The dropship hummed quietly above Polus. You, Blue, and White stepped through the medbay doors, hearts heavy. Red lay motionless on the hospital bed, pale under the harsh lights — a clean bandage over the stab wound from Fortegreen.

Blue set down their pack. “He’s still out?” White nodded, worry lacing their voice. “Yeah. He hasn’t moved since we lifted off.”

Before anyone could say more, the door slid open — Purple and Pink stepped in. The air shifted immediately. You, Blue, and White instinctively moved closer to Red’s bed, shielding him. Purple’s eyes flicked to the relic glinting faintly on the table beside him.

Purple: “Relax,” Purple said, tone smooth but cold. Pink: “We’re not here for a fight.” White: “You’re not touching him,” White snapped.

The argument flared, fast. Glitchy ran to call the guards — but chaos followed. The guards seized White instead, dragging him off with Purple. A mistake… or manipulation.

The situation had barely cooled. Blue discovered a way to kill parasites by injecting blue liquid cure. You returned to Red’s room with Blue, Pink, and Mini Yellow, hoping for quiet. But Mini Yellow’s scream broke the silence.

Glitchy: “Guys—Red isn’t the same—!”

Before they could finish, a slick, dark arm lashed out from the doorway, snatching Glitchy back inside. You ran forward. And there — standing under the medbay lights — was Red. His skin veined black, his eyes hollow, mouth wide with impossible teeth. He held Mini Yellow above the gaping maw.

You froze. Parasite Red growled low, the sound alien, trembling with rage.

White: “Stop—!” White’s voice shouted from behind. “Don’t hurt him! It’s not Red—it’s the parasite!”

Purple charged in, but hesitated, bound by tentacles moments later. Blue yelled for Pink, but Pink had already run off—chasing the slice of pizza one of the parasite’s arms dangled mockingly down the corridor.

You stood there—heart pounding—faced with the corrupted version of your friend, unsure if there was any humanity left behind those red eyes.