I Promise You'll Get Better

Sixteen // Interlude 1

Surprise. :)

***

Ranger Marsh couldn't quite work out what sort of hellhole he'd walked into, but one thing was certain: the universe had it in for him.

The MedBay was lit only by the soft glow of a small lamp Peso had placed on a side table for him as he kept vigilant watch over the still figure in the bed. Her green fur had been pierced with numerous wires and devices that linked her up to various machines which beeped, whirred and hummed softly; it was hard to believe that he was putting so much faith in chunks of metal and circuitry to keep his beloved daughter alive.

He missed the old days of the everglades, where the worst that could happen to her was a fever for a few days, or a sprained limb - because heavens knows, Tweak would absolutely refuse to remain still as a child. The number of trees she'd fallen out of totalled to somewhere in the hundreds.

From various bits and pieces of conversation he'd overheard around the Octopod, he had been able to gather a rough idea of the events of the past few weeks, and it made him sick to the stomach. He turned around to glance at the hunched figure of the sea otter, who was clasping the paw of his girlfriend - Tweak had been convinced that those two would end up together, and now it looked like he owed her a crate of carrots for winning their bet - who had arrived in the MedBay once more only a few hours ago, having been found in the corridor by a very disturbed Tunip, who had promptly sounded the OctoAlert and deployed the rest of the Vegimals to shout for help as loud as they could.

Shellington looked over his own shoulder. Their eyes locked for a moment, but Ranger Marsh couldn't find the right words to say. The best he could do was a brief shrug - keep going, lad - before he turned back to Tweak.

He picked up his daughter's unharmed paw and clasped it between both of his. Apart from brief flickers of life here and there, she'd remained as still and as silent as the Everglades after a wildfire, and she was the colour of them, too.

The MedBay doors slid open and shut. Dashi's little sister wandered in, eyes wide with fear, book clasped to her chest. Shellington patted the spot next to him on the bench and she scrambled up, slotting neatly under the arm he offered.

Ranger Marsh wanted to talk to Tweak, but he didn't know what to say.

He felt...

He felt helpless.

The realisation dawned on him, cold and brutal and sickening. A lump rose in his throat and he choked, scrubbing at his eyes to stop the tears falling.

He couldn't cry. He couldn't be helpless for Tweak.

When she'd woken up, he was going to take her back to the Everglades to recover. He'd talk to her, of course, and if she wanted to stay on this dastardly submersible, he'd let her stay, but he was convinced the peace and quiet of her home would do her a lot of good. She'd been incredibly unstable recently; the emotions had taken a heavy toll on her and he couldn't bear the idea of his daughter breaking apart completely. She was too young and lively and bright and wonderful to have her spirit crushed so harshly and so quickly.

Yes, the Everglades would be good. Only for a while, of course. But he knew his daughter, and he knew staying on this ship would not do her any more good.

The MedBay doors slid open again and the pattering of flippers sounded against the tiled floor. A moment later, a sprout bobbed into his vision, and Tunip hoisted himself up onto the bench, blinking up at him sadly.

"Tweaka?" he said.

"Still the same, I'm afraid," Ranger Marsh muttered, giving the Vegimal a pat on the head.

"Youka sadda?"

"Meeka sadda - I mean, yes, I am sad," he said.

Tunip chattered something in Vegimalese that was far beyond Ranger Marsh's comprehenshion. Fortunately, a soft Scottish accent spoke up from across the room.

"He says he and the Vegimals have been looking after the Gups for Tweak," Shellington translated. Tunip chirruped some more, and the sea otter added, "And the storm tracker for Dashi. They have everything covered and you - "

He coughed, rubbing away the glint of tears.

" - you don't need to worry," he finished, nodding.

"I - thank you, Tunip," Ranger Marsh mumbled.

Damn it. He really didn't want to cry in front of everyone. He was not one for expressing his emotions so openly. Tweak often teased him for being a gruff old soul who couldn't work his way around a tablet if his life depended on it. Which was true enough, he supposed, and he would always pretend to be offended, but right now, he'd give anything to hear her make fun of him again.

"Kelpa cake?" Tunip asked.

Ranger Marsh gave the affirmative, but Shellington and Koshi declined, which immediately made him feel guilty. Should he really be eating when his daughter was so ill? Shouldn't he be spending every waking moment keeping an eye on her for signs of life - or signs of danger?

As soon as the little Vegimal left, Ranger Marsh pressed his forehead against his daughter's paw, and let the tears fall silently.