Small World (Slugterra Fanfiction)

Chapter 17: Survival of the Fittest

Starting out, Dexas-Taryn struggles to cope with her inner mecha beast. Most nights she'll toss and turn in bed, trying to sleep soundly as the monster haunts her mind and strains her heart. The two battle for control of the other on an ongoing basis. This leaves her exhausted most of the time, spending what moments she gets any peace to recuperate before the next bout. Because her energy is in such short supply lately, Eli doesn't allow her to go on any missions. Rather, Junjie volunteered to stay behind with her in their hideout as a safe guard. Due to Dexas-Taryn's lack of public appearances, rumors started to swirl. Some speculated that the infamous Masked Soldier had lost a duel against the Shane and went into hiding to save face, or was captured by Dr. Blakk and the Darkbane.

One night in particular Dexas woke up screaming from a nightmare. Her heart pounded hard and fast with her eye staring wide open. Immediately Eli barged into her room to find her sitting up in her bed trembling. He sighs while walking over and turning on her lamp. Then he calmly climbs in next to her, wrapping an arm around her back. Eli holds her in a side hug, his right arm rubbing her arm softly.
"What's going on?" Trixie walked in with the gang right behind her. All of them bore sleepy but worried looks.
"She had another nightmare." Eli explained sadly.
"Eli...it's getting stronger..." Dexas-Taryn repeatedly takes in deep breaths one after another, trying to slow down her heart rate. Her hands reach for Eli's arm and hold onto him tightly.
"Hey it's ok, I've got you." The young Shane softly kisses her temple, then rests his head against hers.
"We are all here for you no matter what." Junjie lays a hand on her leg in assurance.
"Poor thing, she's petrified." Trixie thought aloud. Kord nods, looking down while saying,
"I wish there was something more we could do."
"Without knowing what was in that serum, there's not much we can do. Except keep learning about this monster, and coach her through learning to control it." Junjie's voice turned confident towards the end.
"I appreciate you all checking on her, but you should go back to bed. I'll stay with Dexas to help her fall back asleep." Eli manages to say just before yawning, and Pronto follows suit.
"Yes, Pronto very much needs his beauty sleep. It is not easy to maintain my handsome good looks." Trixie elbows him suddenly. "Oh and of course I wish you sweet dreams, Dexas." The molenoid stretches his arms a little while walking out of Dexas' room. As the others follow him, Trixie saw fit to give Dexas a hug with a small smile before returning to bed herself. Afterwards, Eli turned the lamp off and gently laid Dexas-Taryn down with him. She turned and buried her face between his neck and shoulder,
"I don't know what I'd do without you." Though she still trembled, her breathing had slowed and her heartbeat was almost normal again. Eli brought her closer to his chest after hearing that.
"And you-" Eli stops to yawn again, "never have to wonder what that would be like. I'm never leaving your side again. No matter how long this takes or how hard it seems, we will win this fight. Somehow." His voice drifted off as he closed his eyes, resting his head near hers.

The next morning, most of the gang was awake at their usual times. Dexas however, had slept in until at least midday. She wandered groggily into the kitchen with a big yawn, moving at a zombie's pace and looking like one too. Her hands clutched anything sturdy as she walked, not trusting her poor sense of balance.
"Yikes, she doesn't look so good." Pronto commented, instantly receiving glares.
"You seriously need a mouth filter sometimes, bro." Kord shook his head.
"That's the most she's ever slept in days..." Said Trixie with a troubled expression. Eli pulls out a chair for Dexas as Junjie helps her sit down.
"Dexas? How you feelin'?" Eli's face revealed an unsettled grin. Dexas-Taryn snaps and slams the table with a fist, making Eli jump back.
"Woah!"
"There's your answer." Trixie steps back a bit. After having anger fill her mind a moment, Dexas realized what she had done. She wraps her arms around herself, her gaze down on the table.
"You guys aren't safe around me anymore."
"I don't know if we ever were." Pronto whispers.
"We don't care if we're safe around you or not. You're not gonna fight this alone." Eli insisted.
"I don't think you have a choice." Dexas soon released a groan while putting her hand on her head. Suddenly her eye shuts and head goes limp. She instantly faints, falling hard to the floor below.
"Dexas?! Dexas can you hear me?!" Eli scrambled to her side, shaking her shoulder to wake her up while she lay on her right side facing away from him.
"Eli..." Kord gained his leader's attention only to point out something horrifying. Pronto screams just when Eli notices Dexas' eye was open wide and glowing an eerie green. While rising from the ground, her mecha beast side revealed itself once again.
"It would seem her inner monster has whittled down her strength to resist its calling. It was waiting until the opportune moment to take over."
"You just had to be the bearer of bad news, didn't you?" Trixie complains to Junjie. Dexas studies everyone in the room, her body lowered to the ground as if stalking pray. Her throat releases a deep growl while her right front claws scrape long and hard against the floor. What once was carpet was now torn to shreds.
"Well, that's it. I'm out. I am not about to become mecha beast chow. Good luck everyone, I wish you all the very best!" Pronto gets ready to run off but is snatched by Kord by one of his overall straps. Eli looks over at Kord holding Pronto just before getting an idea.
"Kord, did you finish cleaning out our spare garage yet?"
"Almost, I just have a trash pile to get rid of. Why?" Eli loads a slug into his blaster,
"Gang, follow me! I have a plan."