Oh this did NOT want to be written.

Disclaimer: Do not own transformers

I take full credit for the crazy mess that has come from a rather tiny plot bunny.

Thank you Lala2010 for reminding me that this existed.

An equally stunned and confused silence reigned.

"I have no idea what I'm looking at." Simmons announced helpfully. Sideswipe's optics rolled so hard they should've fallen out of his helm.

"So for those of us not versed in code gibberish..." Epps trailed off, trying his hardest as always to diffuse the tension in the room.

Ratchet used the touchscreen monitor in front of him to highlight specific parts of the coding. "Does this help?

"They've been switched." Lennox whispered in disbelief. Ratchet nodded his helm slowly.

"Look, Ratch. I ain't tryin to undermine ur ability here, but how come nobot has seen this sooner?" The green medic let out a long suffering vent of air.

"The bot who instigated the switch was keeping us from figuring it out."

"Sentinel Prime." Arcee answered gravely. Ratchet held back his emotions as the wave of comfort through their bond just about knocked Optimus over. Then he sent a calming wave of his own.

"And by the time the slagger was out of the picture the war had begun." Ironhide growled out.

"Alright. I get how but why?" Many pairs of optics turned as one to look at Simmons and it him completely freaked out. "This, switch had to happen at a young age right? What would another Prime get from messing with the coding of sparklings that couldn't possibly understand what was going on?"

And that tactfully put question was met with a very tense silence.

"He wanted to keep his power." Sideswipe answered. He glanced to Arcee, she nodded. He looked at Optimus, after a moment he slowly nodded once as well.

"Arcee was one of many to be commissioned by the Council to be Optimus and Megatron's personal companions while Sunstreaker and I were their body guards. The Council had long instilled this view of the ruling Dyad being above everyone so as to be untouchable." He paused, unsure of how far to go.

"We use ta sneak in data pads for them to read cuz the two were so bored out of their processors." Jazz added fondly, many of the Cybertronians sharing a knowing grin.

"Unfortunately this became the Council's favourite tool." Ironhide interrupted. "Keep them cut off from the world they could theoretically mold them however they wanted, while at the same time keeping their existence hidden enough from the planet for the people to never gain foolish ideals such as hope." The humans looked so shocked Ratchet had to roll his optics. The Weapons Specialist rarely showed his true intelligence.

"Sentinel became one nasty mech, let me tell ya. Power went straight to his helm." Sideswipe growled with a shake of his helm.

"An' that was before ol' Tarn off lined." Confused again at Jazz's coment. Ratchet wondered if it was possible for human faces to be permanently fixed into a single expression. Galloway. Yes, definitely possible.

"Right, so obviously there's a lot of history we not going to understand." Will spoke up, then paused, turning to face Ratchet. "What exactly was switched, and how do we switch it back?"

"CAN we switch it back?" Epps asked. Mikaela gave him a withering look. "It's an honest question." The man quickly defended.

"I would not have shown you this had it not been possible." Ratchet answered. He immediately felt the anger from his family members as it was reflected on the humans faces.

"Let me speak!" All halted at those words. "The amount of self awareness and the ability to have a fully fledged conscience were what has been switched, to quickly answer your previous question. What you cannot see in the code is that there is one final fail safe. When both Megatron and Optimus become aware of the switch, this fail safe activates. The next time they see one another, spark to spark, their coding will go completely insane." Ratchet's words were met with wide optics and the sound of a silver servo moving to rest gently on Optimus' arm.

"So, don't let them see each other." Ironhide incorrectly summed up.

"Nah mech, ya 'member Kaon when they were only 9 vorns." Ironhide shuttered in response along with Jazz and Ratchet.

"What Jazz is saying is that as soon as the coding is fixed their very sparks are going into reset mode. The imbalance meant they could never completely sinc their sparks, that will be possible again once the coding is fixed." Arcee explained, trying to keep the conversation within understanding of everyone involved.

"And trust me, there ain't nothin' stronger than a split spark bond. You put anythin' in between those two and it will be ripped to slag, even if it's their closest friend." Simmons cleared his throat as Sideswipe paused.

"So, why can't we just fix the code in separate rooms, then bring them together while their in stasis."

Sideswipe snorted.

"You think induced stasis is enough to hold back a spark bond? What part about "nothin' stronger" didn't ya understand?" Ratchet held up a servo before Simmons, or anyone, could snap back.

"Obviously Megatron is willing to do this. The only question left is when and where." They all looked to Will Lennox. The Major looked frozen for a moment before a slight smirk crept onto his face.

"Didn't you ask me earlier to move Bee's surgery up to tomorrow? In the secure room back of the medbay due to long term trauma rebounding?" He asked, looking at Ratchet. The mech raised an optic ridge.

"Why yes I did. Knowing you the paper work hasn't been done yet." The others started to grin, catching onto the game.

"Nope. I forgot. You know me, just a "grub without a brain"." Will smoothly answered, quoting Galloway while putting on his best "stupid grunt" act. Jazz snorted. "Man, ya sure ya don' wanna work in Special Ops?" Now it was Will's turn to snort.

"So it's settled, tomorrow, late orn because important humans love mornings, the operation will be done." Nods of confirmation at Ratchet's words. "Now, who is going to be present at the time, in the actual room?" All optics/eyes turned to Optimus. The mech took a moment to collect himself.

"The Matrix has given me some information." All of them leaned forward in anticipation. "When the coding is reversed spark bonding will not be enough, we will be driven to make any connection possible."

"Interfacing. Should'a seen that coming." Ironhide filled in.

"Hold on a klik, doin' all three* at tha same time is an a'most assured way of gettin' sparked." Optimus allowed a small smile at Jazz's concern.

"Considering the war will most likely end, I do not find the idea repulsive." While the others looked mildly uncomfortable, Ratchet and Mikaela grinned, the human female walking to the Prime and placing her hands on his servo before sitting down and leaning against it.

"Right then. Since the idea of a sparkling seems to be more disturbing than voyeurism, Optimus' choice which he can tell me at anytime." The medic paused, turned to smirk at Jazz. "Now for the fun part," A blank expression, the closest thing to confusion the saboteur would ever show, before the smirk was mirrored.

"Let tha red coolant flow."

*When it says "all three" types I mean spark merging as well as the humanized version of interfacing and the stereotypical G1 plug 'n play. No, I do not write smut, but I definitely use innuendos.

And for those who don't know, coolant=tears