Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was approximately one hour after I had put you to sleep. Your REM cycle, dreaming, should be starting and you would arrive in my space soon after. I could have hypnotized you to leave this hellish place, but you seemed as diplomatic as I. It wasn't fair that you had put in so much effort to get to where you were then suddenly abandon it over my selfishness.

As I mused over the fact, your being had bled in to my meditative consciousness. We still had plenty of time before my plan would continue on. I had the adults and the children hidden in a place where only I could retrieve them. A place where there were no ears listening for help.

We were far away from that. Here was far deep inside my mind in perhaps another dimension: an island filled with crunchy sand, a singular stiff palm tree, clear blue water and a warm sun. There was other things for my own indulgence but it hardly mattered in the grande scheme of things.

It only took you a brief moment of giving in to your curious nature. When you came to my side, your shoes made the dense sand scratch as you shifted your weight.

"Welcome to my home. Or at least, what was supposed to be my home." I said. "Down in the dark and cold depths of the facility, the circumstances force you to do things that are out of your nature."

The facility may have been my birthplace but it was far from what my true genome species thrived in. Anyone with basic intelligence could tell that I belonged in the ocean. One look at your face and I could tell you had that much.

Your eyes squinted against the fuzzy sunbeams as you tried making sense of my small barren island. Humans like you had actual beaches and maybe this didn't look like one at all.  However, I was a mere jellyfish; I certainly didn't need much for that matter.

I peered out to the edge of the ocean and the glimmering water danced in my eye. This was the only thing I truly knew how to replicate. "When I feel that I am straying too far from my original course, I head to the room you have found me meditating in and regroup." 

The waves lapped up my outreached tentacles. How I wished they would draw me in with them. "I come to this place, and then I'm reminded that what I'm fighting for is worth all of this pain and suffering." The waves drew themselves far in then spread out underneath us. "Of course, none of this is real, but it could be. I have never had actual sun rays touch my skin, can you imagine that? And I yearn for the day they finally do."

Again, your feet scratched the sand. You didn't know what to say and I didn't expect you to. This hopeful tone of mine was very unlike me. However, you didn't know me.

When I glanced your way, your face was crinkled. You bit your lip back trying to fight an urge. You must have felt sympathy, or perhaps you truly did know how I felt. I digress.

"I need the children to achieve that, but do not worry. I will practice the safest of procedures." I reassured.

"Whatever I decide to do with the adults, I will make sure to keep one alive and sane so that the surviving children are delivered to the surface safe and sound. And, of course, to deliver me to where I choose to be," If it were up to my apathy and selfishness, you would be the one. But, it was unfair to make you take care of everyone's mess.

Dopamine washed over me; my plan was going to come to fruition very soon. "Oh, to be a jellyfish; just munching on shrimp and avoid getting eaten by turtles all day. You never appreciate how calming it is to have no conscience until you have one." Ah, that was unintentional.

You stopped biting your lip. However, you remained unsure. Compared to how weary and determined you looked in the real world, it was interesting.

Come to think of it, you grabbed my interest upon first hearing about you. Determined to find your lost child, putting up with the others in the facility, letting yourself be beaten up by this hell you had entered... how brave you were.

"I admire your courage, so I am giving you the chance to walk away." I moved a tentacle out towards you as a kind gesture. "Take it. That way you won't lose both your life and the chance to see your child."

Our time had ran out; the connection between you and me faltered as you faded away. I was back to being alone with an old friend silently looming out in the distance.

It was odd. Without you there was an emptiness that I couldn't explain. I didn't particularly care for humans at all, so what was it about you that was so different?

The children were innocent and pure. They didn't have a choice of how their circumstances were laid out for them. They were a reflection of what their parents created.

Was your child a good reflection of you? There was so many I had saved, I wouldn't know which one would be yours. I know they want you and you want them. For that, I apologize for the inconvenience of keeping your child here for just a little bit longer.

There was a fighting spirit inside of you, that was for sure. There was some in the other adults as well. They failed and are where they are now. Yet, I had let you go without as much as a thought.

I suppose I shouldn't be confusing myself about how I feel and what is moral. Right now, your warm body would be waking up close to the exit of this facility. In a daze, you will see that I was right and leave with what dignity you had left.

I hope you know I was gentle with you when I picked you up and laid you on the floor of your destination. Unlike the others, I was and am always willing to treat you generally with kindness. That's how we were meant to be. 

You being the first human to listen to my speech gave me a little hope in humanity. Maybe, if destiny has it, we will meet each other by an ocean someday without all of this trouble happening?

I shut my eye tight just vaguely aware of my actual body stirring at the thought. I don't know where these thoughts are coming from. This is not at all like me. I despise humans and the others around me. I am just a monster created from a mixture of jellyfish dna, a human genome and givanium. Although, we are all connected through humans or animals, givanium makes us unequals.

If you had known the horrible truth of how we came to be and how we were treated from the start of creation, the horror of being unable to defend ourselves, you could forgive us for what we had done. The memories of that time flashed before me and I just couldn't bear seeing it any longer.

My eye snapped open. In place of a warm beach, it was the dim drab gray room which I have come to see as indifferent. I sighed letting the pent up anger go. It was back to business until my goal was accomplished.

Chapter Text

You were wearing down my patience. It wasn't your fault, though. It was the being who made you think you had the hope of retrieving your child through other means. And he was gone, at least audibly from you.

Eventually, you came back to the lifts as expected. My tentacles stretched and curled over the cart making it very clear just how far you had gone since our last meeting.

"You've overstayed your welcome here." I lectured. "I even made you an offer, but guess what, accepting it is long overdue."

Unlike your face in the dream, it beamed with determination. I had an inkling of a feeling that I couldn't back you down after all of that hope burned in the back of your head. I had just the plan in mind.

"Don't worry, I won't get rid of you or collect you just yet. I was never one to abide by waste." You stayed your distance. "An old friend needs you a lot more than I do. They too are on a path to achieve peace of mind."

Your lips pressed together as your only other guide was tied up metaphorically with his own devices. It was for the better, I promise.

"I already have enough subjects to move forward with my aspiration and mental refinement." I mentioned. "You just take a little nap before I transfer you to where you're supposed to be."

Again, you swayed at your feet until you crumpled to the ground and I collected your delicate body. Upon supporting your head I felt a swollen lump that I hadn't noticed before. With how little marks you earned on your way here, it was far too large to be an accidental bruising. That reminded me to talk to a little someone about that later.

Nevertheless, I put you somewhere far more secure than Toadster's jail; I couldn't trust you to leave by yourself anymore. All you had to do after our little bonding time was wait until my goal was complete. This time, I even had gotten you some friends to past the time by.

Perhaps I wasn't persistant last time. I let you into my private space with heart in my hand; it just hadn't break through how you could trust me more. I knew deep down you were afraid, as I once was. I wish to soothe you and keep you sane until we meet again.

Let's try enjoying ourselves.

I decided on a nice car trip in a flashy orange car that I personally called, The Stingermobile. The name was self-indulgent, yet it's mine and I can name it whatever I want.

Strange as it is, many times I could vividly recall how to drive a car and how it feels to drive one even though I never been near one in my entire life. I assume you had driven a car, too; how else did you get here in such an out of the way place? Well, no need to worry about the responsibilities of the past for now.

The others have already awaken. In the passenger seat Opila sat quietly keeping watch on the scenery in front of us. In the back sat, the dreadful chatter box that was Banban and the friendly mute that was Captian Fiddles whom occupied the window seats. And out behind us Nabnab scuttled behind.

None of them had put up a fight with me since their dream awakening. Currently, the exhaustion and being in a trance had leveled-out their moods. Didn't stopped any of them besides Captain Fiddles from being annoying.

You, as many times as I checked, were slumped, motionless, chin-dropped to your chest. You sat between the two in the backseat blissfully unaware of the conversation going on.

"Still no updates?" Banban asked. All he had done since he was awake was query me.

"None, so stop querying." I told him.

He let out a heavy sigh and looked out the window.

Moments later, I heard a light moan.

"Hey, you. You're finally awake." Banban acknowledged. "Can't blame you for taking a nap, feels like we been in this car forever."

You rubbed your face before observing your surroundings. The passengers didn't faze you in the slightest. At best you were confused as to how you got here.

Banban crossed his arms. "So, Stinger. When are we arriving at this place called "beach"?"

"I believe we are lost." I replied.

In truth, I had no idea what I was doing and where in my mind we were driving around in. It appeared to be an expansive desert that lead us in circles. Besides the point, the main purpose was to get you to believe in me more than him. I won't lose to that abomination.

You flinched when Opila screeched.

"Nice." Banban remarked. "You had one job and you messed that up somehow."

I held my tongue. "I am struggling to locate the being who asked you for your opinion." To put it politely.

"Can you at least put some music on since we're gonna be out here for while?" He begged.

Finally he asked something useful. You must like music, too, right? So, I pressed the volume knob and let a track flow through the speakers. The song could only be described as gibberish with a strange array of electronic sounds. It was somewhat enjoyable.

Your reflection awkwardly shifted into enjoying the song while self-reserved.

My tentacle drummed the steering wheel. It was time for me to find something to talk about. What was a fun topic you could relate to? You seemed to like the beach. What's the weather like? How about your job? Your love affairs? Where you see yourself in the future? Ah, those were not appropriate in our current situation.

"That's what I'm talking about." Said Banban. "Opila, what do you think about this?"

She screamed in approval; you didn't flinch this time.

"Awesome." Him and you looked over at Captain Fiddles. "Captain, what about you?" He spoke up. "Captain?"

He nonchalantly waved his hand. Whatever it meant, Banban took it at surface value. "Okay, decent answer."

I was so focused on everyone else, I couldn't think straight. We were going on and on and hadn't accomplished anything major. You glanced at me in the mirror a few times, arms crossed. You were waiting for something better to happen than being squeezed in the back seat bored out of your mind.

My tentacle squeezed the steering wheel. "Can you stop vocalizing for just one second so I can focus on the road."

This was already becoming a huge mistake. I was already losing myself to these idiots, the opposite of my goal to calm and persuade you. So far, I haven't uttered a single word to you, I was only wasting my breath on irritation.

"What do you mean focus on the road? We've been going in circles for hours. Never trust a jellyfish, am I right Opila?"

Just when I was about to have a breakthrough her screaming made it all slip by me.

In an instant, I snapped and twisted myself to stare directly at Banban. I stuck a tentacle in his face. "If your pathetic mouth utters another infuriating sentence, I will stuff your whole body into one of those stupid party hats on your head."

In the flash of a moment, I noticed the surprised look on your face before a loud bang and a violent shake ended the dream.

My body was pulsating. Why did he had to ruin everything? Memories of the past began to bleed through. They were so painful to look at, yet hard to look away. Eventually, I quickly ripped myself out and faded into black for a while.

After coming out of my haze, I was back again in that drab room. The givanium rushed through my veins as my being throbbed. A rare emotion stirred inside of me: embarrassment.

I learned to mentally block it out early on in this facility. This time, it was different because it related to you.

I placed a tentacle on my face. It was impossible for me to blush, so why was I doing it? Well, to hold hands and arms up is to protect and hide. I'm alone, there's nothing to bare to anyone except myself.

I sighed deeply. This is the last time you will bring up any emotions in me ever again.

Chapter Text

I heard your footsteps come close. I thought I was still delirious from being physically drained. When my being finally allowed my eye to open, there was your face. Relief washed over me.

"Oh, it's you." I managed to get out. My whispers were loud in this makeshift cell.

You kept your distance thumbing the remote in your hands. It was then that I remembered leaving you to your death. Impressive that you managed to escape that devilish Banban while I suffered in the end. I did regret doing that to you. 

At this point, I was desperate to keep you with me even though I didn't deserve it.

"Don't worry, I'm unable to hurt you. I'm too weak to do anything."

You gazed over me with pity. Limbs stuck in these pipes and skin covered in all sorts of painful bruises and marks, I must of been a sight.

Admittingly, if it weren't for Toadster, I probably would have been in much worse shape. I gave you freedom and you gave me even more restrictions. I couldn't help but be bitter about our current standings.

"By not listening to me and leaving when you had the chance, you have made a great mistake." I lectured you once again. "Finally after managing to keep Josh under control, you just had to come and anger him."

The more I remembered the period between the fight between Banban and Josh, the more bitter I got. What little of givanium I had left pumped my veins.

"Look where your arrogance got us now," I scoffed. "A position where neither of us can get to the children."

"This is your fault, and nobody else's." Your chest sunk upon those words. Good, you should feel something powerful from me for once. "I meant it when I said that I would practice the safest of procedures."

Instead of gloating about your failures, my heart softened up for a moment. I truly meant it when I said that I am kind. That didn't mean I couldn't express anything else at the same time.

"But regardless, I have something I want to show you. It sure looks like you need it."

I wanted to break your fall but I couldn't save you, so we both suffered by the darkness of weakness.

Upon first glance, it appeared all of us from the car trip had made it to a camping ground. The darkness surrounded us rendering us useless. Amongst the wooden logs, the only light source was from the burning stingermobile laying mangled infront of us.

Opila nestled herself upright staying out of this particular scenario. Sitting to either side of you was Captain Fiddles and Nabnab. I sat farthest away, regrettably having to sit next to Banban. It was all set up for a reason so I couldn't complain.

I didn't dare to look at you as the others woken up prior to yourself. You were fine, there was no reason to check up on you nor to think about how to persuade you. We were all stuck in the thick darkness together. 

"Oh, hi! You're up again." Banban greeted you. "You sure are a sleepy fellow."

I took my sights off the yellowish grass and looked directly in to your sleepy eyes. "Agreed."

You sobered up pretty quick. By your guilty face, you knew exactly what was going on. There was no confusion as to why we were here.

Banban broke the thick tension between us. "Grab some of the vegetable snacks we collected and eat." You searched but to no avail. "Oh, they're all finished."

"I already have consumed my share of the nutrients we have gathered while you were in your slumber." I knew that you had to have been starving in the real world. That was what made this little dream sequence a bit more cruel. It's to teach you a little lesson before the truth to come.

Banban shrugged. "Me too, sorry about that."

You glanced over at Nabnab. He raised a broccoli to his mouth. Once he caught you staring he lowered it into his lap then gently placed it in the space between you.

"I have never witnessed kindness coming from a spider before." I noted. I suppose an old dog can learn new tricks. In this case, a spider can learn to behave.

"Man, if Jumbo Josh was here he would have loved those vegetables." Banban reminisced.

I returned to the never ending flames in front of me. "I am pretty content that he is not gracing us with his irritating appearance."

"Why do you hate him so much? Sure he's got some anger issues but overall he's pretty chill." He reasoned.

"We've had our fair share of altercations." Considering how he punched me out and tossed me to the floor like a rag doll the last time you saw me, I'd say things had been very tense.

"Hate is one of the two emotions I am unable to control." I admitted.

"What's the second one?" Banban beckoned.

"Sorrow."

He leaned into his lap deeper. "Not again."

I couldn't help but to rant and pour my heart open wide to my own feelings. I despised that. Between anger and sorrow, sorrow was worse by a long shot. And you got to see it for yourself. Embarrassment crept up as the sorrow exposed me.

"How is any being able to move past sorrows in a world like ours." I lamented. "Sometimes I feel like we're all just doomed forever. We each have our plans and goals but at the end of the day it doesn't really matter. Nor can it undo past or previous misery."

You had realized the parallels between my words and our situation. Finally, you could understand me, no sugarcoating it. We were all on the same page now as nothing but what we see in front of us is our future.

"Life is too short to be sad all the time, Stinger." Banban tried to console me. As if he had the authority considering his dark secrets.

"Our lives aren't." I emphasized.

He sighed softly. "Well, I don't know what to tell you. You know I'm not the best at this stuff." He turned to your side of the logs. "Maybe Nabnab or the captain can help. Captain?" He asks expectantly.

As always, Captain Fiddles didn't say a word.

"As expected." He concluded.

And there you had it. This world is cruel and you decided to try and fight it alongside with me. And you, me, nobody, could fix a single thing that was wrong with it.

I wonder if you ever felt the same as me before today? Did you ever felt like being trapped in your own body unable to escape the daily pain of life? Was it worth it to navigate through life across infantry to adulthood and give birth to your child to resume the cruelty of life? Did any of it hurt you? Or did hopes, dreams and parenthood drive you forward to be content with it all?

There was no more time to speculate. My brain was getting tired, my thinking was beginning to get hazy.

My meditative conciousness was diminishing. I couldn't remember much of what happened next nor what I was saying. It had something to do with trains, possibly. My reflexes had stopped something, it had something to do with Banban and I partially saved him from whatever it was. The urgency I had with you and whatever situation that unfolded bursted into flames and I fell unconcious in an instant.

Chapter Text

When I woke up for the first time since our last meeting, my entire being was heavy and defeated. We finally reached the bottom of the pit. The fake neighborhood in this particular area may have had some charm but everyone knew what a cruel and dark place it was as told by the rejects: a place for experiments like us left to rot and hopefully die.

You were nowhere to be found which was not that unusual. Actually, all who stayed behind in our temporary safe haven were protecting it from the 'naughty ones', as they call them. They were foolish to think that here would be any better than out there in the darkness.

Truth be told, the only way to defeat them was through the large door right next to me. However, those monsters were angry, angrier than any other monster you had seen so far. They would do anything to get what they want as long as you stood in the darkness for even a second. 

Darkness surrounds us all in this facility, you should already know that by now. No place was ever going safe even if you did managed to return to the upper levels.

Shortly after waking up and noting where I was there was a huge commotion; I didn't move a muscle. What was I going to do in my current state that was going to change anything?

As quickly as the commotion came, it left echoing off in the distance transitioning into silence. From there after, the gradual volume of footsteps and desperate panting took it's place. 

Bittergiggle,  who I recognized by his green and purple colors, rushed to the door stumbling over his feet and then came you in the same state. On a small level I was glad that you made it here alive so far, however useless that sentiment had become.

You leaned against your knees trying to catch your breath, most likely running to safety in the light from those naughty ones. How hard you had worked yourself up over something so pointless and inevitable.

"Oh... it's you two..." I finally acknowledged.

You took a deep breath and stood up as straight as you could. Relief washed over you when you saw me yet your white-knuckled hands pressed your remote to your heaving chest. Such a shame seeing how much more flushed and battered up you appeared to be compared to our first meeting. If only you had listened to me long ago.

"The duo of destruction." I looked to Bittergiggle. "Didn't you cause all of this to happen?"

"I did... And I plan to make up for it." He prided in himself.

"Everyone that you care to see you redeem yourself is probably already gone, so what's the point?"

He huffed. "How do you even talk? Jellyfish have no brain." He turned his body to you eagerly. "We should go turn on the other switches of the door. Let's head to the potentiality sector next."

You looked to me for a moment as if waiting for me to say something encouraging. There was nothing to say. 

Shaking with urgency, you returned to the darkness with a robot companion by your side lighting your path.

"You know, you should care that the sherif and Banbaleena are gone." Bittergiggle pointed out.

"It doesn't matter, they got what they deserved making so much noise." I murmured.

They did nothing but spout out nonsense anyway.

"Ugh, should have known you would be no help, 'don't trust the jellyfish' as they all say." He then ran off to find you.

Everyone always acted like I played a proactive role in the others messes. They had turned on me before when I had the best plan out of them all for their own, so why should I care if they left me for their constant failures again? 

That's right, all I could do in this moment was wait for my turn to be finished off and hopefully they wouldn't make it as bad for you being an outsider.

My strength returned I found it boring sitting in one place by myself; I climbed on to a rock close to the makeshift gate that Toadster had prepared. A lot of good that gate did. At least if you returned then I would be the first to know. If an undesired being found me, so be it.

Time passed and I heard some foot steps again. Unmistakably red in color, the being rushed from light to light until it reached the safe haven. So Banban finally graced me with his appearance after so long.

"Stinger." He greeted me.

"You're still alive." I said impressed.

Like all the monsters, his body sustained some injury although they wouldn't stay for long; givanium was cruel and beneficial like that.

"Likewise." He scratched his head. "Look, let bygones be bygones and let's be on the same team."

"What team?" I asked. "There's no beings around us anymore."

"I was afraid of that," he admitted. "But, we at least have Bittergiggle and the parent on our side."

"And they are still alive?"

"Yes, at least for the parent." He peered into the darkness. "They should be here soon."

"Our efforts are being wasted on nothing you know." I told him. "We are in far too deep to ever resolve everything."

He placed his hands on his hips. "You think so, but we made a lot of progress so far. Soon we will retrieve the scepter and we can continue on with our plan."

"It sounds too good to be true. You should be ready to prepare for your due demise as soon as you can."

He threw his hands up. "You know what, go ahead and be that way. We will get rid of the naughty ones ourselves while you mope around being selfish as you always are."

I gripped the rock tight. "If I'm selfish for being realistic then you are the most selfish one in this whole facility."

He slapped a hand to his chest. "I'm being selfish?"

We nonsensically quarreled then I broke off the conversation. "Since I am so selfish, let me ask you to direct the parent over to me. We have something to go over if that appeases with you."

"You got it." He grumbled before marching over to the opposite side of the room.

Another waiting period later, Nabnab crawled in looking for trouble as always. Banban put an end to it by grabbing him and locking him straight into a cage. And much to our surprise and chagrin, Kittysaurus, lonely and sluggish, also strolled in and made herself at ease at the far end of the room close to where Nabnab was kept. Two pests who will surely keep themselves company.

Not too long after these events, you and Bittergiggle bursted out from the darkness. I observed as the two of you immediately passed by me and went straight to Banban. Of course the three of you managed to team up seamlessly, it was the lot of you that made so much trouble for the duration of our journey so far.

After some talk, you finally returned. Standing before me, you head was right under my eye. If I were sitting on the floor instead we would be at eye level. 

Damn that Toadster taking my givanium. I may as well had been as useless as a door stop. And you being the initial cause for me to look like this, you better believe I was very bitter.

"I wanted to let you know that this is all happening because of you. Never convince yourself otherwise." Irritating enough, my words didn't cut as deep into you as before. "If you hadn't intervened with my plan or the queen's, you'd be home in your warm bed."

There was no point in keeping it to myself any longer. "I would be free of my shackles, and everyone you hurt would not have been hurt."

You crossed your arms at me. That glint of hope remained in your eye and I couldn't understand how you could possibly still have had it after all that had happened to you so far. 

I wanted to hold you by your shoulders. You do realize that you are in the deepest depths of the facility, don't you? A place so far underground that not even the dead can hear us.

I squinted. "And ask yourself this. If I wasn't hooked up to the pipes that drained me of my givanium and shrunk my size, could my original size have aided us in our predicament?"

You hastily uncrossed your arms; that glint didn't back down either. You weren't possibly thinking that I—?

Let's get back to our original goal. "Because of your foolish decisions, we are even less likely now to ever get back to the children."

"Regardless, there is another thing I want to show you. It sure looks like you need it."

I was sure you were sick and tired of hearing that phrase by now. However, I was never the being to show his emotions outwardly. That should be obvious.

I raised my tentacle and held you at your upper back. Now I could see you personally falling to my hand. Your eyes clouded then droop closed and your hot body slacked. Keeping a soft grip around your upper torso, I propped your body up against the rock underneath me.

Pleased, I meditated for our next lesson together.

Here we were again. Somehow our group got away from the campsite and found ourselves waiting at a bus stop. We packed ourselves together on the metal bench as the pouring rain splattered around us.

The mood hadn't change from our last dream; it was cold, dark, endless and depressing; a storm that was still very unlikely to ever pass.

"Morning, sleepy fellow." Banban greeted you once more. "You should've kept sleeping, we're still waiting for the bus."

He leaned out far enough to look out from under the roof. "Man, I'm so tired."

"Quit whining, you're not the only one." I lectured. As I turned my tentacles rippled the puddles under our feet. "Maybe sleep for a bit like Opila."

Of course she stayed tucked in standing on one leg as before. She seems to be the second being here who was blissful, next being Captain Fiddles.

You shivered in your seat as you followed my gaze to her. Possible you were thinking, "I wish I could be as comfortable as her." Well, I told you you would have already been in a nice warm bed if you hadn't done all that you had did. You pressed your legs and drawn your arms together in an attempt to warm yourself from the chill.

Banban snapped his head. "A bit? She's been sleeping for days!"

Cutting through the sheet of rain a bright set of lights from down the endless road came closer to us. Under the hazy street lights a bus squealed then hissed as it stopped in front of us. We cringed as the road water splashed against our legs.

"The bus is here." I announced.

The doors opened up to a grungy empty interior.

"Finally!" Banban exclaimed and started to get up.

It wasn't going to be that easy. You know why we were here and this wasn't going to be a quick happy ending.

"Ignore that, it's not the correct one." I spoke.

The bus slammed its doors and rushed down the vacant highway.

He slumped in his seat. "Oh man! Why are we even doing all of this? I don't wanna go to the beach anymore. I just wanna go back."

"We cannot. We must get to the beach." I mumbled. "I will be frank, I did not know it would be this difficult to reach our destination." I glanced between you and Banban. "If it weren't for your infuriating actions we would not be in this current predicament."

Slivers of fog escaped your lips as you huffed in frustration.

He stared daggers at me. "Really, Stinger?" His hands balled together either to get warm, to refrain from punching me in the face or both. "My actions or your non-existent driving skills? I think Opila can drive better than you and she doesn't even have hands."

"You sure you want to do this again?" We all remembered how this all ended during our ride in the car. You and Captain Fiddles stared at us knowingly.

"Do what again? No need to get aggressive." He returns to watching the flooded road. "Actually, I think now would be the time that we just go home."

"Do you have an idea how to get back from here?" I entertained.

"Well no, but the captain and I could definitely figure it out." We turned our heads to Fiddles. "Right, Captain?"

He asked once more but it fell on deaf ears. Fiddles resumed staring out into the rain.

Giving up we all went back to watching the rain pour; the water rose a centimeter higher over the last couple of minutes. Silence overtook the rainless air under our shelter.

In between this and the other small moments of silence we had I was piecing together something in my mind. After all of this squabbling I had forgotten the theme of this dream sequence. I suppose it wasn't important as this scenario was punishing enough.

My mind reeled regardless of what I had forgotten. I couldn't see what it was but my mind was trying it's best to bring up something. 

Wait, there it was, it redirected itself to you. You were the reason why were even here in the first place.

During these past moments, I couldn't help but observe you when my gaze went your way. And every time I saw you huddled, arms crossed in that seat waiting out the dream it reminded me of your actual self. No matter how rough the situation your were given, you preserved that glint in your eye. Your drive to find your child showed no bounds. That was what I liked about you when we first crossed paths.

You also gave off a sense of hope and security that none of us had. You even managed to surpass my charisma drawing more beings to your side without trying.

You rubbed off on us all, for as long as you stayed in this deep dark facility you drew in a light that cut through it. Even with your being just simulated here, it was enough to take the edge off of my dark clouds of despair. 

I hated to admit it: maybe, just maybe, there might be a way out of this mess after all. I highly doubted it but with you here, maybe we will find that bus that will lead us to the beach. And speaking of buses...

"Another bus is here." I mentioned as it slowed down and let it's doors open. "And no one wants to conversate with a being who is less useful than the seat they're sitting on."

Because I hadn't gotten up nobody else bothered. This was just another waste of our time as I continued to search for another solution for us to help our problems. My mind kept running blank as I attempted to come up with an original thought of my own.

Splash.

When I refocused on what was happening in front of me, I saw Fiddles toddle his way up to the bus.

"Get back here, this is the wrong bus too." I told him but he refused to stop.

He stood at the bottom of the stairs for a moment before he got sucked up by a strange light within the bus and was whisked away hurdling far down the long stretch of highway.

Banban stood halfway up. "The captain got kidnapped! What are we going to do?"

I sat up straight. "I'm thinking."

Stranger things had happened before but having a being go missing was a first. And when I thought it was a one off occurrence, Nabnab darts across the road and another bus thrusts itself relentlessly into him. I couldn't feel a single connection to them anymore; they were gone.

"Nabnab!" He cried.

"We just lost two..." Then I collapsed in my seat. I was at my limit and my veins were pulsating. Regardless, my mind continued to race over how suddenly things were getting out of my control without any inner interferences. "This wasn't supposed to happen, we need to follow them."

Whatever was going on it had to be from another source, it had to be.

"Wait, is that the correct bus?" Banban asks and before I could respond, a loud screech swiftly ended the dream.

When I woke up, I found myself grabbing on to the rock beneath me in a panic. It's been a while since something had shook me this bad to my core. 

My head throbbed as my veins continued pulsating, my eye became blinded by the pain. Once my pain recessed I released my stiff tentacles. One accidentally brushed against something warm.

Through cloudy vision, I identified your body.  You had fallen over while dreaming. 

In my haze remembering the dream, I concluded that at the very least the last bus was definitely coming straight for you and not all of us. If it were because of the naughty ones like I thought, then they were planning something and were even more powerful than I originally perceived. And I was useless to deter anything in my current state, in pain or being so small.

Your feeble moans grabbed my heart and attention; I stroked the back of your head down towards your spine. Your body twitching as my tentacle touched your skin through your clothes reminded me how delicate your body was to the turbulence of life. My heart sank at the image.

I failed time and time again to protect you and currently it had nothing to do with any of us losing control. I placed you back upright against the rock then stroked your face until you calmed down; it was the least I could do for being such a bad protector. 

A thought returned to me as I monitored you sleeping. It seems no matter how many times I do this with you, you always made me feel some way whether I liked it or not. Instead of controlling you, you controlled me. 

Your grasp on me was too strong, I would never be able to escape it. I should just surrender to you because, in the end, you always made me rethink regardless of how stubborn my opinions were. 

My–our light in the darkness.

I realized that the others were starting to wake up. I retracted inside myself as whatever was going on inside my mind was not matching our current reality. My doubts were remained in place like a stubborn stain but I knew something terrible was brewing and against all odds maybe you could do what I hadn't so far. Only time would tell in this harsh war.

Chapter Text

Citygeon, a place I never thought I would ever need to come back to. I always despised it, yet had no choice but to stay if I desired to take refuge from that leech's army. Hiding along the dead end of an alleyway in the intense heat of two lamps was neither my first or last choice in this godforsaken place, either.

Upon first arrival, I met him, Syringeon. My givanium boiled at the mere thought of him regardless of how long ago our conversation had ended. 

Why would we want to go to a glorious beach when we could crawl back to him and follow his plan; his oh so perfect plan in creating all of these experiments, modifying them to perfection, making our world more perfect than the human scientists had ever hoped for.

That plan was not made for us. It was made specifically for his own delusions; he was and is nothing but a traitor to his own kind. His plans involved being calculated yet reckless in his favor, even if it meant hurting those who got in the way in the process. Trust me, we knew exactly how he worked. Why do you think we never went back?

Thus far, us monsters had escaped his secretive horrors unscathed on the merit of us being givanium relatives. We were all that he had left that remained begrudgingly agreeable with our current circumstances as well as harmless, useless in his eyes. With Sir Dadadoo ruling majority of the facility and the city shadows, he had no one of noteworthy strength to attack back with. If I heard correctly, Jumbo Josh made his irritating appearance not too long ago; Syringeon had made his own team search for him across the entire city. Out of all of us, he was his greatest asset while we were nothing but meaningless servants forced by others to play roles in this city of his own creation.

Not only was he a traitor, he was also a coward unable to face any being himself unless they were under sedation and strapped to a surgical table. No better than the human scientists he helped in their creations. How pathetic.

My gaze followed the twinkling lights littering across the buildings tops, if one could call them that.

Citygeon, his pitiful echo chamber of a so-called city. Dare I say it, a creation materialized off the backs of his own slaves dubbed his creations. Syringeon, like a jealous god, being their so-called mayor matched exactly how this miserable place was ran: undying servitude, idolatry complete with statues, rules built upon tyranny instead of structure, justice served by undue lockups and deaths... sickening.

That was one of the reasons why I chose this particular alleyway; no one to talk to nor any offended beings to keep me tight on a leash to their impossible political belief system.

I spoke too soon.

Footsteps echoed in the distance then appeared a figure at the alleyway's entrance. I recoiled into myself, ready to deflect, until they jogged towards me. Those desperate sounds... they belonged to only one being.

I relaxed my tentacles as much as a hideaway loner in a city like this could relax.

Approaching the lights, you looked like you had seen a ghost. Sweat poured from your face, skin paled. You stumbled to a stop; your body swayed against the endless tremors and wheezing breaths. If I hadn't known better, you had just finished crying your eyes out.

He did this to you, didn't he. How shocked I'd been to see he hadn't killed you yet as his hatred for humans surpassed even Sir Dadadoo's. I supposed he found some form of usefulness in you like the rest of us had. However you convinced him to let you free, do not underestimate him. He will have no problem throwing you away once your usefulness ran out as a human work mule.

Your eyes must've laid on the crudely drawn written rules of this place: you are an outsider, unwanted, the lowest of the low underneath a givanium being such as me. For the life of me I couldn't fathom why you would even want to stay in such a place running errands like you had purpose. Was it all for your child? Or, were you also a traitor?

You working underneath him was enough to hate you and hate him even more.

"I can't say I'm happy to see you alive and well." I gritted. "That crazy leech can't turn me into one of his minions but it's still too dangerous for me to wander out here." After my request of returning to my previous size had been rejected, there was nothing I could do but cower as you were seeing me in the moment. With Josh, Sir Dadadoo's freshly brainwashed minions, and all of those other horrible slaves, this was my best bet at staying alive. And it would be yours, too. I couldn't guarantee your safety, but at the very least I hadn't ran into any major issues thus far.

"I want you to think of the amount of terror the children would feel at the sight of even just one of those...Naughty Ones." You grimaced at my words, as you should. You probably seen the dead ones littered in the streets, yet they are still thriving everywhere else in the facility. Fight fire with fire, the saying goes. "These mindless animals that hate nothing more than they hate humans. At this point, I wouldn't eliminate the possibility that they found where I've hid the children."

Those poor defenseless children. If they were even still alive, they were still out there isolated from the surface never able to see the light of day ever again. And it was all because you couldn't just leave everything to me in the first place like I told you to. 

"It is your actions that have even made this a possibility in the first place. It's all your fault." The fire of hatred overflowed my being from the inside out. You were very lucky that I wasn't like everyone else here or you would had been dead in my sight and in my hands. Hypocritical, I know.

That shining light I thought you were, it meant nothing here. Nobody would be able to see it through the thick blinding fog that was Citygeon. You, the second sole adult human remaining as far as we both know, will only ever be known as the second class citizen who should be euthanized or worse to these slaves.

We, who were once on your side and who ensured your safety, were too far in this despair; stifled, unable to make a single move; unable to create some form of combative army on our own. All of this could had been avoided if only you had thought of everyone else instead of yourself for a single second!

"Regardless," I managed to say in my toxic bitterness. "there is another thing I want to show you. It sure looks like you need it."

Your body stopped shaking, eyes gone dull. You understood what was going to happen next, you didn't even try to fight back. If only you were this agreeable with everything I say.

I touched your frazzled hair, soaked cold and greasy from your sweat. You waited for me to continue and so I did. I did it quick just for the two of us.

"What's the plan now, Stinger?"

We were high up in a small plane. As the sole pilot I flew us through endless blue skies and over teal seas. I wish it were as simple to get a bird's eye view on our current situation. So far, I was completely out of ideas ever since Sir Dadadoo pushed those of us not so far gone straight into Citygeon. We had gone from a place of certain death to one that might end in death in the ever so merciful hands of Syringeon.

In brief, I thought I could crack my helplessness by having you among everyone else here; perhaps you all might help me vent and get on a healthier track of mind. As always, I was wrong.

I quickly turned around in my seat, Banban's irritating presence waiting for my constant answers didn't help any of my matters. I didn't know why I even bothered having him tag along with us.  Out of the usual group, you were the only one that helped and you never exchanged a single word with me.

Him and I stared face to face. "I guess the same as always." I answered with a bite. "We continue this forsaken journey to the beach."

"We're in the middle of the air, so how exactly are we gonna do that?" He asked innocently.

"I do not know!" I yelled.

"Okay, sheesh relaxed." He sat back in his own seat. "It was just a question."

You stared at us, your face still tired and worn out from all that you had been through. Your eyes dulled in disappointment which flipped some shame into me.

I turned back to the skies. "I apologize." That was a first. "I am just tired of all of this."

His voice had gotten quiet. "Tired of what?"

"Tired of everything." I vented. Unable to locate anything else to say, I turned back around. "There is no point, Banban."

"What?" Him and you stared at me confused.

"I fail to locate a point in doing any of it," I expressed. "and I fail to locate an end in sight."

This was all for naught. It's finally clear that nothing was ever going to get better and the beach was a mere pipedream that only I cared about. You never cared about my wish did you? None of you did.

I snapped my attention back to the controls. There was only one option left and a dreaded one at that.

"What's gotten in to you?" His voice shook. "Why are you so negative all of the sudden?"

"Maybe it's time we abandon this plan." This was what he wanted in our last dream wasn't it? Remember when he said we should just go back home? Well, maybe that's what we should had done all along. My tentacles fumbled over the controls preparing for what must be done. "I mean how did we end up flying over a sea of Givanium instead of an actual sea?"

"Okay, that's it." He snapped. I heard him move out of his seat coming closer. "Maybe you should let the Captain fly the plane if this is your mentality."

I reached a tentacle behind me. "What are you doing?!" He screamed upon wrapping it around his wrist and threw him into the passenger seat. 

Thunk! 

He landed with his back against the side window and legs hanging off the seat arms.

"I am finished with your babbling." I gritted. "It's always a mistake to start a conversation with you."

If this was how it was all going to be, then I'm going to end it all on my own terms.

Upon messing with the controls I made the mistake of looking into his eyes, they became blank on contact, a look I instantly regretted in creating.

I froze. His fingers dug into my flesh, for the short time he took hold of me the pain was unimaginable. My reflexes too slow, he flung me across the far end of the plane with zero effort. The free flowing air sucked me backwards; in a ditch effort to save myself from completely falling out of the wide open door I wrapped my tentacles around the metal frame.

You were the only being concerned with our spat. Unattended, the plane was wobbling to and fro leaving you to claw your fingers into your seat helpless in my time of need. You were going to get hurt again and I still wouldn't be able to protect you. It will be all of my fault.

"Stay back, we're gonna crash!" I called out.

Assuming his devilish form, Banban leaped across the plane to get to me knowing that I had not yet been eliminated. After so many dreams of doing nothing, Opila Bird finally woke up. She dove between us, her back towards me. Her squawking pierced the roaring air in an attempt to settle things down between us.

I tried my best to climb back in; however, I was not strong enough even with all of the world's adrenaline at my tips.

Without any reasoning left in his insignificant mind, he slammed against us. His weight became too unbearable for the two of us to hold back. Without a choice, I let go.

The cold air vacuum sucked us out in to an everlasting free fall. Opila Bird stayed at my level while Banban hovered over me. I attempted to keep a grip on him, yet my tentacles constantly slipped away from his body as if we were playing a forbidden dance with air repealing us like same-sided magnets.

Through my watering eye, I noticed blots of other color above us. Having enough concentration on my end, I recognized the rest of you had also fallen out of the plane with us.

Banban, on the other hand, ignored every single thing. He was after me and only me.

Why did this feel so familiar? How did us falling to our deaths with him looming over me create such a feeling?

I remember, I remember! I remembered how his form used to scare me, how the first time I saw it back in my original miniature size, I felt so helpless and nervous. Over time I grew literally and figeratively and learned something important. This wasn't his true form! Like everyone else, he could be tamed. I was the only one who could tame him into any form I liked. Because of that I was no longer stuck and afraid.

I could tame my nightmares if only if I try!

The roaring of the air deafened my yells. "You need stop!" I looked underneath us for a split second. The sea of givanium came closer and closer; a reminiscence of our soon to be spilt blood.

Desperate to control the situation more, I looked up past the somewhat distant Banban. It was too late. The plane had imploded.

Waking up, the heat of the lamp was killing me. Was this what being boiled alive felt like? I fumbled for the lights behind me and casted them away however dangerous that action may had been. With the coldness of the air in this city, I managed to cool down enough to function.

In front of me you laid strewn across the cold rough concrete. I pressed my tentacles against the crook of your neck and wrist. Your blood pressure was of course high dealing with that nightmare I gave you. My tentacles retracted unsatisfied.

I gave up. 

Between my disdain for this terrible reality we ended up at, our constant failures to save the children and get our goals met, it was very easy to fall into my suicidal depressive mindset. I'm sure you had seen hints of it before but never this bad; you just finally witnessed me experience a full mental breakdown.

I didn't desire to be this way. I didn't want to die or lay by the wayside useless. What I wanted to be and what I am were two different things. I suppose the outside cover I created for myself didn't mean much after all.

I apologize, I just couldn't keep doing this anymore. Even when presented with the effort in finding another way to get out of this mess of a mind I have, I still end up losing. How could I stay in your sight when you have made many more victories doing the bare minimum and a simple yet complicated goal? Humiliating was what it is.

I peered out aimlessly at the entrance of the alleyway. There was some form of entertainment at that building over there, wasn't there? I recall now. I laughed to myself, how ironic that a theatre stood so close by.

Well, you originally came to the theatre for a reason, did you not? I still had a ticket that Syringeon had given me earlier in our meeting. It was of no use to me.

I slipped it next to your still unconscious body. It wouldn't be long until you woke up. As I promised before, I wouldn't leave you in danger like that under my watch. Whatever you did out of sight, was of your own concern.

Let us meet again... preferably in a different mood and setting.

Chapter Text

I found a new hiding spot in another dead end. I covered my tracks well so no beings of this city would find me. It was easier than I had expected. No being stayed far from their buildings considering what Jumbo Josh had done earlier that shook them up. And they were a part of Syringeon's undying army? That gave me a good chuckle.

The buzzing of the lights up in the air prevailed the most in otherwise persistent thick silence. Time to time, I thought I heard you running around, though we had yet had the pleasure to meet again.

So this was how my life was turning out: running away from everything that I hate and those who will soon harm me. How could it get anymore worse? On second thought, there was still room for improvement.

Being small had some perks via mobility and flexibilty; I still yearned for my larger size. My exterior demeanor had a supposed edge that made me not be too approachable. Yet my current height counteracts that. Alternatively, had I have had a different personality, would there be no stopping me. Then again, we wouldn't have been in this current situation had my kind nature had already been taken out of me. That's what happens when you are too kind.

A deep rumble shocked the concrete floor. I stayed still as I had last when Sir Dadadoo attacked the edges of the fence from the floor above. The forthcoming pounding I soon deduced as heavy footsteps swiftly rushed past my location. Out in the distance in front of me the cries of Kittysaurus echoed across the previously peaceful air.

More cries pierced the air. I remembered hearing those prior to arriving to this floor level. Those were war cries.

I didn't understand why they would all come right now. Unless Syringeon had a plan I didn't know about there should have been a set up that was at least obvious to me. I highly doubted Toadstar had anything to do with this; I can be fooled once but not twice. Syringeon prefers to work alone leaving others who were involved in the dark as told by the rest of his character.

That must mean the supposed final battle is ready to begin. Was it the absolute final battle or was it going to go on for another turn as it had so far? I was uncertain.

A painful metal screech shot out somewhere near me then a low vibration traced the floor ultimately coming to a brief pause.

Roar!

Josh, he's here. Wherever he was hiding from, he's very near by.

Syringeon must of finally found him before Sir Dadadoo could find a way to penetrate his dense carefree mindset. Out of curiosity, I pondered how Syringeon had managed to bring him out. His pathetic army did manage to restrain Kittysaurus up until this point, but seeing how clueless they were to us advanced experiements and our strength, I doubt it they had anything to do with this, either.

Wait, did you do this? Ah, I see. The ultimate chaotic puzzle master at work with a chaotic surgical genius, a duo that had slipped my mind. This will be either a tragedy or a glorious success accompanied by unintended consequences.

I found myself bouncing as Josh's loud pounding moved across the floor. If I dared move I could very well locate him easily. In regards to my current condition that would be unwise. So I stayed in hopes of getting the good or very bad news by sound and indirect sight alone.

The roars and screeches drew together to form a deafening sound. With every movement from that location, I felt it. Crash by crash, a irrefutable resistance was born.

I soon recognized this as a heartfelt battle. Excitement was rising through my veins. Deep down a shard of enthusiasm had lit inside me. It's bringing forth the promise for us to win, for us to be free! The beach, the beach was calling--

...

...

...so weak...

I couldn't move my being but I hadn't need to. I already could tell by the majorly different atmosphere there was no urgency neither a need to be concerned. Against my side I sensed the softness and warmth of cotton pressing against me like a firm pillow. The most noticeable change was the calm air. Wherever I was located, I felt a safeness that I hadn't felt in days.

...the pain.

I slurred through it as I tried to bring strength to my eye lid. Even a sliver of the light passing through made me shrivel.  Along with it a tinge of soreness radiated from my forehead all the way down to the ends of my tentacles.

"Oi there, you should stay layin' down and rest for a wee bit longer." That voice... in my haze it sounded familiar but I could not place a particular feeling towards it.

"Where am I?" I mustered.

"In one o' me recovery rooms." It said. There was a small click before it continued. "You missed the grande finale, probably got conked out at some point. Don't worry you will be feeling better quickly."

I vaguely remembered something hitting me at full velocity. I more so remembered bits of the battle from memory. Well, what little I felt through the pavement floors and sounds in the air. Those sensations were also still numb in my current state.

Making another attempt at seeing, I saw the blurry edges of long white lights above me. It reminded me of the older dark days of being tested on. A feeling I hoped to never return to ever since this place had went to ruins.

After being in the dark streets of Citygeon and the darkness of the underground for such a long time it took a while for my eye to adjust to the fluorescent bulbs again. And like the voice promised, after some undetermined amount time I did feel better in every way.

No longer hindered by the pain, I observed the sterile environment that was the recovery room. In the medical cot next to me, I caught a glimpse of a being. My eye went wide upon seeing it was you.

"Looking for your friend here?"  The voice of Syringeon's asked smugly.

"What did you do to them?" I snapped.

He walked in between me and you.

"I patched 'em up, just how I did the same to you." When I went to move a tentacle he forced it down. "You're in no condition to be moving around. Besides, you have an IV stuck right in there."

True, I could feel it sitting in a vein slowly pumping something through. Most likely givanium.

None of that mattered. You were right in front of me and that was all that mattered.

You laid stomach up on the cot covered up to the chest with a blanket. Your face stayed motionless, your lips slightly parted as I watched your chest move gently with each deep breath.  I was satisfied with that alone. There was some other concerns of mine, though.

Your cheek was plastered with a bandage. A lot of your uncovered skin was like that, doctored up in wraps and bandages.

Your arms laid still against your sides like planks. Regardless of what he had to say, I reached out for your hand. My tentacle brushed up against it's skin; so smooth and warm to the touch, as it should be.

I admittedly didn't know that much about humans, but I knew we had to be similar to our fluids flowing through our veins. "Where is their IV?"

"They didn't need any." He replied. "A wee scratch here, a wee scratch there, nothing more."

"Why do you care?" He proceeded to scoff. "Are you lovers are something?"

"What a stupid thing to say." I withdrew my tentacle. "We just have similar goals."

"That beach you be talking about all the time?" He laughed. "Such simple goals you and the humans have. Well, when they wake up, we can move on to the next part of our plan."

He turned to do something else in a corner. "Let them be, the both of you need as much rest as possible if you want to continue on with what's next."

"What happened... the battle?"

"Oh," He waved one of his four appendages. "we won."

"We won." I relayed. "Are you sure about that?"

"I personally checked." Irritation rising from his throat. "Ran multiple tests, all of those wee ornery things are dead and all of our kind are back to normal."

"What about the scepter?" That was what we were all looking forward to using to get things back to normal for the longest hours.

He clucked. "Destroyed. Eh, it is what it is. As long as the ball is back in our court, that's what matters."

Really, was the nightmare truly over? Were we back on track to finding the children and getting myself to the beach? More importantly...

"The parent, did they help you?"

I would never forgive the being who hurt you.

"You mean the human? Well, they certainly did ended up doing way more work than any of my own. I suppose you could say they were there to the very end."

"Are you sure they will be okay? They have been through so much already. All of us only wish to see them do well with us."

He huffed. "Yes, yes. They will be fine, I ran all of the tests. Once the both of you are fully healed and rested we will go on to the next step of our plan."

Joy swelled inside my being. You and I were going to achieve our goals very soon. It was a miracle! And all because our light stuck through to the very end.

I hoped you will be just as happy as I.

Three more hours passed by. Still unable to move I watched you rest. At any time you were going to wake up and I would be right here when you do. Twenty minutes after those hours passed, your mouth closed and bunched your face. You laid for a while eyes half open before finally coming to your senses. The blanket slid down to your waist as you sat yourself up.

"Oh, good. You're up." Syringeon greeted you. How many times have you heard that one?

You rubbed your face pausing to the feeling of the bandage across your cheek. You looked down at the rest of your upper body somewhat confused. As Syringeon spoke you flipped your hands back and forth unknown to the fact I had touch them previously.

"The plan worked, but the scepter was destroyed in the process..." He continued on. "It's better this way if you ask me. Nobody should have that much power."

You turned your head my way and we shared glassy eyed stares. If only I could had describe that feeling I had when you gave me that smile. It was nothing I had ever felt before, not even the most happiest memory I had came close.

"Everyone that was brainwashed is back to normal now, and corpses of the Naughty Ones litter the streets." That one caused you to frown. It was all for the better for you and the children. "I don't remember the last time I felt like I wasn't scared for my life. This feels good for a change."

Most certainly.

"We've been through a lot. You should rest, and when you wake up, we can discuss what we're going to do next." Nothing changed from when he talked to me prior.

You didn't do that, pretty typical of you. You slowly got off the cot and hobbled around a bit. Eventually, you made it to the next room unlike me who was still stuck with an attached needle inside my being. 

I closed my eye. I was finally happy and at peace with our situation! You can go get your children and I can arrive at the beach! What more could we want? It's what we have been waiting hour after agonizing hour for! It's all about to be over!

...

That was what I wanted to say. But something deep inside my being felt something was wrong. It was so tiny I intended to dismiss it.

...

Why was it still there?

Come to think of it, why did it feel like I was too happy? Wasn't I supposed to feel like this after something as huge of a relief as this? The final battle ended. It's all done, right? 

I needed to stop being pessimistic. With everyone back to normal we can work on getting ourselves to the surface. Something that was once destined for all of us at one point or another.

My eye wandered around the room. Huh, I hadn't noticed the mural on the wall. Something about that had also felt off. But was it?

It clicked.

"Ummm..." I mentioned in my high. "Why does it look like we can peel that drawing on the wall?"

Syringeon straightened up. "What's that?"

You had came in, remote in hand, looking between us.

"That drawing on the wall." I insisted. "Seems like there's something behind it."

"Weird." He dismissed. "I would just leave it alone. You two should rest."

Of course, your curiosity got the best of you. Behind his back you stared the image of Banban for a while. Your fingers dragged across its edges. Finding a good place to pull, you slipped your fingernails under a loose crease and started tearing at it.

The sticky sound alerted Syringeon. "I don't think that is a good idea, who knows what could be behind it?" He took you by your wrist and laid you back down on the cot.

When his back turned on us once more, you shot up in a huff. Sneaking a mischievous grin between you and me you then stumbled over and grabbed on to what remained of the sticker.

A long high pitch rip echoed across the small space. Your arms slacked upon staring at what was beneath.

What was it? I was going to ask.

Syringeon's tools whirled across his limbs. He moved his stiffened body until it stood right behind you. His voice echoed across the room uncharacteristically dark. "Never play with the devil." He breathed. "Doctor's orders!"

He lunged over you and pinned you against the wall.

"What's so wrong about what's on that wall?" I asked then quieted when I finally saw it. Who was that? That guy looked eerily similar to Banban.

"Why would there be someone like that on the wall?" I asked stupidly.

He lifted you up into his arms, your body hung limp. That was when the bad tingling inside me came back full force.

He threw you on top of the cot and got a syringe nearby.

I asked again forcibly, "Who is that?"

His eyes dulled. Ah, did that sound rude? That was unintentional on my part. 

"You two need to rest for a little while longer." He breathed.

Pop!

After hearing the shake of plastic the IV that had slowed not too long ago had sped up again. Whatever dose he shot into my IV I began the room spun. I groaned. Adjusting myself didn't help, instead my muscles rapidly started relaxing on their own accord. How was I already getting so sleepy?

"There, don't be going anywhere by the time I come back to get you two, you hear me?" His blurry figure walked across the room to the door.

Upon spying your limp wrist that was when what little of my senses came back. Anger welled up at the bottom of my heart. The numbing blackness of my unconsciousness had gotten faster than it could let me express it clearly.

Damned traitor.