Chapter Text
“Simon!”
Iplier runs ahead through the rubble, heart beating out of his chest. Annus reaches out to grab him, but misses, watching with worried eyes as Iplier kneels beside the unmoving Simon, shoving the rubble off of him..
“Doc, don’t!” Annus yells, taking a step forward.
“He’s hurt, I’m a doctor! Let me do my job, damnit!” Iplier hisses back with a sharp glare, before turning back to Simon. He moves the large chunk of debris off his head, sticky blood mixing with the dust on his hand as he hovers it over his friend in worry.
He first brushes the matted dark hair out of Simon’s face, and grimaces, Iplier hardly recognizing Simon’s features anymore. He looks even worse up close. His face is more skeletal than not, his skin red and bloody, the same as the rest of his body. His eyes and nose are sunken in, black thin veins pulsating around his face, going in and out his skin…or lack thereof. Iplier hums in worry, placing a gentle hand on the broken bony horn on Simon’s head, feeling the sharp broken top. He puts a bit of pressure on it, all but confirming it’s thoroughly attached to his skull. And the fact it was broken off with such force…he prays Simon even wakes up at all after that hit…
Iplier swallows thickly, his mouth dry. He moves his hand to the side of Simon’s head where the main injury is, pressing on it gently. Simon twitches at the contact, but stays unconscious. Iplier feels the wound, and sighs in relief when he feels it isn’t too deep. It didn’t seem to crack his skull, just leave a bad gash…he hopes. Iplier’s skin now solid red with Simon’s blood, he pulls his hand back to grab the hem of his white coat. He rips off a piece of it before pressing the bundle of cloth firmly against Simon’s wound, soaking up the rapidly flowing blood. He stares at Simon’s face, trying to keep himself composed and professional as he does his best to stabilize his friend.
Annus keeps his eyes locked on Iplier and Simon, watching intently for any movement from Simon. He can’t let Simon hurt anyone, for all their sakes. Yancy stands beside him, hands on his hips, tired eyes staring up at the spacecraft looming above them.
“Well, that’s one ways to incapacitate hims.” He says flatly, Illinois and Nightguard clambering over the rubble towards the wall below the ship.
“ENGIE, YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!” Illinois yells angrily, hitting his fist against the wall, causing more of it to crumble. “GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE NOW!!!”
After a minute of nothing, a panel on the side of the ship slides open, and Engineer appears, hot anger in his own eyes. “CELCI, I GET IT!!! YOU CAN STOP YELLING AT ME!!!”
“I TOLD you that you’d crash! You absolute, smooth-brained MORON!!!”
Illinois hears a girl’s voice through the radio on Engineer’s wrist, Engineer huffing in frustration.
“THE SHIP IS STILL IN ONE PIECE!!!”
“WELL YOU WON’T BE WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU, YOU STUPID, IDIOTIC, MOTHERF-”
Engineer hits a button on his wrist device, the girl’s voice cutting off. He sits on the edge of the ship’s door, closes his eyes, and sighs a long sigh, his legs dangling off the edge. He then opens his eyes with a groan, and looks around the destruction, before his gaze lands on Illinois below him.
“You wanna chew me out too?” Engineer says flatly, an exhausted look on his face. Illinois stares a moment, before crossing his arms.
“No, I think you get the point. Though, if you killed Simon, I think you may as well start digging your own grave now-”
“WaitwaitwaitWHAT?!” Engineer yells sharply, scrambling off the side of the ship. He falls clumsily off and drops into the rubble onto his face with a pained wheeze, before pushing himself up. He looks around with wide eyes, freezing when he sees Iplier beside an unmoving Simon. “O-oh shit…” Engineer mumbles, staying on his knees as he takes in the scene.
He sees the destruction of the lobby, debris everywhere, his ship lodged in the wall, and a fully mutated Simon unconscious in a pile of blood and rubble, rubble he caused to fall-
“Oh god oh god oh god-” He cries, pushing himself up onto shaking legs. Engineer backs away, his face pale either from fear, the dust from the debris, or both. One hand grabs his stomach, a scared whine escaping him.
“What’s going on now, Engie-”
“STAY IN THE SHIP, KING!!!” Engineer yells frantically, and Illinois looks up, seeing a confused and rattled looking King peering out the door. “JUST…STAY IN THERE!!!” He yells, King humming in worry as he does as he’s told and backs away. Illinois sees Engineer struggling to breathe.
“Engie-”
“Oh god oh god WHAT HAPPENED?!” He cries, motioning to Simon. “I-I lost signal, the transporter was down, I-I took the ship to get here cause I had a bad feeling, a-and and and-”
“Breathe, damnit!” Illinois snaps, grabbing Engineer firmly by his arms. “We don’t know exactly what happened, just that-”
“EVERYONE SHUT UP!!!”
Everyone looks Iplier’s way, the doctor holding one hand up to silence the rest. Annus looks over, and his nerves spike when he sees Simon’s arm move.
“D-doc, get away from him-”
“Hold on!” Iplier snaps back, not breaking his gaze from Simon.
Simon lets out a pained wheeze, and his head adjusts, turning a bit. His arm moves slightly, and Iplier stares as Simon’s eyes flicker open. Iplier’s heart skips when he sees two glowing white pupils look dazedly ahead, Simon’s eyes no longer a black void of nothingness.
“Simon…?” Iplier mumbles with a shaky voice and a smile, hesitating a moment before he puts his hand on top of Simon’s. It’s wet and bloody, but Iplier doesn’t care.
Simon wheezes again through his fangs, his body motionless save for his eyes which keep blinking groggily. His head adjusts slightly, and Iplier stays perfectly still as Simon’s drifting pupils finally lock on him. They stare a moment, Simon unresponsive for a few seconds…until the white pupils widen, and Simon lets out a strained wheeze of a gasp. He yanks his hand away from Iplier, and clumsily pushes himself back, falling onto his face twice as his arms shake horribly.
“Simon, wait-”
Simon looks his way, a look of pure terror on his face, his eyes as wide as they can be. Iplier sees red blood begin to drip from the corners of his eyes like tears, his wheezing getting worse.
“He’s in there…” Annus whispers in awe, seeing Simon look around the room fearfully.
“Percussive maintenance, I use it all the time to fix stuffs.” Yancy says with a nod, his arms crossed casually.
Simon looks more and more scared each time he sees a new person come into his view, his eyes snapping back and forth between everyone in his line of sight. He keeps pushing himself away from the others, his wheezing getting worse by the second as his tail drags limply behind him.
“Simon, stop!” Iplier yells, clambering to his feet. He runs towards Simon, whose pupils shrink in fear. He whimpers, and throws one hand to his mouth, covering his fangs. His other hand, he curls into a ball, and hides it under his tail. He shakes his head rapidly, wide eyes desperate as Iplier stops and stands before him. “Simon…”
Simon shakes his head harder, a strained wheeze escaping him from behind his hand. His eyes squeeze shut, and he curls up like a frightened snake, his tail wrapping around himself. He keeps his hand over his mouth, the spines on his back nearly flattened down completely against his body. For how long he’s become, he looks downright small.
Iplier’s heart twists, his eyes starting to burn. He slowly kneels before the trembling Simon, still giving him room. “I know you can’t hear me…” Iplier says softly, before reaching his hand up slowly. “But you’re ok…I’m not scared of you, Simon…”
Iplier gently places a finger on the side of Simon’s bloody tail, and Simon tenses, curling up more. He hides his face in his arm, whimpering. Iplier hums, and slowly taps on him a few times in a pattern he knows Simon will understand.
‘Safe’
Simon stays huddled tight for a moment, before finally peeking up over his arm. His glowing pupils shimmer, red tears streaming down his cheeks from the corners of his eyes. He looks down at Iplier’s hand, and Iplier gives him a warm, familiar smile. He gently taps on him again.
‘We here. You safe.’
Iplier didn’t know morse code before Simon had arrived, but seeing as Simon’s knowledge of the tool has helped them numerous times in the past, Iplier took it upon himself to learn it. He isn’t the best at it yet, but…he knows easy words. He knows enough to tell Simon what he needs to hear.
Simon stares at Iplier’s hand, then looks up to meet his gaze. Iplier tilts his head with a compassionate smile, and gives Simon a small nod. Simon keeps his one hand over his mouth, hiding his fangs, but he slowly moves his other hand out. He hesitates a moment, and Iplier sees his hand visibly trembling. He then taps his clawed finger on the hard ground a few times.
‘Will…hurt…you…’
Iplier shakes his head, Simon looking up at him with scared, desperate eyes. Iplier reaches down without hesitation, and grabs Simon’s mutated hand gently in his own. Simon whimpers, and his hand tenses firm in Iplier’s grasp, as if he’s scared the smallest movement will hurt his friend. But Iplier keeps his hand in his own, gently rubbing the top of it with his thumb. He doesn’t care about the veins or blood or wet rotted-looking skin. He holds Simon’s hand as if it were any other day. Iplier uses his other hand to tap on Simon’s tail again.
‘No. I trust. Will-…’ Iplier pauses, quickly wracking his brain for the correct letters. ‘Will save. Turn back. You heal. Live.’
The last word seems to break Simon’s defenses down entirely. His other hand falls from his mouth, revealing his mouthful of fangs, and he closes his eyes. A sob escapes him, wet and strained. His eyes still closed as he cries, he taps the ground again with a single claw.
‘Monster.’
Iplier frowns, and huffs. He lets go of Simon’s hand, and immediately reaches forward. He pulls Simon into a hug against him, Simon yelping at the motion. His entire body goes still, the spines on his back flat as can be against his back. He keeps his arms out, his clawed hands away from Iplier. He lifts his head up at an angle, as if to keep his fangs as far away from his friend’s throat as possible. Iplier squeezes him tighter, not letting go. He feels the blood coating Simon’s body begin to seep into his shirt, the feeling warm and sticky. He taps a pattern on Simon’s back.
‘Family.’
Simon trembles in Iplier’s grasp, and his head finally flops onto his shoulder. He sobs, his cries wet and strained. His arms fall to his sides, his body going limp. He taps once more, this time on Iplier’s leg.
‘Tired…hurts…’
Iplier sighs, and rubs Simon’s back, not letting go.
‘Will fix. Be brave.’
He feels Simon nod, and Iplier keeps him in his grasp, not daring to let go. He glances to the side, and sees the others watching in silence. All five look emotional, but now with a spark of hope in their eyes.
“H-he’s ok…Engie, we need to turn him back now…please…” Iplier says softly, meeting Engie’s teary eyes. Engie stutters, and staggers to his feet off the rubble.
“I-I mean I can! B-but I need the warp crystal! I don’t have it, doc…”
“Who does?” Illinois asks, Engineer running his hand through his messy hair.
“Uh, Dark I think…where is he by the way?”
“GOOD FUCKING QUESTION!!!” Annus yells in anger, making Engineer jump. “Where the hell has he been this entire time?! He should have been here helping us secure Simon! It shouldn't have gone this far!” He yells, motioning to the broken-looking Simon slumped against Iplier, his wheezy sobs breaking his heart.
“C-can you tell Simon I’m uh…sorry for dropping a spaceship on his head…?” Engineer asks timidly, Iplier giving him a look.
“Let’s turn him back first before we talk more, I’m not sure how much longer he’ll keep control of himself…” He says, looking back down to Simon. “We’ve more than proven the blood is a hive mind, and it won’t leave us or Simon alone for long…” Iplier says in worry, Simon still slumped against him. He keeps crying and trembling, his body motionless otherwise against Iplier’s chest. “But he’s still in control, for now…”
“DARK!!!!!!! GET OUT HERE YOU BASTARD!!!!” Annus screams at the top of his lungs, Engineer scrambling back in shock at Annus’ shout.
As if on cue, a dark swirl of shadows form on the far wall, and Dark steps out of the rift, looking less than pleased. His fists are clenched, his eyes narrow, his lip curled into a bit of a snarl.
“I do not appreciate your words or tone, Annus…” Dark hums deeply, Annus not backing down, his face defiant. “I have been working to secure the situation-”
“YOU CALL THIS SECURE?!” Annus yells, motioning to the destroyed wall. “Where the fuck have you been?!”
“We have needed you, Dark!” Nightguard cuts in, stepping up to stand beside Annus. “We’ve been run ragged with all this!”
“Do you know who did this to Simon?!” Engineer asks, worry in his voice.
“And Host, what about him-” Illinois starts.
“ENOUGH!!!” Dark screams, slamming his cane down onto the ground.
Simon tenses at that, and slowly lifts his head up to peer over Iplier’s shoulder. Iplier suddenly feels Simon go rigid with a sharp gasp, and he pulls his hands back in shock as the bony spikes on Simon’s back stick up straight in an instant.
“Simon?” Iplier asks in worry, hearing Simon begin to growl from deep within his throat. He scoots back, and sees Simon’s black eyes narrow and turn sharp as he looks beyond him at Dark, his fangs bared as he growls. But his glowing pupils are still present…
Simon is still himself, so why is he suddenly so upset…?
“First, I told you all to stay together in the clinic!” Dark snaps, turning to glare at Engineer. “And what the fuck is this?!” He yells, motioning to the spacecraft lodged in the wall.
“I-I got worried when the transporter lost signal, so I-”
“Oh, shut up…” Dark hisses, Engineer going quiet and looking down at his feet at that. Dark turns again, and his eyes narrow when he sees Simon beside Iplier. Dark’s eyebrow raises. “Hm…”
“Dark, you’ve got explaining to do!” Annus yells, Dark’s eyes locked with Simon’s. “You’ve been acting strange all day! What’s going on? Who did this to Simon?”
“He did it to himself.” Dark says calmly, placing both hands on the top of his cane. “Seems your little cure wasn’t permanent…” He says, glancing to Engineer. Engineer stutters with a fearful look, but Dark waves him off. “If you all must know, I was trying to spare you all the hurt of seeing him like this…”
“Dark, we could have done something sooner to fix him!” Iplier yells, Simon hunching low beside him, eyes locked on Dark. Dark’s lip curls into a snarl once more as he meets Simon’s eyes.
“There is nothing to be done. He will only keep turning back into…this.” He says with a wave towards Simon. “I did all I could, but his world holds too tight a grip on him.”
“That’s bullshit…” Yancy hisses, crossing his arms. “You alls fixed him once! We can do it again!”
“Then this will keep happening!” Dark snaps, his voice sharp. “You really want to know the truth? Simon is the one responsible for Host’s injury.”
Iplier’s eyes widen, his gaze turning to Simon. “N-no, he was still human when Host fell-”
“The blood was just starting to take over his mind, he didn’t know what he was doing…” Dark says with a sigh, looking sad as he shakes his head. “He attacked Host, but didn’t even remember it. And the androids…they’ve been incapacitated ever since his infectious blood got into their systems…they may never wake up thanks to him.”
“T-that doesn’t make…sense…” Iplier whispers brokenly, his mind reeling. Simon stays still beside him, not breaking his gaze from Dark. His claws scrape the ground slightly, leaving indents in the floor.
Dark shakes his head, closing his eyes.
“I’m afraid it’s true. I was trying to find a solution, but…if even the warp crystal failed, I don’t believe there to be any hope for him…”
“You sound like you just wanna…gives up on him!” Yancy yells, throwing his arms down, his hands clenched into fists.
“He’s one of us! We don’t give up on our own!” Illinois adds, Dark glaring at him.
“And what if his blood infects you all next, hm?” He says, looking back to Simon. “How long until he causes all of you to be lost to his curse the same way? I cannot allow it…”
“Dark…” Iplier mumbles, a sick feeling arising in his stomach. His mouth feels dry.
Surely he doesn’t mean that…
“Look at him!” Dark snaps, motioning to Simon. Simon snarls, blood dripping from his jaws onto the floor. “He’s too far gone! I have to keep the safety of the majority as a priority…” His head tilts down, and his eyes darken as he glares at Simon. “I believe the best course of action at this point…is to return him to his world.”
Iplier’s eyes widen, a paralysis taking over his body. He stares at Dark in disbelief, though Dark keeps his eyes on Simon. Dark’s had tilts to the side, a sympathetic look on his face.
“He can at least thrive in the blood ocean, and remain alive where he won’t bring harm to the rest of us.”
Iplier stares, his face pale. He hears Simon growl beside him, and he glances over. He sees the glowing white pupils still in Simon’s eyes, a look of anger on his face as he stares at Dark. Iplier’s thoughts reel, everything from the past day swirling in his head like a cyclone. Nothing has made sense. This doesn’t make sense. His head snaps up, distant eyes drifting to Dark.
…why isn’t he glitching?
“Are you out of your fucking mind?!” Annus snaps, Dark not looking his way. “What the hell are you-”
“Dark wouldn’t say that…”
Everyone looks over as Iplier shakily rises to his feet. He stands beside Simon, his face neutral. He takes a step closer towards Dark, who looks at him with a raised eyebrow.
“Excuse me?”
“Dark…wouldn’t say that…” Iplier repeats, stopping a few feet away from Dark. His arms hang at his side, his eyes staring into Dark’s. “Dark…would never suggest that…ever.”
Dark sputters, and smiles a forced smile. “Are you out of your mind, doctor?”
“Are you?” Iplier responds without missing a beat, Dark’s smile fading into a scowl. He glares, and grips his cane with one hand.
“Know your place, doctor…” He growls, his other hand clenching into a fist. Iplier doesn’t back down, his eyes sharp.
“What was that you said earlier…about the threat being from the inside…?” He asks, Dark baring his teeth at that.
“Are you accusing me of causing this?!” Dark snaps, taking a firm step forward. Iplier doesn’t move. “Because if I recall, it was you who left the mutant blood out, which led to Simon’s mutations, and thus, this…” He says, almost smugly. Iplier’s eye twitches.
“But I didn’t mutate Simon…” Iplier says coldly, taking another step closer. Dark grimacres, and reels his hand with the cane back. Simon’s eyes widen. “It was-”
“KNOW YOUR PLACE!!!” Dark screams, swinging the cane towards Iplier.
Iplier gasps, and throws his arms up in defense…but no hit comes. The others can only watch in shock as Simon quickly pounces past Iplier, and grabs Dark’s cane in his jaws, ripping it from his hand in one swift motion.
“S-Simon…” Iplier breathes, staggering back as Simon spits the cane out to the side. He growls deeply, and scrapes his claws along the ground, before lunging at a disoriented Dark, teeth bared.
Dark screams as Simon’s long fangs dig into his leg, his jaws locked as he snarls and shakes his head. Iplier steps back in shock, but cold dread fills his chest when one last key detail reveals itself to him…
“Dark! We gotta stop him-” Nightguard yells, running towards Simon. Iplier grabs his arm, stopping him.
“No.”
“NO?! He’s gonna rip Dark apart!” Nightguard cries, but Iplier keeps his eyes locked on Simon and Dark.
“Doc, what are you-” Illinois starts, but Iplier just points.
“Dark doesn’t bleed red.” He says flatly, pointing ahead, an empty feeling taking over his chest.
Simon is tearing into Dark’s leg amid snarls and growls, Dark barely managing to stay on his feet as he screams and tries to pry Simon off his leg…
His leg that is now covered in shiny red blood from Simon’s attack, not an ounce of black to be seen as Simon tears into his flesh.