Infected

Chapter 13

Flare POV.

The ship was quiet for several hours. Eclipse had teleported back to us at the last second before I was forced to put the vessel into a higher gear. She would have phased through the floor if it weren't for Solar and Siege grabbing her. She was an emotional mess. I look over at my little sister. She was curled up against the back wall, Harmony sleeping next to her. Siege was in the control booth with me, staring up at the passing clouds. Solar and Wavelength were asleep next to Eclipse. Shortly after we managed to sneak Eclipse and Wavength in and out of his house, our coms blew up. Optimus and Ratchet were trying to get a hold of Solar. He couldn't bring himself to face them so they both ended up on mute. We all know why Magness tried contacting Wavelength. He was muted as well. Sire and Thundercracker... I don't know what's worse.

Being overwhelmed with calls and texts, or getting just one. Uncle Thundercracker sent a lengthy text demanding a "Primus forsaken slag good pit born reason for our actions" and "if we don't return alive and safe he will hunt us in the afterlife." While Sire sent one begging for us to come back, don't be crazy, please be safe and careful, look out for each other, begging us to not go near any bot. I don't know which one broke my spark more... Sire or Uncle Thundercracker's. I know what the answer was for Siege. Our Uncle was his idol. I set the controls to autopilot. We should land soon; I don't want to get risky with our fuel supply. Looking over the map I set landing coordinates and look back at everyone. It was just me and Siege who weren't in recharge. Neither of us slept all night. The morning sun started to rise and shine a little light into the control room. We did it. We really did it.

I'll admit, now that it's all said and done, I don't know what to do next. Standing up I go move everyone's bags to more private rooms.

"What are you doing?" Siege mumbles.

"Distracting myself."

He doesn't say anything. He doesn't move.

"Did we make the right decision? I mean, look at the outcome." Siege sighs.

"I don't know." I put the bags back down.

"We can't go back. We already committed." I rest my helm on his shoulder.

"What if we didn't?"

"I don't know."

Siege sighs, "I hate this. This guilt, this not knowing, all of it."

"So do I. But we can't stop now."

"I know. That doesn't feel right either. Not anymore."

I don't respond. Not for another hour. By now the sun was up and the sky was a light pale blue.

"Do you think this is what it was like? In the war?" I speak up.

Siege looks over as I sit down again.

"Not really knowing if you chose the best course of action, not knowing where that will take you. Not knowing what's right and what isn't?" I explain.

Siege looks back at the ground. We were landing soon.

"Maybe. Maybe there were times when our Sire and Uncles second-guessed themselves."

"Do you think that's why Uncle Starscream left?"

We both fell silent. Sire and Uncle Thundercracker never spoke about him. He felt like a forbidden topic. All we know about him is what we've heard from Solar's parents and history books. Sire use to tell us fond stories of him, but he stopped after a while. I think it's because of how quickly Eclipse started to idealize him. I think Uncle Thundercracker made him stop. Although I don't why.

"Do you think they'll be proud?" Siege asks.

"Yeah. I think so." I chuckle.

"Really? That's not just you trying to cope with humor again?" He smirks slightly.

"Nope. I really think so."

Siege chuckles. "Remember the stories Sire would tell us about the stupid decisions Uncle Thundercracker would make?"

"And how embarrassed he got." I giggle, noticing the other four had been listening for a small while.

"He used to try denying them." Siege smiled at the fond memory.

"Like that one time he found a puppy!!" I grin.

"And we still have no clue what a puppy is." Siege shook his head.

"One day we might. If they ever take us to Earth finally."

"You know we can't. Not with that stupid council. They forbid it."

"Well I don't care."

"We know you don't."

The ship landed in the open field I selected.

"So what now?" I ask my eldest.

"Take today to process. Or plan. Whichever we want." Siege turns as the other four start stretching.

Eclipse still looked upset. She must have seen the two before we left. I text my sister, telling her to get some fresh air. She needed it.

"Hey Solar, can we talk?" Siege asks.

"Sure. What about?"

"Our next move, as vague as it might be."

Solar takes my seat. I couldn't bare sitting for much longer.

"We took the ship, what next?" Siege leaned onto a servo.

"I want to study this virus. I've already written down and saved everything I overheard Carrier tell Sire. It's in my school bag."

He points to the pile of our stuff.

"Well we are not going anywhere near someone infected, let alone letting them on board."

"Are you crazy? That's a stupid idea!" Solar agrees.

"Then how do you want to do it?"

"Cross referencing. I'll take Carrier's data and see if it shares similarities with other viruses." Solar shrugs.

"Then we have phase two of our plan." Siege smiles relieved.