Seeking the truth
Using the information the judges got from Sara Murphy, as well as other sources who also had a beef with Excalibur, it was decided that the judge sent to Swamp City would be the one to infiltrate the organisation. Sara had opted to stay out of this mission, partly because Excalibur would recognise her and put the mission at risk, and also because she had enough of espionage antics for one lifetime. According to a scientist called Heinz Doofenshmirtz in Danville, he had been coerced into building Excalibur a machine that could sap the phenomenon known as Murphy's Law out of a host. He had also dropped hints that the captain wasn't really the one in charge, but a secretive person known only as Major Smith, and that no-one in the institute knew his actual name.
The judge sent to Echo Creek to investigate the missing boy also turned up some tidbits. The boy, named Marco Diaz, voluntarily left Earth to stay with his princess girlfriend, Star Butterfly, but had returned on one occasion, accompanied by a set of twins, the Pines, and were whisked away to parts unknown shortly afterwards. This was everything they could get out of the residents, and the panel felt that it was time to head to the source. Using the same tactic Sara herself used to get into the complex, the Swamp City judge had entered the building.
"I'm in, maintaining radio silence until the mission is complete" updated the judge. The plan was simple; get into the captain's office, plant a bug on his communications equipment, and, hopefully, trace any transmissions he makes to Major Smith in an effort to deduce their true identity. The complex interior resembled a military base more than it did an intelligence agency, and one had to wonder how it had stayed hidden for so long. On the outside, the other judges stood ready to assist if they were needed. It wasn't long before the captain was within sight, and standing beside him was what looked like his XO and his yeoman
"All the rookies are settled and briefed, sir. Our garrison is fully replenished" briefed the XO, whom the captain called Kilstone.
"Good, has there been any update on Lock's investigation of Gravity Falls?" inquired the captain, who was called Albert, according to sources.
"So far he's not uncovered anything suspicious, but our sources indicate he is getting irritated at the town's silence on Bill, not to mention he's heard some stories about other phenomena around the town" answered the woman who looked like his yeoman. Albert looked to be in deep thought.
"Major Smith will want an update, so let's make the troop inspection brief this time" Albert concluded, and the two men carried on their business. This was the opportunity the judges were waiting for, and the window was small. The spy made his way to Albert's office, found the lock mildly difficult to pick, and made his way inside. On the desk, he found a laptop that looked like the one Albert used to call Major Smith, and planted the bug. He then immediately got out of there, and proceeded to find a suitable exit, taking care to avoid being seen too much or talking to anybody. After all, he had expert infiltration training. Once he was out, he reunited with the other judges.
"For a supposed black ops organisation, getting in and out is far too easy" remarked the spying judge.
"Don't count your chickens just yet. We still need to wait and see if we were successful" replied another judge. They were monitoring the planted bug, and sure enough, activity started appearing on the monitors. A transmission was being made.
"Status, Captain?" asked Major Smith.
"Our forces have recovered from the battle at Butterfly Castle, and there is more regarding the Lock situation" answered Albert.
"Has he discovered anything significant?" inquired Major Smith.
"Nothing about Bill or Excalibur, but he does know the place has some rather unique qualities" responded Albert.
"We cannot risk the strangeness of that town leaking to the rest of the world. Its self-containment can only hold for so long" warned Major Smith.
"There is more, sir. According to my agent in his office, Lock has been acting oddly, going out at night without telling anyone where he's going, and he seems more on edge than usual" updated Albert.
"You suspect there is more than a simple investigation?" quizzed Major Smith.
"In this line of work, anything's possible" remarked Albert.
"I agree. We may need to press Lock about his activities. If there is a third party involved, we need to ensure Excalibur is safe. Head to Lock's office, and see what's been going on in the shadows" ordered Major Smith. Albert acknowledged the order, and the call was terminated. Unbeknownst to Albert, the trace was a success.
"We have enough to trace the IP address of the other laptop. Just a few more seconds and, there. An address in Piedmont, California" summarised one of the judges.
"Let me guess, Pines" said the spy.
"It looks that way. The IP address belongs to a laptop registered to a Dipper Pines" said the other judge.
"We have a chance to kill two birds with one stone here. Call Lock and tell him what we've learned. In the meantime, I'll have our contacts in California pick up the boy" ordered the head judge, and the trap was set.
When Albert arrived at Lock's office, he wondered to himself how he should approach this. Straightforward, like with Cavendish and Dakota, or subtle and friendly like with Phineas. He decided that the best way is to be open and hope for the best. The time came to enter Lock's office, but the scene that greeted him, Albert was not prepared for. Lock was already waiting for him outside, as if he was expecting Albert, and by the look on his face, he wasn't happy.
"So, care to explain why you've been spying on me?" Lock asked, angrily. Albert looked to Jennifer, and the look on her face said it all.
"If I may ask, who told you about us?" inquired Albert, as politely as he could.
"Now that you mention it, I don't really know myself. Keep to the shadows, that lot do. But that doesn't take away from the fact you have had an agent in my office. How long has this been going on?!" demanded Lock. Albert knew the game was up, and decided on the honest approach.
"It is a long story, Lock, so please sit down, and I will tell you everything" gestured Albert, and he and Lock took seats. Albert then explained about Bill, Wierdmageddon and Excalibur, and why it had to be such a secret, acknowledging the failings that led to the Cipher War.
"Oh, my goodness. If people had known they almost stared down Armageddon….." began Lock.
"There would've been mass panic. Hence the need for our organisation. Not only do we fight the evils that regular security cannot, we also keep it a secret from the general populace. As for Major Smith, it was decided by myself that their identity remain a secret, even from the staff, for security reasons" explained Albert.
"So the population of Gravity Falls only kept it a secret because you asked them to. This explains a lot. But what will I tell Congress?" wondered Lock.
"You have two options. One, you can tell them the truth, exposing Excalibur and rendering us unable to protect the homeworld, or two, you can work with us to get to the bottom of this panel of judges you've described to me" offered Albert. Lock thought about this. While Excalibur's methods may seem questionable, it wasn't unlike other intelligence agencies. In his childhood, Lock delved into the Roswell conspiracy, and always wondered what it would be like. If it was for the sake of the homeworld, Lock could keep a few secrets.
"Alright, I'll work with you. But not for you. I'll keep your secret, but you need to provide me with something to bring to Congress" concluded Lock. Albert turned to Jennifer.
"Prepare a press release for our friend here. He is to tell the people that the phenomena in Gravity Falls is due to environmental pollution caused by the Northwest Mud Flaps, and that there is no connection between Gravity Falls and Bill Cipher" ordered Albert. Jennifer acknowledged the order, but took an unexpected call.
"Sir, Kilstone wants to get a hold of you urgently. I'll put him through" Jennifer said, and Albert was through to Kilstone. The resulting conversation was one of dread, and one Albert hoped beyond hope he would never hear. He hung up the phone, and sent a text message on his own phone to Dipper and Mabel, containing two simple words; they know.
"Something has come up, Excalibur thanks you for your co-operation" Albert concluded, and rushed out the door.
In California, Dipper had taken Pacifica out to dinner for their date night. It was a modest place, unlike the places Pacifica normally saw when she was living with her parents, and she found it more lively than those stuck-up fancy places, which she admired.
"For a restaurant with only four stars, this is a lot better than my usual places. In those you could hear a pin drop" Pacifica mused.
"The 1% not much for conversation then?" Dipper asked.
"Not really, unless it was about their investments or which company they took over. It was so boring" Pacifica reminisced.
"Not to mention the fancy dress. That must have been awkward" Dipper added.
"And the over-abundance of knives and forks. It's just a fork, no need to categorise it like you do everything else" Pacifica joked, and they both laughed. Dipper then went to settle the bill, when he got a two word message from Albert. It was at that moment he saw a familiar face at the pay station.
"Agent Powers" Dipper noted.
"Dipper, is it? I take it you know why I'm here?" Powers asked. Dipper knew how this was going to go down.
"How do we do this?" Dipper inquired, grimly.
"The place is surrounded, no chance of escape. We have a warrant. You have a lot to answer for, Major Smith" Powers retorted.
"Let Pacifica go, she has nothing to do with Excalibur, and I'll come with you" Dipper bargained. Powers accepted, noting that Dipper was all he wanted anyway. After Dipper paid for dinner, the cuffs went on. Pacifica saw what was going on, and a myriad of thoughts entered her mind.
"Don't worry, Pacifica. I'll be out in no time" Dipper assured his panicking girlfriend.
"I hope so" Pacifica replied, tearfully, as Dipper was led away into the police cruiser, and taken to the station.
Off the California coast, the Stan O'War 2 was being docked at the marina, where Stanley and Stanford were hoping to visit their great niece and nephew before setting off for South America.
"I still can't believe this in one of the states you aren't banned from. What did you get up to all those years?" Stanford asked his twin.
"So many scams I honestly lost track. It's a time of my life I leave buried and forgotten. Wonder what Dipper and Mabel are up to" answered Stanley. As if to answer that question, Stanford directed his twin to a news broadcast playing on a bar T.V. which made the two men recoil in horror.
"Police today have arrested 14-year-old Mason Pines, better known as Dipper, on suspicion of conspiracy and espionage. Acting on evidence acquired in an independent investigation, authorities have linked the boy to the rumoured Excalibur Institute. More on this as the story develops" announced the newsreader.
"You have got to be kidding" remarked Stanley.
"You're telling me. We have to go to Piedmont and clear his name" decided Stanford.
"So his real name is Mason. I thought his parents hated him" said Stanley. Stanford would respond, but urgency disallowed it. He and Stanley got a cab to Piedmont, and set off for their next escapade.
Author's note: As noted in the previous chapter, Agent Powers is one of the judges. I have a relative idea on the other judges' identities as well, I hope they work. Also, writer's block is one tough mistress. I think I have a clear vision on what to do next, it's just wording the story so it makes sense. The usual disclaimers, I won nothing. Alex Hirsch owns Gravity Falls, Dan and Swampy own Milo Murphy's Law and Phineas and Ferb, Daron Nefcy owns SVTFOE and Disney owns all of them. Enjoy.