Never Saw It Before

Floor one. The rhythmic hum of the machinery was a familiar drone, a constant companion to the weary scramble of the 'run.' Shelly, despite her ingrained dedication to helping Dandy, felt the familiar drag of exhaustion in her bones. She wasn't one to complain, not openly, but the relentless cycle of dodging 'Twisteds,' collecting ichor, and powering machines was starting to wear thin.
She spotted Razzle and Dazzle at the fourth machine, their movements practiced and efficient. A small smile touched her lips, and she called out, "I'm here for you!" Razzle glanced back, a quick, grateful smile her reward, and they picked up their pace. The machine dinged loudly, a piercing signal that echoed through the vast space: return to the elevator, or be left behind.
Shelly joined the others, a quick mental headcount confirming their group was intact: Goob, Sprout, Razzle and Dazzle, Astro, Rodger, Finn, Vee, and herself. Another floor cleared, another step towards... what, exactly? She still wasn't sure. But they were a good team, with their distractor and healer, extractors and supporters. It wasn't bad. Kinda.
