Chapter Text
Sage woke up. The same routine of struggle happened but this time she was forcefully held down. She thought for a moment that the two people that came by before were back, but that wasn’t the case.
Sage struggled as two people came into view, their faces were blurred just like everyone else's were nowadays. The primal urge raged on as all she wanted to do was DO something; the something that kept itching and nagging but never gave a reason for what it could be. She just knew she had to escape and then she could know and finally-
“Sage..?” A familiar voice called. It made her pause and sharply inhale. Sage looked to where it came from. Right next to her. Draw in your prey. Sage froze as the voice spoke again. “Is it working..? Does she know me..?” Sage waited until she felt something lean on her. She immediately jerked to bite, but something held her head back with a firmness that was too hard to resist. She breathed heavily. Everything was held against her will now; her legs, her arms, hands, and now her own head. She heard herself whimper as she wiggled uncomfortably.
“Sage, you need to focus. We are here to help you, remember?” Another voice, probably the one holding her head. Remember what?
“You aren’t homeless anymore. We took you in, right?” Sage moved to look at the one she tried attacking. She was blue but that was all she could understand.
“Brook, hold her.” The voice behind said as another person that was green then took their place. The other person was red… red and blue …
“I found you barely conscious. Your Lil’ Buddy led me to you. I took care of you. We took care of you.” Red and blue stood next to each other. Sage felt Deja vu right now.
“And we adopted you and we became a family.” Blue added. She saw them touch hands. Hands… Sage squinted at them, slowly moving their eyes up to the face. Sage stared daggers at the two, trying to see their faces. “You attended school, and then you became an agent. You saved the world, Sage.”
Sage blinked. Looking down at her body. She saw a bandaged leg. Then looked at her dominant hand restrained against a bed. She clenched and unclenched, noticing her finger nails being longer than she remembered…
“Agent…” She spoke in her tongue, furrowing her brows. She began to see bits and pieces. She remembered fighting. Then a spaceship… and a… big… thing… She struggles against her binds. She sees two people smiling at her; one more hidden than the other. The word family made its way in her mind. She saw two standing and one sitting. The one sitting looked up to meet her eyes.
Sage breathed heavily with an anxious feeling. She saw fire. She saw her dad reading to her. She saw a bear slash at her. She saw her trembling hands holding her leg. She saw a smile from her leader. She saw blue smile with a morning greeting. She saw red strumming a guitar. She saw a salmonid climbing her person. She saw-
Everything pooled back in her mind all at once. It all became clear. But her hearts were beating so fast. She felt tears. She felt a splitting pain in her leg. The world was crumbling—the rocket- it threw her into space and she died. I’m dead. I’m dead. This isn’t real. Not real. No, no, no, I let them down. I failed. I couldn’t save anyone, I couldn’t-
She felt hands all over her as panic grew and all she could hear was her labored breathing and sound of fire roaring.
Until she felt warm—something around her- multiple. The more time passes, she realizes it was a hug. Everything calmed. She looks down to see her parents, and… The Captain..?
Sage finally calms down, but couldn’t take her eyes away from those who held her. When enough time passed, they all let go and Sage could see faces again.
She saw the Captain first, who looked relieved. She looked to the side and saw both parents; Bandit gripped Alyx’s arm from behind while the other stood over her.
“There y’go, kiddo… can you see us, now? Cod, you’re scaring the shit outta me.” Alyx patted Sage’s shoulder and sighed, releasing their grip around the young girl. “I have a feeling we should call Elly in.”
Sage saw Captain perk up and leave the room. “I got it…” Before Sage could be surprised by the Captain speaking, her parents took her attention again. “Yeah- Cod Sage… I almost had a heart attack.” Bandit mumbles, tears still in her eyes.
Sage looked down, seeing bandages upon bandages with new wounds showing through. Some IVs were attached to her veins as well. Then she looked down at her leg. It felt the worst of all. “I…” She looked back up to them and tears filled her vision. “I thought I could do it…”
Sage felt her chin quiver, tears blurring her vision. She tried to hold her breath but wasn’t successful, as she broke into a sob. Her parents immediately wrapped around her. Sage felt that Bandit was crying with her as Alyx gripped them both closer.
I thought I could do it. I didn’t prove myself- I thought I wouldn’t get hurt badly. I didn’t know Grizz was capable of all he did. I-
“It’s okay. It's okay. You’re alive and here now. Relax…” Alyx shakily whispers in her ear. “It’s okay. You’re safe now.” Sage would have never believed that Alyx would say such comforting words. She must have really scared them to hell and back.
Sage calmed, then sniffed. She lifted her arms, with difficulty, to wrap around them. “Thank you... moms.”
Bandit seemed to cry more at that as Alyx’s lips upturned into the most genuine smile she had ever seen. Sage let go of them both so Bandit could get a hold of herself, holding Alyx’s hand and the other wiping away the tears. “You okay?” Alyx said to their wife. Bandit smiled and nodded.
“Mm- y-yeah. Just. I love you guys…”
Sage blushed, looking down. Everyone then heard a knock on the door and it then opened to reveal Elly and the Captain.
Elly walked in with a concerned smile, wearing her nurse outfit. The Captain lagged behind at the door, looking almost anxious. She looked the same, minus the hat and headphones. That was still new to Sage to see them. Captain would always hide her face with the cap on.
“I see you’re back to yourself. We were worried that Grizz got full control of you.” She then looked at the other two. “Thank you, Bandit, Alyx. And sorry that this all happened.” Elly bowed in an apology.
“I’m not going to say it’s okay, cause it’s really not.” Alyx said, Sage flinched at that response. “But, you did what you could… you took care of our daughter and went against your better judgment for her. There’s respect behind that.”
Captain finally stepped up next to Elly as she stood straight again. But then she bowed. Sage had never seen Captain this…. What’s the word… timid? Expressive?
“Brook, please. Stand up.” Bandit said, letting go of Alyx to hold the Captain's shoulder. Wait… Captain has a name?
Captain rose again and sighed. “I really wanted to do more to help her…” She looked over at Sage. What..?
“Dude. You told us why. We understand.” Bandit comforted. Alyx nodded, though glanced between their arm and Brook’s face.
Captain looked to the ground but nodded slightly, then turned to look at Sage. Captain never looked at her this way before. She didn’t know what it was, but it was enough for Elly to speak up. “Uh, mind if we let Brook and Sage talk privately for a moment?”
Bandit and Alyx looked at one another and nodded, the two leaving with Elly behind them. Once the room was empty, Captain came to the side of the bed. “I’m sorry.”
Sage had to process that for a few seconds, then shook her head. “No, you don’t need to apologize to me…”
“I do, Sage.” She faceplants against the sheets and messes up her bangs. “You never heard me say a word until today. Or even show any kind of care to you-“ She hid her face in her hands. “I’m supposed to be your mentor, keep you safe. And I failed. Look where you are right now…” She finally let her hands fall either side of her. Then Sage saw a tear in her eyes. Never would she have ever thought that Captain would show or express this much emotion.
She honestly didn’t know what to say. So she let action do it for her. Sage lifted her hand, grabbing the Captain's arm. Before the older squid knew what she was doing, Sage slowly pulled the arm and sat up and off the bed. Her leg almost buckled but steadied against her grip on the other.
The inktoling gave the Captain of the NSS a hug. A long one given that the Captain seemed to not expect it. But a much needed one. After ten seconds, she hugged back. Sage heard the other’s breath, noticing that the panicked breathing slowed and her shoulders lowered, less tense.
Sage took a deep breath before letting go. “Are… are you proud of me?”
Captain smiled softly, and nodded. “Of course. Now get back on that bed… You shouldn’t be standing. Your parents just might kill me.” Sage didn’t realize how much weight she was putting on Captain.
“Yeah…” Captain helped her get back in bed. It is so still, here… “Hey… uh- where is Lil’ Buddy?
“Oh- right uh. He is with Callie and Marie. He really misses you.” Sage sighed in relief.
“So… what now?”
Captain let out a huff. “Well. First of all, you are on leave.”
Sage really wanted to argue with that, but logically it was for the best. “And second… We really need to find two of our agents.”
Sage nodded. “Who are they?”
Captain sighed. “Well I think you know Clover, right?”
Sage froze. “Yes…”
“She is Agent Four…” That makes sense with Elly being an agent… “And the other one, uh… you don't know her, but… Agent Eight.”
“There is an Eight? Who are agents Six and Seven then?”
“Mm- Well about that-” Before she could continue, Elly opened the door.
“Hey uh- sorry to interrupt but-”
Another person barged in, passing Elly. “BROOK, SHE IS BACK!” Callie proceeded to shove her phone in the Captain's face.
She looked confused but took her phone and read it.
Marina: Hey Callie! Um- so, sorry Pearlie and I have been MIA, but we just got back from a project and it might have gone wrong but it’s okay now! Agent Eight was with us and she really wants to meet with Brook again! She lost her phone and I can't seem to find Brook’s number :/
Captain felt her heart rate pick up and a massive weight lift upon knowing Eight was alive. She instantly started to type a response as Callie jumped around the room while Alyx and Bandit looked on, totally lost.
Callie: Tell her to meet back at the house ASAP
And paused.
Callie: This is Brook btw. Also you have some MAJOR explaining to do very soon.
Brook shoved Callie’s phone back to her and ran out the hospital.
Meanwhile….
Sage looked on as the Captain ran out. Callie giggles, Lil’ Buddy popping out behind her head and running to Sage.
“Brook just got news from her missing girlfriend, to fill the blanks.” She snickered. Sage let out an “oh” then hugged Lil’ Buddy and talked to him quietly.
“Callie… Privacy…” Elly scolded. “How the heck did you get here so fast? I thought you and Marie had an interview. And you could have texted me instead of running here.”
Callie blinked. “Mm. Yeah but I was too excited! Uh- I gotta go nowwww, byeeee~” and then Callie was off.
“Uh… Elly. You know Callie?” Bandit asked as they entered the room.
Elly sighed and nodded. “Yes- I know a lot of people. Is it okay if I leave you guys with Sage? Got to follow the Captain…”
“We got it, Thank you Elly.” Alyx nodded.
“Great- Talk laterrrr.”
There was a beat, then Alyx came forward. “So, you are gonna tell us everything . Right now.”
Oh no- Elly come back!