Hazel and Klunk (An RnC Subnautica AU)

Chapter 10: Cured!

I made sure Hazel was comfortable before starting the engine. Once again, I gunned it back down. Hazel did scold me for overusing the setting, but I had prepared an automatic fire-suppression system module and installed that over the torpedo upgrade she had planned. No problems which I realized later was lucky.

Once we reached the facility, I had to figure out how to get both of us in one PRAWN Suit. I didn't want to risk carrying Hazel that distance for my own health and fitness—perhaps I doubted myself—so I maneuvered her into Percy first and then I situated myself, letting her sit in my lap. She was almost sound asleep, leaned against my chest. It was... almost a comforting feeling, just having her that close to me.

It didn't take me long to reach the Antechamber holding the Emperor's Tank, now that I knew where to go. Now no longer afraid of what was inside the tank, I leaped into the clouded water, PRAWN Suit and all.

"Okay, Sea Emperor, don't be alarmed, it's just me and my PRAWN Suit," I said, as we sank to the bottom of the tank.

She watched as we landed near the incubator. A slight smile seemed to be pulling at her mouth, but it soon turned to a frown when Hazel and I got out; me helping Hazel leave Percy.

"You brought a friend, friend."

"Dare I say... she's my best friend. She needs to be here to see this."

"She is ill... My young will help her."

I nodded, and left Hazel carefully leaning against Percy. I approached the incubator with the Hatching Enzymes in hand and smashed the vial nearby the eggs, triggering the hatching sequence in their life cycle. Hazel's eyes lit up in wonder as she watched the baby Sea Emperors enter the world.

One of them swam up to us while the others were hatching. It seemed very interested in Hazel and Percy. I noted the bronzy trail following the juvenile Sea Emperors and realized it must be the complete Enzyme 42 the Precursors were after. A ball of it floated toward me. On instinct I touched it, knowing that exposure to the enzyme might cure the disease.

The Enzyme seemed to be absorbed into my skin. It was the weirdest feeling in the universe, like my blood was ice. It lasted for a few moments before the feeling faded away and I felt normal again... well... the new "normal" in my case.

Upon performing a self-scan, my PDA said, "Performing self-scan. Vital signs normal. No remaining sign of bacterial infection."

That prompted Hazel to follow my lead. The baby leviathan bounced one of the enzyme balls toward her and she smacked the sticky substance with her hand hard, bursting it like a water balloon. The visible signs of infection on her body disappeared quickly, her skin regained its color, and her eyes slowly returned to their natural beauty. Her self-scan triggered her PDA to respond with the same message.

"We fucking did it!" I exclaimed as she practically leapt into my arms for a hug.

She laughed. "No, Gadget. You did it. You found the cure! We can leave this planet!"

I turned to the Sea Emperor to thank her for her assistance, but instead we witnessed her babies nuzzling against her face.

"Aww... That's so cute," Hazel commented.

As the babies swam for the Arch, the only one who didn't swim away was the one who was still interested in Hazel and I. It stayed behind and played some silly games with a stalker tooth.

The Sea Emperor watched them go and tried to get up to swim around herself, but she collapsed.

"Oh no..." Hazel murmured worriedly.