Rise and Fall

Good Night, Angel

Chapter 11: Good Night, Angel

“Tweak, open the Octo-hatch”, Shellington radioed from the GUP-E as the Octopod came into view.

“You got it, Shellington”, Tweak responded and the Octo-hatch opened.

Despite her earlier thoughts, Angel found that returning to the Octopod did feel strangely like coming home. She knew the feeling would fade, though- most likely when she slept in a science lab, sharing a bed with a sea otter and probably half fish, half vegetables too. It was weird and kind of sad how it could feel like home and then… not.

Tweak was waiting for them up in the launch bay. “How was your research mission?”

“Oh, it was fascinating!” Shellington answered, watching carefully as Angel climbed out of the GUP. Both Shellington and Angel were uncoordinated. One time, Angel almost fell while trying to get out of the GUP. He’d tried to help her, only for both of them to fall into the launch bay pool. Luckily, this time, he took her hand and she got out with no trouble at all. “We’ve both been very busy, right, Angel?”

“Right”, Angel agreed gloomily.

Tweak picked up on the fact that she sounded sad. Well, that was to be expected, given what had happened to her two months ago, but she got the distinct feeling that something else had happened. She looked from one to the other curiously.

Shellington guessed what she was thinking. “We’ll tell everyone all about it over dinner”, he informed her, realising it was almost dinnertime. “Come on, Angel.” The otter gave her hand a gentle tug. “Let’s go and see if the Vegimals need any help in the kitchen.”

No objection from Angel. The Vegimals never failed to put a smile on her face. And she knew she could do with that just then. Besides, of course she would go if Shellington was going.

So, the two of them left the launch bay, leaving Tweak inspecting the GUP-E for any signs of damage. (She didn’t always do this; normally just when Shellington drove, or maybe Kwazii too!)

Up in the kitchen, the Vegimals were behaving in typical Vegimal fashion, racing around, getting everything ready, all while chirping in Vegimalese. Occasionally, two of them would bump into each other.

They glanced up when the door opened and all cried, “Shellydo!” (Angel had learned that was their nickname for the otter) and clambered all over him.

The ten-year-old girl giggled. She was right. Vegimal antics were just what she needed to cheer her up just then. How could anybody stay upset in front of such an adorable sight?

Then, to her amazement, the Vegimals chirped her name and started climbing all over her. She was so caught off guard that she fell to the floor, but she was laughing. It was just so cute! She hadn’t realised that the Vegimals liked her that much. Not to mention, it tickled!

Shellington smiled too. He hadn’t been entirely sure how much the Vegimals understood about what had happened to Angel, but even they couldn’t miss how sad she’d been. So, they did everything they could to make her smile. Angel loved the Vegimals and they loved her right back. (Plus, they had one thing in common: they knew just how fond she was of their Shellydo and, of course, they were too.) They were acting as her emotional support Vegimals; it was very cute!

Angel and Shellington were put to work, helping Grouber and Tominnow set the table while the rest of the Vegimals finished the food. It looked like they were having algae burgers; something Angel never would have considered eating two months ago, but she was learning to appreciate them.

They were just finishing up when the other Octonauts started to trickle in one by one. Shellington and the Vegimals greeted each one happily. Angel, on the other hand, gave some warm greetings (Peso, Kwazii and Dashi); others quick, quiet and shy greetings (Tweak and Professor Inkling) and greeted others with a loud yelp while she tried to hide (I’ll let you guess!).