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It's strange to miss out on lunch today, Carbon knew they'll be having steaks. Ryder made sure to serve them such all for his sake.
But the Border Collie didn't come anyway...
After watching everyone leave the kitchen one by one, and thinking of that juicy T-bone in the fridge, Chase finally made the decision to go see Carbon just to ask. The latter has a whole laboratory to himself, which is located underground right below Ryder's workshop. As the elevators closed, Chase sat there and thought.
It was Chase's first time approaching the pup, even if he's with them for a few months already. It's mostly because Carbon isn't too interactive and confusing of a chatmate. And a little scary. But Chase respected Carbon; anyone could easily say the Border Collie's slacking around, especially when they find him asleep on the drive towards a mission. But Chase saw the way Carbon's eyes flew open calmly and was the first to respond. Well, Carbon's not well-liked anyway due to how he treats Mayor Goodway.
The elevator dings and the doors open.
As Chase steps out into the unfamiliar space, a heavy mood settles in. Something is strange. The German Shepherd warily walks around, following a faint yet pungent smell. He passes by a small lounge before coming in front of a metal door whose siren blares. The pup tenses at the sound, and then a mechanical voice speaks.
"Warning: This facility contains biological hazards." O-Of course... "All biohazardous agents in this facility can bring complications to humans and may be transferred out unknowingly by an animal. Outdoor microbes may interfere with the culturing of specimens used to treat diseases." Chase didn't get that part. "Thus, it is required for an animal to do proper washing and wear specialized personal protective equipment as shown on the screen before going beyond this point."
Chase stood there blinking before doing as he was told. Wearing paw gloves, a gown, a mask, and a strange shower cap the pup walks inside the heart of the laboratory.
The atmosphere became more eerie.
It was as if he wasn't alone right now. It was a bit creepy, but he's already so far in! So he walked, and as he did, the smell became more horrid, until he couldn't stand and gagged.
"You can go back if you want, tell Ryder I did something important."
Although it sounded a little flatter and lower today, that voice was unmistakable. Chase ran in that direction, trying not to cough and/or gag at the smell.
"Oh, no, I wanted to go see you myse—!" The sentence was left unfinished with the view that lay before him. Something. Something the size of a person. Covered with a white blanket. There's no way. Chase thought with his mouth agape. There's no way. No. No no no. This can't be real...!
"I found him in the back alley" Carbon, who looked like he came out of a storm, continued. "I believe... he got poisoned. I'm not saying by someone, but..." The Border Collie licked his snout and his eyes swirled with emotions Chase couldn't identify. With the instruments and gadgets scattered about haphazardly, it clicked to the German Shepherd. It was only now he heard the long beeping of a monitor. Carbon switched it off.
"Is he...?" Is what Chase could only say, to his regret, even with what his eyes have given him. He should've asked if Carbon was okay. Should he call Ryder? No, why would he subject him to... to... whatever that was under the blanket. But he still needed to, right? Chase wished he could just look away, to run, but his paws were stuck to the floor.
"Just a few seconds ago." Carbon's voice was beyond broken behind that dead, monotone filter as he lifted part of the blanket to reveal a dirty hand with a needle in its wrist. Carbon draws it out. "But the world will continue to spin. It's cruel, isn't it?"
Normally, Chase wouldn't understand discussions like these. But today he did. And he wished he didn't. He had never felt so depressed in his entire life.
"As of this man's death, a baby is born, someone out there is torn apart, and another is celebrating his achievements, two find each other, and somewhere else two are separated. It's how it is." Carbon monotonously goes on as he arranges the room. "Though I wouldn't talk too much, I advise you to leave and forget what you saw. Don't tell anyone what happened at this moment. Especially Ryder."
"But... shouldn't we tell him? Especially..."
"No." Came the staunch answer. "Yes, Ryder is a leader, and he has faced many situations. But tell me, has he seen the face of the dead up close?"
Chase remained quiet. He had known Ryder very long, and if Carbon was wrong, Chase would be able to refute him. But that wasn't the case. The Border Collie shook his head.
"I shouldn't have let you see... Now, I do not want to get PAW Patrol involved in what happens next. I'll be transporting this man to the nearest laboratory from here."
"But what about you?" Chase replied, still reeling from the situation.
"This isn't my first time." Was the terrifying reply. Chase gulped. Carbon sighs. "Everyone who's like me has seen death more than once. At least a thousand times, even. Our job is constantly entangled with life and death. It's nothing like what you guys do." Carbon started to wheel the corpse by biting the bed's leg towards a door different from where Chase came from. "Ryder's ten, for stars' sake, he isn't even supposed to be doing what he's doing at this age. I don't want him to see a dead person!" The Border Collie stops and takes one last look at Chase. "I'll be on my way now, just tell Ryder I'm busy. Don't say anything related to what happened now." Chase didn't reply.
And Carbon leaves.