Chapter Text
A glimmer of sunlight shines through the lazily undrawn curtains of the hotel room, waking Taco from her peaceful slumber. She yawns as last night’s events play in her mind; a smile appears on her face at the remembrance. Taking a look around her bed, she spots a metal tray above her legs. Upon the tray are a delicious assortment of breakfast foods: bacon, sausages, eggs, hashbrowns, a slice of toast—with a glass of milk to wash it all down. Before she dines on the meal, she scans the room. She finds the person who oh so graciously gave her all this food: Microphone.
“Sooooo, how’d you like it? I heard of something called an ‘English breakfast’ and I tried to get everything, but OJ wasn’t serving some of the food that’s in it, so some of the things are missing… But I hope you still like it!”
“This is wonderful, Microphone. I wouldn’t have expected anything more from you.”
As Taco consumes her meal, she notices Microphone observing her closely.
“What’s wrong Microphone? Is there something that I should be concerned with that I failed to perceive?” Taco stammers, flustered from the close attention that Mic is giving her.
“It’s nothing… just that, I think your bandages soaked up a good amount of blood”—Microphone takes a step back, which Taco is grateful for—”I thought the bleeding would’ve stopped by now…”
Taco gulps before looking away, “From my recollections of last night, I am reminded that I fell upon the floor with my bandaged eye taking a hit. The only reason I was awoken in the middle of the night was a splitting headache, accompanied by a fever.”
“I’m sorry, WHAT?”—Taco flinches at the sound—”Taco…removing your eye was risky. Now you might actually have an infection.”
Microphone scoops Taco out of bed and scurries out of the room, abandoning the breakfast that Taco was munching upon just moments ago.
“We’re going back to Test Tube. I am not going to let you do even more permanent damage to yourself.”
Taco nods, though scared at the tone of Mic’s words. As the shades of oranges pass by her, Taco pulls out the Invisibow and turns on invisibility. She chuckles a bit thinking about what they must look like right now: Microphone running as fast as her legs could take her while carrying a ring of bloodied bandages. Wait, are her bandages still perceptible despite being invisible? She feels around the area of her eye socket and pulls lightly at the dressing, finding the gauze unable to be perceived. Curious, she would’ve thought that they would still show up despite the bow’s power. Although, she can hardly complain; she would’ve been caught by Pickle during their latest encounter otherwise!
Observing the various incredulous looks that the hotel inhabitants have at seeing such a sight, Taco notes how little of the residents are awake when the sun first rises up from the horizon. Were there more night owls than she originally thought? She shrugs her head, content on leaving that thought in the back of her mind and focuses on watching the people around them instead. She shifts around in Microphone’s arms, trying to get comfortable. Once Taco finds a suitable spot, she relaxes and continues to study the reactions of the tenants of this hotel.
The air-conditioned atmosphere of Hotel OJ swiftly changes into the warm and still climate of an outdoor morning once the pair have exited the doors of the building. The sight of OJ’s prize becomes smaller and smaller in Taco’s eyes as the duo continues to zip through the grasses of the outdoors. Taco never knew that Microphone had this much speed in her nor the stamina that accompanies it. Perhaps this haste is spurred on by the urgency of getting Taco to Test Tube to cure her infection—if she even has one—or potentially this velocity is caused by… something warmer? Here comes the question again: does Microphone actually care for her, or is she simply doing this to keep her alive? The flicker of amusement dissipates from Taco’s face, leaving in its wake a hollow feeling of melancholy. The question remains unanswered.
Frantic calling drags Taco out of her spiraling overthinking. Looking around her, she can see Microphone pointing towards the buttons of the Dr. Fizz machine. Right, the code, which is easy enough to remember. Taco inputs the combination, thanking whoever’s watching them for the much needed distraction. In a snap, the two go from being above ground to being below it. Taco nearly falls flat on her face from the sheer swiftness of the tunnel but Microphone saves her from doing more harm to her eye.
Dusting herself off and stabilizing her footing, Taco takes a glance around the laboratory. The place hasn’t changed since she first saw it. She wanders around before remembering that Microphone is with her. Something must be messing with Taco’s mind… She hurries over and helps Mic up from the ground. The two continue to go deeper in the underground facility. Countless gadgets and gizmos fill the halls and tables of the lab, but Taco has no yearning to possess them. However, she doesn’t trust her hands to take those items of their volition, so she keeps close to Microphone to minimize the risk of thievery.
When they approach the end of the hallway, the sound of heavy machinery and lively chattering can be heard. Taco tries to flee from the situation—the secluded area makes her feel trapped while the talking feels alien and threatening. At any moment, someone could pounce on them… but of course, before Taco can make her escape, Microphone grabs onto her and pulls her back to the end of the corridor. This ferocity of hers, in addition to the roughness of the dragging, makes Taco conclude that all Mic’s efforts are just to save her! Taco relaxes as Microphone leads her to the room, satisfied that the question has finally been answered.
The two enter the chamber, spotting Test Tube and Fan working on a project of theirs. Was this what Fan was talking about when he mentioned he needed to help Test Tube? While Microphone peels away to talk with Test Tube, Taco takes a closer look at the mechanical structure that the pair has been working on. She takes a couple steps forward, not too close lest the sparks hit her. The machinery gives Taco flashbacks to season one, but she isn’t sure why. In fact, the shape of the endoskeleton reminds her of someone back then… Confusion and nausea combine with each other in Taco’s mind, forcing her to look away from the half-made machine. Perhaps she should stop thinking about season one or looking at such bright lights, yet the allure of figuring out who this robotic shell is reminding her of entices her to continue reminiscing.
Before Taco can get too far down memory lane, she is pulled to the side by Test Tube. Looking behind her, Taco can see Microphone giving a thumbs up and Fan enthusiastically waving her hello. She gives a shy wave to Fan as Test Tube guides her further down the room. A blue chair comes into view. At its side are medical devices that Taco has no idea what they measure. At the other side is a table with a surgical tray, devoid of any instruments. Taco tries to ease her body as Test Tube guides her into the chair, but her limbs can’t stop shaking.
Taco shuts her one good eye as Test Tube removes the bandages with the gentlest of care. She can feel Test Tube prodding the area around the empty eye socket before she moves back. Taco hears the muffled sound of pencil on paper, but she dares not open her eye. She only opens it when Test Tube asks her. Upon opening her eye, she is flashed with a bright light. She hisses and curls in on herself. Was this a part of the test? Once again, scribbling is heard but Taco couldn’t care less. She just wants to get this test done!
Well, she was wrong about one thing. There were multiple exams she had to go through. Most of the tests were for her eyes, but there were others that seemed irrelevant to the task at hand. Though by the time all these tests were done, Taco couldn’t bring up her grievances to Test Tube. She is tired and willing to accept any test that comes her way. She props herself upright at Test Tube’s request, seeming also getting weary of the procedure she’s taking. She watches as Test Tube inspects her up and down, before realizing that the surgical tray is no longer empty: three shiny and large vacutainer needles have made their way onto the container.
At once, Taco bolts from her seat and tries to escape. However, it’s like Microphone expected this response since she stops her and picks her up, putting her back into the chair. The quaking from when the procedure first started comes back. She can hear distant voices, all trying to calm her down she assumes, but she can’t make out the words. All she’s aware of is her body and her own racing thoughts, so she focuses on that instead. If she’s lived through the forest for all these years, surely she can take a couple of needles. Putting a hand to her chest, she tries to slow her breathing and think about anyplace that isn’t here. Someplace nice, like the tree she used to reside in. Yeah, that was a good spot for hunting and resting… maybe she could go visit it one of these days and carve her name into the trunk. She feels her breathing return to normal as the voices become clearer. Oddly enough, her vision remains blurry.
With her limbs finally responding to her command, the commotion around her ceases. She watches as Test Tube washes her hands and puts on some gloves, before disinfecting Taco’s arm and inserting the needle into it. The pain is faint and the blood going into the chamber mesmerizes Taco. She watches the next needle with an equal amount of fascination as well as the last needle. Once the blood draws are done, Test Tube patches the three spots she drew blood from with some gauze and medical tape. Taco sits there watching Test Tube place two of the vials into two of the machines while putting the last one into another bottle, which she places into another machine. When Test Tube is done with organizing the vials, she leads Taco away to a different part of the room.
When Taco sees the contraption, she’s baffled as to how she missed it when she was on the chair. The equipment dazzles under the light. Taco has to wonder how and where Test Tube got this machine in this desolate island that they call home. A certain corporation pops into Taco’s mind before she dismisses the notion; Test Tube must have built this machine herself.
Taco lies down flat on the table of the machine before she’s moved to be partway inside of the device. The sound of whirring buzzes through her ears and stops. She turns twice—once to her left and the other to her right—to complete two more scans. Whatever procedure this is, it better produce something significant. It feels like she’s been down here for hours, although Taco can’t be sure since there are no windows. Once the scanning is complete, the table moves out to let her see the room once again. Looking to her side, she can see Test Tube examining some black and white images. Taco swings her legs from side to side as she waits for Test Tube to give the results.
“Well, I hate to tell you this Taco, but that eye socket from which you removed an eye from has gotten infected”—Taco can hear gasps behind Test Tube, who pauses for a moment to let the three of them react—”But don’t worry! The results of the blood tests should be out in under 24 hours and when I get them, I’ll know which antibiotics I should give you. Although I have to warn you, I’ll have to keep you here for 2-3 days once I get the correct antibiotics being administered.”
“Wait, so you mean that she’s going to be stuck here for a minimum of two days?” Microphone asks, her voice barely above a whisper. Taco can tell that Fan is equally shocked by the information.
Test Tube sighs as she places down her clipboard, “Unfortunately, yes. Taco will remain down here until I’m able to give her oral antibiotics. I don’t want to risk contaminating the IV antibiotics that I’ll be giving her soon.”
“Oh, okay… I guess I’ll have to be visiting her down here until she can leave.”
Test Tube nods, “That’s what you’ll have to do. Now, hurry along Taco. I need to show you where you’ll be staying for the duration of your hospitalization.”
Taco follows Test Tube’s lead, with Mic and Fan not too far behind. Although Taco has been without companionship for long periods of time, this ordeal feels different. When they come upon the room, the sight further confirms those feelings. The little chamber is barren, save for a hospital bed, a nightstand, an armchair, and an IV pole. When Taco sees the empty metal pole near the bed, she fully understands why she has to be kept down here for a few days. Taking a deep breath, Taco enters the room and takes in the atmosphere: cold and isolating. After a few minutes of roaming the space, she exits and warmth fills her body again.
The four objects walk back to the room full of medical equipment with some light small talk accompanying their journey. Once they make it back to the chamber, Taco sits on a stool close to the CT scanner that was used just moments ago. Swiveling around to meet Mic, Taco finds that she’s gotten herself into another conversation with Test Tube. She finds it strange that the two are talking, but Taco shrugs it off: the pair must be discussing her hospitalization and how they’ll deal with it. She spins around on the chair some more before being stopped. The culprit stands in front of her with a beaming smile—Fan.
That smile of his seems to influence her as well since Taco can feel herself grinning. Pulling up another stool, Fan sits close by and strikes up a conversation with her. She’s amazed at how naturally the act of conversing with someone comes to him. Perhaps he lacks the fear that most people have when meeting someone new or he’s oblivious to the reactions of others most times. Whatever the reason, Taco admires his skill. The talent would come handy when meeting other residents of the hotel. Those that have little to no knowledge of her past.
When the two pairs wrap up their conversations, Mic says goodbye to Taco. Before Taco can ask, Test Tube informs her she can’t leave the laboratory until the IV antibiotics have been fully dispensed and that Microphone has tasks to finish, lest she face the ire of OJ. Taco nods and goes back to sitting on that stool, trying to plan out what she’s going to do for the next two days. As she goes over her options, she sees Fan running through the hallway with something in his hands. Curious at the snatched item, Taco tilts her head while looking at it. She doesn’t have to wonder long as Fan has arrived right beside her.
Opening his palms, he reveals the item’s identity: a plush toy of a tiger. Taco reaches out and touches the stuffed toy: the fur is soft, the eyes glint in the fluorescent light, and the body is as fluffy as it can be. She takes the plush from his hands and examines the animal’s features, turning the tiger all around until she gives in and hugs the critter tight to her chest. She looks back at Fan and whispers a small thank you. He grins and tells her that the plush is there to keep her company, no matter the circumstances. Fan gives her a gentle hug before he returns to working on that metal endoskeleton with Test Tube.
Taco watches the pair shape and meld the structure as she embraces the soft tiger tight. With the plush snug in her bound arms, she finds herself hopeful of redemption and friendship within Hotel OJ.