Octonauts - A new Generation
Chapter 7
Routine
Barnacles’ pov
Missing humuhumunukunukuapua'a part 2
His alarm goes off. He jumps out of bed. He puts on his cold suit. He brushes his teeth. He goes through the Octo-shoot and into the HQ. This was his daily morning routine. Despite going to bed late, he still woke up early. While yawning, he walks to the hot cocoa machine and puts his cup in place. It has been years since Barnacles has had coffee. It took him quite a while to get used to having hot cocoa instead, but now he’s practically addicted to it. He remembers the first (and hopefully last) time the Octonauts and Octo-agents had completely run out of hot cocoa. No matter how hard he tried to hide his disappointment, he has a sneaking suspicion that it still showed.
As he takes a sip of his hot cocoa, Dashi hops out of the Octo-shoot, shortly followed by Tweak.
“Good morning ladies”, Barnacles says.
“Morning cap”, Tweak yawns as she walks towards the hot cocoa machine.
“Good morning captain Barnacles”, Dashi replies in a formal manner, as always.
“How did you sleep?”, he asks, knowing full well how Tweak will answer.
The rabbit groans as she stretches herself. “Could barely sleep, once again”, she answers annoyed.
“I slept fairly well, thanks for asking. How about you captain?”, Dashi returns the question.
“Oh, well…I also slept well”, Barnacles replies.
“You’re the worst at ly’ng”, Tweak remarks while chuckling, “I heard you ‘nd the others returning long past midnight."
“I see. Well, I hope we didn’t wake you up”, Barnacles says sheepishly, ashamed that he had been caught.
“Not at all, I was just about-a hop out of bed and play a li’l until sleep finally finds me”, Tweak resplies while laughing.
Barnacles peaks over to Dashi, who gave him a concerned look.
“With all due respect, perhaps you should stay in bed a little longer captain”, Dashi calmly says.
Barnacles loves her calm voice, but he is ashamed at how she’s more professional than he is.
“There is no need to worry about me Dashi, I’ll be fine. Besides, I need to continue the search for the missing humuhumu”, he says firmly.
Dashi’s concerned expression does not ease away. She opens her mouth to say something, but is interrupted by an ear screeching yell from the Octo-shoot.
“YYOOOWWWW!”, a ginger cat comes shooting out of the Octo-shoot, making a double front flip as he does so.
“Captain, I’m ready to continue the search!”, Kwazii exclaims, with a bit too much enthusiasm for someone who is supposed to be tired.
“I am ready as well”, Peso says while letting out a yawn.
“Are you sure?”, Barnacles asks with worry, “I can go on my own if you’re too tired-“
“Don’t worry captain!”, Kwazii yells.
“We’ll find Humpert and then come back to get some rest”, Peso calmly reassures.
“Alright”, Barnacles says, seeing the flames of determination in both Kwazii and Peso, “Let’s get going.”
The trio had been searching for Humpert for hours now. With each hour that passed, Peso grew more and more uneasy. Barnacles had observed the same behavior the day before, and was starting to get concerned about his crew mate. The whole crew had become a family, but of course, they all still have their own secrets, their own hidden past lives that might be revealed when the time comes to do so.
After another hour of searching for the humuhumu without any success, Barnaces decides that the trio should take a break and eat something. Peso, however, politely excuses himself and continues searching for the fish on his own. It took some persuading, but Barnacles ended up giving him perission to do so.
“What’s wrong with our lil’ matey?”, Kwazii asks as soon as the medic leaves the gup-A.
“I’m not sure”, Barnacles calmly responds.
“Should we ask him?”, Kwazii sugggests.
Barnacles thinks for a minute. He is concerned about the penguin, but if Peso is not ready to talk about it, then they shouldn’t push him to do so. On the other hand, maybe all it takes for Peso to finally open up is for them to ask him what’s going on. Either way, there’s no harm in asking him. As long as they do it politely.
“We’ll ask him about it when the time is right”, Barnacles confirms.
As soon as the duo finish eating, they continue with their search, while also keeping an eye out for Peso.
“I’m near a coral reef captain”, Peso’s voice explains through the radio.
“I see one up ahead on the left!”, Kwazii excitedly exclaims.
“We’re on our way Peso”, Barnacles’ tone was calm.
It didn’t take long for the duo to find the penguin. They continued their search for a few more hours. Peso was getting more and more impatient, making the others more and more concerned. Kwazii gives Barnacles a sad look. Barnacles nods shortly, signalizing that now is the right time.
“Are you alright me hearty?”, Kwazii calmly asks, with an unnaturally comforting voice for someone like him.
“Yeah”, Peso sheepishly answers.
“Peso, if you ever need to talk to anyone, we’re always here to listen”, Branacles says, making sure that his voice stays calm, comforting and reassuring.
Peso hesitates for a while, looking down at his feet while thinking about it.
“I’m just worried. Creatures that go missing…what if they have a severe injury?”, he slowly explains.
“Peso, has this kind of situation happen to you before?”, Barnacles says slowly, attempting to get a little more information from what Peso has mentioned.
“…My brother. Not Pinto, my other brother”, Peso finally admits.
“Other brother!?”, Kwazii says, the concern now replaced by shock and disbelief, “Since when have you had another brother!?”
Peso flinches at the sudden change of tone.
“Calm down Kwazii”, Barnacles firmly says, stopping the engine to put a comforting paw on Peso’s shoulder.
“Pedro. He…he went missing. For months. When he was found… It was too late”, Peso slowly starts crying.
Barnacles pulls him into a hug. Kwazii joins them shortly after. The trio stay that way for a few more minutes.
“We’ll find Humpert Peso, I promise”, Barnacles softly, but firmly, states.
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