The Octonauts and the Random Role Reversal

Chapter Twelve

Barnacles left the happier-looking fish in the (mostly) capable flippers of the Vegimals in the Launch Bay, and swum back outside, arms full with as many bandage rolls as he could carry.

Shellington was unloading yet more patients from the back of the Gup E onto the rocky outcrop they had hurriedly converted into a temporary outdoor Sick Bay as the medic arrived. "Hello. I'm Barnacles," he recited. He kept his tone calm, reassuring, as Peso had advised him, just as he was used to employing as a Captain in moments that required it. Their roles had many parallels, he'd begun to notice. "I'm a medic. I help anyone who's hurt or sick. I'll make you feel better, I promise."

They even seemed to believe him despite his slightly shaking paws, which was nice.

The Captain swum past, wheeling to a halt as Barnacles finished inexpertly bandaging a sea star's arm. "Looks like this side of the trench is finally empty - and just in time, too. I'll check in with Tweak and Kwazii now."

"Sounds good down here, me hearties," Kwazii reported over the radio. "Rumbling like anything, though."

"The chasm could close any minute!" Shellington reminded them.

Dashi nodded, trying to keep her head clear and her voice calm. "Okay. Barnacles and Shellington, get the rest of these creatures up into the Launch Bay. Kwazii, get up here as fast as you can! It's time to evacuate."

"Speed won't be a problem, matey," Kwazii grinned down the radio, and next to him they heard Tweak's exasperated laugh before the connection cut.

"Peso, prepare to launch the Octopod the second we're inside," she ordered over the radio,  struggling to maintain her balance on the shaking rock, the tremors getting more and more violent by the minute. "The Octopod's going to be crushed if we leave it much longer. The last of the creatures are being loaded into the Launch Bay. You need to get us out, now."

Peso darted around the HQ as fast as his flippers could carry him, wheeling to a halt and slamming his flippers on the buttons controlling the launch sequence for the third time. Dashi tilted her head, worried, as she watched the legs of their ship tremble and respond to the tremoring. "The Octopod's not responding, Dashi!" the penguin cried out. "I don't think I can do this!"

"Peso, you can do this," she said surely. "If we leave it any longer the tremors will damage the Octopod legs and we'll be stuck here. Stand by."

"O - okay, Captain."

The chasm began to roar again, and Dashi kicked her feet frantically to avoid being swept over as shockwaves erupted from the walls, sending the water into disarray. Shellington swam over to her and helped her into the Gup E, where Barnacles was waiting with the back full of disgruntled-looking creatures. Peso's voice came back over the radio. "From the Octopod's computer estimations, the chasm will close completely in about three minutes!"

"Now he's really being you with the ominous countdown thing," Tweak pointed out over the radio with a chuckle.

Dashi couldn't exactly deny it and smiled sheepishly. "It's all part of my job - my usual job, that is."

"Is everyone out?"

"I can check using the Octopod radar now that we're out of the trench," offered Peso. He hurriedly swept the chasm from the HQ. "No heat signatures, no movement -"

"No sounds other than this awful screaming," she summarised, deactivating her helmet stood in the Gup and pressing her paws to her ears for a moment until the next deafening echo passed. "I think we're good to go. Tweak and Kwazii will be out any minute."

"Wait...!" Peso's voice cut off as there was suddenly a distinct sounding bleep and voices were picked up on the microphone: unmistakeable, scared voices, crying for help.

"It's those two dolphins!" realised a horrified Barnacles. "We never saw them leave. The ones we saw when we first entered the chasm. They must have panicked and swum deeper for safety."

"And how long do we have?" asked Dashi shortly, dread pooling in her chest.

Peso hesitated. "Approximately... two minutes."

"I think I can do it."

Dashi twisted to stare at Shellington, who rose, a little shakily, in the Gup B. "The Gup B's the fastest Gup we have. Kwazii won't get out here in time to drive it, and I'm supposed to be  being him, right?"

"But it's too dangerous, Shel!"

"Those creatures need us."

Barnacles touched her shoulder, and Dashi remembered everything he had told her when she was panicking, a little like she was now. She inhaled one single breath and tried to be a captain instead of a concerned friend. Believe in your crew, Dashi. "You can do it, Shellington," she promised.

Shellington smiled very nervously back, then he pushed forward the thruster and the Gup B shot back down into the chasm with an explosion of bubbles.

Peso's voice was terrified. "Less than a minute until the chasm closes!"

Dashi wound her paws tightly together as Tweak and Kwazii finally reached her, looking confused as Tweak leapt out of the bobbing Gup, seeing the look on her friend's face. "What's going on, Dashi?"

"Shellington's down there," she said in a tiny voice. "Saving a dolphin."

"In my Gup?" Kwazii asked, sounding affronted. Tweak shot him a look and he laughed uncomfortably. "He can do it," he said confidently. "I've given him enough lessons in speed, I'm sure they will have counted for something."

"Tremors picking up," Peso whispered over the radio. "Thirty seconds!"

"C'mon, Shellington..." Dashi breathed.

An orange blur shot from the chasm, two dolphins following in its slipstream, fast. "What are we waiting for?" Shellington demanded, breathing hard and whooping in his Scottish accent. "We have to get out of here!"

The Octonauts cheered as one, and Dashi made a mental note to give her friend the biggest hug once all this was over. Relieved and unequivocally stressed all at once, she barked into the radio. "Octonauts, back to the Octopod, as quickly as you can!"

The three Gups needed no persuasion, although the fifty metres up to where the Octopod was precariously perched on a narrowing ledge felt like five hundred, to Dashi's mind. Tunip jumped on the lever for the OctoHatch and Shellington led the way inside, splashing the three Vegimals waiting for them inside, who chattered their displeasure.

"We're in!" exclaimed Dashi.

From the HQ Peso appeared on the large screen, panic on his face. "Fifteen seconds!"

"Peso, use the turbo button! It's the only way to get it and all the sea creatures we've already saved out of here."

"But what if I crash the Octopod into the side of the chasm?" Peso craned his neck, stared up at the perilously narrow gap where a glimmer of lighter-blue water beckoned freedom.

"You won't. I believe in you."

"O - okay, Dashi."

"Three, two, one... Now, Peso!"

Peso closed his eyes and pressed the button.