Overdue Check-Up (Poppy Playtime) [ON HOLD]

(Chapter 4) Part 24: Something's Not Right

Dan shakes his head with a sigh, "I mean, I just don't get it," he turns to Nearic, "It sounded like from the start, Poppy wanted everyone to survive, but now..."

"Yeah," Nearic replies, "Something's not right. We have to do something."

"I know, but what? We don't know what is going to happen, we don't know how to protect them, we don't know if they'll listen even to us," Dan says.

The teen frowns and looks around the room, "Have you noticed that the toys' voices are all deeper than you'd expect from their size?"

Dan blinks then frowns, "Yeah actually, but why does that matter?"

The little brother looks up, "Out of everyone we've talked to here, Ollie's the only one with a voice so high pitched, and we don't even know what he looks like."

Dan crosses his arms and looks down, "Okay, and?"

"Even if he were turned into a toy, his voice would've deepened over the years. And yet... it hasn't," Nearic explains, "For his voice to be as high pitched as it is, he'd have to have been an infant when The Hour of Joy happened."

Dan's eyebrows furrow, "Yeah, but if that would've have happened, he'd have become a Rabid. With no one to raise him, all he'd think about is food and resources. If he wasn't changed, then someone would have raised him all these years, but it sounds like he's been isolated this whole time."

"Then there's his freaky knowledge of technology, it's like he knows everything you need to know about it. I mean, how would he have known how to repair a generator, the schematics would've been here, not anywhere else," Nearic adds, his eyes narrowing on something.

"So how would he have it," the older brother argues before his eyes widen in horror, "unless..."

"He doesn't have it," Nearic catches on, looking at his brother, "He's just that smart."

Dan turns to his brother, "He's the-" he stops and looks around before leaning in closer, "We need these toys out of here, now!" he whispers.

"Agreed, and look up," he nods to the ceiling.

Dan frowns and looks over, spotting a pipe vent with a glass pane, "What is that?"

"Red Smoke pipe," Nearic answers, getting his brother to whip his head around, "Ollie wants us to blow up Safe Haven," he whispers.

"Shit, we really need to get them out here," Dan urges."

"I know," Nearic nods, "This won't be easy, with Poppy against this, but we have to try."

Dan nods, "Let's get the critters and anyone you know will listen into the Shrine Room, "I'll keep Poppy distracted."

The teen nods, "Alright, go."

The brothers split up to do their duties, Nearic's first targets were his closest family, "Dad, Uncle Nap."

They turn towards him, smiling, "Hey there Pup, what do you need."

Nearic gulps nervously, which they notice, he looks around before gesturing them closer, "We have a serious problem," he whispers, "Get the shy Dogday plush in the gaming room, and the Catnap plush that's hiding in the bathroom. The latter's name is Marie."

Dogday 'frowns' as Catnap narrows his eyes, "Why, what's wrong?"

He turns to his uncle, "I can't tell you, not out here where Poppy will hear. Just... get them and bring them to the Shrine Room, I'll meet you there."

Dogday nods, "Will do."

Nearic turns to watch Poppy and Kissy conversing with Dan as father and uncle walk away to do as their asked. He then looks around and spots Bobby leaving the infirmary with her hands clasped tight together.