Chapter Text
When he first woke up he was standing. Strange. He grew more confused as he opened his eyes to find a helmet sitting on his head, glass darkened to hide his face. He looked around, finding himself in an unknown place. It seemed to be some sort of spaceship with a vibrant red cabinet, bunch of beds and a monitor with a terminal next to it.
Smii7y took in his surroundings, then noticed the closed door behind him. Clicking the button on the left, he jumped slightly at how fast they opened. Outside, a yellow railing surrounded the ship with one ladder leading down onto the dock the thing was parked on. As he walked onto the grated floor, he stared at the tall, concrete wall in which a small, rectangular hole with a bell was the only thing breaking down its boring structure. Smii7y didn't trust this place, he just woke up here so why would he?
He turned back towards the terminal, deciding to fiddle with it a little. He searched the files and wrote down the commands as he tried to find the answer to why and where he was. He found a suspiciously empty bestiary which caused an anxious feeling to strike through his body. Bestiary means there were monsters and monsters meant danger. Doesn't sound good now does it?
He dug up some more files, which were mostly useless to him at the moment, such as a shopping file and a command window. He clicked those two off finding one last file which was an instruction of some sorts. He took a closer look and read about a video introduction to the company which will play once everyone arrives. Introduction to a company? What company? Everyone? Were there more people coming? And what about those monsters? Why was he at some company, with no memories of his previous life?
He sighed heavily leaning on the terminal. He took a moment to calm his nerves and sort his thoughts. There wasn't much to do other than to wait for those others . He backed away from the terminal, deciding to look around the ship more. He checked the cabinet to find a seemingly endless supply of canned food and water. Noting that mentally for later he moved towards the beds.
The cushions were soft and pillows fluffy. However, when he moved the one on the top bunk he found a used razor blade. He stared at it for a second before deeming it useful and pocketing it away in his white suit. As he checked the rest of the ship, Smii7y decided to check the outside as well. Finding only a ladder to the roof he climbed it and layed there deciding to kill his time and rest his slightly burning eyes.
He woke up harshly and suddenly, falling backwards with a gasp and hitting what he supposes was a wall. He slid down the cold metal, sitting on the floor and opening his eyes. A tall man in an orange suit stood in front of him, his eyes on Puffer with a concerned look on his face.
“You good man?” He tilted his head slightly, brown, bear ears flopping to the side. Was he a hybrid? Actually- Who was he exactly?
Puffer glared at the stranger, his fins twitching slightly. The man didn’t seem to mind his distrust as he extended his hand in a friendly way. Puffer hesitated taking a quick glance around. They were in a cramped, space-like ship with two other people whom Puffer didn’t recognize either. He looked back at the man still offering his hand and took it. He was quickly hoisted up, which surprised him but he managed to stand straight.
“I’m Grizzy. Despite my scary looks, I would say I’m chill.” He shrugged as he shook Puffer's hand.
Grizzy..? That sounds somehow familiar. He sighed as he returned the handshake and with a nod he introduced himself.
“Puffer… Welcome to the team man.” Grizzy slapped his back as he smiled at him showing his sharp teeth. He huffed as he glanced at the other two in the ship, Grizzy’s sight following his.
“Oh them? Yo! Droid! C’mere.” He called out to them, the taller of the two turning towards them with a quizzical look on his face.
“A new guy? Hi I’m Droid! You look dope as hell by the way. No homo.” The man with a robotic arm, black mullet and dual colored, weirdly shaped glasses quickly walked over to Puffer, clasping his shoulder as he ranted. The other, brown-haired man with pink bubbles on top of his head stood close behind him, a sceptical look hidden behind his sunglasses.
“Give him some space, he just arrived.” Grizzy nudged Droid away, the latter apologizing with a sheepish smile. Puffer just nodded, murmuring his name. “The short one behind the loud one is Pezzy.” Grizzy added as the two protested, offended.
The fish man rolled his eyes playfully and snickered at their reactions. Although his face quickly morphed back into a scowl. “Where even are we?” He asked, rubbing his forehead to try and remember anything. He was left disappointed when the other three just shrugged.
“No idea. Others don’t seem to know either.” Pezzy said, looking around the ship. At Puffer's confused face, he motioned towards the closed doors. Grizzy went to push the opening button and the doors slammed open making Pezzy jump slightly. Droid patted his back sympathetically, then threw his arm over Puffer and walked him outside the ship. His body tensed at the sudden action but he quickly relaxed.
“More people. Hazaa!” The half-mechanical man pointed to the small groups of people scattered around the dock. Puffer took in their appearance, analyzing their behaviour. The closest to them was another hybrid, this time a polar bear in a red suit similar to everyone else’s. He looked bored as he leaned against a container, overlooking other groups.
Further down, next to a suspicious hole in a rather tall, concrete wall, there were two people who seemed too excited given their current situation. They were playing some game, being loud and all over the place. One had a yellow and blue colored costume and the other a combination of pink and red if Puffer’s sight was right. Given he had to wear glasses he wasn’t so sure.
He immediately deemed the two annoying and moved on to the next group. This one seemed more collected, a bit isolated even. Three people talked quietly among themselves. Two purple suits and one dark, oversaturated, in Puffer’s opinion, blue. They glanced his way, pausing their conversation. Droid waved at them, catching others’ attention as well.
“New guy! New guy!” He cupped his hands over his mouth and shouted, making Puffer’s fins twitch from the volume. The polar bear seemed to feel his pain as he slapped his hands over his ears, glaring at Droid who ignored him.
The loud duo made their way towards the ship in record time, beaming smiles on their faces. He was able to see their features better as they climbed the ladder to stand beside him.
“Hello! I’m Blarg but you can call me Matt!” one of them shouted, making everyone around cringe. He didn’t seem to care as he forcefully took Puffer’s hand and shook it energetically.
“Is he high or something?” Pezzy muttered behind him eyeing the man warily. Puffer noticed Blarg’s suit wasn't as plain as he thought, having various stickers, mostly of frogs, that littered his chest, arms and legs.
“Jeez dude. Calm down a little will ya? Am Yumi and you can call us friends despite meeting only a few minutes ago.” The other said with an accent, his suit resembling a strawberry. Interesting choice but who was Puffer to judge. His wardrobe consisted of a teal colored skeleton costume with occasional splashes of magenta.
“The grumpy one over there is Rectrixx.” Yumi pointed towards the hybrid who shot him a middle finger, the other hand still covering his ear. “And I don’ know who the three over there are.” He pointed to the rest earning an eye roll from Matt.
“Eli, Tucker and Fl0m.” A voice suddenly said from above them, making almost everyone jump except Matt who waved happily at the man sitting on the roof.
“Hi Smii7y!” He yelled happily earning a chuckle from the other. "My god..." Breathed out Grizzy, clutching his chest dramatically. The mysterious guy threw his legs over the edge waving them back and forth. Only then did Puffer look up at him, sending a glare in his direction. The man’s face was hidden by his helmet, white like the rest of his suit. Only his colorful buttons stood out on the plain attire.
He titled his head, studying Puffer for a longer moment before another head popped out beside him. A long haired man with a beard and a mustache, his face painted with boredom waved back at Matt.
“Is he the last one? Can we leave already?” He whined dramatically leaning against Smii7y who didn’t seem to mind.
“Yeah. I think so. You can wake Tyler up now. Let him know we’re leaving.” Eli, the guy in an oversaturated, cough ugly cough suit, said as he entered the ship without looking back. The others followed him inside, some of whom Puffer hadn't spoken to yet acknowledging him with a nod or a smile. Droid dragged him along away from the entrance, allowing the tree from the roof to jump down and enter as well. A new addition to the already big crew was a bigger-sized man with a zebra themed suit and a pink visor which, opposite to Smii7y’s, allowed him to see his face. “Tyler.” Was all he said as he made his way towards the front of the machine.
“John?” Eli asked from near the terminal, his question directed to the bored man in baby blue suit with sunflower accents.
“At your service princess.” He bowed down jokingly and shut the door behind him earning a humorous exhale from Eli, who pulled a lever making the ship buzz and move, leaving the dock.
“So… What now?” Droid asked looking around the group, most of whom sat down in different places. They looked between eachother, unsure of how to respond. Droid sighed and dramatically flopped down onto the floor next to Pezzy who patted his back in reassurance.
“There is supposed to be an introduction video.” Smii7y grabbed their attention, saying casualy. He got up from his position next to John and walked over to the terminal. Droid observed him with confusion and interest, as the man clicked faster and faster on the terminal’s keyboard.
Suddenly the lights went out making a few people yelp in surprise, him included. A monitor fell from the roof, glitching slightly, then turning on, blinding them with a red-hued light, suddenly playing a recording with a slightly distorted voice.
Welcome to the Company...