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It only took a second. A second.
In the chaos and the cacophony of sound, with the vast universe sucking air and trying to get them into its open maw, who would hear a high yelp of surprise? Who would notice a crawling, pink little thing, take hold of the newbie's visor?
The world turned on its axis. They felt– something— slipped into the crevices of their being. It was chilling and uncomfortable and unnatural.
Green fell on their face. Disoriented. Whatever happened can wait. They have to get up. They have to help.
It starts with a headache.
A symptom so mild and common that it could be chalked up to anything, really. Maybe it's stress, maybe it's the oxygen levels, they didn't know. They could only guess. They had tasks to do.
They're still shaking. It must be from the accident. Yes. They didn't think they would be involved in something so dangerous so soon. It must be the surprise. Nothing like that ever happened on the worm farm, so, certainly, they must be shaken up.
The headache doesn't go away. It persists, and heightens with time. The shivers get worse.
They get this persistent tingle under their skin, like their limbs are going numb. Like something is crawling up their veins. Like their nerves are suffocating.
By the time the nausea sets in, their body trying to expel the parasite, it's already too late.
(Oh, they feel sick. They're supposed to go to the party. They're having a party. Everyone's celebrating being alive. They have to go. They have to get it together. They–)
"Hello? Green?"
They gasp, so faint it's almost nonexistent, really. Orange approaches them in the dark.
The crew has a small set of cabins for longer trips. The covers are cheap, but they're good enough. Orange sits at the edge of Green's bed, and watches the lump under the sheets shake as if they're freezing.
"...I see assimilation hasn't been kind to you."
Their words ring in the quiet. Green stops shaking.
Their hand pulls the covers down, revealing their face, and they stare into each other's visors for a long time. Green is not afraid. Neither is Orange.
Kinship. Recognition.
The newbie's expression changes to annoyance. "This host sucks."
Orange laughs. "You'll get used to it. I think your pick was risky, but nothing we can't work with."
"Risky?" Green sits up, perhaps too quickly. They end up holding their head with a grunt. "I'm an unpaid intern from a worm farm. It doesn't exactly scream dangerous."
"Ah, I see you've integrated their memories already. This will make the impersonation much easier!"
Orange feels calm. They're sure it will all go well. Having a partner is relieving. They're not good at killing, as fun as it is. They much prefer playing their part of blending in with the crewmates and taking care of the eggs. And on that line of thought....
"You still remember our goal?"
"Killing them." Green answers without missing a beat.
They take on a singsong tone, slipping into the role of a corporate role model with ease, "That's not the priority~!"
Green huffs. "Hatching the eggs..."
"Hatching the eggs! Correct!"
"You're... Enthusiastic."
Orange's visor curves with their smile. "I like a job well done. And I take the job of infiltration very seriously!"
They extend their hand to Green's head, and it shifts into a pink tentacle, extending and curling to straighten Green's hat. "I've been at this for a while, y'know? Being undercover gets easier with time."
"You mean... You weren't assimilated with me?"
Orange giggles. "No. But I remember the feeling well. Heh. You could say that, in a way, I'm still your guide on the Skeld, huh?"
Green frowns.
"I wouldn't. I can thin out their numbers on my own."
How harsh! They must be eager to start.
"Oh well," Orange gets up and walks to the door, "just leave the geologists for last, will you? And remember to be ready for the party later."
They hum a little tune as they go, but stop on the doorway.
"Ah! Green, one more thing..."
Green adjusts their hoodie as they turn to address them.
Orange gets serious, just for a second. A second is all that's necessary.
"They have salt. Watch out for that."