Infected

Chapter 10

Eclipse POV.

It took an hour or so but my brothers and I worked up to comfort to fly everyone back to our place. Seekers like to live high in the sky ok? Either way, we flew the longest and least populated routes we could. By the time the three of us managed to get back home, Harmony had cried herself into recharge. I transformed and knocked. Was Sire and Uncle Thundercracker part of the fleeing crowds...?

"Kids?" I heard my Uncle from behind the door.

"Uncle Thundercracker!!" Flare butt in. "Are you ok?! We're ok!! Well none of us are sick if that is what's defining ok. Really none of this ok! The whole city is on lockdown and we were just kicked out of..."

He kept rambling on. By Primus dear brother.

"Are either you or Sire um... Infected?" Siege called through the door.

"No. Neither of us are. How about you three?" Our uncle asked back.

"It's six. Solar and Wavelength are here. Plus our new friend." I answer. "But all of us are fine. None of us are sick."

Or at least, we hope Harmony isn't. Uncle Thundercracker lets us all in as Sire teleports and hugs me and my brothers.

"Thank Primus you three are safe." Sire vented in relief.

"Yeah..." I sigh.

"So who is your new friend?" Sire mumbles, still refusing to let go of us.

"Harmony. She's the new kid at school. We took refuge at her Carrier's house. But, he kicked her out because he's afraid he got the virus. I don't think he was contagious. Even if he was none of us touched him. Not even Harmony." Solar explained.

"What does touch have to do with anything?" Uncle Thundercracker frowned, suspicious at the recharging child.

"Carrier thinks that the virus jumps between bots via friction to metal. Like if bots brushed shoulder pads or servos." Solar explained. "At least that's what I've overheard from Carrier.

Thundercracker nods. "What else has Ratchet told you?"

"Well... He's never told me any of this. I've kinda just, hid behind a wall and listened in." Solar admits awkwardly.

Uncle Thundercracker raised an optic brow. He doesn't like lies; though that never stopped him during the war. Actually, the war might be the very reason he doesn't like them.

"Either way. Carrier thinks he knows how this virus works. Once in the bot's systems, it targets the processor directly. But after that, the virus acts completely different from anything documented. It doesn't go after anything specific or in any sort of pattern. It just grabs at random code and rips it apart. The code is never deleted, just torn in two..., or eight. And the code doesn't target one thing over another. It's completely, 100% random. So each bot reacts completely differently. Ratchet did notice one set pattern though. Bots only become contagious after a week. After that, the virus spreads from them and speeds up in its hoist. But carrier also said that could change at any moment, though he's doubtful about that part." Solar explained everything he's eavesdropped on.

"So then how long does the average bot have?" Sire looked at the white-painted mech.

"Again, depends on what code the virus happens to rip apart first. It could take a few weeks, a few days, or a few hours." Solar shudders, we all do.

I secretly praise Primus Harmony isn't awake for any of this. If she heard that last part...

"And none of you have any odd occurrences?" Sire looked over everyone.

"No sir. All of us are in complete working order." Siege finally pulled away from the hug.

"Even the kid?" Sire looked at her slightly nervous.

"Even Harmony." Flare backed our brother up.

"Sire, all of us are fine. A bit panicked and in shock, but fine." I reassure him.

"Eclipse has a point. After this morning I'd like some quiet." Wavelength finally speaks up.

"All right. You and Solar know where your guest rooms are. Take Young Harmony with you. Trin, get some rest. I know flying with bots on your back is tricky." Uncle Thundercracker gently commands us.

I feel a bit of tension leaving my backstrut. It was relieving to hear him barking orders again, even if he did so in a soft manner. The five of us head to the rooms to collapse. Behind me though Wavelength and Solar go into the same room. I thought he wanted some quiet? Unless... I shake my helm. As much as I wanted to, their plan was too risky. Yet I couldn't stop my spark from wanting to join them. But they wanted to steal Uncle Thundercracker's ship. His prized one at that! The uneasy feeling of stabbing my uncle's back washed over again. I can't do that to him. Not after he helped Sire raise me and my brothers.

"So? What now?" Siege sits down on our berth.

Technically it was all three berths shoved together but still.

"What do you mean 'what now?' The entire city is on lockdown and this virus might wipe out everyone around us. No one is allowed in the streets. We were lucky we weren't shot down!" Flare throws his servos in the air.

"I." Siege makes himself take a deep breath. Both of them were getting frustrated and it wasn't good. Pits. I was getting frustrated.

"You're right Flare. All we can do is wait for this to pass over." Our oldest frowned.

"Pass over?!" I half yell at him getting stressed, "Siege! Did you just hear yourself?!"

"Yes I did." He turns his frown to me. "Eclipse what will happen if we follow through with Solar and Wavelength's plan? We could get infected! And all five of us could die. What about Harmony then?"

I open my intake to say something but stop. My eldest had a point. Both of my older brothers have points. But... so did our friends...

"Guys, brothers. We might be the only ones bold enough to do this. Everyone else who can is stuck in a hospital and... and we have a ship!" I press, quietly, with my wings down and back bowed.