For the prompts: fever, public torture, stress position, and forced to watch.

Tango has bought them a negligible amount of time.

Not a lot, but better than nothing. Anything is better than nothing at this point. He had to give up the coordinates of a server to be believed, and he hopes Grian won't be too mad at him when he finds out Tango cited one of the only server numbers he knew by heart that's not the Hermit server itself. An old offshoot that Grian runs his games on, and which Tango is hoping very much is set to private during the times it's not actively in use. It should be. Then, if these knuckleheads go looking, they'll find it closed off and the information hidden from public view. They won't be able to tell Tango gave them wrong intel!

They also will be motivated to keep Tango alive since they need a whitelisted person to access the world. They can't just use the same method the traffickers used to hijack the Hermit server and Techno's home server to begin with, since that only gives them access to the nether. Which… it would be rather unfortunate if they did that since there's always a chance one of the Hermits is in the nether at any given time. But these jerkfaces don't realize the server Tango is talking about is technically the same one he got picked up from. So the thought shouldn't even cross their minds.

He's been breaking his brain trying to figure out how the traffickers managed to get into a private server. Shreds of conversation when they were brought back to the woman who bought them has finally enlightened Tango on the secret.

All of the nether is connected.

All of it. Every single server world is like a tiny pocket dimension and the nether is like a pocket dimension inside a pocket dimension, except it's endless, and in a way, there is only one 'nether'. Overlap is prevented by server code and player code and jada jada, Tango honestly can't grasp the technical terms. It's all gobbledygook to him, he's no admin. All that really matters is that the traffickers can sneak into the nether chunks of other servers, not the overworld servers themselves.

What a deceptively simple trick.

But they need him to get into Hermitcraft. And if they want to use him, they can't kill him. They can't kill Techno either.

"Back straight."

The heel of somebody's boot lands on his ankle, pressing down so it can grind the bone into the dirt. Tango gasps and automatically straightens up from his semi-slouched position, despite how it makes his knees hurt more. His muscles strain at being forced back upright, but Tango swallows that down. He's trying to liken it to the full-body aches he gets from overworking himself. Not too different from being forced to kneel for hours on end.

He's getting off easy compared to Technoblade.

They're making an example out of them, and so every other hybrid captive has to watch because they need to know what happens if they ever think about escaping. The punishment that awaits them when they end up failing. Tango can't tell how long he has been kneeling, wrists crossed behind his back, sweat stinging the nape of his neck. Long enough for the hollow of hunger to grow into a cavern. But he's just kneeling. It's not that bad. Kneeling isn't the end of the world. Tango is lucky. All this time, ever since he's been kidnapped, he's been incredibly lucky.

Because Techno has been there to catch the brunt of everything.

He can see that now. There's no more blatant display of that than the one currently going on right in front of him, the blood that drips over the dip of Techno's neck and stains the courtyard's sand a rusty red color. At first, every thud of leather meeting skin made Tango flinch. The sound is awful. Everything about this is awful.

But Techno didn't even wince. Not when a kick to his ribs sent him sprawling. Not when they yanked him back up by his hair, gravity making his entire body tilt forward, pulling down on tired limbs.

Techno took the blame for their escape attempt.

Tango suspects the woman and her handlers know that it was more of a team effort, they're not idiots and it's not like they've been very subtle about being friends. The woman seems fascinated by it more than anything, one time mumbling under her breath about the prospect of codependent relationships between blaze and piglin in the wild. Tango wouldn't know anything about all that. But despite them both being equally responsible for the disobedience, the handlers seem more than happy to punish Techno the worst. Maybe since they don't want to kill Tango by accident.

Because that is what Tango thinks for one sudden, bright and frightening second, when Techno slumps down and doesn't immediately move anymore. That they've killed him.

But then the handler in charge loudly addresses the group of hybrids, words turning to static in Tango's panic-stricken brain. An example. Do not become like him. The same will happen to you. One of the other handlers throws a bucket of water on Techno and the piglin jolts, chest heaving as he sputters in a shaky inhale. The handlers walk away as if nothing happened and after a tense moment, the hybrid captives resume their work, carefully avoiding eye contact and none of them stepping in to help. They all give Techno's still-twitching body a wide berth, as if being near him is enough to catch something. Tango scowls at himself, feeling a rush of anger rise up his neck. He looks at the handler standing next to him - the one who was tasked with keeping him in his kneeling position - but they've already walked off. Tango quickly scrambles to his feet, ignoring how much that hurts, and runs over to Techno's side.

"Techno?"

Tango touches his shoulder. Techno makes a noise low in his throat, half growl and half whine. It makes Tango pull away at first, instincts honed enough to know that's the sound of a very pissed off and not happy piglin. But then he swallows and bends forward to more properly help Techno upright.

"Techno, buddy. We need to get you inside, okay?" he asks.

Techno's eyes slide open, and then he nods. He's aware enough to know what Tango is saying. That's good. That's something. Techno is too tall and probably too heavy for Tango to do much carrying but he can help support Techno's weight.

With some difficulty, and much slower than Tango would like to, they manage to get Techno inside to their cots. Tango doesn't have anything to wrap the wounds with, so he grabs one of their blankets and starts ripping it into long strips. He doesn't get cold easily. It should be fine.

Man, how often should he keep repeating that before some part of him starts to believe it?

He sloppily applies the makeshift bandages to the worst cuts that are bleeding. Before long, Tango's hands are sticky with blood, making him grit his teeth at the unpleasant feeling. Techno's skin is warm. He might have a fever.

"Can you turn around?" Tango asks.

Techno grunts again and shifts so he's facing Tango more with his side and back. His quietness is rather unsettling, Tango isn't used to Techno not cracking jokes, or verbalizing his thoughts. Maybe he's not as much of a yapper as Tango is, but he's definitely somebody who talks to fill the silence. Tango supposes it's a testament to how badly hurt he is.

The wound on Techno's back looks terrible. The tissue around it is bloated, red with infection. Tango doesn't dare touch it, but he knows it's not looking good. Not much he can do about it though.

All he can do is help Techno lie down, using the blanket he didn't rip up to cover him.

"Get some rest," Tango says. "We'll figure a way out of this soon."

Techno watches him, but doesn't say anything before closing his eyes. Skizz did always tell Tango he is a horrible, horrible actor who couldn't lie to save his life.

Techno can't remember the last time he was this sick. It might have been before Pogtopia even.

Thoughts are fluid in this state, and don't lend themselves well to surfacing memories. He soaks in it, before deciding that he might as well let go. He can't do much of anything as it were. Chat reduced to murmurs, his muscles too drained to function, mind trailing off into nothing. His skin feels wrapped too tight around his flesh, pressing down on every inch of him. He's uncomfortable and in pain. Nothing new there.

Somebody wipes the sweat from his forehead, mumbling to themself.

Techno tries to squint through a swirling mess of vision, unsure if this person is familiar to him. A wisp of blond catches his eyes and he smiles, slightly, through the taste of iron stuck behind his teeth.

The name comes easy to him. "Ph'l?"

Even as he says it, he knows it's not correct. The person halts for a moment before continuing, reassuring cadence returning. Despite it not being Phil, some part of it is known and Techno feels at ease. Or as at ease as he can get when he's sick. Techno blinks sluggishly. Then he decides to close his eyes properly and sleep.

When he wakes up again, he's somewhat more lucid. He's also alone. Sitting up, Techno rubs a shaking hand over his face and looks around. The other hybrid captives are inside the building, and he spots Tango on the opposite side of the room. When he turns around with food in his hands, he sees Techno is up and visibly brightens, skipping a little as he comes towards Techno. Some of the soup in the bowl he's holding sloshes over the edge.

"You're up! Good, that's good!" Tango grins, though Techno would have to be blind not to see the strain hidden beneath. His throat hurts, but he forces himself to answer.

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Probably only a couple of hours," Tango comments. "How are you, uh… how are you feeling?"

Techno blinks slowly again, needing a second to parse the question and take stock of every frayed nerve ending. He eventually settles with an unamused stare.

"Yeah, fair, that was a stupid question, huh?" Tango mutters. He holds one of the bowls out to him. Techno starts to reach for it with both hands. His palms cup against the ceramic, and it's only Tango holding onto it and guiding it into his lap that keeps him from spilling all over himself. A little embarrassing.

For now, Techno just lets his skin soak in the warmth. It gets close to being nice since he feels freezing to his very core. He trembles slightly. The fever hasn't passed. Overall, he's not doing the greatest. But there's something humbling about knowing that Tango was looking after him while he's been sick.

"You mentioned a name when you were half-awake," Tango says suddenly. "Phil? Said it a few times, though I don't know if you remember."

"He's a friend," Techno says. Phil is a bit more than simply 'a friend' but Techno doesn't really feel like getting into it at the moment. Chat is quiet. They miss Phil.

Techno misses Phil too.

"He wouldn't happen to be on a public server right now, would he?" Tango asks, voice a little hopeful. He glances around to make sure nobody can overhear them.

"Why?" Techno asks. "You're cookin' something, aren't you?" He knows that look on Tango's face.

"I think I might have thought of a way to send out a distress signal but it'll only work if I send it to a communicator on a public server. It's also very dangerous…"

Techno decides to not ask for details at the moment. He considers the unknown at hand first. Where would Phil be? Well, if Phil hasn't noticed he's gone, he won't have left the server so that'd be an issue. If he has noticed, there's a chance he's gone to Skyblock or something to look for him. A long shot, but a possibility.

"What's the plan?" he says instead.

"It's not much of a plan," Tango says evasively. Techno can't tell if he's being self-deprecating or perhaps just reluctant to oversell the idea. Techno really thought their escape attempt had merit - and it probably would have if it wasn't for that poorly-timed seizure - so he's feeling somewhat deflated himself. They don't want to get their hopes up for nothing.

Neither of them is the type to throw in the towel after a minor setback though.

"We need to steal a communicator," Tango explains. "I can log in with my emergency procedure."

"Logging in on a new communicator isn't easy," Techno says. Those devices are personalized for a reason.

"Normally, yeah. One of my friends taught me a trick," Tango says. He taps up against the bottom of Techno's bowl of soup, urging him to eat something at least. It'll probably be better if he does, nauseous as he is. Not eating will only make him grow weaker. "I can access one very briefly, but I'll only be able to send out a name and coordinates. And it'll only work within this network, or outbound to a public server."

Techno has never heard of anything like that. He trusts Tango, though. If he says this will work, it will.

And pickpocketing a communicator can't be that hard. "We can make that happen," he says.

"There are definitely going to be extra eyes on us," Tango points out. After all the crap they pulled, the handlers will undoubtedly keep a closer watch on them two specifically.

"I'll figure something out."

He's not half as sure about that as he's trying to make himself sound. But Techno isn't going to give up. Not when they've got this close already.

He's gonna get them out, or he's going to die trying.

Ranboo knows something weird is going on.

He's not as oblivious as some people seem to think he is. And that's fine, right? Because, well, Ranboo is never really sure of anything so if others also think he's not sure of anything that's good. They won't mistake what he does know for what he doesn't know. Right. Yes. Easy.

What Ranboo does know is that Phil is acting weird.

What Ranboo does know is that Techno hasn't been around for close to three weeks.

Techno sometimes takes off on his own and doesn't always offer an explanation on where he's going. Or maybe it's that Ranboo never asked. Before, he didn't think it was his place to ask. After, he thinks he trusts Techno enough not to ask. His mind tells him that makes sense.

But when Techno is gone, Phil doesn't act weird. So the two things coinciding feels ominous to them.

Maybe Ranboo does stay up at night keeping an eye on the other two cabins, that is neither here nor there. He's worried. His concern is coming from a place of care. Phil will just smile and say everything is fine if Ranboo presses him.

And if Ranboo wasn't watching the cabin, they wouldn't have seen Phil try to leave in the middle of the night.

Ranboo didn't think far ahead, not far enough to know what they would do if they did notice something out of the ordinary. Something like Phil taking off into the darkness, without sharing what has been going on. Ranboo's reaction is almost entirely instinctual. They don't get a chance to second guess before they're already ankle-deep in the snow.

"Phil!"

Ranboo flinches at the loudness of his own voice, cutting over the eerie silence of nighttime. Phil turns towards him, eyes unsettlingly bright in the dimness. Ranboo doesn't think he's ever seen Phil look this foreboding before, this serious. Some of the harshness on his face melts away when he sees it's just Ranboo who called out to him.

"Ranboo, it's the middle of the night. What are you doing out here?"

"What are you doing out here?" Ranboo asks, dodging the question expertly. Jup, he's so good at this.

"I'm just headed out. You should go back inside," Phil says.

"This is about Technoblade, isn't it?"

Phil hesitates, something for Ranboo to latch onto. He knew he was right! He could tell!

"Is he in trouble?" Ranboo presses.

After a second or so more - a second during which Ranboo starts to feel the sting of melting snow against his shins - Phil relents. "We think so, yeah. But we're working on it."

"Who is 'we'?" Ranboo asks.

"I have a friend helping me out-" Phil starts.

"Can I come?"

He's unsure if Phil will be surprised by Ranboo wanting to tag along. They're friends, aren't they? All three of them. Of course, Ranboo would want to help make sure Techno is okay! Is what Phil is setting out to do so dangerous that taking Ranboo along will make him a burden?

Except, the conflicted look passes as quickly as it came. Phil nods, urgently. "Grab some stuff then, quickly. We need to get off the server before somebody notices."

Oh…

Not what Ranboo had been expecting.

But he nods, and turns back to his cabin quickly. He's already offered his help, so he can't back out now.