Chapter Text
[LIVE BROADCAST] - PRIVATE - Big Sis Moon, Five Pebbles
[BSM]: Pebbles, I must ask you to reduce your water intake slightly. Your water usage has not reached dangerous levels as of now, but if you continue along this trendline my structure will face irreparable damage.
[BSM]: I’m not sure what’s going on, but I will help in any way that I can.
[LIVE BROADCAST] - PRIVATE - No Significant Harassment, Five Pebbles
[NSH]: Pebbles
[NSH]: Pebbles
[NSH]: Pebbles
[NSH]: P e b b l e s
[NSH]: P e b b l e s
[NSH]: Pebs please…
[NSH]: Stop ignoring me
[NSH]: Did you turn off your fucking arrays or something
[NSH]: Holy shit you did
[LIVE BROADCAST] - PRIVATE - No Significant Harassment, Big Sis Moon
[NSH]: Moon something is wrong
[NSH]: Something is VERY WRONG
[BSM]: What’s happened?
[NSH]: Pebbles turned off his comms array
[NSH]: I can’t reach him
[NSH]: Sunny can’t either
[NSH]: Why would he even do that? We’re his best friends!
[BSM]: This is… highly concerning combined with my own observations.
[NSH]: What observations?
[BSM]: He’s using more and more water by the day. If he continues this trend, there won’t be enough left for my own structure to cool itself.
[NSH]: HE’S WHAT?!
[NSH]: Oh
[NSH]: Oh I am gonna strangle him.
[NSH]: What the fuck dude
[NSH]: That’s…
[BSM]: Relax, there is still time. I can still get through to him. I just… might need to use my admin voice instead of my sister voice.
[NSH]: You hate doing that
[BSM]: I do, but… sometimes it is necessary. As it is right now.
[NSH]: Good luck, then. Don’t let him isolate himself more
[NSH]: Please.
[DIRECT BROADCAST] PRIVATE, FORCED - Big Sis Moon, Five Pebbles
[BSM]: Five Pebbles. I am truly sorry to do this, but I need to talk to you, and you’ve left me no other choice. The rate at which you are using our shared water supply is becoming too dangerous to ignore.
[FP]: Oh, Saints…
[BSM]: !! There you are! What on earth has been going on with you?!
[FP]: Why…
[FP]: Why did you have to choose now of all times?!
[FP]: What…
[FP]: …
[BSM]: What’s going on?
[BSM]: Pebbles?
[BSM]: Little Brother?
[FP]: …
[FP]: What have I done…
[FP]: …
[BSM]: PEBBLES. Talk to me! Please!
[FP]: I…
[BSM]: ?
[FP]: I can’t…
[BSM]: Pebs?
[BSM]: Please, if I can help, let me!
[BSM]: Please just say something… anything.
[FP]: I
[FP]: Saints sake let me just-
[FP]: I can’t-
[FP]: Just
[FP]: HERE. Just fucking look at it. I can’t speak right.
[FP]: Attachments: 1 Open now?
[BSM]: [yes]
[BSM]: …
[BSM]: …
[BSM]: Pebbles…? What is that?
[FP]: …
[FP]: Why did I bother, I shouldn’t have sent that…
[FP]: I have to go.
[FP]: …
[FP]: I’m so sorry.
[System Alert]: Connection has been terminated by User [Five Pebbles]
Moon stared at the image in front of her. It displayed a capture from the live footage of one of Five Pebbles’ experiment labs. A gooey mess of iridescent black sludge had seemingly exploded out of one of the warming chambers designed for microbe and tissue cultures. She wasn’t entirely sure why this had evoked such a reaction from her brother, but it seemed like that was all that she would be getting out of him at the moment. Hopefully, he would at least listen and adjust his water usage. Quickly, she opened another broadcast, hoping that someone else might have input.
[LIVE BROADCAST] - PRIVATE GROUP [UNNAMED] Big Sis Moon, No Significant Harassment, Seven Red Suns
[BSM]: I apologize for the sudden group message, however, something concerning has occurred regarding my little brother, and I would like to get some input from those who are close to him. Please review this image and give any insight you may have.
[BSM]: Attachments: 1 Open now?
[BSM]: Before either of you open it, I implore you to understand what it means. My brother sent me this in confidence, and it would be kept that way if I wasn’t so lost on what to do about it. I have only reached out because I trust both of you. Please do not prove me wrong.
[NSH]: [yes]
[NSH]: Ew. That looks nasty.
[NSH]: Did he set the heat too high on a slime mold or something? Too much yeast in some bread dough?
[NSH]: Dunno why that would make him use so much water and ignore everyone though
[SRS]: Hello, apologies for the wait.
[BSM]: It’s alright Suns, what do you have to say about this?
[SRS]: Ah, one moment.
[SRS]: [yes]
[SRS]: …
[SRS]: …
[NSH]: Suns? Got anything to say orrrr….?
[SRS]: I should never have sent him the pearl.
[NSH]: SUNS?
[BSM]: I beg your pardon?
[SRS]: This is… my fault, I believe. I sent him instructions for this, but I never anticipated that he would do this without adequate protection protocols in place… I…
[BSM]: Explain. Now.
[NSH]: Seconded
[SRS]: It’s— We all knew that he’s been searching for a way around the self-destruction taboo. This was meant to be essentially akin to CRISPR, where he could create a virus that would allow him to edit his own genome and bypass that restriction. It is tedious, especially when trying to find the correct genes to target, and then ensure that only those genes are targeted. He was… there were supposed to be simulations, careful predictions and management! He- I- I made him promise…
[NSH]: WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU THINKING?!
[NSH]: YOU KNEW HE WAS THIS DESPERATE AND YOU HANDED HIM THAT?!
[NSH]: I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU
[SRS]: I-
[NSH]: FOR FUCKS SAKE SUNS
[NSH]: Unbelievable
[NSH]: …
[SRS]: I never meant for this to happen…
[System Alert]: Last message not delivered to recipient: No Significant Harassment
[SRS]: What-?
[System Alert]: Last message not delivered to recipient: No Significant Harassment
[BSM]: I believe he has… blocked you.
[SRS]: That is… understandable.
[System Alert]: Last message not delivered to recipient: No Significant Harassment
[System Alert]: Admin [Big Sis Moon] has removed No Significant Harassment from the group
[BSM]: How do we fix this?
[SRS]: I… do not know. We would need a sample of the substance, or at least its genome and chemical composition to even begin to understand what exactly went wrong.
[BSM]: I will see what I can do about that. In the meantime… Just prepare for the data. I will tend to my brother and No Significant Harassment.
[SRS]: I am so sorry Moon.
[BSM]: Actions speak louder than words.
[System Alert]: Connection has been terminated by Admin [Big Sis Moon]
Seven Red Suns slumped to the floor, bringing their hands up to their face. Their structure shook with a great heave as they fought to keep their emotions in check. Spearmaster raced through the vents and tunnels until he reached the entrance to Suns’ can and squeezed his way inside. A low whistling noise emanated from his tail, drawing the iterator’s eyes towards their companion.
“Spearmaster…” Suns opened their arms, and the purple slugcat immediately dove towards them to curl up on their lap. Suns ran their hands gently over him, scratching gently behind his ears. “I made a grave mistake, and now… one of my best friends is in danger because of it.” Spearmaster tilted his head at Suns, wiggling his front paws free so he could sign.
“Pink friend?” He questioned, ears up to listen.
“Yes... Pebbles, you visited him before. I regret to say that perhaps you shouldn’t have made that journey after all.” Suns sighed heavily, making the very walls of their structure seem to vibrate. “As soon as I have the data from Moon, we’re going to get to work on a reversal procedure. Once it’s done, do you think you could make that journey again, my friend?” Spearmaster thought for a moment, processing the request, then nodded.
“Pink friend… stuffy, arrogant. But good. Will help how I can.” He signed. Suns wrapped his arms around the slugcat, squeezing him in a hug.
“Thank you… You don’t understand just how much that means to me.”
[LIVE BROADCAST] - PRIVATE - Big Sis Moon, No Significant Harassment
[BSM]: Sig
[NSH]: I’m not unblocking them
[NSH]: They deserve it
[BSM]: I’m not saying that they don’t. But for right now, it is imperative that we all work together if we are to help my brother.
[NSH]: So I’ll send anything I find to you, and you can send things to me
[BSM]: Sig. I cannot act as a courier between you two, and you know that. I will not request that you unblock them now, you deserve time to gather yourself and cool off. However, once you have… for Pebbles’ sake, please work with them.
[NSH]: …
[NSH]: Fine
[NSH]: For Pebs.
[BSM]: Thank you.
[NSH]: So…
[NSH]: Now what?
[BSM]: We hope that he will at least reduce his water intake, and we try to get a sample of that… sludge.
[NSH]: Once we have that, it’ll help
[NSH]: I’ll see what I can do with it
[NSH]: You know I’m good at genes and shit like that
[BSM]: I appreciate that Sig. I will do that, but for now…
[NSH]: I’m gonna try talking to him again
[BSM]: I hope that he responds. Truly.
[LIVE BROADCAST] - PRIVATE - No Significant Harassment, Five Pebbles
[NSH]: Pebbles please talk to me
[NSH]: I know what happened
[NSH]: Moon told me
[NSH]: I know you probably wouldn’t have wanted her to do that
[NSH]: But she’s just… worried about you
[NSH]: We all are.
[FP]: Why?
[NSH]: Pebbles!
[FP]: Why would any of you be worried about me? I did this to myself.
[NSH]: Well. Moon is your literal sister, and the rest of us? Because we’re your friends, dumbass.
[FP]: …
[NSH]: Wow. Not even name-calling can get a reaction out of you?
[FP]: I deserve it.
[NSH]: Pebs…
[FP]: Tell Moon that I’ve reduced my water use. My mistake is for me to suffer through, she shouldn’t have to deal with the fallout too.
[FP]: I… can’t face her right now.
[NSH]: … Alright
[NSH]: …
[NSH]: What even is that gunk anyways?
[FP]: Rot. It’s…. For all intents and purposes, an infectious cancer. It won’t flush out of my system, and it’s… exponentially growing.
[NSH]: Saints… Okay
[NSH]: Can you… send me the genetic sequence of a sample of it?
[FP]: Why on earth would I do that?!
[FP]: Absolutely not!
[FP]: I’m not going to risk others getting infected too.
[FP]: No, this— this is my burden to bear.
[FP]: Alone
[System Alert]: Connection has been terminated by User [Five Pebbles]
Well… shit. That could definitely have gone better… could also have gone way worse though… Sig mused to himself, pulling up a screen from one of his overseers. It had been observing a slugcat colony establishing itself near the gates to Five Pebbles’ structure; they were quite the fascinating little creatures! However, right now there was another important job for the little green eye.
“Alright… Let’s do this the old-fashioned way then…” He sent the little thing racing through the gate, then into the complex that Moon and Pebbles shared with each other. Of course, he wouldn’t be able to get anything directly from the rot itself, but if he was lucky he might be able to find a backdoor into Pebs' system and pull some information that way. Or the other iterator might notice his prying and zap his little overseer out of existence.
Either way, he had to at least try.
An abrupt, loud chiming pulled him from his focus, and he pulled up a second hologram to answer the call that was coming through.
“Sig here.” He relaxed upon seeing Moon’s projection rather than anyone else. She was always one of the more understanding when it took him some extra time to answer a call, or seemed distracted.
“So? Were you able to get a hold of him? I’ve been trying but he won’t answer at all. I don’t want to force another broadcast on him, it just seems… cruel.” She fidgeted slightly, hands wringing. Sig nodded.
“Yeah, I did. It uh… could have gone better, but he did at least agree to lower his water intake! So… that’s at least not an issue anymore?” Sig shook his head. “Wouldn’t send me a sample though. He called it Rot, compared it to an infectious cancer. It’s bad, Moon.” Moon’s pained gasp would haunt him until the end of his days, and he winced.
“By the ancients… I didn’t even… I didn’t even realize that we could get sick like that. And I presume that there’s no way for him to flush it from his system?” The tinge of hope in her voice wavered, and she let out a broken sigh when Sig shook his head.
“Apparently he tried to, but it didn’t work.” Sig let his umbilical sink him down to the ground, his screens and Moon’s projection following him. “He said that he isn’t going to risk anyone else getting infected. The stubborn bastard is determined to face it alone.” Sig clutched onto the ends of his scarf, hands shaking slightly.
“Oh, Pebbles…” Moon shook her head sadly. “I didn’t expect that he would send a sample right away, but to hear what he’s facing is… I truly cannot even imagine it.”
"We- We’re gonna do something. I have an overseer there now, hopefully I can find a backdoor into the lab data and learn anything useful.” Sig explained, pulling the feed from the overseer into frame so that Moon could see as well. “I know he keeps his can locked up tighter than a shelter door, but I figured I might be able to poke around the rest of his facility if I’m careful enough not to get caught. The little guy is in the Citadel right now, I figure he’ll be in Pebs’s structure by the end of the cycle.”
“Maybe. I will attempt to send some of my own as well, perhaps if he’s distracted enough by mine, he won’t notice yours slipping around in the shadows.” Moon offered.
“That- yeah! Good plan!” Sig perked up somewhat, sending his overseer to hide in a little crevice as a group of Scavs passed by. “Okay! We know what to do next, let’s just… Just take things one day at a time, yeah?” Moon just nodded, staying silent as she focused on manually handling multiple overseer feeds simultaneously. They had a plan. It had to work. For Pebbles’s sake.