Hidden in the Depths

Chapter 23

Techno jerked up into a sitting position, eyes wide in terror. But the second he had moved, had dared to change his position, the silhouette disappeared, the flashing lights stopped, the humming in his ears faded. All that it left behind was deafening silence and the lasting imprint of two glowing spots in his vision. And the echo of a voice sounding so human, yet so foreign. What the fuck was that... What the fuck was that.

His heart was racing, threatening to tear out of his chest.

"Techno? You okay?" His head snapped to the side hard enough he felt it crack a little, spotting Tubbo. The teen was barely awake, rubbing at his eyes as he yawned, none the wiser about what had just occurred. The others were still sleeping, although Fit did start to stir, mumbling something under his breath. Techno did not want to deal with explaining what just happened, especially not if he doesn't understand it himself. "I'm fine. Go back to sleep." That didn't seem to satisfy the teen though. He frowned and pushed himself up, staring at his friend in the weak light. "You look scared."

The older didn't look at his friend after that, instead staring out the window closest to their makeshift bed. The ocean was as dark as ever during nighttime, barely any of the bioluminescent plants visible from this angle. He knew if he walked up to the window, he could see how bright the reef looks at night. And somewhere out there were Foolish and Roier, huddled together for the night, keeping them safe. "Techno?" Something warm brushed against his side, before Tubbo settled beside him, shoulders pressed together. "Just... a nightmare. I'll be fine in a minute."

The teen hummed, looking out the window as well. "Do you want to talk about it?" He shook his head, the black spots in his vision still visible. He'd rather not explain, Tubbo will think he is going crazy. Besides, it was gone now... maybe he was just hallucinating. Or getting sick... this is an alien ecosystem. "Okay... you don't have to talk if you don't want to." It was odd, hearing those words spoken back to him. Words he had so often offered Tubbo when he was having a bad day on the ship.

Neither know for how long they sat there, side by side. Despite obviously being tired, Tubbo did not lay back down, not until he was sure that Techno was feeling better. Every now and again he would start small conversations, rants about old projects he had wanted to finish, how Pac's prosthetic leg was coming along, how he loved the idea of Techno making a new garden for himself with all these water plants. The constant chatter was nice, distracting him from his own thoughts.

Eventually he does tire himself out and starts to doze off. Techno carefully moved him to lay down, laying down himself too to assure Tubbo he will try and sleep now as well. And while the younger did fall asleep, Techno did not. He continued to stare at the ceiling, now left without any distractions again, until the sun started to rise, and their little base started to fill with more light.

Cellbit was the first to wake up, yawning and stretching as he sat up, hair wild from sleep. "Morning..." Techno waved from his new spot by the window, quietly chewing his breakfast. After another yawn and long stretch, Cellbit got up and grabbed some breakfast himself, joining the other by the window. "You look tired." Will everyone comment on that now? This is going to be a long day if that's the case. "Bad night. I've survived with less sleep."

The other just nodded, watching as Foolish started his morning round while Roier lazily stretched on the sandy floor, blinking at the bright sunlight. Now that his father was back in good health, his nervous pacing had stopped and made him return to his usual self. Which included late mornings.

"Tubbo told me Pac's leg is coming along well?" "Yes, it's looking decent for only using scraps. We thought we could use wiring and make it move like Fit's arm, but we got a bit worried and decided against it. None of us are medical professionals, so we don't know if we can attach everything properly without hurting Pac. The wiring is there in case we do find a surviving doctor or expert for prosthetics, but for now we won't attach it. The leg can still move and bends using gravity, but that's about it."