Chapter Text
GARDENVIEW CENTER, FLOOR 0, OFFICE SECTOR
I wandered through the desolate maze of cubicles that lined every portion of the room. Dandy was here… Somewhere. As soon as this whole Ichor Operation started, he’s constantly been here. Doing… business stuff presumedly. It was uncanny seeing him so shut-in, perhaps there was a degree of irony. I, the most closed off of the cast, was now trying to get one of the most jubilant to open up.
Either way, I needed to talk to him. This whole operation was way too dangerous. Even if we could just be brought back, it still clearly affected us. Boxten has still been having those… nightmare-dreams. It has been days since they’ve started, and they have shown no sign of ceasing, even with my best efforts.
I continue my walk, only to be intercepted by something nudging on my leg. It gives me a slight jump, but upon looking over its Pebble. The pet rock seemed quite happy to see me, judging from how fast his tail was wagging.
“Arf arf!” Pebble barked in what I hopefully accurately assumed to be excitement.
“Hello Pebble… You’re excited to see me.” I reply to the rock’s greetings.
“Arf!” He replied back.
I ponder for a moment, if anyone knew exactly where Dandy was it would be Pebble.
“Pebble, would you know where Dandy is currently? I need to talk to him.”
Pebble’s mood seemingly dampened now upon this question. A whine escaping the pet rock.
“... I know, I’m trying to make him see reason… Maybe we can get things back to normal. I’m sorry for asking you to do this, but I don't know where to go here.”
… I will have to make it up to Pebble by providing a good dream tonight. Either way, it seems he has somewhat reluctantly agreed. With a bark he started to lead me through the maze, until we stopped at a rather imposing door.
Pebble barked at the door.
“Ah. I suppose this is where he is? Thank you Pebble…” I give the pet rock a complementary pat. Then I take a deep breath, and open the door.
The office was.. Messy to be quite honest. The small trash can was overflowing with crumpled pieces of paper. The desk that seemed to be the centerpiece was messy and covered in papers, its space lit up by a lamp. Along the walls were nails where pictures were presumably once hung, now they were empty though.
Sitting at the desk, standing on the chair, hunched over and staring at the papers was Dandy. His face scrunched up in some form of concentration. However, I suppose my entering had disturbed that focus. His expression shifts to his usual smile.
“Oh! Hello Astro! I see that you have found me here, do you need anything?” He asks, his voice chipper. It was hard to tell if this was genuine.
“... Dandy. We need to talk.”
Not a shift in expression.
“Sounds like an awfully important issue! What’s wrong bud?”
“... It’s about this whole… Operation. I don't think the way you’re going about it is good. For you and for us all.”
His expression immediately shifted, he seemed.. Nervous in a way.
“... Now what do you mean by that, Astro? It’s kept this place afloat so far!”
“I mean I… Suppose it has,” I take another deep breath, “but… have you seen how it's affected the others so far? Boxten hasn’t been able to sleep well for the past four days.”
“A sacrifice we have to make. Just from that operation alone we made enough cash to keep things steady for two weeks tops!”
Dandy grabbed a piece of paper, filled with numbers and values that were quite frankly dizzying. “I did all the math! Of course we might need to ration things out a bit and all, the food budgets are a bit tight, but it works out!”
“I.. I know that, but… There has to be a better way to do this. One that doesn’t hurt us!”
Dandy let out a shaky breath, pinching his face. “... Look, I know. It hurts, seeing everyone so… Tense and all but this is the only way we can do things now Astro! We can’t truly die, not unless something TRULY drastic happens at least, and human workers are risky. They’re unreliable.”
I take this in, any counter points. “I mean… We already have machinery, can’t you find a way to automate the process?”
“That requires money Astro. Money that I need to ration out to spend on bills and food and all sorts of other things that the others want Astro! That the others need!” Dandy’s fist strikes the table. “That and the pricks who ran this place have practically wiped out all blueprints regarding Ichor Extraction! We’re lucky I managed to get a chunk of them working again! We’d be working on a blank slate if I didn’t!”
Dandy exhaled again, he was shaking slightly.
“... L.. look I understand that things are… tough. Things aren’t going as well. But-”
“No buts, or whatever else you’re about to say, Astro,” He cuts me off.
“I-...”
“No. Listen to me. You have a part to play right now, friend.” He lets out a chuckle of sorts, then points to himself, small red dots in his pupils boring into me. “I’m the lead, the star of this sinking boat,” then he points to me, “and you’re on the sidelines. Everything that I have done, that I have… Worked on! It is all leading to places. Bigger, better places! You just need to play your part. So… Please. Leave me be, I have a few bits and pieces of paper work left.”
“... Dandy-”
“I said leave me be, Astro. Do you not understand this simple concept?”
“... I… Right. Have a good night.”
I turn, and slip through the grand doors. I’m shaking. Why am I shaking? I.. I have to take a seat. I slump against a wall, clenching the blanket wrapped around me.
… A small bark catches my attention. Pebble. He approaches, gives a whine as he nudges my leg.
“... it… didn’t go well.”
Another whine came from the pet rock, as he sat down next to me.
“... thanks. You’re a good pet rock.”
I’ll have to remember to keep Pebble’s dreams good.
Hopefully this is over soon.
