Chapter Text
I wake up from sleep
That song restarts my heartbeat
I wake in the deep…
"Hey! Anyone in here?"
Those were the first words dedf1sh had heard in… months? At the very least the first non-Sanitized voice she'd heard. None of that weird modulated sound she'd gotten used to, that she spoke with. A song was ringing in her head. It was fuzzy, maybe she’d heard words in that? Her head hurt.
She shook her head, stepping away from her desk, trying to discern the source of the voice. Her studio wasn't small, but was poorly laid out and over-stuffed with mostly unused equipment enough to be cramped and claustrophobic. The musician skulked through large, ancient-looking computers, peering around to find the intruder.
At the entrance of the room, illuminated by the soft green glow of the exit sign stood… an Inkling? Dark tentacles with soft pink tips and a thick padded pink jacket. It looked tactical. That was the word right?
Was she being attacked? At least she couldn't feel scared. dedf1sh picked up a microphone stand, thrown into the studio without purpose, swinging it up like a baseball bat. She wasn't exactly strong but maybe she could get some momentum.
She was getting closer now, still out of the other's sight. And just as she was coming into view, the weight of the stand got the better of her, causing her to collapse forward onto the pathetic excuse for a carpet the facility had.
"Oh squid are you ok!?"
The Inkling cried out, dropping to her knees to help the other up.
Once she was back on her feet she had a much better idea of the other's size. The Inkling girl was about average height and… beautiful? dedf1sh shook her head, looking down at the other, her own body more resembling a lamppost, around six feet tall and concerningly thin.
" Thank you ." She said, her mind defaulting to Octarian despite hearing Inklish from her.
" It's ok! Take it easy. " The Inkling responded, helping the gaunt woman stay steady. This Inkling knew Octarian? That's not something you see often. dedf1sh stared at the floor. " You got a name? " The Inkling asked, warmth in her voice, her demeanor radiating kindness. Comfort.
"dedf1sh."
"Ah…" the mysterious figure paused. Confused. Was that her name? And was it… Inklish? " Well, ah dedf1sh, I'm Callie, and I'm here to rescue you !" She looked a bit awkward, slowing down. " Ahem, if you want to get out of here. "
The DJ shook her head, pushing away from Callie's grasp, reaching down for the microphone stand and picking it back up, using it to support herself. "No."
Callie stared, bewildered at the response she'd received. This Octoling wanted to stay down here? In this decrepit basement? "W-Why not?" The shorter Inkling stammered.
"No point. I am worth-less outthere." The gaunt Octoling spoke plainly, "Better not towaste your time." She was confused by the Inkling's expression. Was it sorrow? Anger? She was just saving her the hassle.
"Who told you that?" Her voice definitely sounded sad. "Trust me, no one should be stuck down here."
"The te-le-ph-one told me." dedf1sh seemed to struggle with that word. "He told me that waswhy I came here."
A look of steely determination spread over the Inkling's face. "Well I don't care what some lousy telephone said, ok? This is a rescue and I'm going to rescue you."
The Octoling just stared blankly, no feeling on her face, or if there was it was hidden under her sunglasses. Why was she wearing those down here? "I donot want to waste yourtime. Will just slow you down."
The pink woman was frowning. Was she angry with her? "dedf1sh, look, I don't know you, so maybe this isn't what you wanna hear but…" she went quiet, trying to think. "B-But I don't want to leave you down here. It's not safe a-and you deserve a better life than… whatever this is."
dedf1sh stood there, silent, her gaze seemed to lower to the floor. "I do not think I do." It was quiet, reserved. "But if you think I do, may-be it is worth trying."
A relieved smile came to Callie, even if the Octoling’s wording concerned her. "Exactly! Now, grab anything you wanna keep and let's blow this popsicle stand!" She spoke excitedly in an attempt to raise the mood a little, pulling the other into a hug before promptly pulling away. "Ah- s-sorry, that was weird."
"It is o-kay." She Octoling spoke. She nodded, starting to return to her desk, using various objects around the place to try and keep her balance.
"Do you know how you got here?" Callie asked, slowly following behind, keeping some distance. The desk was messy, lots of equipment around her, smaller instruments and… what looked like IV lines hanging from the ceiling, thin, limp rubber tubes, sharp, shining needles tipping them out.
"No. Woke up here. Told I want-ted to belike this. To be better com-poser." She said quietly, soon sitting down at her desk, opening up an old looking computer. "I do not rem member anything else about my self." There was a barely perceptible hint of sadness in her words.
That look of sorry returned to Callie's expression. "It's ok. I'll… I'll help you remember. I promise."
"Thank you." She assumed the promise was empty but she could appreciate the sentiment.
Callie’s eyes kept flitting back to those IV lines, before noticing a large scar on the Octoling’s arm, leading her to notice even more. They were dark, looking like they’d never been treated. She connected the dots.
“Were you… Injecting yourself with that stuff?” She asked, some mix of fear and disgust in her voice.
“I was never ful-ly san-itized… Had to keep it toppedup…” She responded quietly.
Callie furrowed her brow. “Should we b-bring some with us? In case you need it?”
Dedf1sh froze for a few moments. Thinking. “No. Doubt I will.”
The two remained silent for a few minutes, before dedf1sh removed a bulky hard drive from the PC, which turned out to be fairly new, and put it into a ragged, old looking backpack, which she then slung over her shoulders. "I am ready to go."