Hidden in the Depths

Chapter 22

They settled into a little routine, after that day.

While Pac was right, they need some sort of goal and they do set themselves things they want to achieve, it was difficult not to have every single day slowly start being the exact same. Hunt for food, explore the area, gather materials to use in the fabricator. While they haven't achieved the blueprint for an actual bed yet, they have discovered that a mix of kelp and blood vines (a not ominous name at all) make a comfortable layer of cushion on the floor. They have put together a woven pile in one corner of the base where they all huddle together for the night. It still wasn't a bed. But it was more comfortable than the floor.

Their base was slowly filling with different little things the fabricator can make as well as tools and other self-made inventions. A first order of business had been to equip everyone with a weapon for self-defence, which turned into gathering materials to make three survival knives. Tubbo also seemed to get his motivation for inventing back, as he has started to keep all sorts of cables and plating in a pile inside the base, messing with it whenever he wasn't helping or chatting with anyone in the group.

They have also added a second window on the opposite side of the base as well as some reinforcements, just to be sure. So far, the one room had been enough space for them, so they haven't added any extra corridors to what they currently have. Although they did consider having some sort of storage room and finally move their supply crates inside.

Foolish seemed to be doing better by the next morning after the attack already, even if he was still a little slow. Roier was practically glued to his side whenever his father left the immediate vicinity of their base, cooing and clicking as he followed him around. With every day that passed, Foolish healed more, even the stab wound in his shoulder seemed to bother him less with each day. He also, much like Roier, does not seem to have any resentment towards the humans for what happened, happily accepting Tubbo's attempt at a hug as he rambled about how sorry he was that Foolish got hurt.

Between the exploring and gathering and building, Cellbit and Tubbo have started construction on a prosthetic for Pac. It will by no means be the same quality or even nice sleek look that the high-tech prosthetics on the ship have, with Fit's arm being a good example. But they were trying their best and right now, functionality goes over design.

Fit chimed in occasionally and especially when it came to the wires that were supposed to connect to Pac's leg to possibly get the leg to move at will. He had experience with it, being the person who fixes the majority of damages within his own prosthetic. But whenever it came to simply weld plating and fit parts to the stump, the oldest busied himself with moving the radio, fabricator and location beacon down into their new base.

Finally, after weeks, they were now officially separated from the pod, no longer needing any of it. The important appliances were now installed inside their stationary base, they have taken the batteries and whatever was left in the small storage, as well as the half-filled fire extinguisher.

And when neither Pac or Fit are needed for the prosthetic, they went out into the water to work on Pac regaining movement, muscles and strength in said muscles. Swimming seemed a safer and less painful option for the Brazilian than walking and with Foolish and Roier around, they were confident enough in being outside. Roier was especially attentive whenever they were outside, multitasking watching his father and making sure Pac and Fit are in his line of sight as well. Which wasn't difficult, as most of the time Foolish too was watching the little workout routine most days.

Techno, while a little worried at first, let them have their routine, even preventing Tubbo or Cellbit from joining in sometimes by asking them for help with other tasks. He even went as far as hiding the other masks with their comms so Pac and Fit can have conversations in private, mostly because he knows Tubbo absolutely would spy on them. So far no one has caught on yet.