Chapter Text
“Is everytoon ready?” A beige ammonite with a perked up tail with softened spikes on the top looked at the gathered group of Toons there.
Another toon, reflecting the light with a silky bow and cosmetics dabbed on his face looked at them. “I believe so Shelly! At least me and Rodger are, right?” The attention now casting onto Rodger, a see through glass with a wood circular exterior and a handle out of it, dressed in a well in an ironed top, small visible stains of ichor here and there.
“I believe so. I do hope I get more research on that dreary twisted version of Astro.” He stood, using the table to steady himself, and set his chair in place. Shelly didn't need much more input than that, so the 8 of them- that being Shelly, Rodger, Glisten, Flutter, Connie, Brightney, Scraps, and Tisha- left for an available elevator.
8 floors down, so far they were going strong. Flutter rested, leaning on the side of the elevator with what little time she had. The others had been going strong. So far they had it easy, nobody had gotten hurt and they were getting through the machines quite fast. Glisten looked over to Rodger and went over to him.
“How are you doing dearie?” Glisten asked, staring at the magnifying glass that was scribbling information into a notepad.
He clicked his pen and shot his glance towards Glisten. “I am well, thank you. And you?”
“Oh I am doing fine as well darling. But this elevator, I cant stand it, its so old and dirty. Eugh.” He touched the railing, sweeping his finger across it to gather some dust, using a handkerchief to clean it off. The elevator reopened and out the toons went. Flutter going ahead to try and keep the twisted away from them while they got research and did the machines. Brightney was first to a machine, the one closest to the elevator. She worked at the machine, turning the wheel. Meanwhile, the other toons went out.
Glisten walked through the halls and found some tapes, putting them in his bag for later. Leaving the research aside for Rodger. Glisten stood at the machine and started on it. He worked, watching the ichor fill the glass container. He heard a noise from around the corner, footsteps. Glisten stopped working the machine and hid hastily. He peeked over to see who or what it was.
In loud footsteps and a quiet growl came out a tall twisted version of Sprout. It clicked and growled as its one dialed red eye scanned the room for anything. It invited itself in, dragging its body, halfway devoured in the ichor and its claw dripping, staining the carpet underneath it.
Glisten stayed still, tuning in on its sounds to see if it was coming closer or farther from him. Then, another pair of steps, these more lighter than the dragging stomps of ichor smothered legs. He peeked back out as his eyes widened. It was Rodger, He looked around more to find that Sprout was unavailable to see from the perspective that Rodger was in. He watched as Rodger went up to the research capsule and bent down to take it. Looking back at Sprout he saw that he finally noticed the other individual. Rodger stood up with the research and then looked up. Sprout charged towards him, his claw outstretched as a puddle of ichor began to form underneath. Glisten’s mind was screaming at him, do something, anything! But his body would not move. The fear that he’d be caught lingered in his mind. Rodger’s body was cut through with tentacle like objects forming from the ichor, it wrapped around and Sprout approached, his claw slashing across Rodger, his lower half getting torn off. An airhorn blared in the hall near him as it alerted Sprout, he left Rodger and ran out towards the sound.
When the coast was clear, Glisten finally caught his footing. He nearly collapsed as he ran towards Rodger. Eye lazily off to the side, a glossy look over it. Glisten’s eyes began to water as he pulled Rodger to his lap. “Rodger, please, please don't die. Please.” He hiccupped and chocked on his words holding him close. Not wanting to let go.
The moment was interrupted by Connie entering the room, she looked down at the scene. “Uh… I just came to do the machine. Are you.. Okay?” She didn't really know how to address the situation as she floated to the machine. Finishing the rest of it. The elevator opened and a ticking began. “Hey man, I don't, think there's a lot we can do for him.”
Glisten sat there. Looking down at Rodger. He then watched as Rodger’s body crept up with ichor, his body twitching as his eye reddened, he shot a glare out as it frantically searched. His body contorted and raised up as Glisten sat there. Connie looked a bit alarmed. The time to get into the elevator ticked down. “Rodger?” Glisten questioned quietly.
Connie watched as Rodger’s eye began to target her, a red light coming from it as she quickly panicked and vanished out of thin air. Glisten kneeled by Rodgers side. “You- you’re alive!” His eyes teary once again. His hand reached for one of Rodgers, expecting a warm, friendly touch. He was so blinded by the fact that Rodger had returned, he didn't even think twice if he was twisted or not. He touched Rodgers hand, and in return got a cold boney touch. Rodger’s eye stared down at Glisten, and finally he got back to his senses, a red light beamed down to him as he stood up and ran back. He looked around trying to find a way out, the timer on the elevator getting less and less. He found someone through the glass window and prepared to teleport. He took one last glance at Rodger, and probably the last, before teleporting out of the room.
Dizzy and disoriented, he spooked the toon he teleported to, this being flutter, as he ran into the elevator with them. Just barely making it. His legs and hands had ichor on them as he dropped down. They looked around. “Where's Rodger?” Tisha questioned. She looked around, and so did everyone else. Connie floated awkwardly and glanced towards Glisten.
“Who was he last with?”
“I think I saw him head to Glistens location.”
Now all eyes were on Glisten. Waiting for an answer. Glisten looked at the toons in front of him. “Gone. He’s.. he’s gone. A twisted got him and.. I wasn’t there in time to help.” He bowed his head in shame as the elevator got quiet.
Shelly came over to his side, kneeling down to his sat level. “How about we return to the main area? I think we have enough ichor gathered.” And Glisten nodded in reply.