Infected

Chapter 17

Solar POV.

I fall from my chair with a thud.

"Solar?!" Flare calls confused.

"I fell asleep reading!!" I call back, standing back up.

"Ok!!" I hear him laughing.

I snort and set my datapad down.

"Solar. I need to speak to you." Siege poked his head in, chuckling ever so slightly himself.

"Yes? What is it?"

"Uncle Thundercracker is hunting us down... the moment he finds us we're all headed back home." His mood switched.

"Shoot." I sigh.

"I. I don't know if- I don't want to quit yet. Flare said it himself. Our own parents were in this situation. And look how they turned out! Hero's! Well- yours did."

I chuckle. "Then Siege? What are we doing?"

We step into the control room.

"What do you mean? I'm not the one who knows everything. That's you!" He messed with my helm.

"Maybe. But you and Flare found the relic. That makes you second in command!"

"Second?! Now who made you captain!" He laughs.

"I did!" I playfully smack at his helm and escape.

"No! My prisoner!!" Siege gave chase.

I laugh before we both end up tripping and fall into the captain's chair.

"Ack?!" I squawk landing.

"Hah! Imprisonment!!"

"No!!"

"What in the three moons?" I hear Flare whisper giggling.

"Oh hey!" Siege stands up.

"What were you two just doing?"

"Well, I was telling him about Uncle Thundercracker. He found a way to distract me and ease my worry."

"That wasn't my intention but I'll take it!" I poke his side.

"Oh! I see! I um, I have more new news."

"What is it?" Siege steps forward.

"A news report was on the main channel this morning. I just now got it. Every neighboring city from ours is also infected." He handed us the datapad.

I look through multiple news articles.

"It's getting worse."

"And spreading rapidly...." I sigh.

"That it is. Police and militaries are going to become harder for people to deal with." Siege groans.

"You said you didn't want to quit? Right?"

"I did yes."

"Then why not leave the planet? Leave Cybertron?" I offer.

"Oh! Another Solar impulse special!!" Flare cheers.

"Oh please call it anything but that!!" I whine.

"Oh no. Not after you convince me to steal the ship!!" Siege agreed with his brother.

"Woooow. No support. I see how it is." I laugh.

*Hi!* Harmony walked in.

"Hey Harmony!" We all greet her.

*Are we actually leaving?* She shifted nervously.

"Yes we are. How long were you listening?" I ask.

*The entire time. I followed Flare here.*

I sigh. She's a sneaky one.

"Yes. We're leaving. Depending on everyones reactions, we might leave tonight." I explain.

"Tonight?" Siege looks at me.

"Yes. Tonight. No more waiting. I'm worried waiting is going to kill us."

"We don't even have a destination in mind!" Flare voices.

"Yes we do. The relic."

"Does it even exist?" Siege frowns.

"I have no idea. But there are several things about it I see as weird. Too many bots from too many early generations claim to have seen it or its effects. Not to mention, I personally think it's rather convenient that the "perfect cure" suddenly just drops from being mentioned in history." I recall.

*But that's no proof it ever existed.* Harmony reasons.

"I- I know... But it's the only lead we have! We might as well attempt to explore it." I explain my thinking.

"Alright. We leave Cybertron, orbit for a few days, then set a definitive course." Siege compromises.

"See! Second in command!" I cheer.

He breaks and laughs.

"Yes. Second in command." He agrees.

"What does that make me?!"

*And me!!*

Harmony and Flare huff.

"Umm... Actually, that's a good point. We should probably lay out everyone's rolls." I nod.

"Cool! I'll get the other two!" Flare runs off.

*Can I know now?* Harmony asks.

"Absolutely! How about... Chief Advisor and Resource Control?"

*Why that?*

"Well for one you're smart! We got past the ship firewalls thanks to you." I recall the way she practically plugged herself into the codes. "Plus, you've been our sanest processor so far!"

*I like it!* Harmony giggles in her own way, bouncing her door wings.

"And me! What about me!" Flare came racing back in.

Siege chuckles.

"Let's make you....."

"Can I manage the crew!" The red seeker begs.

"Sure." His eldest laughed.

"Then what does that make us?" Wavelength and Eclipse joined us.

"Oh, you two are the easiest." I shrug, "Wavelength is our Intelligence officer and Eclipse is our Navigation Commander."

"So easy." The femme teased. "I love my assignment."

*Given roles, wouldn't that mean Flare and Wavelength both share communications? Wavelength would just be the higher power."Harmony asks.

"Technically yes?" I answer.

"I think they should. Two processors helping everyone stay safe." Siege reasons.

"So then Crew!" I beam. "Who's ready for take-off?"