V - Tunnel Vision

White. The entire world was comprised of an endlessly pure, harsh, white light. I blinked, and the blinding whiteness was replaced by a more comforting black, if only for a millisecond.

"That's it, follow the light." Ratchet's voice encouraged from somewhere behind it, and the focal point of the light shifted slightly to the left. I let my optics follow it. Then to the right. Up. Down. The medic switched the blinding flashlight off, causing an afterimage to burn into my processor.

"And what exactly was the point of that, again?" I grimaced, rubbing my optics while trying and failing to properly glare up at him. "Besides inflicting unnecessary pain?"

"Oh, don't be such a drama queen, Screamy." Bulkhead groaned with a smirk.

Ratchet sighed, "You don't want me to turn this back on again, do you?"

I made the mistake of letting my servos fall to my sides and he blasted me with it.

"Augh! He's mad with power!" I yelped, covering my optics and my wings flattened against my back. The medic chuckled, switching it off.

"You're utterly histrionic," Arcee rolled her optics.

Bumblebee chirped, looking to the medic, [Hey Ratch, he asked you a question.]

"Right, right. I shall tell you once more, since you evidently were not listening the first time: this was necessary because the virus is crawling up towards your processor, if, or when it nears its destination, your optics may be the first systems to be affected."

"Fantastic."

"Do not despair, Starscream, Ratchet is still working hard at finding a cure." Optimus placated.

"But is he really any closer?" Seven countered.

"Not. Helping." I growled at him. My clone took the ever-so subtle hint and wisely clamped his mouth shut.

"C'mon Scream, we just found it yesterday. Cut yourself some slack!" Miko tried to placate. It took all of my willpower to not shout in her face. And I've had it for three months!

Optimus gently pushed Ratchet's arm down, and the medic set the flashlight aside. "I can assure you, we will not surrender you to MECH–"

"Even if it means my termination? You've said this before, and I can see it in your optics." I accused quietly, glaring at the Prime. No one spoke for a moment, and Optimus swept his gaze over the room so he wouldn't have to meet mine. I wasn't even sure myself what he would find there if he did. Anger? Hurt? Anguish? Anxiety? Certainly not something I would want to see myself.

"If it comes to that, we will be forced to involve Silas," he announced with the air of finality someone might have after delivering a eulogy.

"And if a deal cannot be made and there is no hope of a cure…" Seven transformed out a blaster, tapping it against his thigh. The three humans made the connection fast, looking between it and me with wide eyes.

"I will tie that into a knot." I threatened as he transformed it away, but secretly agreed with him. Why suffer when there was an easier option?

I saw Optimus staring at me with a scrutinizing optic. I tried to push all my emotions down, but he still had been able to glean my thoughts. His uncharacteristically defeated expression was evidence enough.

"We still have plenty of time left before…" Ratchet caught himself, "before we're done, so I will put it to valuable use in attempts to find a cure. Starscream, sit." He said, and pointed to the berth.

"What for?" I huffed, but complied.

"I want to check the integrity of your patch." He stated. I had forgotten about the wound on my side and watched as the medic peeled it off. To his surprise, there was only a small bit of damage remaining, nothing worse than a few scratches and scuff marks.

"You heal fast," he remarked, sounding mildly impressed, though I might have imagined it.

I huffed, waving him away. "I know that, it's one reason Megatron loved to use me as a punching bag; he could 'discipline' me one day and I would be usually fit for duty the next. Though I'm not sure how much was Knock Out's doing…"

"Hate to break up the pity party," Arcee said, her tone clearly saying the opposite, "but we still need to know if you're contagious."

"Duh, isn't that the first thing you were supposed to ask?" Miko stated, planting her hands on her hips.

"We could all have been infected!" Bulkhead exclaimed, as if he had just realized. Seven rolled his optics, but beneath the false bravado, I saw he was trembling. So that was what I was now: an object to be feared, like a bomb, because in the act of destroying itself it would also destroy others.

"You already have asked!" Ratchet exclaimed, only being met with expectant looks. "No, it isn't contagious." A few relieved sighs followed his statement. I sagged against the wall, happy I wasn't a bomb after all. But that didn't mean my timer wasn't already ticking down.

"I don't think I would even wish this upon you, Arcee." I tried to smirk but it came out as more of a forced grimace, which then quickly fell into a frown. My optics started to feel wet and I looked away, mentally berating myself for weakness.

Suddenly a sharp, blaring alarm rang out across the base and I jumped.

"The proximity sensor?" Seven wondered anxiously, covering his audials.

"Negative." Ratchet shut off the noise, his fingers flying over the console at speeds that could rival Soundwave. "Iacon homing beacons!"

"The 'Con's picked up another one, eh?" Bulkhead bashed his fists together.

"Four 'ones,' actually." Ratchet pointed to the screen.

"We must not let more relics fall into the servos of the Decepticons, for whatever sinister use they would put them to." Optimus said firmly.

"Uh, guys," Raf pointed up at the first location, "that's Manhattan."

"What would a relic from Cybertron be doing in the Big Apple?" Miko asked, skepticism evident in her tone as she looked to Ratchet.

"The Iacon relics landed on Earth eons ago," Ratchet said gravely while he watched the screen, "long before the city was built atop it."

"Which means if the 'Cons want this one, they may have to move some buildings out of the way." Jack's hands balled into fists.

"You all know that I cannot condone any human casualties." Optimus reminded us.

"Yes, yes, we know." Seven drawled, giving me a look.

"What about the subway system?" Miko suggested. "The 'Cons might not have to blow up some buildings to get what they want if it's in a tunnel."

"Since the human population no longer seems to be directly threatened, maintaining our disguise will be necessary." Optimus commanded. "Arcee, Bumblebee, you are the best choices to navigate through such a densely populated area." The femme squared her shoulders and Bumblebee nodded confidently.

"Sev, what gives? I thought you'd totally jump at the chance to visit the big city!" Miko exclaimed.

"I think I've lost my taste for flying around New York." My clone replied haughtily.

I cocked my helm, "And is the same true of Los Angeles?"

He glared at me. "How was Seattle?"

I gave him a look.

"Hey, Optimus?" Jack asked, getting the Prime's attention. "New York has over eight million people; the odds of being spotted by just one of 'em are pretty high. Even if they are headed underground."

"Where are you going with this?" Arcee asked, meeting his eyes.

"You're going to need a human who can run interference if your cover gets blown."

Miko piped up, "Well, I've actually been in subway stations! I grew up in a major metropolis, unlike Mr. I've-Never-Been-Outside-Jasper-Nevada here." She crossed her arms, a smug smirk on her face.

"I have been to Cybertron." Jack reminded her.

"Cybertron doesn't have subways!" She shot back. "Does it?" she looked to the 'Bots, suddenly unsure.

"Agent Fowler remains our best option." Optimus stated, ignoring her.

Ratchet pulled up his profile on the main screen, "That may be, Optimus, but he remains unavailable." A voice message rang out and Ratchet shut it off, annoyed.

"Do you always talk this much before doing something?" I groused.

Optimus ignored me as well, "Very well. Miko and Jack will accompany Arcee and Bumblebee."

"Sweet!" The girl exclaimed, hopping down the stairs three at a time.

I snarled to myself in frustration, "What about–"

"You aren't dying right now, by the looks of it." Arcee shot at me. "C'mon, Bee, let's roll."

"You have got to be kidding me." I grumbled after they disappeared through the ground bridge.

Optimus looked at me sadly, "I am afraid we are not."

He then looked to the green mech, who nodded, "Time to kick some 'Con tailpipe!"

Rafael changed the coordinates to the next location: a volcanic island somewhere deep within the Pacific, and Ratchet opened the bridge.

"Be on your guard, Bulkhead." The Wrecker charged through the bridge and it closed behind him. "Rafael, lock on to the remaining coordinates. I will embark for the Antarctic." Raf opened the bridge from his laptop, and Optimus then turned to Ratchet. "As for you, old friend, I would prefer that you have company on your mission."

"No one is left except Seven and Starscream, and…" the medic trailed off, glancing at me.

"Not it." Seven crossed his arms defiantly. "I am only going to be backup, nothing more." I shrugged.

"I was considering the only remaining Autobot alternative on this planet, other than them." Optimus replied.

"But–you can't be serious!" Ratchet exclaimed, looking less than enthused. "Wheeljack is insubordinate, a ruffian! And besides, he's Bulkhead's partner."

"Your expertise is scientific." Optimus reminded him. "But Wheeljack is a highly capable warrior. You would be wise, old friend, to welcome the temporary alliance."

Ratchet groaned, but begrudgingly accepted the offer as the Prime walked through the bridge.

But Optimus stopped partway, looking back at me, "I would, however, appreciate the company of a certain Seeker."

"He is not cleared for duty!" Ratchet protested.

"Is it too much to ask that you treat me like I am here?" I folded my arms across my chest plate indignantly.

"Uh, my apologies." The medic sounded sincere but said it in an awkward tone, as if not used to apologizing to anyone. He faced Optimus, "But he is not going. Not while Seven can."

"In New York, they may be subjected to a potential chase scenario. I cannot allow Starscream to unwittingly speed along the progress of the virus while we are open to other options."

"And what will bringing him to the Antarctic do about that?" Ratchet looked triumphant now, optics glittering.

"Whereas there most likely already are Decepticons at the location," the Prime stated, "I believe Starscream would be safer with me."

I frowned at them, "Do I not have a say in this?" The three of them, including my clone, looked expectantly at me. "I want to get out of this base!"

"But Seattle–"

"Shut it, Seven." my clone looked hurt, but didn't press it any further. "If circumstances are as bleak as they appear to be, then I would like to spend what time I have remaining on this rock of a planet above it, not under."

"Antarctica is pretty cold, you're not exactly going to be basking in the sun." Raf pointed out.

"As long as it is outside, I could care less."

"No one said you were going." Ratchet reminded me.

Optimus cleared his throat, "I believe I did. I see no harm in allowing Starscream to accompany me, so long as he does not transform."

"Well…" The medic trailed off, but I knew the battle had been won.

Optimus let me walk through the waiting bridge first, then followed.