[This work contains violence, descriptive topics such as loss, and tears.]
After the ichor incident, Rodger had to take matters into his hands, to investigate the cause and the disappearance of the handlers, along with his partner, Goob.
...
As the crew prepared to board the elevator, Boxtin smiled and cheerfully called out, "Good luck!" His encouraging words echoed through the bustling crowd, joining the chorus of well-wishes from the others gathered around the elevator.
The loud chattering filled the lobby meanwhile a couple of Toodles ran around with merch, going towards the crowd as they shuffled through.
The scene moved on to the elevator, showing off the new crew who will supposedly willing to help out, there pretty much was Poppy, Vee, Rodger, Toodles, Goob, and Pebbles.
A feeling set off, have they.. forgotten someone?--
Rodger, with a stern expression on his face, stood firm, his eyes meeting Goob's with an air of dismissal before he turned away. Goob, on the other hand, remained unfazed, maintaining his calm composure even amid tense moments.
The elevator dinged, the alert echoing across the lobby, signaling that it'll make a move in a moment.
"Wait--" a voice called out from behind, grabbing the crowd's attention towards the members, revealing Shrimpo who groaned in annoyance as he took heavy steps towards the entrance, "gosh."
He stepped in and leaned against the bar on his left, receiving an excited wave from Goob, only to ignore it.
A couple of members of the crew scoffed at his actions, they'd already gotten used to his behavior, even ever since he moved in with them.
The elevator finally slid closed, the crowd cheered, and the noises faded as the doors finally shut.
Silence enveloped the room, casting an eerie atmosphere.
"...so," Poppy's voice quivered as she broke the silence, "how's... everyone?"
"Please, be quiet," Shrimpo groaned, earning a few glares and a shocked look from Poppy, who then looked down, her expression turning into a slight frown.
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In the meantime, Goob edged closer to Rodger, casting him a familiar, questioning glance.
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"I'm afraid not, Goob," sighed Rodger wearily, his gaze shifting to the figure as he crossed his arms.
Goob smiled slightly, using his arms to reach out slightly to reveal a hint, "alright, at least a duo?-"
"Your hugs-- well, I find being a thing called a "duo" is quite.. strategic."
Goob nodded in an understanding hint, retracting his limbs then paused, glancing away awkwardly. The tension in the air was palpable as Vee broke the silence, exclaiming, "Hey look, we're here!" She skipped over to the elevator and waved her hand over the sensor. With a soft hum, the elevator slid open, revealing a whole new floor.
The crew stood in stunned silence, some in wonder, others in shock. Meanwhile, Rodger hastily exited the elevator, running off as Goob followed behind him, his limbs dragging on the floor.
Toodles let out a nervous smile and murmured, "...I guess this is it."
. . .
As the tall figure strode confidently down the hallway, his keen eyes caught sight of an extractor. He thought to himself, "That was easier than expected." With an air of determination, he made his way over to it, crossing his arms as he went. The sound of quiet footsteps reverberated through the corridor, but the figure remained focused on his singular objective.
As he finally reached the extractor, he firmly grasped the wheel and began to turn it with all his might.
A minute passed, and the strain on his fingers was intense, almost as if they might snap at any moment. Letting out an exasperated sigh, he noticed a blotch of ink had marred his suit. Frustration etched on his face, he became aware of a presence behind him—a presence he recognized all too well. "Goob."
The figure behind him acknowledged the fact that his cover was blown, and with a weary expression, Goob shuffled over, dragging his limbs along. "Hey, Rod!"
Rodger couldn't suppress a grimace at the nickname, but he chose not to dwell on it. "What do you need, Goob?"
Standing beside him, Goob asked with eager anticipation, "What if I could see through the glass?" His eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"What glass?" Rodger inquired before following Goob's gaze to his own head. Letting out a resigned sigh, Rodger locked eyes with Goob and then lowered his gaze, weariness evident in his expression. "Do you want to see a magic trick?"
The excitable character nodded vigorously, his head bobbing with enthusiasm. "Absolutely, Rodger!"
"Alright," Rodger acquiesced with a slight downturn of his head, noting the inconvenience, as he completed the extractor, which emitted a soft ding before he averted his gaze. "You can behold something incredible through it—all you have to do is close your eyes for a minute."
Goob paused, considering his response before nodding once more. "Then open them?!"
"Sure?"
Without hesitation, Goob closed his eyes and lay still on the ground, brimming with anticipation. Suddenly, the sound of soft footsteps faded away. However, Goob was too eager to see the purported marvel to pay any mind.
How long had he been waiting? It should have been a minute, he thought, finally lifting his eyelids. His eyes fell upon a machine emitting a vibrant green light, with no one in sight. Confusion clouded his mind—had he done something wrong?
. . .
On the other side of the scene, Rodger let out a sigh of relief, contentedly striding in the opposite direction with his eyes closed, in search of another extractor.
