Chapter Text
DrRETRO circled inside the elevator, waiting to get to ROKEA so she could find Lampert as soon as she could. Why was the doctor in such a hurry? And what did she need the germaphobic sentient lampshade for? Well. . .
Robotic hands from the ceiling typed in endless streams of code as DrRETRO continued her work on that missing texture virus that's been infecting its environment and Infected. She's been trying to splice the code so she can reverse engineer it into a cure, yet it's extremely stubborn. This sort of thing isn't in her field of work, yet she's probably the most qualified to figure this out. It's such a confusing dilemma for the doctor as she runs a line of code through a sample, a missing textured cup, in hopes something happens. Running the code through the cup, she waits for a reaction and sets the sample aside with the rest, any good doctor knows cures don't work right away. DrRETRO takes a deep breath in; she needs a break, this virus has caused her so much stress she swears she's seeing gray furs.
It's fine, though, one day, it'll all be worth it soon. . . Soon-
The door to her "secret" lab is busted open as a familiar chirp is heard.
"MWWRAHH-!"
"Calm down, it's just me."
DrRETRO turned to see 1314, better known as Pest.
"Hisss. . ."
"Oh, don't hiss at me, I'll hiss right back."
"Mroowhh mrroowhh? Meeeow? (What do you want? Can't you see I'm busy?)"
Pest looks around, clicking his tongue as he approaches the doctor.
"Busy working yourself to death. How long have you been down here?"
". . ."
DrRETRO felt her fur prick up as she thought about it, how long had she been cooped up in here? Hell, she doesn't even remember what time it was or when the last time she went outside. Pest looked at her, arms crossed, as if he already knew the answer.
"You've been down here for a week now."
"MREOW!? (A WEEK!?)"
She knew she could get caught up in her work, but she didn't think it'd been that long!
"And sheesh, it stinks in here. You're almost worse than that weird color guy."
Pest waves his hand in front of his face as he sees the state DrRETRO is in.
"HISSS MROW mrp. . . Miaow! (Don't compare me to that. . .Thing!)"
"Just saying, you need a bath or whatever you do. Do you, like, lick yourself like an actual cat or?"
"Mrrhghhh meow? Ma maw meow? (What are you? Lampert now?)"
Pest rolls his eyes.
"Hey, just curious."
DrRETRO wanted to kick Pest out so badly, yet she was disappointed that he was right again.
"Mrow. (Why are you even here.)"
"I, uh, came to 'borrow' something."
DrRETRO stared at him disapprovingly, her cold, black beady eyes staring into his red ones.
"Meow. (Get out.)"
"Hit a nerve I see, くそったれ. (Shit-dip.)"
DrRETRO growled at Pest, finding his presence so far. . . Unpleasant.
"Fine, fine, I'll leave, クソ野郎. (Asshole.)"
"ME MEOW! (I said, get out!)"
DrRETRO yelled as she rolled and jumped, smashing into the beetle out the door and slamming it in his face. She locked it shortly after. She wished she had never told this klepto where her lab was. The doctor could hear annoyed chirps and muffled Japanese behind the door before Pest actually left. She huffed as she rolled to a pillow she put on the floor so she could rest. She felt her eyes get heavy, and even if she wanted to continue working, her body was screaming for some rest. So the doctor rested, her eyes closing as she let out soft purrs, unaware that one of her samples is. . . Glitching.
DrRETRO woke up an hour later, she was still tired but who isn't after a nap? She yawns as she blinks, getting her bearings again and also half making sure Pest didn't break in again to steal something.
Then she noticed it.
A sample of the virus, a potted plant, was green as ever. The leaves of the peace lily looked like nothing had happened to them, the flower being beautifully white. She gasps as she rushes to the contained sample, staring at it in disbelief. This sample had been sitting for two weeks now and she was just about to figure out this one was another failed one. The revolution she was having was the robotic hands that she used to assist her in carefully dropping down and picking up the sample as she carefully examined it, seemingly checking it over thousands of times for even a smidge of bright magenta.
There was none.
She had done it.
SHE HAD DONE IT!
DrRETRO almost jumped for joy as she now could finally move on to the next and much simpler stage, putting this cure into a physical medication and the Infected Floor's system. She never felt happier as, now that the hard part was done, she could relax a little and take care of herself for once. Pest was right, unfortunately, she did smell like ass right now. But wait, how was she going to give the medication to Infected? DrRETRO knew he would fight and struggle against any medication she would try to offer. . . This virus was like rabies for him, always avoided anything that could help the victim. . . She had an idea.
And that's where we are now, DrRETRO, now actually well rested and taken care of, circling the elevators impatiently. She had made small talk with Poob earlier, but she felt not that long ago so the doctor was left with her own thoughts. She wished this elevator hurried up already-
Ding!
The door opens to the familiar near-endless furniture store. Finally. She zoomed out as she started her search for that lampshade.
"Mroow. . . Mrrmrm! (Where is he. . . UGHH!)"
She came to a quick halt as she passed him.
"MEROW! (Lampert!)"
She scowls as she rolls back to the very still lamp.
". . . Hi?"
He says, a little confused by how she's acting.
"Are you, um, alright?"
"Mrppr meow mrow! (I need your help!)"
He shifts awkwardly for a moment.
"Help with. . . What?"
DrRETRO takes a deep breath as she pulls out a pill bottle, the pills in question having no texture to them.
"Mew mrp meow. (I found a cure.)"
Lampert didn't even need to ask for what as he felt a smile creep up on his face.
"Meow meow mrow mrprpmm. (But I need you to give this to them.)"
Lampert blinked in confusion and disgust, discontent on his face.
"W-wait, why me?"
"Mrooow wrooww meow mou (Well, he won't let me even get near him, you at least talk to them without much struggle.)"
He opened his mouth to rebuddle back, but she was right. . . Yet he still didn't want to stand near K- I mean, Infected for too long. He shifted in his spot as he thought about it, but DrRETRO pushed him on it.
"Hiss meow meow! Mrow me memrpprp? (Come on! This is important, can't you ignore the germs this once?)"
"I. . . Um."
He was now thrown into a dilemma. For one, this could finally put an end to Kasper's suffering and the horrible virus, everything could go back to normal. . . But he couldn't stop thinking about the awful germs. It really started to make the lampshade panic and DrRETRO noticed as she placed the pill bottle next to him.
"Me. . . Ow, mrow meow. (I'll. . . Let you think about it.)"
She mumbled as she slowly rolled away, leaving a very distraught and panicked Lampert alone.
She hopes he makes the right decision.