Chapter Text
Lime wasn't some idiot.
Despite being labeled by their fellow crewmates as a lunatic, maniac, paranoid lunatic, really the list went on. They knew when their bean-shaped body needed to take it “easy” to “rest”.
Unlike their crewmates, who insisted otherwise every time they so much as sniffled; WHO were SUPPOSED to be promoting a “safe and supportive community of teamwork, collaboration and understanding!”
Or whatever MIRA™ shoved down every employee's throats but there was a clear EMPHASIS on the word: ‘UNDERSTANDING’!
They were just well ‘aware’ of when they needed time to rest, recharge. Seemingly a foreign concept to their coworkers.
It all started yesterday as they re-called it. Lime had emerged from the vents, specifically, in the cafe for that day's special: Bacon & Egg pizza… Lime had chosen not to question the odd choices of pizza toppings by now.
They'd known better by now. But no, the pizza wasn't the cause of their “issue”!
It was as they reached their grainy little fingers over for a slice; their hands were smacked by Yellows's pizza platter. Accordingly, Lime sputtered in pain.
Clutching their blushing hand with a wince and a whine. “Whatcha’– what ya do that for?! I know I was late on fixing the reactor ONE time and we all panicked but GEEZ!” Yellow clicked their tongue in disapproval, quickly shushing Lime’s complaint up mid-holler.
“Nuh Uh! None of that! I'll be grabbing that slice FOR you.”
“No one wants whatever nasty germs you've picked up in those dingy vents! I'm probably gonna have to sanitize this platter now…” Lime huffed in rebuttal! The audacity of that damned yellow tic tac!!!
For the record Lime’s vents were not dirty, in fact they kept those tube's spick and span! And it wasn't like anyone was eating theirs or brown’s highly questionable pizza toppings…other than Lime of course.
But Lime held their tongue for Yellow wasn't finished no no no! They had more to say! “You better check in with Blue for whatever ailment has befallen you bud.” With that Yellow handed their damned pizza in a paper-towel, might they add not even supplying them with a plate nor a measly paper plate before sending them back to their vents.
Much to Lime’s displeasure. No one forced them into those luxurious vents but themselves! Lime quickly shoved their limp pizza slice into their mouth as they crawled forward in the rumbling halls of metal. Yellow didn't know squat about Lime's health!
They were the picture of what a healthy crewmate should've looked like!
Their mind replayed the less than pleasant conversation on loop, as it narrowed in on word. Blue. it focused on Blue of all things…Eughhh, ye-yuck!
Now, Lime was sure Blue was a “nice” fellow when they weren't enchanting all of their damn coworkers! Lime was sure Blue was some sort of sorcerer of sorts, sent to torment the crew with their annoyingly charming personality and dashing looks!!
And they'd be DAMMED if they were forced to interact with that deceitful witch! Besides, Blue had all those invasive medical “equipment”!
Lime was 99.9 percent sure it was a device to harvest their DNA to turn them into evil clones for some overseas shell company!!!!
How else could you explain that harsh, radioactive glow that temporarily covered them after a scan!? Thankful Lime was clever and had successfully evaded such schemes by hiding in the ventilation system.
A skill they'd mastered from years of yoga and bone-squishing.
That was until it started with a cough. Lime didn't pay much mind to the matter, it was expected to come across some little lung problems when handling an old reactor such as the skeld’s. Then Lime would begin coughing when they were nowhere near the reactor. It'd gotten to the point where their fellow crewmates began noticing Lime’s newfound “trait”.
First it was Brown when they caught Lime in the act of stealing the water cooler for holy purposes. It had been the third or fourth time. Lime had stolen the jug in attempts of purifying it and it was clear they were at their wit's end with Lime.
“For the last time, Lime. You can't keep stealing the cooler for “weaponry against goblins, gremlins and other malicious entities for the sake of the crew and crumanity.” (humanity?)
Lime hadn't appreciated Brown’s air quotes and went to rebuttal that verged on straight hollering. “NOW LISTEN HERE! I DON’ WANNA HEAR NO CRYING WHEN THOSE DAMNED “ENTITES” TAKE OVER THE GODDAMN SHIP– HEYUCK!!” A sickly cough tore out Lime's throat mid-sentence, stopping all attempts at argument in its tracks.
Yellow had then re-materialized from behind Brown to snatch their water cooler back before disappearing once more.
“Ugh Lime..?” Brown attempted to gauge a response from the Lime as they sputtered on the tiled floor. “HUGHUGCK!!” Brown subtly reached over and held out a glass of water for blue which was quickly rejected by the choking crewmate.
”HEEEEYUCK!! F-first you reject my help now your tryna give me this poison!?!‽” Brown stood there for a few good seconds.
“Lime, this is a glass of water.”
"HEEEYUUUCK–FUCKTHATGLASSOFWATER!!”
“Lime, this is a clear, non-tapered with glass of water that will hopefully fix whatever is wrong with you.”
“NONONONO!” Lime’s throat completely vanished as they sprung up. “YOU'RE NOT GETTING IT! MIRA™!! COMPANIES LIKE MIRA™!!!THEY'RE PUMPIN’ CHEMICALS INTO THE WATER THEY'RE TRYNA’ POISON OUR MINDS.”
Brown only huffed, pouring the glass into the nearby sink.
“Now lime, I understand you and I have different belief systems,” That tone of voice told Lime otherwise. “But are you sure you don't wanna get checked out by Blue?–” Lime sucked in a breath of air, suddenly feeling very out of breath. Their skin felt feverish and clammy.
They needed to leave, this was some kind of setup!
Before Brown could ask Lime any further invasive questions, Lime practically swan-dived into the vent!“NOPE!!ABSOLUTELYNOT!!LOVEANDPEACEBROWN!!”
Lime began slicking through the vents as they grumbled in frustration. Not Brown or Yellow knew what they were talking about!!! THERE NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM! THEY WERE IN MINT CONDITION‐ *BANG* Lime’s visor connected with the end of one the ventilation tunnels. Almost cracking it in half.
“Wha-!?” Lime’s shock quickly formed into confusion and suspicion. How interesting. Lime knew these sweet vents like the back of their hands, it wasn't like them to get so lost easily. . . Damned aliens! They must've been using their freaky mind powers to confuse them!
Lime just needed to get to their “room”. Maybe they had some extra holy water stashed around somewhere. Everything spun in circles as Lime began slowly backing up. They’d do anything to get rid of this damn headache right now, some of that holy water should set them straight though.
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The holy water didn't do shit for poor Lime. Its intended purpose was having the OPPOSITE effect on Lime. Their headache had reached the point of throbbing like a drum. Their vision swam, turning everything until a mush of slightly varying grays. Their skin felt like boiling metal and their bones felt more wiggly than normal. “Daaugh…”
They needed to move. Lime slowly out surely got out their fetal position. Crawling toward the nearest light source despite their joints screaming in refusal.
The mold was probably getting to them…Wait no..nonono, that couldn't be it! The mold and probable multiple concussions made them a free thinker!! They weren't SHEEP like the others!!!
They knew the truth about everything!!
Lime crawled until the metal tube's floor ended. But with reflexes too slow, Lime ended face down on the floor. Their world slowly went dark as they heard a fading yelp.
“LIME! LIME, BUDDY CAN YOU HEAR ME!?” Lime’s world came too with the annoying screeching voice: Red’s. Orange was standing right beside them attempting to give some motivational speech.
With vision fading in and out, Lime just wanted to close their eyes and go back to sleep.
Red began frantically shaking Lime. “DON'T WORRY BUDDY WE'RE GONNA GET YOU HELP!” Lime yelped and hollered from the unexpected touch. Sniffling as they scrambled away. “DAGNABIT DAMMNIT, GET YOUR PAWS OFF OF ME!”
Red and Orange seemed undeterred by the hollering as they seemed more glad they didn't have to take responsibility for a dead crewmate.
“Oooh Lime, me and red thought you were DEAD! Now wouldn't that be just a terrible tragedy!(now that would be terrible for anyone's record..)” Orange swiftly helped Lime to their wobbly legs as they slowly led Lime somewhere.
“C’mon lets get you fixed!” It felt strangely nice in a way, the pressure on their joints easing as Orange looped their arms around their's, supporting their back in the way there.
The sentiment was quickly forgotten when Lime quickly realized the medbay was their intended stop. “Y-YOU KNOW I'M FEELING MUCH BETTER! YOU CAN JUST DROP ME OFF RIGHT HERE!!”
Lime squirmed in Orange's iron-clad grip. “Now Lime I know you have a little phobia of doctors and medical staff…and anything medical related in general but you need help! Plus we both know you'd just run-”
The medbay doors sprung open as the scent of sterilization and hand sanitizer filled the narrow hallway as the devil themselves stepped out. Blue. Lime stared back and forth from the stickler Orange and that damn azure devil.
“Oh, hello doctor…” Horror struck on Lime's as Orange did a completeIe 180°. “A-ah! Well hello there Lime and Orange! Is there anything I can do for my fellow crewmates that I care so much about?”
Lime’s visor narrowed at Blue's questionable dialogue choice and even Orange with their rose-tinted glasses clocked it for a bit before quickly going back to swooning. “W-well I-i just wanted you to check out Lime, they um, fell out a vent and passed out.” Lime wished there was a vent close to them so they could just run and hide.
“Oh is that so? Please come in! We'd hate to have you passing out on us, you're a very important member of this crew!”
Lime hissed as Orange re-looped their arms around them and hulled them onto a hospital cot. Curse the aliens! Now they were weak! Blue smiled as they put on a new set of gloves, probably making sure their fingerprints couldn't be traced back to them! This was a trap!
“Alright Orange you've done far enough by bringing our dear Lime here but I must send you on your way. I'll take it from here.”
Orange simply nodded all giddy as she happily skipped outside. “Alright Lime now If it's okay with you I need to track down your symptoms.” Lime needed to get out. Now. Lime sprung up from their cot moving towards the door. Before they tripped. A loud thud reverberated across the room.
“LIME!? ARE YOU OKAY!?” Blue rushed to their side, shaking them lightly. Lime died in those vents didn't they. And this was hell, it had to be. Lime had done so much wrong in their life and they had ended up in hell for their sins. Lime vision was going blurry again. Blue had gone noticeably quiet before speaking again.
“Lime…Lets get you to your cot okay..?”
Lime had expected their fate. “...Fine.”