Waking up with a yawn, Pax got out of bed. His first thought of the day being food, he grabbed his phone and walked downstairs, heading into the kitchen. He noticed that he was the first one awake, that meant there were no fresh baked pies from Toriel, 'Guess I'll just eat cookies instead.'After wharfing down an entire bag of cookies and washing them down with soda, Pax was most definitely awake. Still no one was awake, so Pax decided to check the time. Pulling out his phone he saw that it was approaching a quarter to nine. Deciding his parents probably were just sleeping in he went upstairs and changed exchanged his duster for his lab coat. He had his first official scientific meeting to attend. He had recently been researching possible ways to reach faster than light speed, and even though his process was abnormal and incomplete, Alphys had sent in a request to a friend in Nasa to conduct a meeting for it. If Pax remembered correctly he had to meet at a building called The Observatory. It was a two story building located in a small village like place out of his town and far enough away from any light sources to see plenty stars. It would take him all day to get there so Pax decided to pack food, drink, and some cash so he could pay for gas and use some of the personal telescopes that people who lived out there writing a note for his parents and grabbing his reading glasses, Pax left his house, remembering to lock the door. Before he even took a step, Pax's phone began to ring, "Hello?"
A female voice answered, "Hey, it's Chara. You doin anything today?"
"Yeah, in fact I was about to head to a science meeting. Why, you have better plans?"
For a minute there was no reply, finally a response came, "Actually, can I come?"
Pax was thrown aback a little bit. He didn't think of Chara as the scientific type; scholarly, maybe, "Are you sure? I mean it's not going to be anything amazing. Just a bunch of nerds talking about ways to space travel."
"Space travel sounds cool."
Pax smiled, He knew she was coming even if he tried to stop her, "Ok, pack good and drink because we're not going to be back until three in the morning; and trust me, the food they sell is literally for show."
"Cool, bye."
"Bye." Hanging up he put his phone into his pocket and entered his finally had her pack ready. She had four slices of left over pizza, multiple bags of chips, plenty of water, and if things got serious, or she just felt snacky, a chocolate bar the size and length of her forearm. For the trip she brought her illustration book, a joke book, and of course her phone.
Chara didn't have to wait long before there was a knock on the door. "I'm leaving for the science meeting thing!" Chara announced.
Opening the door, Chara found a smiling and lab coat wearing Pax, "Well it looks like you have embraced the dork side."
Pax gave a sly smile, "Well I was about to complement your new look, but I doubt it's going to get a warm welcome."
Chara looked down and realized she was wearing the Uchiha hoodie Pax had gotten her for her birthday a couple of weeks before hIs punishment was over, giving a slow clap, Chara said, "Fire style, so funny Pax."
"Aw don't be so condescending, you'll leave me emotionally Char-a-ed."
Chara laughed, "Ok that's enough. There is that meeting and we are burning daylight like Mom through cooking supplies." "DAMN CUBE!" Chara had unsuccessfully trying to draw a cube. But each one was never perfect enough.
"You can't blame me this time, the road is smoother than a frictionless surface at absolute zero." Pax said with a laugh.
Chara grumbled, "It's this station's fault. The music is all wrong!"
Pax smiled, "Yeah, maybe eighties music is too hardcore to draw correctly with."
"Whatever, wake me when we're there."
"Sure thing, Princess." Pax joked. "Why… why did you do this?" Pax knelt, his attackers own blood splashing on the ground below. The demon just laughed, inciting Pax to rush final time. But it was in vain, this was the demon's fifteenth time killing him. It ended the same every time, they killed Pax's Uncle first and then his Dad, absorbing two of the most powerful souls in one go. Pax clutched at the knife in his skull, coughing up the demon's blood. As he began to turn to mist the knife fell out. In its metallic gleam the demon saw their own sinful reflection. As Pax's dust whirled around the Demon heard him speak, "You won't escape forever…. Chara!"
Chara picked up the knife and slashed around at the dust as it began surrounding her. As she cut into it, it repeated her name again and again. Chara screamed and slashed all around her, "I'M SORRY, I NEVER REALIZED PLEASE STOP!"
The voice didn't stop its chanting. Chara! Chara! Chara! "Chara stop, you're safe. Calm down!" Chara woke up in the shadow of a two story building. Suddenly she remembered something about a meeting, "Thank God Chara, thought you'd never stop."
Turning to her right she saw Pax; he was holding the door open for her. 'He isn't dead.' Chara thought. She thought about her dream and looked at Pax. His face looked genuinely worried about her, she couldn't help it. Chara began crying, 'Does he not actually remember? Did Asriel and Gaster not tell him about me killing him fifteen times?'
Pax reached for her shoulder, "Chara, what is wrong?"
Chara just smacked his hand away and jumped out of the truck, running inside the building, "Just stay away from me!"
As Pax ran inside after her he nearly ran straight into Undyne, "Woah kid, where's the fire?"
Pax shifted uncomfortably, "Aunt Undyne, now is not the time. Chara just ran off inside upset about something and she needs me right now."
"But that meeting is in a few minutes kiddo."
Pax ran last Undyne, "Get Alphys to stall 'em!"
Thirty-three minutes later:
Pax was scared out of his wits. Not because if he couldn't find Chara his Mom would kill him. He was scared if he lost Chara then she could get taken. She didn't answer his calls; He didn't even know if she was still in the building. As he turned the corner He saw stairs, 'Only place I haven't checked.'
Running up the stairs, Pax crashed through the door. As Pax tumbled into open air and a star filled night replaced ceiling and walls, Pax screamed, "CHARA!"
A weak voice rang louder than anything in Pax's head, "Go away." Turning around, Pax saw Chara sitting near a small telescope; her knees to her chest.
Pax sighed in relief, 'At least she's ok.' Walking closer, Pax noticed her eyes were red and bloodshot.
When he sat down next to her she didn't even move. Only saying, "Do you even remember?"
"Remember what?"
Chara scowled and shouted angrily, "What do you mean, 'remember what?' I mean the fact I murdered you fifteen times in a row! Did nobody tell you, or do you just not remember? Because I do, each face you made as I goaded you on until I eventually killed you. Your pained expression is in every nightmare I've had since the last reset!"
Pax didn't speak for a while, causing Chara to think her fear of him resenting her came true. Finally Pax said, echoing her question, "Do you remember?"
Chara tensed up, "Come on Pax."
He repeated, "Do you remember?"
"Remember what?" Chara finally asked, giving in.
"What I said to you on the sixteenth time," Chara looked at him, "Well I remember you asking me how I could be so kind to you when you took everything from me. Do you remember my response?"
Chara grew a small smile, "You told me that I did take everything you loved away. Then you asked if that was true about the old me… then… then you said you loved the real me."
"And I still do." Pax leaned in and kissed Chara.
When he leaned back Chara said, "Your lips are soft…"
Pax laughed, "Not the response I expected. But yeah, skeletons may be made of bone, but the parts where normal soft spots are such as lips or noses and eyes are soft."
Chara smiled, "And you ruined the moment again with science."
"Like last time." Pax said laughing. Chara laughed as well, putting her head on Pax's shoulder.
They sat there and pointed at stars looking to make their own constellations for what felt like ages to the both of them. The eventually had to go inside when a guard who had been sent to find them came by.
When Pax finally finished his process for F.T.L he was questioned fairly. Since he was new to the science scene, he wasn't hazed too hard. Overall the other scientists had rather enjoyed and liked his idea. Since being able to make photons form into a solid was nearing reality, Pax thought of using a solid photon reactor with a cube of antimatter or near antimatter based in it to house the energy given off by such a source. Pax also reminded them that the idea was still incomplete. Eventually the crowd dispersed, each person going home to discuss with their other peers about the idea.
Pax met Chara, Undyne, and Alphys outside as well. Pax didn't need to check his phone to know it was time to go home. Undyne volunteered to drive the two kids home, which they accepted happily. Both kids were emotionally and physically exhausted. Chara was so tired that she wasn't even in the mood to eat her chocolate bar. Though when Pax joking reached for it, she smacked him in the forehead with such force the truck rocked. After that, the rest of the drive was quiet with the Chara and Pax sleeping.
