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#the hat is so large that he can’t fit through the doorways on the maps
cleavetheclover · 2 years
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May I present:
Cypher but with a comically wide-brimmed hat
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artnerd1123 · 3 years
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Among Us: CR3WM8TS
Updates Required (part 3)
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With the ship launched and crew settled, it’s time to get to work. Which, for Bunbun, means updating. How smoothly that goes depends on the crewmates in charge… Bunbun’s hoping she’s in good company.
Featuring appearances by Nanner and Silk!
Among Us archive/askblog Fic chapters post
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Ok so originally I wanted to keep all this together, but decided it’d be better to chop it into pieces. That way I can keep my momentum, keep posting for y’all, and still intro y’all to the crew as things get moving!
finally got this last part done!!! it’s all finished now! now we can get on to more fun stuff >:3
                                                  ===+===+===
Mission Log 5
Ship Model: SKELD D34-H120 Designation: SUPPLY TRANSPORT, EXPLORATION AND DOCUMENTATION OF SECTOR G PLANETS Crewmate Count: 9 Crewmate Colors: DARK GREEN, WHITE, PURPLE, DARK BLUE, YELLOW, RED, LIME, BLACK, PINK
Location: SECTOR F Ship Status: IN TRANSIT Course: PLANET 326-OCE-894 - SECTOR G Systems:
Navigation: COURSE INLAID / STABLE / UPDATES NEEDED
Engines: UPPER - ONLINE, TANK 0.94 / LOWER - ONLINE, TANK 0.92 / OUTPUT ALIGNED
Reactor: ONLINE / FUNCTIONING OPTIMAL
O2: STABLE
Electrical: CALIBRATOR OFFLINE
Communications: ONLINE / UPDATES NEEDED
Shields: ONLINE / FUNCTIONING OPTIMAL
Weapons: TEMPORARILY OFFLINE  / FUNCTIONING N/A
Security: CAMERAS ONLINE / ALL FUNCTIONAL
Administration: MAP OFFLINE - UPDATES NEEDED / CONNECTION SECURE / SHIP FILES UP TO DATE / ALL CREW ACCOUNTED FOR
Medbay: EQUIPMENT ONLINE / FUNCTIONAL / CREW FILES UP TO DATE
Supplies: [ONE] CRATES SHORT  
Storage Chutes: CLEAR
Vents: CLEAR
Notes: Admin map offline, as updates are needed. PINK identified systems in need of updates. PINK has commenced updates under DARK BLUE supervision. Updates still in progress. RED discharged from medbay after receiving treatment for minor injuries. RED in process of submitting incident report. BLACK opened one supply crate to restock food materials. PURPLE sent four previous mission logs to HQ for archiving. PURPLE also submitted them to [SKELD D34-H120] Mission Log Archive. Other crew performing normal activities.
                                                 ===+===+===
With each room visited, the list of tasks was shifting from white to green. All but three of them were lit up with the color of a job well done. Bunbun looked over the list with a growing sense of satisfaction. Just three more now, she thought, I can handle that in no time. Not to mention the updates had given her a perfect opportunity to meet most of her crewmates. Hopefully whoever she had left to encounter would be in a good mood. Or at least a better one than a certain blue-suited crewmate. Speaking of which, River had once again chosen their destination. He’d hooked a sharp right as they left Medbay, leaving Bunbun- as per last time- to scramble after him. His pace picked right back up after he was out of Medbay’s sight. He only spared Bunbun a single glance over his shoulder. “C’mon, keep up,” he grumbled, “there’s not much left to do, and I’m hungry. I wanna have time for my lunch break before I have to be back at cams.” With a sinking feeling, Bunbun realized he might have just been on his “best behavior” for the doctor. That wasn’t uncommon among crewmates. After all, you do want the local medic to treat you well. Well... That, and patients who behave get discharged sooner. River’s attitude change didn’t bode well for their time outside of medbay. Luckily, Administration wasn’t too far from there. They just had to pass through the cafeteria. Maybe there’d be a vending machine or something. A good stop for a snack. As long as it gets River off my back, I don’t care what it is, Bunbun thought ruefully. 
The cafeteria was about as standard as it gets. The tile floor was dull from years worth of crewmates’ passage. The slightly dented wire panel on the wall closest to them was closed. The download station and food processor on the far wall seemed to be in working order. From what Bunbun could see of the chute, it was nice and clear. Five circular tables were placed around the room, two at each end and one in the middle. The emergency button looked rather haphazardly installed in the center table. It was as if someone had carved a hole in its surface and shoved in the proper equipment- nothing like the clean circles and precise welding of newer ships. It was just another sign of the SKELD’s age. Bunbun was at least comforted by the layer of dust atop it. Unbothered dust on the button- above everything- was a testament to the ship’s safety. Or, at the very least, a high level of trust in its crew. River didn’t give anything a single glance. He walked like a man on a mission, and Bunbun tailed after him diligently. To his credit, he wasn’t headed towards the food processor. He was making a beeline for the door towards storage. Or, rather, toward Admin. She figured that’s where they were headed. It was next on her list.  Before they reached the door, though, River stopped in his tracks. He went still so fast Bunbun nearly crashed into him.  “Wh- hey- what was that about?” She squawked.  “Can it,” River hissed, taking a step back. “We’ll move in just a minute. Gotta wait for traffic.”  “Traffic…?” Bunbun’s brows furrowed. What traffic…? She tried to track River’s gaze. It wasn’t hard, seeing as it was riveted on the doorway. 
She spotted a crewmate in black standing there. The fact that they were wearing their helmet outside of docking time was a little odd, but it wasn’t entirely unheard of. Though the rubbery banana peel stuck to the top of it was sort of funny looking. From the way it didn’t slide off their head after any movement, she’d guess it was an accessory. Black’s head was bent over their tablet, which they held in their right hand. Their left rested on the handle of a gravity platform cart. A large crate was nestled in its center. From the label, Bunbun could tell it was food. All in all, they seemed like a standard human crewmate on supply duty. At least, at first glance. The more Bunbun looked them over, the more their shape seemed more vaguely human than clean cut. Their limbs were a little too bendy, and their suit didn’t seem form fit to any specific body shape. It was like a vague approximation of a humanoid form. The biggest tell, though, were their hands. Bunbun blinked a couple times to make sure she was seeing them right. Their gloves only had four fingers instead of five. Suddenly, keeping the helmet on made more sense. For all she knew, the alien under there might breathe a different kind of air. Or no air at all. She’d had plenty of aquatic- and a handful of lava dwelling- classmates at the academy. Though… that style of suit was more fitted to the gaseous types of aliens. Ah, well. The mystery would have to wait for later.
Black seemed to mumble to themself for a minute before cramming their tablet under their arm. They’d just turned to pull the cart into the caf when the room’s other occupants caught their eye. Or, at least, the occupant in front did. They seemed to perk up immediately, one hand flying to their visor. “Oh! Howdy!!!” they called happily. “I didn’t see ya there!!! Ya need through?” “That would be ideal,” River replied tersely. “Gimme jes oooone sec-”Black bubbled. With that, they yanked the cart all the way into the room. It floated in easily, and came to rest next to the doorway under their guidance. “There she is! All clear for ya, Riv!” River started right back towards the door the second they were out of the way. Not even gonna say thanks? Bunbun thought, puzzled. Well. If he wasn’t gonna do it, she would. “Er- thank you, we appreciate it,” Bunbun called as she followed him. Black gave a quiet gasp. “Oh!!! I didn’ realize we had company!” They giggled, looking to River. The man stopped in place again, expression souring. “Who’s yer new pal?” “Does it matter?” River huffed, crossing his arms. “We’ve got places to be.” “It does if they’re new to the ship!!!” They chirped. Trotting right over, they stuck out their hand to Bunbun. “Hi there!!! I’m Nanner! What’s yer name, hun?” She blinked at their forwardness, but returned their handshake timidly. Their nickname made her smile a bit. Maybe their hat wasn’t entirely out of place. “I’m, uh, Bunbun,” she replied shyly. “It’s nice to meet you, Nanner.” “Bunbun!!! Oh, now that’s a cute nickname!” Nanner hummed. “Yer the new transfer, right?” “I- er- thank you,” she stammered, face flushing a bit. “And, um, yeah. I dunno how long I’m on board for, but hopefully I can help out.” “Oh, I already know ya will. Ya look like a real peach!” Nanner smiled. Or, she thought they did. It was hard to tell. The visor was so dark she couldn’t make anything out. In any case, the words just made her blush more. Kind ones always did that. “I’ll do my best to make sure yer stay is nice ‘n homely!” “W-well, you’re already doing a good job,” Bunbun smiled softly. “Good, ok, you two are acquainted. Can we go?” River broke in, scowling. “Ah ah ah, Riv,” Nanner scolded, wagging a finger at him. “Y’all can’t go till I know what the lil lady’s favorite food is! Y’all of all people gotta know that by now.” River threw his hands up in defeat. Bunbun’s look of confusion resurfaced. “Favorite food?” She echoed, puzzled. “Well, yeah! I’m the ship’s cook,” Nanner replied nonchalantly. “I gotta know what y’all like so I can have it on hand. Ya never know when you’ll need some good ol’ comfort food.” “Oh… oh! That’s true,” Bunbun nodded. Ship’s cook. Yeah, the food crate should’ve been a giveaway. “I’m, um, afraid mine’s a little on the tame side…” “Not a problem! Tame is good for some,” Nanner soothed. “Ok, er, thanks. It’s just a peanut butter jelly sandwich.” “Any particular variety? There’s a lotta those across the galaxy!” “The kind with Paramour’s grape jelly? I’m not picky about my peanut butter.” “Hmm… Paramour grape jelly and a wild card on the peanut butter…” Nanner nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll have one for yer lunch break, hun.” Bunbun lit up, smiling excitedly. “Oh!!! Thank you so much!!!” She beamed, “I really appreciate it-” “Ok, order up and all that,” River huffed, interrupting again. “Are we done?” “Sheesh, fine,” Nanner snorted. “Seems like someone needs a nap,” they mumbled, giving Bunbun a playful nudge. She tried her best not to laugh, hiding a smile with her hand. “I heard that,” River growled. “Good. Maybe you can take one later!” Nanner beamed, unphased. Rolling his eyes, River resumed his quick march. He was clearly done entertaining the both of them. Bunbun waved as she trotted after him. “Thanks again, Nanner! See you around!” “No problem, Bunny!” 
As they reached the hall, Bunbun decided to risk a question. “So… uh… Riv?” She asked warily. “Don’t call me that,” River groaned. “Nanner loves to give everyone nicknames. And talk. A lot.” “And I’m guessing you’re… not much for conversation?” She ventured. “Hit the nail on the head.” He fixed her with a withering look. “So can you take a hint?” “I-I got it, I got it,” Bunbun replied meekly. Oh yeah. That’s a grump. 
Admin was barely a stone’s throw from the cafeteria. First turn on the left from the door, and it was another well loved room. The carpet was tamped down tightly, the dull maroon only showing through a recent clean. The map was dark- offline for updates- and the card reader looked about as beat up as she’d expected. Three ancient computers sat along the wall. They were old models with screens made of green glass instead of holographic projections. The red chairs before them were an old old leather material, and had been patched up several times. One of the chairs was occupied. The crewmate didn’t seem to notice the two others hovering in the doorway. “... Knock knock,” River said begrudgingly. “You’ve got visitors.” At the sound of his voice, the crewmate glanced up from the screen, giving Bunbun a pretty good look. Xyr suit was purple, and about as worn as Captain Groud’s. Xyr round face was framed with dark, loose coils and dreads, cut off just below xyr chin. A smattering of starry white flecks was sprinkled over xyr hair. Xyr earthy skin had distinctive space travel stripes, albeit a little paler than one would expect. Dark, shining eyeshadow hooded charcoal eyes. Small golden rod earrings and a battered bandage completed xyr look, giving xem the mug of a well weathered space traveller. Xyr look of tired resignment warmed into a smile as xe took notice of Bunbun. 
“Ah, there you are. I was wondering when you’d make your way here,” Xe chuckled, leaning back in xyr chair. “Eheheh… yeah… sorry about the wait,” Bunbun replied softly. Xe held up Xyr hands in a placating gesture. “No no, I get it. This bucket ‘a bolts has a lotta systems in dire need of updates,” Xe replied, “and some of em are better to hit first than others.” Standing up from xyr chair, xe set a hand on xyr hip. “You two gonna come in?” “O-oh! Right- yeah-” Bunbun stammered, striding quickly through the doorway. River let her go first, sulking after her like a grumpy shadow. The other crewmate joined them by the map. “Well, now that we’re all together-” xe held out a hand for Bun- “I might as well introduce myself. People ‘round the ship call me Silk. I’m the resident nav and comms expert.” Bunbun took xyr hand and gave it a gentle shake. “I’m, um, Bunbun,” she replied, shifting in place. “I’m the new transfer- uh- I do, um, tech, electric, and janitorial tasks. I-it’s nice to meet you, Silk.” “Likewise,” xe nodded. “I’m guessing we might not see too much of each other, but you’re always welcome to pop by my areas to say hello.” Xyr eyes trailed away from Bunbun’s face toward someone behind her. From the expectant raised brow, she got the distinct feeling that xe wasn’t exactly thrilled to see them. She saw River kicking at the carpet when she glanced back. “Not even gonna greet me?” Silk asked, brow still raised. “... Hey silk,” River mumbled. His hunched shoulders and skittering glance made him look like a kid in trouble. “... can we get this over with?” “C’mon, being out of isolation can’t be that bad,” Silk joked. At Bunbun’s confused expression, xe waved a hand. I’ll tell you later, xyr face said. She just nodded hesitantly. “Listen, I just wanna go back to cams, is that so much to ask?” River huffed. “With that tone, maybe,” Silk pointed out. He crossed his arms, grumbling quietly, and settled himself along the wall. Xe gave him one last long look before turning back to Bunbun. “So, I reckon my map’s in need of a couple updates?” “Er- yeah, just a couple,” Bunbun said. Glancing it over, she was pleased to see an absence of dust on its glassy green surface. The thing was old, yes, but it looked well cared for. “Do you have any ideas as to what needs fixed? I don’t, um, I don’t handle admin updates too often.” “Of course. I’ll just let ya know what the other rooms need while I’m at it,” Silk replied, flicking a couple switches. The map slowly blinked to life, white lines snaking across a pale grid. The pale outlines flickered and flashed like a star fried sensor. The poor thing was barely even visible. Bunbun winced in sympathy. “Oooh… yeah, someone needs to update the firewall,” she mumbled. “That’s what I thought,” Silk sighed, giving the console a pat. “It’s been doin that for at least a week. The systems down at Comm and Nav are on the fritz too. It’s hard to get records transferred, retain messages, and get the course to stay stable without a babysitter.” “You’ve certainly got your hands full here!” Bunbun remarked. “Yeah, but there’s not too much to worry about,” xe waved a hand. “I’m the best they’ve got here, after all.” “I bet!” She smiled shyly. Looking to the map, she tilted her head. There didn’t seem to be any pattern to its glitching. At least, nothing noticeable from a quick observation. Holding up her tablet, she got herself settled before it. The good and bad thing about old systems were the incredibly obvious tablet ports. For all she knew, someone could’ve uploaded a bug ages ago. Ah well. At least I know how to use a virtual flyswatter. “Well, I-I’ve been told I’m pretty good with tech… maybe I’m not the best out there, but I’ll do what I can to get this all sorted.” “That’s much appreciated,” Silk sighed, giving her a pat on the back. “You take all the time you need.” “Thanks,” Bunbun hummed. Straightening up, her eyes were already skimming the torrent of code. “Ok… one fixed map, cooooming up…” 
                                                ===+===+===
The glitchy virus got itself caught in Bun’s web soon enough. She could isolate and neutralize code as easy as she breathed. Of course, dancing around the admin files was pretty fun. She had to have Silk help guide her hand when digging it out from xyr carefully organized system. But it worked out easily enough. River didn’t pay the two any mind. He only moved when they did, following like the world’s grumpiest duckling. That seemed to suit Silk just fine. It worked well for Bunbun, too. They were free to swap stories like old friends. It was almost a little surprising. Walking in the halls was full of homely conversation. Fixing comm accompanied tales of their academy days. Swinging around to Nav let Silk introduce Bunbun to a couple friendly looking robots. She was impressed to learn Silk made them xemself. When xe sent the robots to distract River, xe took the opportunity to inform her why the man was so touchy. Stuck in a dead end job, he didn’t tend to get out of security much. Not of his free will, anyway. No matter how much mandatory bonding and karaoke nights Groud required. The mental image of River singing karaoke made Bunbun laugh enough that Silk had to rechart the course- the pink crewmate’s flapping hands accidentally slapped a couple buttons. River was not nearly as amused.
                                               ===+===+===
When all was said and done, Bunbun set off with yet another jaunty wave and happy call. River was all but sprinting to their last stop. She didn’t bother to stick with him this time. The only task left was at a place she knew quite well. 
Electrical. 
In the absence of River’s quick thumping of footsteps, the SKELD halls were eerily quiet. The quiet hum of the shields made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She eyed the nearby vent nervously as she wandered through the room. The vents are clear, she reassured herself. A glance at her tablet confirmed it. They’re clear. Passing by comm, the quiet radio static urged her to pick up her pace. Silk might have insisted it was quite safe, but she just… didn’t trust it. It was too quiet. Too far from the cams. Too isolated. The quiet creaking of full supply crates didn’t comfort her in storage, either. She just tried to keep her breathing even as she finished her trip to Electrical. River stood outside the door, eyeing the entrance dubiously. Bunbun slowed to a stop beside him. “Is… something wrong?” she asked nervously. “Huh-? Uh, no, nothing’s wrong,” River said hastily. “It’s just a bit dark in there, that’s all.” “... uh huh…” Bunbun hummed slowly. A peek through the doorway did confirm that the lights were dim. No dimmer than other ships, though. Just… dim enough to be slightly unnerving. Why in the world they were darkest in electrical of all places, Bunbun had no clue. It was a mystery she’d been meaning to take up with the SKELD designers for quite awhile. The upkick of dust and battered panels made it pretty clear the ship hadn’t had a proper electrician in awhile. Not that it mattered now. She had to go in there. Taking a slow breath, she strode towards the back of the room. She was nearly to the line of dusty old computers when she realized River wasn’t following. He was still standing by the door. Just watching. Her grip on her tablet shook gently. How many ways can I spell “suspicious...?”   “Are you… coming...?” She asked meekly. “... nah,” River mumbled, shifting in place. “I’m good.” “Aren’t you supposed to be keeping an eye on me?” she twittered. “What if I end up needing help?” “I’m not an electrician. I’m a security guard. I can watch from here,” he replied flatly. “You’re not a fresh cadet. Figure it out.” “R-right, right,” Bunbun replied. … right… it’s just a trip to electrical. Nothing I haven’t done before. She took a deep breath, adjusting her bandanna. The feel of fabric under her fingers was comforting. I can do this. Squaring her shoulders, she marched right to the back of the room. The light from the hall didn’t reach the quietly humming machinery. The flickering bulbs above didn’t give her much confidence. But she only had one task. Swinging open the door to the calibrator, she was more than a little shocked. For starters, two of the rotating knobs seemed frozen in place. The top knob was the only one rotating lazily. A brief flash of yellow on the sensor strips was her only signal that anything was working at all. What in the milky way’s arms is going on here? She thought, baffled. Her brows furrowed as she shuffled through her old tech knowledge. In every modern ship she’d seen, all three of the knobs would spin in sync. Calibrating was as easy as just waiting for the sensor strips to flash and slapping a button. With old ships, tasks were often a little needlessly complicated. So… following this line of thinking…  Hesitantly, Bunbun raised a hand to the top knob. She watched it spin lazily, the yellow sensor light flashing and dimming as it aligned. One rotation… two… three… on the fourth, she finally tapped the button. A dull click left it frozen in an aligned position. With an unoiled squeak, the knob below it started spinning. The same pattern of flashing and dimming resumed, just a little faster. Bunbun let out a relieved sigh. Ok, yeah. She got it now. She just had to align them one by one. That, she could do.
                                              ===+===+===
After a few tries and some error, Bunbun smiled at the “plink!” of a task finished from her tablet. All three sensor strips glowed a triumphant yellow as she shut the panel. “We’re all done here!” she called, heading back towards the doorway. “I think you’re-” A sudden shuffling and the slap of boots on metal floor cut off the rest of her announcement. By the time she got to the door, she only managed to snatch a blur of blue slipping into storage. “... good to go…” she mumbled to herself. She stared at the empty hall silently for a minute. He really doesn’t wait on anything, does he? She thought bleakly. But hey. At least he’d moved away from the door instead of through it. She might’ve had more problems on her hands than walking alone to lunch. 
Tucking her tablet under her arm, she started off towards the caf. The old halls were both familiar and strange. All SKELD ships looked the same, and yet… each was different. At least, in some respects. She wondered if she’d spend the same brief time on this one as she had on every other SKELD. Her mind wandered quietly as she passed through storage. Though, the closer she got to the caf, the more she heard voices. The friendly sort of voices. Hesitating in the doorway let her see who they belonged to. Spread among the tables were all her crewmates. Lemon and Junior were chatting happily with Nanner at the table closest on the left. Laser and Rose were holding hands at the closest right table as they munched on their food. Silk and Groud were watching contentedly from the middle table, with River occupying a table on his own in the back. They were certainly a lively looking bunch. But the atmosphere in the room was warm. Warm and friendly. Bunbun felt a smile rise to her cheeks as she stepped into the room. Several of her crewmates greeted her, Nanner and Lemon excitedly waving her over to their table. One or two days in, and her fellows were already treating her like family. Her grin widened as she plopped down, happy to dig in to a fresh PBJ and a slew of conversation. 
Yeah. She could get used to this SKELD. She really hoped she’d stay for awhile.
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Alive Chap 1
Clemont thought that getting the chance to be an intern at a new facility would be a valuable learning experience. Little did he know this facility held a huge secret which could change the world as they knew it! (Diodeshipping)
Chapter 1: The Amazing Facility
No way…
Clemont stared at the letter in his hands. His breakfast cereal sat forgotten on the table. The teen couldn't even fathom how this was happening. Was Placebo Net seriously inviting him to work as a temporary intern?
Placebo Net was a relatively new facility, but they already made a name for themselves. They're dedicated to creating various tools and drugs that improve the quality of life for people and pokemon. They're close to curing several diseases and even stunned doctors by helping someone walk again. Placebo Net made the impossible possible. Why would they ask him to be an intern at his age?! What insane universe did he wake up in this morning?
"Clemont, you've been gawking at that letter for ages, what's it about?" asked a youthful voice beside him.
"Sorry, Bonnie. It's from Placebo Net. They… want me as an intern."
"Wow, really?!" cried Bonnie. "Cool! They made all those new medicines right?"
"Yeah, it's only a temporary thing, but I could learn a lot."
"You're gonna accept then?"
"Maybe…" said Clemont as he ran a hand through his hair. "I'm a little hesitant to leave the gym but… Clembot has been keen to go solo for a while, so I'm sure he wouldn't mind helping."
"Well keep an eye out for keepers because I won't be around to help with that," said Bonnie with a wink.
"Bonnie!" moaned Clemont. Then he smiled. "Okay, I'll do it. What harm could it do?"
The rest of the day consisted of calling Placebo Net to inform them of his decision. He also made certain all was in order for Clembot to run the gym in his absence. He is due to start tomorrow, and it would, for the most part, be an induction day. Placebo Net wasn't ridiculously far from Lumiose City. Just an hour's train ride to Kuro City so it wasn't like he would be miles and miles away. Still, the manager of Placebo Net suggested Clemont actually roomed at Placebo Net. Not only it would make things easier for them both it would also be more cost-effective for Clemont to not have to pay for train tickets every day. The teen couldn't argue with that logic so he agreed. Bonnie pouted upon hearing this.
"Can't I come with you Clemont?" she asked sadly.
"I wish you could Bonnie, but I'm going to be really busy. It isn't like at the gym where I could watch you during a lull in challengers, I'll likely be gone all day."
Plus, Clemont was sure the researchers wouldn't appreciate his sister getting under their feet all the time while they were trying to work.
----
Clothes, check. Toothbrush, check. Pokeballs, check.
"Clemont this is the eighth time you went through that list. You have everything already!" griped Bonnie as she watched from the doorway.
"One can't be too careful Bonnie," said Clemont as he got up from his cross-legged position on his bedroom floor. He picked up his backpack which was now several times heavier then went to give his sister a hug.
"You be good okay. I'll call when I get the chance."
"Okay. I love you Clemont."
"I love you too."
Meyer walked into the room with a lunch box
"A little something to eat on the train. It's not your mum's cooking, Arceus rest her soul, but it's filling I'd imagine."
"Thanks, Dad," said Clemont as he accepted the lunch box and was just able to fit it into his already crammed backpack.
"Well, good luck son. Work hard and keep us posted, and don't worry, Bonnie and I will hold down the fort."
Clemont nodded and after more goodbye hugs Clemont left the gym. He glanced back at the building for a moment, knowing he won't be back for a while.
"No turning back now," he said to himself and continued on.
----
Clemont was now getting off the train at Kuro Station. Kuro City was as the name implied. Everything was dark coloured. Even the pavement somehow. The flower baskets dangling from various homes were the only things with even an ounce of colour.
Clemont pulled out his map and was somewhat surprised to find Placebo Net was only a couple of blocks away. Along the way the blonde watched everyone go about their business. Children not much younger than Bonnie played hopscotch in a play area with a Skitty. There was a salon where a woman was reading a magazine while waiting for a man to finish grooming what Clemont presumed was her Furfrou. A pansear walked up to Clemont and handed him a leaflet that advertised a pastry shop. The teen placed the flyer into his pocket to review later. He also strolled by a flower stall where a young woman was making flower bracelets with the aid of her Floette.
"Here we are!"
The building was incredibly modest. It was about 30 stories tall and the walls were a dull grey. The windows were so clean, Clemont would forgive anyone for thinking there were no windows at all. The glass door slid open as he approached. Inside was a sharp contrast to the exterior. The walls and floor were pure white. There were tall plants in each corner of the lobby and there were light blue chairs by the windows. Clemont soon reached the desk where a brunette woman with a loose ponytail was typing something on the computer.
"Ahem… erm excuse me, I'm the new temp intern starting today." Clemont stuttered as he presented the badge he received for verification.
The woman peered up and smiled.
"Ah, yes let's see."
The woman accepted the badge and scanned it on a machine next to her computer. After it made a happy beep, she nodded and handed the card back.
"So you're Clemont. Well, everything seems in order. I'll let the boss know you're here. So if you'll take a seat."
"That won't be necessary, Heather. I'm already here." announced a new voice. Clemont turned to see a middle-aged man walking towards the desk. "Appreciate the sentiment though."
Heather nodded returning to her work. The man turned to Clemont. He had dark brown thinning hair, and he wore a lab coat over his mint green shirt.
"Wonderful to meet you Clemont," he said as he held out his hand which the inventor took. "Again, I'm delighted you accepted our invitation. My name is Brad. I believe we spoke on the phone."
Clemont nodded.
"Thank you for inviting me. It will be a valuable learning experience."
"That it will." laughed Brad. "Every day is a learning experience here. Now, why don't we start with a tour? Would you like anything to drink? A snack perhaps?"
"No thanks. I had something on the train."
"Well if you change your mind, let me know," said Brad as they headed towards the door he entered through which turned out to be an elevator. Brad pressed a button, and they ascended. They went up a few floors before the elevator beeped and the doors opened.
"This is the research floor," said Brad. "Self-explanatory. We learn everything we can about diseases and how they can affect the human body. Same thing with pokemon. We're now researching Pokerus and determining if there are any hidden adverse effects of contracting it. So far all we've found is that it can occasionally cause mild skin irritation, and that's only in very rare cases and is treatable with prescription cream."
Clemont looked around. There were many people either on computers or looking through microscopes. Someone jotted their findings on a tablet.
"As you can see they're very diligent," said Brad with a smile.
"This is fascinating!" cried Clemont. "I can't believe how efficient everything is."
"Haha, if you're impressed already, I can't wait to show you the rest of the building," laughed Brad.
The tour continued at a steady clip. Brad showed Clemont the computer room and another research room. There were several break rooms and rest areas for all-nighters.
"We'll this one up to be your room," said Brad. "Why don't you leave your backpack here. It looks heavy."
"It is. Thanks," said Clemont as he took off his backpack giving his shoulders some much needed relief, and placed it on the bed. Once that was done with they continued the tour.
"This is where the magic happens," said Brad as they entered a laboratory. "Once we've determined that the drug works and is safe to use, we send it to hospitals or pokemon centers depending on who needs it."
"Hello sir." said a blonde woman as she entered the room carrying a small case. "What brings you here if I may be so bold?"
"You may," said Brad. "I'm showing our new intern the ropes.
"Oh, of course! That was today." cried the woman. "I can be such an airhead sometimes. Nice to meet you. Clemont right?"
"That's right," said Clemont as he shook her hand.
"Well, I'll be looking forward to working with you." the blonde woman turned to Brad and whispered something to him. Brad smiled reassuringly.
"I'll tell him Freya, just getting the induction done with first."
"Sorry, tell me what?" asked Clemont. An uneasy feeling settled in his stomach. What was Placebo Net up to?
The researcher flinched as if he knew he let something slip. He sighed but smiled.
"Well I suppose it won't hurt to inform you now, but first I should explain a few things. I hope you'll listen before making any decisions."
Against his better judgement, Clemont nodded.
"Then let's head up a couple of floors," said Brad.
Clemont followed Brad to the elevator while clutching at his sleeves. He had expected a normal internship, but this was turning out to be something creepy and even a little shady. He stayed silent in the elevator wondering what Brad wanted to tell him.
"Now what I'm about to tell you is… let's say unusual, and we're not ready to go public with it yet. We'd be grateful if you keep what you're about to see under your hat for the time being."
Clemont nodded.
"Yes, of course."
The elevator door opened. The duo walked down the hallway and through a door that led to another laboratory. It had lots of glass tubes of varying sizes sat on top of a large table. The contents of the tubes made Clemont's stomach turn.
"Is…. is that…?"
"Yep," answered Brad. "That is a human heart."
In fact, each tube held a different organ. Lungs, kidneys, a liver, a stomach and even what appeared to be a human brain.
"Wha… what is this!?" he cried disgusted by what he saw in front of him. Brad let out a loud laugh.
"Had you going, didn't I? You can relax Clemont, we didn't gut anybody. These are artificial, surprise!"
"They're not real?"
"Technically, no," said Brad. "but they don't have to be. They work just like the real thing."
It took a few seconds for that sentence to sink in, but when they did they hit Clemont like a truck.
"What?!"
"You heard right," said Brad smirking as if he was enjoying this. "It took a lot of trial and error, but we have been able to create a working heart out of synthetic fibres. They are 100% eco-friendly. No plastic whatsoever. I remember the first breakthrough well. We created an artificial heart. Then we wired it to an artificial human brain. We gave the heart a little jolt, not much different from a defibrillator. The heart began to beat! Only for a few seconds but it was beating! I'm amazed Officer Jenny didn't come knocking from how loudly we celebrated. After countless failures, we finally created a heart that worked! Now we just had to keep it working. This is revolutionary! Transplant waiting lists will be a thing of the past if we can pull this off! If someone needs a new heart. We could build one and best of all it would be adaptable to that person's blood type so there will be no risk of rejection. We've even made artificial blood and blood cells. Yes, blood cells! In simpler terms, whatever the human body has. We've made a synthetic version."
Clemont could hardly believe what he heard. If what Brad was saying is true, then it truly was revolutionary. It could change lives! This was like something out of a sci-fi movie.
"So…. you…. you could even replace brains?" he asked.
Brad let out a nervous laugh.
"Well, I don't about that. They are just for research and testing other organs. It's the brain that tells them what to do after all."
"So… you've made an artificial version of everything? Could you even make skin? Hair? Bones?!"
Brad gave the inventor another smile.
"I think I'll let you be the judge of that. Come with me."
Clemont followed Brad back into the hallway still reeling from what he was being told. What could top artificial, working organs?
"Through here," said Brad as he led Clemont through another door. The long room was almost empty. Just a few tables with a computer on each one. There seemed to be a window in front of the desks but it showed what was in the room next to this one.
"We'll use this one-way mirror for the time being," said Brad. "We might scare him."
"Him?"
Brad said no more. He gestured to the one-way mirror so Clemont walked towards it and peered in. He saw an empty room with a single bed. On the bed, someone appeared to be asleep. It was a boy, not much older than Clemont. He had tanned skin and black messy hair. The blonde couldn't see much else though as the boy was under the bedsheets. At first, Clemont thought it might've been another intern and wondered why Brad was showing him this. Then another possibility crossed his mind, and it made him weak at the knees.
"That…. that's not…."
"It is," said Brad looking serious. "That boy…. is the first completely artificial human."
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raendown · 6 years
Link
Day 2 entry for @madatobiweek! I wanted to combine both prompts for alternate universe and office shenanigans and somehow this is what I came up with.
Pairing: MadaraTobirama Rating: T+ Word count: 3392 Summary: Ten years is a long time to be gone. It's amazing how much has changed - and how much hasn't.
Follow the link or read it under the cut!
Wounded Lips and Salted Cheeks
“If I didn’t know better I would say that was Senju Tobirama underneath that hat.”
With the side of his mouth quirking up in a hesitant smile, the man in question raised his head to peer at the figure casting shadows in the doorway to his office.
The newcomer cut a dashing figure in what must have been a very expensive outfit before it was coated in soot and salt water. His fitted black trousers and knee high leather boots were a delicious treat for the eye of their beholder, although most of Tobirama’s admiration was focused on the large swath of chest visible through the gaping neckline of his billowing shirt, clasped shut with a very intricate belt. Raggedy black hair fell to the man’s waist, riddled through with braids and beads, and Tobirama wanted nothing more than to bury his fingers within it.
“But that can’t be; the last time I saw Senju Tobirama he was naught but a cabin brat looking up to his betters with stars in his little demon eyes.”
“A lot of things have changed since you left, Madara.” Tobirama lifted his brows until they threatened to disappear under his admiral’s hat. “Clearly much has changed for you as well. Gone a decade only to be arrested for piracy by the very cabin brat you so loved to torture. Many would call that irony.”
“I’d call that the sea gods having a laugh,” Madara chortled. There was an empty scabbard hanging from his belt and one of his sleeves was stained red.
“You look just as you did then.” The words came out quiet and filled with the shadows of a decade spent wondering. Madara shrugged, an easy gesture for a man whose wrists were bound in iron.
“Can’t say the same of you,” was all he said in return.
Tobirama turned his red eyes to the uniformed pair holding his new prisoner by each arm. “Clean him up and have his wound seen to.”
“Aye, Admiral!”
He tried not to, but Tobirama couldn’t help but notice that Madara gave no protest as he was pulled away and led towards whatever awaited him for his crimes. Nor did he look back despite the fact that Tobirama was left staring at the empty doorway for quite some time after he left.
-
“My brother searched for you.”
He had never been very good at casual. Bluntness yes but not the practice of saying a thing without the weight of all his meaning behind it. A soldier must say what he means or stay quiet and say nothing; such had been his philosophy for many years and it had served him well in reaching every goal he had ever set for himself. It was his honesty and intelligence which had shot him up through the ranks of the Queen’s Navy to find himself a decorated Admiral before reaching thirty years of age.
It did little to serve him now when faced with a man who had always been able to read him better than Tobirama wished him to.
“I figured he might,” Madara admitted from where he was lounging by the window.
“Very likely he would still be searching if he hadn’t fallen in love with an Uzumaki princess and settled down in the Whirlpool Islands. Last I heard they were expecting their second child.”
“Truly? Good for him.”
Madara didn’t even bother to look over at him, still staring through the glass with the slightly distant expression which had been hiding just under the surface of his every emotion since his ship was downed and he was taken prisoner aboard the Hidden Leaf. As much as Tobirama hated to admit it, even all these years later, he still had no idea how to read the man.
Prisoner he might be but volatile he had proved he was not and so Madara was allowed to wander the ship at will so long as he was accompanied at all times by at least one guard, for which the admiral himself most certainly counted. There were no counts of murder or undue violence against him, only the vague charge of “piracy” to which he freely pled guilty at first accusation, so he wasn’t viewed as much of a threat.
Thus began Madara’s habit of spending quite a bit of his time in the cabin which served as Tobirama’s office. It was also his sleeping quarters, although you would have to squint to find the tiny cramped sea bed among the books and papers and the innumerable maps.
Sometimes they spoke and other times they sat in silence as Tobirama worked, writing correspondence and a log of their journey, drafting essays on the scientific studies he often completed on his travels at sea. The days in which they spoke were the ones Tobirama preferred even if he would never have admitted to such a thing out loud. Although it had been a full decade since they last saw each other, there were still too many memories in his eyes whenever he looked at the prisoner in his window.
“Did he ever find anything other than a wife?” Madara’s voice broke through his thoughts and in the privacy of his mind Tobirama begged the older man to look at anything but the fading horizon.
“No.”
He knew exactly what Madara was really asking, the treasure he hoped that his old friend might have found, and Tobirama truly hated to be the one to deny him.
“Is he happy where he is?”
“Yes. Every letter that reaches me is happier than the last.”
“I’ll bet they’re absolutely covered in tear stains too. He always was a sap.”
Free to smile fondly as he continued to go unobserved, Tobirama let his eyes drift over to the small frame bolted down to his desk and the photograph contained therein. “He got worse with age, trust me. The last time I made port in Uzushio it took him half an hour to stop sobbing on me. Ruined a very good jacket.”
Madara gave a startled bark of laughter and finally turned to sit with his back to the window, raising his arms to tuck both hands behind his head and play with the braids in his hair.
“I hope it was expensive,” he teased. Tobirama sighed.
“My favorite, actually. But after he covered it in snot I couldn’t bear to put it back on.”
“Ah.” With his eyes now staring at the ceiling above him, Madara’s expression looked no less distant as he murmured, “The sea gods take as they see fit.”
Tobirama had little to say to that. It was clear that he would have no luck breaking the pensive mood his prisoner had fallen in to today and so he turned back to his papers and told himself to concentrate on nothing else. Across the cabin, Madara barely seemed to notice.
-
“How long until we make port?”
Madara tossed the letter opener in his hands up and watched it spiral through the air before catching it by the tip as it came back down. Then he casually tossed it up again as he had been doing for the past fifteen minutes.
“A few weeks yet,” Tobirama replied absently.
“I thought you said that two weeks ago.”
“Mm. That was before the storm pushed us so off course.”
The frown on his face deepened and Tobirama rolled up the map in frustration. His charts simply didn’t match up and he felt nothing so much as a failure. How could he have missed anything after searching the area as many times as he had? It didn’t make sense. And yet…
“So a couple of weeks more and you’ll be free of me then?” Madara tossed the letter opener up again. “I’ll have to talk to my wonderful guards about how to properly get under your skin. Someone needs to be up your ass once I’m gone and pull your head out of those maps you’re always staring at. Don’t you know where you’re going?”
“Of course I do. They’re not maps of this area; they depict somewhere else.”
“You’re not going to tell me where though.”
“Why on earth would I do that?” Tobirama looked over his shoulder to lift an eyebrow at his prisoner with a wry smile, more pleased than he should be to see it returned.
Catching the letter opener yet again, Madara twirled it idly between his fingers. “Right, right. Little Tobi with his big brain. You always did have to know more than everyone else around you.” He laughingly dodged the empty cup that came flying towards his head for that comment. Tobirama huffed at him.
“Doesn’t take a genius like me to see how impatient you are to face the queen’s justice. I think it’s you who is looking forward to being rid of me.” If the universe was kinder then it would not have been obvious how much pain the truth of that statement caused him. But the universe had never been very kind and, although Madara refrained from sending him a look of pity, he didn’t hold out much hope that his emotions had gone undetected.
“Think you’ve got me all figured out, eh?” Madara shot him a cocky grin but all Tobirama did was sigh.
“Not then. Not now.”
He turned back to his desk and reached for the account he’d been trying to match up with his charts. If he could only work out where he might have missed something then his life’s work would finally see its end and at last he could rest.
Behind him, Madara remained suspiciously quiet.
-
“He isn’t here.”
Only just managing not to leap in to the air with fright, Madara swiveled his head round until he laid eyes upon the young woman standing next to Tobirama’s desk. She had long hair twisted up in a vicious looking topknot and her uniform was a tad sloppier than most. The size of her arms, however, said that this was someone he definitely shouldn’t mess with.
Madara had never been good at backing down, though.
“Does he know that his crew skulk around in here while he’s gone?”
“He knows that you do and he has a hundred times more reason to trust me.” The woman’s face twisted in an ugly expression. “The world likes to think he’s changed – he likes to think he’s changed – but he hasn’t. Still the same old Tobi, hopping ship to chase after you and that rat brother of yours.”
Madara was across the cabin before he even registered that he’d moved, his fingers twisted in the collar of her shirt. “One more word about my brother and I’ll beat you black and blue no matter your rank.”
“What does he see in you?” she continued. “You’re nothing but a deadbeat who ran away from home. You haven’t taken anything seriously since you came on board, you look down at him like you always did, you walk this ship from end to end and think nothing of the liberties he gives you. So tell me, pirate scum, what did he ever see in you that could possibly have driven him to sail the world over so many times just for your sorry ass?”
“For – what?” Anger seeped away in favor of confusion the longer she talked until he hardly noticed when the woman batted his hand away from her throat.
“Don’t act coy, Uchiha. You think he joined the queen’s navy for fun? The cabin kid with salt in his pockets and science in his head? Ten years you’ve been gone and he’s spent the whole time out here on the waves, looking for you.”
“No. That’s not – why would he do that?”
The woman snorted as she shoved him away, watching him stumble with a disdainful curl to her lip. “Beats me. You’re not worth looking for.”
Madara reeled, unsteady for the first time since he was a child finding his sea legs on the boat that he and his best friend built themselves. Hashirama had been so happy with their tiny craft, barely more than a raft with a mast, but he’d called it the FriendShip and let his little brother sit on the back, called him cabin boy and yelled at Madara whenever he pushed the young thing overboard.
And then his own younger brother had found out and demanded that he be allowed to play with them too. When Madara told him there wasn’t room enough for a fourth body Izuna had cried and run home, swearing up and down that he’d build his own boat and that none of them could sail on it. A week later the sea had swallowed him and Madara had never seen his little brother again. Seventeen years old, full of desperation and guilt, his mind had refused to accept that Izuna could be gone and he’d done the only thing that made sense at the time.  
He fled their poor little fishing village and turned to piracy, using his freedom outside the law to search and search until the day his past caught up with him in the form of the Hidden Leaf.
“It wasn’t his fault,” he heard himself say. “It was mine.”
“You think its guilt that he’s hung on to all this time?” The woman snorted again and shook her head, slamming her hand down on the maps Tobirama spent so much of his time poring over. “He tore that cove apart inch by inch trying to find Izuna for you. He caught the first passage out of town against his brother’s wishes trying to find you. He joined the navy and he did his time until they gave him a ship of his own and all this time he’s been looking for you!”
Madara flinched. Why Tobirama might have entered the queen’s service never occurred to him. Sure it had seemed strange that a mind so wild and curious as his had always been would have subjected itself to the rigid rules of the navy. But as he had for the past decade, Madara had thought only of himself.
In truth, his heart had given up a long time ago and admitted that his brother lay buried beneath the tides. Only stubbornness and a lack of anywhere else to go had kept him at the helm but now he wondered: had he always had somewhere else to go? All this time he had been longing for home, had home been searching for him?
Both he and the woman before him startled and whipped around when the door to the office opened. Tobirama stepped inside with sea spray still wet on his boots and glistening in his hair, a suspicious expression immediately falling across his face when he spotted them there.
“Touka,” he nodded shortly to the woman.
“Cousin,” she replied to Madara’s surprise. That would explain her familiarity with Tobirama’s motives.
“Did you need something?”
“I was just leaving.”
And she did leave but not without sending Madara a look full of acid. Tobirama caught her eye as she passed him and returned the look with enough venom to quicken her pace, leaving the two of them alone as they usually were.
“Have an interesting conversation with my first mate, did you?” As always, he failed to sound as casual as he would have wished to. Only this time Madara finally understood what he had been hearing since they were all just little boys sailing the bay of a tiny fishing town.
“No,” he lied. “We didn’t talk about much.”
The words tasted strange in his mouth.
-
“Where did you say your brother dropped anchor, again?”
“In the Whirlpool Islands.”
“Ah.”
Madara fidgeted and shifted his weight, his shoulder brushing up against Tobirama’s where the other man stood perfectly still at his side. Although he was certain that a week ago he wouldn’t have noticed, it occurred to him that in all the time since he’d come aboard this vessel, this was closest they had been to each other.
They watched the horizon together for the first time as Madara contemplating the noose soon to tighten around his neck. Shore was in sight and despite all the many weeks he had spent in this very room it still felt as though he hadn’t had long enough.  
He’d thought he wouldn’t care if he died. He’d also thought there would be no one esle left in the world who would care if he died. Apparently he’d been wrong on both counts.
“I hear Uzushio has really nice weather all year round,” he murmured.
“So it does,” Tobirama replied, his confusion at that statement as clear as day in his voice.
“Will you settle down there with him?”
Shifting his own weight, although he was more careful not to brush up against the man beside him, Tobirama kept his eyes pointedly forward. “I don’t know that I ever will settle down.”
“Not even if there was something to keep you there?”
“Perhaps then, yes. But I don’t truly belong to Hashirama’s family, although I’m certain brother would be more than happy to see me. His princess would not take kindly to me inserting myself in to their lives in such a manner as I would without any other attachments.”
“Ah.” Very carefully, Madara leaned sideways just until their shoulders touched and held there. “I also hear that Uzushio won its freedom from the crown and is no longer considered a part of The Colonies.”
“That is true, yes.”
Without looking away from the horizon he twisted his wrist until their fingers were touching, not reaching, not presuming, but presenting the offer and hoping that all the sea gods who could possibly be listening might hear his fervent prayers. “How would you feel about staging a mutiny and running away with the fastest vessel in the queen’s navy?”
He barely had time to blink before he found himself being spun around and shoved up against the wall of the office cabin. Tobirama left the man no time to question his intentions as he crashed their lips together and vented a lifetime of frustration and yearning, a decade of worry and pursuit. Pale fingers buried themselves within dark braided hair and twisted as though hoping to stay tangled there forever. Both of them groaned in to the heat of each other’s mouths, their bodies pressing together, rocking with the motion of the sea beneath their vessel and the tides within their souls.
Knowing they didn’t have much time, Tobirama forced himself to pull away before he lost his head entirely. His chest heaved as he pressed his forehead against Madara’s the way he had been dreaming of since they first set sail on the back of a barely floating raft together.
“We’ll pass in to the bay within an hour. If you want me to mutiny my own ship we need to get going now or we’ll be within canon range of the others at port before I can turn any of the crew to my side.”
“Right. So, Admiral.  Yo ho, yo ho?”
“It’s a pirate’s life for me,” Tobirama finished in a dry voice, trying to contain his smile and failing wildly. Madara laughed at his efforts.
“No regrets?”
“I went to sea to find you,” he said softly. “And now I have and I won’t let you go.”
“Been waiting for the offer?”
Tobirama looked rather dashing with a blush across his cheeks. “Hoping.”
“Let’s go then.” Madara skimmed his hands down the hard body pressing his against the wall until they rested on a set of gorgeous hips, displayed so nicely by the admiral’s uniform. He pulled Tobirama in for one more kiss before they tore themselves apart and turned to face the doorway.
Neither of them looked away from the door and yet both reached out at the same time to entwine their fingers together. As Madara reached for the handle, Tobirama reached for the saber at his belt, tossing it and trusting his partner to catch as he then reach for the pistol just inside the breast of his doublet. They shared a grin before Madara pulled the door open and they stepped out on to the deck together, facing the midday sun and whatever the sea gods had in store.  
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