The Forgotten Chronicles of Dysfunctional X-Nauts - A Paper Mario Story

Retribution

Crump still wasn't really sure where to go from here. As he was rushing back, he'd worked himself up with a specific direction of conversation in mind: how was he going to calm Grodus down? What should he say to him, how should he react? Would it be best to try to act casual, like always, and just pretend he didn't even see the flashy fishbowl brain? Or should he try to be direct, clearly bringing up the whole "hey, too bad about the head! Tell me about those feels, it's therapy time!" thing? That's what he'd been rehearsing for, repeating over and over how he thought those different scenarios would go within his head.

Yet, here he was, suddenly being asked for a status report instead. It would almost be anti-climactic, if it weren't for the glass all over the floor and the fact that Grodus was creepily refusing to talk about it. Though Crump thought about asking again, something in this guy's demeanor told him it'd get him nowhere good. The mage continued to stare as he eagerly awaited Crump's response, his gaze sharp, piercing, almost... predatory, somehow.

"Uh... okay. If you say so..." Crump started as he clumsily attempted to shift gears, hoping that his boss would choose to direct that ferocity somewhere else. "It's actually pretty simple, buh huh huh! Y'see, in that temple, there's that mural-"

"How's the patient!?" Kurtis and Johnson both chose this moment to burst through the doorway, thoroughly interrupting Crump's start. The other X-Nauts followed closely behind, each curiously, yet cautiously, peering in from beyond the frame.

Kurtis let out a gasp as he took in his patient's current state. "What happened!? You shouldn't be up, not at all! And your hand... by the stars, are you all right!? Let me take a look..." With that, he began to approach, arms outstretched towards Grodus's bandaged fingers.

Reacting swiftly, Grodus reached under his pillow and pulled out an object, pointing it at the researcher. Kurtis halted in his tracks as he found himself suddenly staring down the barrel of the tranquilizer gun. His tranquilizer gun. Everybody froze and stared at the item, as if time itself had stopped.

Looking between the members of his audience, Grodus began speaking. "...Leaving me here with only those two as guards was very foolish of you. If you truly wanted to imprison me, you should have restrained me when you had the chance. On top of that, leaving this sitting amongst the rest of the medical supplies? Truly, now."

Kurtis stepped back, hands now raised in the air. "A-ah... it wasn't as though we wished to imprison you, really! We just wanted to make sure you didn't hurt yourself. Saying it that way sounds..."

"Bad, yes? No, I know exactly what your intent was," Grodus sighed as he lowered the barrel. "I am fully cognizant and capable of making my own decisions, I assure you. I am well aware of the risks of moving about and will act as I see fit. ...Also, Kurtis?" the mage crossed his arms as he eyed the scientist, a nearly tangible bloodlust emanating from him. "If you ever, EVER attempt to force me about again, I will ensure that it is the last thing you ever do. I'll be holding onto this from now on. Understood? You are not to so much as touch me without my explicit permission."

Kurtis gulped, a slight shiver coursing through him. "U-understood, sir. I apologize again for everything..."

"Your apologies are meaningless. ...But I was in the middle of something highly important, so I will leave it at that for now." Once more, Grodus turned to face Crump. "Continue your explanation. Now."

If it could diffuse the situation even a little bit, Crump was happy to start talking. And so, he picked up from where he left off as cheerfully as he could muster: "Uh, yeah, you got it! Like I was saying before... that glass scene in that temple, with the lady, the Yoshi, and the blue orb? Turns out that orb's another super-powerful deal, just like the red one! If we can find it, Amadeus won't be able to even touch us with those cruddy lasers!"