Trigger Warning: Non-fatal absorption.
Fecto Elfilis's biology sure seems bizarre.
Disclaimer: Kirby belongs to Nintendo and HAL Laboratory.
Vesa sat on the exam table, her hands perched on her lap in the quiet morning of the underground lab. It was difficult not to fidget with electrode pads glued to her sweat-damped skin and a blood pressure cuff uncomfortably squeezing her bicep. Scientists passed to and fro, but it was Fecto Elfilis whose eyes were attentively on her. They seemed agitated, their feelers rapidly fluttering as they bumped their head against the glass. She saw they were burning parts of their body for energy, more liquid dripping from their already deformed ear. The researchers flinched as the alien's shrill cries echoed against the concrete walls.
Dr. Reed analyzed the data from the medical equipment and approached Vesa. All the while, the glass capsule opened up after the tank drained of its fluids. Elfilis dropped to the floor as a robot rolled inside. They growled as the robot stabbed at them with a needle.
"It has to be a sepsis episode, right?" Vesa blurted, "do I have to go to the emergency room?"
Dr. Reed let out a disappointed sigh.
"I'm sorry, Vesa, but we didn't detect it in time," Dr. Reed told her, "your body is beginning to shut down."
Vesa widened her eyes and held her arms to her chest. Her whole life, she hoped she would never have to deal with a sepsis episode in its late stage. Those words alone meant her worst fears were coming to the surface.
"H-How much time do I have left?" Vesa gasped.
"Approximately three hours or less."
Vesa whimpered as she shuddered, her eyes locking onto Elfilis. The ultimate life-form keened and lowered their feelers. To her right, a scientist at the chemistry station was preparing a syringe.
"The treatment should be ready soon," Dr. Reed told her, "the sooner we administer it, the better."
Vesa shook her head in disbelief and clutched her chest. Were they planning to test out the experimental treatment anyway despite it not being finished? The thought of dying like the other subjects before her honestly terrified her.
"W-Wait!" Vesa protested, "I-I have a final request!"
Dr. Baldwin and Dr. Reed exchanged confused glances before the latter sighed.
"All right," Dr. Reed asked, "is there anything we can do for you to make you comfortable?"
Vesa took a moment to think before she nodded. She focused her gaze on Elfilis, noticing the tears welling in their eyes. She had to make her decision now.
"I…I'd like to see ID-F86," Vesa requested, "one last time."
The scientists all focused on her with horrified expressions on their faces.
"Are you serious?" Dr. Baldwin exclaimed, "that could be dangerous! Why do you want to see it up close?"
Vesa closed her eyes for a brief moment. She needed to improvise fast. Odd—in the last moments before saying goodbye, any reservations about fusing with Fecto Elfilis—what had they called it—assimilation? It simply hadn't been there anymore. It was the only chance either of them had.
"So I can say goodbye to them," Vesa lied.
Dr. Baldwin let out an exasperated sigh. Dr. Reed removed the EKG electrodes and the sphygmomanometer.
"We can only give you ten minutes to spend with ID-F86, ok?"
"Ok," Vesa nodded.
Vesa immediately leapt off the bed. When her feet touched the floor, pain surged through her legs. She didn't hesitate as she staggered closer to the capsule, despite the pain in her muscles, despite the shortness of breath. She climbed the steps towards the cylindrical glass tank. She paused for a moment. Staring into Elfilis's eyes, she waited until the robot finished its procedure and rolled outside. Ignoring the watchful eyes of the scientists, Vesa ducked down. Letting out a soft whimper of pain, she stumbled under the gap and set foot inside the tank, standing as close to Elfilis as possible.
"Vesa, what do you think you're doing?!" Dr. Reed demanded, "get out of there, now!"
Vesa stiffened even as her fingers and lips started turning blue. Her gaze fixated on Elfilis. With all of her dwindling strength, she took in one sharp gasp of breath, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Më ndihmo," Vesa pleaded.
The next thing she knew, Elfilis grabbed her upper arms, pulling her closer to them. The security guard aimed and tried firing at Vesa. Elfilis thought fast and turned around, holding her in a protective embrace as the bullets hit them in the back.
"Elfilis!" Vesa panicked.
"Don't worry about me," Elfilis spoke to her, their eyes staring intently, "just let me save you."
Elfilis's eyes began to glow, changing to a white color and their irises fading. The scientists in the lab stared in horror as the specimen expanded in size and morphed into a translucent gelatinous mass, still retaining their figure.
"Everyone back away now!" Dr. Baldwin shouted.
A scientist sounded the klaxon while another pulled the lever, the glass tube beginning to close. Elfilis's arms morphed into thick tendrils and wrapped around her waist. Vesa let out a startled yelp when she found herself partially submerged in the creature's abdomen. She didn't struggle, but she whimpered as the virulent sludge began to envelop the rest of her body, the scientists scrambling from the capsule for safety. She gritted her teeth and closed her eyes as the slime enveloped around her face. The burning pain as the biomass assimilated the cells of her body overwhelmed her. Her left hand was the last to be engulfed as the world around her faded to black.
When her eyes fluttered open, she found herself floating inside an expansive void. Chromatic patterns stretched in all directions. Large neurons attached to one another by axons lit up at intervals as they pulsated rhythmically. She frantically scanned her surroundings, looking for anything of interest and contemplating on whether she could call out to Elfilis.
"Don't be frightened, Vesa," the voice from above echoed, "no harm shall come to you."
Vesa stared in awe as the creature descended. Elfilis seemed to stand upright even if they floated in front of her. With a flick of their hand, the sickly young woman found herself encased in an egg-shaped capsule the size of a car.
"Elfilis, I," Vesa gasped, "will you be all right?"
Elfilis placed one hand on their chest.
"I might not be able to escape right now," Elfilis told her, "but I'll do everything I can to strengthen your body…heal it…so you can have a meaningful future. In this realm, you are my patient."
While Vesa stared at her captor through the clear casing, she didn't pay attention to the thick tendril from above as it snaked towards her. She let out a pained gasp when it pierced the back of her neck. She raised her hands a little, but decided against grabbing at the tendril. Vesa felt the tendril's veins burrow into her skin and spread throughout her back. She flinched as each vein brushed along her organs. Veins split up into thinner veins, latching onto any organ they crawled on. She shuddered at the uncomfortable sensation like tiny insects crawling under her skin.
The next thing she knew, the capsule began filling with a strange liquid. She gave Fecto Elfilis a confused look as they hovered forth until they were close to the capsule. Soon enough, the liquid filled the capsule completely. She shuddered when the liquid filled her nose and her lungs, but nothing happened. The warmth emanating from the liquid relaxed her body. She stared in awe upon realizing she could breathe in this strange liquid. Barely able to move her limbs, she could only press her hands against the casing.
"E-Elfilis…" she whimpered.
Elfilis's gently narrowed their eyes, pressing their hand on the capsule.
"Save your strength," they insisted, "I'll take care of you."
At that moment, all of the senses in her body went numb. Any aches she had in her body faded along with them. Tiredness clouded her mind. Vesa brought her arms to her chest. Elfilis kept their eyes fixated on her as she slowly closed her eyes. Seconds came to a slow crawl as her consciousness faded. Using the energy they still held onto despite the experiments, Fecto Elfilis went to work nourishing and repairing Vesa's body immediately.
The only thought that could linger in her now was what she could ever wake up to in the future.
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