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The elevator was taking too long.
Dandy stood facing the door anxiously holding a capsule. They were sweating, and tapping their foot. The capsule felt heavy in their hands.
If Vee truly was showing signs of sickness like Delilah, that meant there would only be one way to help her.
A way they didn’t want to take.
There would be no going back.
The capsule was cold.
The elevator opened after a while. Dandy rushed out. They shook Vee's doorknob. “Vee!! VEE!!! Unlock the door!!! It's just me!!!” They called. Vee’s weak voice came through, “Dan..! Dan im fi-ine!” Dandy slammed their fists against the door. “Don’t you DARE pretend you’re all right!!! Astro told me what happened!! Please Vee, I can help you!!!”
The door opened gently, and Vee stood there.
She looked incredibly sick. Her jacket was stained with ichor and lime green. Her arms are shaking. Her eyes were loosely opened. She gazed at them. Dandy pushed open the door further and looked around.
When Dyle said she showed similar signs to Delilah, they didn’t expect her room to be so much like Delilah's office.
There were papers scattered across the ground.
There were puddles of ichor and coolants splattered on the ground.
The sight scared Dandy. Their grip on the capsule tightened. Vee coughed and leaned against the wall. The flower quickly tried to persuade her to sit down. “Vee, please, let me help you. Listen, this is my fault…” they admitted and got vee to lie down. Vee weakly replied, “It's not-” Dandy interrupted her, “No, I taught you to revive toons, I let you handle raw ichor with your bare hands, and I'm the reason you’re sick. You’ve been poisoned from the raw ichor… and it’s completely my fault…” they gently brushed her antenna from her face. Vee’s exhausted eyes met theirs. “Dan… just… shu-ut up… I a-asked to help you, it's my fault I'm s-s-ao sick right now too…”
Dandy shook their head, “No, be quiet. You did nothing wrong. Just…” they paused, and held the capsule shakily, “I will fix it. Just…” they said,
“Trust me, please.”
Vee looked at them with slightly widened eyes. “... wha-at will you do…?” she asked. Dandy looked at the capsule. “I… I really really just need you to trust me. You’ll be better, I promise.” they explained. Vee was a bit hesitant, but sharp pain shot throughout her abdomen, causing her to curl in on herself. Dandy was panicking as Vee sharply replied, “Okay..! Okay..! I tr-trust you Dandy…!” The flower nodded and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “C-can i open your back panel please?” They asked. Vee shakily nodded, still in pain. They carefully helped Vee take off her jacket, and grabbed a screwdriver. As they unscrewed the panel, they felt their breath grow heavier and more panicked. They shakily removed the anode cap in her back, the one leading to an ichor tank.
Dandy clicked open the capsule and…
Hesitated.
There would be no going back once they do this. The ichor in the capsule felt threatening.
This decision would decide if Vee could still go on runs or not.
This decision could ruin both of their lives.
This decision could make everyone lose trust in vee, and fear them.
This decision could change everything.
“D-dan..?” Vee's voice was shaky, it sounded like she was gritting through pain and nausea, “... Dan you’re hesitating…” They recalled what this was for. Both decisions have bad consequences, just like when vee volunteered to help with the Operation… the same struggle she was placed in was now their dilemma.
But only one choice guaranteed they wouldn’t lose her.
“... I’m so sorry cathode.”
They said solemnly and clicked the capsule into her back. The ichor drained from the capsule quickly. Dandy was shaking, trembling.
There would be no going back now.
Dyle, Astro, Sprout, and Cosmo were in the elevator.
“When Dandy said they’d ‘take care of it’ what did that mean?” Cosmo asked cautiously. Dyle fidgeted with his chain. “Nothing good. I’m worried their impulse will lead them to try something rash.” he replied. Astro was pacing. “I’m so worried… about both of them! I hope that you two will be able to help.” he remarked. Sprout waved a hand. “Don’t worry Astro! Cosmo and I have medical training! I'm sure we can handle it! Especially since Dyle said she was experiencing poisoning. That’s one of the top things we get trained for! You know how kids are.” he said. Astro sighed in relief. Dyle spoke up, “The poisoning Vee is dealing with is not like any other poisoning you’ve seen. It's from ichor.” Sprout cut him off, “Don’t say that yet, I’m sure we can help!”
A loud scream echoed throughout the hall as the elevator opened.
Dyle gasped. “That's Vee! Let's go!” he exclaimed, and ran down. The other toons followed.
Astro slammed open Vee’s door to see her…
Fine?
Vee was getting up from her bed, and Dandy was helping her get her jacket on. The other toons came in. Vee waved. “Oh, hey guys. Everything all right?” she asked. Sprout looked at Dyle who looked stunned. Astro sputtered, “You- you were just- you were sick- I- vee! You’re okay!” Vee chuckled a bit. “Dandy helped me out. I’m feeling so much better. Heh!” she said and leaned on her cane. “Well! I guess we’re not needed! Heh, what’d you do, Dandy?” Sprout asked with a grin.
Dandy was gazing horrified.
Dyle looked down at the empty capsule in Dandy’s hand.
“Dandicus… Outside. NOW.”
Dandy walked outside with Dyle, and to the elevator. Dandy was stressed. “... D-Dyle… please don’t be mad…” They tried to explain themself. Dyle held the capsule, and screamed, “YOU INJECTED HER WITH LETHAL ICHOR!?!?” He grabbed Dandy by the overall strap. “DYLE!! IT WAS THE ONLY WAY!!! I-I HAD TO!!!” they screamed back. Dyle yelled, “THERE HAD TO BE OTHER WAYS!!! BUT YOU WERE TOO IGNORANT- TOO IMPULSIVE TO TRY SOMETHING ELSE!!!” Dandy snapped back, “I DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE HER!!!” Dyle set them down roughly. “You’ve ALREADY LOST HER!!! You’ve injected her with lethal ichor! She’ll go MAD in a matter of time! Like you have! Like I have! DON’T YOU SEE WHAT YOU’VE DONE?!”
Dandy looked at his tinted pink eyes holding an expression of anger they didn't even know Dyle could express. They broke right there. They were sobbing and crying. “I-I didn’t want to lose her…” they spoke so shakily and so quietly. Dyle narrowed his eyes. “... You can’t turn back now, Dandicus. She’s already been injected with that ichor…” He remarked, and paused, “.... It’s only a matter of time now before she snaps, and twists. You need to be ready to explain yourself once she recovers.”
The elevator opened to the lobby. Dyle went back to his shop. Dandy was left standing there. They were still shaking and crying.
What had they done…?