Chapter Text
The trek through the body is both amazing and surprising. The former because of how vast and pretty it can be when it wants to, and the latter because of how the rogue Neutrophil could be quite docile and even caring, if one could believe it. But that’s the only way AE3803 could describe him as they both help out some Platelets unload reconstruction cargo.
‘How can one cell be so terrifying, yet so gentle at the same time?’ AE3803 wonders as she trots behind him. ‘He won’t touch the Platelets or normal cells, but he’ll go after Red Blood Cells? Why us? I thought immune cells aren’t allowed to hurt other cells?’
The feeling of being glared at makes 1146 turn over his shoulder. “Would you mind cutting that out? You’re gonna end up getting lost again if you don’t commit this to memory.”
AE3803 stiffens. “Sorry!”
She goes quiet, blowing out a sigh. 1146 turns back around, continuing to lead the way. AE3803 glances around as she does so. But her gaze keeps flicking back to the Rogue Cell in front of her.
The receptor on the back of his plasma-stained hat keeps going off. It sounds like it’s malfunctioning, based off the odd, warbling dinging. Even 1146 takes notice, taking off his receptor to glare at it.
“So… Is it normal for that thing to sound like that?” AE3803 points.
“Not for this long. Though, it certainly is acting all weird.” 1146 replies. “It might be busted. It’s pretty beat up, too.” His dark gaze narrows on the item, trembling in his grasp.
“Do we need to make a pit stop to replace it?” The Erythrocyte wonders.
“No. We’ll keep going. Regardless if this thing is broken, that Pneumococcus is heading to the lungs. That is, if he hasn’t decided to head to another organ.” 1146 keeps going, reattaching his receptor. “Besides, I don’t need you getting lost. I’ll have to track you down all over again if I want to finish our earlier scuffle.” He proceeds onward, terrifying AE3803 as he does so.
“Right. Of course. How could I forget…” She mumbles to herself, only able to keep following him.
A pause forms in the two’s trek when a large TV crackles to life. The mingling cells turn to the screen to see Helper T Cell giving some news. Even so, there’s plenty of Red Blood Cells focusing more on the Rogue Cell standing in the center of the place.
[We’re hereby deploying the Killer T Cells!] Helper T Cell exclaims.
1146 just huffs. It’s not long after the announcement that a thumping march encroaches upon the plaza, catching everyone’s attention. The Killer T Cells are imposing as they come through. And almost immediately the head of the group begins to shout about taking down the stray pathogen.
“They’re awfully imposing, huh?” AE3803 comments quietly.
1146 doesn’t reply at first, doesn’t even nod. He just sharpens the sight of his revealed eye on the group. One hand reaches for a cleaver on his back, gripping it tightly.
“Let’s get going. They’re just going to be a waste of time.” The Rogue Cell eventually states, already turning for another path to the lungs.
“Right.” AE3803 begins to follow.
“Hold on a minute, you two!” Unfortunately, they’re caught by the leader Killer T Cell. “What’s that Red Blood Cell doing with you, Rogue Cell? Gonna chop her up into tiny bits and make her into stew?” He stomps over, looking all the more intimidating with his height and bulk.
1146 doesn’t answer. He detached his cleaver from its sheathe.
“Well? Are you gonna answer me, Rogue Cell?” Killer T inquires again, fists balling up tight.
“…She’s an eye witness to the Pneumococcus.” He finally answers.
“‘Eye witness,’ my ass! You’re just dragging her away to some dark nook between tissues to slaughter her, aren’t you!?” Killer T jabs a finger into 1146’s chest.
“After the Pneumococcus is killed.” The White Blood Cell admits.
‘I sure do love always getting reminded about how I’m gonna die soon.’ AE3803 thinks off to the side.
“Figures! cannibalistic scum like you are what makes keeping this world alive so hard, you know that?!” Killer T shouts. “Without the Red Blood Cells, all the other cells won’t get nutrients and oxygen! Even I know that!”
“There’s always more Erythrocytes to deliver those nutrients and oxygen.” 1146 counters.
Killer T’s teeth grit together. “Enough of this! Since us Killer T Cells are deployed, we might as well get rid of scum like you, too! This world might actually live a while!”
He goes in for a mean left hook. 1146 evades with a side-step. Killer T’s fist nearly takes AE3803’s head off, stopping just short of the tip of her nose. She blinks dumbly for a moment before the realization she nearly died—again—hits her.
“Oops. Sorry, Red Blood Cell. Didn’t see you there.” Killer T’s response feels oddly cold…
“What do you mean ‘Oops?!’ You nearly took her head off!” Another Red Blood Cell cries from afar.
“Be glad I didn’t!” Killer T barks back angrily.
He then turns to 1146, still glowering defiantly back up at him. Killer T can barely pull a sneer before 1146 is throwing his arm out, cleaver in hand. Killer T steps back to avoid the blow and reposition himself for another strike.
“Sir, we should probably get a move on. That Pneumococcus could be at the lungs already.” Another Killer T Cell states.
There’s a long stretch of loathing silence. But the leader of the division huffs and turns away.
“Fine. Men, let’s go! If I see any one of you slow down, you’re getting sent to the spleen!” He shouts.
“Sir, yes, sir!” His men holler back.
As they turn to scour the body for the stray pathogen, Killer T turns back around to the Rogue Cell and Red Blood Cell. “You, Erythrocyte! Listen up!”
AE3803 turns, giving him her attention.
“That rogue Neutrophil might be out here doing his job, but he’s still rogue. Not to mention that that Pneumococcus also loves feasting on you Red Blood Cells, seeing as they need nutrients to survive.” A mean, devilish smirk crosses his face, striking more fear into AE3803. “And you’re the only cells that carry those nutrients. So you better watch your back and front!”
He barks out some haughty laughter before leaving to catch up with his men. 1146 just sighs and grabs AE3803’s collar, stirring her from her freezing fear.
“Ignore him. He’s just trying to scare you.” The Rogue Cell states.
“But you keep saying you’re gonna kill me after this!” AE3803 argues back.
“Yeah, but the other stuff was just to scare you.” 1146 replies coldly.
“IT’S STILL SCARY KNOWING YOU’RE GONNA DIE!” AE3803 hollers back.
The lungs are an impressive place, in AE3803’s opinion. Large and airy, constantly filtering the oxygen that comes through and expelling the carbon dioxide made by normal cells.
“The lungs are so huge! I mean, I knew they were big, but it’s still so amazing to see it for yourself!” AE3803 marvels all around at the large machines rumbling.
“It’s peaceful here. Has the Pneumococcus not made it yet…?” 1146 is a little busier thinking aloud to himself.
AE3803 notices his distracted state. ‘Maybe I can slip away? I’ll be able to escape and get my delivery done!’ She glances around for someplace to slip through. ‘I should take the chance now before it slips away!’
Hurrying off as quietly as she can, AE3803 disappears into the crowd. Thankfully, the fear and wariness of the other Red Blood Cells makes them creates a large ring around the Rogue Cell, allowing easier escape.
‘Finally! I’m free! I can live to see another day~!’ AE3803 could cry in joy right now.
In the meantime, 1146 glances around. “If the Pneumococcus isn’t here, then I might as well finish what we started–” He pulls out a cleaver and turns for his plus-1.
But she’s long gone, nowhere in sight. 1146 casts his gaze around in search of her but finds no heads nor tails of her. He clicks his tongue while his brows furrow.
“I see… So you took the opportunity to scurry away, did you?” He mutters to himself, eyes crossing over the other Red Blood Cells. “No matter. Another chase will just make the plasma taste better.”
1146 begins his search, starting off towards the capillaries and the alveolus where the carbon dioxide gets expelled. At the same time, he keeps a look-out for any sign of the Pneumococcus.
‘It would be made easier if my receptor worked–’ 1146 thinks.
But the Rogue Cell pauses as he realizes something. 1146 takes off his receptor again, now silent in his palm. Turning back up to the halls, he can’t see any germs or pathogens.
Just Red Blood Cells, trying their hardest to avoid him in any way possible.
AE3803 hums as she strolls through the capillaries. Doors leading to numerous alveolus sit on either side of her. She stops in front of one, a sign asking for Red Blood Cells to only come in one at a time.
‘This is an alveolus? It’s so small.’ AE3803 glances around the tiny room, feeling more akin to a supply closet. ‘I hope that Pneumococcus isn’t around. Honestly, I’m not sure which I’d prefer running into; That pathogen or the Rogue Cell…’ A droplet of nervous sweat slithers down her temple.
The box on her cart makes a rattle. AE3803 looks down as it shakes another time. A slender blade pokes out from the tape, slicing it open. AE3803 steps back as the Pneumococcus the entire body’s immune system is looking for steps out of the cardboard.
It snickers as its feet land on the floor, claws scraping into the tile. “Heheh, thanks for bringing me all the way to the lungs, Red Blood Cell.”
AE3803 screams in terror, spinning on her heels to escape. The Pneumococcus whips his tendrils out in turn, slamming the claws into the door. He can’t help but laugh again as he shows off his large claws.
“Man, you really didn’t know what you were carrying, did you?” He smirks. “You never did suspect that I might be in that box. But now I’m in the capillaries—the perfect spot to feast on you red blood Cells!” He chortles again as AE3803 glowers back. “I’ll start with a nice snack, since I’ve been crammed in that box for so long.”
AE3803 slams open the door regardless of the tendrils trapping her. “Help–!” Hopefully there’s an immune cell nearby–!
“You’re sure carrying a lot of nutrients today, huh?” A Red Blood Cell chuckles.
“I stopped by the small intestines! Now I’ve got a ton of deliveries!” His friend titters back.
AE3803 nearly passes out from both shock and fear, slamming the door closed again. “SORRY,THISONE’SOOCUPIED!!” She hollers at the same time.
Just as the door closes, another spiked tendril slices through the air and the back of her hand to slam into the door. “You moron! Do you really think you’ve just saved your friends?!” The Pneumococcus taunts. “You can call for help all you want! But with the corridor blocked, it’ll never arrive!”
AE3803 stares back at the pathogen, the horror evident in her golden hazel eyes. ‘He’s going to kill me.’ The pain in her hand is forgotten as a tendril winds back. ‘Someone… Someone, please–!’
The vent grate above smashes into the head of the Pneumococcus. It shouts in pain and tumbles to the ground. Before it can get up, another cell stomps to the ground on top of it.
“Wha-at the hell…?” The pathogen growls, raising a few tendrils.
They’re promptly lobbed off with the sharp blade of a cleaver. The pathogen gawks at the weapon, reflecting his own surprised features.
“Sorry, but this Red Blood Cell’s already being hunted by someone else.” A voice from above speaks.
AE3803 turns up to see 1146 crouching over the germ. “Wh- White Blood Cell!”
The said cell grabs his cleaver again. He pulls out the other, stomping his plasma-painted boot onto the germ’s face.
“H-How did you know I was here?!” It asks, trying and failing to impale the immune cell.
“My receptor stopped going off when that Red Blood Cell over there disappeared.” A cleaver points to the female cell.
AE3803 just blinks back. That… Came out weirder than he intended, she thinks…
The Pneumococcus growls. “Dammit! I didn’t get all the way here just to die!” He leaps to his feet, knocking the immune cell off.
1146 lands on his feet, ignoring the box thrown at him to give chase to the germ. Whatever AE3803 has to say is a numbly-acknowledged side note. All he needs to know is where this thing is going to head next.
“You! You’ll have to do! Die!” The bacterium targets a random blood cell, freaking the others out.
1146 tosses one of his cleavers, striking the purple bacterium in the white of its back. While it stumbles, 1146 catches up and goes in for another strike. The Pneumococcus barely gets a capsule up in time to block the slash.
“Dammit! What’s with you?! I don’t think I’ve ever seen an immune cell fight so wildly!” The pathogen exclaims.
1146 doesn’t bother giving a reply. He reaches around for his second cleaver, slicing it out of the pathogen’s back. It again shouts in pain while the Rogue Cell cuts through the tendrils with the capsule. And while his blade gets caught in the capsule again, it just allows him to yank the germ forward to knee it in the gut.
More germy insides come shooting out of the slash in its back. 1146 uses his other cleaver to go for the neck. With eyes going wide, the Pneumococcus sacrifices a few tendrils to get away.
They strike into 1146 but he shrugs them off. He adjusts the cleavers in his hands with a spin, cytoplasma sprinkling onto the floor.
“What… What kind of immune cell are you?! You fight like you’ve got nothing to lose! Don’t you want to save this world?!” The bacterium shouts, plasma dripping from dismembered limbs.
“I’m just like every other immune cell.” 1146 states back, yet his gaze is so dark. “I just tend to work on my own terms instead of others’.” A grin, almost manic, almost sadistic, forms on his lips. “And when you hunt down Red Blood Cells, you tend to learn a few tricks in catching them.”
The Pneumococcus blinks back. “An immune cell…? Killing Red Blood Cells…?” He questions softly. “No! Nevermind that! I’m better off–!” He stops short as 1146 lunges for him again.
Shrieking, the Pneumococcus ducks just in time. He makes a mad dash for somewhere safe. AE3803 takes a sudden lead as the Pneumococcus heads straight for her direction.
She goes down near-random hallways, eventually finding someplace with a bunch of confusing and maze-looking machines suspended in the air. AE3803 runs past a bright red line on the floor. The bacterium tries to mimic her, but a loud beep rings out.
Everyone freezes. All but 1146 who finally slows down. With the blunter head of his cleaver, he presses a button on the wall. And in seconds, the Pneumococcus is being trapped in an odd ball of sorts.
1146 and AE3803 watch as the germ is disposed of once and for all. Then, there’s silence as a sneeze rings loud and the call for the immune cells to mobilize is rescinded.
AE3803 falls to her knees, the rush and panic leaving her being. She takes a shaky breath. She can feel tremors beginning all throughout her membrane. But footsteps remind her of who else is still here.
1146 stares down at AE3803 with a look she can’t place. Blank, but analytical. Maybe even piercing.
‘I guess… This is the end of the line for me.’ AE3803 thinks, too exhausted to keep up this game of cat-and-mouse. ‘I barely got to even do my job, and I’m already gonna go through apoptosis. Or, well, get killed.’ Her shaking hands clench and she wishes she weren’t so weak right now. ‘I just hope this will be quick.’ AE3803 squeezes her eyes shut.
The Red Blood Cell flinches when the footsteps start up again and come near. But they go right past her, much to AE3803’s surprise. She snaps up to the rogue White Blood Cell.
“Are you not…?” AE3803 whispers without thought.
1146 stops. “I’m too tired to be chasing you down after dealing with that bacterium.” He tells her. “Consider yourself lucky, Red Blood Cell.”
He says nothing more, hopping up to a vent to leave through. The bronchial tubes are near-silent as AE3803 simply stares. For some reason, she speaks up again.
“Th-Thank you!”
1146 pauses.
“I… I know you meant to kill me after this whole thing. But still, thank you. For saving me and more sparing me.” She says. “And maybe… Maybe this can teach you not to go killing Red Blood Cells? Instead just sparing them and letting them go on with their jobs?” She giggles nervously.
The Rogue Cell gazes at her. AE3803 sweats harder as he remains mute.
“I’ll think about it.” He pops open the vent grate but turns over his shoulder. “But don’t forget; The slaughter’s still on, and I’d love to see you come undone.” Then he promptly leaves.
AE3803 is left alone in the bronchial tubes with that ominous message ringing in her head. She doesn’t know if she should cry from relief or from a foreboding sense of terror.
Elsewhere in the body, 1146 meets back up with his friends. They wear identical clothing to his, if a couple of them tilting their hats to the side.
“Yo, 1146! How’s it hanging?” 2048 waves, tea in hand. “Want some tea? There’s plenty!” He offers chipperly.
“Thanks. I’ll take a cup.” 1146 agrees with a nod.
“We heard that Pneumococcus was disposed of. Glad to hear the body isn’t in danger anymore.” 2626 grins as he sips from his cup.
“It was fun watching it blow up!” 2048 snickers.
The last of their friend group rejoins them, a couple slaughtered Red Blood Cells in his arms. “Hey, hey! I brought food! Anyone want some?” 4989 offers, dropping the cells.
The others dig in, but 1146 refrains. Though he’d probably do good from eating something, his mind is currently elsewhere. 4989 takes notice from his gnawing on an arm.
“Hey, 1146, you alright?” He inquires.
The called cell returns back to reality. “Yeah. I was just lost in thought.” He waves his friends off, sipping his tea.
The others blink at each other. They turn back to 1146.
“We heard you were with a Red Blood Cell. Did you kill ‘em?” 2626 questions, taking some plasma for himself.
1146 shrugs. “Not this time.”
“But you will next time.” 2048 finishes knowingly.
“Possibly.”
“Woah! You? Being vague? About killing a Red Blood Cell?!” 4989 stands up, eyes blown wide in wonder. “What gives? You’re usually so cold and ruthless! You didn’t infected with something from that Pneumococcus, did you?” He walks up to him, scanning his friend for anything suspicious.
“No, I didn’t.” 1146 pushes him back. “That bacterium did take a lot out of me, though. It was quite the wild goose chase.” His cool demeanor then changes in an instant, a hungry grin forming on his lips and a sadistic mania filling his eye. “Besides, a hunt tastes better when you work for it, right?”
Until then, AE3803 should be praying, even if it's hopeless and in vain.