Chapter Text
4 Days till the crash.
Anya made the mistake of telling Curly about what happened first, and not someone who would actually act.
Don’t think like that. He’s doing the best he can, given the situation we’re in. We all are.
Did she really believe that, though?
Probably not, given she was heading straight for the Utility Room, where Swansea was currently lecturing Daisuke.
“Uh, hey, Swansea? Do you have a minute?” She asked, peeking into the room.
She made sure to go see him when Curly and Jimmy were both busy. Then neither of them could interrupt.
“Oh, hey Anya!” Daisuke smiled, turning around with a notebook in his hands.
She liked how chipper he was. It was a nice change of pace, and a distraction from… everything else.
“Yea, I do. Have somethin’ that needs fixing in the medical room?” He asked, seeming a bit inconvenienced at the thought of helping.
“Uh- no… no, not really. I just… need to talk to you.” She said, feeling her body begin to tremble.
Is this really a good idea? Am I certain he will help? Will this… change how he sees me?
She walked out into the hall, checking for any signs of another person besides them. When they were in the clear, she turned to Swansea, her mind still racing.
“You look like yer about to shit yer pants, what's going on?” Swansea expression, almost showing true concern for her.
“It’s serious, Swansea… I… I told Curly, but he didn’t do much, so… I’m hoping you can help me.” She told him.
Whether she was stalling on purpose or not, she couldn’t tell. The words just wouldn’t leave her mouth.
“Something happened a couple months ago. Around the second or third month here… Um…” She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
It was like she was losing air faster than she could take it in.
“Anya. I don’t have all day, just spit it out. Swear I won’t be mad if you broke somethin’. I’ll just fix it.” Swansea grumbled, rubbing his forehead like a disappointed dad.
Please don’t make me say it.
Please don’t make me say it.
“Jimmy, he–”
- - - - -
Daisuke jumped when Swansea barged back into the Utility room. He didn’t expect the two to be gone for so long, so he might’ve gotten bored and just… doodled all over his notes…
“S-Swansea, wait, please don’t do anything-” Anya begged, walking after him.
Her face was red, and she looked like she’d just finished crying.
“Hey, what’s going on? Anya, are you okay?” Daisuke asked, setting his notebook down and hurrying over to her.
He glanced back at Swansea, who was rummaging angrily through some drawers.
“Anya, speak to me, what happened?” Daisuke asked, holding her shoulders.
She looked away, seemingly unwilling to cry in front of him.
“I’m gonna kill the bastard.” Swansea muttered, pulling out a hammer from his tool box.
“No! You can’t– You shouldn’t–” Anya begged, pushing past Daisuke. “W-we need a different approach, Jimmy, he’s– he’s unstable.” She told him.
Swansea stopped in front of her, his eyes softening ever-so-slightly at her frantic and honestly terrified expression. The silence was eerie… just waiting for something to happen.
He sighed, dropping the hammer and pulling her close.
It was a rare- no- unthinkable act. Daisuke never thought he’d see the day, and honestly? He was a bit jealous.
But that was all it took for Anya to completely break. She sobbed silently into his chest, and Daisuke watched as Swansea’s expression faded from pure anger, to comfort.
After that, Swansea let Anya calm down in the Utility Room while he explained what happened to Daisuke- with Anya’s permission, of course.
That ‘night’, Daisuke didn’t leave her side. Not for dinner, not for game night, not even when they went to their sleeping quarters. He stayed in her room, letting her try out his Gameboy.
She was safe that night. Safer than she’d felt in forever… and it wasn’t because of Curly’s actions.
- - - - -
3 Days till the crash.
Swansea went to see Curly as soon as he could, with Anya tagging along. Daisuke’s job was to keep Jimmy busy with his meaningless questions and game facts- something he was wonderful at.
They found him in the cockpit, going over some information about the trip.
“You motherfucker.” Swansea said, greeting the Captain by grabbing his collar.
“S-Swansea!” Anya said, pulling his arm back, “You said you wouldn’t hurt him. Don’t hurt him.” She told him, her expression was serious, yet clearly toned down… perhaps for her own safety in mind.
“I haven’t hurt him… yet.” Swansea said, not taking his eyes off Curly.
“Could someone inform me of what’s going on?” Curly asked, looking between the two of them, trying to not panic.
“I…” Anya panicked quickly, backing down.
Curly put it together, almost shamefully quickly.
“You told him?” Curly asked, his voice soft.
“Damn right she did. You know why? Because you just had a conversation with him. A conversation.” Swansea spat, before setting him back down.
“I know, it was my fault- I should’ve done more- but I’m gonna handle it. I’m gonna fix it.” Curly told him, an almost fierce look in his eyes.
“Yes, you will. And you know how?” Swansea asked.
“The only true way you can get rid of an invasive species. You fucking kill it.”
- - - - -
2 Days till the crash.
“Do we really think this is going to work?” Daisuke asked, holding Anya’s hand for comfort.
Curly, Swansea, Anya, and Daisuke were all in the lounge, speaking as quietly as they could while Jimmy was in the cockpit doing god knows what.
“It should. I’m going to make sure of it. And good ole’ Captain here’s gonna write the best damn report there is… isn’t he?” Swansea asked, his voice full of bitter delight.
“Yeah… Yeah, I will. We just have to make sure to pull it off flawlessly, or else–”
“Or else what? You guys keeping secrets?” Jimmy asked, entering the lounge.
Curly looked at Anya, then back at Jimmy.
“Nothing you need to be concerned about, Jimmy.” He laughed it off, standing.
“Totally! Not like we were planning a surprise or anything… nothing like that…” Daisuke joined, holding Anya’s hand tighter.
“Daisuke, shut yer damn trap. Yer nonstop yammerings gonna get you in trouble one day.” Swansea played along, hitting Daisuke lightly on the head before moving along to the kitchen.
“A surprise? Sounds fun, but we have work to do… Like always.” Jimmy said, his eyes drawn to the figure sunk beside Daisuke.
“We should get to it then, huh Jim?” Curly asked, getting his eyes back on him.
“...Yeah.”
Jimmy and Curly left, while Daisuke and Anya stayed in the lounge.
“I… I don’t know if I can do this, Daisuke.” Anya whispered, looking at the screen, which was now changing to the nighttime mode.
“You don’t have to be a part of it, Anya. I promise. I… I don’t even know what I’d do in your shoes. But we’re here for you. You aren’t going through any of this alone anymore.” Daisuke told her, looking her in the eyes.
She couldn’t manage a response- only being able to lean in and hug him. It was enough in the moment, but every part of her was still brimming with pure terror.
- - - - -
1 Day till the crash.
Anya paced around the Medical Room. She was alone for the first time in days, with Curly busy taking care of some extra work reports, and Daisuke and Swansea repairing a damaged pipe. It was only morning time. She was counting down the hours with no hope.
Unfortunately, she also had work to do, but was unable to concentrate for the life of her.
I can do this. I can do it. I… I’ve got this.
Her thoughts stopped when the Medical Door slid open.
I can’t do this.
“Ah, h-hey Jimmy, you okay? Uh, What do you need?” She asked, stepping back behind her desk.
He eyed her, before shutting the door.
“You seem nervous. Something wrong?” He asked.
My rotten luck- horrible, awful luck.
“No, no, nothing’s wrong. Just… trying to get some work done.” Anya responded, shuffling some papers around to seem busy.
“You don’t look busy. Mind a few questions?” Jimmy asked, taking a seat in front of her desk.
There’s no getting him to leave now…
“I guess not… but I really should–”
“I know you’re hiding something.”
No… no no no. Not yet. Not now. We aren’t ready- no one’s here yet.
“What do you mean?” Anya asked, trying to stay calm.
“Don’t play dumb, Nurse Anya. You’re supposed to be smart, right?” Jimmy asked, his eyes boring into her soul.
“Well, I just–”
“I know you all were discussing something in the lounge yesterday. And you didn’t say a word when I entered, even with Curly around. I want you to tell me what it was. As the copilot, I think I deserve to know.”
“I’m sure you remember what Daisuke said, right? A surprise.” Anya told him, avoiding eye contact.
Jimmy stared at her, his gaze like a sickening light; unable to turn off and always blinding her.
“You can’t keep it a secret forever.” He told her, standing from his seat, his eyes still on her.
She looked up at him, hoping her anger would overcome her fear of him. It didn’t. He kept staring, as if that would get her to crack and spill everything. Luckily, she didn’t.
Just as he turned to leave, Daisuke rushed in, clearly worried and out of breath. He nearly crashed right into Jimmy as he entered.
“Hey, watch it!” Jimmy yelled, stepping back.
“Anya! There you are!” Daisuke cried, ignoring Jimmy entirely.
“Daisuke, what’s wrong?” Anya asked, her eyes detaching from Jimmy, and onto her friend.
“It’s Swansea, he smashed his thumb, he needs help.” Daisuke spoke, his tone sounding far more serious than the words coming out of his mouth.
“Oh, that sounds horrible!” Anya said, playing along with the urgency while grabbing the medkit, “Lead me to him, I’ll check it out.”
With that, the pair left, leaving Jimmy in the Medical Room alone.
Anya held Daisuke’s hand the whole way down to Utility, while he helped her calm down. She managed to stammer out what happened to Swansea, to which he immediately went to Curly.
Only a few minutes later, did Swansea come back, with Curly at his side.
“We have to do it tonight. No more hesitating. It’s now or never.” Swansea said, while Curly comforted Anya.
“I know. We will.” Curly nodded.
Curly stayed with Anya that afternoon. They sat in the lounge, both of them unable to think, with the pressure of the night's event almost upon them. Anya looked restless- anxious through her whole body.
“You holding up?” Curly asked, taking her hand.
“I…” She sighed, looking away. “There’s something I haven’t mentioned yet, Curly…” She muttered.
He heard her voice crack, and held her hand tighter.
“What is it?” Curly asked, leaning to see her face, “What’s wrong?”
“I’m… I’m pregnant, Curly.” She whispered.
The sound of flowing air and the normal ship ambience was all that could be heard then.
“I’m gonna fix this. I’m gonna take care of it.”
- - - - -
They’re hiding something. They have to be. Are all of them really in on it? Even Curly? Anya must be the center of it. There’s no one he cares about more than her. His precious Anya.
Jimmy paced his room, feeding into the vengeful thoughts in his head.
He was losing it, slowly but surely, with all these secrets.
He was going to find out, whether they wanted him to or not. It didn’t matter what it took. He’d find out just how these idiotic, pathetic little rats managed to bring him even lower than he was.
“Jimmy? You okay in there?” Curly's voice sounded on the other side of his door.
“Yeah… I’m here. I’m fine.” Jimmy said, opening his door.
“Good, we need you in the Utility Room.” Curly told him, a slightly intimidating look on his face.
Jimmy had a hard time remembering the last time he saw his friend look so serious.
“What for? Swansea should be the one fixing stuff, not me.” Jimmy said, following him out of his room and down the stairs.
“He got injured earlier, so Anya’s helping him.” Curly told him.
This is wrong. Something’s wrong.
“Right…” Jimmy muttered.
He followed him down into the Utility room, and towards one of the back areas. He’d follow him anywhere, if it meant recognition.
So when Curly told him about a broken pipe, he barely recognized the fact that the out-of-order vent was right above him.
“I don’t see what you’re talking about, Curly. I think we should just wait for Swansea to fix it. I’m sure whatever happened wasn’t that bad.” Jimmy groaned, standing.
“Maybe you’re right. But as Copilot, I think you should be able to handle a few things like this.” Curly told him.
Again, he was serious. This wasn’t the friend who would laugh and make jokes with him. Something’s changed.
“I don’t know what you’re going on about, Curly, but I’m sure it isn’t that serious.” Jimmy said, trying to push past the situation to figure out what's up with him.
“Maybe you’re right. Maybe it’s all nothing.” Curly replied.
It all changed, but far too fast.
Jimmy glanced at the Utility door, able to see a figure standing in the doorway. Anya.
He was right- he was right, it was her–
A loud thump and continuous rumbling could be heard for just a moment, till something struck Jimmy, and it was lights out.
And all he was left with was the dimly lit view of his mistake- a horrifying reminder of his lack of responsibility.
- - - - -
Crash Avoided.
Curly sat in the cockpit, writing up a report for the company, to explain the lack of their copilot.
Written from the Tulpar, by; Captain Curly.
An unfortunate event occurred on the Tulpar just last night. Our Nurse, Anya, was taking care of our on-board Engineer, Swansea, after he sustained an injury in the Utility room. Swansea, taking into account his mentee’s current skill level, barred Daisuke from fixing the issue. I was held up in manning the ship, so our Copilot, Jimmy, had to take care of it. Unfortunately, there seemed to be an accident while we were all occupied, leaving Jimmy alone.
Of course, this was an oversight on my part as Captain, so I will accept any de-ranking you have waiting for me. When I went to check on Jimmy, noticing his prolonged absence, I recognized the build up of emergency foam, and the lack of Jimmy’s body. Unfortunately, it seems as though he got encased in the foam, and I fear that any attempt to fish him out might result in damage to the Tulpar. We are all pushing through this experience to get our jobs done, but we also would like to request early landing or help on this ship due to the death of our Copilot. Any help from Pony Express would be appreciated. Other than that, we should be on course to finish the mission soon enough.
Signed, Captain Curly.
Curly couldn’t expect much from the reply, due to the fact that Pony Express was practically dissolved now, and he offered up his demotion because he already knew the others were going to get laid off when they got back.
But he solved this problem. And he would solve any other that came their way.