Infected

Chapter 42

Eclipse POV.

The Golden Retriever drifted along the clouds as we passed over the Atlantic Ocean. We wouldn't need to return for energon for the next several months. Wavelength and Seige were working on upgrading the ship's security systems. We left Greenland days ago and so far there's been no sign of anyone watching us.

"Hey Flare, Solar." I stand from my booth and stretch.

"Yes?" Solar didn't look up from his datapad. He was probably rereading that soldier's journal.

"Let's land the ship. Make everyone get some fresh air. I'm getting paranoid being stuck on this ship."

"Land where? It's just ocean for miles." Flare spun in his chair.

"There's a rocky island a few miles out. About 20 miles from Spain's coast. We could land there." Solar offered.

"Hey! Maybe we could find that stuff humans call shells." Flare grinned.

"Harmony needs to get out again. Space Mouse probably needs fresh air." I lean against Flares booth.

"Yeah. Wavelength and Siege need a break." Solar chuckled.

"Good luck with Wavelength." I chuckle as I imagine him coding our systems to the point where not even Soundwave could hack us.

"You can convince him of anything!" Solars wings twitched amused.

"I highly doubt that."

"No he's right. He's my best friend and he won't listen to me the way he does for you." Solar laughed.

I roll my optics and sit down. Wavelength and Seige were called back into the ship. Space Mouse skittered into the room and onto Solar's lap. Flare chuckles as the little creature sprawled out while demanding tummy rubs. So far Space Mouse reminds me of something called a cat. Harmony joined us a moment later.

*I felt the engines shift gears. What are we doing?*

"We need a break from the ship. There's a rocky island that we're landed at." Solar smiled as the alien mouse flops across his shoulders.

*Oh! Good! I want a break from the engine's vibrations.*

"Open sky sounds amazing. That is without worrying about keeping up with the ship." Seige and Wavelength walked in.

"I need to train anyways." I sigh and lean back.

"Training sounds fun. The stretch would be nice." Wavelength spun in his seat with Flare.

"Does falling and flinging a log count?" Solar chuckled.

"That was once so far!"

*So far!* Harmony grinned.

I laugh lightly and refocus. The ship landed and cloaked itself completely. Flare and Harmony run out with Space Mouse. Solar powered down what he could and ran after them. Wavelength and I join everyone outside as Seige takes off into the sky above us.

"Want to explore?" Wavelength ducked in case my brother was too low. Which he never was. 

"Yeah, small island, might find something neat." I shrug as the other three start chasing each other.

Solar ran up the rocky hill as Flare chased after him. Harmony snuck around to the other side to catch him there.

"I don't think Flare will find any shells. These rocks seem to keep breaking them." I note looking at the broken shards.

"We'll have to find him a better shoreline." Wavelength climbed up the hill.

I kick on my thrusters and join him.

"Do you think we let paranoia get the better of us?" Wavelength looked over.

"It's possible. But that bot? They looked so, weird. Like a cloaking device was broken." I shake my helm.

"I hope so. It's possible that might have been where they lived. We just stumbled into their camp."

I nod and look out at the stretching blue ocean. Wavelength grinned at one of his foolish ideas and offered a servo.

"What are you doing?" I looked down from where I was hovering.

"A servo to help you land, oh skilled Seeker leader!" Wavelength mock bowed while laughing. 

I crack a smile and start laughing as well. My wings bounce as I lose it. I take his servo and let him help me land. Wavelength leaned into one of the larger rock sides and lost it as well.

"Oh my! What a polite officer you are! Ensuring my safety!" I dramatically place a servo on my chassis.

Wavelength laughed harder and started falling to his knees. I struggled to catch my breath while Wavelength's laugh started to sound like static. It took a hot minute but we both calmed down.

"Come on!" I chuckle and start walking again.

Wavelength grinned and caught up. "Wanna see where the others are?"

"And ruin our walk?" My wings flutter.

"It's an island barely a fourth of a mile wide."

"And we still somehow lost the others."

"Well, Seige is somewhere in the clouds." Wavelength chuckled. "I- could not tell you where the others are."

 "Other side if I had to guess. Race ya?"

Wavelength grinned and stole a headstart. Of course, I take off after him on ped. A race is no fun if it isn't even. We slid down one of the hills as Solar and Flare rounded one of the boulders. Harmony stepped out from her hiding place and tapped Solar. He jumped to the side and screamed. I snort amused as Harmony grins, very proud of herself!

"You've been caught!" Flare grinned.

"I noticed!" He glared slightly.

"She's a little spy!" Flare laughs and lets her climb up onto his shoulders. Both of their wings clicked in unison as Space Mouse settled down on his helm.

"Man, the fresh air feels great. I'll more than likely join Siege later on." I watch my older brother spin in the air.

Out of the three of us, he had the best thrusters. With that, he can easily go Mach 6. Which apparently isn't common for human aircraft. I mean it isn't exactly common for us either, but it definitely is a skill one needs to be naturally gifted at. I recall Uncle Thundercracker taking Siege out for flight training one day. Flare begged our uncle to let us watch. And by the moons did we receive a show. It was choppy and unsteady, but Siege started learning how to finetune his flying when truly using his thrusters. Over the months Siege trained he started getting more confident. Our group training definitely improved after that. 

*What is it like flying?* Harmony tapped my armor.

"It's..." I pause. "It's like like floating in space. Except you're propelled by sheer power. It's exciting. The sheer speed you can reach like that. It's thrilling!"

*Do you like it when your peds aren't on the ground?*

"I love it."

"Maybe you could take Harmony on a proper flight!" Solar suggested with a grin. 

*Please!*

"How about now?" Solar suggested. 

"Why not?" I chuckle and move to transform.

As Harmony started to feel my wings to get on I frowned at something in front of me.

"Harmony, pause?"

*Pause? What's wrong?* 

"There's a tunnel?"

"A tunnel?" Wavelenght paused.

Harmony stepped back and I transformed.

"It's covered but..." I brush one of the rocks and the hillside falls to the side. Low and behold, a tunnel going down into the island stood before us.