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It's been hours, they’ve noticed, Jett was nowhere to be seen all day, tucked away somewhere.
Tea was the first to speak up about this as the crew sat in the mess hall, which was empty aside from the few others who lingered after dinner.
“Has anyone seen Jett at all?” They asked, looking up from their paperback book, the spine crinkled and old.
Nyx shook his head slowly, recalling moments of the day in which he might have seen Jett, but alas there was nothing.
Wayne took a sip of their drink, which steamed and smelled of coffee, shaking her head as well. “I've been with Saline all day,” she signed after setting down the mug. “So i wouldn't know”
“Has he answered any calls?” Nyx coined in, fiddling with his hands anxiously.
“I haven't tried that, i assumed he was getting sleep, however he usually at some point in the day finds us to chat” Tea hummed. “Which he has yet to do”
“I can go check his room,” Wayne offered, standing from her seat as she chugged the rest of the coffee, which wasn't the best idea as she coughed lightly.
Tea rolled their eyes and shook their head. “Alright, Nyx and I will go check the Tech’s office, Cmon.”
Grabbing Nyx by the wrist, she waved Wayne off and led Nyx out of the mess hall. “Keep an eye out, he might also be wandering”
On their journey, Tea grimaced at the remembrance that the tech office and the mess hall are on complete opposite sides of the base. This allowed Wayne to catch up to the two.
“He’s not there,” she signed. “I knocked, no answer, went in, no one was in there”
Tea sighed and nodded, “I'm going to have to put a tracker on that boy” They said, and when the others gave them a look, they scowled.
“Don't think i won't, i've done it before and i'll do it again”
-
It was quiet, and dark, the lights flicked off and the room at a cool temperature.
Jett was sat in a chair, slumped over, his head resting on the table, little to the others' knowledge, he had been here all night and throughout the day.
The Technician had offered him something and he accepted it, and boy is he glad he did.
There was a steady purr that rumbled out of him. Mumbling occasionally. The tech, every so often, stopped by to ask if he was alright, in which he would respond with a nod, and be left alone for another hour or so.
This, frequency, they called it, did not exempt the pain from his headaches, however it was a great distraction.
Looking to his side, Jett would palm imaginary stars, his movements sluggish.
It was almost as if he would fall asleep for a moment before waking up, he hasn't been able to actually fall asleep, even though tiredness dragged at his mind, for at the moment he did not have a care in the world.
There was a small knock, the door opening and light from the outside pooled in. It was the tech. They said some words, few of which Jett even understood coherently.
“ Something something…. friends…. something something…. lights…. something something ”
He made a small ‘mrrr’ noise in response, quickly covering his optic as the lights flickered on unexpectedly.
“This is where he’s been all day?”
The tech nodded, “He’s on the second highest frequency so he might be a little loopy”
“Alright”
They walked over and placed a hand on Jett’s shoulder, shaking him slightly, “Je-”
“Ooooh heeeyy Teaaa….” he said looking up, each word drawn out, causing him to let out the smallest giggle.
He stood suddenly and draped himself over tea in a sluggish hug. They were caught off guard, but caught the simulacrum easily. Patting him on the back slowly.
“Why didn't you tell me you were here?” they asked, glaring at Wayne and Nyx who stood in the doorway, smiling like the pair of dumbass’ they are at the ridiculous situation.
“You hear that?” Jett asked quietly, shushing tea with a finger over her lips. They’d oblige with a sigh and listen carefully.
“I think that’s you,” Tea said after a moment.
“That's me?”
“Yes, you’re purring”
Dumbfounded, jett looked over to Wayne and Nyx, who nodded.
“How long has he been on this?” Wayne asked the Tech, who quickly counted the time. “Around 18 or so hours”
“We should get him to bed” Nyx signed soon after the tech gave their answer.
“Agreed,” Tea said, pulling Jett over to Wayne. “Your turn to carry him.” And without waiting for an answer, or a complaint. Tea picked up the simulacrum, and put him in Wayne’s arms, who nearly collapsed at first but got a footing.
Looking at the tech, tea thanked them for watching Jett, and for giving him something to ease the pain. They nodded with a smile and waved them out.
Jett who was slowly easing out of the frequency, cradled up against Wayne, boy was he tired, he’s glad he doesn't have to walk this time.