Dogday laid himself on the stretcher just as Poppy instructed him, the metallic surface sending nail-biting chills up his back. Thankfully it is actually big enough to support him, it could even carry Huggy or Kissy on it. Though he wished there was something that would have brought some sort of comfort for this operation that they have planned, but any protest would mean prolonging their time here, and frankly, compared to what he has been through, he could care less.
After all, his angel is going to heal him. Who is he to complain?
While Kissy and Poppy were sitting next to him, Gabe was busy rummaging around the various tables and cabinets, finding anything useful for their operation. He was actually on a wheeled swivel chair doing his search, his legs grew tired of the constant walking and running. It humored the trio of toys as they watched their human friend glide around, kicking his legs around and only bothering to stand if their is a shelf too high.
Once he was done, Gabe wheeled his way back over to the toys with various tools and surgical equipment inside an open plastic container on his lap. Scalpels, swabs, sutures, and most importantly sedatives and a bottle of morphine.
He then sits the box onto the metal table next to the Dogday. He then turned to Poppy on Kissy's shoulder. "Alright then-" He said as he stands up while bending his back, a few audible pops heard. "Agh…what's the plan?"
"Well to start, me and Kissy will get the Poppy Elixir made for Dogday, while you go and get the legs made for him." Poppy then comments. "As for where exactly those legs are though, I honestly don't know. I've never been to a Ward before."
"I would know." Dogday said as he leaned himself facing them. "Hoppy would know, she told me of this place. Many years ago, while me and the other Critters took care of the orphans, one of the kids dared her that she couldn't jump high enough over that center statue we were at. She took it personal. She'd then had the crazy idea to jump all the way from the Councilor's Office roof all the way to the ground. You can guess what happened."
"But, she lived, right?" Gabe said. "I saw her with you in one of those cells."
"Yeah." Dogday replied grimly. "With her shin bones sticking out of her knees."
"Ooooooohhhhhh…". Gabe said wide eyed as he reeled with disturbed discomfort.
Dogday then continued. "Well, after we'd managed to get the kids away from the scene, the doctors took Hoppy away in time before anyone suspected a thing. They were not thrilled at all. Normally if we ever did anything that would've made them mad they'll strap us down and beat us till senseless. But since they were taking her to the Ward, where they would've sedated them before entering, they'd kept her awake and aware so she'll feel everything they were doing to her."
"𝚛𝚊𝚝 𝚋𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚜" Gabe hastily said under breath.
"Gabe!" Poppy exclaimed disapprovingly.
"What?" He said making a shrug.
Dogday sighed, though he did find the remark funny. "Heh, how fitting, Angel. But anyways, after they had let her go and threw her back in the cells with us, she was practically shellshocked by the experience. But when she regained her bearings, she told us that while they were busy sawing her broken legs off, a pair of workers entered a deep freezer. And…" He then pointed to somewhere behind them. "I believe that is where those body parts are."
The gang turned around, and saw a steel door, similar to the one Kissy ripped through earlier. Except that while there was traces on ice surrounding them, the very rim of the doorway was encased in frost, there was even some evaporated mist cascading down from the flat metal surface. As if the Ward itself is cold enough already, the temperatures in there must be below freezing.
"Ok, so your legs are in there, great then!" Gabe said excitedly. "I'll just walk right in and take the legs just like that."
"Now hold on, Angel." Dogday quickly stopped. "There is something else I think you should know. Hoppy did mention that once they were done taking her damaged legs off, she saw her new ones come in, thawed and everything. See that chain belt?" Gabe then looked towards it. "That's where they got it from. So I think there are more steps to it than just taking the parts out as is."
"He's right." Poppy agreed. "Plus, I don't believe it's a good idea to attach frozen legs onto him."
"Right." Gabe said as he gazed at the freezer door. Then taking a step closer to it, he places his hand on the flat surface, the pearly sheen on the face of the door was reflective enough to show an opaquely blurred form of the human gazing at it. The steel was nail biting cold, he can only imagine just how freezing it is in there.
Already hesitance pulled him back. "Um, I don't know about you guys, but it I already cold enough here as is. And I certainly not in the mood for hypothermia."
"Then I guess that's what those coats are for." Poppy said with a hint of smugness to her tone. Gabe looked to his left, and indeed, hanging just off to the side is a pair of coats hanging on a metal rack. The outer polyester fabric colored bright yellow with the Playtime.co logo etched into its back.
"Oh." He deadpanned. He had been so tunnel visioned lately that he has now reached a point that unless someone is pointing directly at something then he'll end up completely overlooking it. He looks back to Poppy, who is now giving him a smug look while crossing her arms. "Oh har har. I didn't look left, how oblivious of me!" He mockingly replied.
Then after earning a quick giggle from the trio of toys he then clothed himself in the coat. And already he is beginning to like it, not only was it a good fit but it felt pretty comfortable. Even when running his fingers over the outer layer of the long sleeves felt silky to the touch. He then looked back to the freezer door, though the sense of foreboding hasn't left, the certainty of what's in there as well as the cause for his short journey is all the encouragement he needed.
Though there is one thing that he'd been meaning to address. "Hey, aren't you guys getting a little cold in here? Wouldn't ya'll like to find something to get warm in?"
"I think me and Kissy's fur keeps us warm enough." Dogday replied.
Poppy then answered. "And as for me…" She was then taken down from Kissy's shoulder and as the pink giant sat down cross legged she was then wrapped around in a coiled mass of furred arms, leaving only her face poking out between the folds. "I'm covered."
Gabe hummed contently, it will be easier on his mind knowing that they won't be in too much discomfort while they wait on him. "Alright, just give me like ten or twenty minutes or something, I'll be right back." And with that he turns back towards the freezer, the blue hand scanner already completed, and the iron door begins sliding open. He stepped inside then turned around just to get one more look at the crew on the other side, all of them giving comforting smiles. The door then closes back, separating him from his friends.
He then took in his surroundings, the way ahead of him appearing even more frozen than before. While there were traces of ice within the Bigger Body Ward, the freezer is covered in ceiling to floor in cold, blue ice. The way ahead of him is a wide corridor of enclosed industrial winter, powered and prolonged with the massive air conditioning fans. The floor beneath him isn't even concrete but now grated steel, and with spike-like nubs running in rows and columns all over it to help with traction. The chilling blue atmosphere is both haunting as well as is charming, perhaps because of the difference of ambiance compared to the rest of the factory.
There is a doorway at the end of the hall. So snapping out of his daze, Gabe then begins his trek. Passing through the double doors, he finds himself in a new room, albeit different from the rest of the Ward, for the freezer is looked much similar to that of a warehouse with rows upon rows of shelves filling the spaces. And there is also some of those copper electrical towers, there must be a Grabpack puzzle around here.
But when Gabe went closer, he found that these weren't entirely shelves, but instead they are some sort of railed storages for those frames that held Bigger Body parts. Placed on their sides with their flat sides facing up, and stacked on top of one tightly with barely a gap between.
He by random chance went to the closest frame he could get his hands on and grabbed it by the handles and pulled it out, the frame sliding out like cabinet drawers. The frame is big by Gabe's standards, but it is only large enough to hold a pair of arms, tailor made for Crafty, if the white fuzz, cyan colored hoofed hands, and the brass label displaying her name are anything to give away.
Looking up top the top of the cabinet, there is actually a sign displaying the respective body part for this column, these frames being made for the arms. Looking around, he can see that this applies to the other columns too, signs hanging by chains above showing each columns respective Bigger Bodies part. Their sizes vary too, each frame either being bigger or smaller to suit the part they're holding. There is even some parts here for Kissy as well, must be because she'll might visit sometimes if the staff instructs her to.
Making his way through each column, he read each sign above, looking for the object of his searches. Faces, torsos, hands, ears, jaws, feet. Getting closer. "There you are." The legs column.
He then begins scanning over the individual frames within the cabinet, looking for the specific brass label bearing Dogday's name. But yet strangely, no matter how long or thorough he looked he can't find the right legs anywhere. But then he spots that one of the frames within the shelf is missing. He then spots something in the corner of his eye, there leaning against the cold concrete wall is an empty frame, with Dogday's label on its side. He puts two and two together and he realizes, there are no spare legs for Dogday.
"Are you fricking kidding me?!" Gabe angrily exclaims. "Out of all the things that could be missing…AGH! Damn it!"
He wondered what he could now that there isn't any spare parts for Dogday. Now he could use the other spare legs from the other Smiling Critters as the next best thing, but he doesn't know what side effects there could be if he'd just started mismatching body parts. After all, each part is tailored made for each critter.
There wasn't really much else to do now. But, he then, he sees one particular cabinet near the very end of the freezer, massive compared to the rest of the cabinets, and the sign above bearing an interesting name. "True Body." Wondering what it could mean, he went and inspected it closer. Skimming over the brass labels until Dogday's name is seen. He pulls the frame out, putting much more effort in sliding the much larger frame from its place, and what he finds inside genuinely surprised him.
The frame contained what appears to be a whole new Dogday, except this one looks a little different, not the same like the Dogday that he knows. This body held the whole set, arms, legs, face. And in speaking of the face, this one isn't etched to be eternally smiling like how the original is. Instead its eyes and mouth are closed, like it is resting in peaceful slumber. Does this mean that now this face can actually move and express?
He hoped so, and seeing into its open chest, it is also has the complete system of internal organs. Though it made him feel squeamish looking at the frozen insides, he was honestly glad that it is included in there. Nothing was left out, lungs, stomach, intestines, liver, and…wait, where's the heart?
The way the insides were arranged looked similar to a human's inner body, if his high school anatomy lessons serve him right. But the spot where the heart should be is not there. In fact, once he realized this, he takes another glance at the body's head, and in the back of it, the scalp has been peeled away, revealing the empty cranium inside. Turns out that this body is also missing a brain.
Why is that though? In fact, why is there a full body of Dogday here to begin with?
It was then that he realized that this body isn't alone, there are other frames in this set of cabinets. All of them bearing the names of the entire Smiling Critters cast. Are these literally spare bodies?
He turns and finds that there is a VHS tape sitting nearby. Picking it up, he instinctively knew that there is a tape player nearby, and sure enough just to the other side of the 'True Body' shelf, there sat a VHS player connected to a television monitor mounted above. Slotting the tape into the player, the screen comes to life and plays a recording of a conversation of what sounds to be between an intern and his supervisor.
"Alright, I'm you are already aware of the proper steps needed to be taken during your shift." A scientist said. "But, as protocol dictates, I must reiterate the following procedures so that there will be no possibility of error."
"Seriously?!" A younger, more hotheaded voice replied. "I've already heard this two times already!"
"Yes I know." The scientist frustratingly answered. "But if you wish to complain then you may take it up to Harly Sawyer downstairs. I'm sure he'll be very much keen as to hear your complaints." He said sarcastically.
"Hey, I did not choose this job!" The intern said, a tone that sounded close to a growl.
"No, but what you did choose is the sign up for the apprenticeship." The supervisor corrected. "And as such, you will start your new job as a doctor in this Ward. You should consider this a privilege given the fact that you are working in the forefront of a medical revolution!"
"Forefront?" The young intern scoffed. "Tsh, like this is anywhere close to that? I had studied under Oxford! I already hold a handful of PhDs! And if I wanted to I could earn more. I should be down there, in the lab, working with Sawyer and Leith, studying, experimenting, even meeting 1-0-0-6 face to face. That's where the real forefront is, and where I belong!" Gabe has only heard this guy for about thirty seconds and already he dislikes this pompous dingus.
The supervisor simply huffed. "Yes yes, I can assure you that Harley himself is aware of your "handful of PhD's" as well as your healthy ambitions. But know this, once you manage to find your place down there, you will realize that all those little successes you have under your belt will mean nothing, boy. Nothing compared to the secrets he has shown us. Now sit down and listen!"
Gabe can hear the young apprentice groan, he could imagine the exaggerated eye roll this guy must have made. The supervisor then continued. "I'll keep this simple. Your task here is to perform repairs and surgeries for Bigger Body experiments of the Playcare caretakers, also known as the 'Smiling Critters'. You are also tasked with keeping inventory here, as well as preparing the parts for the thawing process. To put it simply, you take the necessary frame containing the part, hook it up to this chain belt, and just beyond that door will be the thawing chamber, you'll need your Grabpack for it. Once the part has been thawed, you can begin the surgical procedure on the experiment. Once done, you must send the damaged part for either recycling or incineration, we don't want any nosy children to see an arm or a leg just lying in the garbage somewhere."
"Riiiight." The intern begrudgingly said. "Like anyone would believe them. They're just stupid kids."
"Witnesses are still witnesses, boy." The doctor replied. "The string of lawsuits were bad enough as it is, the last thing this company needs is the attention of any potential investigators."
"Whatever, and it's not like you people are above mistakes." The intern groaned. "Like these 'True Body' vessels, these are some of the most life-like experiments I have ever seen, but you insist on keeping them in cold storage."
"And that's exactly why, kid." The doctor said. "Granted we are proud of the results these 'True Body' vessels have achieved, even Harley felt the same way, but management felt that due to how strongly their living appearances are compared to the rest of the Bigger Body experiments, that implementing them would raise some suspicion of our workings, so we kept these in the freezer while we stayed with the more costume-like vessels. Harley was even the first to agree."
"Tsh, what a waste. We have all the resources and equipment to achieve whatever we want yet we waste our effort on being careful. And all they have to do is transplant the heart and brain and they'll have a truly living being to display for the world to see." Gabe didn't realize just how hard he is clinching his fists, an anger rising to a boil.
"Did you even hear what I just said?" The doctor sighed. "Never mind. I'll never understand you types, at least Sawyer has some dignity when it comes these things. We don't take pride in acting like sadists."
"Oh really?" Said the intern in a smug tone. "Morel standards? Don't make me laugh. They're orphans, sir. Nobody wants those worthless kids, orphans are weak, orphans are born to suffer."
"BAM!!!"
Gabe didn't know what came over him, one moment he was watching the recording, the next his fist is now lodged within the TV screen, cracks in the glass webbing out from the impact point. He blinked a few times, his eyes lessening their intense, glassed over glare. Pulling his fist back, he unfurled his fist and peered at his knuckles, some cuts are visible on the skin with traces of blood leaking through. The pain stings, but it is bearable.
He was glad the others aren't here to see that.
But in anyways, this tape has brought some much needed insight on how he is supposed to perform the surgery on Dogday. Although he cannot lie, he feels uncomfortable about it. It's one thing to just simply stitch a pair of legs on with a dash of Poppy Elixir, but transplanting a heart and brain at the same time is a whole other ordeal.
But for now, since there is no spare legs available for Dogday, this 'True Body' vessel will have to do. Which means he is going have to suck it up, and deal with the queasy thoughts.
Gabe then pulls the frame carrying Dogday's True Body fully out from its cabinet, to which four metal rods suddenly unfurl revealing wheels at the end, allowing Gabe to roll the frame around with ease. He then pushed it towards the chain lift, and there at the foot of the belt is a ramp that leads up to the hooks that will carry the frame in its place. Pushing it up, he then hoists the frame up, places the hooks through the metal eyeholes, and then proceeds to let the frame hang.
He looks off to his right, and there is a door leading out to another room, he just knew that out past that door is the thawing room. So without wasting time he went through, and to his amazement…there is yet another puzzle to deal with. This time being the copper electrical towers.
"Dang it." Gabe muttered, he was definitely not in the mood for yet another one of these dumb games.
Though at least he made it to the thawing room, the room itself is long, stretching to around a few dozen feet, but yet still wide enough to accommodate the tower puzzle, as well as the thawing machine itself. The machine used to thaw the body parts is actually just as long as the room itself, and is a completely enclosed space, there are no gaps anywhere within it. The only way to tell what is inside it is the large glass pane window running along its side. Peering inside he can see the chain belt stretching all the way through the open space inside, and lining in the machine's inner walls are bundles and bundles of copper wire, likely the very thing that brings in the heat. And lastly, on top of the machine are a tangled network of pipes and ventilation systems.
He could gaze at this room for awhile if he wanted to, but now is not the time for sightseeing, he has a friend waiting for him, and he is sure is hell not going to keep him waiting. It took no more than a few minutes to finish the tower puzzle, and sure enough the machine starts and the chain belt begins to move.
He watched as the frozen form of what will be Dogday's new body being carried into the machine directly from the freezer. The copper coils then glowed with fiery intensity, like starring at the sun just moments before it sets beneath the horizon. Even when standing a few feet away with thick glass in between, Gabe can still feel the heat seeping through.
Soon enough, as the chain carried the frame through, droplets of water began to drip from the hanging ends till they fell and evaporated into vapor. The vessel then begins so sag and hang limply from its ties, a good sign that the thawing process is working smoothly. Then once the the frame reached the end, it became obvious that whatever ice was left within the body has now either evaporated or has melted to water. The thawing is complete.
And with that, Gabe followed the chain belt as it carried the vessel out of the machine, then out the room, and into a hallway beyond leading back to the Ward. Where his friends are waiting for him.
<<<<<<<<<<~>>>>>>>>>>
The air around her was static yet tense with anticipation, even as she sat on Kissy's shoulder, Poppy could feel it in her core. It had been a moment ago when the chain belt started its work, meaning that Gabe is already halfway done with retrieving Dogday's new legs. And now, with all the necessary tools and equipment nearby, they must prepare their canine friend for his operation. Including the most essential ingredient, the Poppy Elixir specifically made for Dogday.
"Looks like Angel will be here any minute." Dogday said, watching the hooks sway as they passed by pair by pair.
"I know." Poppy hummed. "Are you sure you want to do this early? We can still wait until he brings your legs out."
"No." He replied. "I know I might sound impatient, but I don't want to waste anymore time. Gabriel needs to finish what we had started, and all we're doing right now is hindering him. It is best that we help him along as much as we can."
Poppy thought for a moment, she knew this was just his insecurities talking, but then again it would be prudent to get him ready early enough so they can get this over with. Not that she condones his lack of self-worth. "Alright then." She answered softly. "Just lay yourself down and relax. Just let me get the syringe."
She was then let down by Kissy's paw onto the metal side-table. Taking the syringe carrying the sedative from its spot in the clear plastic tuber ware, she winced at the sight of it. The syringe was large, especially for a human's standards. "This…might hurt a little." She commented nervously.
"Trust me." Dogday replied unconcerned. "Compared to what I've already felt, this will mean nothing."
Poppy nodded, of course it would be a dumb thing to say, she is looking at a toy with half of his body torn off. She is thankful though that it didn't come out as offensive, the last thing she wants is to make him feel like a useless victim even more. She then inspects Dogday's arm, finding the point of injection under in the pit of his elbow, and then, as gently as she possibly could with her petite hands, she injects the syringe. The needle passing effortlessly through the fabric and into the flesh, till the very tip pierces the vein.
Slowly she allows the sedative to flow through, what she did not expect however, is just how fast Dogday fell asleep. She expected it to be close to half a minute before the sedative takes its effect, but it took merely seconds for him to fall like a rock. His faint white irises fading to nothing in the unblinking void of the Bigger Body critter's eye sockets. It must have been so painfully long sine he has been put to sleep without Catnap's tormenting Red Smoke.
Though now at least it means they can begin the operation sooner, even Kissy is a step ahead and is bringing a heart monitor over. Soon enough they'll have Dogday back on his feet in no time.
Just then something passes through the open gate in the wall, both Poppy and Kissy looked and there is a part frame carried in on the chain belt, with Gabe appearing from a door alongside it, following close behind it. But there was something curious about the body part that he was bringing in, in fact, once she got a good view of what is being held in the iron frame, she never expected Gabe to bring in a whole body instead.
"Um…Gabe." Poppy inquired. "I…thought you were getting a new pair of legs?"
"Funny you should say that, because, well, they're aren't any spare legs for Dogday."
Poppy was genuinely surprised. "You can't be serious?" She incredulously said.
"Yup, but, here is the next best thing." He said as he aligned the frame around so that it is facing her completely. "This was put in storage for some time, but this is what those scientists called a 'True Body'. They made one for every Critter, but they decommissioned them because of how life-like they looked. From what I learned, all we have to do is transplant both his brain and heart and that'll be it."
Poppy crossed her arms. "Ok, I get why. But Dogday needs legs, not a whole other body!"
"I know, I had second thoughts at first, but the more I think about it…" Gabe said whilst starring at the unconscious plush. "I mean, think about it, he had been down there for eight years, eight years, Poppy! His legs getting torn off could just be the tip of the iceberg! Can you imagine what Catnap could do to him with that much time?"
The living doll thought about it for a moment, and the more she did the more real Gabe's truth became. She had the apparent pleasure of being sealed away in a glass case with no one to talk to. But Dogday? He had Catnap.
Gabe continued. "His body must have been through more abuse than anyone here. And I think, I think that by giving him a new body it will completely heal that trauma, or at least the physical trauma." He then finished. "It'll be good, it's the least we can do for him."
She contemplated this for a moment, it was honestly a no-brainer why Gabe is so adamant on doing this for Dogday. However she knew that they have precious time, the Prototype knows that they are coming, and who knows when Catnap will act. Stitching on a new pair of legs is one thing, but a complete heart and mind transplant? That will take some significant time to accomplish. By then who knows what other schemes could the Prototype or Catnap could have come up with during their absence?
But then again, this is Dogday they're talking about. Her closest ally, her friend. Would she really prioritize her mission over him?
…No. Gabe is right. They'll do this for him. For his sake and conscience sake.
"Alright then. Let's do it." But there was something that she needed to say. "But you do know what we are about to do, right? Sowing new legs on him maybe a bit…gruesome enough, but we are about to remove some key organs from him."
Gabe paused and then realization hit him, once this operation begins he'll be handling organs, real organs that he had never touched before in his life! He could barely bring himself to dissect a from in school, and now he is doing organ transplantation on what is the closest thing to a human?
"Yeah." He replied a bit reluctantly. "But it looks like I'm gonna have to suck it up and deal with the hibbie jibbies. You Poppy don't exactly have the right, well, dexterity to pull it off. And Kissy…" He said gazing up at her a bit apologetic. "Listen, I know you mean well and everything, but you don't exactly have the most graceful or steadiest of hands. Or paws, or…whatever you call them."
Kissy simply shrugged and crossed her arms, mildly annoyed. But in any case, it just means that Gabe is ready to begin. But there is still yet one thing lingering in Poppy's mind. "There is one thing I have one question though." Poppy asked.
"Oh yeah? And what's that?"
"The transplant, we are basically giving him a brand new body, right? So the brain I could get, but why the heart? I don't think the heart offers any, um, semblance for a person's psyche. Does it?"
Gabe thought what that could mean, and he honestly should have thought about it awhile ago once he heard it. Though while he thinks he has an explanation, it sounded a bit far fetched. "Well, I heard awhile ago that the heart is where the person's soul is. Of course, that would mean these f**k-up scientists actually believe they are not only messing with souls but they believe that they exist, which means they also means they believe that God exists. And to be honest I hope that's not the case, because I don't think anyone with a right mind would do all this yet knowing God is watching them."
Poppy then grimly replied. "Then again, those people don't exactly have a good conscience didn't they?"
By now Gabe is definitely feeling uncomfortable at the moment. "Let's just, save this for another time? I'm already freaked out enough as it is."
"Fair enough." She then took her stance on the side table next to the slumbering Dogday, next to the bin of utensils and tools needed for their surgery. "Let's get started. Kissy, would you mind getting that extra stretcher over there." She said pointing to said stretcher off to the side. "We'll need it for the extra body."
The pink giant nodded and went to get the spare stretcher, meanwhile, Gabe then unhooked the frame away from the chains and then hoisted it so that the extended wheels flipped out. It didn't take too long for everything to be set up, the spare stretcher was pulled to position beside the unconscious patient and what will soon be his new body placed on top of it. Then the rest of the equipment was put in place, the large overhead surgical headlight alit above them casting its bright white light to the operation below, and with Poppy standing right beside Gabe with the tools on standby.
"Looks like everything's in place." Gabe said overseeing everything before him. Poppy then hands him the first scalpel to which he took. He wondered where to start, but he supposed that the brain will be the best place to start, then after that, he'll do the heart. "Now let's get started."
But when the moment came when the edge of his scalpel touched the fur atop of the giant plush's head, the realization of what he is about to do hit him. Sure he knew he was about to literally dissect the brain and heart out of someone, but he didn't fully realize the gravitas of the situation once he is already there. He was about to remove some of the most vital organs from someone he has already friends with, and if he fails, one of his only friends will die.
"Gabe?" Poppy said concerned. "Are you ok?" Gabe then looked towards her, she can see some beads of sweat trickling from his forehead. "You know we can take a safer route. We can just take one of the spare legs for the other critters, you don't have to do this."
Gabe looked back to Dogday, his unconscious form splayed out over the stretcher. He gazed at the protruding intestines poking out of the gaping wound, he can only imagine the horrendous pain this living plush has been through, and this was just recently. Eight years of pain, eight years of torture, the bruises, the cuts, and broken bones, and that is not even close to the years upon of nightmares Catnap has afflicted on him and his friends, every, single, night.
He's not doing this not just because he feels bad, or just because he wants to. It's because it's what he should do, to remove all the pain and let him heal.
"This, is the least I can do." Gabe soberly yet adamantly replied. And finally, with resolution, he then steadies the blade over the unconscious Dogday's cranium, and presses through.
From then on, as the first trickles of blood began flowing through, everything felt different.
What was but a few minutes felt like it lasted for hours.
With each cut, each incision, every movement held a weight that he'd never felt before.
A few more cuts, and he peels the skin away. Underneath the polyester fur, is actually real skin.
The skull was soon exposed, Poppy hands the small bone saw. With a flick of a switch, the tiny circular blade spins.
With slow, and utterly precise movements, he begins sawing the scalp off.
Though the blade is small, the thought of any of the blade's teeth cutting too deep and tearing chunks of brain matter brought heart numbing dread.
The last cut was made, and the scalp was fully removed. Dogday's brain visible inside.
His gut wrenches at the sight, but he puts his fears aside and continues on.
Something deep within himself kept urging him on, pushing him forward.
Keep going, it said. Do not stop, it said.
Poppy then hands another scalpel, and Gabe finds the base of the brain stem, and cleanly cuts it.
With tentative care he removes the grey organ, and brings it over to its new home.
Poppy then hands a syringe of Poppy Elixir. He positioned the severed stems together, and with a few globs of elixir, the large nerve endings fuse together.
He then seals the scalp back in with elixir, and sows the fur back over it. Step one complete.
The heart comes next. With quick incisions, he cuts the chest open.
The ribcage exposed, he takes the bone saw and cuts through the ribs.
With the heart shown itself, he carefully cuts each and every artery connected.
He pulls it out, it felt weighty in his hands, given it is big enough to even fit in his open hand.
The heart was soon enough put in its place, and just like for the brain, he seals the arteries with Poppy Elixir.
He then does the same with the ribs and sown together skin.
There was one last step needed to be taken, Poppy then hands over the defibrillator, and with a shout for clear, he electrocutes the body.
The body jumps, but there is no beat. Gabe panics, and electrocutes him again.
And again.
And again.
And again.
With batted breath he waits, his ear against Dogday's chest.
Until…
"Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump."
He can already feel Dogday's chest rising and falling, he's breathing.
"He's okay." Gabe muttered under breath, relief passing through every nerve and fiber of his body like cool water on a sweltering day. Both Poppy and Kissy leaned in, the former clasping her hands over her mouth sighing with the same relief washing over her. And as for the later, it seemed that Kissy was genuinely smiling this time.
However the one who is the most happy is Gabe. He had just done what he thought was an impossible task for himself to accomplish. He had just performed a surgical transplant on one of his only friends. The last he remembered, the only thing close to using any sort of medical procedure is simply slapping a band-aid on. He couldn't believe he actually did it...wait, how did he do it? He doesn't know a damn thing about surgery, so how did he do it?
He looked down at his bloodied hands, still wet and dripping. It was then the ramifications of everything that he has seen hit him with the force of a freight train. All the blood and gore he seen, all the horrors he faced. Nearly seeing Mommy grinded to bloody pieces, the experiments on children, the state of Miss Delight, Dogday, the Smiling Critters, and the countless upon countless bodies of toy corpses strewn everywhere with gallons of blood stained everywhere.
Spilled blood, torn flesh, stripped tendons, crushed bones. His head begins to spin, fading into a nauseous noise. His vision clouds and his hearing rings, there is something rising in his gut as it churned through his stomach.
Poppy noticed his disoriented behavior. "Gabe?"
"I…" Gabe managed to mutter. "I-I need to go to the bathroom…"
Poppy looked at him inquisitively. There was something wrong with the human, and she knew it. The way his face grew pale in comparison to his once suntanned skin. "Alright, let Kissy go with you. I don't want to leave you alone wandering around out there."
Gabe wanted to object, but, he honestly doesn't have the strength for that now. Kissy then placed a yellow hand on his shoulder, he looked up to see her leaning over him. Then with a flick in her gaze she then gestures him to follow, he simply obliges, letting the pink giant lead the way. Leaving Poppy and the still unconscious Dogday behind.
Poppy looked at the sleeping form of the canine plush before her. Moments ago she was objecting Gabe on his decision to give him a brand new body instead of finding another pair of legs, for taking the riskier route instead of the sure and safer one. However now, she was glad that Gabe didn't yield to her opinions. Dogday has never looked any better until now.
There is not a bruise or blemish to be seen on him, and he looks even better to part. His floppy ears are more fluffier, and his fur more softer. The colors aren't faded either, nor tainted by stains of blood and grime, the colors of orange and brown looked so full and lively. And the way his face looks, not eternally frozen as a fake gaping grin, but now, his eyes are genuinely closed and his face is now more expressive enough to the point he now looks contently sleeping. He looks so peaceful now.
She can only imagine Dogday's reaction when instead of new legs, he is now living more whole.