"Follow the light," Ratchet instructed as he held a flashlight over Optimus' optic, specifically the one that was damaged, "good. Good. I wouldn't advice anything strenuous, Optimus, but it appears that your systems have fully recovered from the Cybonic Plague."

"Thanks to your medical expertise, old friend," Optimus said. Ratchet turned to Primrose, a smile on his face, "it was your scout who braved unknown territory to locate the cure."

"Hey, you would've done the same for me had our roles reversed," Primrose chuckled. "Indeed I would have," Optimus said. "Lucky for us, Megatron was still alive," Arcee said.

Paige and Nightwalker looked at her with wide eyes. "Did you seriously just say that?" Bumblebee asked, startled.

"Yeah. I actually said that," Arcee said, surprised herself.

"What matters is that you are on the mend, Optimus. While Megatron...," Ratchet trailed off.

"I wouldn't say what you're about to say just yet," Nightwalker warned. "Walker's right," Arcee agreed, "Did my best to finish Megatron's story. Just couldn't stick around long enough to see how it ended."

Primrose walked into the hallway. She paused in mid-step as her optics turned red. She looked at her servos.

"It is only a matter of time before Optimus discovers all is not right with you, child," Megatron said, "I must reclaim my body... which means taking complete and total control of yours."

◊◊◊◊

"Basketball by way of Cybertron! Let the games begin!" Miko decreed as she blew the whistle.

Bumblebee twirled the makeshift basketball on his finger before tossing it towards the hoop. Bulkhead jumped up and intercepted the ball before shooting the ball through the hoop. Miko cheered while Raf and Paige groaned.

"Come on, Bee!" Raf encouraged the young scout.

"Come on. Best two out of three," Bulkhead challenged as he passed the ball to Bumblebee. Bumblebee passed it to Primrose who ran over to Bulkhead.

She quickly passed the wrecker before he could grab her. "Prim! You're in the clear!" Paige said excitedly, "dunk it Prim!"

However, Primrose didn't put the ball in the hoop. Instead, her optics went unnoticeably red and a vision of the space bridge explosion rushed through her mind. Only for that vision to be replaced by something completely different.

A woman with light hazel brown hair and bright beautiful brown eyes flashed through her mind.

"Primrose, quit hogging the ball!" Bulkhead said. Primrose whirled around and chucked the ball at the wrecker who quickly ducked as the ball zipped past his helm and hit the wall behind him, creating a dent.

Miko blew the whistle, "flagrant foul!" "Dodgeball by way of Cybertron," Jack commented with a shrug.

"Prim, hoop's over there," Bumblebee said. "Sorry, just... caught a blank," Primrose sighed, scratching the back of her neck cables.

"Prim, you okay?" Paige asked. "I'm fine, little one," Primrose said reassuringly, "I promise."

Paige knew she was lying but she forced a smile and nodded her head.

◊◊◊◊

Primrose walked down the hallway, making a beeline for her berthroom before she stopped and her optics turned red again.

"If I am to return to my body, I must first restore it's functionality," Megatron said, "how did I escape annihilation?"

Primrose was seeing another memory from Megatron's processor. This time, she only saw a Cybertronian arm with a missile attached to it reach down into a hole in his chest and pluck out a glowing purple shard. She could hear his gasps of pain. She then saw a body fill in the missing image being compiled in her head. It was Starscream.

"Of course. Dark energon," Megatron hissed before he let out a low growl, "Starscream."

Primrose was silent as her optics continued to glow red. She stepped towards her room before she stopped, hearing Paige and Arcee from the warrior's room.

"Are you sure you're okay?" The femme asked her. "I... I didn't know that Decepticons and... Autobot-turned-Decepticons hunted Magic Users," Paige said quietly, hugging her knees to her chest.

Arcee felt her spark sink and her frame shuddered as guilt rose in her spark. She didn't like the fact that she had revealed the information on what she had found during her and Jack's encounter with Airachnid. Paige was an fourteen year old girl who didn't deserve to find out such horrible things.

But it was inevitable and it would continue to be that way. "Can you tell me about Kaitlin?" Paige asked quietly.

Arcee gently rubbed her back with a digit. "Of course," she said softly, "she was brave. She was kind but... she was always sad. Deep down, she was always sad. We all comforted her with everything we had. Even," she paused and inhaled, "even Megatron comforted her."

Primrose listened, her fists clenched as her blood red optics brightened.

"She joined the Autobots," Arcee said, "she loved Megatron and no matter how much she did, her love for Optimus was just as strong. We never saw her in the field. But... there was a time where there was a great battle... that shook us all to our cores."

Paige looked up at her. "She got in front of Megatron when Primrose was running at him," she said, her voice beginning to break, "she... she slammed her sword into Kaitlin's chest."

Paige froze, horror rushing through her. Arcee looked away, trying to hide her own tears. "A-Arcee," Paige murmured, tears forming in her eyes as she tried to stop herself from shaking, "I'm sorry. I-I'm sorry."

Arcee activated her human form and she hugged her. Paige clung to her, tears slipping down her cheeks.

Primrose silently walked away from the door and headed to the main hangar. It was seemingly, currently empty. She looked around before she saw a tool belonging to Ratchet and her optics turned red once more.

She walked over to it and picked it up. "Yes. Go on, child," Megatron said, "obey my will."

Primrose crushed the tool in her servo, her optics brightening only to turn blue when Ratchet called her name. She turned to the medic who looked more than angry.

"I needed that!" He said angrily. Primrose blinked a few times before she looked at the crushed tool and nearly dropped it, startling herself.

"What has gotten into you?" Ratchet asked, his optic ridges furrowed. Primrose bit her lip before she inhaled.

"I've been seeing Megatron's face," Primrose said, unsure of how to say it.

"You're seeing Megatron's face?" Ratchet repeated before his optics narrowed in confusion.

◊◊◊◊

Primrose's optics glinted red before they turned off. "Primrose has been complaining of interment visions. Awaking nightmares, if you will," Ratchet said to the others.

"But you said Prim was fine when you checked her over," Paige said, her eyebrows furrowed.

"Physically," Ratchet said, "but the experience she underwent appears to be having a temporary effect on her psyche. This induced coma should force her mind to rest and recover."

The monitor went off and Ratchet went over to answer it. It was Agent Fowler. "Prime, you spot any Decepticons wearing hula skirts lately?" The liaison asked.

Nightwalker, Firestorm and WhiteRain stifled their laughter as Jazz shook his helm with amusement and Prowl rolled his optics.

"No, Agent Fowler," Optimus said, "why?" "Because I was hoping you had lead on the cons that busted into the Kauai Naval Observatory. Place looked like it was hit by an army of wrecking balls."

"Why would cons break into an observatory?" questioned Arcee.

"Does the Hoit Niko Gosium ring any bells?" Agent Fowler asked. "The space telescope," Raf said.

"As of last night missing it's primary lense."

"It's difficult to guess Starscream's intent without knowing where the lense has been taken," stated Prowl.

"Good thing the lense has a tracking device." A map appeared on the screen, showing the location.

"The Arctic? Great," Arcee stated sarcastically, "another chance to freeze our sparkplugs off."

Bulkhead whistled before identifying the purple mass that now filled the screen, "That's a ND-7 class. The biggest unmineable Energon deposit there is."

"Unmineable until Starscream melts his way down to it," Optimus corrected.

"With the help of the lens," Arcee piped in.

"Melting a glacier that size would cause sea levels to rise and demolish coastal cities," Fowler said.

"We will be there, sir," Nightwalker said, earning surprised looks from Firestorm and WhiteRain. The soldier gave a small, sheepish grin as he shrugged.

◊◊◊◊

Raf and Paige sat by Primrose's pedes as she drew in her sketchbook. "You should see the comics I've been making Prim," she said, "it's not much but I've been practicing."

Ratchet walked over to them, "Paigey, I'm afraid Primrose can't hear you while she's in power down. It's getting late. Why don't I bridge you both home to your families?"

"Because I told Prim I'd stay," Paige said, "she's family too." "Don't be ridiculous," Ratchet said, "you're not even the same species."

Raf gave a small laugh, "that's being related." "It's not the same thing. But whenever I feel sad, I've always turned to my parents," Paige said with a soft smile, "to you and Optimus, to Primrose. And I know you all hear me. And... that makes me feel better. I feel safe."

Ratchet smiled softly, his optics softening.

◊◊◊◊

"A lot different from our last polar visit," Arcee remarked as she, Firestorm, WhiteRain, Nightwalker, Bulkhead and Optimus walked through the Arctic, "Feels like summer."

"Here, that's a bad thing," Nightwalker remarked as they hid behind a glacier.

They saw the machine the Decepticons had in their possession. A giant laser shooting a heat beam at the glacier below, melting the glacier to oblivion to reach the Energon hidden underneath.

"Autobots, remember the end run on Polyhex?" Optimus asked.

"Our first assignment together as a team. Why?" WhiteRain wanted to know.

◊◊◊◊

Paige leaned against Primrose's pede, staring at the ceiling in boredom. Raf was laying next to her, his head resting on her lap. She looked around for a moment.

"Paige, Rafael," Ratchet said, making them look up at him, "I'm going to the Supply Vault to find parts to repair this. You know what that means."

"We know," Raf said, "don't touch anything." The medic nodded and he gently rubbed Paige's head with a digit before he walked away.

Primrose's optics flickered to life and were bright red. She got up, startling Paige and Raf and the kids jumped to their feet. "Prim!?" Raf exclaimed.

The ground bridge swirled to life and Primrose walked through it, ignoring Raf and Paige's calls. Ratchet hurried into the main hangar.

"What happened?" The medic asked. "I don't know! Primrose just got up and went through the bridge," Paige said.

"She was in power down. Where does she think she's off to?" Ratchet asked.

◊◊◊◊

Primrose walked through a familiar place. Cracks and small gaps glowed with fire. She looked around, her optics glowing red.

"Where is it? Where?!" Megatron growled. Another memory flashed through Primrose's helm. Glowing Dark Energon was held high in his hands. He threw the Energon to the ground. The shard fell at a 25-degree angle before hitting the ground and burying itself below. The ground cracked and glowed as Cybertron's dead came to life.

The memory came to an abrupt stop as Primrose stared at the crater before her. Unlike other craters that glowed orange and yellow if there were fires inside, this crater glowed a bright purple with a blue edge. She looked inside it and found the shard of Dark Energon.

She reached for it only to flinch back. She clutched at her helm as her optics flickered from red to blue.

Megatron growled, "obey my will!" Primrose gritted her denta before she went still and her optics turned bright red.

Megatron smirked, "good child." Primrose bent down and picked up the Dark Energon shard.

◊◊◊◊

"These are the coordinates for the sight of our previous battle with Megatron's undead," Ratchet gasped after studying the coordinates Primrose had typed in.

"Maybe we should call Optimus," Raf said nervously. "Optimus is busy preventing the polar icecap from melting. We need to handle this on our own." He activated the bridge once more and walked to the entrance of it before he saw the scout.

"Primrose? What have you been doing?" He demanded as Primrose walked up to him. The medic grabbed her wrist and he saw the Dark Energon shard.

"Dark Energon?" He gasped and he looked at Primrose. The Prime punched him hard in the faceplates, sending him flying back into the wall. Paige yelped in fear and she hurried to Ratchet.

"Prim! What are you doing!?" Raf gasped and he flinched back as Primrose walked towards him, her optics glowing bright red.

The Prime wrapped her servo around Raf's waist and walked over to a vent. "Primrose, please! I know you're in there!" Raf pleaded and grunted softly as Primrose placed him down.

"You have to fight whatever's making you do this, Prim!" Paige exclaimed. Primrose ignored the girl as she walked to the ground bridge before she ran into it and it closed.

Paige furrowed her eyebrows before she heard Ratchet groan. "Ratchet! Are you okay?" Raf asked worriedly.

"I'm fine," Ratchet said as he got up, "but more importantly is Primrose? I fear that the time spent in Megatron's mindscape is causing her to think like a Decepticon."

"Prim's not a Con!" Paige protested. "Indeed," Ratchet said as he held out his servo and Raf jumped on, "but we need to find out exactly what she intends on doing with that shard."

He paused, "and the only who knew of the Dark Energon was Megatron." "Primrose has Megatron's memories?" Paige asked nervously.

"Worse," Ratchet said, "Megatron is occupying Primrose's mind." "What!?" Raf and Paige gasped.

"How could I have been such a fool? The Cortical Psychic Patch acted as a two-way conduit. When Primrose was ready to return to her own mind, Megatron followed," Ratchet said, "and now Primrose- Megatron- has bridged to nearly the same coordinates Optimus used," Ratchet observed as he reactivated the portal, "Stay here."

"No! Primrose needs us," Paige objected.

"Of course she does," Ratchet sighed and he gently picked Paige and Raf up.

◊◊◊◊

"Yes! I love when a plan comes together!" Starscream cheered.

Suddenly, he heard the sounds of engines. Familiar rumbling engines. He looked down and saw familiar cars coming from different directions.

Arcee and WhiteRain drove from the north side, Bulkhead from the east side, Nightwalker from the west side and Firestorm from the south side.

"Autobots," Starscream growled.

"Please, Commander Starscream. Allow your second-in-command the honor. Breakdown, Echo, total them!" Knockout instructed.

Breakdown and Echo didn't need to be told twice. They jumped on multiple wings before making the jump for the snowy ground. Bulkhead, WhiteRain, Nightwalker, Firestorm and Arcee were sent flying in the air as Breakdown and Echo landed behind them, the force of the impact knocking the five Autobots off of their wheels. Thankfully, they transformed into their bipedal forms in mid-air and landed appropriately.

Optimus scaled a glacier near where the Nemesis was hovering in the air.

◊◊◊◊

In the Nemesis, a ground bridge opened and Ratchet jumped out with Paige and Raf on his shoulder. "The Decepticon warship," he said and he hurried down the hallway.

He rounded a corner and widened his optics when he saw lifeless Vehicons on the floor.

"Did Primrose do this?" Paige asked nervously. "I fear Megatron's mind is dominant," Ratchet said, "and clearly, he came here for one purpose: to use the dark energon to resurrect his own body."

"No. Primrose won't let him," Raf said, "like she didn't let Megatron hurt me back at the base." "I hope you're right," Ratchet said before he set Paige and Raf down on the floor and he walked ahead with the kids following behind him.

Ratchet peeked into the medlab and he saw Primrose hooking the end of the Cortical Psychic Patch cord to the back of her helm with the other hooked to the back of Megatron. Without hesitation, Ratchet ran towards Primrose.

"Ratchet, don't hurt Primrose!" Paige exclaimed. "That's not Primrose!" Ratchet exclaimed and he swung at the Prime who dodged it and punched him hard in the side, sending him flying into the wall. Primrose straightened herself up and she turned back to Megatron.

"Primrose no!" Paige shouted, making the Prime look at her, "remember who you are! Remember me! I know you'd always listen to me no matter what!" Primrose stared at her for a moment before her optics changed to blue.

"Paige?" Primrose murmured. "That's right Prim! It's me!" Paige said. Primrose tried to speak but it felt like her throat closed up. Her optics turned red. "UNBELIEVABLE!" Megatron roared angrily.

Primrose let out a scream of pain and fell to the ground, clutching at her helm. Paige widened her eyes and she placed her hands on her guardian's arm. "Prim, talk to me!" Paige pleaded.

Primrose looked at her but her optics were red. Paige widened her eyes and she yelped as Primrose firmly whacked her away. Paige tumbled across the floor, coughing. Primrose snapped her helm around to see Ratchet standing.

"Farewell Megatron," the medic hissed before he yanked the life cable off of Megatron's chestplates. Ratchet whirled around and Primrose grabbed him and threw him to the other side of the wall. Paige stood to her feet and glared at Primrose, "PRIMROSE!"

Primrose stopped and turned to Paige, the dark energon shard glowing brightly in her servo and reflecting in her red optics. Paige stared up at her nervously.

"Primrose can't hear you anymore," Megatron hissed. "As much as I want you to leave Primrose's body, I will not let you go back to your own!" Raf said defiantly as he ran forward and leapt onto the cord. It swung around for a moment before it yanked Raf off, sending him flying into Paige.

Primrose turned and slammed the dark energon into Megatron's chestplates. Ratchet widened his optics. The cord unhooked from Primrose's helm and she fell back, only to be caught by Ratchet. The two looked up and widened their optics as a shadow loomed over them and Paige and Raf.

The four stumbled back as Vehicons ran into the medlab. Megatron was now standing on his pedes. "Decepticons! Your rightful lord and master has returned!" He said, his optics narrowing.

Paige widened her eyes in fear and shock before a yelp of fear escaped her when Megatron grabbed her.

"Let go of her!" Ratchet snarled. Megatron only glared at him and squeezed Paige as a warning.

"Finish these pests," Megatron said, glaring at Primrose as he walked away with Paige in his servo, "I have my own extermination to perform."

"Paige!" Raf shouted as Ratchet quickly scooped him up as the Vehicons fired at them. Primrose fired back at them, hitting one before she and Ratchet quickly ran away.

"Let me go! Let go!" Paige said, struggling with fear.

"Now, now," Megatron said calmly as he held her firm in his servo, "I will not hurt you."

Paige looked up at him nervously. She stared into his crimson optics. She felt her heart pounding in her chest and she couldn't look away.

"Now where have I seen such markings?" Megatron mused as he traced his digits across her skin.

Paige shivered and she tried to push the Decepticon leader's digits away. "Evaran... of course," Megatron said with a smirk, "your mother is Tasha, isn't it?"

Paige froze and she gave a hesitant nod, "y-yes." "I see," Megatron said as he walked out onto the flight deck, "I want to give you an offer, my dear. Join me."

"Why? Why would I betray my friends and family?" Paige demanded. "Because I can provide the answers to your questions. I can unravel the web of lies that your mother and Optimus Prime have placed inside your head. Only I can provide you with the truth behind the identity of your birthright. And...I can help you find your true purpose. You can have the truth and more, my dear– I can hand you numerous worlds on a silver platter– if you join me," Megatron promised.

Paige stared at him for a moment before she looked at her hands, "I... I... can I think about it?" She widened her eyes slightly and felt her cheeks warm up as Megatron gently took her hand and planted a light kiss on her knuckles. "I will wait," he said. She only nodded weakly and she looked to see Starscream flying towards a fallen Optimus. She looked back at Megatron pleadingly, "save him! Please!"

Megatron frowned, his optics narrowing, "very well. But I am not doing it for him. Only for you." Paige froze before Megatron tossed her out into the air. Paige fell through the air and she closed her eyes tightly.

Her markings glowed brightly and she transformed into her dragon form. She flapped her wings good and hard for a few moments before she was able to regain control of herself. She yelped as she suddenly hit the snowy ground.

She breathed heavily as she stared at the retreating ship with wide eyes. A wave of dizziness washed over her and she passed out, the sounds of muffled shouts fading.

◊◊◊◊

"Wake up, Paige!" Raf called out. "C'mon, Sis! Don't you dare give up now!" Jack said worriedly. "Give her room!" Miko said. Paige slowly opened her eyes and she looked around and saw the others standing near her, worried looks on their faces.

"You okay?" Miko asked worriedly. Paige sat up and ran her fingers through her hair.

She looked herself over for a moment before she transformed into a panther. "Wh-whoa," Jazz gasped.

"I... I think I need some time alone," Paige said quietly before she got up and walked to the elevator. "Are you sure you're okay?" WhiteRain asked, furrowing her optic ridges. "I'm fine," Paige said, her back still to the Autobots and her friends.

Miko, Jack and Raf exchanged worried glances. "Jack, I mean it," Paige said, startling the three as the elevator door closed. Primrose placed her servo over her left optic, her shoulders shaking slightly.

Arcee looked at her, "you okay?" "Y-...yeah," Primrose said quietly, "I just need some time alone."

◊◊◊◊

Paige sat on the roof of the base, staring at the sky. She looked at Cliffjumper's grave sadly. "I don't know what to do, Cliff," she said softly, "I'm scared." She stared at the grave for a few moments, desperately hoping for an answer but nothing came.

She took in a deep breath and buried her face into her hands. Crystals started growing around her feet and she started shaking. "I'm so scared... I'm scared," she whispered, crystals growing around her, "please... someone, help me."

She transformed into a raven and flew up into the air. She flew above the city of Jasper before she went to her house. She flew through the window into her room and transformed back. She walked to the door and closed it.

She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. Maybe some sleep would put her mind at ease.

◊◊◊◊

Primrose sat down on her berth, staring at the floor sadly. She took in a trembling breath and covered her optics. She felt so conflicted. She wanted to help Paige but she didn't know how.

She couldn't help her if Paige didn't let her. She was her guardian. She felt like she was beginning to lose again. And after so many mistakes, she didn't want to make this one.

"Agh!" She cried out in pain as she clutched at her right optic. She whimpered and moved her servo away. Her optics widened in horror. There was energon on her servo.

◊◊◊◊

Megatron stood in front of the screen, staring intently at it. He could not get his mind off of Paige. The way she looked at him was all too familiar.

Kaitlin.

He shook his helm a little and he felt his spark almost become heavy. Almost.

He could not afford the chance to feel upset now. He'd have to focus entirely on the little Magic User. Galatrians were very powerful, just like Evarans, Irilians and Zarthonians.

He trusted Irilians far more than any other Magic User but right now, Paige was possibly the last of all Magic Users. Something he could most likely take advantage of. Her parents were fools to even have tried to keep her in the dark. The very notion itself made the Gladiator growl and his cannon warmed up a little.

Soundwave turned to him and the other mech looked back at him. "Soundwave, get me information on Optimus Prime's pet," Megatron said and Soundwave nodded as he started to get to work.

Megatron  looked back at the screen as he mentally started to create a careful plan in his helm.

He would not rest until he had Paige in his claws. Even if he had to go to extreme measures to do so. He would ensure that Paige would be the key to the Decepticons' victory.