[PKMN] SPACE CASE!

[skinstealer]

LAST TIME...on SPACE CASE!
The whole mountain is under lockdown...with our heroes trapped inside! It'd be one thing if they were stuck inside the Lunar Institute itself, but they get to go cave diving instead....how bad could it go?

Find out now- on SPACE CASE!
EPISODE 19: Mt. Moon Caverns (Pt 1)

---

Everything slows down.




You're locked into a desperate hug with Minerva, as clamped onto each other as you can with her strapped in.

Frond is clinging onto your back- you're pretty sure he's struggling not to vomit, likely unhelped by your tail wrapped around him and keeping him in place.



You aren't sure how that happened.




Doesn't matter.






Focus.



Eerie looks shellshocked.


It makes sense.




This whole affair'd taken less than three weeks and her entire perception over the gang she associated with has been shattered.



This is far beyond what she- or anyone here, by the look on peoples' faces- could have expected.





A whole takeover.




Your stomach churns as you think about all of the people on the upper campus.




Workers, tourists, merchants, researchers-

How many Osteo members were here?


How many laying in wait among the smiling faces?




The rhyhorn is struggling to breathe, panic attack welling up in slow motion.




....how many of them had recognized Eerie?



FOCUS.




Filigree is.


Fuck's sake.
They look terrible.


As much as you want to get to Cerulean, the argument the two of you had gotten into before leaving had zero resolution. Everyone was too wrapped up in their own various prep to pick up on the bellsprout's sluggish movements and strained posture, and Fili had outright refused to wait another day or seek further diagnosis at the center.



They had insisted the nurses gave them a clean bill of health.



You are pretty sure they're full of shit.





Not a good time.
Not a good time for this at all.



Okay.

Okay, Rappel next.



....



The fact that your ever-courageous guide has a look of sheer panic on her face does not fill you with confidence.


You don't think they teach this scenario in caving school.

The very idea of an entire mountain having a security lockdown is fucking insane.

Even with most major peaks having some degree of society living within them, this is at minimum the most developed mountain community in Kanto.



She's been trained for crevices, stalactites, and earthquakes like earlier.

Whatever had happened with that dome of hers...that was her specialty.
She had said everything was going to be okay then.



Not now.
Not anymore.



Sweetpea is scrambling for xer nav.


Who the hell did xey think would come and get xem?
The signal had to be terrible down here, let alone any quality issues with the nav itself-





Time resumes.

SWEETPEA: pick up pick up pick up please pick up

 

Xer nav rings,
once,
twice,
thrice-





And connects.

SWEETPEA: D-DOC!
SWEETPEA: Ursa, Orion-
ORION: SWEETPEA, oh god, thank goodness you're alright-

 

Even from your distance, you can make out the sound of crashing.

SWEETPEA: Doc, wh-
ORION: I don't know, I-

 

Tears roll down the venusaur's cheeks, worsening as xey flinch at another loud noise.

ORION: Listen to me, dear-!
ORION: All of the signals are breaking up, equipment's jamming-
ORION: There's not much time!
ORION: Ursa and I are going to gather our work and hide.
ORION: You- you need to stay put.
SWEETPEA: But DOC-
SWEETPEA I-
SWEETPEA: I have to get back-
ORION: No, you HAVE to stay safe!

 

The mon on the other end's voice is shaking, choking up with tears of his own.

ORION: We'll hide, and- we can meet up when this has all blown over-
SWEETPEA: B-bullshit, Doc, I KNOW you-

 

There's a pause, the call empty outside of the sounds of scientists scrambling, boxes crashing.

ORION: ...It's not your fault.
SWEETPEA: Doc, no, p-
ORION: We'll always love you.
SWEETPEA: S-STOP TALKING LIKE-

 

A particularly loud slam, Sweetpea starting to hyperventilate.

ORION: WHATEVER YOU DO-
ORION: PLEASE- PLEASE-
ORION: STAY SAFE!!
SWEETPEA: DOC-!

 

The call cuts off.



Xey frantically slam the call button, only to get a "no signal" tone, over and over.






Eerie's expression looks hollow.

EERIE: ...that was
EERIE: Our only connection to the outside world
EERIE: ...wasn't it.

 

Filigree shakes their head, seemingly having just as much trouble with their own nav.

FILIGREE: I'm having even less luck, I'm not getting through to Cleave at all-

 

The rhyhorn pants, breathing hard through her nose and mouth.

EERIE: R-rappel, surely you-

 

The omastar doesn't even have her nav out, staring at the tunnel ceiling.

RAPPEL: ...they'll have blocked everything by now.
RAPPEL: This is a heavy jammer.
EERIE: But-
EERIE: How can you tell, this- it's a whole fucking mountain!
SWEETPEA: She's right.

 

The venusaur's face is covered in tears and snot, attempting and failing to wipe it off on xer capelet.

SWEETPEA: I-
SWEETPEA: I can feel it too.
RAPPEL: Powerful enough for us psychic types to pick up on it.
RAPPEL: ....

 

Her eyes narrow.

RAPPEL: This is going to be nasty.
EERIE: SO?

 

She punches the cave wall, only to wince.

EERIE: W-we can't-
EERIE: There has to be-
MINERVA: E-eerie, breathe-
EERIE: YOU breathe-

 

She catches herself mid snap, face full of guilt.

Minerva's expression carries no offense, just...



Something you can't read.



Pained, in some way.

MINERVA: ...I'm scared too.

 

It's enough to break the rhyhorn, Eerie sliding against the wall and pulling her knees to her chest.

EERIE: i never wanted this
RAPPEL: ...This goes beyond you or I, my friend.
STRETCH: She's right.

 

Eerie looks up over her legs.

STRETCH: They wouldn't pull this just to get you.
FROND: .....

 

Frond slowly pulls away from you, taking a brief moment to hack up the sap built up from the physical contact before gathering himself.

FROND: ...p-prolly-
FROND: After the research-
FROND: ...right?

 

Sweetpea pales, Fili's eyes widening.

FILIGREE: ...the evolutionary work.
SWEETPEA: B-but-
SWEETPEA: T-that means!
SWEETPEA: No, no, no, it's-

 

Xey shake xer head frantically, looking like xey're going to be sick.

SWEETPEA: It's-
SWEETPEA: It's just rocks-
EERIE: You said it yourself-
EERIE: B. Bad people, want that shit.

 

She wipes her own eyes, using the tunnel wall to help right herself.

EERIE: I know Osteo.
EERIE: ...this is up their alley.

 

Sweetpea's eyes widen, backing away as Eerie fumbles for her bag, pulling out her club.

EERIE: Relax, I quit those creeps years ago...
EERIE: ....and I'm not gonna let them get away with this.
SWEETPEA: W-will-

 

Xey swallow.

SWEETPEA: T- the Asterisms, Ursa and Orion-
SWEETPEA: they're all i have
SWEETPEA: I need to get, get to them, before-
RAPPEL: I have shortcuts.

 

The omastar is already looking over her map, brow furrowed enough for her shell to cover the top of her eyes.

RAPPEL: It won't be easy- and I won't sugarcoat it.
RAPPEL: Strain, injuries?
RAPPEL: Guaranteed, these are rough routes not meant for your bodies.
RAPPEL: Stress? Tension?
RAPPEL: No chance of avoiding it.
RAPPEL: ...death.
RAPPEL: I will do everything in my power to keep that from happening- and I have quite the toolkit.
RAPPEL: ....
RAPPEL: But this is a road less traveled for me.
STRETCH: ....No other option.

 

Minerva looks over at you, hanging onto your words.

STRETCH: We either get moving.
STRETCH: Or wait while others get hurt.
FROND: ...or killed.
STRETCH: Or that.
MINERVA: ....
MINERVA: I agree.

 

She has to take a moment.

MINERVA: This-
MINERVA: I've, never-
MINERVA: This is quite a bit for me.

 

A nervous laugh, the golbat having held back her own panic once the sirens had stopped.

MINERVA: I was, so scared of dragging people down-
MINERVA: ...I still am.
MINERVA: But-!
MINERVA: I don't want any of us to get hurt!
MINERVA: And if Sweetpea's loved ones are in danger-
MINERVA: Then we should go and save them too!
EERIE: Usually I'd go on about not wantin' to get involved...

 

She whacks her club against her hand.

EERIE: But we gotta get to Cerulean somehow.
EERIE: Gives me a chance to crack some skulls of my own.
FROND: ....

 

Frond's been quiet for a while now, on and off biting his lip.

STRETCH: ....
STRETCH: You can weigh in.

 

He jumps a little, not expecting your attention.

FROND: This-
FROND: sucks.
FROND: ....and all I can think of is how pissed my mom is gonna be.

 

A soft noise escapes you, Frond not acknowledging it.

FROND: .......They would...want me to get home safe.
FROND: I dunno what your whole, relationship is, with the Asterisms...
FROND: But we're going that way anyway, and I!
FROND: Also want to help!
FROND: So I'm in!

 

Everyone's attention turns to the bellsprout in the room.



They look.



Wilted.

And barely conscious.

EERIE: Fili, what-
FILIGREE: It's- nothing...
MINERVA: Oh my god, get them over here-

 

Eerie picks up the plant before they can protest, dunking them into her lap.

She immediately starts examining them, surprising you- Rappel really had taught her techniques, clearly knowing where to check first.

MINERVA: ....they're burning up.
FILIGREE: ...'m fine...
MINERVA: Some kind of fever, and-

 

Fili winces as she even gently pokes their neck thorns, the golbat's frown worsening.

MINERVA: Pain, lots of it.
MINERVA: ...you're in no condition to do this, why didn't you-
STRETCH: I tried to stop them.

 

Your tone is blunt.

STRETCH: ..They've been sick for a few days.
EERIE: Wh-
EERIE: And you didn't TELL anyone?!

 

You grimace, remembering your argument earlier that day.






....and how they had argued you were doing just as badly




and that by your logic




neither of you should go at all.

STRETCH: It- It's more complicated than that-
MINERVA: You two can bicker later!

 

You and Eerie both flinch.

MINERVA: Right now, we-
MINERVA: We need to get-

 

Sweetpea ambles over, kneeling and looming above the sled.

SWEETPEA: ...I've seen this- or, at least, close.
MINERVA: Then-

 

Xey nod.

SWEETPEA: They're going to be okay.
SWEETPEA: It's-
SWEETPEA: Evolutionary sickness, if my guess is correct...
FROND: ....Fili's gonna evolve?
SWEETPEA: Not yet!
SWEETPEA: It, could take a while, especially without knowing their variant's conditions-
SWEETPEA: But as long as they're kept stable, they'll be okay.
EERIE: Yeah, tall ask right now...
RAPPEL: We can make it work.

 

The omastar closes her map, tapping her tentacle hand against her hip.

RAPPEL: I've charted a route.
MINERVA: ...Fili, we need to get moving...
MINERVA: I'm going to have to strap you in with me, okay?

 

They nod, only half there.

It takes some doing, but the bellsprout gets securely nestle in against Minerva's stomach, their eyes closing as the warmth of her body eases them into unconsciousness.

Frond has to steady his breathing, giving the plant a gentle pat.

FROND: ....stay safe, bud...


 

 

Before had been nerve-wracking, but this is something else.

While some of the lanterns lighting the path were still going, the quake had dislodged and even shattered others, leaving swathes of the trek in darkness- up until a flashlight hits.

Rappel, thankfully, brought spares- strong one too.
Frond is passed a spare light early on, as is Eerie.
You and Sweetpea are on Minerva support duty, Minnie herself already tending to the two lights now strapped onto the sled.

RAPPEL: ...not ideal, but it happens.
RAPPEL: Look alive, my friends....
RAPPEL: And no risky movements.
RAPPEL: This path has some open edges-
FROND: L-like, cliffs?
RAPPEL: Unfortunately correct.
RAPPEL: Stay close to me, and keep the path lit.
RAPPEL: Steady movem-

 

Her directions are interrupted by a loud thud, Frond nearly jumping out of his skin.

MINERVA: ....what was
RAPPEL: S-shhh-

 

She shakes her head, eyes widening as she raises a tentacle to her beak.



Another thud.



Where is it coming from, what direc-



Another.
Louder.

RAPPEL: shit.
EERIE: What th-
RAPPEL: STICK TO THE FAR WALLS-

 

Something breaks through the rock in front of you, debris flying straight at your party.


You move quickly, pushing Minerva back as Sweetpea body blocks any incoming shrapnel.

EERIE: M-motherfucker-

 

On a look over, barely lit by Eerie's dropped flashlight, she'd done the same for Frond





and looks fucking pissed about it.

RAPPEL: STAY BACK!
EERIE: LIKE HELL I WILL-
FROND: EERIE-


 

 

You are now Eerie.








A snorlax has just shattered a cave wall and is barreling towards you and your friends.



You know this one.
Used to pick on you in training.



Was this smart?
Nah.
But you're hyped up, and not in a good way.



You're seeing red.

EERIE: LET'S GO, ASSHOLE!

 

Your head still sting from the debris you blocked- you'd taken a real beating, honestly, but it's better than Frond being dead.

And right now, you're pretty sure you can tank this guy.

The snorlax is caught off guard at your sudden rush-


you're not even sure if he registers it's you-


it's not like the lighting's all that good here, and you were one of many teens he bullied.



Even still, his paws light up, flame crackling between the claws.


You know what's coming.


Motherfucker and his burning punches.




You manage to hit a boulder at just the right angle-


-as you jump off of it and club him in the side of the head.





He snarls, lunging for you and barely managing to scrape your armored shell.





Hah.

He hated you for this- your typing putting him at a disadvantage.

Bigger, stronger, yeah-



But he could only chip at you.

And you're a lot bigger now.




You clash again, getting him in the hip joint.
No point in going for the belly- Remember what Stretch told you about weak spots.


Where else, where else-


He grazes your crest, the heat actually starting to get to you a bit-



Shit, it's probably making the whole passage nasty.
You're gonna have to wrap this up fast.




Another leg shot.
He manages to claw at your neck as he goes down on one knee, ferocity in his face-



His paws ignite, burning harder than before.

RAPPEL: FALL BACK!
 

 

You jump back, the omastar tanking the incoming flaming swipe without even flinching.


The passage is still so dimly lit, only discernible at all from the scattered flashlights and the snorlax's glow



only to be swallowed by the dark, the same shadowy substance from earlier erupting from her back.


Before, you thought it was amorphous, tentacles at best.


No.





The mass unfurls into wings, bat-like and constantly in motion.


The snorlax doesn't have time to react.


Rappel moves so quickly that all he can do is watch in terror, his futile effort at clawing at the omastar met with her sending him flying back through the hole he himself made



screaming



that gets fainter


the sign of someone falling off an edge.

 

 

FROND: ...o-oh my god-
MINERVA: R-rappel-

 

She turns, her wings dissipating as she stretches.

Even in the dim lighting, you can see her determined expression.

RAPPEL: Good work, Eerie.
RAPPEL: Risky, but brave.
RAPPEL: We get more of the latter and less of the former, and we're in business.
RAPPEL: Everybody good?

 

The party can only nod, stunned.

RAPPEL: Good.
RAPPEL: Gotta keep movin'.


 

You glance out of the hole as you pass by, grimacing as you have your fears confirmed.



Rappel absolutely launched that fucker off a cliff.

Like.


He definitely deserved it.



But


uh


Wow.
Okay.



Yep.




He's dead.



You swallow, only to jump a foot when you turn around and see Rappel looking at you.

RAPPEL: ....
RAPPEL: Did you know him?

 

You hesitate, and then nod.

RAPPEL: Guessing relations weren't ideal.

 

You shake your head.

RAPPEL: ....I'm sorry.
RAPPEL: I'm aware it-
RAPPEL: Still hurts.
EERIE: More that....it freaks me out-
RAPPEL: That's a kind of hurt too.
RAPPEL: One I hope you never have to face again, after this.
EERIE: ....

 

She gets back to moving, getting ahead of the pack.



You fall in line, Frond shooting you an equally worried look.



Neither of you say anything.


In fact, no one does.




All you can do is hope this is over soon.














And then the whispering starts.



Rappel and Sweetpea sense it first, stopping dead in their tracks.

SWEETPEA: minnie, hold filigree close-
MINERVA: Wh-

 

And then it hits her,
and Stretch and Frond-


and then you.





The sound of someone breathing unintelligible words, its position unidentifiable.




Someone.

NOT something.



Frond pulls on your leg, breathing hard.

FROND: E-Eerie-
FROND: We, we have to get you somewhere safe, you're still-

 


 

Something drips onto your head.




Your breath stops.






It's right above you.

RAPPEL: GET DOWN

 

You are now Rappel.



Y'know, you've had a lot of cave runs where you've had to do some battling.

Sometimes somebody gets a bit testy.

Run-ins with petty thieves?
Yeah, you've handled those.

It's an unpleasant part of the job.



...This is new!
And not in a way you like!




As you shine your light up and see the gaping maw of something completely alien to you



the fear of the unknown hits you like a freight train.




You have been doing this for decades and you do not know what the fuck that is.




You manage to push Eerie aside right as it drops, the rhyhorn rolling down the path and getting stopped by Sweetpea's leg.





It rises to its feet, slowly.




Frond helps give you some light, as does Minerva- helpful comrades, can't beat them.



A better look eases some tension, only to replace it with another.






Kangaskhan.

You've seen this variant before.
At least, sort of.



Clefairy lineage kangas looked like ethereal, motherly fairies- pastel colors and capable of storing cosmic energy in their translucent stomachs.
Extremely rare, and considered highly valuable in your field of studies.

You're familiar.




But in the split second that you observe it, you see tubes connected to its stomach, pulsating liquid traveling from there into its neck.



THEY DO NOT USUALLY HAVE THOSE.


You get into fighting stance as wet, dripping tendrils shoot out of its back ridges, tipped with needles that glisten in the flashlight.

Your eyes widen.






THEY REALLY DO NOT USUALLY HAVE THOSE.

FROND: R-RAPPEL, UH-
RAPPEL: Stay back!
RAPPEL: I-

 
 

You tense your muscles as the tubes pulse, some kind of steam emerging from its nostrils.

RAPPEL: I HAVE THIS COVERED!

 

....

You're not wrong.



As you dart forward, you let the shadowy mass push you off the ground, forming a massive spike around one of your legs.
A hit from one of these bad boys is more than enough to-



You make contact, piercing into the kangaskhan's neck.


While you didn't usually like to go for such brutal shots, you are not going to risk this party getting killed-







Blood sprays out of the wound, splattering against your face







only for the tubes on its body to pulsate, the pokemon beginning to laugh.

KANGASKHAN: Picked a bad fight, huh?

 

The blood begins to solidify






trapping your leg inside.

RAPPEL: wuh oh


 

It laughs harder, pivoting its whole body in a spin that makes the world violently whirl around you-




-slamming you against the cave wall in a nasty splat.

KANGASKHAN: Looks like you're a weird one...

 

You don't get the chance to try and wriggle free, the pokemon slamming your shell hard against the rock face.

KANGASKHAN: Just

 
 

Pinned.

You can barely even look behind you, two inches away from eating dirt off the wall.

KANGASKHAN: Like.

 

The needle enters your view, your eyes widening as it grazes your cheek.

KANGASKHAN: Me.
 

 

It jams it into your neck, immediately siphoning something from you.

MINERVA: R-RAPPEL-

 
 

Her voice sounds so scared.




....




You get it.




You're at the mercy of some kind of alien-looking thing in a dark cave tunnel.



You can feel your eyes well up with tears against your will, the feeling of being used as some kind of fuel.



You don't know what this mon is, or what it's doing to you, not specifics-



But you're good at figuring out how things work on the fly.



And this isn't your first rodeo.

RAPPEL: D-DON'T INTERVENE
RAPPEL: I'LL BE FINE!
KANGASKHAN: And what makes you think that-
RAPPEL: Because!

 
 

Your other leg pulls forward, forming a shadow spike as it slams back into the kangaskhan,





rupturing one of its neck tubes.

RAPPEL: I have TWO of these!

 

It splutters, more fizzing steam bursting out of the severed flesh.


Yes. Okay. Good! Progress!




...but the other tube is still live.





It inhales hard, raw fluid traveling up from its stomach to patch the wound, driving the needle deeper into your flesh.



It's definitely

taking something.



You're not feeling hurt so much as weak- life force, maybe?
Shit, that's not good.
Your body may be intact, but-


The wound hurts.



You have to desperately shove down the urge to writhe and scream, remembering your other leg is still free.
You had gone clean through the tube, way more narrow than a kangaskhan's neck.



Going for weakpoints is the way out.



You manage to flail enough to swing forward, your backswing enough


to go right


for



the eye.






Even through the shade, you can feel it pierce.

eugh.



It staggers, your head finally released. You fall forward, still tethered to the kangaskhan by the needle as it STAYS INSIDE YOUR BODY-




ooooh fuck that HURTS wow that's worse than an IV by a mile



It starts to suck energy out of you again, likely trying to repair itself-



Not this time.


It's a gambit, but-

You summon another shadow mass

this time


inside yourself.


Where the needle draws.




Your skin bloats for a moment, sending horrible agony shooting through- well, everywhere- before being rapidly siphoned into the kangaskhan's body.


It tries to get words out, only to cough, splutter


and vomit the shade back up, purging all of its restorative acid in the process.

It collapses





and stay down.




The needle releases enough for you to pull it out, the skin feeling horrifically inflamed and aching.



Your face is stained with tears.



You didn't take that much damage.

But you feel hollow, as if the Osteo member had taken far more than just your life force.



....



You wipe your eyes, getting a grip.



You have to get up.


You have to-



A blue glow approaches, Frond helping pull you to your feet as Stretch looks on with a genuinely fearful expression.

RAPPEL: N-no worries, friends-!

 

The electabuzz huffs, the current arcing over its skin flaring up bad.
Shit.
Not good.
At this rate-

STRETCH: It's not fine.
RAPPEL: I-
RAPPEL: I apologize, for the brutality-
FROND: That's-
FROND: That's not the point!

 

You blink.

FROND: I mean, it is the point-
EERIE: YOU JUST STABBED SOMEONE'S EYE OUT
FROND: But-

 

His face contorts into an expression just barely readable in the flashlight.



He's tearing up too.



Ah.

You understand now, seeing him try not to cry.

His breath hitching.

He recognizes things he doesn't even realize, things you never like finding camaraderie in.
...him and Stretch both.


You pat him gently on the head, managing a weak smile.

RAPPEL: ...it's not my first time.
RAPPEL: At my age, in my profession-
RAPPEL: It would be a shock if it was!

 

Your voice comes out more strained than you'd like, dropping your volume just for the two of them.

RAPPEL: ...this part
RAPPEL: never gets easier, though.
RAPPEL: ...I'm sorry you had to witness that.
RAPPEL: Let's move onward and find a place to camp.
RAPPEL: Wounds need to be treated-
RAPPEL: Of all kinds.
RAPPEL: Shall we, my friend?

 

Frond sniffles, nodding.

You give him one more pat before you start guiding the party again.









It's a longer trek than you'd like before you find an abandoned alcove, not wanting to risk camping in the open.

This is still risky, but at least the place still had enough covering to pass as empty from the outside, worn-down, sturdy fabric over the doorway and window openings to keep the dust out.

You check your nav as soon as you sit down- an hour since your last look.





...




The wound on your neck pulses.




It aches.



You resist touching it, having spent the past hour trying to avoid thinking about it at all.


Stretch lets Minerva out of her sled, the bat handing Filigree off to Frond for a checkup before approaching you.

MINERVA: ....may I?

 

Part of you hesitates.


She's a stranger- a nice stranger, but still someone you've been friends with for the past few days.

People would argue that's far too short a time to kill someone for-
maybe two people, depending on the kangaskhan's wounds-
but you've done worse.




....




You nod, taking your jacket off.



Your upper torso is scarred, twenty years of combat and caving damage, "wear and tear" as you used to joke about with Plunge.

She always fusses at you over it, saying that you should be more careful.
Stop using such high risk moves that take time to charge, or have high failure rates-



But it's what you have.



For all of your care in charting cave routes, in learning about an area before taking people down....the moves you've been able to develop and register can be unpredictable, dangerous.


She always looks so tired, scared for you.
Prep time can only do so much, she says.

That maybe you'll save lives in the process, but one of these days you're going to get yourself killed.

MINERVA: ....

 

She pauses.

MINERVA: is it okay for me to touch you?
RAPPEL: With warning, I'm an excellent patient.
RAPPEL: I get all the gold stars!

 

She smiles, albeit somewhat forced.



As she carefully examines the wound, you turn your focus to the rest of the party, checking in with each other and making some sort of sleeping arrangement.


Eerie is still rattled from earlier, and you aren't surprised.
If she's ex-Osteo from years ago-


Forget the gang having a violence spike, you just eviscerated two people she might have known.
At least one of them!



Guilt fills your chest.
Still, you did save her life.
You hope that softens the blow.

RAPPEL: ....I'm sorry.
RAPPEL: This-
RAPPEL: This sort of thing is NOT-
SWEETPEA: ....
SWEETPEA: it's okay.

 

Xer voice is quiet, the venusaur curled up in the corner as best as xey could.

SWEETPEA: It-
SWEETPEA: I mean it when
SWEETPEA: i said i'll do anything.
FROND: And-
FROND: They were, going to kill us-

 

His voice cracks.

FROND: R-right?

 

You nod, half-interrupted by Minerva poking you again.

MINERVA: S-sorry, going to need to, um-
RAPPEL: just get it out it's fine
MINERVA: O-okay...Frond, can you check on everyone else and tell me how they're doing?


 

You manage to grit your beak as the remaining shade is removed from your body, drained like a cyst.

Minnie had been deeply grossed out by this part of your training- a necessary skill when it came to severe elemental wounds- but she doesn't flinch now.






Frond returns after a few moments, wincing more at the fluid coming out of you than your impromptu doctor.

 

FROND: U-uh-
FROND: Me, Stretch and Sweetpea are all good.
FROND: Eerie's still pretty bad, Fili's out cold-
FROND: And, uh, Rappel-

 

Another squeeze, Frond closing his eyes for a moment.

FROND: is right here.
RAPPEL: I'lllllll be up and at 'em in no time!

 

You catch Stretch staring at you from the other side of the room.

You're good at reading expressions.
Not this one.





Stretch and Minnie form a protective wrap around Filigree- the two clearly comfortable around each other, enough to shield the bellsprout together with their own bodies.
Frond stays close by, whispering something to the electabuzz, getting a nod, and laying next to its back.

You, Eerie, and Sweetpea remain awake, watching the outside.
You hadn't been able to do much about the healing, not nearly as much as you'd like.

....but it'd have to be something.





Please



let your efforts be something.
 

---

Well, that's.
That sure is something, isn't it?
Surely the Stars' journey can improve from here!

No suggestions for the next stretch of episodes- this is a MULTI-PART HELL EXPERIENCE! 

....and it does not look good.

See more next time...on SPACE CASE!