It took a little bit of bribing before the two newcomers agreed to drink the freshly made water. Mostly the fact that they literally had nothing else, so either drink the fish water or find your end with dehydration. It was a little messed up to use that argument, since they were literally just rescued from near death, but it did get them to finally drink the much needed water. And it didn't taste like fish water, so they'll get used to it quickly, like the rest of them had. (Although the would have probably found a way to get different water if they absolutely refused to drink this one)

The actual fish was much easier, both of them eagerly taking their portion of cooked meat to finally sate their hunger. Pac had to be fed, more or less, his arms still too weak and shaky to hold the cooked meat on his own. Fit volunteered to help him, carefully helping him take each bite and wash it down with more water. The injured man had been a blushing mess the first time Fit held the fish up to his mouth, but they settled into the short routine after the third bite.

Techno had to shush Tubbo's teasing mocking multiple times for the sake of Pac eating anything and both Fit and Pac not to pass out from all their blood going to their head.

Cellbit was a bit more stubborn, refusing to accept help even though his arms weren't strong either. But he fought through it, taking each bite with a little grin, determination to live burning in his eyes. Techno admired that a little, that stubborn drive to stay alive, even after everything that happened to them. He was almost certain that Cellbit's fire was the only thing that kept both him and Pac alive, with the other man being far more reserved and accepting of their fate.

However they did it, it led them to finally escape their hell and find new strength and a helping hand to steady them both.

With full bellies and much needed hydration, the mood in the crowded pod became more and more quiet and sleepy as the sun disappeared behind the horizon. It was a struggle to somehow fit all five of them, but they managed, even if they felt like sardines in a tin. How ironic.

Techno had decided to give his jacket to Pac, although it had mostly been claimed by Tubbo. The teen didn't complain though, eagerly handing it off to the injured man at the older's suggestion. It would have either been Cellbit or Pac, wanting to offer a much comfort as they could with the new safety and food. Cellbit looked more than pleased that the jacket went to Pac, so they made the right choice in offering it to him.

In the end they found somewhat acceptable sleeping positions, half laying down, half sitting, huddled together against the chill of the night.

The night wasn't as restful as Techno hoped it would be.

Despite the exhaustion pulling at his bones, he couldn't sleep. While everyone else slowly dozed off cuddled together, he was leaning against the wall beside Tubbo, staring into nothingness as his mind refuses to shut down and let him rest. He drifted in and out of consciousness, but never fully slipped into that little space of rest. It was annoying, frustrating.

The pod was starting to feel more and more suffocating with so many people squeezed together, the life support working overtime to provide oxygen for all of them, filtering the air as fast as it could.

Maybe he should open the hatch to let in more fresh air. It was safe, after all, they have been breathing it for days, weeks now, maybe. Techno wasn't sure how much time has passed now.

He wasn't feeling like sleeping right now anyways, so he could watch the hatch and make sure nothing can get inside. Or close it if for some miracle reason it starts raining. During the whole time since they crashed, it hasn't rained once. Not that Techno had seen at least. Maybe it had rained when they were sleeping, or when he was still unconscious after the crash.

He carefully wriggled out of his place between Fit and Tubbo, sighing when they both grumbled, but didn't wake up, simply turning more to lean against the other people sleeping right next to them. Techno slowly climbed up the ladder to unlatch the hatch. The loud click made him wince, but one look back to the group showed that none of them woke from the noise, exhaustion pulling them all into a deep sleep. Everyone except him.

The night air was a lot cooler than during the day, but it was still pleasantly refreshing in comparison to the air inside the pod. Techno carefully sat down at the edge of the hatch, taking a deep breath, checking on his friends to see if the temperature change was the last straw to wake them. But they only huddled closer together, seeking out each other's warmth.

He could see Pac pressing into Fit's side, relaxed in the hold of a strong mechanical arm.

See Tubbo comfortably nestled between Cellbit and Fit, curled into an impossibly small ball now that he had a bit more space to do so.

See Cellbit's face finally relaxed for the first time since their rescue, although he was twitching quite a lot, most likely dreaming of something. He unconsciously inched closer to Tubbo after a particular bad jolt, but remained asleep.

Watching them like this, Techno felt horribly out of place. They seemed to fit together so well, seeking out each other's comfort without even thinking about it. Even without fully knowing each other, in the case of Cellbit and Pac, they started to trust almost immediately.

Was it because Techno never really had been part of a team? Always remained isolated in his little garden, with only Tubbo to visit him and Fit to train with in his evenings in the gym? Techno never had been a social person and during the whole travel, he only wanted to go back home to his family. Play games with the few online friends he had made that were just as awkward as him. Now, in such close proximity with so many people, it was a little overwhelming. Yes, they are his friends, if he can call them that, but... it just felt different.

He shook his head, trying to rid himself of the dark thoughts that always try to invade his mind. Instead, he stared at the view in front of him, at what this planet had to offer to distract him.

If you take away the fear and worry of being stranded... it was actually quite beautiful. The sky was filled with stars, the large red moon slowly passing by behind the crashed remains of the ship. Every now and again he could see a shooting star zip across the glittering void, alongside the colourful stardust that told of great suns long since expired, their remains now starting to birth new stars and planets.

He'd never have this view back home...

The thought of home brought the stinging pain back he had ignored ever since he and Fit managed to find each other. Thoughts of his family, his friends, a safe home...

He took a shaky breath, averting his eyes from the wrecked ship and instead tried to look at the night sky, but the beautiful sight was quickly blurred by his gathering tears. Instead of the beauty of space, he saw his siblings stare back at him, asking him when he will come home. His mother, reaching for him, his father comforting her.

The first sob tore from his throat, quickly muffled by his hand as the tears started to flow. He allowed himself to cry, to just feel the grief and homesickness wrecking his heart. His body shook as he tried to muffle his cries for the sake of his... team? Group? They shouldn't be ripped from their much needed rest because of him.

Just another thing he could fuck up.

More lives he could ruin.

He could still hear their screams...

Techno's head jerked up when he picked up a familiar noise. A soft, low rumble, something he still sometimes hears in his dreams. Tears and grief forgotten, his hands found the handles on either side of the ladder on the outside of the pod, holding on tightly as he scanned the water below him. He could see the luminescent plant life and fish swimming about, as if nothing was happening.

Then a large shadow, blocking out the lights below.

Techno's heart dropped.

Two large, glowing eyes stared up at him from beneath the surface, no other features visible from the darkness of the water. The human did not dare to move, quickly realizing that this must have been how Tubbo encountered the creature hours earlier. It just suddenly appeared, no signs of it's arrival until it wants to be seen. A perfect predator for the hunt. Was Techno it's next target?

Fear didn't allow him to move or to make a single sound. Maybe it only sees movement? Like the dinosaurs in the movies. Or maybe he was too small to be an interesting meal. Does it know there are more people inside the pod? Was this even the same creature? Maybe there are multiple ones and they had experienced a different creature in each encounter.

Nope, that thought only made it worse.

Much to Techno's horror, the creature came closer, the two great fins Tubbo had described slowly rising from the water. But it didn't stop there. More of the fins rose above the surface and soon the water above the glowing eyes rose a little, then broke as it's head lifted out of the water.

Techno stared at it with a mixture of complete awe and something close to horror as he stared the creature in the eyes. It didn't lift it's head fully out of the water, only halfway really, but it was enough to show that it was humanoid looking. Much like the hand Tubbo had described to be humanoid.

It's face was a sandy gold in colour, the same colour as the massive scales he had seen through the window in the hatch during the very first encounter. The eyes glowed a pale green, no pupils visible to the human. It even had hair, although it looked much thicker than hair, jet black in colour, almost like the stary void above them. Fins poke out of the hair on each side of his face, almost mimicking ears.

Why does it look so fucking human...

The creature just stared at him, tilting it's head a little when Techno refused to even move an inch. It rose a bit higher, still not lifting it's head fully out of the water, instead lifting a very much humanoid hand up and towards him. His heart raced as he watched the hand come closer until it tapped the pod right below him, making it sway slightly.

Techno gripped the handles harder, tempted to kick at the hand to maybe shock it into going away. If it would even feel the kick...

The creature waited a little, then tapped it again when Techno refused to move again. Was it confused that he wasn't running? Maybe it thinks he is dead. What is it waiting for?

"Techno?" Fit's tired voice echoed up from inside the pod, immediately catching the creature's attention, who's ears perked a little at the noise. "What are you doing up there? Why is the pod-" Then he heard it, the low rumble vibrating through the pod. Without another word, while Techno kept staring at the creature, Fit started to shake Tubbo awake. He immediately covered the teen's mouth when he began to protest, who also immediately froze once he realized what he was hearing.

Although unlike the fear that Techno and Fit held and the confusion of Pac and Fit, Tubbo seemed excited by the return of the creature. He pushed past Fit instantly and vaulted up the ladder, despite Fit trying to catch him. "You're back!" The teen's eyes glowed with brilliant awe as he stared down at the creature, gasping when he saw that it had revealed it's face. "Hello! I didn't think you would come back this soon! Is something wrong?"

The creature continued to rumble, a bit louder now, as it reached up further to tap the pod beside Tubbo. It seemed happy to see him...

"Yeah, you probably don't understand me still. We need to figure that one out." Tubbo was about to slide down and get closer to the creature, but Techno grabbed his arm and held him at the top of the pod. "Are you insane?!" "He's not gonna hurt me. Look at him! He would have done it already."

Fit carefully squeezed his way past Tubbo, trying to catch a glimpse at the creature as well. His eyes went wide immediately, sinking back down into the pod almost instantly, only his head poking out still. "Christ that thing is huge..." "Oh come on you scaredy cat, he's friendly." "What is happening up there?" Cellbit had placed himself beside Pac, looking very much like a protective sibling.

"My creature friend came back!"

"It's not your friend Tubbo."

"You don't know that. I think it's my friend."

"It will rip you to shreds!"

"No he won't, look at him!"

"Tubbo I'm serious."

"I'll name you Blorp."

"TUBBO!"