Octonauts oneshots 2

AI co-write: ^^^Plot To Poison^^^ -alt acc story-

Barnacles sighed, his voice barely above a whisper. "I feel like I've failed them, Shellington. I should have protected Peso."

Shellington placed a reassuring hand on Barnacles' shoulder. "You did everything you could, Captain. None of this is your fault."

Tweak appeared at the door, her eyes filled with concern. "Hey, Cap. Just wanted to see how you're holding up. We're all here for you, you know."

Barnacles managed a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Tweak. It means a lot."

The next two days passed slowly. Kwazii and Dashi continued to be harsh and blameful, their grief manifesting as anger towards Barnacles. He tried to stay strong, but their words cut deep, leaving him feeling more isolated than ever.

One evening, when the Octopod was quiet and everyone else was asleep, Barnacles sat alone in his quarters. The weight of the blame and guilt became too much to bear. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he allowed himself to cry softly, the sadness and frustration pouring out.

He didn't notice Shellington quietly watching from the doorway, his heart aching for his captain and friend. Shellington knew that Barnacles needed time to heal, and he vowed to be there for him, no matter what.

Tweak knocked on the door "Captain... we have a mission..." 

Barnacles took a deep breath and opened the door to find Tweak standing there, her expression serious. "Captain... we have a mission," she said softly.

Barnacles nodded, trying to push aside his lingering sadness. "Alright, Tweak. Let's get to it."

The crew gathered in the launch bay, preparing for their mission. Kwazii and Dashi's glares were still as sharp as ever, their blameful eyes never leaving Barnacles. He felt the weight of their judgment but tried to focus on the task at hand.

As they ventured out on their mission, things quickly took a turn for the worse. A sudden underwater current caught them off guard, nearly capsizing the GUP. Barnacles acted swiftly, trying to steer them to safety, but the situation was dire.

"Watch out!" Kwazii shouted, his voice filled with frustration.

They managed to stabilize the GUP, but the tension was palpable. Kwazii and Dashi turned to Barnacles, their anger evident. "You almost got us killed!" Dashi snapped.

Kwazii's eyes were filled with fury. "This is just like what happened to Peso. You're a danger to us all."

Before Barnacles could respond, Tweak stepped in. "That's enough! The Captain did his best to keep us safe. This current was unexpected, and it could have happened to anyone."

Kwazii and Dashi fell silent, their anger simmering but unspoken. Barnacles gave Tweak a grateful nod, but the sadness in his eyes remained.

Two weeks later, Barnacles decided to take on a solo mission, hoping to clear his mind and prove his worth. But things went wrong. A mechanical failure left him stranded and injured. He managed to limp back to the Octopod, his body aching and his spirit even more so.

As he entered the launch bay, Kwazii and Dashi were there, their expressions harsh. "What were you thinking, going out alone?" Dashi scolded.

Kwazii's voice was cold. "You're reckless, Captain. You could have gotten yourself killed."

Barnacles looked down, the weight of their words pressing heavily on him. But before he could respond, Shellington stepped forward. "That's enough. Barnacles was trying to help us all. He doesn't deserve this treatment."

Shellington's defense was firm, and for a moment, the room fell silent. Barnacles felt a glimmer of hope, knowing that at least some of his crew still believed in him.