Core Issues: Season Two
by Nicolle

Disclaimer: Undertale belongs to Toby Fox. G!Sans (our lovely narrator) and G!Paps belong to Borurou. Fase is from Technotale. Underfell is a community project. This story is copyright to me.

Special Disclaimers:

1. Here it is Ladies and Gents! The beginning of the end!
2. Rated T for language, sexual themes/jokes, and violence.
3. Our narrator for this episode is Army!Frisk.

Ep. 10 - A Normal Day at Home (To avoid confusion right out, our narrator for this episode is Army!Frisk.)

My Frisk from the colony ship Delta, her eyes blue and white, sat next to me and our exemplar toting Frisk at the end of the dock. Our feet dangled in the cool water, the occasional trout swimming far below. The sky was a bright blue between puffy white clouds and the light that filtered down to the lake made the water sparkle like diamonds.

"Thank you for having me. It's nice to live in a good memory for a while." Frisk took my hand, eyes like rainbows.

"You're welcome anytime," I said, putting my head on her shoulder.

"Are you sure that a fish won't bite my toes?" the teen asked. She leaned forward over the edge, resting her arms on her knees to watch the fish swim by. Her long hair slid forward over her shoulders.

I smiled. "Mostly."

Frisk sat up and pouted at me for a moment before her shoulders dropped. She pushed her hair back behind her shoulders. "Fase says I'm a copy of another Frisk. That I don't belong to any timeline. So what's going to happen to me? "

I sat up and put a hand on her shoulder. "You'll stay here with us."

"Just like that?" Her expression soured. "Are you that used to taking in strays at the Foundation?"

My older double leaned back to look at the teen, eyes blue green. "You're hardly a stray. Would you rather be somewhere else?"

Frisk looked out over the lake, eyes reflecting the glittering surface. "No. It's really nice here. Frisk and Sans seem to be really happy to have me around. Even when I'm causing trouble, no one ever kicks me out or tells me that I'm not welcome." She ducked her head. "I guess I've just been waiting for someone to tell me that it's time to leave."

I felt a familiar tingle and looked behind me at the same time as my older double. Blue stood at the other end of the dock, hands in his pockets, pink slippers covering his boney feet, smiling at us.

"Everyone treats me like I belong with all the Frisks and I guess I'm just waiting to feel like I do."

Blue winked at me with his left eye and disappeared.

I pulled my feet from the water and stood to put on my sandals. "Come on. Lunch is ready by now at the cabin."

The teen pulled her feet out of the water and shoved them in her shoes. As we walked up the path, we came across a large tree branch.

Frisk bent over, trying to lift it. It didn't budge. "Woah. That wasn't here when we came down! Good thing it didn't hit us. I'd need to summon Crow to lift it."

We walked passed the branch and heard a resounding crack. The teen turned and gasped, running back to the broken branch. Frisk and I ducked behind a tree, stifling giggles behind our hands.

"Hey Frisk! Check it out! It's smashed to pieces! Frisk...?"

The teen looked around and, confused, went back up the trail.

"Frisk?"

We waited as she came to a stop near our hiding spot. Frisk wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly, the memory of the rush of that first meeting rolling over both of us.

"*Human. Don't you know how to greet a new pal? Turn around and shake my hand."

Frisk turned slowly and put her hand in Blue's, only to jump at the whoopee cushion deflating in her hand.

"*heheh... the old whoopee cushion in the hand trick. it's ALWAYS funny."

She giggled, hiding her mouth behind her hands. "It's an awful joke!"

Blue put an arm around her shoulders. "*feel a little more like you belong, kiddo?"

Frisk smiled. "Yeah!" She frowned. "Why?" She blinked. "Which Sans are you?"

"*the original." He winked at her with his left eye. "*i'm sans classic."

The teen started hopping up and down, excited. "Does that mean the original Frisk is here too?"

Sans nodded and drew out his soul, in his white upside down heart rested a bright red one. "*their napping right now. but they'll want to talk to you later."

"Wow." She reached out and touched the soul within a soul and pulled back quickly. "Woah."

The souls disappeared and he held out his arm. "*ready for some hot dogs?"

She took his arm. "Yeah!"

They started back up the path and Frisk and I fell in behind them, listening to the teen chatter at Blue full speed. We came out of the tree line and found two more picnic tables set up with a whole lot of Frisks, the occasional Chara, and several Floweys talking it up while their various skelebros chatted away.

Agent Helvetica... No. G. He asked me to call him G.

His Frisk sat with Cross. Iris' Frisk and Red's little sister were talking about Coco the Gaster Blaster. Monster Frisk sat on the table petting Coco. Black's Frisk chatted away with Vivi and Ravie's mother, who cuddled baby Abigail in her arms. White's full grown diplomat of a brother caught sight of us and waved us over.

When I sat down next to him and the food started passing around, a hush came over us. It was hard not to notice the multiple eye sockets, and in some cases actual eyes, were watching us top our hot dogs.

"Here they go again," White's Frisk grumbled.

"I was told this would happen, but seriously? Are they that insecure?" My older double whispered, eyes yellow green.

"It's not insecurity," Monster Frisk said. "It's about loyalty." She smiled, the devilish little grin that every Fell Frisk eventually developed curving her lips. "Ketchup please!"

Her Papyrus groaned, shoulders drooping while her Sans laughed.

Cross looked at D. "I am not putting white sauce on a hot dog. It is not happening."

Red's little sister picked up a bottle of ketchup.

"*oh come on, sweetheart!"

She looked at her brother as she slathered the hot dog in ketchup. "Thirty-two times, Sans. Thirty-two times."

Vivi and Ravie's mother laughed. "Apply water directly to the burn, Red."

Her Sans looked at Red. "Are you going to flip off my wife?"

"*nope. but i was thinking about it." Those red glints looked over at his Chara. "*what's the matter, prick? no follow up?"

Chara looked up from his video game. "Huh? Oh yeah. Someone pass me the liquid cheese."

White laughed maniacally while Blue patted Red on the shoulder and lunch began in earnest.

"*So what's on the agenda today?" Iris asked between sips of spicy mustard.

"After lunch, we hit the Ember Realm Amusement Park in New Home," Bones said.

Teen Frisk practically jumped in her seat. "They just added a new roller coaster called Impulse! I cannot wait!"

"*do you think they can handle this many frisks?" Red asked.

"This many Frisks aren't a problem," White said. He put his hands on the heads of Iris' and G's Frisks. "These two are a problem."

Iris' Frisk just shrugged while she ate her hot dog, her Flowey nodding.

G's Frisk knocked White's hand away. "Hey! I am not a problem!" He looked at Cross. "Back me up here."

Cross chuckled. "The only thing I've got to help you is that I won the award for Most Problematic Frisk."

"What is it with Gaster Sans-es having such problematic Frisks?" My surfer Papyrus smiled at me when he said it, a red glint to his eyes.

I pointed at him. "That's right. Laugh it up! Next time I come by, I'm dropping in on your wave and tossing you in the soup."

His Sans elbowed him. "I'll get mom to record your wipe out for us."

Papyrus eyed his brother. "And who said I'd let her do that to me?"

Sans looked between the two of us. "My money's on Frisk."

"Are you saying that she's a better surfer than I am?"

"Oh no! Never!" A red gleam hit his eyes. "I'm saying you'd just let her toss you in the soup."

Fell Frisk practically jumped up in her seat, pink and blue hair bouncing. "Surf off! Surf off!"

"Oh Wahine! Don't get them started. I don't think I could take it if my poor brother smacked himself off the reef again."

Papyrus rolled his eyes.

"Careful now, Red. Or Papyrus will steal your bestie," White teased.

Red snorted. "*i ain't worried about him." His eye sockets narrowed at Cross. "*i am way more concerned about how much time she's been spending with the piss ant."

Cross leaned back to look at him. "Suck it, Red."

Red put his boney hands on my shoulders. "*what do you see in him, sugar blossom?"

I patted his hand and gave him a bottle of mustard. "Me. It's why you like him so much."

Cross and Red stared each other down for a moment before flipping each other the bird.

Iris' Frisk reached over and tugged on Fell Frisk's hair. "Why is your hair every color of the rainbow? Every time I see you it's a different color!"

Cross put his fork down. "You know, I have always wondered about that. What is it with your hair?"

"Mettaton colors her hair every other week on his day time talk show," Chara answered. Frisk nodded, pink and blue waves bobbing.

"How is your hair not falling out?" My older double asked.

"Magic," Frisk said.

Several eye sockets turned to Red and he shrugged. "*don't look at me. i honestly haven't figured out how she altered muffett's purple magic to do it."

"So what's the big occasion? Why is everyone here when most of us were on lock down?" White's brother asked.

Fell Frisk held out her hand for a napkin. "Since the new firewalls are now in place, Fase was able to construct a new prison for the C.H.A.R.A. virus. It's only a matter of time before it's trapped again."

Her Flowey handed her a napkin. "So we're all taking a break and this world's Asriel is nice enough to host us all for some fun."

"*as soon as everyone's done eating, we'll clean up, and head underground," Blue said.

With that, the younger Frisks finished their plates as fast they could. Clean up was a breeze with so many people on hand, and we were at Ember Realm's gate in the blink of an eye.

"Wow! It's like being at the fair at night!" Monster Frisk squealed. She hugged her Papyrus tightly around the neck. "Swings first! Swings first!" He laughed and headed off in the direction of the Italian Trapeze, his brother following behind at a leisurely pace.

The youngest Frisks grabbed a hold of Cross, dragging him deep into the park. My older double smiled, eyes gold and flashing as they reflected the bright lights, and followed the kids, camera in hand. Red and Blue found a nice bench and proceeded to nap while White and Iris hit the arcade, and, very likely, the newest zombie shooter on the big screen.

As everyone split up, Bones took my hand in his. And I was blushing like an idiot. Again.

Why?

I married this man. We'd seen each other for years before that. We'd been trying for months to conceive. Why did I suddenly turn red like a teen with a crush when he held my hand? Or when he smirked at me?

His smirk grew when he looked down at my face. Great. Just great.

"Ready?" His uncanny voice rushed over skin and I shivered. Bones pulled me against him, putting his arm around my shoulders, and trailing his boney fingers over the line of sunflowers tattooed down the inside of my arm. He walked me in the direction of the Haunted Mansion. No matter how long the line was, we always went on the Haunted Mansion first when we came to Ember. It was the first ride Bones took me on the first time he brought me here.

And it marked the first time he'd kissed me.

I was as red as a tomato. I had to be. I knew what would happen. The tiny ride car would swing sharply away from the truck scare and I would jump like I always did. I'd grab a hold of his jacket and he'd catch hold of my chin, claiming my mouth as we went through the room with glowing skulls floating all around us, recapturing that first time.

Dogamy and Dogaressa ran over to us, pulling us from the line.

"Sans! Puppy! Undyne needs you both. She's waiting for you outside King Asgore's former home."

Bones put his arm around my waist to short cut us away. Before the world swirled dark, I saw Cross and Red heading toward us. Bones and I stepped into the leaf strewn yard of the old house. Undyne stood there with Asriel, who, despite being in his purple 'I'm not working today' hoodie and his 'I don't care if I'm the king of all monsters' blue jeans, looked like an almighty ruler. Lily and James stood with them.

Seeing him like this was always strange for me no matter how many times I'd seen him step into his role as ruler of all monsters. The first time I laid eyes on him was after I'd woken up from the surgery that'd saved my life and made C a permanent part of it. I don't remember being shocked or scared. I only remember reaching out to touch his long hair and thinking how strong and beautiful he looked. I'd felt safe in a way I hadn't since dad died.

Though I was not technically one of his subjects despite formally being his sister, the urge to kneel to his authority was overwhelming. I might argue with him, but I was never able to ever truly disobey an order if he gave me one. I'd wondered for a long time if it was just part of my training. That I'd accepted him as my commanding officer. But one incident had wiped that notion away. Once, in a moment of extreme stress, he'd barked for silence from a group of human reporters on a tour of the Foundation. All of them fell silent and knelt.

Red and Cross appeared behind us as C burst to life on my shoulder.

"What's wrong?" Bones asked.

Undyne handed me a briefcase. "Lily and James were out having lunch and just happened to say the correct code phrase to receive this briefcase. Inside are instructions for a sleeper cell to cause a problem at Ember Realm tonight when Ambassador Susan Warner comes through on a tour with Asgore."

Lily sighed. "All I did was ask for a bottle of hot sauce to go with my pizza." She pointed at Bones. "You started me on that, by the way." He smiled and shrugged.

I opened the case and started digging. "These are the instructions for a cell making the distraction that will cause enough disarray for humans disguised as monsters to kill the Ambassador, causing a serious international incident. Looks like several cells working together. Only two are on for the actual assassination. The others are pulling off a flash mob to cover the assassins."

I pulled out my phone and dialed.

"*who are you calling, sugar plum?"

Cross frowned. "Church just dialed. She didn't use the phone's address book. That means she's calling her former command."

Undyne and Red exchanged worried glances, while Asriel merely watched.

I waited for the pick up. Dead silence followed it. "A. Nine. Eight. Six. Forty-Two. S. O. P. V." There was a click and the line transferred. The phone on the other end was picked up on the first ring.

"Frisk Emily Church! I never thought I'd ever hear your voice again. Whatcha need, darlin'?"

I simultaneously relaxed and stood at attention. Ah. Old habits. "Hear my voice again? Sir, you did attend my wedding."

"You know what I mean, Church."

I sighed. "Yes. Yes I do. We have evidence of an assassination attempt against Ambassador Warner in four hours while she's touring the Underground."

"Can the Foundation handle it or would you like assistance?"

"As a matter of fact, we just happen to have a lot of agents on hand for a retreat. We can handle it. I just need the media presence to be edited to the appropriate people and for someone to clean up the sleeper cell that was supposed to get the information we have."

"I can do that. What's your plan?"

I looked at Asriel and he nodded, giving me authority. "Bait and switch. She's supposed to tour with King Asgore. We'll have an agent stand in for the Ambassador with Asgore, while she tours the Underground with King Asriel instead." I picked up a paper in the file and stared at it. I bit my tongue to keep from cursing in front of my former commanding officer. "Looks like a member of her staff is part of the plot. We'll need to separate him so he can't tip off the conspirators."

"I will handle the Ambassador being in the right place at the right time for you. Call in on the secondary number if you need me again."

"Yes, Sir."

He chuckled. "We."

"Sir?"

"Another time, Church. You have a lot of work to do in a very short amount of time." He hung up.

I noticed that Cross was looking at me with an anticipatory smile while Bones waited patiently for the plan. G, Iris, and White appeared behind them, while several Foundation agents filed in. Undyne quickly briefed them on the situation.

Asriel took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "The assassination attempt will happen in Ember Realm near the grand stand. I have Agent Niagra already getting the area ready for full neutralization if necessary. The plan is to find the conspirators before they even get to that point. The information we have indicates that the conspirators are all human who will disguise themselves as monsters. We'll split everyone into teams to look for the conspirators. It's a week day so there aren't as many tourists around and the humans here will be limited to visitors and those working in the Underground. Do not assume that just because they work here, that they aren't part of the plot. Check everyone."

Asriel took the paper with the identity of the mole and looked at it. "The Ambassador will arrive here in two hours. When that happens, the mole will be separated from the entourage. When the group comes through the Golden Hall, Agent Aster will grab him and take him to holding at the Foundation." He smiled. "I've already notified our surfer Sans and he'll take it from there."

There was an audible hiss from several of the agents.

Undyne picked up the instructions. "White and G. You two have New Home proper. Cross and Red. You both have the walk ways around New Home. Iris and Frisk. I want you both to check the Core. If anyone thinks they have a bead on something, call me to handle breaking and entering."

Asriel put his hand on my shoulder. "You will be our decoy."

I nodded.

"We will switch the Ambassador and her entourage with you and a team of agents after the mole has been removed," Asriel said. "Any questions?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"Good." Asriel turned to Bones. "Agent Aster, once the mole is secured, return to help me."

Bones nodded.

"Then let's get a move on," Undyne said. "I will ring you when we're ready to put you under make up, Frisk." She started directing the remaining agents.

Iris and I headed for the Core.

"*Any chance that we might be wild goose chasing all the way over here?"

"Undyne wouldn't have sent us over here, if she didn't think we might find something."

Iris' red eyes flickered in her skull. "*How has Bones been doing? I mean..." She huffed. "*I didn't mean to put him through all that."

"He's fine, Sans. We aren't strangers to missions that go south hard and fast. How's the soul he bonded with?"

"*Constantly asking when the skeleton monster they bonded with will come back. The new royal scientist created a vessel for it to stay in and it lives with us. For obvious reasons, it likes to be near Daisy."

"How are things going with Papyrus?"

She smiled, eyes sockets closed in ecstasy of memory. "*Ah fuck! Why does he have to be on a different timeline?" She looked at me a little sheepishly, rubbing the back of her skull. "*Besides the existential distance? Great!"

We split up to check different areas in the Core. Everything was quiet and empty. We met at the elevator.

"*It looks like the Core is clear."

I shook my head. "There's still down. We need to check the basement levels. How are you affected by a Gaster's presence?"

"*Not at all. If the 'Good Doctor' in my head doesn't have a reason to assert himself, I don't even notice that he's there. Bones gets hit hard with it, huh?"

I nodded as we got in the elevator. "Here he will become Gaster. Though he is aware that he is not himself anymore."

"*Must be interesting for you."

I looked at my feet for a second. "It's still him."

The elevator let us out at the basement level and we checked each of the rooms in turn. I opened the door to Wing Dings' office and found a stash of clothing, make up, and masks in front of the desk. Nothing else in the office was touched.

Iris pulled out her phone. "*It's Iris. We found where the conspirators are stashing their stuff. Gaster's old office in the Core basement."

I looked over at the desk. A folder with papers sticking out of it sat on the blotter. I flipped it open and looked. Instead of plans for the assassination, I found a set of letters.

Iris hung up the phone. "*What did you find?"

"Bones writing back and forth to himself. Sans and Wing Dings."

Iris leaned over my shoulder. "*What language is this?"

I switched to speaking in it. "The symbol language we understand when Gaster speaks it, but can't read."

Iris' eyes turned white for a moment and back to red. She shook her skull. "*Take them with you to keep them safe. Red and Cross are on their way here. They're just going to wait for the conspirators and doing that might mess up Bones' work. Undyne needs you for make up."

I picked up the file and paused, dropping it back to the desk for a moment. I went over to the door to the lab and opened it to peek inside. Years of training kicked in and I dropped to a crouch, causing the person looking to bash me over the head to fall. I pushed up quick, reversing my attacker's momentum and slammed him into the door jamb. Iris' power came up and I froze, letting the bones go around me to pin the guy to the wall through his clothing.

C cursed in my head as a woman grabbed me from behind and spun me around. I lost my footing and crashed into the examination table. Iris sent a ring of red bones around her and the woman sank to knees, whimpering. Iris smirked. "*Yeah. No. I'm not an idiot. Just be happy I want you in one piece."

Another man came at Iris, swinging. She weaved around both punches, both boney arms coming up. He grabbed her shoulder and she swung on him, cracking him in the head. He stumbled and she brought both fists down on his upper back, sending him to the floor.

C's voice wrapped around my inner ear. "Adult Female, hidden on the left. Armed and knows what she's doing."

The woman appeared from behind a cabinet and with a gun pointed at me. I put up my hands and let her walk close.

The gun's safety was engaged.

I grabbed her arm, pulling her toward me and forward, keeping the gun aimed at the floor. I spun, elbowing her in the face, and catching her squarely on the nose. She dropped the gun and tried to kick me. I grabbed her leg and lifted her up, before slamming her into the ground, using my own body to add to the force of impact. She lay there, dazed, while I bound her wrists.

I picked myself up and looked around the lab. It was a mess. "Bones is going to be fifty shades of angry when he sees this," I groaned.

Iris eyes turned white. "*I'M sURe tHaT aLL YOu'Ll nEEd tO Do is BeNd oVEr thE DEsk tO cOOl HiM ofF."

Iris shook her head, eyes turning red again. "*You dirty old fucker! Stop that!" She sighed. "*I honestly don't know which is worse, him taking me over or how he wasn't joking when he said that."

"*joking when who said what?" Red asked as he came in the door. He drew in a breath with a hiss. "*fuck. bones is going to be pissed."

Cross came in the door and flinched at the mess in the lab. He looked at our four captives. "Well. It's a good thing that... Wait. No. It's not a good thing we're taking you four elsewhere. The guy this lab belongs to is WAY nicer than the guy who gets to interrogate you."

Red grabbed the man stuck to the wall and pulled him off the bones, ripping his clothing. He reached through the bars of the cage to grasp the woman's collar and short cut away with both. He reappeared a minute later and short cut away with the remaining two.

Cross looked me over. "You good?"

"Yeah."

Red reappeared. "*i'm to get you to undyne asap. anything else you need, sugar blossom?"

"Yeah. Iris? Would you drop the folder we found on my kitchen table?"

She nodded and headed back into the office.

Red put his arm around me and short cut us back to Undyne. He winked at me before disappearing again.

"Ready for make up?" Undyne asked.

I nodded and the make up artist from Undyne's under cover unit turned me into Susan Warner. I pulled on a suit that matched the Ambassador's, covering my holster with the suit coat as Asriel came into the room, wearing his royal attire. I smiled and stood on tip toe to smooth the shoulders of his cape.

"How long until the Ambassador shows?" I asked.

"She's here now. The mole is already in custody. The reporters who are here are the same ones who are cleared for my press conferences." Asriel smiled. "Dad's ready when you are."

I looked at Undyne. "Weapons please."

Undyne handed me my favorites from the armory. I checked each one before holstering and stood still for the make up artist to adjust my clothing and hair one last time. I headed out to where Asgore waited with Warner.

The Ambassador looked me over. "This is phenomenal!" She looked me in the eyes. "Are you perfectly fine doing this?"

"Yes, ma'am. I had far more complicated assignments during the Ironbark War."

She nodded and turned to Asriel. "Will we be safe during the tour?"

Asriel nodded and offered her his arm. "We will start the tour on the other end of the Underground. By the time we get back to New Home, the situation will be resolved." As he led the Ambassador away, I caught sight of Bones. He winked at me before following Asriel.

I smiled at Asgore. "How's my favorite goat dad?"

He smiled warmly and offered me his arm. "Sad that, yet again, our time together is spent working."

"And you're supposed to be retired."

I took his arm as a group of agents fell in with us, each made to look like the original entourage, Undyne taking a place next to me. "Have our guests been moved from the park?"

She nodded. "With the exception of the older version of you and Red's Chara, yes. I have them both in sniper positions with Larry." She smiled big. "Though no one is happy with their fun being cut short!"

"I suppose not. Lead on, Your Highness."

Asgore lead me through New Home to Ember Realm on the original tour route, repeating a long rehearsed speech. Somewhere in my head, C pulled open some lock, and everything felt very warm, very present. A grid laid over my vision, with details pointed out about each building and person we passed. Just as we came to the grand stand, a group of people who looked to be missing a few members converged on the open area. They started dancing to a choreographed routine and I pretended to be enjoying it while letting C scan the crowd.

C's voice wrapped around my inner ear, "Two in the middle are armed. One with a gun and one with a knife. They aren't masked so they are likely the back up for the cell we found in the lab."

I leaned into Undyne to point out the marks and she nodded.

The group turned en masse and rushed us. Undyne stepped to protect Asgore while I readied for the assassins. James and Lily stepped in front of me, both taking two unarmed assailants to task, quickly neutralizing them, but the distraction worked.

The assassin with the gun pulled it as he got close. I grabbed his wrist, forcing him to point the gun up and away from everyone. He was hit by three foam core bullets, locking his arms and legs in place. I pulled the gun from his hand and tossed it to James as the assassin hit the ground.

"Second attacker at six."

I ducked the knife swing of the second man and swept his legs out from under him. Two foam core shots locked him to the ground.

"All other potential hostiles have chosen to run," C said.

Lily pulled me back among the agents and rushed me out of the area as the royal guard corralled everyone. Back in the New Home police precinct, I washed off the make up and pulled my hair out of the tight bun on my head. A gentle hand began brushing my hair and I caught sight of my older self, eyes red green.

"You're a great shot," I said.

She smiled, eyes purple blue, and kept brushing my hair. "Well, I am, but that was all Chara. He was the only one with clear shots. Larry? That's Agent Niagra's name right?"

I nodded.

"Larry was very impressed with Chara's skill. He said that Red should worry less about his little sister. That she's in good hands."

"She is. But Red's never going to stop worrying about her. Chara's a jerk, but find me a good Chara that isn't a jerk to start."

C burst to life on my shoulder. "Hey!"

"You're a jerk."

He shrugged. "I know. But I'm your jerk."

I kicked off the high heels. "How is clean up?"

"Done. Everyone involved has been detained and the park employees have everything back in order. Asriel and Ambassador Warner will be there in a few minutes. She seems to have enjoyed herself."

"Of course she has. Asriel knows what he's doing and even if he didn't, his personal charisma can carry him through most things."

C cocked his holographic head to the side, as if listening to an unheard voice. "Asriel would like you to be ready to meet the Ambassador again in ten, in the uniform Undyne's bringing."

Frisk smiled. "Let me get you ready."

I relaxed and let her put my hair and make up back in order. Undyne came by with a change of clothes for me. Standing in front of the mirror, I realized the black dress uniform I'd been handed was one I hadn't worn in a very long time. I touched the green snake embroidered on the shoulder. There was no way Undyne could have gotten her hands on this uniform. I'd locked mine away just after discharge. It wasn't Cross' uniform. I looked at the embroidered name over my left breast. 'GASTER.'

I pulled out my phone and saw a text from the second number: 'Keep doing us proud, Frisk.'

I put my phone away and headed out to meet Asriel and Ambassador Warner. The Ambassador's entourage milled about the buffet set up by Muffett's Sweet Shop, leaving my brother and Warner to wait for me. Asriel's face didn't change when he saw me but the Ambassador blanched.

"You're a Viper!"

"Yes, ma'am."

"And here I was worried about you. I should have been more concerned for my assassins!" She took my hands. "Thank you. I truly appreciate your assistance."

"You're welcome, ma'am."

She leaned in. "When I asked Agent Aster about his wedding ring, he said that you were his wife."

"I am."

"May I ask a very personal question?"

"Yes, but I reserve the right to choose against answering."

She nodded. "He's a skeleton, correct? How do you two... have children?"

Asriel snorted as I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing in her face.

I took a breath and smiled. "Monsters reproduce by combining their souls. The magic of the act creates a new soul which inhabits the body of the mother and is birthed an appropriate amount of time later depending on the type of monster. The process works the same with humans but just like a typical human couple trying to conceive, it can take several tries before success."

I leaned in and whispered, "But the answer to the question you're actually trying to ask is 'magic.'"

"Magic?"

"Magic."

The obvious thought occurred to her. "Oh my." She suddenly remembered that Asriel was standing next to her. "Oh my goodness! Your Majesty, I apologize!"

"There's no need to apologize Ms. Warner. It's perfectly fine to be curious about such things." He gestured toward the buffet. "Please enjoy the catering." When she turned away, Asriel put his arm around my shoulders. "I had a thought and one that doesn't make me happy to have you so close to danger in today's events."

I put my arm around my brother. "What thought?"

"That maybe the reason you and Bones have yet to successfully combine souls is because you're already pregnant."

I looked up at his snout. "Go on."

"I know that going on a mission means that the two of you get some prime alone time. And on a different timeline, different rules regarding reproduction come into play. I'm not sure how much our timeline's rules govern you in other places."

I thought about that. "I haven't had any of the classic symptoms. And I'm sure C would notice."

C appeared on my shoulder. "Not necessarily. I'm honestly not sure what I'd be looking for in that case." He transferred to Asriel, sitting on our brother's shoulder.

"I still wonder. I'll do a blood test when we get home." He hugged me against him with the arm around my shoulders. "Bones is outside. Why don't you two head back over to the park? Every one else is over there again and I'm pretty sure the catering is ready at the pavilion I reserved."

"Ooooh. What are you treating us too?"

"Burrito buffet."

I reached up and grabbed a lock of his hair to pull him down to kiss his cheek. "See you later, Asriel."

He smiled and pushed me toward the door.

Bones was waiting in the hallway. He took my hand, ever present smirk in place. "Hey, Sunflower." He touched the name embroidered on the uniform before pulling me along. "Does it feel weird to wear the uniform again and so publicly?"

"I feel like I'm being used to make a statement."

Bones nodded. "You are, but it's a good one for monsters." He looked down at me. "Whatcha hiding, Frisk?"

I smiled. "You're getting to be really good at reading me, but I'm not hiding. Just trying to figure out how to tell you."

He pulled me closer as we walked back to the Haunted Mansion and it's perpetually long line. "Just tell me."

"Your lab in the Core is a complete mess. The assassins were using it as a home base."

He groaned. "Great." He sighed. "What else?"

"I found the folder of letters you and Dings have been writing back and forth to each other." I looked up at him. "What do they say?"

Bones shrugged. "A lot of things. Interesting stuff in the journals I've read. News about Vivi and Ravie, or Paps. Experiments he's performed while I'm down there and when I'll need to be back so he can finish them. And a lot about you."

The line moved forward. "What about me?"

"Trying to figure out what it means for he and I now that we're married."

C burst to life on my shoulder. "We have another emergency."

I looked at C. "Another assassin?"

"No. Fase has located the C.H.A.R.A. virus but the trap she made won't work."

Bones looked down at C. "Why not?"

"Because it found a way onto a timeline."