Infected

Chapter 32

Eclipse Pov.

Wind brushes against my wings as I set down the datapad. 1, 2, 3. Simple? Right? I take off and rise into the air. Tilt this way, angle upwards.... I kept my wings steady. Twist and drop. I make a sharp turn, twist, and nose dive. My twist to face behind me threw me off. Wind knocked my wings off balanced. I ended up spinning as I flew. Stalling my engines quickly I pull myself back up. Kicking my engines into gear again as I strain to straighten myself.

Shaking, I managed to fly in a straight line again, horizontal with the ground below me. Angling downward, I land and drop to my knees. My wings quivered as I struggled to calm my spark beat. I nearly lost control... It was a good several minutes before I managed to breath properly. Standing up I pick up a few Tox-en crystals. Small snack. Calm my nerves. Then attempt to that again. Just much slower. And maybe not as tight this time. I transform and take off again. Steady incline. Now angle straight up and fly. Twist facing my back, and nose dive!! I exaggerated the twist, forcing it into a "u" compared to the "v" the maneuver wanted. Time and time and time again. I flew up and twisted back down. Each time trying to make the twist sharper.

"GAH!!!" I kick the ground and groan. I was so close!! But so so far!

"Come on!! What am I doing wrong!!" I growl and pick the data pad up.

~Starscream was known for his tight and smooth flying style. The speeds in which the seeker flew often left his opponents unable to predict what his next move was. If they could even see what the first one was to begin with.~

I huffed and pulled the image back up, tracing my digit over the flight chart. This is how I spent most of my free time. Weekends, after school, and summers. I drilled myself with flight patterns. Flight charts Sire gave me, from the library, charts my teachers gave me or let me borrow. Uncle Thundercracker took me to flight shows when I was younger. It was amazing. Much to his dismay, it only made my interest in Uncle Starscream more... driven. I don't want to be like him. But I certainly would love to follow a similar path. So in middle school I tried out for my schools flight team. In my sophomore year of highschool, I made it to co-captain! Everyone expects me to take the lead captain place senior year! But that's not till two years away. But when I enter college maybe I'll get a masters degree in geology. Or astronomy? Or both! Both would be amazing!! I look up at the sky. Wind was still good. No storms coming either. Of course I already knew that. We're not due for a storm till next week.

"Hi Eclipse!!" Flare cheered, walking out onto our pent house's landing dock.

"Hey Flare." I smiled. "Watcha doing?"

"Watching you now. I'm bored!!" My brother whined.

I laugh a bit, wings bouncing.

"Back at studying again? Aren't you best in the team?"

"Yeah, but not by my standards. If I'm going to join the college team I HAVE to be better!" I transform, prepared to take off. Again.

Flare picked up the datapad. "Oh cool! Can I try with you later?"

"Sure!!" I smile inwardly and take off.

The same motions fell back into repeat. Make that sharp angle and-!!! Wind caught my wing and I flipped in the air. I transformed and right myself. For the 100th time today...

"To be fair, Uncle Thundercracker saw you trying that this morning for the first time. It was much worse." Flare flew up and hovered next to me.

"Thanks...." I knew he was trying to he comforting but- still...

"Have you tried adding your own flare?" He grinned.

I sigh at his pun.

"Well- no." I admit.

"Eclipse. You focus to much on the rule book flying. For once, add a little YOU into your flying. See how that works!" Flare suggested as we landed.

"Add a little me?" I look at him confused.

"Yep! Enough with being all rigid. Straight, uniform flying to great and all. But it can't seriously be THAT much fun to watch? Right?" Flare sat back down with an encouraging smile.

"I- all right. I'll add a little me." I nod and transform.

Take off, angle, fly straight up. When it came time for the twist? I all but threw my wing into the spin and transformed to my bi-pedal form, back arched and boosters rocketing. My back turns to the sky and I shift the way my back struts arch. Now in the diving position, I transform back and boom back downward. When I neared the landing down I yank my jet-nose back up and fly straight before landing.

"YES!!' YES YES YES YES YES!!!!" Flare cheered as he jumped and pumped his fists. "THAT IS WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT!!!"

"Was it really that dramatic of an improvement?" I rub my arm nervously.

"YES!!!" Flare hugged me. "Eclipse that was amazing!!"

I chuckle. "Well, thank you."

"You should add a flip to your landing!!"

"Ok!! Maybe not THAT quite yet." I laugh at his enthusiasm.

"But one day? Right?"

"Sure. One day." I gladly agree.

"Whoah!!" Flare spun happily.

"Eclipse? What was that?" Uncle Thundercracker walked out.

"What was what?" I asked confused.

"Only the coolest thing ever!!" Flare explained. On his own way.

"It certainly looked that way. But why add the change? You've been rather determined to get that maneuver right." Our Uncle helped me put my datapads back in the backpack I keep them in.

"Flare suggested it. He said to 'Add a little me.' I guess that's what I needed." I smile.

"Hm. Well it certainly worked. If you ask me you should focus on that more than uniformed flying." He smiled.

"I- you've been watching? Haven't you? From your office?" I ask, my wings flicked.

"Yes, I was. You seemed so focused. So I decided to leave you alone." He handed me the bag.

"Yeah. I figured an hour or three wouldn't hurt. A late lunch and small dinner." I shrug.

Flare stifled a giggle.

"What?"

"Eclipse dear. It's dinner time now." Uncle Thundercracker chuckled.

"Oh." I felt a tad silly.

"Now come on. Let's get dinner. After that I expect help cleaning the ship docks."

I laugh and run after my starving brother.

"Yes sir!!!"