Infected

Chapter 30

Eclipse Pov.

I watch my peds as they sink into the cold snow and dirt for the first time. I took in a deep breath, enjoying the cold and crisp air. Birds chirped quietly as the others walked out behind me. We were all silent as we took in our first up-close view of Earth. It was beautiful and serene, calming even.

"This is Earth." Siege breathed amazed.

The air from our vents could be seen freezing in the air.

"This is, whoah." Flare whispered, laughing at his freezing breath.

I laugh slightly myself as well.

"It really is amazing." Solar walked out.

"Wow! You look angelic." Siege chuckled quietly.

"I do?" Solar whispered back.

We weren't speaking above a whisper. I think anything louder would ruin the overwhelming peace that surrounded us.

"Yeah. A white mech with pink highlights standing in what humans call a winter wonderland? You look stunning." Siege complimented.

"Heh, thanks." Solar blushed.

"He's not wrong." Flare confirms quietly. "Who wants to explore?"

We all nod and start walking. Harmony had snow in her servos, holding the new substance like it was treasure.

"Do you like it?" I whisper.

*It's cold and wet; But soft and delicate as well. I can't hear it either with my doorwings. I can hardly hear anything in the forest. But it's not in a creepy way. The quiet feels safe, loving oddly enough.* Harmony smiled.

I smiled and rub Harmony's helm for a moment. She giggled and leaned her helm into my waist. I gently hug her shoulders and we continue walking. Harmony was right. The quiet did feel safe. It felt wonderful. I looked up at the tops of the trees. Wavelength could prop Harmony on his shoulders and she easily touch the tops. I dare say her helm could pop out above them. It felt strange seeing such small trees. On Cybertron the trees dwarfed us.

"It looks like powder." Wavelength smiled.

"Yeah. Weightless."

"It's strange. We were taught snow was heavy, and humans could get trapped in it. But it looks so fluffy."

I laugh airily. "It really does."

I look away from the trees as I hear Solar stop ahead of us. My peds come to a stop behind him.

"Oh my." Wavelength sucked in a breath.

A massive valley spanned in front of us. The ground sloped down in crisscross patterns. Everything was covered in more snow with small patches of green poking out here and there. Wind swept through the valley and blew thin snow into the air. In the near distance hills rose into the sky. Flare whistled to himself.

"So? Where is the rock we need to find?"

*I think we're standing on it.* Harmony looked down.

We all do. I kick aside some snow.

"She's right. We must be standing where the rock starts to jut into the valley." I hum.

"So then we're close to Uncle Thundercracker safe." Siege hummed.

"Hey, spur of the moment question." Wavelength started skidding down the hill. "Can your Uncle track his ship?"

Flare helped Harmony slide after him.

"It would make sense if he could." Siege admitted. "But no, I don't know for sure."

"So that could either help us, or not all." Solar reasoned.

"Or Uncle Thundercracker could get another ship and force us home." Flare laughed, using a tree to help him down.

By Primus his red really stood out in the snow.

"I doubt it. He didn't follow us to the moon." I point out.

"Fair point." Siege and I slid down after everyone else.

"Maybe he called Uncle Starscream?" Flare sounded hopeful.

My wings perk up and flutter. That would be amazing!

"That's also doubtful. Uncle Starscream hasn't been seen in thousands of years." Siege sighed.

My wings drop back down.

"Thousands for us. But what? A decade or three for Earth?" Wavelength asked.

"Technically yes. Where Cybertron is located, getting to it has very interesting effects on time." Solar explained. "But, that doesn't mean much really. Cyber and Earth years really aren't that different. We just age much, much slower than humans. While yes, for Cybertronians, we are 17 and 12. Here on Earth we would be roughly 89,500. But, the same amount of time has passed for both planets."

"I- please simplify that?" I beg.

"Earth and Cybertron share the same time and space. But Cybertronians age slower, so here on Earth it will take us quicker to age. The amount of time is passing, but Earth's years are much much shorter than ours." Solar chuckles.

"That's a bit better." I laugh.

*I thought he already made sense?* Harmony huffed.

"To you maybe. To us? Not so much." Siege laughed.

"Guys!! I found it!!" Flare cheered ahead of us.

I slid down the rest of the hill.

"Well, that was easy?" Wavelength chuckled.

"Definitely. And convenient." Solar hummed.

*I'm not feeling any electric feels around it. It feels like a dead door.*  Harmony shivered.

We all look at each other worried.

"Dead door?" I asked.

*There's no power. Nothing in that safe is on. Nothing.* She explained.

Siege looked at Flare before they both pushed the door open. The sound of metal scraping hurt. But no sirens. No alarms. No sudden safety measures. Dust poured from out of the safe, lacing the snow and my brother's paint with a thick grey. Within the safe was nothing but blackness. Flare and Siege powered on their lights and stepped inside. Flare walked in first. Siege waited in the door frame. The rest of us waited anxiously, listening to Flare's echoing footsteps. I breathed relieved when we saw Flare step out.

"It's- empty."