Chapter Text
The group had found an small chasm exposed to the elements and with a long pool of knee high water. Frankly you were just glad for the rain to be pouring on your face, clearing off a load of grim and muck that had accumulated in your travels through the mine. Had to make yourself look somewhat presentable for when you meet with the queen, after all.
The rain on your face was very satisfying indeed, for you at least; A-60's scowl made them look like an angry, wet cat and A-120 was holding your Gloombat under a sheet whilst you cleaned up, as the little creature didn't seem to enjoy getting beaten down in the heavy rain either (A-120 themselves was not too fussed by the rain).
"You know… I keep imagining Seek emerging from that" you offhandedly remark as you finish washing up, pointing up at the pipe above you in the chasm.
Screech floats up to the grating and takes a small peek inside.
"Nope! All clear! Not a single trace of slime!" Screech confirms, returning to your side once more.
"Hmm, perhaps it hasn't caught up to us yet…" Eyes remarks to themselves, a couple of their eyeballs turning towards the pipe as well, giving it a firm glare. Nothing else happens.
"Then perhaps we should keep moving?" Lookman suggests, already floating their way down to the door at the other end of the chasm.
"Mhm, coming!" you call after it, quickly wading your way through the water, grabbing the Gloombat from A-120 as you pass them.
Pushing the door open, your group makes your way forwards.
The following rooms were devoid of all life: no Dupe doors, no Rush or Blitz warnings, no problems!
…That being said, you did nearly get crushed by a lose boulder than randomly decided to fall from the ceiling; you were lucky that A-120 was able to pull you back quick enough.
Other than that, easy. A-60 had to throw you across some gaps where the bridges had collapsed, not that you cared too much. Someone should really fix those though.
Soon, you found a gap that was larger than the previous ones.
"Uh, '60? Little hand?" you ask. There was no way you'd make it across the gap by jumping.
"That's way to far for me to throw you!" A-60 exclaims, a tinge of frustration at their own perceived weakness.
"Oh? But how are we to move forwards?" A-120 asks. The group seems to have come across a metaphorical road block.
"We go down," Eyes calls out, moving to the front of the group and gazing downwards in the pit bellow. "We believe there is another mine shaft down there, no?"
The rest of you turn your attentions downwards too.
"Hey! They're right!" Screech exclaims, pointing a tiny tendril down into the pit.
Sure enough, their seemed to be some tracks down bellow.
"Aw, that's a small target to land on, and it's quite far down…" You mumble to yourself thoughtfully. It might hurt landing on that- "-Wh- Hey!" Someone (A-60) suddenly grabbed you from behind, lifting you high into the air as you flailed and fought to break free.
"Oh, stop pussy-footing around and let's go!" A-60 snaps before jumping into the pit, ignoring your screams and protests, before anyone can stop them (not that anyone was going to).
Lucky for you, A-60's aim is on point as always, and it lands the two of you perfectly, if wobbly, on the track below. The others shortly join you, witnessing you give a few, rapid smacks to A-60's face in retribution for the sudden descent; they take it like a champ, so it is all good.
You're quick to forget about it when A-120 finds a mine cart lying near the track. They quickly grab it and place it back on the track. Everyone is quick to jump in and, with a large push from A-60, the cart is sent hurtling down the track to the symphony of Screech's 'weeeeeeee!'.
…Might not have been the best of idea, as this mine shaft does not appear the most structurally of sound; it takes a great deal of effort for the group to pull the cart away from the pits and yes, you guys did crash into a wall a few times. These instances always led to a small walk of shame where you had to carry the cart back to the fork before pushing it down the right path. Fortunately, there was no one outside of the group watching to see such embarrassment and you went tell if none of the others do!
Eventually reaching a station, you begin to believe your mine cart-based journey has been brought to an end. But it's not, it's only a brief intermission; the mine cart continues to trundle along at a leisurely pace.
There's a sudden roar, that shakes the entire cavern and causes you all to have quite the jump. Further along the tracks, an entity bigger than any you'd every seen comes descending from a further cavern; roaring loudly, the scarred creature comes charging forwards towards the mine cart, and follows along close behind it as it gets diverted down a separate path.
This would be much more terrifying if Screech and the Giggles A-120 was carrying didn't start cheering excitedly. They knew this entity.
The mine cart reaches the end of the track; everyone comes tumbling out with a heavy fall as it crashes into a large corridor. The massive entity remains at the opening above, staring down at the unusual group before it.
"Queen!" Screech exclaims, raising two tendrils up to the entity. "It's been so long!"
"Oh! So this is the Grumble Queen?" you remark, hoisting yourself to your feet and staring up at her. "She's… very big!" And not what you were expecting of something refereed to as 'queen'.
"And she wanted our audience?" Lookman asks, sceptically eyeing the massive creature.
"I believe so!" Screech replies to Lookman; it then turns their attention back to the Queen Grumble. "So, um, what is it that you wanted?"
The Grumble Queen lets out a small string of, well, grumbles; you do not understand the language of this species one bit.
"Uh, could someone translate?" you ask sheepishly.
"She said-" Screech begins.
"She said that her nest is in danger, and she requires outsiders help to resolve the issue" A-120 finishes.
"Hey! I didn't know you could speak Grumble!" Screech remarks, sounding more impressed by A-120's multilingual abilities than annoyed by the interruption.
"Ah, I did a lot of learning whilst confined to just the rooms…" A-120 replies bashfully.
"Yeah, such a waste of time when you could have been doing literally anything else" A-60 bites out, a lot less impressed by the productive usages of A-120's time. It must of got real boring living alone with a strict A-90 and a somewhat studious A-120 for the longest time…
"Ok, onto more important things: what danger are you taking about?" you ask, returning your attention to the Grumble Queen.
She lets out more noises, a lot longer than last time.
"She believes something is contaminating the water supply, and needs someone to go investigate dam further in the mines to rectify the problem" A-120 translates.
"Can't she go herself? Or send some of her children? Why does she need us?" Lookman asks; by his tone, it doesn't sound like he is too fond of the idea of being sent on an errand.
The Grumble Queen speaks some more, this time giving Lookman a hard glare.
"The Giggles are too young and weak for the problem, and the Grumbles are too big for some of the more fragile terrain" A-120 again explains.
"Hmm, we do not really go out to the dam ourselves…" Eyes remarks quietly. You've noticed that they seem to have been trying to draw little attention to themselves since they entered this audience with the Queen Grumble. If Eyes has been down here before, then there is every chance they know each other. "But… we would not recommend going…"
"Why's that?" you ask. Since Eyes finally spoke up, you've noticed that the Queen Grumble seems to be giving them a little bit of a stink eye. Do they not get along?
"Usually… there's something in the pipes…" Eyes replies, cryptically. They are not going to elaborate on that point, are they?
"Well! There's six of us, plus a few Giggles and little buzz buzz here, so I think we will do just fine!" you reply, a little dismissive of Eyes' warning. Whatever was 'in the pipes', you could probably deal with it. You turn back to the Grumble Queen. "Don't worry your majesty! We will do what we can to save your water supply!" you exclaim, giving a small bow to the entity.
She makes more noises before you.
"She appreciates your willingness to lend aid, and will reward us on our successful return!" A-120 translates.
The group takes a small rest whilst they are in the safety of the Grumble nest, before embarking on their next mission.