A.N: Hey there and welcome back! Here we are at Chapter 4. I just wanted to take a moment and extend a huge THANK YOU to you guys for sticking with me! You have no idea how much I appreciate it! Thank you for reading, for responding, for reviewing, and for returning! I'm so glad you guys are enjoying the story so far and I'll do everything I can to keep it entertaining. THANKS SO MUCH, GUYS!
Okay, on to chapter 4
Chapter 4
Q = m Cp dt
To say "Gaster was upset" was an understatement. To say "Gaster was upset was an understatement" was litotes in its most pure form. To say that Gaster was seething was . . . a little closer to the truth, but it was still not strong enough of a word.
But being the professional he was, however, the doctor stood firmly in his spot and soaked in all of the new information with very little change in his composure. His expression had gone completely cold and his breathing had gotten slower and more controlled.
"Of course." Was all he said.
Sans couldn't pretend not to notice the stressed undertone and knowing that he was the cause in triggering this change in Gaster, Sans had to avert his eyes to look at the ground.
An apology was out of the question and really, what good would an apology do in a situation like this?
"We can deal with the broken doors at a later time." Gaster announced with an even tone. "There's nothing we can do to fix it now, so there is no use worrying about it. Instead, how about we focus on the variables we can, identify, isolate, observe, and record."
The tone in Gaster's voice changed and his speech sounded a bit more like he was giving a lecture than speaking to anyone in particular. "Project 497305 has reactivated after nearly two years of inactivity. Not only this, but he also . . . it also seems to have been aware of its surroundings the entire time it was considered inactive."
Sans knew the doctor wasn't directly speaking to him so much as he was stating the facts for his own records and he was almost certain that somewhere, floors and levels above where they were now, there were disembodied hands furiously taking the dictation down for Gaster's notes.
"P-497305 has not only gained consciousness, but it is cognitive as well. I hesitate to call it sentience. He listens, interprets and responds to speech and he seems to have picked up a little bit from everyone. He's adopted some of Sans' vernacular and moments ago, he even spoke in wingdings. It cannot be said that he . . . that . . . it is not receptive to stimuli even if it does not immediately respond to it.
"As of right now, the specimen . . . I suppose it prefers to be called Papyrus now- another thing for which to thank my assistant - is convinced it is a relative to Sans and has seemed to have significantly calmed its rampage as a result of his presence. It seems to have developed a familiarity to Sans. This is something I must look into a bit later."
Sans listened to the statements, taking them in and making mental notes. Gaster said he would have to 'look into it a bit later ' which meant good things for Papyrus, didn't it? It meant that Gaster wouldn't do away with him just yet. Good. Sans had NOT been looking forward to that. He let a little of that worry drop away.
Letting out a long breath and steadying himself, Gaster raised his eyes to meet Sans'.
"Sans, it seems we have a need to run a few late-night tests. If we are to learn how to handle this fiasco, these tests, I fear, cannot wait until morning. I want you to escort . . . Papyrus upstairs and prep . . . it for the circuit."
"The whole circuit. G, are you sure he needs all that? That's gonna take forever?"
"Well, then it's a good thing you were able to take a nap. You'll need all the energy you can muster."
Sans held back the "mustard" pun he had in reserve for moments like these, finding that perhaps, this wasn't the best time. Man, mustard actually sounded pretty good right then too. No, but ketchup was better and he figured he'd need something strong after a night like this. Well, it would have to wait at least until after the circuit.
Instead, he turned his attention to Papyrus once again. "C'mon, bro." And only then did he actually pay attention to the word. He almost planted the heel of his palm to his face at the realization. Of COURSE that's why Papyrus thought they were brothers! And why Gaster noted that he picked up on Sans' vernacular. Honestly, it just kind of subconsciously slipped out.
"I heard it that time." Sans assured Gaster as he waved off the slip-up. "I'll work on that."
Taking a few more steps back down the hallway, Sans gestured to the other. "Well, let's get going, Papyrus. And you need some clothes, don'cha, bud? How about we see what we can pull together after the circuit. For now, a hospital gown will just have to do."
As Sans and the experiment made their way back toward the elevator, Gaster stayed behind on full surveillance mode. It was amazing just how easily Sans was able to accept that THING and treat it like it was . . . something other than what it was: A failure and a disgrace! A living- maybe "living" was the wrong word for it- testament to everything that was twisted and grotesque and perverse in the field of study they have chosen.
The short of it was, Project 497305 should never have been attempted. It was doomed to fail from the start. "Papyrus" should have never existed.
And now that it did . . . it would have to be dealt with . . . one way or another.
The unforeseen problem in this scenario was Sans. He couldn't understand just how terrible that creature really was. If he could, there was no doubt in Gaster's mind that he wouldn't hesitate to dispose of it just as quickly . . . or at very least, he would be able to see why it was slated for a date with the Core.
"But just look at him." Gaster muttered to himself, "Ushering that . . . abomination around like it's one of us. Not only that but he's given it a NAME- and a complementary name too. Damn it, Sans. How can you simultaneously be so brilliant and so dense!?"
Gaster cradled his temples as he sighed deeply to himself. While Sans was busy with the circuit, he could be finding a way to decommission "Papyrus" once and for all. There just had to be a way. And if he could spare Sans' conscience at all, that would be preferable.
Wait a minute . . . in a situation like this one, Sans' conscience shouldn't matter at ALL. In fact, based on what he has been able to see from it, all blame for the revival of this project landed squarely on Sans. They still had no idea why it suddenly sparked to life again after so long, but if Gaster's hypothesis proved correct, Sans was directly, (if inadvertently) responsible.
The more the doctor thought about it, the more he came to realize that close to the only way this could justly play out is if Sans did the honors of decommissioning Papyrus himself. Maybe it would teach him exactly why it was Gaster told him and all of his assistants NOT to grow so attached to the projects.
He just hoped Sans hadn't invested too much time and effort in that failure.
He just hoped that Sans hadn't been banking on its resurrection.
He just . . .
Hoped . . .
HOPE . . .
THAT'S IT! That had to be it! That's the only thing that made any sense!
He had to test his theory! He had to catch up with Sans and Cor . . . Pap . . . to that THING!
"Um, Doc . . . ?" Sans hesitated, "What's this all about?"
He scratched at his skull and at the nodes attached to it. A device had been clipped to his left index finger as well. As much as Sans wanted to just tear it all off and leave, there had to be a point to all of this and since Gaster wasn't answering, he would just have to stick around and find out.
Damn that doctor. He knew him too well.
"Just hold on, Sans." Gaster assured as he attached nodes to Papyrus as well. The taller Skeleton was seated after having received a hospital gown and a pair of slippers. So far, he had remained silent since the corridor and was on pure observation mode. Undoubtedly, he was curious about this new round of tests. He was used to being poked and prodded, observed and documented, hooked up to machines and made to perform all sorts of tasks- whatever the circuit had to offer.
But never had he had someone else to perform them with. And with Sans, sitting there next to him in obvious discomfort to being in the same situation, he was curious as to why he suddenly had a partner.
Papyrus cocked his head and spoke, attempting to make the garbled speech seem comforting to his brother. The look Sans gave him, however, was contemplative and questioning. He hadn't understood a single word had he?
"He says not to worry." Gaster answered automatically, "He says it's never really that bad." The doctor hesitated for a moment, frowning when he noticed his folly. He quickly brushed it off. "I find it incredible that wingdings comes so naturally to it. We have only heard it speak twice so far, but everything else it says is broken. It seems to be more fluent in wingdings than any other language and it is the language to which it reverts."
"I dunno, G." Sans shrugged with a smirk, "Doesn't seem so odd to me. I mean, you were the one who began the project, alone I might add, before you introduced him to the rest of us. You're also notorious for thoroughly dictating your notes so you can work uninterrupted. Maybe Paps here was taking it all in too while you were working on him."
Sans shot a look over to his new friend and was careful as he watched Papyrus' movements, taking note in every subtle change. It seemed Papyrus was watching him just as closely. During this time, Papyrus hadn't taken his eyes off of Sans and he watched the way he interacted with the doctor. Soon, he came to a conclusion on his own.
"Wingdings . . . ?" He questioned, his eyes narrowing as he regarded Sans.
At first, Gaster snapped his head up purely in response to being called by his first name. Why his parents decided to name him after their native language he would never understand. In times like these, it got especially confusing . . . and irritating.
But the studying look on the specimen's face while it regarded Sans was answer enough to what it meant by the question.
"No," Gaster answered in response, lowering his head to continue his work, "Sans does not speak wingdings."
"Oh," Papyrus answered with a hint of actual emotion to the tone in his voice. He seemed . . . disappointed? "I . . . thought . . ."
"You thought?" Gaster chortled in disbelief, raising his eyes once again as he finished securing the detection device to Papyrus' finger.
Papyrus responded with a slight nod. "I thought . . . If I could . . . talk to Brother."
"Okay, bud." Sans interjected. "I'm actually gonna have to stop you right there. As cool as it would be, I'm actually not your brother. Never had a brother, never will. Simple as that."
Papyrus stalled at Sans' words and finally broke eye contact with him. He lowered his head and his shoulders rolled forward in a display the others weren't sure he'd ever seen before. He was sad. Whether he was just going through the motions because he'd seen them before or because he was actually feeling the emotion and the feeling dictated his movements still remained to be seen.
"Woah," Sans sighed, a part of him seizing at the sight. It was actually almost physically painful to see. "I didn't mean to upset you there, buddy. H-how about this. If it'd help you feel better, I can try to learn wingdings." Sans winked at Papyrus for good measure. "Heh, that way I could finally decipher Gaster's code and figure out all the dirty secrets he has hidden around. And I'll finally be able to understand those terrible things he mutters under his breath when he thinks I'm not paying attention!"
"Sans," Gaster warned, "Don't go making promises you can't keep."
"Yeah, I know. Thanks, dad." Sans shrugged, "I never said it was a promise. Besides, I really have been curious about it anyway and it's not like I could just bug you about it. You're a busy guy, Gaster."
The doctor let out a long breath as he stood to boot up the monitor so they could finally get the tests underway. "Yes, Sans." He said a little despondently, "Yes you could have. And I would have been more than happy to oblige . . . I thought you knew that . . . Well, if you're really serious about it. I could help you get started."
"Tch, you know me." Sans answered, "When have I ever been serious about anything?"
Gaster hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement. "You do have a point. Now sit tight while I get this up and running."
"Eh, fine." Sans conceded. Papyrus nodded once.
For a few minutes afterward, the room went quiet as each Skeleton receded into his own thoughts.
Sitting on the edge of the examination table, neither Sans nor Papyrus could touch the floor and in an act of boredom, Sans began to kick his legs. In no time at all, Papyrus followed suit, kicking in time with Sans' movements. Seeing the response, Sans felt a brief smile that didn't quite reach all of his features.
No matter his thoughts about Papyrus, Gaster had managed to hit on one thing like a hammer to the head of a nail. Papyrus really was amazing and his capacity for learning was just as astounding.
As a bit of an experiment, Sans began to drum his fingers over his kneecaps. He intentionally made no specific rhythm to the drumming, but Sans wanted to test something.
Almost immediately, Papyrus began to tap his fingers with him. Not only did he pick up on the action, but the pattern as well. He was able to keep up with Sans' tapping and predict when the next tap would be. There it was, the rhythm Sans didn't even make. And Papyrus was able to see it, and imitate it. He really was incredible!
"Enough of that," Gaster instructed, turning back toward the other two. "Sans, stop encouraging him."
"Heh, sorry, G." Sans grinned with a wink, "It must be all these wires ramping up my natural conductivity."
Gaster put on a face, confused by the words. "Your what?"
"Well, the flow is already natural, that's for sure, but all these wires must make me an even better conductor than I already am. At this point, I couldn't 'resist' even if I wanted to."
The joke snuck up on Gaster and before he could stop the effect, he let out a deep laugh. The sound was unbridled, something rich and genuine that Sans hadn't heard in a long time. A response like that was well worth the risk. At the reaction, Sans released a quiet laugh as well.
On the table beside him, Papyrus watched the exchange and even though, he didn't quite understand what it meant, something inside of him resonated with the others and he smiled as well.
"Oh, ha-ha." Gaster answered feigning sarcasm, "Someone cue the rimshot effect. You're a natural 'Comic, Sans.' You should consider stand-up."
It was the play on words that surprised Sans the most. He couldn't remember the last time the doctor actually played along with his jokes and puns. It was refreshing to say the least. Gaster needed the laugh more than anyone Sans knew and just seeing him indulge in that laughter was enough for Sans to feel accomplished.
He smiled.
"Hey, who knows?" He answered with a shrug, "If this science thing doesn't work out, maybe I will."
There was a beeping from the monitor and a flicker on the screen. These things almost went unnoticed as Gaster's smile spread.
"Finally." He grinned, "I can use all five fingers!"
Sans' smile became the slightest bit wary. "Five fingers? What for?"
Gaster shook his head. "Never mind that. Right now, the machine is ready."
"About that." Sans began again, his natural curiosity taking over. "What exactly are we testing for?"
"I want to see your current HP." Gaster replied in a very matter-of-fact tone.
"Um . . . Doc?" Sans said slowly, "You do know we don't have to use a machine for that. That's why we use 'CHECK'."
"Ah, yes. But you see, Sans, CHECK is only used in battle situations and only on a single target at a time."
"Yeah, and . . . ?"
"I believe there is a correlation between your power and P-497305's resurrection. But to test that hypothesis, I will need to see both of your HP levels at once."
Sans hummed in thought. "Can't say I get it, but sure. Let's see if you're right."
"Alright," Gaster instructed, turning back toward the machine. "I'll need you both to activate your magic."
"Sure thing." Sans answered, immediately pulling on his reserves. Both of his eyes began to glow a brilliant blue as he called on his latent ability.
At the same time, Papyrus nodded, obeying the order. There was a slight orange flash as the power was called forth, but his eyes didn't hold the same glow Sans' did.
The monitor in front of them flickered again as it began to pick up on the magic being expelled by both Skeletons. It sorted the information as a split screen so both results could be easily read.
Taking up about half of each section was a silhouette of each participant. As the magic coursed through them, the corresponding outline began to glow on the screen. Beneath the body outline was a yellow bar labeled "HP." Almost immediately, Gaster noticed a discrepancy.
"Sans, what happened?" Gaster muttered, "You've lost one . . ."
Sans snapped his head up to read the monitor. Gaster was right again. It looked like his HP bar had gotten even shorter since last time. And this wasn't because of some accident or physical harm. This had been taken off of his Max HP and that . . . couldn't be recovered once it was lost. No amount of sleep or food would be able to bring that back.
"Oh, would you look at that?" Sans hummed again, "Must have dropped it when I wasn't looking."
"Sans, this isn't funny." Gaster urged, and just like that, all the humor from five minutes ago was gone and Gaster was all business once again. "If this keeps up the way it is . . . Sans, you could-"
"I know, I know."
"Sans, this is serious! You can't keep pushing it off like this!"
Sans hung his head, the worry and concern in Gaster's voice cutting through like a knife.
"What am I supposed to do?" Sans asked in a near whisper, "I don't even know what's causing it, much less how to stop it or reverse the effects."
Papyrus turned his head to see the Skeleton beside him, his head lowered and his body curled in on itself. Though he didn't know the name for it, Papyrus knew what the other Skeleton was feeling. He'd felt it too and he knew he didn't want Sans to feel it now.
"Sans?" Papyrus asked reaching out a hand for him, "I can help you, maybe?"
Sans gave a bitter and terse chuckle at the offer, "Hey, thanks, Pap." He answered, "I really appreciate it, but that's impossible. Unless you can find a way to gain HP WITHOUT going completely psycho and racking up EXP, 'cause that's not happening either, bud."
"Don't worry." Papyrus answered, taking Sans' hand within his own, "Papyrus will help."
At the touch, something happened. The spot where their hands touched felt as if it could catch fire and there was a loud rapid beeping coming from the machine where the two of them were hooked up. The beeping quickly became a whirring screech.
"Let go of him!" Gaster demanded, rushing forward to break that thing away from Sans if he had to, but to his surprise, it let Sans go on its own and clasped both hands together, twisting them in a show of embarrassment.
Immediately, the screeching sound stopped, but there was a residual beeping sound that remained. Gaster recognized the sound. With as many live specimens as he'd dealt with over the years . . . hooked up to this same machine, it had become a familiar tune that meant one thing.
Someone's HP was getting dangerously low.
When he looked back to the stats, Gaster saw the one thing he dreaded most about this, the one thing he knew he was going to find.
The short bar under Sans' silhouette had a significant amount of empty space. That space between his max and current HP, showed on screen as a bright pink fill that was still draining! The only yellow remaining was a sliver in the far corner. That creature was siphoning Sans' HP directly out of his body! And if they were still connected when that pink drained down completely . . . if they continued to use magic past that point . . .
"You!" Gaster barked, turning his attention back toward the abomination, "You get away from Sans!"
Papyrus sprang up from his perch, but not of his own will. Surrounding his body was a bright blue aura and without a moment to even register what was going on, Papyrus was lifted from the examination table and forced back toward the door as far as the wire tethers would allow.
"W-wait, Gaster!" Sans huffed, the initial shock of the sudden and unexpected loss of HP was starting to dissipate. He got up from his spot on the table and stood beside it with a little difficulty. "Gaster, it's okay!"
"Shut down your magic, Sans!" Gaster instructed, "If you use it too much now and it eats away at that little bit of HP you have left, you'll die!"
Sans didn't argue. He already knew all of this and didn't need the reminder, but as he tried to dismiss the power, nothing happened. He was stuck.
"Hey, Gaster." He called, toggling his attention between the doctor and the shrinking pink bar on the monitor. A bit of actual concern was laced in with his tone as that pink inched closer to the yellow, "I-I think the off switch is busted."
"What?"
"I can't turn off my magic." He answered more directly.
Gaster kept his glare on Papyrus. His eyes were beginning to glow that same orange color that flashed before. He was still using Sans' magic wasn't he? Gaster decided then that he couldn't be bothered with how. He had to cut the flow of magic between the two at once! He prepared a magic attack.
"No!" Sans called, gripping at the collar of his coat, "Papyrus! Turn off your magic, now!"
Papyrus obeyed. The glow in his eyes died and his silhouette faded from the monitor. Directly afterward, Sans did the same. The glow in his eyes finally dimmed and the monitor went dark just as the pink bar was nearing Sans' true HP count: 1.
"Sans!" Gaster called again, this time turning to see his apprentice, "What the Hell do you think you're doing!?"
"it worked, g." Sans grinned, his focus distant as the light in his eyes dulled and he fell heavily forward. He was unconscious before he hit the ground.
A.N.: Okay . . . so that's totally NOT how I was planning on ending that chapter at ALL! It just sorta . . . happened when Papyrus took Sans' hand. But, hey, I can't say I'm complaining. Poor Sans is having such a bad time, though. They all are. No one is happy about this. But, it was nice to see that brief moment where even Gaster could relax a bit and enjoy a little humor!
Speaking of Gaster: WTF, dude!? What's your issue? I know you're worried about Sans, but he can take care of himself. You're being a bit overprotective, don't you think? Why are you so worried about him, anyway? What's your deal?
Who knows, maybe we'll find out in Chapter 5! ^_~
*Oh! Just in case you were wondering, the title of this chapter (Q= m Cp dt) is the equation used when trying to determine the transfer of kinetic energy from one object to another. Usually, heat is the by-product of such a transfer, but in this case the by-product was . . . something completely different.