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I. The stars are very beautiful above the palace walls
Shepherd sighed as she laid a hand on Oatchi. It was late into the night, but she couldn't bring herself to fall asleep just yet. No, not when the sky looked this deceptively beautiful.
It had been some time since they crashed onto PNF-404. At first, Shepherd was terrified of the place - she felt no shame admitting this, given how PNF-404 was. To not be afraid would be foolish. And yet, the longer she stayed here, the more she got used to it. It was comforting, in some ways, even familiar. And of course, it being a planet with no light pollution, the starry sky was a sight to behold.
And so she sat there, in Bernard's seat, watching the stars from the ship's front most window. She absentmindedly stroked Oatchi's fur as she did so, smiling a bit when she saw a shooting star pass by.
"What's it like for you to explore this place during the day time, boy?" No, Oatchi couldn't understand her, let alone answer her. It didn't matter though. A canine companion was all she needed right now. "I know there's... creatures, but it must be beautiful too. I've seen it through the survey drone's camera, but I can only imagine what it's like to actually be there." She turned to face Oatchi now, rubbing his face with both hands. "You're such a lucky puppy, did you know that?"
His only answer was to lick at her hand.
"You're in good company, too. I know Pom takes good care of you. They're very capable. I'm... I'm glad we have them here. I'm glad we can count on them." She sighed and leaned back into her chair. "Yes, you're lucky to have a friend like them."
Oatchi stood up and moved closer then, all so he could keep licking her hands.
Shepherd let out a squeal and a giggle, petting Oatchi more. "Careful now boy, you don't want to break Bernard's chair, do you?"
He let out a small yip.
The captain sighed as her ears pinned back a bit. "Ah, not that you can tell what you're doing. You're just a pup. It must be nice, being a dog. You get belly rubs, and you get to run through the fields, and you easily make so many friends." She leaned forward then, pressing her head against Oatchi's. "And you do it all without a care in the world. You don't even know what's going on. You just live, and are loved for it. No worries, no responsibilities, no guilt..." She scratched his ear, watching with glee as he immediately pressed against her hand.
"You're just a good boy, and it's all you need to be."
II. They remind me of the freedom I gave up so long ago
Erma took an uneasy breath in and out, a hand on each side of the bathroom sink as she leaned forward.
"This is it, Erma." She spoke to her reflection in the mirror. "All of your hard work has paid off. All of the shadowing, and training... You're a Rescue Corps officer now! Or will be tommorow, officially." She smiled nervously, gripping the sink harder. Of course she succeeded in her training. She had started long before everyone else. After all, she was a Shepherd - and not just any Shepherd. She was Captain Alan Shepherd's eldest! Destined to inherent the Rescue Corps!
Of course she could handle her training!
... People, though...
"You can do this, Erma." She lifted a hand to point at her own reflection. "You did the training. You EXCELLED at the training! You can handle one little ceremony... Held in front of so many people..." She shook her head. "No, no! You've got this, you've got this!"
III. Once I took the crown to which I had been schooled and bred
She did not, in fact, "have this".
It was fine, though. It was fine. She just had to look past everyone, and the crowd wouldn't seem so big. Not like the ceremony took that long anyways.
Still... The number of people was shocking. She knew it was the entire Rescue Corps and their families, and many of the Shepherds... So many Shepherds. It was easy to forget how big her family really was at times. And she knew that they had all come out to celebrate her and her friends' accomplishments, that they held no judgment twoards her. Still, there was just so many of them...
"... Dingo Larrikin!"
She was pulled out of her train of thought as she watched her friend step forward to greet her father. Already, he was repeating the Rescue Corps oath as he stood tall and proud. Honestly, she was just as proud of him.
And you know what? Maybe she did have this. If Dingo could do this, so could she. They were equals in every way, after all.
Yeah, she had this. It was all going to be okay.
IV. I found it heavy on my heart but light upon my head
"Is that everyone?" Captain Alan Shepherd cried out over the sound of pounding rain.
"All rescuees have boarded the ship!" Erma called back. She then turned her head as thunder boomed through the air, lightning flickering between distant clouds.
"Alright, everyone on board, go go go!"
She sure as hell didn't need to be told twice. She scrambled into the ship alongside her trusty rescue pups, looking over the group of people who now huddled on the floor of the S.S. Shepherd. All a bunch of dumb, rich kids who thought a private vacation on a largely uninhabited jungle planet was a smart idea. At least until the first signs of a hurricane made itself known. Having been dropped off at the planet, their only choice was to call in the Rescue Corps to come collect them.
Erma had a feeling those teens wouldn't get out of this without a scolding from her father.
"Good, they're all here. Dina! Can you start the ship?"
But there was no answer.
"Dina!" Alan Shepherd then snapped. "Dammit, where's our pilot?"
Their senior ranger was the first to speak up. "Last I saw her, she had ran out into the jungle with me to catch the kids who went on a hike. I - I thought she was here, she had told me she was turning back early, I-"
"Easy now, Terry." Shepherd put his hands on Terry's shoulders. "It's not your fault. Do we have a read on her location?"
Another officer had rushed to the computer. "Negative, sir!"
"Fuck-" everyone then flinched as a thunder boomed all around them, the wind already picking up speed.
"Captain, we need to leave now, before the storm becomes too dangerous to fly through!"
Terry's ears pinned back. "But we don't have our pilot, and we don't have any idea where she is. Do we have the time to find her?"
Another clap of thunder answered the question.
Shepherd balled his hands into fists, ears leaning far back. He shot the kids a harsh glance before turning to his crew. "Thankfully, I can also fly the ship."
"But Dad- Captain," Erma was quick to correct herself. "What about Dina?"
"We'll search for her after the storm lets up. But we need to leave now, before everyone else is put in danger. Am I understood?"
There was a long pause before the crew gave him the Rescue Corps salute, all at different times. "Copy that". Not even their voices were in sync, all of them quiet.
"Good. Let me get us out of here, then."
Erma's ears leaned back as she slumped to the ground. Search for her after the storm? Could they find her under all of that rubble? Would there even be anything to find? They were the Rescue Corps, how could they fail to even find one of their own?!
"Erma?"
She jolted then, looking up to see Dingo had knelt down beside her. "Oh - hey, Dingo- what did-"
"It'll be okay," he sat down next to her, brows furrowed in worry. "We'll tear this area apart to find Dina. Okay?"
Erma sighed and let her body go lax. "What if we can't find her?"
Dingo was quiet for longer than she would have liked. "We'll do everything we can to find her. Okay?"
"... okay."
They did go back to find Dina. They searched the planet for days.
They never found her.
V. The good Queen knows her people safe before she takes her rest
Erma Shepherd walked though the officer's quarters, a bag of blankets in hand. All were freshly dried, though they were cooling of quicker than she would have liked. She knocked on the first door she came across - Collin's room.
"Uh- Just a moment!" The voice was very muffled, but she could still understand him well enough. After a few moments, the door opened up. Collin stood over her, seeming surprised. "Oh, Captain! I wasn't expecting you."
"My apologies." Shepherd set her bag down on the floor. "It took me longer than expected to get these ready."
"Uh... To get what ready?"
She pulled out the top blanket, one with little spaceships on it. "I know it's a little childish, but I thought you'd like it. Just came out of the dryer too, I hoped it would help warm everyone up after our little ice moon trip."
"'Trip' is... A way to put it." Still, Collin gently took the blanket. "You - you didn't have to-"
"No no, don't worry!" Shepherd offered the taller man a smile. "That was a rather harsh mission, I figured everyone could use the moral boost before bed."
Collin sighed, but still unfolded the blanket to wrap around himself. He then looked down at it, shocked. "It's actually long enough for me... Captain, how long did you spend looking for this?"
"... I don't believe I can answer that question."
At that he let out another sigh. "Yeah, of course." He gently stroked the blanket. "It is nice and warm... Thank you, Captain. I mean it."
"Of course." She lifted her bag again and offered him a smile. "Now do me a favor and get a good night's rest, okay?"
"Copy that." He had a rare mischievous smile on his face, one that soon vanished behind his door closing.
She had to hurry now, if she wanted to get all the other blankets to their respective owners before they cooled off. She remembered Dingo mentioning how eager he was to get home and snuggle under his quilt, apparently one he had made with his mother long ago. She couldn't get him that quilt, of course, but she was able to find a quilt.
For Russ, she knew he had a habit of getting tangled in his blankets. He complained about it often, anyways. So his was more like a sleeping bag in shape, but still made of soft blanket material. She hoped that it'd be harder for him to get tangled in it.
Yonny's was... Well, Yonny was a strange man. A strange man with strange tastes, but she had grown accustomed to him. Mostly. Okay, she'd never get used to his maniacal laughter in the laboratory, but everything else had grown on her. She especially came around to adore his ghost stories, as he'd often tell tales of Ohrian cryptids. And somehow, she managed to find a blanket with one printed on it. Some sort of man moth thing? She didn't know what it was, just that Yonny would like it.
And of course, at the very bottom, was Bernard's blanket. It'd probably be cool by the time his turn came around, but that was okay. She had gotten him the softest blanket she could find, after all. He was every bit as particular about his fabrics as he was his food, but that was something she was more than willing to accommodate.
Yes, anything for her crew.
VI. Thinks twice and thrice and yet again, before she makes request
Shepherd felt herself freeze at the sight of the ruined ship.
"Captain, what should we do?" Dingo had turned to her, his ears pinned back in fear.
It was a delicate situation. She knew someone was trapped inside there, but one wrong move could cause the ship to collapse more than it already had. They all couldn't go in it, that was for sure. But if not all of them, then who?
The Rescue Pups were out of the question. They were too large for this sort of job.
Same for Yonny - he had to stay behind where it was safe and get ready to tend to the certainly injured pilot still inside the ship.
She could go in herself, but she knew she'd mess up somewhere. It wasn't a confidence issue, or otherwise a dig at herself - she just didn't know spaceships well enough to determine what was still stable and what wasn't. She had an entire crew to back her up for a reason.
Collin and Russ both did know. Neither were particularly trained for field work though - especially Russ, who almost exclusively spent his time preparing and tending to random gizmos that have thus far proved invaluable in rescue work. Hmm, did he have something on hand? Collin was strong, too, and could easily help carry the person out. But again, she wasn't too keen on sending him alone to do something he was never prepped for.
Dingo, bless his heart, would probably be a bit too brutish on the ship. No fault of his own, of course, he had his particular... Style. But still not a risk she could take. Otherwise she'd send him in without a second thought.
Bernard...? He was strong as well, and had enough field skills to bring her comfort here. But the thought caused her stomach to twist in anxiety the moment it crossed her mind. Would he know his way around a wrecked ship? She couldn't assume how much he knew about space craft just because he could fly them. Plus, she needed him in top condition so that he could fly the S.S. Shepherd once they were done here. If they lost him... no, no, best to keep him here, no mater his skills. She needed him safe, so he could fly.
"Russ, do you think any of your inventions could be of use here?" She turned to the scientist.
"I'm afraid not, Captain. Not with how fragile the ship could be."
Dammit. Okay, no good options then.
Absolutely not the pups or Yonny. Dingo was a bad idea. Russ she could send in, but that wasn't an idea she liked either. She couldn't even stomach the idea of sending in Bernard.
So it was down to either her or Collin.
... Her or Collin? Hmm...
"Collin? Russ? How many people do you think can safely board the ship with it in the condition it's in?"
Russ adjusted his glasses a bit as he turned to it. "Two, maybe three, not counting the person stuck inside."
"Agreed." Collin turned to her. "Though I think the fewer people who board, the better."
That was true. She was admittedly terrified of sending him in alone, though. Plus, there really was a high chance this would be a two person job anyways.
"Collin, do you think you can guide me safely through the ship and pull out the trapped person? You'd have a better eye for areas we should avoid.
"Yes, I can do that."
"Good, lead the way." She turned to the others. "All of you, stand by. Russ, if something goes horribly wrong, you're in charge until you can get us out."
"Copy that."
Boarding a creaking, ruined ship was nothing short of terrifying. Being trapped in one had to be worse though. That's what she kept telling herself as Collin slowly guided her through the ruined ship. Occasionally he'd take a step, only to pull back and change direction. What he was sensing was beyond her, but following him through this convoluted path only confirmed that she had made the right call.
Soon they had made it to the cockpit, where the ship's pilot was trapped, their legs crushed under a fallen part of the ship's computer. They looked up at the two officers, relief settling on their face. "Oh thank the stars-"
"Thank them when we're done." Shepherd then turned to Collin. "Can you help me move the computer?"
Collin, to her surprise, shook his head. "No where for us to put it. One of us will have to lift it long enough to pull them out."
"Should we go ge-"
"No, I can lift it. Just be quick, okay?"
The last thing she needed was to strain her comms operator, but they didn't have many choices. "I will be, don't worry."
She put her hands under the pilot's arms as Collin approached the computer. Taking a deep breath, he managed to lift it up, if only slightly. Still, it was enough for her to pull the pilot out, who she immediately picked up to carry.
"You okay, Collin?"
"I will be." He let out a groan. "Nothing Yonny can't fix."
She felt a twinge of guilt, but then again this is why they had a full-time doctor on the team. You couldn't always avoid these things. "Alright. Just lead me out of here, and Yonny will take care of the rest."
They ended up taking a different path out of the ship, though thankfully one that was shorter. Once they got off the ship, the other rescue officers had begun to cheer. Shepherd couldn't help but smile at that - yeah... This was a successful mission.
She couldn't ask for more.
VII. For they are all that I swore to defend
Erma smiled up at her father, who had in his hands a captain's badge. It was an ancient thing, from the time of the first captain. They never wore it anymore - it was too fragile, and they were too humble for such a flashy display of power. But it was still a sacred family heirloom, one with strong symbolism attached to it.
"You've done wonderfully, Erma." His voice was soft, a large smile on his face. "I'm proud of you."
"Thanks, Dad." Countless eyes were on her, but she managed to smile and focus on her father.
Somehow his smile managed to grow more as he gently took her hand, placing it on the captain's badge. "The Rescue Corps has existed for centuries now, starting just on Giya before spreading with everyone else across the universe. We have lived with our dogs, and our people, and we have grown with them as we continue our rescue work. Erma, do you swear to continue this tradition of protection?"
She nodded. "I swear to fulfill, to the furthest extents of my ability, the responsibilities placed on me as Captain of the Rescue Corps. I will not only continue our legacy, but push it further beyond what our forefathers could have imagined. My team, whomever I choose them to be, will exemplify our values of dedication, kindness, and charity. I will, with head held high, walk this path alongside our ancestors and our canine companions twoards a future that does not need the Rescue Corps. Most of all, I will protect those placed under my care, to honor the memory of our mother planet - that distant blue world."
All throughout, Alan's smile managed to widen more as he occasionally pat his daughter's hand. Then, in a quiet voice, "You've memorized it perfectly."
Erma shrugged, whispering back to him "You've only been schooling me on it for weeks."
Evidently they were not quiet enough, as lighthearted laughter emerged from the crowd. Even Erma and Alan couldn't help but chuckle along. Once everyone had calmed down, Alan resumed his more noble posture. "Then it is with great pride and trust that I pass the role of captain onto you."
He handed her the badge, which she looked down at. It felt heavy, despite realistically being light.
"You are now the 99th captain to have graced the Rescue Corps." Alan then placed his hands on his daughter's shoulders. "I am so unbelievably proud of you... Captain Shepherd."
VIII. It is my duty to become both Queen and trusted friend
"Yonny. What. Did. You. Do."
Yonny merely grinned devilishly, tapping the tips of his fingers together. "Ah, worry not Captain, they're just my little helpers for tonight, ehehehe..."
"You didn't ask if you could bring pikmin on my ship, Doctor."
"Ehhh, to be fair, I didn't let them on board. They let themselves on board."
Shepherd was having a really hard time believing that. After all, the little creatures were all congregated in Yonny's lab. "You'd better keep them in line."
"Oh, don't worry, New Blood has taught me a lot about pikmin husbandry. For example," he then made an odd clicking noise with his tongue that got the attention of the winged pikmin specifically. Once they had came closer to him, he scratched under one's chin - causing it to immediately purr and seemingly melt into his hand. Already, the other winged pikmin were trying to perch on or near Yonny, evidently also seeking affection. "See? Perfectly under control!"
Okay, she had to admit that the display was absolutely adorable. She let out a sigh, hands placed at her hips. "Alright, alright. They can stay. Just... Don't make a habit of this."
"Ah, I knew you'd come to your senses, dear Captain."
She huffed and shook her head, watching as the other pikmin all played with one another. She was slowly getting used to them. Emphasis on slowly. She still didn't like them too terribly much... Rescue Pups were far easier to read. She never knew what these weird plants that decided to be animals were thinking.
"DINGO." A voice then boomed from down the hall. "Where is my drink?!"
"Uhh... That was yours?"
"Stars sake, Dingo-!"
"Oh my." Yonny smirked, now perching his chin on his intertwined fingers. "Seems our dear Collin has gotten into some trouble, ehehehe."
Shepherd sighed. Okay, she'd have to deal with that... Although...
They've been stuck on PNF-404 for a while now. Everyone was stressed for it.
So who said she had to deal with this the way a Captain normally would?
"Yonny, you have control over these pikmin, yeah?"
"Of course, captain." His devilish grin was only growing wider. "Why do you ask?"
Was this a bad idea, objectively speaking? Yes. Yes it was.
Did it still manage to make everyone smile? Oh absolutely.
Pikmin had overtaken the S.S. Shepherd. Or at least the officer's quarters - no reason to get the castaways involved in this nonsense. They were chasing the Rescue Officers with soft, feathery toys. Winged pikmin were perched on a few of them, and poor Dingo was swarmed - though he was the one to start this whole mess by swiping Collin's drink. Which, based on how Dingo rushed around, must have been an energy drink meant to get their comms operator though a long night.
And of course, when Shepherd decided that they have had enough of this tomfoolery, she'd order Yonny and Pom to gather the pikmin for the night. And if they couldn't, Yonny had agreed to take full responsibility and to find another solution on his own.
But for now, they could simply relax and enjoy their time together. It was certainly paying off. Collin, thank the stars, was the only one not being heckled by pikmin - rather a bunch of purple pikmin had convinced him to take a nap. By laying on him. Okay, so some minor heckling, but for the benefit of his health.
Shepherd's ears then wiggled as she heard Pom giggle. The rookie was also surrounded by pikmin, whom they eagerly played with. Shepherd couldn't remember the last time they saw the poor thing smile like that. PNF-404 had quickly taken it's toll on Pom, but it was good to know they fundamentally hadn't changed.
Pom then looked up at Shepherd, a huge smile on their face. "Hey Captain?"
"Yes, Pom?"
"Thank you so much for this." Pom eagerly hugged a chubby purple pikmin. "I... I needed it."
"Of course, Pom. Happy to help my crew."
Pom smiled then giggled, a yellow pikmin now nuzzling their cheek. "I wasn't sure how you guys would react to them, but I'm glad that me letting them on the ship has paid off."
Shepherd just nodded at first, before quickly turning to Pom. "Wait, that was you?!"
IX. My dearest are my Heralds, who return my care with love
Shepherd had balled her hands into fists as she stared up at the map of the region. "Is there really nowhere else we haven't searched?"
"I'm afraid so, Captain." Poor Pom's voice was so meek, though it hardly registered in Shepherd's mind. No, she was too occupied with trying to get a grip on her own emotions.
Everyone was frozen solid as they stared at the screen, save for Russ who paced the room nervously. "It just doesn't add up!" He waved his hands around as he spoke, brows furrowed in worry. "People don't just... vanish!"
Shepherd flinched at that. No, people didn't truly "vanish", but...
"Time doesn't just pass differently underground, either," Yonny grumbled. "Caves don't just lead down into impossible spaces. Except, here they do. It seems to me that PNF-404 plays by its own rules."
That was an understatement. This planet, it was like it was trying to keep them here - and somehow she sill felt... "comfortable" wasn't the right word, but it was the closest she could come up with. She knew that sounded stupid, so she'd never bring it up, but it's the feeling she had. The feeling she couldn't shake, despite her best abilities.
Collin then turned to face Shepherd. "Captain, what do we do if the red leafling has done something to Berna-"
"He'd NEVER!"
Everyone practically jumped out of their skins, turning to face Pom. Their ears were pinned back far, and they looked... offended?
"He would never want to hurt anyone in a thousand years! He's - he's a lot, but he isn't cruel!"
Dingo huffed, shaking his head. "You like him? Could have fooled me; I swear you were trying to kill him in those 'dandori battles'."
Now Pom turned to face Dingo, cheeks red and puffed out. "I - I get a little competitive -"
"A little?!"
"But that has NOTHING to do with him as a person! He's - he's nice. He's helped me. Helped the leaflings. If anything, if he has Bernard, then our pilot's about as safe as he COULD be!"
Everyone was stunned into silence by their assertion. Was it true? Shepherd supposed Pom did have the most personal experience with the red leafling. Though Dingo had claimed the last time he saw Bernard, the two of them were being chased by the leafling and his dog. Not to mention they've seen him turn people into leaflings - what the hell was his goal? What did turning people into leaflings do? Do for the leaflings, do for this red leafling? Why was this transformation even possible? How did it work? What purpose did it serve to the pikmin? What did they have to do with this? Stars, why did one of hers have to be-
"Captain?"
Shepherd flinched hard then, turning to face Yonny. "Huh - wha-"
"You're shaking. Are you feeling ill?"
She just stared blankly at him, only then realizing how harshly she was trembling and how hard her heart beat in her chest. "No - I mean, I'm okay. It's fine, Yonny."
Yonny just leaned his ears back, clearly not believing her.
"I'm fine-" She insisted again, only to flinch at a hand placed on her shoulder. She turned her head sharply, glaring at Collin. "I said-"
"It's okay, we're all scared."
Shepherd tensed for a moment as she looked everyone over. No shit, part of her wanted to say. It's why I have to be strong for everyone. But... Fuck, it was clear that wasn't helping anyone. Taking a deep breath, she nodded. "R-Right. Thanks, Collin."
"I'll do another sweep of the areas." Pom offered. Then, "I can even ask the red leafling where he is!"
Oh, bless their heart. Shepherd didn't know what she'd do without them. Without any of them. "Sounds like a plan to me... Just don't burn yourself out, okay? Yonny, make sure they don't burn out."
Yonny giggled as Pom puffed their cheeks out again. "I'll do my best to control this one, ehehehe..."
"I'll also keep an eye on them." Collin gently pat Pom's shoulder, allowing them to relax a bit.
"And I'll keep working on my new inventions! Oatchi should soon have something that'll protect him from the poisonus gas that's been found underground recently."
Dingo eyed everyone before slouching somewhat. "... I'll step in if needed."
"Thank you, all of you." Shepherd smiled as she looked over her crew. "We still have time. We can find him." It will be okay. A warm feeling settled over her, one she couldn't place the origin of. It reminded her of her father. He is safe, you will find him. Was that desperation? It felt more like instinct. Or perhaps someone else talking to her?
That realization made the warm feeling go away.
She couldn't say that was comforting. If anything, she was a little more freaked out.
At least she had the warmth of her crew around her.
X. The people first have needs that I may not deny
"This is Space Broadcast News, coming to you LIVE from our studio! Tonight's story; the mysterious distant planet and the daring rescue mission which saved nearly fifty people!"
"Thanks Wolfgang, but I'll take it from here. As you all may know, nearly four months ago an SOS signal was sent by a freight worker named Captain Olimar. He was flying home from a shipment when a space storm veered him off course. Before he knew it, he was within range of an uncharted planet - one which immediately pulled his ship in, causing him to crash land.
"He was stranded on the planet for almost a month before his emergency signal reached the rest of the universe. Countless people followed the signal - Space Broadcast included. It has been decades since the discovery of a new planet, let alone one abundant with life, so it was no wonder that it became a hot target for adventurers.
"However, what no one expected was for this mysterious planet to be cursed. Every single ship that arrived there crashed, even those with highly renowned pilots at their helm. The only ship that managed to escape this fate was the Rescue Corp's tiny rescue pod - a ship with engines too weak to escape a planet's gravity.
"Not only was this planet's athmosthere rich in highly poisonous oxygen, but it was also completely wild - home mainly to hostile predators who relentlessly hunted down castasays, forcing us to hide away in caves as our suits engaged in low-power mode.
"If the Rescue Corp's fresh recruit hadn't arrived in their pod, it is almost certain that no one would have escaped the planet.
"It is thanks to the bravery, determination, and selflessness of the entire Rescue Corps that everyone there is alive today. As someone who personally went there for research and was saved by them, I must formally thank them here - for myself, for the crew I brought with me, and for every other castaway nearly lost to that wild planet."
"Thanks, Muggs. Coming up next, the one kind species we met on this planet - the pikmin!"
XI. So I must send my dearest friends to danger and to die
"YEAHHH, GET HIM POM!"
Most of the Rescue Corps crowded in the S.S. Shepherd's cockpit, all trying to get a good look at the Dandori Battle unfolding before them. It was the third one that red leafling had challenged Pom to, and by the looks of things it would be the third he'd loose to them. Pom and Oatchi were quick on their feet, easily leading the pikmin while the supposed "dandori master" kept making simple and obvious mistakes.
... Though that now made Shepherd think. She thought an awful lot about the red leafling ever since Pom suddenly and vehemently defended him. While the ways in which they trapped and tripped him up left her wondering how much Pom really liked him... Well, there had to be a reason they stood by his character, yes? And the mistakes he made... Surly he knew.
Was this battle? Or was it training?
Either way, it never failed to get the rest of her crew excited, all of them cheering Pom on from the command post. Collin even worked more diligently than normal to try and get the Survey Drone into the best positions for dynamic shots. It gave them something to be excited about, so she'd let them - and herself - have this.
Pom quickly pulled Oatchi back as a pack of shearfleas suddenly appeared before them. Their yellow pikmin dispatched them as quickly as they had appeared, now already carrying their spoils back to the onion.
That was something else Shepherd often thought about. They all knew about it, they just never talked about it. And how could they? It was impossible to describe how items and creatures alike just poofed in and out of existence during these battles and sound sane doing so. Not even the pikmin were real. And the random capsule items, the way the area magically cleaned itself up afterwards... It was like this place was made for Dandori battles. But who made it? And why?
... What the fuck was this planet's deal?
"You are doing quite well!" The red leafling called from atop his little castle, causing Pom and the Survey Drone to look up at him. The leaflings' voices were odd, always sounding more like multiple voices layered over eachother. It caused his voice to somehow be deep and high-pitched at the same time. "You have greatly impressed me thus far, young one. I can sense the dandori prowess within-"
"Get to the point, old man!" Pom then snapped in a squeaky voice, starting at the leafling intensely. As if they could kill him with a glare alone.
The red leafling just tutted as he crossed his arms and shook his head. "So inpatient, these youth. Careful you don't let it come between you and your dandori - you may have to call for... Oh what's that boy's name again? I hear him through your radio sometimes."
"I CAN TAKE YOU ON MY OWN! MY DANDORI IS LIKE TWENTY TIMES BETTER THAN YOURS!"
"Aww, refusing the help of your companions now? You'll need all the friends you can get if one wishes to dandori effectively."
"I-" Pom then grunted, cheeks puffed out. "Well I already 'befriended' your mom last night!"
Most of the crew dropped their jaws at the display, though Dingo began to cackle like a madman. Shepherd knew their rookie could get petty and angry quickly during competitions but... Yeah, maybe they'd have to talk about this.
The red leafling, meanwhile, just shook his head. "Hm, such a low blow. How barbaric. Or maybe immature is more apt?" His smile grew as Pom's cheeks puffed out more, their glare only becoming more hostile. "Either way, I do believe you will quite enjoy this next surprise."
He clapped his hands, and suddenly a large bomb-rock on a cart appeared. "This is a sneak bomb, young one. Bring it to your opponent's onion, and it shall spit out dandorium - thus lowering their score, and giving you a chance to steal those points. Do you go for it, knowing you'll have to protect your pikmin as they transport it into enemy territory? Do you ignore it and hope your opponent does the same? Or something else entirely?"
"GET DANDORI'D, IDIOT!" Pom then cried our, already directing their pikmin to the sneak bomb.
The red leafling sighed and shook his head. "I can teach you dandori, but it is self-evident that I cannot teach you manners."
Once again, the crew had their own reactions, though most were poorly hidden chuckles rather than shock.
As Shepherd expected, the red leafling hardly made a move to stop Pom. So this was training. But now that only made her wonder why he felt it necessary to teach them in the first place. What would he get out of it?
Pom then hopped off of Oatchi, directing him to gather more treasures with pikmin elsewhere. They then turned to their group of pikmin carrying the sneak bomb, fiercely defending it from stray aristocrablings. Once again, everyone was cheering them on while the red leafling meandered on the sidelines, carefully watching their movements.
"Look out Pom, he may have a trap set up!" Collin certainly sounded worried. Seems he hasn't realized how unlikely that was.
"Noted, thanks Collin," Pom looked up at the tower, seemingly trying to gauge where the trap may be.
And then a bearded amprat poofed into existence mere inches away from Pom.
It was evident that both they and the amprat were startled by this, both making sounds of fear as they scrambled to action. But while Pom struggled to sprint away, the amprat responded by biting down on their arm and mindlessly tossing them aside.
"POM!" Everyone in the cockpit practically shrieked alongside Pom's cry of pain.
They rolled along the ground for a few moments before stopping, clutching their arm as they laid still. An alarm then went off on one of the computer screens, the one showing Pom's vitals.
Their suit had been punctured.
No one in the cockpit could react or... Even do anything. They were stuck in here, with no way to reach Pom. How could she let this happen?! She was the captain, and now their rookie was injured! Maybe I can order Oatchi from here to-
But the red leafling was faster than her own thought, as he and his green dog quickly jumped down the wall and to Pom's side. As he did, everything vanished - the enemies, the treasures, and the pikmin. He was able to reach into their pack for an emergency repair kit - how did he know to look for that? - and quickly unraveled a suit bandage.
"This will hurt," the leafling's voice was much clearer now that he was closer to Pom's radio. It was also far softer then any of them had heard it be before, the layered voice effect gone. "I'll have to wind it tight for it to seal properly, and that will bruise you."
"I-It hurts anyways," Pom was now looking up at the leafling. "Just... My chest hurts."
"I know. That is how it is without leaves. I'm just glad I don't have to force them upon you. Normally, I deal with... unrepairable damage." At this point, Oatchi had arrived at Pom's side as well, whimpering and sniffing them. "Good boy. Take care of your people, okay?"
Oatchi gave a small yip in response.
And then another leafling - this one purple and with a tail - scrambled down from wherever they were hiding, stopping by the red's side. The one he would have allowed Pom to take back and cure, presumably. "C-Can I help?!" Their voice was the same as the red one's was earlier - sounding more like multiple voices speaking at once.
"Not yet," was the red leaflings answer as he pulled tightly on the bandages. Pom screamed in pain again, causing everyone in the cockpit to wince, but truly it was a good sign. He really had managed to get the seal tight enough. He then gently rubbed Pom's helmet. "How are you feeling, young one?"
"Bad," they practically snapped, glaring at him.
"Good, you can still talk then." He then turned to the other leafling. "Now you can help. Carry the young one to their ship-" he pointed towards the rough direction of the Beagle, at least as far as they could tell from the drone's vantage point. "Then I need you to stay with them, wherever their base is."
At that, the purple leafling seemed distressed. "W-Will I ever SEE you again?"
Shepherd flicked her ear.
The red one was quiet for a moment before responding, "That's not for me to decide..." He then reached up to Oatchi, stroking the rescue corps logo on his collar. "But I think you will be happy with them."
The other leafling leaned his ears back, but he still gently lifted Pom with terrifying ease. "G-Goodbye then."
Yonny then tapped the back of Shepherd's chair, causing her to turn to him. "So he doesn't want to turn people into leaflings?"
"I - I suppose so?" In all honesty, she had no way of gauging what his goal or angle was. Not at this point.
Silently, Collin began to drive the drone back to the Beagle, only for the red leafling to let out a sharp "Cameraman, wait!"
Collin turned his head to Shepherd, who nodded. With that approval, he moved the drone back over to where the leafling waited.
"Take good care of him, you hear?" The red leafling stared straight into the drone's camera. "He's been with me for a while and I've grown rather attached. Don't make our separation be done in vain."
"W-We will, I promise," Shepherd answered, only to curse under her breath when she realized the leafling couldn't hear her without Pom's radio.
She'd have to thank him later then. He did what she could not.
And honestly, she hated it.
XII. I must sacrifice them all if there should be the need
The leaflings had always unnerved Shepherd greatly.
They were like... Shadows. That was a good word for them, moreso now that she's seen them be cured. There were similarities between how they acted now and how they did when still leaflings, of course, but their leafling selves always came off as crude imitations. That wasn't even getting into the fact that the poor things were neither human nor pikmin, but something inbetween. An evidently miserable limbo, from what she's seen.
"Dandori, dandori..." That was all most said. A few carried on about other things, usually their home planet or lines of work they managed to retain memories of. The red leafling was far more eloquent, almost obnoxiously so. She wondered what made him so special. Did it have something to do with him being the ones turning people into leaflings? Was he their leader?
Shepherd doubted it, actually. She couldn't see him as any mastermind ever since he saved Pom for her. It meant she couldn't complain about him, either, for that rescue leaves her in his debt.
So it was something else that allowed him to be so... So... So lively while the others meandered around like zombies.
The new purple leafling that brought back Pom was particularly unnerving. He was always just staring at the crew. Navigated the halls of the S.S. Shepherd with too much ease, always hovering around areas off limits to castaways. That wasn't even getting into the odd noises - wails, almost - that echoed down the halls of the Shepherd ever since the purple leafling arrived.
She didn't know what was going through his mind, but she had a bad feeling about it.
XIII. They know, and they forgive me
"Captain?"
Shepherd slowly lifted her head, wincing at the bright light. She felt so... Disoriented. Where was she? Why was everything so blurry? "Huh?"
"You've been in your office for a while, I was getting worried..." As her vision and mind cleared, she saw it was Collin standing in the doorway of her office in the S.S. Shepherd, a little red pikmin in his arms.
"... I think I fell asleep," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
Collin stepped further into her office. "You shouldn't work yourself so hard, you know."
"Bold, coming from you."
He hardly seemed hurt by the comment. Rather, his face just contorted into an expression of worry. "Captain, I'm serious, this... Isn't like you. What's wrong?"
"Oh." She sat up then, leaning back into her chair as she rubbed sleep out of her eyes again. "Ah, nothing you need to worry yourself wit-"
"Don't even try that. I will get Yonny if I have to."
Shepherd scrunched her face up. "Threatening mutiny?"
"If Yonny is involved, then legally it wouldn't be."
"You really don't-" she began, only to stop herself when she saw how serious he looked. "Okay, okay... just - I don't wanna deal with you AND Yonny at the same time. Please."
"Fair enough." He took a seat next to her, looking up with ears pinned back. "So...?"
Shepherd eyed the pikmin in his arms nervously, uncertain of how comfortable she was wirh them being so close. "Just... Worried about Pom." And the purple leafling. And everyone else.
Collin's expression softened as he nodded. "Ah, yeah... They're already doing better now, though, after Yonny took them in."
"Well - yeah," Shepherd stuttered for a moment, trying to find her words. "It's not that - I know they'll recover under Yonny's care - it's just..."
To her releif, Collin remained silent and waited for her.
Eventually, she managed to groan. "I shouldn't burden you with-"
"Captain."
No way out of this then, huh? Resting her head in her hands as she leaned her elbows against the table, she asked "Am... I doing enough? For Pom? For all of you?"
She felt a hand being placed on her shoulder, causing her to turn and look at Collin.
"I think you do more than enough."
XIV. With willing minds and loving hearts
"We need a cure for this purple leafling now."
Shepherd could hardly disagree with Yonny. Ever since they brought that leafling aboard, he's caused nothing but trouble. Pom seemed to like him well enough, but...
"We can onky keep him contained for so long," Yonny contenuied. "He somehow knows so many of our pass codes. Or ways around them. I'm going to need a cure tonight before there's another incident."
"But we can't send Pom."
Yonny shook his head. "Their arm is still too injured. They'll need a few more days at least. Days we don't have."
Shepherd closed her eyes then. She didn't like working with the pikmin, nor did she really know how to. Seemed she'd have to learn quickly. "Okay, doctor, just tell me how to command the glow pikmin, and I-"
"Let me do it!"
Shepherd turned to Dingo then, suprised by his interruption. "Are... Are you sure you're up for it?"
Dingo averted his gaze for a moment, mindlessly scratching at a large bandage taped to his cheek. "Y-Yes," he then leaned his ears back, staring at her almost desperately. "Please, let me go. I can handle the creatures." Then, with a forced smirk, "You know. Dingo style - with Sci-guy's help." Still, something about his demeanor was sending off little red flags in Shepherd's head.
Shepherd turned to Yonny. "What do you think?"
"About his scratch? It shouldn't impede him from work. Though, you are technically more fit to g-"
"Please," Dingo repeated, louder now. "It has to be me who gets that medicine. Has to."
Shepherd couldn't say she understood his reasonings. She did know, however, that he HAD reasons and that this was important to him.
"Alright. Please, be careful out there Dingo."
Dingo's shoulders went slack as tension left his body. Still, he did straighten up to do the Rescue Corps salute. "Copy that. I'll be back before you know it!"
And before she could say anything, he had already ran off.
XV. These tears that burn my eyes are all the tears the Queen can't shed
"Such a good boy," Shepherd repeated, ruffling Oatchi's ears. She then sighed as she leaned her forehead against his. "You're still able to worry though, huh?"
He whimpered and licked at her then, as if to prove her point.
"So I'd still worry over all of them." She let out a sigh. "I'm just glad Dingo got back okay. Yonny said the purple leafling should wake up tommorow, cured."
Oatchi whimpered more, and it was only then she noticed the small wet drops that now speckled across his snout.
Burrying her face into him more, arms wrapped fully around him, she asked "Do you really think I do enough?"
XVI. The tears I weep in silence as I mourn my Heralds dead
"Bernard still hasn't even been found."
XVII. Gods that dwell beyond the stars, if you can hear my cry, and if you have compassion, let me send no more to die