promises made, kept, and broken

Chapter 2: Questions and Solutions

Tubbo sits on the roof of their house. Well, it belonged to someone else before, but they are long gone. And now it's their base of operations. They are securing the neighborhood to make it a safe haven. He leans back a bit to have a better view of the stars and shivers. When did it get so cold at night? Thinking back it probably started as the summer ended and the fall started. So one and a half months ago. But right now he couldn't care less about freezing; he just wants to watch the stars.

He hears a person climb out of the roof window next to him.

"Hey, Phil," he says without looking away from the sky.

"Hey mate," Phil responds, "What are you looking for?"

"Constellations Ranboo showed me," Tubbo answers pointing up. "That one there is the pegasus."

"That's cool. Are there any others there?"

"I still think Ranboo is alive, you know?" Tubbo switches the topic and Phil sights.

"Come on Tubbo we've talked about it. We all hope he is still alive. But the chances he really is are low," Phil says sadly.

For the first time since Phil came outside Tubbo looks away from the sky.

"Just let me explain it, Phil, please. I have this feeling and a theory," he says determinedly.

"Okay, but we go inside. Before you freeze," Phil says.

"Can we just get some blankets? I wanna watch the stars."

Phil wants to say something in return as they hear someone call from the street.

"WHAT THE FUCK!? Are you two doing up there?" Tommy asks, throwing his hands in the air.

"Talking."

"Going back inside," Phil and Tubbo answer at the same time.

"What are you doing on the street? You're not supposed to be outside in the dark," Phil then asks.

"Was looking for the Tubs. Found him now. Coming up to you." Tommy answers running back inside.

"Bring some blankets with you," Tubbo calls after him, smirking.

Phil lets out a defeated sigh and sits down next to him.

"So start telling us what you mean.", Phil says once Tommy handed out blankets and a hoodie.

"Okay. So we found this almost eaten body, with the bandana Tommy gave to Ranboo, on that one street. But it was a city run by these mercenary-fucks. So they probably did what we are doing here. Cleansing the city of zombies so that they are not in danger," Tubbo starts to explain. And Phil nods: "It was way too quiet there."

"Yeah, that's what I mean. I didn't think much of it before but once we started cleaning up this place I got it. And another thing that made me think was the fact that the necklace was nowhere to be seen. No one would steal something like that 'cause it's not valuable. At least for others," Tubbo explains taking the pendant out from under the hoddie Tommy brought him.

"Okay but what about the shots we heard and why did we find the bandana?" Tommy asks pointing at said cloth he is wearing around his wrist.

"These fuckers hunted him down. For whatever reason. Maybe they got a grip on him or the bandana got stuck and he had to basically take it off. And he didn't show up at the meeting point because he maybe got shot or injured. And had to take care of it. So he couldn't meet us," Tubbo continues to explain his theory.

"Okay, but how do we find him if he is still alive?" Wilbur asks from the window.

"When did you get here?" Tommy asks turning around to face him.

"Doesn't matter. How do we find Ranboo? I'm sick of being the tallest. And I miss him as all of us do."

"I don't know. That's the problem," Tubbo says frustrated.

"We'll figure it out together. We tell Techno and then we are five people who can think of a plan to find Ranboo. But for now, I'd say we all go back inside and catch some sleep. Especially you two," Phil says pointing at Tommy and Tubbo.

"But why?" Tommy whines and draws out the 'y'.

"I need both of wide awake tomorrow to clean out the rest of the neighborhood and work on a plan to find Ranboo and get him here," Phil answers.

"I don't need sleep. I can work on a plan right now.", Tubbo protests.

"Nope, not going to happen. And if I have to knock you out. Both of you need to get some sleep. You've been at it for the whole last week.", Wil speaks up. "Phil and I will talk to Techo and tomorrow we start on a plan. Like Phil said."

"Okay, but I can't promise I'm going to sleep tonight. Need to think of a plan.", Tubbo shrugs and is the first to climb back inside.

In his and Tommy's room, he plops down on his bed and starts thinking. After about a minute the door opens again, and Tommy sits down next to Tubbo.

"So why are so sure he survived the mercs?" Tomy asks after a while.

"We survived one and a half years together man. I know him, well enough to know he can survive this. He is badass. Believe it or not. So he can survive even if he is injured. And I have this feeling he didn't die," Tubbo explains and adds 'He promised not to.' in his head.

"Tell me something about the year before you met us," Tommy asks, "You both never talked about it."

"There isn't much to tell. We escaped a camp. Did some things we'd rather forget, fought our way through the cities, killed zombies, met a strange man who made me sick and did all of the other stuff you have to do to survive," Tubbo explains cringing at the first part.

"Ranboo saved me a ton of times. I saved him a couple times."

"What do you mean with a man that made you sick?" Tommy asks concerned.

"We met a man in a city we were raiding fort supplies. He was in big ass trouble, surrounded by zombies. We saved him and he traveled with us for a short time. Then one night he just disappears, I'm sick as fuck, Ranboo has a cut on his forehead and I have an injection mark on my neck. We couldn't continue or way for two weeks because of how sick I was," Tubbo explains.

"So that fucking guy knocked out Ranbo and injected you something to make you sick?" Tommy asks angrily and worriedly.

"Yeah but I'm okay now. And Ranboo just had a small concussion."

"Did you at least hunt the guy down?"

"No. Not that we didn't want to but from what Ranboo told me, 'cause I don't remember anything from that time, I was in a very bad condition and he didn't want to leave me alone. Not that I would've let him go alone," Tubbo says and sits up.

"What else did Ranboo tell you?" Tommy asks.

"He told me he tried to radio for help. 'Cause he didn't know what to do. He wasn't trained for anything like that.", Tubbo answers, but Tommy interjects before he can continue.

"Wait? He tried to radio?"

Tubbo nods, and then the realization hits him like a truck. "We need a radio. ASAP." He jumps up and runs downstairs, Tommy right on his heels. "Guys! We found a way to find Ranboo!" Tommy yells while Tubbo nods excitedly.

"Okay shoot.", Techno says looking at both of them.

"He has a radio. We can try and reach him if we have one as well.", Tubbo explains bouncing.

Techno shoots Phil a questioning look since he is responsible for their inventory. Phil goes through it in his head. They have batteries, and flashlights but no radios he is sure about that. He goes through it a second and third time but then shakes his head. No, they don't have one.

"Then we have to go and search for one. That's our best shot," Tubbo says.

"But not today. It's too dark and the zombies get more aggressive at night don' forget that boys."

"So finding a radio is top priority tomorrow?" Tubbo asks.

"Yeah, the radio is our top priority tomorrow," Phil answers.