Chapter Text
Despite having been born and raised in this body, AE3803 never could figure it out. That is, figure out each route and capillary and vein and every other place she’s required to traverse in order to make deliveries. She’s fortunate enough to have a kind Senpai to aid her, though she always feels bad afterwards.
‘But today is different!’ AE3808 thinks to herself, pushing a cart of oxygen along with a pep in her step. ‘I’m going to do this all on my own! Just watch me!’ She takes a deep breath and jogs harder.
Which… Just ends up making her lost again, because of course. Luckily, she’s got a map to help!
Pulling it out, AE3808 gives it a good look-over. Her eyes narrow on the paper and on her current surroundings. It’s so busy that it’s almost hard to tell where she even is.
“I’m never gonna make deliveries on my own…” AE3808 whines as she kneels on the ground.
But she rises again to resume looking at her map. She takes another deep breath to hold back any further complaints.
“Well, it looks like I have to go this way, right? Or– No, maybe it’s this way? But wait, that can’t be right!” Ah, if only she could read maps right, too.
“Hey! Red Blood Cell! Are you lost again?” AA5100 waves from across the way.
“Senpai! It’s so good to see you!” AE3808 waves back eagerly. “Oh, uhm, but yeah. I’m lost again.” And immediately her joy dissipates, guilt creeping into her voice and body language.
“Figured. You know, you’re never gonna make your deliveries on time if you don’t work out how to walk around the body soon!” Her friend chastises lightly, finger wagging. “And I can’t always be there to help you! Honestly, you worry me sometimes.” She sighs, brows creased.
“I know, I’m sorry. I really don’t mean to keep getting lost.” AE3808 twiddles her pointers. “But this is the last time, I promise! From now on, I’m gonna make my deliveries on time and on my own!” She points to herself, looking proud with a puffed chest.
“Except that you need my help right now.” Her friend replies dryly.
AE3808 stiffens. “Uhm, right, ahah…” Her pride shatters in an instant.
AA5100 puts a supportive on hand on AE3808 shoulder. “Hey, don’t beat yourself up about it! You’re still pretty new, so I don’t exactly blame you for getting lost all the time.” She giggles. “Here, why don’t I point you in the right direction, then you can go and do the rest of your deliveries by yourself?”
“Oh, thank you, Senpai! This means so much to me!” AE3808 takes her hand to shake.
“Of course! Anything for a friend!” AA5100 laughs back. “Anyways, let’s see where you need to go.” She turns for the map.
A few minutes are spent just figuring out what the best—and easiest—route would be. Turns out, AE3808 isn’t that far away from her destination. It’s really just getting through the thick throngs of cells along the way.
“If you want to avoid getting too mixed-up in all the other cells, you could try taking more back-alley routes.” AA5100 suggests. “However, I think you’re better off just risking getting lost again. Those routes are notorious, you know.” Something disturbed and fearful crosses her face.
But AE3808 is confused, golden eyes widening at her friend. “How so? I mean, are they riddled with germs or something?”
“Well, probably. It’s definitely easy for germs to hide on those kinds of places.” Her Senpai rubs the back of her neck. “But honestly, I’m less worried about germs, and more worried about the immune cells.”
“The… Immune cells? But why? They protect the body, we shouldn’t be afraid of them!” AE3808 laughs off the outrageous claim.
“Well– Okay. That was pretty vague. I’m less worried about the immune cells as a whole and more concerned about some of the White Blood Cells.” AA5100 elaborates. “I’ve heard that some of them have gone rogue. They’ll go after us Red Blood Cells like germs and bacteria do!” Seriousness forms on the cell’s face.
AE3808’s cowlick responds more than its owner does. It flops right over, dangling in a withered state yet trembling.
“They what?” AE3808 mutters.
“Luckily, I haven’t come across any myself, but with your habit of getting lost, I fear you might.” AA5100 goes on. “So when you make your deliveries, be careful out there! Always watch your back, no matter what! And stay within the crowded spots! Those rogue immune cells might not attack you if you do.” She wags her finger again, keeping her stern gaze locked with her friend’s.
“I-I won’t! I mean, I will! Uh– You know what I mean!” AE3808 snaps back to attention.
“Good! I don’t want to find out you got caught by a rogue White Blood Cell.” AA5100 sighs, smiling again. “But I should get going. I’ve got my deliveries to do, too. Make sure not to get lost again, alright?” She turns to leave, waving along the way.
“Y-Y-Yep! I’ll make sure not to do that!” AE3808 frets in return.
She turns back down to her map, mentally highlighting the route she and her friend made. Since she’s already halfway there, it shouldn’t be a bumpy ride, nor should anything bad happen.
“Right. Just stick to the crowded areas and you’ll be fine! There’s no way I could come across one of those ‘rogue White Blood Cells,’ right?” AE3808 laughs the notion off, though her voice still trembles.
Her last laugh ends in a pitiful, scared whine as she continues on her way.
There are many times where the body feels so vast. Even the short routes feel like AE3808 is traveling across the entire world. This one is no different. Though, that could also be because of minor hiccups along the way.
“Find that Pneumococcus! It’ll be a disaster if we let it proliferate!” A Neutrophil shouts as he runs past.
His comrades respond in affirmation, bolting off in different directions. AE3808 watches for a moment as she strolls along.
‘Guess those guys aren’t the rogues, huh?’ She wonders. ‘Though, I guess now I’ve also gotta worry about running into a bacteria. “Pneumococcus,” was it?’ AE3808 turns back around to her surroundings. ‘Well, I just hope I can get this delivery off without a hitch.’
AE3808 makes her way through the body as usual, getting lost again and all. But she makes it to the other side where she needs to be just in time! And only with minor help and scolding!
Letting out a sigh of relief, AE3808 walks up to the cell’s apartment. He perks up as she spots her approach and lift up the box of oxygen.
“Hello, Mr. Cell! Here’s your delivery!” AE3808 smiles chipperly.
“Oh, sweet! Just in time, too!” The cell gets off his chair to take the box.
He signs the necessary clipboard and exchanges his carbon dioxide in return. AE3808 places the hefty box onto her cart and takes the clipboard.
“Thanks a bunch! I was just about to run out!” The cell exclaims in cheer, getting his oxygen in order.
“Of course! Happy to help!” AE3808 simpers back.
“By the way, you didn’t have any trouble along the way, did you?” The cell asks.
The blood cell stiffens. “Uh– Well, not– Really?” She laughs nervously, averting her gaze.
“Cool! I just wanted to know because I heard there was a rogue White Blood Cell around.” The other cell replies, face contorting into worry. “I’ve heard the kinds of things those cells do to you Red Blood Cells. You’ve gotta stay vigilant out there, you hear?!” He leans over his patio’s railing, eyes blowing wide.
“The… Kind of things they do…?” AE3808 mutters back, only getting more scared.
“Yeah! Haven’t you heard?!” The cell asks.
“I mean, a little bit?” AE3808 shrugs. “But I was never told what they do.”
The cell gasps. “Then listen close!” He beckons with a hand.
AE3808 steps closer, feeling her organelles churn. The cell leans forward more, covering one side of his mouth with a hand and lowering his voice.
“I’ve heard that those rogue cells will strike whenever and wherever they like. They’ll snatch up Red Blood Cells like you right when your guard’s been lowered! And they’re silent, like some germs and bacteria!” He tells her secretively. “But that’s not the scariest part!”
“I-It isn’t?!” It seems pretty scary to AE3808!
“No. What’s scarier is what they do to the Red Blood Cells they catch!” The cell lowers his hand, connecting gazes with the Erythrocyte. “When they’ve caught you and gotten you out of sight, somewhere dark and alone…”
AE3808 nods, listening intently yet fearfully.
“They let out their long, noodly tongues, sharpened to a point!” The cells’ eyes go wider. “And then they stab you with it! Like ‘STAB! STAB’!” He then jabs AE3808’s midsection.
She jumps back, covering her midsection as she shrieks.
“And then! When their freakishly-long sucker is out, THEY SUCK ALL YOUR ORGANELLES RIGHT OUT OF YOU!!” The cell shouts.
That only makes AE3808 shriek louder. “I don’t wanna be sucked dry of all my organelles!!”
“Then you better watch your back out there!” The cell shouts, quieting her. “Because if you don’t, you’ll get snatched up and eaten, like many other Red Blood Cells.”
AE3808 whimpers. She shakily nods.
“I– I’ll be careful! I promise I’ll be careful!!” She’s on the verge of tears from horror.
She’s scrambling off with her cart before the cell can say anything more. He watches her bolt off, waving her off and giving her a thankful smile at the same time.
“Be safe out there!” He cries after her.
His neighbor just stares incredulously at the fellow cell, his tea gone cold just from watching that whole exchange. When he finally finds the ability to blink again, he speaks up.
“I think… You were talking about a bacteria or something, dude.” He comments dryly.
“You think so?” His neighbor asks.
‘Yeah. Definitely.’ The other cell thinks.