Mable: Here's a big one with a familiar face- hope you Enjoy! :)
Within Reach
Chapter 26: The Last Gabbit
Abe hadn't really heard much of anything about Magog Motors, so he had expected it to be a little rinky-dink factory that put together Slig pants and shipped them out. There were dozens of those.
What he didn't expect was that he was going to look out and see something bigger than Evenwurst could've dreamed to achieve. Surrounded by layers of fencing and dirty trenches of water, likely used for cooling the machines inside of the processing plant. Built directly into the side of a cliff and spewing heavy smoke into the air- or he could only assume, as he couldn't see too much from the crack in the train car.
It wasn't anywhere near as big as Rupture Farms had been, but it was just big enough that it made him nervous. And he wasn't the only one.
"What's a place this big doing so close to the village?" Alf muttered, more to himself than as a question.
But it made Abe's eyes go wide. A place this big this close to the village. This close to the jungle. Needing a lot of land. Making a lot of moolah. Needing more land to make more moolah.
That was going to be a huge problem. Abe swallowed thickly.
But not a problem for now. They had already risked enough, and though he longed to liberate the Mudokons inside, they couldn't start something they might not finish this close to the village. It would have to wait.
Abe felt guilty at how relieved he was when the others agreed.
They disembarked from the train and hid inside the outer warehouse of Magog Motors until nightfall, then slipped out and through the damaged outer gates. Abe made note of the location as a way to sneak back in, but looking back at the actual structure of Magog Motors- and the walls he would have to pass to reach it- he wasn't feeling any more confident.
What came next was a grueling walk through most of the night. Through the No Mud's Land and plains that stretched between Magog Motors and the outskirts of the jungle. They reached the point where grass was growing back healthily before setting up camp for the night.
By then Abe had been carrying Vesper on his back for a good few hours- Vesper had repeatedly offered to try walking again, but Abe always shot it down. This close to the Industrialists? He would rather a little extra baggage than risk someone jumping them and Vesper being unable to escape.
Munch, on the other hand, had gotten a brief reprieve in swimming along a river they followed for a short time. It was slimy and oily, tasting gross in his mouth, but it spared his foot. Eventually though he had to move out of the water and hopped for a while, then got passed back and forth between Alf and Toby for a while after that.
Needless to say, they were exhausted. Nobody wanted to keep going that night.
Especially not Abe, who was nervously anticipating the welcoming committee's reaction when they walked in with a Slig. That wasn't going to be great.
The next day they started early and began their hike to and into the jungle. By then Vesper's leg was feeling slightly better, but Abe was still having to help him along. Toby had fully committed to helping carry Munch, though sat him down to rest every time they stopped.
It was around noontime when they made it into the thick of the jungle and neared the outskirts of the village. When the sun was high in the sky and light poured through cracks in the thick canopy of leaves above.
It was then that Abe stopped the group.
"Someone's gotta run ahead and warn everybody that we've got Daggle with us, so they don't hurt him," he said.
Everyone was uncharacteristically quiet.
Abe sighed. "I'll be right back."
"You know I would if I could, but…" Vesper half-joked, gesturing to his foot. "They'll probably listen to you more than anyone else anyways. You've got the best chance to get through to them."
"I know. Don't worry about it. Lemme just go cool 'em off."
"Now wait, I didn't mean you had to go alone. I can go with you!"
"No, you better stay here and rest your ankle. I'll be back."
With that, Abe began to jog into the jungle to head towards the village.
"Knock 'em dead, Abe!" Alf called after him.
"And don't tell 'em where I am unless yer sure they ain't gonna kill me!" Daggle tacked on.
But that was easier said than done, Abe knew. Despite everyone thinking everyone listened to him, and the elders and natives all telling him he was some sort of prophesized leader or whatever, the Mudokons only barely listened to him half of the time. Sure, they followed orders to escape wherever they were, but once they were free they were their own Muds and Abe was just Stitch Lips the Blue Guy.
How was he going to convince a whole village to trust a Slig?
He grabbed at his amulet without realizing it. The Bee began to glow warmly against his palm, assuring him. That gave him enough comfort to press on.
Soon he came jogging up to the outskirts of the village, and he got the reception he was expecting.
"Hey, look at that! It's Abe!" one of the lookout Mudokons called.
"It's Abe! Abe's back!" another added in.
Soon a plethora of voices blended in and the next thing he knew he was suddenly swarmed by a group of Mudokons. All of which with bright smiles, eager to welcome back their friend, savior, or both.
"Hey, Abe!"
"Oh, Abe, you're finally back! We were so worried!"
"What took ya so long? You've been gone forever."
"Hey, hey, back off! Give him some air!"
Abe was crowded by the Mudokons and while it did make him a little anxious, being the center of attention always did that, it did feel good to see everyone so happy to see him. It was the warm reception he hoped for.
Thankfully, a familiar face was there to get him some room to breathe. Ernest, who had been the one to call them to back off, squeezed past the others easily. Abe genuinely perked up seeing him there.
"Hey! How've you been settling in? Where's Philly?" Abe asked.
"Doing good! Was wondering when you were going to show up," Ernest said with gentle ribbing.
"Where's Alf…?" Stoopy asked quietly.
"Yeah, where's Alf? And what about Toby?" someone else asked.
"They're on their way," Abe assured, pointing a thumb over his shoulder.
Some of the Mudokons started to make a run for it to go greet them.
"No, wait!" Abe shouted. They stopped and looked at him in confusion. "Umm… If ya'll go running out there, you'll just get yourselves cut up on all the brambles! They're on their way, so why don't you guys start setting up and I'll go get 'em?"
"Okay!"
"Eh, if you're sure, Abe. You are sure, right?"
"I'm sure."
Ernest gave him a pat on the back. "Well, hurry back. There's a bunch of guys who want to see you."
"Heh, and only one of me," Abe half-joked. "I'll hurry."
With that they let him go and he was quick to hustle off. Very aware of the numerous eyes on him but feeling a little lighter now that they were this close to home. Within minutes he was almost back to the others.
Well, that went well!
…
He hadn't told them there was a Slig with them.
Instantly Abe's stomach plummeted, and he slapped a hand over his face. That was the whole point of running ahead and he didn't do it. He sighed and continued back to the others. Maybe he could convince Alf to go ahead and do it for him now that he warmed up the crowd.
He arrived at the others a few minutes later.
"So, how'd it go?" Alf asked.
"Uh… Erm…"
"That good, huh?"
"I, uh… sorta didn't get a chance to tell 'em?" Abe awkwardly tried. "Y'see-."
"Well, don't worry. You can tell them now. Here they come," Vesper forewarned.
"What?!" Abe looked back and only after a few seconds longer was able to hear the sound of approaching Mudokons- it was just like he thought, they never listened to him!
"You better put that gun down," Alf whispered to Daggle.
Daggle threw his gun into Alf's hands.
"What the?! I didn't mean give it to me!" He passed it to Toby, who stepped back with his hands up, unwilling to touch it, and then it ended up in Munch's arms. He nonchalantly held it.
Within seconds, the followers arrived. The one in front with an oblivious smile on his face until he somehow instantly spotted Daggle and replaced it with panic.
"SLIG!"
"Holy heck, there's a Slig! Abe RUN!"
"What the hell?!"
"Wait, wait! Don't shoot!" Abe cried, despite the fact that the only person holding a gun was Munch. He got in front of Daggle. "He's with us!"
"Whaddya mean he's with you?!"
"He's doing that thing again! Y'know, where he makes 'em do stuff!" one of the Mudokons from the back chimed up. "He's controlling him with his superpowers!"
For a second the crowd seemed to calm down a little.
"Err, well… No," Abe admitted. "But he's okay."
There was a beat. Then the crowd went wild again.
"Whaddya mean he's okay?! He's not okay! He's- He's a Slig! Sligs aren't okay!"
"What gives, Abe?!"
"You brought a SLIG here?! How could you do that?!"
"Wait, let's hear him out-," one Mudokon tried to interject, but he was lost in the crowd.
Stoopy too had no chance of even getting to the front, let alone being heard. Ernest hadn't come along with them either, so they were without his help.
They were all talking over each other and Abe's face was falling more and more with every frantic word. He kept trying to interject with a, "But" or a "Wait" but nobody was listening.
Vesper was flat-out stunned to see the Mudokons so volatile. Not specifically the reaction to the Slig- that was understandable- but how easily some of them turned on Abe. He got it, but he didn't get it.
But he tried to keep his thoughts to himself. He reminded himself that these were Abe's followers, he was their leader, and Vesper was an outsider. He didn't feel like it was right if he butted himself in.
Until-
"How could you bring one of them here?! We trusted you!"
He didn't have to see Abe's face; he knew that was going to break him.
And that was Vesper decided that he was fed up. Fed up at the yelling, and frustrated at himself for being the one to suggest Abe break the news in the first place. So, he yelled back.
"ABE ALMOST DIED!" he shouted.
Everyone went quiet and suddenly looked at Vesper. As did Abe, who was pretty alarmed by the statement. Having now announced himself, Vesper quickly hobbled to get in front of Abe, waving for the closer Mudokons to step back some.
"As I was saying- Abe almost died yesterday. And the day before, and the day before. We've been through the wringer, really. Up into Vykker's Labs and back, through Feeco Depot, and a Phat's Station, and Magog Motors- we fell out of a crashing blimp, can you believe that? Now some of you must be new. Can everyone new raise their hands?"
One Mudokon eagerly shot his hand up and a few more slowly followed suit.
"There, see? Abe's been saving a lot of people in the last few days, but he couldn't do that alone. You may not believe it but if it weren't for that Slig over there, Abe might've not made it through the first factory he walked into. At least not without some dents and dings."
He began to pace a little bit, partially limping on his ankle but ignoring it, and purposefully dodging Abe's hand when he reached to stop him. He did stop on his own to address the crowd directly.
"I know it's not an easy ask to let a Slig be brought into your community. They are part of a system that enslaved you for so many years and I'm sure many of you have had bad encounters with them. I know from my own brief experience that it can shape your view of them as a whole despite the fact that they, like you, are their own people. This is Daggle, and he is a Slig, but he's not working with the people who hurt you. He's been hurt by them too, and since he joined us, he's done nothing except pull his weight. Even more than I did."
"And he survived a fall out of a blimp!" Abe chimed in.
Vesper gave him a funny look. Pensive, like he was questioning where he was going with this.
"I know that might not sound like much- or it kinda does- hear me out. When I first left RuptureFarms I was found by a shaman with a huge bird mask- we used'a call him Bigface- and I fell off a cliff and hit my head. But I lived! And Bigface said something like, 'When the Fates have their plans, not even death can halt them'. What if Daggle survived his fall because he's special? And fate wants him to help us?"
"Abe, that's stupid," one of the Mudokons who Abe actually knew well said.
"No, it's not. Don't say that," Vesper sharply hissed back. Abe looked at him with shock.
"Alright, Fuzzy. Settle down and let me handle this," Alf spoke up. He stepped up to Abe's side with crossed arms and addressed the crowd. "…All'a ya'll shaddup!"
Abe's head snapped to him now, just in time for Alf to hook an arm around his shoulders and point at him.
"Abe's been guiding you this whole way, are you gonna doubt him now? After he got you outta wherever you came from and lived to tell the tale? Huh? None of us would be here if it weren't for him, so quit giving him lip! He knows what he's doing!
The Mudokons seemed to back down at that, or at least more of their judgmental looks started to change- at least, the ones who Vesper and Abe hadn't already started to win over.
"Now here's the deal." Alf pointed at Daggle. "That Slig there owes me moolah, and he's gonna work it off with us. And if any of you try to be a hero and get in the way of that, you're gonna answer to me. And you don't want that because I'm just gonna flatten your ass out. Capiche?"
Abe's mouth dropped open. The Mudokons who knew Alf instantly backed down and the ones who didn't decided to go with the flow. Not everyone looked convinced, but there was only muttering instead of yelling.
"Now all of ya'll head back to the village. And tell the others about him so we don't gotta go through this again," Alf said.
"Sure thing, Alf!" the most eager of the new Mudokons agreed. He was glad to see some enthusiasm in the bunch.
Then most of them started to head back in. The rest lingered, waiting for the group to accompany them. Including Stoopy and Russ, neither of which had been involved in the yelling and the latter currently sporting Abe's dumbstruck look.
Vesper was the opposite, looking at Alf with an atypical amount of admiration.
"Alf, he owes ME moolah, technically," he reminded with a grin.
"You don't got moolah anymore. It's teamwork funds."
"Uh oh," he said, still grinning. "Was that a verbal contract or did you forge my name?"
"How should I know? You're the one who signed your life away to run around in the woods."
"Guys!" Abe said in disbelief, hands up. "That was a little harsh? Alf?"
"Naw it wasn't. Sometimes you just gotta be a little tough to get it through to 'em," Alf assured.
"In a shocking turn of events, we agree on something," Vesper said with a cheeky smile. Though then he saw the look Abe was giving him and it became more apologetic. "You needed a loud voice in your corner. Alf was just tone matching."
"Yeah, but…"
"But nothin', Abe. We're not going to stand here and let 'em gang up on you. There's no way. You're the leader, what you say goes," Alf said. He had that firm tone that showed he wouldn't be argued with, but it softened up. "Besides, if we do it you don't have to."
"I guess so… Thank you. Both of you," Abe said. He finally gained a sincere, if still somewhat worried smile.
"That's what I'm here for. I don't know what the hell he's here for," Alf said, jabbing a thumb at Vesper.
"You know damn well what I'm here for," Vesper said slyly.
Alf shot him a downright devious smirk. "You better believe I do."
And despite keeping that sly grin up, Vesper's ears slowly tilted back, betraying his creeping mortification. He walked right into that.
Daggle, to his credit, had stayed silent through the entire confrontation. He hadn't made a peep, and that probably helped save him from getting his face clobbered in. Though now he could finally talk and breathe.
And he did so by slapping a hand over his mask and tilting his head back with a long groan.
"What've I gotta myself into?" he lamented.
"I really shoulda started squeaking. That would've gotten everyone's attention," Munch said to Toby. He nodded in agreement.
"I'm gonna get lynched in my sleep!" Daggle cried.
Abe and Alf exchanged an uneasy look.
"Gimmie that." Daggle snatched his gun back from Munch and clutched it to his chest. Keeping his finger right on the trigger. Munch rolled his eyes. "If ya'll want me, I'm going back to that ditch we crashed in last night."
"No, you aren't. It's going to be okay. They'll come around," Abe assured.
In fact, a couple apparently already had. While the angry Mudokons had left, a few stayed behind. Including Stoopy, the Mudokons who had defended Abe, a couple who were just there, and Russ- who seemed a little uneasy at first but now had an almost oblivious smile.
With the argument settled, Russ took the initiative to rush up to Vesper.
"Heya, Vesper! What's wrong with your leg?"
"Twisted it falling off a crate at Feeco Depot," Vesper said.
"Those can be killers," another Mudokon, Bill, said.
"Here, I'll help ya out," Russ offered. He hooked an arm under Vesper's and around his back.
"Hey, thanks!" Vesper smiled and gladly put an arm around his shoulders.
Abe noticed the interaction and, more importantly, noticed how different it was to when he first brought Vesper there. The others had been so wary of an unknown Industrialist living with them at first, but now they had completely warmed up to him. They didn't bat an eye at the bat.
He even made a friend willing to help him out- though Abe should've probably been doing that himself. Just in case- But the point was, maybe they would eventually open up to Daggle too.
"Well, we got 'em off our backs for a while," Alf said.
"Yeah…"
"Just don't overthink it. Or beat yourself up over it. Trust me, by tonight everybody's gonna be too wrapped up in hearing where we've been that they're not going to give Daggle a second look."
"I hope so…"
"Abe, you're staring."
"Oh."
Abe ripped his gaze away from Vesper and Russ.
"I'm a dead Slig walkin' here," Daggle mumbled as he shuffled up behind the two.
"You just have to stick close to me, okay?" Abe instructed.
"Yeah. Yeah…"
Which he did. As they walked back to the village, Daggle kept so close to Abe that if he so much as slowed down he would run directly into him. Him looking around side-eyeing any Mudokon giving him a weird look, which was most of them. Though they could've also been staring at Munch who was hopping along beside Abe, deciding pointedly to not be carried.
"So, this is where you live? It's kinda nice. All this green and stuff," he said.
"Yup! And wait until you get to the village. There's huts too."
"There any water?"
"Some creeks and rivers, and this big pool with a waterfall."
"Sounds like my kinda place!"
"As much as I'd love to go faceplant in a hut for a couple'a days. What are we gonna do about the, uh… the Raisin guy?" Alf asked. Toby nodded attentively.
Abe stopped again and Daggle ran into him, with him barely flinching.
"The Raisin… We need to go see him as soon as we get to the village. I need to tell him what happened… What I did."
"What you did was what we were supposed to do. Break in and break the place open," Alf reasoned.
"Didn't work so well this time…"
"Well, if this Raisin's as wise or whatever as he says he is, he oughta have another way in. Don't give up yet, we've always got another chance," Alf encouraged, throwing an arm back around him. This time much more relaxed. "And I'll be right there facing that Raisin with you."
Abe smiled appreciatively. "Thanks."
"Who or what is the Raisin?" Munch asked in confusion.
"Big guy. Used to be a tree and says he knows all about everything," Toby quietly explained.
"He's down in a pit where Vykker's Labs dumps all of their trash," Abe continued.
"Ugh. Sounds like I might pass," Munch said.
"You could hit the pool instead. It's on the way."
"I dunno, maybe you should come with us. If he's oh-so-great, he might be able to tell you where to find other Gabbits," Alf suggested.
Munch perked up at that instantly. "Then what are we waitin' for?! To the Raisin!"
In actuality, they made it to the village first. Abe very quickly dragged Daggle around and introduced him to as many Mudokons as possible, ignoring their questionable or dirty looks to give the clear message that Daggle was not to be touched. Alf followed with his arms crossed like a bodyguard. Toby stepped away to refresh himself and Munch hopped around waiting, getting a much warmer reaction from the curious Mudokons who recognized him as a natural creature. Some stared, but it was more ogling than glaring.
Vesper got his leg wrapped up by Bill before joining the group. Despite the twisted ankle and the walk they'd had to endure, he was determined to accompany them to the Raisin. Russ almost invited himself, but Abe gently suggested he stay behind to greet them when they got back. Russ, being the cheery guy he was, didn't mind at all. He just rushed off to get prepared for that evening.
Abe wasn't sure what was being planned, but it was probably some sort of little welcome party. That would be good to help him feel at home, because right now he still felt on the move.
And then they were out of the village again. Daggle accompanied, of course, and Munch, Alf, and Toby, and they walked into the jungle to seek the Raisin.
The caves were mostly cleared, probably because it was still daytime. Daggle ended up having to pick off a brave straggler and that must've got the message to the others as they could hear scuffling in the darkness, but didn't see any more feral Fuzzles.
"Poor things. The Vykker's must'a really messed up their heads," Munch sympathized.
"Nah, they're always like this. They're all teeth," Alf shrugged off.
"I'll have ya know, the Fuzzles I met up at the Labs were pretty nice! I'd let 'em out of their cages and they'd hide away in the vents. Hope they're okay…"
"I'm sure they are. You lived in the vents for a while," Abe said.
"I guess so. Maybe."
Soon they arrived at the dump, and then for what felt like an hour found their way through the thicket of trash to arrive at the Raisin. He stood in the midst of the well with his eyes closed, as still as a statue.
But as they approached, his eyes opened. They glowed with a haunting yellow aura and those who hadn't seen him could tell instantly why Abe had believed him to be something of power. That light was something supernatural, that got into your soul when you looked at it, even when he wasn't looking at you.
Vesper let Abe go and gave him a encouraging nudge. Abe took a step forward and looked up to the Raisin.
"It's me. Abe. I'm back," he said quietly.
"I can see. And you have brought others with you."
"I hope that's okay. This is Vesper. You remember him." Vesper gave a little wave. "And that's Alf and Toby, my brothers. I mean, we're all brothers, but they're my closest brothers. That's Munch and DAGGLE- he's not dangerous! He's with us. He's okay," he raced out.
"I have seen your passage. From your venture into Evenwurst, to your excursion into Vykker's Labs, to your fall back to Mudos. I have witnessed and observed your entire journey."
As unsettling as that was, for everyone standing there, what Abe focused on the most was the mention of Vykker's Labs. He was filled with guilt as he looked up at the Raisin.
"I'm sorry. You told me Vykker's Labs was tough, but I went in anyway and then I got caught and blew the whole thing. I… I failed," he admitted.
"You did not fail, Abe," the Raisin corrected. "A foolish and rash decision you made, yes, but you brought back something more valuable than you will ever know."
For a split second, Abe actually wondered if he meant Daggle.
"Come forth, Gabbit."
Everyone looked towards Munch who looked just as surprised. He looked around at the others before carefully hopping up to stand underneath the Raisin, looking up with wide, wary eyes.
"Little Gadget-Top, do you know why you have been brought here?"
"Uh, because of Abe?" Munch guessed.
"It is because you are alone. You knew if you returned to the waters, you would not find another of your kind."
He sulked, his shoulders dropping.
"Look at me, Gabbit. Look at me and listen. You are the last Gabbit living free in the waters of Oddworld."
"What?! That can't be true! There's waters all over! There's gotta be more than just me!"
"Due to the wasteful neglect of your species that is no longer the case. The Industrialists have been consuming Gabbits for as long as there have been nets in the sea. You may know them as webs. They use your skin for apparel. Your lungs to replace their own heavy with tar and tumors. Your eggs are eaten as a delicacy."
"They eat our eggs?" Munch asked weakly.
"By the gallons."
"Oh hell, the Gabbiar," Vesper muttered in realization.
Abe too had forgotten all about what the Raisin had said about the Gabbiar until now. Had filed it away in his brain for use later between the factories and facilities and labs they had to venture through. But now it hit him like a ton of bricks why bringing Munch here was suddenly so desperately important.
The Gabbiar Auction.
He took a step back and put a hand on Vesper's shoulder reassuringly, leaning in and whispering. "It's okay. You didn't know."
The wide-eyed sweating-bullets look Vesper had would've been comical any other time. Abe just squeezed his shoulder and continued to listen to the Raisin.
"But… But what about Ma'Spa? The Big Cold River?! All the waters and all the trenches?! How could it be just me?!" Munch argued.
"You are correct. It is true that like you a few stragglers do remain. But the few who do are weak, hunted, dire, and doomed. Their time is short. As far as the future is concerned, you are the last."
"That's… That's messed up…" Munch started to breath heavier. His eyes widening and pupils shrinking. "Messed up. Real messed up. Can't be. Gotta be wrong."
But Abe knew the Raisin wasn't. He knew it because the Meech had gone too, and nearly the Scrabs and Paramites. Who knew how many other species were wiped out.
Vesper suddenly leaned in close.
"Abe," he whispered.
"Yeah?"
"When we get home, stall Munch. I've got to run in and hide my luggage."
"Why? To make more room?"
"No. Because it's made out of Gabbit skin."
"…Oh… OH."
"I didn't know they were- I thought they were just fish! I had no idea they were people!" Vesper frantically whispered, the guilt already eating him up.
"Oh nooo…" Abe mumbled.
They stood there awkwardly, both looking at Munch's back. Him entirely oblivious, hyperventilating on air that dried out his lungs.
It couldn't be true. He couldn't be the last- he said there were others. He was exaggerating. He was wrong. He was a land dweller, he couldn't really know what hid in the bottom of the ocean. He had to be wrong.
But then… where were they all? Why hadn't he seen another Gabbit in so long? Why did the Vykkers talk about him like he was some sort of rarity in the wild?
Could it be true? Could he be the last? It seemed crazy, but…
But…
"But there is hope."
Munch's head snapped up towards the Raisin.
"There is one last can of Grade-A Gabbiar in existence. This can is the key to the survival of your species. The eggs inside are still alive and primed to bear the next generation. If you can acquire this Gabbiar and take it to the ancient spawning grounds, they will be born, and Gabbitkind may heal."
"There-There's a- Where is it?! How many eggs, where are they?!" Munch desperately shouted.
He didn't know how to raise eggs, but he would learn. If it was true, if he was the last, then he would do anything to get them back. Anything in the whole of Oddworld.
"They are being held in Vykker's Labs."
Munch's eyes went wide, and his head fins drooped.
"Before the next new moon, the Gabbiar will be auctioned off to the Cartel and Conglomerate's elite. If they are allowed to purchase the Gabbiar, it will be devoured before the evening wanes. Thus ending any chance of your species' survival. You must infiltrate Vykkers' Labs once more and retrieve the can."
"No, no, no! I'm not going back there! Do you see what they did to me?!" Munch shouted. He pointed up at his port, which sparked with his frustration. "They almost killed me! They stuck all these needles and sharp things in me, they drilled into my head! I can't go back! I won't!"
"Listen to me, Gadget Tip, and you listen well," the Raisin boomed. "You WILL go back to Vykkers' Labs. You WILL collect that can. But you cannot do so without Abe, and likewise, Abe cannot find the imprisoned queen without your assistance. You will have only one chance. If you lose it, there is no other."
"I can't! I can't…" Munch's voice caught with a whimper. He clasped his hands over his large eyes and shook his head. "I can't. I can't. I can't…"
He was breaking down.
Abe understood that feeling. He stepped up to his side, unsure if he was wanted but compelled to do something.
Munch noticed and looked up at him. He was crying, the tears overflowing from his large eyes. He hiccupped a little before hiding them again under his hands. It was too much to ask of him. Too much for a heart to bear. Abe understood completely even though he hadn't gone through the horrors Munch had in the labs.
Abe quickly crouched down beside him and pulled him into a hug. Munch didn't hug back, still frozen in place, but after a little while he rested a hand on Abe's arm.
Munch was devastated. It was over. It was just him. Unless he headed into that horrible place again, he would die as the last Gabbit.
…But he wasn't alone anymore, at least.
"Poor little Shmuck…" Alf mumbled.
Toby looked especially upset, frowning and nodding to Alf.
They were all pretty shook up by it- save maybe Daggle who was still mostly just absorbing all of this.
But nobody besides Munch was as shaken as Vesper was.
Initially all he had been worried about was Munch finding out about his past purchases, but now the guilt had crept up and dug its claws into his back. Stabbed him right through the heart as he listened to Munch's soft whimpers and hiccups, which he could hear more clearly than anyone else. He couldn't help but fixate on them.
Gabbits could talk, they could think, and they were nearly extinct.
How many scoops of Gabbiar had he eaten? He never thought twice about what he spread onto a cracker. He never even asked what a Gabbit looked like.
He helped this. He was one of the Industrialists who caused this. He ate Gabbit eggs, he bought luggage made of their skin- he didn't have to think of anything more. He ate their babies, he used their skin.
He had been a part of the problem, and there was no changing that.
…But maybe he could do something to make up for that. If he could help them get that Gabbiar and get into that auction-
And he had an idea how. Maybe he could finally put that moolah to use.
He stepped up with determination and looked up at the Raisin. Despite how bright the Raisin's eyes glowed, Vesper found himself able to look at them without any pain. It was a strange and surreal sensation.
"Sir, I think that maybe I can help," he spoke up. The Raisin's attention focused to him; he felt it more than he saw it. "I can use my connections as an investor to get into Vykker's Labs for the auction. I might've almost blown my cover before, but I have enough moolah to win them over. I smuggle Abe and the others in and then I'll be on the inside when the auction goes down."
"And how do you plan on doing so?" the Raisin asked. He didn't seem surprised by the suggestion at all, like he was expecting it. Even his questioning seemed less curious and more leading.
"Well, let's see… First off, I'll say that I'm a representative of Ryce Investments who was informed of someone using our name for deceptive means. Insert myself into the auction that way. If I can find a phone with long distance I can pull a few strings, call in a favor, and get myself in. Then we get, uh…" He snapped his fingers a few times. "Get a blimp! Another blimp, air ship, disguise it with a Ryce logo, fly it to Vykker's Labs, and figure out from there how to get Abe back inside," he continued, turning towards Abe to continue the explanation to him since he seemed more interested.
"Hmm…" the Raisin hummed for a long moment. "If you do this, there will be no going back from it. Your name will become synonymous with Stitch Lips'. You will be unable to unweave yourself from the fabric of fate." His eyes shifted slightly, and he looked down at Vesper. "Are you willing to give up everything?"
Everything. Hearing it spelled out like that made it a lot more daunting. Give up everything else. Give up his chance to get home, his security, his name. It was a huge price that he didn't want to think of.
So, he didn't. He thought of Abe, Munch, and the Mudokons and Gabbits. It was worth it, he decided. Worth not thinking about and worth doing.
Vesper gave a firm nod. "I'll do it."
"Are you sure?" Abe asked. "You'd be just as wanted as me, Alf, and Toby are. You'll be a part of… this!" Still with an arm around Munch, he gestured between himself and Alf and Toby.
"I already am. I'm just locking it in," Vesper declared. "This is what I signed up for."
"Indeed. I see you will not be swayed. Do not let yourself be swayed. You seek a path of redemption and have your feet pointed in the right direction. Let no one steer you away from the light," the Raisin encouraged. Then his eyes shifted again. "You, young Slig."
"Me?" Daggle asked, fully taken aback at suddenly getting called out. "Hold up. I don't wanna be pulled into this."
"You already are," the Raisin said briskly. "How do you feel about what you have just heard? The destruction of this noble species? The suffering they have endured?"
"Well, uh… I dunno. It's kinda sad," Daggle admitted, rubbing his neck.
"Hmm, an honest answer… Perhaps there is hope for you yet. Alf, protect him."
"What? Why me?" Alf asked, just as shocked as Daggle was to get called out.
"Because you are here, and Abe cannot do it alone."
Alf inhaled deeply. "I'll do it for Abe."
"Toby."
Toby looked up at the Raisin nervously.
"Well done."
"Oh, umm, thank you," Toby said quietly.
"You are fine. Do what you know is best."
"Okay."
"And for all of you I have one final message, so listen well," the Raisin proclaimed. "Reclaiming the Gabbiar will not be possible by taking it alone. It is concealed under lock and key. You will need to win the auction, which will take a considerably large amount of Moolah and a figurehead to offer it in your place. A patsy, as you may call it. Only then may you have the can in hand, find your beloved queen, free both your brothers and descendants, and then… and then…"
The Raisin's eyes slid closed with a long sigh as he slipped into slumber.
They sat there in silence before realizing that the Raisin was not waking back up.
"…That's it?" Munch gestured his hands towards the large form. "That's the big message?!"
"That's it," Abe said.
Munch covered his face with exasperation.
"Guess we should get going. Want me to-?"
"I want to walk." Munch turned and looked around at the garbage filling the well. "…Once we get out of here."
Things were eerily quiet as the group made their way out of the well- except occasional swears and the occasional shout of pain, and one loud crash of garbage that made Alf panic and start shouting for Abe, but turned out to have missed him and Munch by a few feet.
They made their way out of the Big Well and caves, and back into the muggy shade of the jungle surrounding it in one piece.
"Hey, Munch. Do you… want to go see the pool?" Abe offered.
"Yeah," Munch said, his eyes stuck to the forest floor.
"I'm gonna show Munch to the pool," Abe said. Then he leaned in towards Vesper, lowered his voice to a whisper, hiding it behind his hand. "You go home and, uh… make some room."
Vesper's eyes went wide only to recoil in a squint from the sun. "Yes, right. Thank you for reminding me." Toby stepped in to offer an arm. "Hey, thanks."
"No problem," Toby said.
"Daggle, want to come?" Abe called.
"I'm kinda stuck to ya unless I want a bullet in the head, so yeah. I guess I'm goin'," Daggle replied.
So, they split up. With Alf sort of falling behind as Toby took Vesper back to the village and Abe carried Munch into the jungle.
Soon enough the Mudokon, Gabbit, and Slig arrived at the pool. It was surprisingly beautiful, to the point where it took Abe by surprise even though he had seen it before.
The jungle palms and fronds opened to a large pond being filled with a tall, clean waterfall off the back cliff. Moss and fronds grew up the cliff towards the blue sky opened up above the pool. Various flowers speckled around the greenery and mossy rocks at the water's edge and the sound of birds singing was clearer here.
There was a larger creek or small river that led away towards the west, and above it the trees had separated enough that it was fully bathed in sunlight and revealed more blue sky. There was a comfortable warmth in the air, and it smelled like sweet leaves.
"What do you think?"
"It's real nice, Abe. Really pretty," Munch said. His voice was extra croaky from crying, and he sounded exhausted.
He didn't sound too enthused, but he hopped to the water's edge and stood on the rocks for a moment before hopping into the water and then diving in once it was deep enough to do so. He swam around in a little circle.
The water WAS nice, clean and fresh, but it was hard to be comfortable at a time like this. He had a lot of thoughts swimming around in his head. Thoughts that he didn't want to fish up.
He popped his head out of the water to see Abe starting to sit down on a rock.
"…Hey, Abe."
Abe looked up. "Yeah?"
"You, uh… You want another swimming lesson?"
Abe was surprised. It felt like it came out of nowhere. Munch looked so sad and lonely, and he was offering to teach him to swim more?
Maybe he just wanted someone to swim with, Abe realized.
He didn't say a word. He just put on a smile, slipped off his bag, and started to step into the water. No point in taking off his pants with an audience around. Soon he was fully submerged.
"Alright, now you just gotta start paddling towards me-."
Daggle sat at the water's edge watching as they got started. Standing guard against nobody, really. Technically Abe was guarding him and he was just sitting there with his tail between his legs.
It was hard not to think of what the Raisin said. As far as Daggle was concerned the big guy was a big quack spewing native-centric mumbo-jumbo, but somehow it got under his skin.
'Perhaps there is hope for you yet', he said. As though he knew him, but he didn't. He didn't know nothing about what Daggle had to go through to get here, the bridges he burned to keep his skin. And he called that hope? He didn't know what was worse, the thought that betraying his own kind was good or the fact that it wasn't enough to prove himself already.
It was a whole lotta bshhhzt really. Maybe Sligs weren't exactly chummy with Mudokons, but they were loyal to a fault. They had to be to shoot each other because some higher up told them to. They might've screwed each other over, but they weren't backstabbers. They were just getting by with what they had.
And everybody Daggle had was gone now.
He had… Abe, shockingly. Apparently, Abe was loyal too. Up until he physically shielded him, Daggle was still planning on Abe rolling over on him. But he didn't.
Guess that meant Daggle was in for the long haul now. How could he ever go back into the system that tried to kill him when some soft-hearted Mud with scary puppet powers decided he was worth living? He couldn't.
But that meant a whole lot of soul-searching, and he didn't even know where to start.
Thank the Odds, but he didn't have to. He was interrupted by a voice coming from behind him.
"Hey."
"Gah!" Daggle flung his arms up protectively before snatching up his gun into his lap again. "Warn a guy! Yeesh!"
"Put that back down," Alf said nonchalantly. He sat down on a smaller rock beside his.
Daggle looked down at the gun before setting it down on the ground beside him, still very close. He wasn't afraid of Alf, but the threat that came with not holding that gun. Yet he rested his arms in his lap.
"Whuzzup?"
"Okay, so…" Alf sighed wearily. "I've been kinda hard on you."
Daggle scoffed. "Kinda."
"Alright, I've been real hard on ya. Can you blame me?"
"Guess not. If we were in a factory, I guess I'd be the one wringing you out," Daggle said. Not threateningly, not even proudly, just casually. "But it's not all Meechs and cream for me neither. What happens if my legs break down? Or when I run outta bullets? I'm already down to-." Daggle popped open his gun and looked. "Ooo, not great. Looks like I'm about to be downgraded to useless."
"You ain't useless. And we'll get you more bullets."
"Sure ya wanna keep a gun in my hand?" Daggle popped the gun closed with one hand. "I might use it on you."
"Eh, I don't think you will."
"Yeah, yer probably right," Daggle agreed. "…But if I wake up to a bunch of Muds tryin' to beat me to death, I might fire off a few warning shots into their legs."
"Just yell for me, I'll straighten 'em out."
The two watched Abe attempt to paddle around in the water with Munch trying to help him stay afloat. Alf smiled a little bit. Both got a lot of bad news today, so it was good to see them doing something other than worrying about it. And it was damn good to see Abe find someone he could relate with.
He and Toby always had Abe's back, but they couldn't always relate. Vesper was his cuddle buddy, but he came from money. Daggle was practically a pariah.
But Munch knew what it was like to have the fate of his whole species on his back. Both of them could use a friend like that.
Everyone needed someone to have their back.
Alf sighed. "What do you say we call a truce?"
"A truce?" Daggle cocked his head.
"Yeah. I'll go easier on you, and you don't do anything stupid."
"Hell yeah! Sounds like a plan! I- Err, wait. That don't cover accidents, right?" Daggle asked. Offering his hand and then pulling it back.
Alf rolled his eyes and grabbed his hand, shaking it. "Depends on how stupid it is and how much I've gotta clean up afterwards."
"Deal!" Daggle chuckled. "Heh, you ever think you'd be making a deal with a Sliggie?"
"At this point, nothin' shocks me."
"True that."
Things returned to a comfortable silence once more. With the Mudokon and Slig sitting on some uncomfortable and slightly damp rocks watching the last Gabbit struggle to teach the Mudokon Savior how to swim.
Alf wondered what Wildum would've thought of this. It was the first time he had willingly thought about Wildum in a long time, and he couldn't really answer it.
But… maybe Abe had a point. Maybe Daggle had a reason to be here.
Or maybe Alf had just finally gotten comfortable with him.