Raising the stakes is a good way to keep out the vampires. :)

Guest review replies;

Zeditha: Yeah, that's another reason I cut it. :\ Well, the ASE doesn't actually want to protect them - they lied about that to Mabel and Eddie. They just want to make sure they don't have the power. They're scared, basically. Anyway, thanks for reading!

Guest: Oh, but my friend, it wouldn't be fun if I didn't tease you now and then. :D Thanks for reviewing!

Chapter IX: Raising the Stakes

It was just after midnight when Dipper, Wendy and Melody arrived back at the Shack. It was quite the sight for sore eyes, and Dipper couldn't help but smile as he got out. Not far away, he could see Stan and Soos sitting on the bonnet of the former's car – the latter immediately jumped off and ran to them as they arrived.

"Dipper, you're alive!" he exclaimed, scooping Dipper up into a tight hug.

"Soos!" coughed Dipper, "Can't...breathe!"

"Oops, sorry dude," said Soos, dropping Dipper, "So, what happened? Why did they want you?"

"I still don't really know," replied Dipper, shrugging, "Something about me and Wendy having secret powers and how they needed to 'help us'..."

"...and my long-lost brother," muttered Stan, darkly.

"Oh my gosh," said Soos, his eyes widening.

There was a long silence.

"Wait, you guys have superpowers?!" exclaimed Soos, "Can you fly? Can I see them?!"

"No, Soos, we probably don't actually have powers," replied Wendy, "The nutcases in the black suits just think we do."

"Oh," nodded Soos, dejectedly.

"Actually, you do."

Dipper jumped and turned towards the forest. A figure emerged from the trees – clad in an artist's beret and an unmistakable sweater.

"Mabel?" said Dipper.

Mabel stepped into the light of the Mystery Shack's front yard. She stopped in front of Dipper, head bowed.

"You were right," she said, "They were bad, I just couldn't see it...I thought...I'm..."

Dipper put a hand on her shoulder.

"You've got nothing to be sorry about, Mabel," he replied, "You thought you were helping."

"But...how can you trust me again?" asked Mabel, her eyes watering slightly.

"You're one of our own, hambone," shrugged Soos, "What's that saying again? One for all and...something something?"

"Sure, you made a mistake," added Wendy, "But don't we all, sometimes? You just gotta get back up again."

"You're the only grand-niece I have, Mabel," said Stan, "Actually, no, you're the only one I want."

"We're a team," finished Dipper, "More than that, we're a family. And...and it's just not complete without you."

He opened his arms.

"What do you say?" he offered, "Mystery Twins?"

Mabel sniffled.

"Mystery Family," she replied, embracing her brother.

"Well, that was sickeningly cheesy," muttered Stan, "But what the hey, I'm on board!"

He joined in the hug, followed by Wendy, Soos and (at Soos' insistence) Melody. For just a few moments, Dipper felt like his troubles were a thousand miles away.

Then he was jolted out of his good feelings by a horn and the sound of a van rolling up.

Dipper broke from the hug and watched as Thompson, Tambry and Robbie emerged from the van, the latter waving her phone towards them.

"Guys, turn on the news!" she shouted, her tone uncharacteristically frantic, "You have to see this!"

"...from Gravity Falls, Oregon, I'm Shandra Jimenez."

The whole group, plus Mr. Pines and Waddles, were gathered in the living room in front of Stan's ancient television. On the television, Dipper could see Shandra Jimenez, the less ugly face of news in Gravity Falls, standing in front of the Northwest Manor. Behind her was a line of black sedans, nondescript agents pacing about around them.

"The peace in Gravity Falls was shattered tonight as the Northwest Manor was stormed by an unidentified organisation," reported Shandra, "This group, identified only by their black suits, claimed that they required the Manor to 'set up equipment.' We spoke to one of the occupiers."

The screen changed to a single agent, gazing slightly blankly into the camera.

"We're...uh...FBI. No, CIA. No, definitely FBI, actually, one hundred percent..."

"Long, shut up!" somebody shouted from off screen.

The screen returned to Shandra, who was now standing next to a police cruiser with Sheriff Blubs – Deputy Durland sat at the wheel inside.

"The Gravity Falls Police Department is now preparing for siege," said Shandra, "Sheriff Blubs would like to make a statement to the community. Sheriff?"

"People of Gravity Falls, your police force needs you," said Blubs, grimly, "We're going to need a lot of hot pockets if we're gonna survive the night."

"That's a code four-oh-niner, we need more hot pockets," Durland called into the car radio.

"Ptth!" snorted Robbie, "Gravity Falls' Finest, am I right?"

"Why the Northwest Manor?" asked Dipper, "What makes it different from anywhere else in town?"

"The whole house has room to room Persian rugs," replied Thompson, waving his arms enthusiastically, "All genuine. Every room costs $200,000 and..."

He trailed off as he realised everyone was staring at him.

"...and...and it's not like I think that's cool or anything," finished Thompson, looking at his feet.

"I heard somewhere that they've got their own power generator under the mansion," shrugged Tambry, "Something pretty state of the art..."

"Operation Preservation!" exclaimed Mabel, jumping to her feet (and accidentally catapulting Waddles off of her lap in the process."

"Operation what now?" asked Dipper, tilting his head.

"The All-Seeing Eye thinks they can rip out your powers with a machine," explained Mabel, "They needed the supernatural energy of Gravity Falls, and I'll bet the Northwests' generator is part of it!"

"But it's just a normal power generator, isn't it?" asked Dipper.

"Dipper, the Northwests have been in Gravity Falls for over a hundred years," reminded Stan, "If they don't know about at least some of the crazy stuff that goes on here, I'll eat my fez."

"But we'd know if they knew, wouldn't we?" mused Soos.

"Why? Did they tell you?" demanded Stan.

"Point taken," nodded Soos.

"What, so the Northwests have a supernatural power generator and we've just never noticed?" asked Dipper.

"Well, we've never been in their basement," shrugged Mabel, "Until now, that is."

She pumped her fist.

"You are way too enthusiastic about breaking into the Northwest Manor," muttered Dipper.

"Okay, let's drop that for a sec," interrupted Wendy, "This machine isn't just gonna take our powers, is it?"

Mabel shook her head.

"Stanley said it would disintegrate you," replied Mabel, "You and all of the Children of Destiny."

"Disintegrate?" spluttered Mr. Pines, "You sure about that, Mabes?"

"Well, he actually said 'total breakdown at the atomic level', but I figured 'disintegrate' was more to the point," shrugged Mabel.

"Thanks Mabel," muttered Dipper, "Disintegrate sounds so much less painful."

"So everything he told me was a lie," snarled Stan, "He tried to get me to kill his own grandson."

He clenched his fists.

"When we get him," he declared, "I am going to throw him into the Bottomless Pit and fill it in with cement!"

Dipper stood up, walking to the front of the room.

"Well, it's come to this," he said, "We're gonna have to break in and destroy that machine. Grunkle Stan, you've done this sorta thing before – what do we do?"

All eyes fell on Stan.

"Geez, way to put me on the spot, kid," grunted Stan, "Alright, first we rest up. Tomorrow, me, Soos and Simon will scout out the Manor..."

"...I volunteer to help!" declared Mabel.

"Done," nodded Stan, "Robbie, Tambry, whatever the other guy's name is, you stay here and gather weapons. If it can knock out an MiB from twenty paces, I want it."

He turned to Melody.

"Melody, you head into town and get backup," he ordered, "Anyone who isn't afraid to wreck the Northwest Manor is welcome."

Melody nodded and saluted.

"Dipper, did you get your book back?" asked Stan.

"No," replied Dipper, "Stanley still has it."

"Is there anywhere else you can find the wheel?" asked Stan.

Dipper scratched his chin.

"Do you still have the first two journals?" he replied.

"Yep," nodded Stan, "I keep old '1' and '2' in my office. Why?"

"Can I look through them? They might be in there," said Dipper.

Stan nodded.

"You and Wendy are on that," he said, "We'll meet up at the crossroads up the road from the mansion at five tomorrow afternoon."

Stan narrowed his eyes.

"Get some sleep – you'll need it."

"Let me out of here! I will sue you! I have the money!"

Stanley, Gideon and Bud Gleeful ignored the restrained Preston Northwest, instead watching as the agents of the All-Seeing Eye assembled the machine that would make Operation Preservation possible. They were standing on a metal platform above a massive electrical generator. Green electricity pulsed from the big machine, running down the wires that powered the Manor. It was most assuredly not a normal power generator.

Stanley was flipping through the Children of Destiny book, shaking his head as he found dozens of pages he could not read.

"Are you sure about this, fellas?" asked Bud, nervously, "We're talking about a lot of folks here..."

"Less than a hundredth of a percent of the global population, Mr. Gleeful," reminded Stanley, "Just remind yourself that."

He sighed heavily.

"It has to be done," he said, shaking his head.

Gideon grabbed his father's arm, pulling him away as Stanley became lost in his thoughts.

"Did you do it?" whispered Gideon.

"Just as you asked, my little angel," replied Bud, putting a hand on Gideon's shoulder. Gideon glared at him and he pulled his arm away.

"Perfect," he nodded, "We keep playing these idiots and they'll give us exactly what I want..."

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AN: I think you're cool, Thompson.