“Mirage…” A distant voice called.

“That’s my designation.” He called out to the surrounding darkness.

“I know it is yours, but what is mine?” The voice called back. It sounded so familiar to Mirage, yet he couldn’t decipher it. He frowned.

“Don’t you know what your own designation is?” He called out, trying to find the direction in which the voice came from.

“I know what my own is, but it is you who needs to know mine.”

“And why do I need to know your designation?” Mirage asked the air, still not sure where the voice came from. A sigh was heard.

“This is going to take a while…” Mirage heard before the darkness disappeared.

“Ratchet, I do not think this is wise.” An authority-filled voice spoke.

“Nonsense Optimus! Nothing bad came from it. Data shows no hostile intend, and that there defiantly is a blockage in his mind; which I can do nothing about at this stage.”

“So it is true. All memories have been erased, or rather, blocked.”

“Indeed Optimus.”

“Hm.” Heavy peds sounded and grew silent with distance.

“I know you’re awake.” Ratchet said, and Mirage opened his optics to see the cave ceiling. He sat up on the berth to look at Ratchet.

“I apologize-.” Ratchet started but Mirage held up his servo.

“No. I’m actually glad. It sets my mind at ease.” He admitted. Ratchet blinked in surprise but slowly nodded. Mirage swung his legs over the side of the berth and hopped to his peds. He turned towards Ratchet and bowed his head.

“Thank you, Ratchet.” He lifted his head and exited the medical bay. It seemed he had been in stasis for quite some time; if Optimus was awake and sounded healthy. As he entered the main room, foreign voices were heard.

“You know, I may not be the first human on Cybertron. But I can still be the first human exchange student.” A young femme’s voice said.

“Why didn’t you tell us about the Omega Keys before?” A mech said.

“You probably didn’t notice, but things have been kinda intense around here lately.” Arcee answered.

“So… you guys could really be going home soon, huh?” A younger mech spoke.

“Don’t worry, Raph! He’ll come visit. Once we have our place set up, he can bunk with us. Right Bulk?” The femme spoke. Mirage was standing in the medical bay’s door, behind a raised platform. In front of the platform was Bulkhead with a small femme on his shoulder. Arcee stood at the stairs to the platform with a mech at the stairs. Bumblee was standing next to the platform, watching a short mech. 

“Uh, Miko…”

“You are  taking me with you, right?” She asked, sounding disappointed.

“Aren’t we getting ahead of ourselves here?” Ratchet spoke as he entered the room, next to Mirage. All eyes and optics snapped toward them, Mirage instantly turning invisible at a sudden nervousness. Ratchet frowned, for he knew he was there, but said nothing. He then entered the room, explaining.

“Not only do be lack any actually method of reaching Cybertron, but Starscream now controls the soul means of our planet’s restoration.” He finished, now standing at the large green screens.

“As far as we now.” Optimus said with a nod.

“You think Starscream’s re-joined the cons?” Smokescreen asked Prime.

“He may have used the Omega Keys to buy back Megatron’s favour.” Arcee said.

“Pft, without first trying to sell them to the highest bidder? It wouldn’t surprise me if he had the nerve to contact us and- .” Of course, Ratchet had jinxed it; for not an asrosecond later a message came though.

“Okay, that’s weird.” Bulkhead said.

“Is it Starscream?” Arcee questioned. Mirage became interested and entered more into the room; silently, of course. Ratchet first read the message before answering.

“No… it is Dreadwing. And he wants to meet.” Ratchet said, turning towards the others.

“Hm…” Optimus thought. “This might be a trap… Ratchet, you remain here with Mirage and the children. The rest of us will investigate.” Ratchet nodded and prepared the GroundBridge. They all transformed into their alt-modes and rode through.

“Hm, it seems you’re not good with alien species.” Ratchet said to where he fought Mirage stood. The humans looked confused. Mirage then turned back into his solid form, causing shocked expressions.

“No, I’m just not good with sudden jolts.” Mirage told Ratchet who huffed. Not even one klick later, Mirage experienced total confusion.   

“Wow! That’s so cool! I wanna turn invisible! Does it feel weird? If you hold something, does it also become invisible? Do you really turn invisible or is it just like an illusion? What happens if you have to go to the bathroom? Ha! Do Cybertronians have to go to the bathroom? When did you come here? What’s your name? Oh wait, Optimus said it. Mi-mi-mi, ah I don’t know! Where did you come from? Are you a wrecker? Did you know Bulkhead before?” Miko, the human femme, suddenly yelled, taking no breathes between. Mirage was suddenly very confused. He turned to Ratchet, hopeful.

“Are they all like… this?” He asked, indicating to Miko. Ratchet vented a sigh.

“No, Miko is the only one like this.” He answered. “The other two are Jack and Rafael.”  He said, indicated to the mechs. They gave short greetings while Mirage bowed his head at all three of them, confusing them.

“My designation’s Mirage. And I will answer all your questions, dear Miko, but my processor and audio receptor aren’t as fast as your voice.” Mirage said, trying not to cringe at the funny looking life forms.  

“Are you a wrecker? Did you know Bulkhead before?” Miko asked.

“I am not, and I didn’t know Bulkhead before this. I knew nothing before this, for my memories are blocked.” Mirage answered.

“So wait, you don’t have any memories?” The human mech, Jack, asked with a frown. Mirage nodded slowly.

“Yes, it is so. I know nothing of my past life.” He answered. There was brief silence as Miko had lost the urge to strangle him with more questions. Mirage smiled softly.

“You said you wanted to feel what it was like to be invisible, right?” He said, and Miko nodded slowly, confused. Mirage reached a digit out to her and tapped her slightly; her form instantly disappearing.

“Wow! Awesome! I’m invisible!” Miko said, running around in circles before rushing over to the boys and messed up their hair.

“Hey!”

“Miko!” She giggled and ran around the base, everyone hearing her but not seeing her. Miko picked up her school bag and tried to turn it invisible, just like Mirage had done it to her. She groaned.

“Why can’t I turn it invisible?!” She groaned. Suddenly, Mirage had tapped her back, turning her solid.

“Awww…” She groaned. Mirage tried to compress a chuckle, which he succeeded. He merely smiled at her softly and picked her up, placing her on the platform again.

“Ratchet, we require a GroundBridge.” Optimus’s voice sounded. Ratchet pulled the lever, and not long after they all stepped through, Optimus now carrying a yellow and blue forge.

“It’s no Star Saber, but I can bet it can shatter Megatron’s blade. And put some dents in that ugly mug of his.” Smoekscreen said.

“It’s not that kind of hammer.” Arcee told him. The forge looked familiar to Mirage, but again, he knew not where from.

“With the Decpticons in possession of all four Omega Keys, a more appropriate use of the forge would be to replicate our own.” Ratchet said.

“Even with such power, the reconstruction would require a level of expertise I do not possess.” Optimus informed them.

“I guess we better hope Megatron doesn’t destroy the keys, to prevent anyone from ever going home.” Arcee said.

“Megatron may be evil, but I believe he will use the keys for their intended purpose.” Optimus said, turning over the forge and placing it down.

“Well I say let ‘em keep ‘em and do the work for us.” Bulkhead said. Optics turned to him. “Well, I mean, what difference does it make who restores Cybertron?”

“But he may reshape Cybertron as his big, personal lair then, calling himself ‘the saviour of Cybertron’. He’d label all Autobots as war criminals, making it easy for anyone to turn to his side.” Mirage chipped in, optics fell on him.

“The grand Deception continues.” Arcee said.

“Megatron’s so called ‘achievement’ could influence Cybertron for eons to come. Poisoning the sparks and minds of its returning citizens; hardly the ideal way to begin a new age.” Ratchet spoke, sadness brimming his words.

“But there is hope. For while Megatron may have the keys, he has yet to discover the existence of the Omega lock itself.” Optimus said, wide optics staring at him.

“Omega Lock?” Bulkhead questioned.  

“Wait, now you lost me.” Arcee said, confused.

“That of which the four relics were designed to activate. We must locate the device before Megatron does, and secure it, until we can recover the keys.” Optimus said with confidence.

“There are no more Iacon relics to decode. This Lock, could be anywhere on Earth.” Ratchet made clear.

“Yet, it’s almost clear where the lock is, and it’s not on Earth.” Mirage spoke. Confusion in the Autobot’s optics, except for Optimus, who looks slightly suspicious.

“What do you mean?” Arcee questioned.

“These ‘Omega Keys’ I keep hearing about, which’ll revive Cybertron. Wouldn’t it stand to reason the lock would be on Cybertron? Why would it be on Earth anyways?” Mirage spoke.

“It is true. The Omega Lock is on Cybertron. It’s location was revealed to me by Alpha Trion during the message conveyed by the Star Saber.” Optimus spoke, slinging the forge over his shoulder before turning and walking away.

“And you didn’t think, to tell us?” Ratchet asked, silent disbelief. Optimus stopped and turned towards him.

“Alpha Trion did not wish it so.” He answered before making his way to the GroundBridge’s controls.

“With the Forge of Solus Prime, we now possess the means of researching Cybertron. I must work quickly, as our tactical advantage over Megatron will not last long.” Optimus made aware.

“But Megatron doesn‘t know about Mirage yet.” Bulkhead spoke, everyone coming to realize that.

“But he may have an idea. Two Insecticons got away, in knowledge of an invisible enemy. Megatron won’t be a deaf receptor to that. However, he may not know that I am with the Autobots, he simply knows I exist.” Mirage answered.

“Maybe whatever that cube of yours is could help.” Smokescreen told Mirage.

“Yet I don’t know what it is. I only came to be yesterday.” He said, Smokescreen humming in thought.

“Jack.” Optimus spoke, the mech’s head snapping toward him.

“Yes Optimus?”

“Please take Mirage to require an altmode. We will worry of his knowledge in human customs later.” Jack nodded, indicating for  Mirage to follow. They went to the top of their base, a mountain in a dessert, next to a highway. Mirage stayed invisible while searching for a car which will be his altmode. It wasn’t long until he found one. A Bugatti Veyron. His altmode was the same blue, with black on the hood, half of the nose, and the back.

“Hey Jack.” Arcee called once they entered the base again.

“I’ll take you home.” She said, transforming into a blue motorcycle. Jack climbed on, helmet on his head, before they rode out. Optimus was still busy with the GroundBridge, and the others weren’t doing anything. Mirage strode into the silent medical bay. He took his cube from the table and sat on the berth. He examined the cube in his hand, thinking back to what Smokescreen had said earlier. Maybe whatever that cube of yours is could help. Mirage tried pressure in all ways, but the thing wouldn’t budge. He turned it back to the engraving. His digits went over the glowing word.

“Don’t you know what your own designation is?”

“I know what my own is, but it is you who needs to know mine.”

Mirage remembered the strange conversation he had with darkness earlier. Someone’s calling out. He looked down at the engraving again. Blockage… someone had to put it there. He shook his helm and let out a deep vent. He heard peds enter the bay, and looked up to see Ratchet.

“You should recharge. Tomorrow you’ll be finding the Omega Lock on Cybertron.” Mirage nodded, standing up and placing the cube down on the table. He got back on the berth, and fell into recharge.