Infected

Chapter 7

Eclipse POV.

Freezing shivers ran down my backstrut. Next to me, Solar had gone pale. It's not every day you hear your own carrier give such an urgent message. Quickly gathering our stuff the friend group prepares to leave.

"What now?" Wavelength shifted his peds.

"I- I don't know. We just need to get onto that train to the other side of the city and back to our creators. All six of us!" Solar's voice wobbled.

*That's going to be impossible. If we're panicking like this, then no doubt everyone else is. The train and subway stations will be more than crowded.* Harmony grabs everyone's attention with a loud clap.

"She's right. Bots are already shoving through each other to get out of the arcade." I pointed out.

"So then how do we get back?" Wavelength pried.

"The three of us could fly us all back." Flare put out there.

"No way. That's too dangerous. That's risking one or more of us falling off one of you seekers, and there's no telling what other panic-crazed fliers will be up there." Solar shot down quickly.

Flare huffed and shifted. He knew Solar had a point.

"What if we fly low and slow?" He comprised.

"What if someone tries to grab us from the ground?" I counter.

Flare clearly didn't like that.

"Walking it is!!" He quickly agrees.

He loathed strangers touching his wings.

*Guys! I live on this side of the city!* Harmony makes a sharp whistle.

"I'm sorry?" Siege looks over.

*Carrier and I live on this side of the city! You guys can hide at my place until the crowd calms down.* She offered.

We all look at each other. It was the safest option.

"Everyone message to their creators. Harmony, lead the way." Wavelength nods.

Harmony was quickly scooped up by Siege so she isn't trampled by the hundreds of bots on the streets. Why did the city have to be so huge... Several fliers zip past us, each going well beyond the flying speed limit. Harmony signs what streets to turn down and Siege calls them out to the rest of us. More bots were pushing and shoving at each other. A few meters away from us a mech collapsed, looking ill. My tanks dropped. There was still more to the story here. Before I could continue that train of thought Siege called out another street name. The one by the subway. If we just circle around we should avoid most of the crowd. By the time we got near said street, the subway had closed down. Too many bots were trying to get on and the workers wanted to go home. Harmony was right about everyone trying to flee there.

The six of us made a large "u" around the crown until we finally made it to the neighborhood Harmony lived.

"That was beyond intense!" Solar vented.

"Tell me about it. Those bots were crazy." Flare agreed.

"Well, we made it out. Is everyone ok?" Siege asked gently setting Harmony down.

"Fine here. A little winded." Wavelength admitted.

"I double that." I rest my forearms on my helm.

"Triple." Solar stood straight up.

"Quadruple." Flare finished off.

*From here my house is just a minute or so away.* Harmony pointed to where she remembered her house was.

We all even our intakes as we continue down the street. Soon after we were met with a quaint house. Clearly only large enough for two, possibly three. The six of us crowd in and fill the kitchen and living room.

"Harmony? Who is with you?" We heard a thick accent from the back.

Harmony commed the explanation to who I assume is her carrier. The mech walked out and smiled at us.

"Hey! Glad you all could make it over safe! Thank you for looking over my little girl!!" He grinned, still with that heavy accent.

"It was nothing. We missed the out of school rush anyways." Flare blurted.

Siege and I kicked him.

"What! Oh." Flare got the message.

"Skip out of school rush? What did you leave early?" The mech asked confused.

"Um. Well. Technically yes?" Wavelength shifted.

The mech studied all of us.

*They took me to the arcade! These bots are really fun! And Solar and Eclipse taught me how to play a few games myself!* Harmony happily rambled, her doorwings moving all the while.

"There's an arcade near the school?"

None of us spoke up. I think Harmony caught on that we weren't trying to be caught. Her wing bounce in a mock laughter.

*Guys carrier doesn't care! If anything I'm worried he would encourage it.* She smiles at us.

"Encourage what?" Frost started preparing everyone's drinks.

*We skipped class! All afternoon!* Harmony gave us away.

Frost froze, as did we, before picking up his daughter.

"Oh my baby's first time skipping class!!! I need photos!!" He quickly rushed to grab a camera.

"Encourage it indeed..." Flare marveled.

Harmony "laughed" while blushing. Poor lady was embarrassed. Just as Frost got back into the room Ratchet called Solar.

"Carrier!! Oh thank Primus! Where are you? Me? Oh everyone is safe at the new student's house. The subways and trains shut down due to the crowd. N-no. We might not make it home for a few days. Not with what's going on in those streets." Solar quickly rambled on.

Everyone leaned in, trying to catch anything Ratchet was saying.

"In the neighborhood? Isn't that a bit extreme? No no. We'll be safe. I promise. Take care. Please stay safe! Don't- don't get yourself sick..." With that Solar hung up.

I watched as his tight throat held back a hiccup.

"Solar...?" Wavelength carefully placed a servo on our friend's shoulder pad.

"Ratchet, and the entire hospital, have gone into emergency lockdown. No one can get in or out..."