data drive from behind his back, Night Shift inserted it into the data port and a progress bar immediately popped up on the screen as the database was copied. Immediately after, alarms began blaring throughout the ship. Glancing upwards, Night Shift said "Huh, took a lot longer for Soundwave to raise the alarm than I thought. Must have been trying to assemble everyone outside of the room quietly."

Sure enough, the door way to the lab sprung open showing a hall full of Cons with their blasters armed and ready, the one in the front row saying "Hands up, Autobot Scum!"

Changing his voice to sound like a certain Engineer, Night Shift said "Nope."

The next instant, a hard light projection of a spiked wall shot forward and smashed the twenty odd Vehicons into the wall opposite the lab, disappearing to reveal the sparking pile of robo bits lying on the floor. Sighing happily, Night Shift patted his torso and said in his normal voice "I do so love my gear."

"I can see why." Orion said in awe. He had thought that Night Shift could only use holograms, not use hard light constructs. That was a good deal more technologically advanced than he was used to.

The sound of thundering footsteps could be heard as more Cons rushed to their position and Night Shift glanced at the progress bar on the computer. As soon as it was at a hundred percent, he yanked the drive out and said "Time to go."

Pulling out the Ground Bridge remote, Night Shift formed a portal then shoved Orion through, leaping in after him just as Megatron came barging into the lab. Seeing the portal shut behind the two before he could reach them, Megatron threw his head back and yelled out "NOOOOOOOO!" He then shot the computer station Orion had been working at, stomping away from the sparking machinery a snarling mess that the other Cons wisely stepped away from.

Scene Change: Omega One

Night Shift helped Orion to his feet as the others quickly rushed over, all glad to see the pair. Ratchet was all business as he asked "Are either of you hurt?"

"Not a scratch Doctor, though I'll admit we got out just in time."

"And what the Cons wanted our boy to work on, did you get it?" Agent Fowler asked next.

"Right here." Night Shift said, holding up the data drive and continued "Orion had already decoded three sets of coordinates for the Cons though, so we need to move fast to get to whatever's at them before they do."

"Then it seems we must wait to implement our plan to return Orion's memories as Optimus to him." Ratchet said before looking at Orion with a sigh and said "I am sorry old friend."

"I understand Ratchet, whatever lies at those locations must be kept out of Megatron's hands, at all cost." Orion said with a nod.

"Then we better get started." Night Shift said, handing the data drive to Ratchet who quickly went to his station to pull up the coordinates. They had to act swiftly, for this was one race they likely could not afford to lose.

END

Author's Notes: Originally, I was going to have the Bots return Optimus' memories to him THEN go for the relics like the show did by way of having Night Shift merely keeping an eye on Orion and only stepping in when he was endangered. Then I realized that that was a stupid way of doing things and that waiting for the two months that the show said Orion was a Con was a giant waste of time. Plus, two months to get only three entries, with Megatron NOT checking in during all of that time? Yeah, I don't buy it. I'd give Orion twenty four hours before the first check in, at the extreme max.

Also, before you all ask, no, I haven't forgotten about Starscream. That will be covered next chapter though.