[PKMN] SPACE CASE!

[skinstealer]

LAST TIME...on SPACE CASE!
A confirmation that Team Osteo is after the Shooting Stars is the last thing the team needs, but words can't be taken back now- especially on the air!

 All our protagonists can hope for is that things won't get worse from here.....surely they can't, right? Find out...on SPACE CASE!

EPISODE 12: Caught in the Blast Zone!

---

 

STRETCH: ...okay.
STRETCH: Yesterday did.
STRETCH: Not go to plan.

Eerie rubs the back of her neck, avoiding your eyes as you sigh.

STRETCH: But we have to keep going.
STRETCH: Team Osteo is.
STRETCH: Nn.
STRETCH: After us. Officially.
FROND: ....
FROND: You think they'll get bored?
EERIE: Not likely.

Her voice is laden with guilt, outright hiding her snout in her hand.

EERIE: ....I fucked up.
FROND: Hey-
STRETCH: Yes. You did.

Everyone whips around to look at you, shocked.

STRETCH: Get used to it.
STRETCH: We're all going to.
STRETCH: Discipline can wait.

You grimace as you look at Eerie's crestfallen face.

STRETCH: ...and you feel bad enough.
STRETCH: All we can do is survive the route.
FILIGREE: ...so what do we do?
FILIGREE: You say survive, but-
FILIGREE: You've got a plan, right?

You nod.

STRETCH: Barely slept.
FROND: Dude-
STRETCH: Napping comes later.

No one looks satisfied with this, but
SOMEONE
had to figure out how to not die.


You're the captain.



It's your job.







You avoid eye contact.

STRETCH: We can't sleep in tents.
STRETCH: Too visible, and they'll be looking for it.
STRETCH: Caves like this?
STRETCH: Viable.
STRETCH: The brush and watch shifts worked.
STRETCH: If we need to turn in early and there's one around-
STRETCH: We do it.
EERIE: What about rations?
STRETCH: It's going to be longer.
STRETCH: Foraging is now necessary.
EERIE: Shit.
STRETCH: Mm.
STRETCH: Frond-
FROND: I've got it under control.
STRETCH: Cool.
STRETCH: Food is Frond's job.
STRETCH: Fili-
STRETCH: ...
STRETCH: How're you feeling on.
STRETCH: The. Poison stuff.
FILIGREE: ....

It takes them a second to think it over.

FILIGREE: Not sure yet.
STRETCH: You comfortable enough using it?
FILIGREE: ....think so.
FILIGREE: For...now, anyway.
STRETCH: Only if we have to.
STRETCH: Don't be stupid about it.

The bellsprout makes a face, but nods.




you're

probably being too hard on them.





....but this is getting closer to life or death than you'd like.

STRETCH: Eerie-

She flinches, but pays attention.

STRETCH: You know what we're dealing with.
STRETCH: I want you on lookout.
EERIE: ...yeah.
EERIE: I-
EERIE: I can do that.
STRETCH: Don't hide anything from us.
STRETCH: ....okay?
EERIE: ...you got it, boss man.

You take a deep inhale, letting it out slow.

STRETCH: Minerva's still sick.
STRETCH: I'll wake her up and.
STRETCH: Figure that out.
STRETCH: Rest of you, pack it up.
STRETCH: Best to use daylight.

....Minerva is worse today.




You feel a growing pit in your stomach, watching she sways while standing.

STRETCH: ....Min-

You swallow, unused to nicknames.

STRETCH: Minnie.
STRETCH: Can you hear me?
MINERVA: Mmmghm.

She manages a nod, your guts feeling even worse.

STRETCH: Okay.
STRETCH: Good.

A deep breath.

STRETCH: ...shit.
FROND: ....she having issues still?

You nod.

FROND: Why not some kinda harness?
FROND: It'd at least keep her from wandering off or lagging behind.
STRETCH: ...hm.
STRETCH: It'd...be something. Maybe.
EERIE: Yeah, if we had something like that.
FILIGREE: We've...got rope, but-
FROND: I can work with that.

Before you can protest, he grabs some from his inventory-in-progress pile, tapping Minerva on the side.

FROND: Hey Minnie, we're gonna get you outta here nice and safe!
MINERVA: Ohh, that's
MINERVA: thaaat's. good.

She nods, barely there.

FROND: I'm gonna tie some rope on you, okay?
FROND: Just so Stretch can lead you around.
MINERVA: ...like...a pet?




FROND: ....

He gives you a look, easily picking up on your attempt to stare holes into the cave wall.

FROND: Yeah!
FROND: Exactly!









EERIE: ....

This is your punishment.




This is how the world has decided you must atone.





Every sin you have committed has lead you to this very moment.

EERIE: dude.

FROND: And if we just get this last part done-


FROND: Hold niiice and still for me-


EERIE: dude.



FROND: Annnd pulled tight!



FILIGREE: ....impressive.
FILIGREE: How'd you pick that up without digits?

Frond makes his best imitation of a chef's kiss gesture, standing back to observe his craft.

FROND: Like I said-
FROND: I like to look things up and learn a few myself!

Help.









Minerva is sitting contently, looking genuinely pleased as she tests moving around in the rather ornately made rope harness.

MINERVA: It doesn't even hurt...
MINERVA: And so stable-
MINERVA: T-thank you, Frond!

You have serious, serious doubts as to this being a good idea.

EERIE: This is, like-
EERIE: Somehow, this is the most perverted shit you people have put me through.
EERIE: And I tolerated the shrink wrapped gyrados cock.
FILIGREE: I mean-
FILIGREE: Yes, this is commonly-
STRETCH: It is fine
STRETCH: And we will make it work.

Minerva reaches out for you to come closer, giving you an awkward, clumsy hug.

MINERVA: I know you'll d-do a good job...

You slowly reach for the untied end of the rope, taking a deep breath.

STRETCH: ...alright.
STRETCH: Just.
STRETCH: get it over with.

On the one hand, Minerva is delighted at the gentle vibration traveling from your body and through the rope- like a calming massage, making her simultaneously more lucid and more relaxed.





On the other





You have been trying to think about nothing the most boring shit imaginable.

Fading wallpaper.

Crushed soda cans.

Weird buzzing noises that piss you off.

FROND: You're a really good model, Stretch!


FROND: Take a look!

You get to your feet, grateful that you somehow, somehow managed to keep your composure.

Somehow.



Despite the rope rubbing against your chest.

minerva's right it doesn't even hurt

FOCUS.

STRETCH: ...I can feel it fine.
 

Frond gives you a big smile that you deliberately avoid looking at.

STRETCH: ....we're leaving.

Besides your brand new bondage harness adventure, the morning goes quietly- the only real struggle being the sun beating down and humidity getting worse.





That doesn't mean it feels good, though.



The energy of the day prior has been shot, everyone on edge.
It's only natural- what was going to be a hike is now something far more terrifying, and the physical and environmental risks were already going to be hard.




you



wonder if anyone regrets this.






Regrets coming with you.
Inviting themselves.


Getting more than they bargained for if they had asked anyone else but you.





It makes your stomach hurt.


Even more than the generalized anxiety, Minerva's condition really has the team worked up.


Staying close to her and holding her wing claws, gently leading her around rocks and foliage is less nerve-wracking with the added tether, but it is definitely slower.


People ahead help point out issues that you would have floated over and missed, leading you to fight off the shame of your condition interfering. Minerva, for all of her disorientation, occasionally mutters a "thank you", and woozy hums.

FILIGREE: ...I've got an idea.
FILIGREE: We've gotta pass the time, right?
FILIGREE: I! I know a lot of the rock formations out here.

Eerie huffs.

EERIE: Yeah?
EERIE: What's so big about that?
FILIGREE: ...figure I could point some out and share facts.
EERIE: Eh-

They gesture their head towards Minerva, looking barely in reality.

FILIGREE: Could be
FILIGREE: Grounding.
EERIE: ...right.
EERIE: yyyeah.
FROND: Oh! Oh!
FROND: I can help!
FROND: You know rocks, I know plants!
FILIGREE: Okay. Yeah!

They pause, turning around to the dazed golbat.

FILIGREE: Hey, Minnie-
FILIGREE: You wanna play a game?
MINERVA: I do like games...
FILIGREE: Cool!
FILIGREE: You're gonna point out interesting shapes, colors, whatever you want-
FILIGREE: And me and Frond can tell you what they are.
MINERVA: O-oh, that-
MINERVA: that sounds nice...

It takes her a moment before she manages to focus on a tower-like structure a ways ahead, Filigree enthusiastic.

FILIGREE: Okay, so that's what we call a "cloud pillar-"

You stay quiet as the party keeps Minnie occupied, continuing to lead her along. Her gait grows more steady-




-even if you can't allow yourself to feel relieved, this is something.








And then Minerva sees a different shape




A person hunched over something in the brush, swearing to itself.



You freeze, a light growl growing in your throat.

STRETCH: ...get down.
EERIE: Wh-

Frond and Filigree yank on her arms, getting her to crouch as you slowly lower Minerva into a kneeling position.

MINERVA: whhat's-
STRETCH: shhhh

You're on the verge of panicking as you give her a gentle pat on the side of her head, gesturing for Frond to go get a better look.



The gloom peeks around the corner,


and then whips back around.

FROND: big kabutops.
FROND: messing with something on the ground, weird thing on its-
EERIE: is it a cannon?
STRETCH: wh
EERIE: like is it a-
FROND: i don't know? wh-

Eerie gestures to her arm, making a big circle around it.

FROND: oh.
FROND: wow, i did not want that to be a cannon-

She grimaces.

EERIE: shit. i know that guy.
FILIGREE: osteo?

The rhyhorn nods, looking more and more tired of this shit.

EERIE: with a fucking temper.

You try to peek out, only for Minerva to make a nervous whine.

STRETCH: sssshit.
STRETCH: minerva-
FROND: ...she scared?

You nod.

STRETCH: ...think so.
FROND: okay.
FROND: we gotta- gotta sneak by, right?
EERIE: oh, yeah, great idea-
FROND: we can do this.
FROND: stretch and minnie should go....llllast....?
EERIE: how the hell are we gonna hide a bat twice my size?
STRETCH: ....if you all get past it, i have the best chance of taking it out.
EERIE: and if we don't?
FROND: borrowing trouble.
FROND: smallest first- fili, me, eerie.
STRETCH: ....we'll try it.
STRETCH: just
STRETCH: be careful.

Fili goes first, tiptoeing light on their roots-





-finding a serviceable path, making sure to get gesture to a trail that'd accommodate everyone's sizes.
Your tail lashes as you continue to massage your thumb into Minerva's cheek, occasionally making more "shush"ing sounds.





Frond waits for the signal






and makes his way out







stepping on a twig maybe three quarters of the way.

STRETCH: oh for fuck's-

The fossil mon panics, whipping around with a nasty look. Before Frond can even do anything, it raises its arm- cannon pointed directly at his head.





Frond throws his hands up, nervously laughing.

FROND: H-hey man, I-
KABUTOPS: Stand down!
FROND: I'm standing! Standing very down-
KABUTOPS: Who sent you?!
FROND: Nobody- nope, nobod-
FROND: I am juuuust trying to get to the mounta-
KABUTOPS: Bullshit!
KABUTOPS: You're not a lunatic, no way you're not spying-
FROND: Nooonononono you- you have it all wrong-

The cannon starts to whirr, charging up-






You remember how bad GY got.

STRETCH: FROND-!

He can't even react to your cry before he gets blasted,

flame hitting him square in the chest

and slamming him back against the cliff wall

 

EERIE: SHIT

Everything slows down.




Think.

You need to





think



and assess the issue.




The kabutops is-

it's reeling back, as if the cannon has some kind of recoil.

Now that you're getting a good look at it-
it looks like the scythe material on its other arm-
grown out?
Around its arm?
Eugh.



Probably hurts.
Good.
Easy weakpoint.


Frond is getting back to his feet-
okay,
good.

Good.

Good good good.
Fuck.
Okay.
Good.





Not good that the cannon's still pointed at him though.
You have to-




-Minerva is wobbling, whining beside you. Whimpering.



This isn't good.
You're tethered to her and she's completely reliant on you for safety and comfort.

You wonder why you agreed to this.

No one should be reliant on your-
no.
Nooo no no not time to go down that self hate hole.





FOCUS.





One thing is clear.


Objectively,
logistically-



You cannot leave her side.



Eerie- oh, she looks like shit.


Her mouth turned into a grimace, mid-reach for her club-





You snap back into real time as Frond fires off a swift-star at the kabutops, stumbling as he tries to get some ground



only for the fossil mon to shoot off another pulse of flame, incinerating the star and catching Frond's knee in the process.

FROND: SHIT-

His voice is pained.


There's a distinct scent of rot in the air-

his defense mechanism




one you remember all too well




There's a buzzing in your head


arcs of energy crackling all over your entire body


your breath gets
heavy



your teeth feeling too big for your mou-

FROND: STAY WITH MINNIE-!
FROND: I-
FROND: I GOT THIS-
KABUTOPS: Who the fuck is-

You are now Filigree


and you are hauling ass to keep Frond from doing something stupid.


Your gloom teammate's eyes widen as you tank the kabutops' incoming shot, barely hurt by the flames scorching your body.

You thank your foresight to get your poor button pins coated in flameproof sealant, because this is hot.

You don't like fire- hate it, actually!
Feels bad!
Distinctly unpleasant, freaks you right out!
You avoided it in GY's challenge and the dark ride for a reason!






But you're registered as a fire type yourself- it's a type advantage either way.


The fossil mon reels back with a sharp hiss, both out of shock, confusion, and what appears to be pain- its wrist wobbling and looking weighty.

KABUTOPS: Motherf-
KABUTOPS: BULLSHIT

Don't freak out.
Don't.
Freak.
Out.



Stand TALL

FILIGREE: Back off!

And don't show fear.

KABUTOPS: Or what?!
KABUTOPS: Little flower freak-

Let's see if this works a second time.


Its blast hits, but it's not going to go uncountered.


The mist comes out easier now- almost too easy.
Don't think about it.
Not the time.






The kabutops staggers as the haze encapsulates both of you-





....huh.



You're back in

the workshop again.
At least, one similar- different tools, but the same walls.
The same tile.
The same darkness, illuminated by crackling, sparse bursts of light.



Frond makes a noise behind you, but this time, you have to lock in.
No distractions-


The kabutops lets out a sharp hiss, shaking with rage and staring directly at you.


A brief glance down at yourself reveals-


You do what you can to avoid screaming in horror, repeating to yourself that this is just a vision.
Oh, god, the mon in front of you doesn't seem to think so.

KABUTOPS: That's-
KABUTOPS: You're-

The fossil mon raises its cannon, its voice wobbling.

KABUTOPS: Y-you're-
KABUTOPS: That's not ME anymore-

You swallow-

-and do your best to rush forward


body slamming in reality and grabbing a large box in this world, struggling to carry it with your tiny kabuto arms oh this SUUUCKS


and get a hit in.





The kabutops staggers, letting out a screech and barely catching its balance.

KABUTOPS: BULLSHIT

You don't get a chance to react, blasted backwards with another cannon shot- even if it does more pushback than actual damage, it hurts in the false world, more than you expected.
Your body is so small, and surely it




it would hesitate



It storms over, breathing hard.

KABUTOPS: I GOT

A barely dodged slash.

KABUTOPS: STRONGER

Another, the kabutops attempting to bash your head in.

KABUTOPS: THAN YOU EVER WERE!

Too close for comfort.

KABUTOPS: ISN'T THIS WHAT YOU WANTED?

Too close

KABUTOPS: STUPID

Way too close

KABUTOPS: MOTHERFUCKING

A strike nearly takes you out-






-only for you to hit the cliff wall, cornered into the back of the workshop.

KABUTOPS: CHILD!

Its cannon arm is trembling.


You think you can see blood around where it connects to its main carapace.

KABUTOPS: And I'll take you out with me.

The whirr that comes from the cannon is deafening




you think this may have been a mistake





and with a piercing shriek, the world goes dark.





You are now Eerie.


Filigree's wiped out.


Your hands are trembling, forcing you to grip your club with enough strength to hurt.


You never wanted to deal with this guy again-


Why did you even, say ALL that-




The cannon's pointed at Fili's battered body, the kabutops holding it against the cliff wall and panting.



It is going to kill them.


You're on your feet so fast that you're on top of it within seconds, knocking it down and raising your club above your head.
You'll crack its fucking skull open.
You'll-

 

KABUTOPS: GET OFF OF M-

You bring it down-


-only for the club to bounce out of your hand, rebounded with a glowing purple flash.

KABUTOPS: Ex-team, huh?!
KABUTOPS: Knew you were spying!
EERIE: SHUT UP-

It tries to go for a slice, scratching at your arm

KABUTOPS: Traitor.

and getting its scythe stuck in a pinch point.


Your left elbow.





You scream, the blade digging in deep and drawing blood-
but it can't move its arm when you hold it tight.



You hit it in the face.
It bounces.

Again.
Nothing.



Your eyes flick to its flailing right arm.

EERIE: I SAID

You grip the part where its wrist connects, watching it screech in agony.

EERIE: SHUT UP!

You slam it with its own cannon



Again



and again



until it's down.




Its scythe goes slack.


You stay kneeling on its unconscious body.

Still alive, but beyond out cold.






Fuck.








You are now Frond.


You're
really tired.



Filigree had fought for you, and everything after that is a blur.



Where-


The smell of blood snaps you out of it, eyes snapping open and stumbling to your feet.

STRETCH: FROND, get-
STRETCH: Medical kit, fuck-

Stretch is fumbling with Minerva, trying in vain to guide her out into the clearing as she mumbles in distress.

STRETCH: shhhh it's okay it is Okay it's okay minnie-

Okay.
Not either of them-


You turn and see Eerie, pressing her hand into her elbow in a desperate attempt to keep crimson from pouring out.

FROND: Holy SHIT
FROND: OKAY

Even with your unsteady gait, you manage to get to your pack, thrown aside in the fight-

Okay okay OKAY okay find it find it-

You pull out a tourniquet, immediately realizing that it's not gonna work- it's between the plates, fuck-

A potion and bandages are going to have to do, grabbing some sanitary wipes for good measure.

FROND: fuck fuck fuck i'm sorr-
EERIE: J
EERIE: Jjjust shut up and-

She extends her arm, letting you fumble around as best as you can without fingers. You'd done this before enough times to know how to pinch and move safely enough- for your own wounds, no less- but it's kind of different doing it for someone at risk of BLEEDING OUT.

The rhyhorn grits her teeth hard when you sanitize and spray the wound, clearly holding back snorts of pain as you bandage her up.

FROND: I-
FROND: I'm sorry, this is-

Your eyes are welling up, not able to mask the panic threatening to make you sob then and there.

EERIE: Frond.

You freeze.

EERIE: ...stop it.
EERIE: Feels weird seeing you worked up like that.

A shaky smile sneaks on your face, managing a nod.

FROND: Y-yeah...
FROND: Gotta p-put a smile on, right?
EERIE: Yep.
EERIE: And, uh-

She nods over her shoulder.

EERIE: Maybe make sure Fili's not dead.
FROND: FUCK

Stretch watches you work, having to hold Minerva at his side the whole time. Your golbat teammate looks horrid, feverish even- to the point where you're almost more worried for her sake than Filigree's.
At least Fili's vitals were stable, even when out cold.
Some rest and medicine should be fine for them, but....

FROND: Stretch, she gonna be-
STRETCH: I.
STRETCH: I don't. Know.

It swallows, its downward gaze looking harrowed.

STRETCH: i couldn't-
FROND: Stretch.

You take a deep breath.

FROND: You're helping.
FROND: Okay? You're helping.
STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: okay.
FROND: Minnie would have gotten hit by that jerk without hesitation.
FROND: Like, the rest of us-
FROND: We're able to think.
STRETCH: ...right.

It manages to get Minnie to stop hyperventilating, giving her a squeeze. Being so close and intimate with another person,


especially in a situation like this



is clearly uncomfortable for it.

FROND: Okay.
FROND: Fili's gonna be alright. But we gotta get out of here.

Eerie's back on her feet, wobbling as she extends her free arm.

EERIE: Gimme.
STRETCH: ...

It raises its brows.

STRETCH: Eerie.
EERIE: Frond can't carry them and you'll make them hack up. Chlorophyll or something.
STRETCH: not how that works
EERIE: Quit being a wiseass and fork 'em over.

Despite her injury, Eerie's surprisingly stable as she carries Filigree in the crook of her arm, Stretch carrying her shoulder bag in turn.



The sun beating down is bad enough-


-but Stretch's face contorts into worry as clouds roll in, its predictions seemingly right on the money.

STRETCH: ...We need shelter.
EERIE: W-we've-

She takes a moment to huff- she's clearly masking, now that you're getting a better look at her.
Stable, not as much as you thought- playing tough, yes.

EERIE: We've been going for. What?
EERIE: An hour?
FROND: T-thirty minutes.

You'd been checking your nav just a bit obsessively.

FROND: We're on the right track, but-
STRETCH: shit.

The humidity hits after another half hour, Minerva starting to sway.





Stretch sends you ahead, scrambling around- and then you find it.




An abandoned house- or at least, what looks like one.



It'll have to do.





You help keep Minerva steady as Stretch breaks down the door, two twin needles more than doing the trick.
Eerie carefully carries Filigree inside after you get Minnie through, leaving the three lucid team members to figure out a gameplan.


Checking for safety risks is first- Stretch's harness is untied, letting it zoom around the house as you and Eerie secure the doorway and windows from the oncoming rain.

STRETCH: All clear.

It goes straight to Minerva's side after, checking on her with a furrowed brow.
Thankfully, she had no objections to being laid down on a dusty couch, moving her head towards the blue crackling arcs lighting the room.

STRETCH: ...are you. Okay?

She manages a nod, Stretch clearly relieved that she can respond at all.

FROND: ...We gotta get food going.
FROND: Saw a garden out back through the window-
STRETCH: ....right.

It's not in the best shape, but it's plenty of berries and veggies you recognize, and clearly meant for the former occupant to use for meals.
Whatever happened to them-




noooo you don't really want to think about that actually




....you hope that they'd understand.





You catch a soft, stifled noise as you pull up a particularly nice looking root vegetable. Over your shoulder, you can see Stretch's posture hunched as it gathers berries into its bag




sniffling.

FROND: ....hey....

You set your food down and go to his side, the electabuzz trying to wipe its eyes as soon as it hears you coming.

FROND: Hey, it's-
STRETCH: im fine-

Its breath hitches, a bright pulse of blue crackling across its body- the energy enough for you to feel it even from a short distance.

STRETCH: nnn
FROND: ....okay, you're-
FROND: You don't look fine, man.

It recoils as you take a step forward, but doesn't run.

FROND: ....you wanna count together until it feels better?

Silence-





and then a nod.

FROND: Alright, here we go...

...You can't pin down what's different about its eyes.












Cooking always gets you in the zone, and with the help of some tool straps and a lot of fiddling, you're able to fasten some utensils to your hands and get to sauteing up dinner.
Eerie and Stretch helped you get a makeshift setup in the fireplace going- it's not ideal, let alone entirely safe, but-

EERIE: ....so you cook those ones longer?

She'd asked to watch you work, and of course you accepted. It keeps your mind off of the situation at hand, and...it's nice.

No one really asks for stuff like this.

FROND: Yup, they take more time to soften up.
FROND: We want everything to be easy to swallow right now, 'specially with Minnie's jaw control being...kinda...

You both look over at the golbat, her mouth wide open as Stretch pet her head- despite being a more natural posture than her polite smiles, it feels distinctly out of place.

EERIE: ...guessing we gotta cut it up too.
FROND: Yyyep.
FROND: I'll let you do that, okay?
EERIE: H-huh?!
FROND: hehehe
FROND: Mostly kidding.
FROND: I am going to give you a berry to try it on.
FROND: You've signed up for the Frond culinary class!
EERIE: Heh....
EERIE: Alright, fine.
EERIE: Let's do it.








FILIGREE: ...ough....
FROND: Theeere they are!

You grin wide as the bellsprout comes to, holding their head.

FILIGREE: ...feel like a train hit me....
EERIE: ...more like a kabutops.

Her voice is drenched in guilt, sighing.

EERIE: I-
EERIE: i'm sorry.

They rub their leaf hair and make a noncommittal noise, their eyes widening as they see your offer.

FROND: You woke up just in time for dinner!

They hesitate before taking it, giving you a grateful look-





-before realizing where the hell you are.

FILIGREE: uh
STRETCH: ...we had to camp somewhere.

Minerva had managed to get herself into a proper sitting position, Stretch feeding her the stir fry carefully.

STRETCH: Pouring out there-
EERIE: ....and we kinda got trashed.

They notice her arm next, face growing pale.

FILIGREE: Eerie-
EERIE: Don't wanna hear it.
EERIE: I got us into this mess-
EERIE: ...least I can do is get you out of it.
STRETCH: ....

Stretch sinks into its seat, setting Minerva's now-empty plate aside.



It doesn't go unnoticed.

EERIE: Hey.

It flinches, not expecting to be addressed.

EERIE: Last I checked, you're not the one who should be throwing a pity party.
STRETCH: ...I-
STRETCH: I didn't.
STRETCH: Help much.
EERIE: ...dude.
EERIE: For being some kinda prodigy, that is one of the dumbest things I've heard you say.

It blinks.

EERIE: Minnie'd be dead if you didn't keep her safe.
EERIE: Knock it off.

Minerva leans on it, nuzzling up.

MINERVA: Mmgh-
MINERVA: you're doingggg
MINERVA: a good job.
MINERVA: be nice to stretch.

It sighs-



-antennae flopping as it gets a clumsy attempt at a headpat.

STRETCH: okayyyy










FROND: ...hey.

You sit next to Stretch, the electabuzz putting the finishing touches on the heap of sleeping bags and worn down, abandoned bedding.
Pulling mattresses out of the bedrooms to make a sort of group sleeping pile felt a bit silly, but once it's all together...

STRETCH: ...nn.
STRETCH: Should be good now.
FROND: Yeah? You, or the slumber party?

It gives you a tired look.

FROND: hehehe
STRETCH: ...better than earlier.
FROND: ...good.
FROND: Want somebody to help you keep watch?

It hesitates-





-and then nods.

STRETCH: ...just for one shift.
FROND: You got it.

 

---

Things could be better for the Shooting Stars...their first brush with potential death has left the bunch rightfully rattled! And yet the journey must press onward...

Well, suggestors sure like to put Stretch through the wringer. Let's give someone else a turn. Suggestors- what is Eerie scared of most? Let's see how she copes with it all... next time....on SPACE CASE!