Chapter Text
Hurried steps fill the halls of the Skeld, an orange blur with mismatched shoes walk without clear route in mind. As they make their way to the unknown, quick mumbles, so lightly you'd have to be next to their mouth to hear them clearly, mutter with frustration.
' I can't believe this. So soon and so messy.'
Irritation seeps against their visor, their hands grip the clipboard close to their chest in hopes of calming down.
' Why didn't they wait for me? Everyone was there. Why didn't they wait for everyone to be asleep? The paperwork is going to be endless!'
The hurried steps begin to slow down as realization hits them.
' They been ignoring me... we're in the same team and there's no teamwork. How can we deliver the babies without teamwork?!'
Orange halts.
" They think I'm not capable."
The mumbles stop for a second as their words settle inside their mind.
' I can help too. I'm an HR rep! I'm not an idiot!' They resist the urge to break their clipboard.
' It's not me who left White alive long enough for them to waltz into the cafeteria and basically alert the whole crew so soon into our journey!'
' It's not me who-' the clipboard snaps in half. 'UGH and now the hot doctor has our scans and everything will be for nothing!'
Orange stares at the clipboard. ' ...the hot doctor has our scans.' A light shines in their eyes and stares forward, the MedBay is just ahead and no one would suspect them.
They talked with Black and Cyan not long ago and made sure both were occupied, so that should clear Orange of any suspicion!
Lime is probably doing engineer things too distracted by their... eccentric mind to pay attention.
Yellow and Brown are definitely in the kitchen planning how to indoctrinate the unpaid intern into their union ugh.
Red should be in the captain's seat and Purple should be in security. But last time Orange thought they were in security they were wrong. So that means they're not there!
Everyone is distracted right now.
'The hot doctor has our scans.'
A cheeky little smile escapes their lip as they make their way to redemption. They are going to prove Green so wrong.
Inside the walls of MedBay Blue has been working tirelessly. Their eyes grow tired and heavy, and as a doctor they should feel disappointed in how they've been treating their body, but their mind is restless.
"Hour 25 soon to be 26. All other tests have been inconclusive. There's something I've been missing. The scans will finish developing and I'll have clearer answers. "
Blue glances White's corpse and quickly rubs their eye.
"I won't rest until I know the crew is safe." They unconsciously whisper to their tape recorder.
Their voice wavers a bit, they know they've been neglecting their well-being but the thought of stopping just for a second feels impossible. Besides, forcing themselves to work endless hours with no rest or minimal food is something they have known and experienced as a doctor. It's not great but it's necessary.
"We're so close."
Quick and repeating knocks break Blue out of their focus. They sigh just a little as they know who's knocks belong to. They stop the tape recorder and leave it on a counter before heading for the door; they managed to open it quickly, the handle sometimes gets stuck. Terrible for emergency situations but what's the use of complaining when MIRA clearly doesn't care.
" Hello! " Orange greets too excitedly for the somber mood that has befallen the MedBay and enters ignoring Blue's confused and irritated expression.
" Orange... I asked to not be interrupted- "
" Yeah yeah I know.'' They interrupt. ''This will only take a moment."
Blue inhales and exhales softly.
" I'm okay, Orange. Thank you for checking up on me."
" Have the scans finished printing? "
" I'm afraid not." Blue turns to read the clock. " In less than- Sorry, Orange, can you step back? "
" That's good." Their voice falls flat.
Worry hits Blue and they gently lay their hand against Orange's forehead.
" You seem delirious. Are you okay? You're burning a little."
Orange's gaze travel from Blue's hand towards their eyes. A bit of flush hits them and they sigh dreamily.
" Oh swoon~."
They back away from Blue's hand and walk towards the door, and before Blue can ask them 'what are you doing' or to 'sit in a bed' Orange locks it. Blue startles at the violent sound of locks activating and watches Orange bewildered.
" This pains me, Doctor, it really does." A slight tremble betrays them as they slowly walk towards Blue.
" Orange..? " They say softly. Slowly backing away.
" You were my favorite. "
" Orange. " Blue states louder and more direct.
Orange's hand gently covers Blue's mouth.
" But you're going to help me prove them wrong! Isn't that exciting? " They say with so much sweetness in their voice. Their eyes relaxed, and it was clear they were happy for what was coming.
" It will only take a minute."
Before Blue can ask what they're talking about their reality shatters and sees the impossible. Blue's face contorts in horror as Orange's body begins to change into something grotesque. Limbs stretch and change painstakingly into sickly pink tendrils and, like a sick joke, more sprout from their body. Blue gags at the sounds of the flesh growing and expanding, they're no stranger to the sounds flesh can make, they're a Doctor for God's sake! But these otherworldly noises have found a way to borrow deeply into their heart and disturb their very own soul. If their stomach wasn't empty they're sure they would have purged its insides.
They fall backwards meeting the cold sterile wall, how far did they fall? They were so close to the exit before! The thoughts get discarded as they see their only exit being blocked by the impossible multi-limbed mass of skin and boils. Blue's legs tremble involuntarily, exhaustion finally catching them, and they frantically look around for a scalpel to defend themselves, but their tidiness has betrayed them and left them defenseless.
" Orange, you are clearly sick and need help. Let's calm down and find a solution together!" Blue exclaims trying to remain composed.
" No! I'm sorry, Doctor. But I have to do this. I promise I won't hit your pretty face, okay?"
" No! " They shout desperately.
" I won't hit it, I swear!"
Blue chokes another shout realizing their pleas will be fruitless.
As the creature readies its tendrils to strike time stops and memories flash before Blue's eyes. They see their many accomplishments and regrets, memories of home and loneliness.
The smell of their childhood home hits them and soft words belonging to a poem reach their scared mind. The sweet voice reading the verses belonging to their mama. Oh how Blue misses their mama. Reading and creating poetry together will always be a cherished memory for Blue. No matter how hard or scary the world got they knew they had each other to rely on.
They wish to visit their grave and clean it, take away the unsavory gifts and hideous flowers their fans have left. Blue wants to sit next to the grave and read to them again.
The clock ticks a second away.
They see all past relationships and how most failed, always by the realization that their partners saw them as a trophy to gloat and not a love to cherish. They didn't wish for much, only to be cared for. There's still a desire of forming a relationship but the fear of being hurt and disappointed again shrouds their courage, even when their heart has fallen for someone in the ship. Regret suffocates them and their eyes glint of unshed tears. It won't matter, now they're utterly alone and their only company is the avatar of their death.
Another second. If they were hit they wouldn't know.
The voices of their patients echo a thank you in their mind and their heart aches, Blue made sure to be the best doctor one can be when surrounded by the powers of corruption and greed, but MIRA was Blue's most proficient killer.
An expensive operation being rejected or not covered by company insurance, pleading with patients to rest still knowing they wouldn't because a missed day meant a missed pay. So many horrible accidents and no one claiming responsibility, only faulting the victims.
And no matter what Blue did their patients always thanked them; even after giving them the worst news a person could hear, even in their last moments where nothing could be done, or even after telling a loved one their world was about to shatter... Always a thank you, thank you for doing the bare minimum, thank you for not giving up.
Blue is proud of how far they have come, they wouldn't have changed a thing, except this.
The clock ticks and the scans start to print.
The noise snaps them back to their reality. They are not hurt.
Orange is talking to them, they realize, and they have no idea what they're said nor care about it.
Anger hits them. All of that, their connections and experience, just to have it ripped away by this creature that feels the need to prove something.
Blue feels the urge to stop Orange's murderous intent and to scream about how unfair it was of them to announce their goal. Not only that but compliment their face and promise to not damage it.
A spark of annoyance replaces anger.
Objectified in their last moments, how utterly cruel.
When the crew finds their body what will they do? Will panic spread and distrust take over? Will they mourn them as a person or as an object?
The scans begin to pile up and some fall towards the floor.
That's so unfair of Blue, they shouldn't think like that of their crew. They're good people. Desperate and scared people. People that will have to deal with an impossible being that takes the shape of their friends and loved ones... Are there more? Oh how did Blue fail them.
Orange stops talking and comes closer to Blue, the body moving in ways that read as exasperated. Blue won't ask what made them upset, won't even plead again. That creature will never hear their voice once more. Blue stares directly into Orange's murky eyes, they seem so dead, the tendril shake in anticipation.
When Blue doesn't give it the satisfaction of words It makes up its mind and finally strikes.
Annoyance turns into sadness upon remembering.
They never got the chance to shred the scans with Lime.