Veteran x Player - Impostor
A/N -
Just as a disclaimer... I obviously don't own the characters mentioned in this one shot. They belong to Game Toons. This is based on the YouTube series "Among Us Logic". Anyway, thank you!
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Veteran's PoV -
It was a normal day on Polus. The air was cold and snow fell from the sky. The crew was working on our research as normal during our short stay on Polus before returning to Mirah HQ. Player and I made our way to the specimen room to do our tasks. We chat about random stuff as we do our tasks. Player is typing something into the computer while I'm busy dissecting an alien species. I look away to exchange tools when I swear I see movement out of the corner of my eye. I look over but see nothing besides the long dead creature. Player seemingly senses my unease, "What's wrong, Veteran?"
"Huh, oh, nothing," I'm still confused but I go back to my task wanting to get done as soon as possible.
"Okay, I'll be right back, I need to go download some data," Player states as he exits the room leaving me by myself.
I make a small cut into the chest cavity of the creature searching for it's heart so I can study it. The creature flinches and I jump back in fear. I probably just hit a nerve. I return to my work and insert the tweezers into its chest cavity when the alien creature lunges at me! I fall against the wall with a hard thud. I need to get out of here! I try to run before the creature finds me but it is too late. The creature jumps at my chest and easily tears through my space suit with razor sharps claws and teeth. Pain courses through my chest as the creature continues to claw and bite at me. Soon the pain overcomes me and I black out. This is my end isn't it!?
Surprisingly, I wake. I feel pain throughout my chest, cold and hunger also naws at me. With some trouble I stand. Then I notice all the blood covering the walls of the specimen room. I look down at my own chest. My yellow suit is stained red with my own blood. My suit is ripped to pieces exposing a large gash in my chest. Then I remember that horrible creature. Wait, shouldn't I be dead if my suit was compromised. I have no oxygen. Am I dead? No, I feel horrible, ghosts can't feel.
The door to the specimen room opens reveling Player holding a stack of papers, "I'm back, Vet." Then he sees all the blood and the gash in my suit, "What happened!"
Player drops his papers and rushes over to my aid. "Veteran, are you okay?" Player inspects the damage to my chest and my suit.
"I honestly have no idea," I try to laugh it off but my chest hurts too much.
Player allows me to use him as support. I gently lean against him as we make our way to medbay. Suddenly, my hunger naws at me again. I feel a craving for blood, for anything living. I feel movement in my chest. That creature. It infected me!
I jerk away from Player, not wanting to hurt him. I stumble to use the wall of decontamination as support. I've read about 'Impostors' before. They sabatoge crewmates and eat them alive. Our mission as a crew was to investigate the impostor species but now I guess I am one. "Veteran, what's wrong?" Player hurries over to me wondering why I jerked away from him.
"That impostor species I was dissecting did this to me," I point to the large gash in my chest, "it's inside me, I can feel it." I'm holding back tears.
"I'll take care of you, Vet, we need to get you help," Player helps me lean against him again and he helps me stumble to med bay.
"Player, don't you understand, I can't be around you because I don't want to hurt you," I'm actively shedding tears now.
Player helps me sit down on a cot in med bay. "You won't hurt me, I know you too well, Veteran," Player continues, "Sit still, I'm going to get Monster and Not-Orange to see if they can help you."
Player quickly rushes away to find the two scientist crewmates and I'm left alone in med bay with the alien species in my chest. I can feel it moving around inside me. My hunger grows by the second and I try to suppress it by not thinking about how hunger I am for blood but that only makes it worse. I hope Player comes back soon. He keeps my mind occupied and his kindnesses makes me feel better. How can he be so certain that I won't hurt him? I'm not certain I won't accidentally try to kill him.
The door opens again with Player leading the blue and orange clad astronauts. Not-Orange and Monster seem kinda nervous around me but they tell me to lie down on the cot anyway. I comply. Monster cuffs my hands to the cot. My heart races in fear, what are they going to do to me. They probably want to kill me! Player gently takes my helmet off knowing I no longer required oxygen, "You're okay, Vet, they're trying to get that thing out of you."
I relax at Player's soothing words. A needle is inserted in my arm and I quickly fall asleep.
Player's PoV -
I watch as Not-Orange and Monster operate on Veteran. I stay far enough away to stay out of their way but close enough to hear what they're saying. Monster hands Not-Orange a tool and I flinch as I hear the orange scientist pry into my friend. A loud inhuman screech echoes throughout the room. The creature obviously doesn't want to be tampered with. "Player, we can't get the impostor out without removing Veteran's heart," Not-Orange states sadly.
"We can't let this thing infect the crew. We need to dispose of this creature by throwing it in the lava," Monsters states lacking emotion.
I feel anger surge through me. "Veteran, is my friend and I promised him he would be okay, I am not letting you murder him!" I speak up to Monster trying to act as threatening as possible, "If you can't get the impostor out just heal Veteran's wounds."
Monster seems ready to protest but Not-Orange glares at him shutting him up. They immediately go back to work stitching Veteran's wound. After they finish I make them promise not to tell the rest of the crew. Veteran can tell them when he's ready to and I'm not letting anyone hurt him.
I sit with Veteran in med bay all night.
Veteran's PoV -
I wake and find myself in med bay. I feel movement inside of me. I'm still infected. I sit up with a great deal of effort. Player must have put O2 in this room. I can see Player is asleep, with his helmet off, in a chair next to my cot. He looks terrible. His eyes are puffy from crying, he looks exhausted, and somehow even in his sleep he looks sad. Is that because of me? I don't want to make Player sad. "Player?" I quietly whisper, "Are you okay?"
The lights are out and Polus is dark. However, I can still see. That is just a reminder that I'm now an impostor. "Vet?" Player is awake now, "I'm fine are you okay?"
He still looks sad and stress. His eyes are open but he obviously can't see anything. I reach for his hands and gently hold them. "I'm okay, Player, you don't need to worry about me," I state and Player sits next to me on my cot.
"Of course I'm worried about you, you are my best friend," even in the dark I can see a light blush creep onto my friend's face.
His smile soon fades, "Not-Orange and Monster weren't able to get the impostor out of you without killing you, I'm sorry, Vet," tears fall down Player's face.
My heart flutters, "Shhh, it's okay, it's not your fault, I'm okay."
I gently wipe the tears from my friend's eyes. "Are you able to go back to our room?" Player asks through sobs.
"I think so," with that Player puts his helmet back on and helps me stand.
I'm feeling much better now. At least my wounds are healed. Leaning on Player for support we make our way back to our room located near electric. Once there Player helps me to my bed and presses a button on the wall that quickly fills the room with O2. He takes off his helmet and climbs into his own bed. The lights are out but I can see Player's thin figure curled up in his bed. "Player, do the other's know I'm infected yet?" I ask.
"Only Not-Orange, Monster, and myself know, I told them to keep it secret until you were ready to tell the crew," Player responds.
"Thank you, I'll tell them as soon as I can."
I lay in bed not able to sleep. However, Player's steady breathing calms me.
The next day the crew wakes early. We are preparing The Skeld for launch. Player and I dress for the day. Even though I no longer need my helmet to breathe I wear it to make telling the crew easier. I try to find a good time to tell them when everyone is together but today is not a normal day. Everyone rushes around Polus gathering their research and personal belongings to take back on The Skeld. Player gently pats my back in encouragement and we start packing like the others. I'm in our room packing my video game collection when a surge of hunger washes over me. The impostor in my chest moves. An involuntary growl escapes my mouth. I salivate craving meat. Player walks into the room having taken a box to the ship. He sees me doubled over on the ground clutching my stomach. "Veteran!" He hurried over to me and pulls me close to him, "Are you okay?"
Another growl escapes me from within my chest. Player immediately scoots away in fear. Seeing my friend so afraid of me hurts and tears begin to fall. "I'm sorry, Player, I didn't mean to growl at you," I apologize, removing my helmet since my tears were fogging my vision.
Player slowly approaches me as if sneaking up on a wild animal. "It's okay, Vet, you're hungry aren't you?"
I nod my head in response. After loading our boxes we make our way to the kitchen. The crew mostly eats dehydrated foods as it is easier for space travel. Player finds a package of dehydrated meat and hands it to me. Only a day ago this would have looked appetizing but now it looks disgusting. I hesitatingly take a bite. My now sharp teeth crunch into the dehydrated food. I chew but it tastes like sand and I can scarcely stand to swallow the terrible meal. Once it's down the impostor inside me seemingly rejects it causing me to regurgitate the horrible food. My stomach twists in both pain and hunger. Player gently rubs my back. What do I do? Starve to death I guess.
Time passes and I am still unable to find a good time to tell the crew about my secret. By nightfall The Skeld is packed for our one year trip back to Mira HQ. This is our last night on Polus. I crawl into bed feeling both sick from hunger and sad about not getting a chance to tell the crew. What will they think of me? Will they want to kill me? Player will protect me, right? A million questions race through my head.
The next day we wake early yet I haven't even slept a wink. As tradition has it we all eat breakfast as a crew before boarding our ship. When Player and I enter the cafeteria I can't help but to feel Monster's piercing eyes on me. Not-Orange follows his gaze and shoots me a sympathetic smile. I quietly sit next to Player. Captain and Stoner have the cooking tasks today and bring us our meals. Knowing I can't eat the human food I simply state I'm not hungry when Stoner tries to hand me a plate. After everyone is served Captain and Stoner sit at the table with the rest of the crew. Everyone chats amongst themselves excited to head home after several long months of research. Now is my chance to make my announcement. They're all here together. I stand, "Guys, I have something I need to tell you." I take a deep breath before continuing, "The other day I was dissecting an impostor species when it lunged at me. The creature infected me, Player found me and convinced Not-Orange and Monster to heal my wounds but they couldn't take the creature out without killing me. I understand if you don't want me to be a part of the crew anymore."
Everyone looks at me in shock or in horror. Tears fall from my eyes and I take my seat next to Player seeking his comfort. Player hold me close and rubs my back gently. Player speaks next, "Veteran, is one of us, he comes home with us, end of story."
Player's grip on me tightens, holding me protectively. "Hold up, Player, we need to take a vote," Captain states sternly, "We have all researched impostor, we know what they are capable of but Veteran has been a loyal crewmate so let's take a poll now."
"All in favor of taking Veteran with us!"
The votes are cast:
Player
Stoner
Captain
Greaser
Bro
Ninja
The Gentleman
Mr. Cheese
Mother
Not-Orange
Engineer
Gnome
PoopyFarts
Rose
"All in favor of leaving Veteran here!"
Monster
Goober
B-day
"Majority wins, we take Veteran with us," Captain announces.
My tears subside and Player hugs me tightly. "See, Vet, it's okay," Player speaks calmingly to me.
"Thank you, Player," I cuddle into his chest appreciating his warmth.
The crew mumbles a collective, "Awwww!"
I may have even heard Gnome whisper, "I ship it," to Engineer.
After breakfast I happily bored The Skeld with Player still cuddled next to me.
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