:-"Re-fuse"-:
In the void, CU-270 tests, through brute force, being able to exit the to a location he is viewing from the void. It takes him several hours, and several failed attempts, but he finally manages to learn how to "Fast Travel."
Due to this, CU-270 arrives at the secret human laboratory with minimal magic use, and without relying on inaccurate, and potentially faulty, technology.
During his experiments, he also discovers that he can store magic in the void.
Because his flesh and suit blocks out most light, it allows him to maintain a small opening to the void inside his chest, where his SOUL should be. This allows him to expel excess magic into the void for later use. He hopes to find a way to store excess DT in the void as well, but so far he can not.
While approaching the entrance on the island, he uses magic to detect thoughts. He does not detect any within the part of the facility that he can reach with magic, but he keeps his guard up; better safe than sorry.
CU-270 wanders through the shadows of the dim human facility, looking for the device that forcibly taught him how to speak in "R'Lyehian." He hopes that he will be able to alter it in such a way that it would teach him how to speak the same language as the humans and other monsters.
If it can teach one language, it can teach another; right?
The upper levels of the Lab look much nicer than the lower levels, despite pools of blood, organs, and extremities being scattered here and there. As well as a few piles of dust that are scattered about, preserving the memory of an attack against the humans by the monsters they created.
Large portions of the facility are damaged, and the lower he goes the worse the damage is; some rooms are completely collapsed.
As he makes his way through the labyrinth like facility, he begins recalling various… unpleasant experiences. Unwanted images assault his mind… Images of David and other unknown people with strange devices, prodding at him. Images of strange devices being placed on him, and feeling his life suddenly drain from him until he feels as though he were a breath away from death.
And bright lights… so many lights. All pointing at him, trapping him while they put some strange red substance into him… They call it "Determination," but to CU-270 it feels more like…
Refusal. Refusal to give in, refusal to stop, refusal to accept the circumstances. Refusal of reality itself.
Such a strong feeling, too. One that calls and speaks to the universe and demands it to change to what the owner desires most. That feeling is his now, but it is shared with another.
He wonders if Frisk was subjected to anything similar to what he was, for them to attain a red SOUL.
The memories and thoughts distract from all the dead humans littered across the floor, torn to pieces, and beaten into literal pulp; causing CU-270 to trip occasionally.
Though the bodies are desiccated now, the flesh still squishes under his rubber coated metal soles in an unpleasant manner. He attempts to avoid walking in, or on, human remains.
CU-270 eventually stops in front of a seemingly inconspicuous door.
The label reads… something that CU-270 does not understand enough to convey a mental image; almost as though something were actively preventing him from understanding.
He forces the door open… but the small square room is empty, with not even a spec of dust within.
It still feels strangely familiar.
Leaving the room, he continues deeper into the facility while instinctively avoiding the red marks on the ground. He is not sure what they are, but he saw someone walk over one of those spots before and turn into an old man. There are also spots on the walls that are… odd.
Some of the metal under those spots is younger than the rest, other parts have vanished completely in strange patterns, and a few are rusted as though they have been underwater for ages.
The lower he goes, the less frequent these anomalies become… And with that, he knows that he is going down too far. Any further and he will go into the "monster" section of the laboratory, and nothing there will help him. All the important equipment was stored with the humans.
He goes up a few levels to the middle level of the facility, hoping to find a specific door that he remembers..
But it turns out to be just another empty room… this one, however, looks like it used to have stuff in it.
Seeing yet another dead-end reduces CU-270's Determination.
Eventually, he comes across a door with a label that he recognizes distinctly.
It says "Enhanced Training Room," but he does not really understand what that means.
Entering the room reveals several open, and a few closed, pods.
A few bodies litter the floor as well, but those are not important. The pods in this room are what he has been looking for… now he just has to figure out how to use them.
CU-270's Determination wavers for a moment… unsure if he will be able to accomplish the task.
A sudden feeling permeates reality, CU-270 detects a change in DT levels from Frisk.
Echoes of Frisk's previous commands, which are being repeated by the human Lab, finally begin to register to reality now that they are not being blocked by CU-270's DT.
Desperate to prevent all of his progress from being lost, CU-270 halts time…
The humans built a system that is intended to monitor LOAD and SAVES, and prevent enemies from being able to LOAD or SAVE. There is also a second system intended to hold onto and repeat unsuccessful commands that were not intercepted, until they go through. Without anyone to monitor the first machine, it is allowing all commands automatically; so all commands are being automatically repeated until they go through.
CU-270 knows of these machines due to his training on how to SAVE and LOAD; being informed of them in order to dissuade him from attempting to SAVE or LOAD against orders, since the humans can control whether or not the commands work.
He speaks a command in Truespeech as quickly and precisely as possible.
* ? ?Thut?Sw?glect? ? ? ? ? ? ?podsSA? ? ? ? ? ?dgr?Qcn? ? ? ?SwFA? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ZOVloc
kSTO? ? ? ? ? ?AQ? ? ? ? ? ?SAAD? ?CONST? ?m undasTo? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?RL?queCNULLIdFORz
TlemT? ? ? ? ? ?SDS?A?SDYtj? ?JyoRN? ? ? morque? ? ? ?TESH?XfnGhsPc? ? ?Opleck
Once done with the -incredibly difficult to pronounce- command, CU-270 allows time to continue before he goes unconscious, due to wounds that begin erupting across his body from the backlash of speaking the command. His innate magical healing cannot repair the damage. His physical body is entirely useless now.
Reality obeys his command… and the machinery is altered to deny LOADS from "Frisk" and no longer repeat their commands.
* FILE LOADING
* LOAD INTERCEPTED
* FILE LOADING
* LOAD INTERCEPTED
* FILE LOADING
* LOAD INTERCEPTED
* A NEW SAVE STAR IS APPEARING
* SAVE STAR PERMITTED
* A NEW SAVE STAR HAS APPEARED AT Rx:? ? ?.? ? Ry:? ? ?.? ? Rz:? ? ?.? ? (pi)c+[2374283712]
* FILE SAVING
* FILE SAVE PERMITTED
* FILE SAVED
* ERROR: INCONSISTENCY DETECTED, REPAIRING R.T.M.D. FILE BLACKLIST
* REPAIR COMPLETE, INVALID/INCOMPLETE RESTRICTIONS REMOVED
:-:
Frisk wakes up to the view and feeling of being in Toriel's lap, in front of a magically lit fireplace.
They're in the living room, in Toriel's chair. She fell asleep while comforting them.
Frisk tries to look at their Cell, but it's in their room still.
Suddenly, Frisk remembers feeling their SAVE stars again. They look within themself, and, sure enough, they have access again. Some of the feelings they felt last night were strange, though. Frisk isn't sure how much of their ability they have access to. They can check later.
Toriel begins to stir. She yawns wide and stretches her arms and legs while trying to cover her mouth.
An obstruction on her legs reminds her that she was comforting Frisk. She looks down to see a cute, though subtly sad, face looking back at her.
Frisk pokes Toriel's snout… "Boop."
Toriel smiles sweetly and giggles lightly before beginning to tickle Frisk.
Giggling and trying to get away from the tickling fingers, Frisk tries tickling Toriel back, but doesn't manage to.
With the mood lightened, and worries tickled away temporarily, Toriel stops tickling Frisk and says,
"perhaps it would be best if we went to the dining room for breakfast now."
To which Frisk nods, hops down from her lap, and begins walking with her to the dining room.
They decide to change out of their pajamas after breakfast.
When the two arrive at the dining room, it appears that breakfast has just started being prepared.
Breakfast feels like it's being served late, and it seems everyone slept in… weird since it's a weekday.
Marceline and Conrad don't appear overly upset, but Frisk can feel a sense of dismay in the room…
They remember that a funeral is supposed to happen soon… they consider asking who the funeral is for, but decide not to in case their dream is proven true… Frisk becomes sad.
After breakfast, instead of the usual homework, Marceline takes Frisk to her and Conrad's room so they can change into their formal clothes for the funeral.
They go into the closet and Marceline pulls out two small sets of clothing.
In one hand Marceline is holding a small tuxedo, it looks like the ones Conrad wears, bow tie and all.
In the other hand, she is holding a simple, yet elegant, black dress; akin to her own, but smaller.
She asks, "Suit, or dress?"
Frisk ponders this for a moment… the suit looks nice and might be comfortable… but the dress also looks nice, and doesn't look too difficult to move around in, unlike the suit.
Curious, Frisk asks, "Why not both?"
Marceline smiles, but shakes her head. "We don't have a dress/suit combination, unfortunately. But I can make one for you after, if you want. For now, you have a suit or a dress."
After some more contemplation, Frisk decides that the dress is pretty cute and chooses that.
Their mother helps them into the black dress, and changes into her own as well.
When done, Frisk leaves to brush their teeth.
After doing so, Frisk remembers that they never checked their phone… 'where did I put it last?'
They go to their room and check, but it isn't on their nightstand… Nor on their dresser… Frisk checks inside their nightstand, just in case.
No phone, but there are… 'Seven Last Dreams…? How… are they still here?'
Frisk closes their nightstand, but makes note of the valuable assets within.
They look for Toriel, maybe she has their phone?
Frisk looks around the house, and eventually finds their father and asks, "have you seen Toriel?"
Rubbing their head, he says "she's being fitted for a dress, little star. Is there something you wanted to ask her?"
Frisk nods and says, "yea I'm looking for my cell pone."
He appears to remember something and reaches into his back pocket, then pulls out their phone. "I'm sorry, I completely forgot! Here you go. Toriel had it so she could give it to you in the morning, but she forgot."
Frisk checks their phone: 9:45A.M. March 28th, 2045|No Messages
After checking their phone, they remember their manners. "Thank you, Daddums!"
"You are very welcome. Now, come on, let's go to the lobby. It shouldn't be too long."
Frisk is tempted again to ask who the funeral is for, but decides not to.
When the two arrive in the Lobby, Frisk sees Asgore in his royal attire. Seems no one else is coming.
Curious, Asgore asks, "Conrad, if I may… I have heard here and there about your customs, but… what is a human funeral like these days?"
Politely, Conrad replies, "to prevent wälder beasts from using the bodies of our dead… we cremate them. After that, it depends on the will of the deceased, or, should the deceased not have a will prepared, the desire of the family. Usually the ashes end up being buried with a new tree. If the deceased is not… presentable, we place them in a coffin before the cremation. The family paints the coffin to represent the deceased; friends can as well, should the family allow it."
Asgore nods respectfully, "I see… Thank you for informing me."
A few minutes pass while the three wait for Toriel and Marceline to arrive, so Frisk and Asgore begin playing catch with a fireball. Conrad watches from the side, amazed by how Frisk is not being burned by the fire. When Frisk offers for him to join, Conrad is unsure and decides against it.
After a few more minutes, Marceline and Toriel come down from the master bedroom.
Toriel is wearing a black formal dress similar to her usual dress, but without the Deltarune.
Frisk inspects the dress, then gives their mom a thumbs up. "As good as always, mummy."
When that exchange finishes, the group leaves the manor to attend the funeral.
On the way there, Frisk notices that the streets are too empty for a weekday; even for a funeral.
They go to the far north west end of the town, where the funeral pyre is usually set up.
'Huh… I thought we'd go to the training grounds first?'
A few passersby shoot distrusting and hateful looks at Asgore and Toriel, who ignore them and continue walking in a solemn manner.
Frisk doesn't like how much humans distrust monsters this time around… 'Hopefully it'll get better…'
When they arrive at their dismal destination, Frisk notices that the pyre is already set up and the coffin has been painted. Part of them feels dismayed thinking that, if it's really Katsuro in there, Bernard didn't even think of letting them paint on the box… But part of them is relieved, because not being asked to paint their representation of him on the box lets them believe he's still alive. It let's them believe he really is just at the Sanctum.
A majority of the village has assembled for the funeral.
For better or for worse, funeral goers tend to avoid speaking the name of the deceased; Frisk will only know if they ask.
They decide not to, but become nervous when Bernard moves to the pyre to speak.
As the captain of the guard, it's customary for him to speak when a guard falls… so that could mean some other guard died… but… him speaking first could also mean it's Katsuro for sure, since he adopted Katsuro.
Usually the family speaks first, then the captain of the guard, then guests…
Looking around the crowd, Frisk sees several people start giving Asgore and Toriel mean looks.
Bernard begins to speak in a low, saddened, tone, "We are gathered here today to mourn the loss of one of our own. A brother in arms, a friend, and a son…"
Frisk feels even worse about what is going on after hearing Bernard say "son."
Tears start to well up in Frisks eyes as Bernard continues speaking.
"the man we are here to remember was respected among his friends, considered a fine warrior by his peers, and… considered one of the gentlest people by his family, and friends."
They way Bernard says that last part pulls at Frisk's heart. It almost sounds insincere, but Frisk knows he's probably holding a lot of emotions in.
Conrad tries his best to comfort them.
Bernard continues speaking, "If there are any who wish to speak, the time is yours. As is customary, we will light the pyre when the sun begins to set; a symbol of our defiance against the aberrant beasts that plague this land."
Frisk is too upset to really pay attention, but a few people get up and speak about the deceased.
Torn between wanting to know for sure who is dead and not wanting to confirm their fears, Frisk is very distraught… but their inner turmoil is interrupted when the next speaker starts yelling at them…
No… not at them… Derrick is yelling at Asgore and Toriel.
"You damn monsters! You're the reason he's dead! How can you stand here and disrespect his memory?! Do you really think we're- HEY! STOP! I'M NOT DONE! YOU MONSTERS WILL REGRET COMING HERE!"
Derrick is silently pulled away by guards, but others begin grumbling too.
Soon, a large number of people are whispering angry words while looking at the Dreemurrs.
Eventually, a few people begin angrily demanding for them to leave; while others begin throwing rocks and sticks at them. Asgore takes the hits without flinching, but Toriel prefers to keep her new dress from being damaged and tries to evade the incoming objects.
The humans are not throwing with killing intent, so the objects don't hurt much.
Frisk… can't do anything. There is too much going on, and they can't handle it…
In a deep commanding voice, that is unmistakably calm, Asgore says, "Enough. We will depart."
The angry humans go silent and step away, having not anticipated such a fierce but calm voice; let alone compliance.
Practically radiating dignity and grace, like the grossly incandescent sun, the Dreemurrs turn and leave at a leisurely pace together.
Conrad motions for Frisk to follow as he and Marceline leave with them.
An angry woman yells out, "course the Addamses'd side with MONSTERS! You lot were ne'er good fer anyt'ing but your damn land an' gen'rater!"
The group of monsters and humans leave silently, paying no mind to the ignorant humans.
Once back home, Frisk runs off to their room to cry.
:-:
As CU-270 slowly begins to wake up, vaguely familiar voices intrude with memories long forgotten.
From the perspective of a small child, he sees strange symbols and patterns on the walls, floor, and ceiling of an otherwise empty square room. Floating in the center of the patterns is spot that looks darker than it should be. Looking at it scares the child in the memory.
'Come on now, son, it won't hurt. I promise. This is for the good of everybody, you will be helping so many people!'
'…bud… eye dun wana… id s-scawy…'
'I know… but it will be OK. You trust daddy, right ? ? ? ? ? ? I promise, everything will be OK.'
The memory goes dark and is followed by shrill screaming, which wakes CU-270 up more.
Still dazed, he begins to pull off his now useless flesh, along with his equally damaged and useless jump suit. Scars across his magic bones remain, unable to be healed. He will have to fix himself later.
It's a good thing he has been trained to tune out pain, else ripping his useless muscles, nerves, and organs away would take longer. His acidic and DT filled blood isn't helping either, since it is stinging his bones and threatening to dissolve him as it spills out from his defunct blood vessels and arteries.
CU-270 is curious what the memory is about. He does not understand what is scary about it, either.
It is just a small opening to the void, where he was born, his home and refuge. That isn't scary, right?
Now fully awake, CU-270 slowly props himself up, and finishes removing the useless flesh from himself; the dense purple, blue, and orange lattices that connect his physical body to his magic body are making it more difficult than he would prefer, but eventually he gets most of it off, except for a few chunks of muscle, tendons, and ligaments here and there.
Once done, he looks around the room.
The floor of the room, which is about 14' by 26', is almost completely covered in fresh blood; new specks dot the ceiling, walls, and equipment as well. The blood around where the human corpses are steams and bubbles while the acid within slowly dissolves them. His body was engineered to resist the acid, but a normal human's body cannot.
With that being said, it is a double edged sword since his magic bones cannot resist the DT as easily.
The acid is too weak to effect the metal equipment, so CU-270 is not worried, but he works as quickly as he can so that he doesn't have to stand in such an uncomfortable pool of liquid and gore.
A faint shimmer surrounds him as his body is slowly rebuilt. His new one will be made of magic, since he does not have access to an organic body. It is unlikely the facility will have a new one for him either, since they were going to "decommission" him.
The process for his SOUL to make a new body will take a few days, however. So CU-270 will be unable to observe humans personally without alarming them; if he were to accidentally wake one up they may attack him.
He may be unable to die, but that does not mean he wants to experience near-death again.
His jumpsuit is useless now too, having been torn to shreds from the backlash… He will have to go down to the monster level to get some temporary gear for skeletons.
But first. He needs to learn how to speak like a human.
He breaks open what he hopes is a breaker box on the wall, and checks to see if it was turned off.
It was not. Power must have been interrupted elsewhere.
CU-270 uses magic to trace the power lines and find the interruption… but his magic stops when it gets near the main generator for this level.
He takes a moment to be thankful that each level has it's own generator, and this level's generator is in the center of the facility.
An easy enough fix. CU-270 leaves the room, but marks the outside in Wing-Dings with some blood; he would rather be able to easily spot his previous location than remember it.
He would use a shortcut, but he feels like it may strain him too much. He decides to wait until his body and magic settles down, and begins to walk to the center of the facility.
One of his feet breaks off shortly after he begins walking away from the door, having been too damaged to remain attached, but CU-270 pays it no mind and continues to the generator room.
As he gets closer, his body appears to heal faster… Strange.
When he arrives, the large armoured doors to the generator room do not want to budge and, due to magic precautions that are in place, he cannot shortcut through or otherwise affect the door, or its mechanisms, with magic…
Time for CU-270 to think outside of the box…
He goes into the void, and tried to open an exit to reality a few feet in front of where he is standing. It works, and when he steps through he reappears inside the room in a surprisingly dark corner. He did not expect that to work.
CU-270 ponders why there were no safety precautions in place for something like that, but his question is answered quickly when he turns from the corner and looks around the generator room.
A large silver metal sphere, with wires and lights all over it, sits in the middle of the giant room. Bright lights are pointed at it. One of which is dead… that must have been why he was able to enter.
Wait… Why am I in here?
Oh, right. The breaker box…
I start moving over to where the-…
CU-270 trips while he begins moving to some switches on a weird console looking thing. Having only one foot is not helping him any but, for better or worse, he is too stubborn to stop now.
When he makes it to the switches on the weird panel, he sees a few of them in the 'OFF' position…
I can't-…
He cannot understand what the labels say, so he flips all the ones he can in hopes that one of them is correct.
The metal sphere in the center of the room begins to open.
Why is everything becoming so… bright?
Where am I… Who… am I…?
CU-270 turns to look at the sphere, taken by surprise by the noise and movement.
Why is that skeleton looking at me?
…Why does this room feel so… familiar?
I don't like this… I don't like this! I DON'T LIKE THIS! I DON'T LIKE THIS!
I attack the skeleton… but it evades, despite how injured it is.
Stop looking at me and die already!
My next attack hits because it doesn't move, but nothing happens…?
No… No, of course nothing happens. You can't die, can you?
You're already dead, aren't you…? You have no SOUL.
I curl up, doing my best to protect my shattered SOUL, in case the skeleton is here to take it.
CU-270 begins healing even faster now that the metal sphere is open. The cracks in his bones begin to fade, his foot grows back, and his replacement body begins growing in faster; he will be able to observe humans in person faster than he expected.
He briefly contemplates what inside the sphere could cause his accelerated healing.
A plaque on the bottom half of the sphere says words CU-270 can't understand, he memorizes them.
The last remaining chunks of flesh start to fall off of his bones as magical flesh replaces it.
Stepping closer to the metal sphere, now curious, CU-270 looks within and sees…
Nothing, it is just an opening to some strange part of the void; CU-270 can barely see it due to the bright lights.
Further inspection slowly brings something into view. He can faintly see a small humanoid curled up in the center; faint red specks can be seen here and there.
What is that creature doing in the metal sphere?
Why do I hear someone thinking in my head?
Get away from me!
Confused, CU-270 backs away from the opened metal sphere. He continues trying to find the breaker for the training room.
Eventually he finds some switches that look similar to the ones in the training room and flips them, then leaves when he doesn't find any more.
Outside of the room, Sans is waiting; It takes CU-270 off guard.
Seeing CU-270 so damaged worries Sans, so he asks in Wing-Dings, "what happened? you ok?"
Hesitantly, CU-270 responds |I LOST DT, AND FRISK'S LAST LOAD ATTEMPT ALMOST WENT THROUGH, SO I SPOKE TRUE TO CHANGE THE HUMAN MACHINES TO PREVENT IT. I DIDN'T SAY THE COMMAND RIGHT, SO I GOT HURT A LITTLE.|
Sighing, partially in relief, Sans responds, "a little…? if you say so… we should get you something to wear… why were you in there, by the way?"
Promptly, hoping maybe Sans will help, CU-270 says, |THE ROOM WITH THE PODS IN IT WAS NOT POWERED, I NEED TO LEARN 'HUMAN' SPEECH… BY THE WAY… WHY IS THAT SMALL CREATURE IN THE METAL SPHERE?|
Sans' eyes go dark, and he proceeds as if he didn't hear the last part, "i can help with that, c'mon, i'll teach you ' h,' bud."
CU-270 replies, |I ALREADY GOT ALL THE FLIPS SWITCHED, I JUST NEED YOU TO ACTIVATE AND SET THE POD TO THE RIGHT LANGUAGE. THIS WAY IS FASTER, NO TIME TO LOSE.|
Hesitantly, Sans shrugs.
'i wonder if cu-270 knows what's actually in that metal sphere…? i can't let him get too close again, who knows what'll happen…'
Despite knowing the potential dangers, it wasn't until after Frisk got back from the funeral that Sans came to check the Lab for CU-270. Seeing them cry made him want to find CU-270 so that at least something can go right for them.
Sans isn't looking forward to going back in the training room, but CU-270 is really… Determined.
They follow the bloody foot and stump prints back to the "Enhanced Training Room."
Curious, CU-270 asks, |HOW DID YOU KNOW I WAS HERE, BY THE WAY?|
Another sigh, Sans replies, "my first clue was you stoppin' time… but i didn't want to bug ya… that is, until i heard… something i haven't heard in a long time. i knew i had to come see if you were ok."
The duo arrive at the blood drenched room, and the machinery within is humming with power, waiting to be utilized. It appears a lot of the blood has been displaced, probably because of Sans.
CU-270 looks down to see Sans' feet, and sees that his pink slippers are covered in blood…
He uses the "Prestidigitation" spell to clean them for him. Sans doesn't notice, but that is OK.
Sans feels like using these pods to teach CU-270 proper English isn't a good idea… Especially since he learned about that… horrible device.
He sighs… 'even if i don't teach him, he'll learn eventually… i'll just have to try to convince him not to investigate it.'
CU-270's body has mostly reformed now… So Sans gets a lab coat for him to wear.
Curious as to why he needs to wear something, CU-270 tilts his head. |?|
With a wink Sans says, "some things are best left to the imagination."
CU-270 finds it strange. He has no reproductive organs, so what is there to hide?
He takes the coat anyway, not wanting to make Sans uncomfortable. |PERHAPS A NEW JUMPSUIT WOULD BE MORE… SUIT-ABLE?|
Sans is taken by surprise, "did you… just make a pun?"
CU-270 nods in affirmation.
Sans puts on a grin, despite still feeling terrified within. "heh… good job…"
Reluctantly… Sans goes to the consoles. He considers putting CU-270 to sleep, but realizes… he can't run from his mistakes forever.
CU-270 signs something, but Sans isn't paying attention. He finishes setting up one of the pods, and directs CU-270 within.
Then waits for a few minutes before he decides to go and find a new jumpsuit for CU-270.
By the time he's back, most of the blood has dried and the pod is almost done "teaching" CU-270 English.
Once it's done, Sans helps CU-270 out of the pod and into his new jumpsuit.
Then they wordlessly make their way to the teleporter room. Sans has to help CU-270 keep his balance, since he is still disoriented from the bombardment of information.
'he'll probably want to come back once he's recovered. i'll have to keep him within sight… somehow.'
When Sans and CU-270 arrive back at the manor, CU-270 has completely passed out, so Sans carries him to his dark room. He's surprisingly light.
He lays CU-270 down, sits against the wall, and waits for him to wake up…
Hours pass, and CU-270 shows no sign of waking any time soon.
His mind is devoid of thoughts, and he hasn't so much as twitched.
If it weren't for the almost imperceptible rise and fall of his chest, Sans would think CU-270 is dead.
That doesn't keep Sans from worrying.
He decides to inspect CU-270's SOUL… then remembers that it isn't attached to his body.
Sans sighs, then decides to leave a note for him; he wants to check on Frisk.
As he approaches Frisk's door, he can hear soft crying… 'man… they're still at it.'
He sighs… yet again, then knocks on the door twice.
Sniffing and movement can be hear from the other side. "(who's there?)"
"boo."
Not really feeling up to it, Frisk gets up and opens the door.
They're not able to mask their sadness. Their eyes are puffy from crying, their cheeks are wet, and their face looks sad enough to break any man's heart. "What's up, Sans?"
Trying to lighten the mood, he replies, "up? i was gonna ask why you're so down… it's like you're in the underground dumps, kiddo."
"Katsuro is gone… He's gone, and he's never coming back… And to make it all worse… humans really don't like monsters this time around. They were throwing stuff at Asgore and Toriel, Papyrus can't even go outside, and Undyne… well… actually they stay away from Undyne, but not because she's awesome…"
Frisk begins tearing up again, "Everything's a mess and it's all my fault. Katsuro… Katsuro is… he's dead…"
Frisk starts having trouble controlling their breathing as they start to cry more, "He's d… de-dead, b-be-because I d-didn't work fast *hic* e-enough! B-because I t- t- took my time, and *hic* I st-stayed in the Undergr-*hic*grou-ound for too l- l- long! Because I was too scare-ared to *hic* face everyth-thing up here…"
Sans… doesn't know what he can say that will help…
Frisk slowly transitions to sitting on the floor while crying, and Sans sits with them. He wraps his arm around Frisk's shoulders, and they lean into his side and hug him while they continue to cry quietly.
After a few moments, when Frisk has calmed down, Sans speaks up, "buddy… it isn't your fault, ok? but …you've gotta promise me something."
No response beyond an attempt to make less noise…
Sans waits for a few moments, then continues. "No RESETTING unless you absolutely have to, OK? you can't keep going back and trying to make everything perfect. you can't really be happy without feeling what it's like to be sad, and without being able to feel happy… what's the point?"
Frisk hesitates… but eventually nods weakly and continues softly crying.
Guiltily, he thinks back on CU-270's… condition.
He rubs Frisk's head and says, "i need to get up, i've got something i've gotta do…"
Frisk nods weakly, and wipes the tears off their face while standing.
Sans takes off and drapes his jacket over them, saying, "hold on to this for me, ok?"
Frisk nods, and heads back into their room as Sans turns and leaves.
When Sans arrives back at CU-270's room, it's empty.
Sans begins to panic.
:-:
CU-270 is standing in the generator room for the middle level of the secret human Lab, where that strange metal sphere with the creature in it is.
'Tricking Sans to think I was unconscious was… difficult. I guess all that… "training" really paid off.'
He looks around the room, 'Sans really didn't want me here. I wonder why.'
Able to read the panels now, he investigates the first panel he found.
The labels read:
Top right switch: "Quan-Stab-Matr" … It's in the "ON" position. There is a keyhole next to it.
'Probably means "Quantum Stability Matrix." It should probably stay on.'
Top left switch: "Void-Inhi-Ligh" … It's in the "ON" position. There is a keyhole next to it.
'This one must be for the lights. Normal lights would work, but these seem special. I wonder why…'
Bottom Right switch: "Void-moni-syst" … It's in the "OFF" position, and a red light is flashing next to it.
'Hm… I… don't know what this is for. Are they monitoring the void, or using the void to monitor something? I flipped this one without knowing what it was last time, must not be important.'
Bottom Left Switch: "Clos-Void-Cont" … It's in the "ON" position.
'This one must be the one that opens the sphere… "Close Void Container," perhaps? Wait… I flipped this one before, didn't I? Hm… Oh, there's an automated timer that returns it to the "ON" position after 30 minutes.'
CU-270 turns and reads the plaque on the metal sphere. "?"
Strange… he can't read it.
Looking back at the control panel, he flips the bottom left switch. A red light comes on, and the light on the bottom right switch stays on instead of blinking.
He flips the bottom right switch, and both lights turn green.
Mechanical whirring can be heard, CU-270 looks back and watches the sphere open.
'Why is that creature in there?'
I approach the-…
CU-270 trips, then continues approaching the sphere.
Wanting to get a better look, but not wanting to take too much of a risk, CU-270 breaks some of the lights in a symmetrical pattern.
A small area within the sphere goes dark.
He breaks more lights, and it grows darker.
He breaks four more… and it grows yet darker. There are only a few lights left.
The darkness within is now unfathomable, light appears to cease existing within.
Small red specs become clearly visible, trapped by a multi-coloured magic pattern.
CU-270 analyzes the magic… It's a small part of a larger whole, used to bind a SOUL.
'Those red specs must be a SOUL, I wonder who it belongs to.'
A small humanoid form becomes visible, it appears to be trying to protect the SOUL fragments.
Faint banging from the armoured door starts to sound.
I knew Sans would come, I wonder what I should do…
'Why am I thinking so loudly?'
I look back at the person in the room, are they the one thinking in my head?
'No, I look back at the container.'
No, I look back at the person.
'No, I look back at the container.'
No, I look back at the person.
'No, I look back at the container.'
'No, I look back at the person. No, I look back at the container.'
The person collapses. Weird. I wonder why.
Why do I hurt so much?
CU-270 slowly gets up after a few minutes, and goes over to the control panel…
'…my head hurts. What happened?'
'StStopop ttalking in my head!'
'Wait… I… think I understand now. This is the room from that memory. The one with the bright lights…'
'I should turn the "Quan-stab-matr" OFF. They are trapping me. Using my SOUL to power the lab.'
' I don't want to bother finding the keys.'
Opting to ignore the switches, CU-270 tears the side off of the control panel, and hot-wires the top two switches into the "OFF" position.
'I understand now… I know who this SOUL belongs to.'
'It's mine.'
'This SOUL is mine. It has to be… but why is it here?'
As the magic field holding the specks of red in place slowly fades, CU-270 holds out a hand and uses blue magic to bring them to himself.
Slowly, carefully, he re-assembles the fragments. The small humanoid made of void hovers nearby, watching. Waiting.
Upon completion… nothing happens. The SOUL won't re-fuse. It… looks like it's missing something, but CU-270 can't tell what. He looks back at the machine.
The small figure floats back to the machine, and looks around. Then shrugs.
' These fragments will dissolve soon if I don't do something to fuse them back together… but… I don't have the power needed to do that myself.'
CU-270 remembers that his Phylactery is supposed to contain his SOUL… and this machine does not look like a Phylactery. He is confused now.
He decides to get what should be his Phylactery. The small void creature leads the way.
'I arrive where my surrogate body was being kept prisoner.'
'Breaking through the glass was complicated, due to being forcefully moved through different timelines. It wasn't until I figured out how to effect a single timeline, while being scattered across all timelines, that I managed to get out… I hope I don't have to do anything like that again.'
'At least I had Gaster to keep me company. I wonder… why was he always there with me?'
CU-270 looks to where his Phylactery should be embedded… but nothing's there.
'Sans must have taken it.'
A voice behind him confirms his suspicions, "…hey there. I see you… uh… found yourself. I was hoping to… ease you into that discovery."
Angry, CU-270 takes on an aggressive stance and asks, "where is my Phylactery?"
Worried, Sans holds a hand up momentarily and says, "woah, hey, no need to be upset pal… to be honest, you're not makin' me want to give you your phylactery."
CU-270 doesn't change his stance, but his face appears less angry.
With a sigh, Sans says, "…i don't have your phylactery. david has it. he never gave it to us… but you don't need it, 'cause it's a fake. that big metal container was the only thing we could use as a phylactery for you. your soul… is… unique. david made sure of that…"
Sans turns and waves for CU-270 to follow, "c'mon, let me help get that SOUL back where it belongs."
CU-270 looks to the small humanoid made of void, quizzically… then proceeds to follow Sans.
One wrong turn later and they arrive in the SOUL extraction room, Sans pats the operating table, then goes into the back room.
Not fully trusting Sans, CU-270 hesitates… but eventually lays on the table, SOUL fragments in hand.
The machine whirs to life, barely. The back up generator is hardly able to handle it, and is practically running on fumes by now. Sans hurries to get the machinery in place properly.
The fragments of the shattered SOUL float up higher, and the small void figure follows it.
As the armatures unfold and extend out, the humanoid figure condenses around the SOUL fragments.
Sans works slowly, and deftly connects the pieces; stringing them together with as much precision as he can. It takes quite some time.
After several hours, the humanoid figure is completely gone; having been stitched to the SOUL fragments.
When Sans finishes stitching the SOUL together, he works to link it to CU-270's body.
'it's unstable… but it should stabilize on it's own… he'll just have to avoid using magic for a while.'
When the process finishes, CU-270 curls up and begins crying.
Sans leaves the back room and puts a hand on his shoulder. 'a soul is a heavy burden, isn't it… Frisk?'
:-:
Papyrus is surprised when he sees Sans sitting in the playroom, with a head of brown hair.
Confused, Papyrus asks, "SANS? WHERE DID YOU GET THAT WIG? YOU LOOK LIKE FRISK FROM HERE. YOU WON'T FOOL ANYONE IF YOU NEVER TAKE OFF THAT JACKET!"
When the not-Sans turns around, Papyrus is shocked, and concerned. They look very sad.
"FRISK! WHY THE LONG FACE? DID ONE OF SANS' PRANKS GO TOO FAR?! … HOW DID YOU GET HIM TO TAKE OFF THAT NASTY JACKET? YOU KNOW THAT THING HASN'T BEEN WASHED IN OVER TWO THOUSAND YEARS!"
No response…
"I KNOW! QUICK, WHILE WE HAVE THE CHANCE, LET'S WASH IT! WEARING A FRESHLY WASHED JACKET WILL MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER!"
Frisk turns and continues half-heartedly drawing… It makes Papyrus sad.
"WELL… IF CLEANING WON'T CHEER YOU UP, HOW ABOUT SOME FRESH MADE 'FORGHETTI'? I JUST MADE THE RECIPE YESTERDAY! IT'S A SPAGHETTI SO GOOD YOU'LL FORGET ALL YOUR WORRIES! NYEH HEH… HEH… HEH…"
It doesn't seem like Frisk is all that interested in eating right now…
Papyrus decides to sit next to Frisk, in silence.
They're drawing what looks somewhat like a male human.
"WHO IS THAT HANDSOME FELLOW?"
Quietly, sadly, Frisk replies "…Katsuro."
"I SEE… I TAKE IT THIS HUMAN IS IMPORTANT TO YOU? LIKE ME WITH SANS?"
Frisk nods. "…I'll never see him again… He's gone forever…"
Papyrus contemplates that for a moment… and replies, "I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS EVER GONE FOR EVER. THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THEY WOULD LEAVE BEHIND! I'M SURE YOU'LL SEE HIM AGAIN EVENTUALLY. LIKE… DADSTER! DID YOU KNOW SANS AND I WERE ADOPTED WHEN WE WERE REALLY YOUNG?"
Curious, Frisk looks up and shakes their head.
"WELL DADSTER… IS MY NICKNAME FOR HIM. HIS REAL NAME IS W. … I DON'T KNOW WHAT W.D. STANDS FOR… BUT WHEN I WAS JUST A LITTLE BABY BONES, HE LOOKED AFTER ME AND SANS IN THE UNDERGROUND. HE MADE THE BEST HOTDOGS! NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT… MAYBE THAT'S WHY SANS STARTED SELLING HOTDOGS."
Frisk tilts their head to the side… not sure where this is going.
"OH! SORRY. *AHEM* DADSTER WOULD DO ALL SORTS OF THINGS WITH US WHEN HE WASN'T WORKING… WHICH WASN'T VERY OFTEN, BUT I ENJOYED EVERY MOMENT! WE HAD GAMES LIKE TIC-TAK-BONES, HIDE AND SHRIEK, AND, MY FAVOURITE, SUDOKU!"
Papyrus pauses for a moment to think before continuing, somewhat sadder.
"WHEN HE… VANISHED, I FELT REALLY SAD… SANS STARTED MAKING ALL THESE LAME JOKES, TRYING TO CHEER ME UP, AND EVEN GAVE ME DAD'S FAVOURITE COPY OF 'FIRMABOUND.' SANS DOESN'T THINK I REMEMBER DADSTER THAT MUCH… BUT I DO. I'M THE GREATEST, BECAUSE I HAVE A REALLY GREAT PERSON TO INSPIRE ME! AS LONG AS I REMEMBER HIM, HE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH ME! AND IF HE IS ALWAYS WITH ME… HE WOULD ALWAYS BE TELLING ME TO NOT BE SAD, AND TO BELIEVE IN MYSELF. THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'M NOT SAD, OR I DON'T DOUBT MYSELF SOMETIMES… BUT I DO MY BEST, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT DADSTER WOULD WANT ME TO BE HAPPY."
It doesn't really help much, but… Frisk hugs Papyrus for trying anyway.
Marceline calls everyone to dinner over the brass pipes, and the two get up and go to eat.
Sans hasn't returned yet, and that makes Papyrus look more worried… but they can't wait for him for too long, so they save a plate for him.
The dinner table is rather quiet, so Frisk asks, "Alphys… did you ask Tim how the Sages remotely activated the barrier?"
Sullenly… Alphys nods. "If we checked earlier we would have known that… Asgore had p-permissions for the barrier already. The sages… they put as m-much of their magic into the Artifact as possible, th-then used a spell to make Asgore activate the b-barrier. They d-didn't have to activate the barrier remotely… b-because Asgore was holding the Artifact… There… there isn't… there isn't a way to a-activate it remotely…"
The grim news lingers in the minds of those at the table, and the room feels like it grows quieter.
Frisk decides to go to sleep early tonight, so they get up and go to their room.
Not bothering to change into pajamas, Frisk throws themselves into their bed and tries not to cry.
Chara's SOUL appears to look down at them…
Frisk's Determination falters and they stop being able to feel their SAVE stars again, but they don't care anymore.
Nothing seems to be going right for them this time around…
