Chapter Text
Lime squeezed their way through the vents below The Skeld, not a deed done out of the ordinary by them, however under new circumstances it didn’t quite feel as familiar. Such a normally carefree activity regarding such a serious subject made them almost snort at the irony.
“Try hanging three rights where Red said to take ten lefts!” Calls Purple, the security guard of The Skeld. Lime didn’t trust Purple however, as someone who could not see or hear the gremlins in the vents or walls was not a crewmate Lime wanted to trust. They had to, for this task though, as the only crewmate Lime did trust could possibly be in danger.
After the death of White, Blue, The Skeld’s doctor onboard, had run extensive tests on both White’s body as well as the Crew themselves. After the crewmate’s head had blown off in a bloody mess in the cafeteria, Blue had dedicated themselves to finding the root cause of their death so that it could not inflict any more crewmates on the ship.
Blue’s research had blessed them with possible knowledge, and with it, cursed them with the possible dangers associated. Ever since the last evening, the doors to MedBay had been securely closed, and Blue, inside, unresponsive. Lime catches themself feeling a little apprehensive as to what could really be inside MedBay.
As if on cue, Lime’s head presses against a panel in the ceiling of the vent that has a slight give to it. Reaching a hand up, they push the vent open and climb out. The inside of Medbay is extremely dark, but what stands out even in the darkness is a curtain pulled fully around one of the four beds. Lime approaches quietly, grabbing a flashlight from their overalls. They click it on, casting a beam of light that lances through the thick darkness before pulling the curtain back and bringing the light up and through the gap.
“…Blue…?”
A sight to behold, but thankfully not a gory one akin to White’s. Blue looks terrible but alive, lying on their side on the bed, trembling and gripping the sheets with one hand. Their face is red, so red, it is clear that they are burning up with fever. Beads of sweat glisten and leave streaks on their face as they roll down and soak into the sheet below them. Their normally pristine and formal suit is open and wrinkled and soaked, and a thin blue hospital blanket rests over their legs. It all makes sense now, thinks Lime. Blue was extremely ill and attempting to hide it.
“hnngh…” Blue’s eyes twist shut and they stir slightly, awoken from their sleep.
“Oh my god.” Is all Lime can muster as they rush to Blue’s side and press the back of their hand to their forehead. Blue is much, much hotter than Lime imagined. Blue’s eyes finally open as they fully regain consciousness, registering what is happening before they give a startled noise and push Lime’s hand away.
“Lime! You can’t be here! You could get sick too! I, I could be contagious!” Blue cries, trying to sit up fully but making it painfully clear that their body isn’t listening. Lime brings their hand to Blue’s back, holding them up. Lime is shocked. Blue had gone from a calm, trustworthy and collected professional to a panicked and confused patient and it was like whiplash to Lime. They’d never seen Blue like this and it was very disconcerting. “P-please. For your safety.” Blue’s second string of words have lost their flare, exhaustion setting in from those few moments of panicked flailing.
Maybe from the absurd situation. Maybe from the radio waves and Tylenol fumes in here no doubt shredding Lime’s brain and guts to pulp. It takes Lime a minute to find the right words. At last they finally have it.
“What the hell? They been putting something in your water? Blue. Big dog. I don’t know who you think I am, but you’re sounding like a crazier old coot than I am if you think I’m just gonna walk out on you and let you burn to death.”
“Lime, you will too if you are this close to me. It is my responsibility to protect the crew from ailment, even if it means-“
“I don’t care what it means! You look like you’re dyin!”
Blue rolls out of Lime’s grasp, back onto the bed. They don’t say another word, but the way they adjust their pillow and turn their back to lime is indicative of what they mean. Lime noticed how raspy Blue’s throat sounded, and wondered if they’d been able to get up and get themselves water. With a pang in their chest awfully akin to mushy worry, they sigh.
“You thirsty? Let me get ya a glass of water at least.”
“Lime, you can’t-“
“Thank me another day. My treat. Uh, where are the, um, cups?”
“Over there.” Blue sighs, defeated, and lifts a shaking hand to point at a cabinet across the room. Lime sweeps the flashlight around and digs through the cabinet before they find a small sleeve of paper cups. They take one to the sink, fill it, and bring it to the sick crewmate. Lime props Blue up and presses the rim to their lips, where they drink eagerly. When they’re finished, Lime brings them another which they drink with similar fervor.
“Thank you.” Blue croaks, looking slightly more comfortable. Lime’s hand never leaves the back of Blue’s burning head, but Blue doesn’t seem to mind as much anymore. They both sit in silence for a few minutes, Lime finally breaking the silence.
“Y’know germs are government propaganda created to sell more hand sanitizer and refrigerators.”
“A doctor is the last person you should say that to, Lime.” A small chuckle escapes their chest, but the irritation sends Blue into a coughing fit, each spasm wracking their already too-feeble body uncontrollably. Lime rubs their back until they finally come to a sputtering stop.
“Easy there. Easy there…” Lime mutters.
Blue wheezes and groans softly. Lime doesn’t do well with all that mushy stuff but it really bothers them seeing their friend in this state, especially because they’re not fully open to receiving help. Or maybe Lime isn’t fully open to giving it. Lime tries to mend the awkward silence.
“Uh, well I only said the germ thing so you would know not to worry yourself with me. I’ll be fine. With as much time in the tight embrace of the dusty loins of this spaceship, I’ve probably had like every disease to ever touch this place!”
“Lime, that doesn’t make me feel better. Our immune systems may differ, but I have personally failed you if you get sick, regardless of how severe.”
“Can you stop with the savior complex bullshit? Let me play doctor. I’d be a good one.”
“Alright. Please do be careful-“
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, all that pizzazz.”
Lime leaves Blue’s bedside briefly to grab a washcloth and wet it in the sink with cold water. They return and gently dab it against Blue’s temple. This is what they do to the sick people in movies, right? They can’t tell. Blue winces from the cold at first but leans into it after the initial shock. Lime spends a while gently wiping the sweat off Blue’s face. They take note of every slight curve in Blue’s brow, the subtle yet defined shape and how every little glint in their visor shows how polished they keep it. Blue stares back, perhaps doing the same.
*bang bang bang!*
The sound of someone pounding on the Medbay door startles both Blue and Lime out of their trance.
“Yo, uhh, Lime? Everything okay in there? Did you find Blue??”
“Captain’s kick!”
A crash rings out against the Medbay door and a barely audible whimper follows.
Lime stands up and runs to the door, crashing into many beds and curtains in the dark before reaching it. They fumble around for the lock, unlock it, and pry open the door. Purple stands outside as Red limps away sadly.
“We’d appreciate if you’d yell back in the vents. We were practically screaming for you. Also the cams can’t reach that part of the Medbay, and there’s no sound recording, so we had no idea what you were doing. Did you find Blue?”
“Oh yeah, uhh, I found them alright.” Lime states, wondering privately if they should be fully truthful about Blue’s current condition.
“Well?? Are they okay?” Purple pries, clearly suspicious.
“Define ‘okay’.”
Purple shoves past Lime and flicks on the lights. A groan can be audibly heard from across the room at the sudden brightness. They pull back the curtain and see for themselves what’s up.
“Oh. Oh, shit.” Purple stares for a bit, before turning around. “Soooo, I’m gonna tell the Red, and we need to discuss what to do next.” Purple pads away, worry creasing their face as they mutter to themselves. “First a crew member blows up in the cafeteria and now we have the bubonic plague onboard. Cute.”
Lime comes back to Blue’s bedside now that everyone else is out. They cover their eyes with a hand and continue to groan, likely from the piercingly white lights of the Medbay. Lime walks to the panel and dims them, but not fully shutting them off.
“That better?” The groaning has stopped but their labored breathing hasn’t. “Yo. Blue.”
Lime returns to Blue’s bedside and puts a hand on their shoulder.
“Blue?”
It takes Lime a moment to realize, mostly because they had never seen this before. Blue breathes fast and clutches their sheets. Slight noises of distress work their way from their throat. Blue is freaking out.
“What’s up Blue? What’s happening?”
“No no no no nonono we can’t have this! Everyone onboard is gonna get it! Purple has been exposed, you’ve been exposed, and Reds gonna get exposed!” Blue grabs Lime’s overalls weakly and desperately tries to pull themselves up.
“Blue you’re not thinkin’ straight. It’s probably not as bad as you think.”
“Please. If a meeting is called, everyone will be at risk you need to-“
The ear splitting alarms went off, flashing lights and droning, “Emergency Meeting” repeatedly.
“Shoot. I should go. See ya in a bit Blue.” Lime gently pulls Blue’s hands off their clothes, placing them at their sides.
“Please…”