Chapter 9: Altering Point 1
Note: I don't not own Steins;Gate. Only this fanfiction story.
This story follows the events that happened after the following Steins;Gate titles. Steins;Gate, Steins;Gate OVA, and Steins;Gate 0. Also, there are situations from other Steins;Gate titles that inspired multiple events in this story.
Check out my profile for upcoming dates for new chapters on Steins Gate: Epsilon
Somewhere in an unknown white foggy area, Okabe wakes up, in the middle of nowhere. He quickly gains focus, and looks around to see his surroundings. He at first wonders where he is, but then he realizes he is the same place he has been experiencing multiple times in his dreams. "Seems like I am here in the same place where that girl would appear." he says.
Not long after, the girl he mentions comes through the fog and appears in front of Okabe to speak. "Yes, you are."
"If I'm here, that means I'm dreaming again." says Okabe.
Her face is not revealed other than her eyes which are yellow. "You're still naïve to really know what is happening here."
"Why? I am a mad scientist with an IQ of over 170, which I should inform you is higher than Einstein's!"
"You may be right, but unfortunately you're not prepared for what is coming. Your mental condition will be put to the test that no one with Reading Steiner can ever do."
Okabe raises an eyebrow as to what the girl means by her comment.
While this dream is happening, inside the Future Gadget Laboratory, it is dark and everything is turned off. Inside Okabe's dark office, lies the divergence meter. As the meter zooms closer, the numbers of the meter are shown to be 1.048596. Then, just like the incident before, the number 4 on the meter glitches and changes to 1 and back to 4 for a minute, and then stops back at 4. However, after this occurs, the number 1 and 4 on the meter suddenly shut off.
September 22nd, 2021
It has been a month since Kurisu Makise began working in the Future Gadget Laboratory. She is already accustomed to the lifestyle of the lab and what the daily routine is, and she has a new home now which is the same apartment room she always used whenever she visited Japan. She has been constantly working with her assigned interns, and has already provided several new theories of gadgets. One of them is a gadget theory that is highly dangerous and classified. Kurisu has also more time now to spend with Mayuri and the others. Although Okabe and Kurisu have talked more and seen each other now, they haven't exactly spent much time together in a while, since work is what is keeping them from focusing on each other.
As the sun shines high on Akihabara, the Future Gadget Laboratory is more busy than it was months ago. Kurisu and Maho are working together with several interns, and Daru is working at his computer on a software.
Soon, Okabe stops by to greet everyone as he has just arrived at the Future Gadget Laboratory with his usual persona. "Hello my allies of the Future Gadget Laboratory. How is the research of our newest gadget coming along?"
One intern responds. "It's going well. But Professor, this gadget is not new, this is version 2 of you weird named "Future Gadget Number 4, Could This Be Ora Ora."
Okabe is stunned to see the interns working on a new version of one of his very old gadgets. "Hmm, that is rather surprising. Well I will need a report from your group on this version. Got it, Kuristina?"
Kurisu gets annoyed. "There is no tina in my name."
"Whatever you say, assistant. Anyways, I must drop off my stuff and I'll be heading to work with Daru's group." Okabe leaves the room.
Kurisu becomes concerned as Okabe arrived at the lab rather late today than normally since he always is the first to arrive at the lab. "Senpai, can you watch the group for me?"
"Sure." says Maho as she knows where Kurisu wants to go.
Okabe settles in his office and puts away his belongings. As he prepares for another day of work, Kurisu knocks on his door to notify Okabe she is in her office.
"Oh, Kurisutina. What's up?" Okabe asks.
"Well….. How are you today?"
Okabe smiles with his persona. "Fully charged and ready to go to plunge this world onto chaos!" There is a pause before Okabe asks something. " I also wanted to ask, how is your experience of working here so far in the last month?"
"Well aside from confusing your interns with my name and the nicknames you constantly tell them, it has been much more interesting than I thought it would be."
Okabe laughs. "Didn't I tell you? The Future Gadget Laboratory is a place that far exceeds any other lab that has ever existed on this planet! No outsider is allowed to know about this place unless they are allies of our organization!"
Kurisu sighs. "More delusions I see."
Okabe gets ticked off. "N-No! Every leader must take precautions of any person unaware of their organization, including me, the mad scientist, Houou-"
Okabe gets interrupted by Kurisu. "Yea yea, Hououin Kyouma."
Okabe feels sad. "Damn you assistant! Why steal my line?"
"Hey, at least I'm recognizing your mad scientist name."
Okabe stops being sad after Kurisu comments on her reason. After that, Kurisu moves on to her main concern. "So, why did you arrive late at the lab today? It's a bad example for your interns you know."
"T-This is one of the rare moments I arrive at the lab late ok?! Besides, I woke up with a huge headache and felt very weak. I needed to rest some more."
"Huge headache?" After wondering, Kurisu remembers the huge headache Okabe had back in July. She then may think that same situation happened again. "Wait, Okabe? Did the same headache happen just like the one in July?"
"Unfortunately, yea. Don't worry, I am fine. I just need some extra rest to ease my brain."
Kurisu is quite concerned. "What I want to know is what is causing your huge headache."
Okabe thinks for a moment. "Well, it is a strange dream. Not any nightmare of some sort, but a dream of someone who I still can't understand who or what she is. However I won't tell you right now as we can't be here forever. We have work to do. So I tell you later in the day, ok?"
Kurisu nods. "Ok." As Kurisu turns to walk away, she notices the divergence meter on Okabe's bookshelf. She then becomes curious about it. "Okabe, what is that orange meter?"
"Ah. That is a special gadget I made. It is the diverg-" Okabe suddenly interrupts himself as he notices the divergence meter has two numbers of the phials off. He quickly grabs the meter and inspects it. He can't figure out why the attractor number and one other number is suddenly off.
Kurisu just stands there thinking it is just another random invention of his that has problems. "It is another gadget that still has problems?"
"N-No! This is-"
Suddenly, Okabe words are interrupted by Daru who has arrived to notify Okabe. "Sorry to break up your conversation, but you guys should get going to attend your groups now."
"Y-Yea, your right." Okabe puts the meter down on his desk and calms down that nothing will happen with the worldlines, since the other numbers of the divergence meter are still the same. "Don't worry Kurisu, I will explain everything later."
Okabe and Kurisu walk out of the room and head back to work.
Throughout most of the day, it has been busy. Okabe has a new project to create a new version of Future Gadget Number 4, thanks to the theory of it's enhancements which have been a success so far. The device could rack in a lot of more money for both recreational and serious military purposes. Then there is the continuation of teaching the new interns of future gadgets and how they are created from ground zero and up. And then Okabe has to manage papers for new requests of certain gadgets. It has been quite a rollercoaster for him and everyone in the lab.
As late afternoon arrives, Okabe and Daru meet up below in the laboratory with Mr. Braun to talk about the article written by Moeka a couple of weeks ago.
Okabe speaks first. "It has been confirmed by further investigations from Shining Finger, that Russia, Europe, and America are racing to create a teleportation device. Europe has also created a blackhole, but at this time, it's purpose is only for the research of hawking radiation."
Then Daru speaks. "However, no one can confirm that even a teleportation device can be constructed."
"Yea." Okabe thinks about the possibilities of any of these things causing tension between countries and leading to World War III. Not only that, but recently an unknown organization has targeted these countries for what is possible for their research. Then there is Europe who has created a blackhole for which is unknown what they want to do, but Okabe's paranoia kicks in for thinking it can be to discover time travel.
Mr. Braun then asks. "So, what is your idea for all of this Okabe?"
Okabe gives his response. "Daru. find out where this research is being done and find out who the hackers are. Try to gather any information about their research and delete it. We cannot have this information in the hands of people who have the potential to cause global issues."
Daru is stunned and asks. "Huh? But why Okarin? What your asking is very serious and it can cause government problems. If they find out, they will want our heads!"
"Don't worry Daru. This is all to prevent a possible world war. I know from everything I had experienced through other worldlines."
"That stuff again? Well, based on how tensions are increasing for the world powers, it may indeed cause a world war."
"Yes, so I trust you Daru to handle the hacking and concealing." Okabe puts on his persona. "Besides, you are My Favorite Right Arm and we are a concealed organization! No one knows about out true intentions!"
Daru sighs but nods in agreement. "You can count on me, Okarin. I just hope you prepared for the worst when it comes." Daru exits the room.
"Thank you for the information Mr. Braun. You have been a great help to the cause of the Future Gadget Laboratory." However, right as Okabe turns to leave, Mr. Braun stops him.
"Hey Okabe, I hope you know what you're doing. You are not doing this because of your PTSD right?"
Okabe sighs. "Whether I'm doing this or not because of PTSD is not the right reason. I'm doing this to avoid any issues that can influence World War III. Science is one of those related categories."
Mr. Braun shrugs. "Just making sure. Your PTSD is far more severe than what I ever thought it would be. But I don't even know what caused it to this day."
Okabe laughs. "Don't worry Mr. Braun, thanks to your suggestion to help set it aside, I have spent more time with my girlfriend and it is slowly pushing my mental condition aside." Okabe waves and leaves the room. Mr. Braun smiles as he is happy to see Okabe taking his advice for once.
As Okabe walks to the elevator, he speaks to himself. "I must keep the world safe from World War III, because if that happens, then the worldline may shift and the tragic faith of my friends will occur once again. I would rather not see it twice."
The day becomes night and another day at the Future Gadget Laboratory has ended. Most of the lab members are home and relaxing after a long, hard day at work. Okabe messages Daru about how he managed to do everything Okabe told him to do. With that accomplished, their efforts should avoid World War III for now. Okabe text's Daru back saying, "Well done Super Hacka. We should be able to continue living at ease for now." He turns off his phone and heads up to the old lab which is his home.
When he enters, he notices shoes placed at the entrance, and realizes someone else is here. "Hello.?"
Okabe walks to the main room and notices right away, it was Kurisu Makise, sitting at the couch, reading a book. She looks up to see Okabe who enters in and greets him. "Hello. You are finally back."
"Yea, I am usually the last one to leave the lab since I make sure everything is closed off for the night." Okabe implies. "What are you doing here?"
"You already forgot what you told me earlier today? I came talk about what your dream was last night."
Okabe is surprised she is still curious about that. "Huh? You're still curious about that?"
"Of Course! I mean, I am your g-girlfriend. I get worried when you don't get a good night's sleep."
Okabe smiles for Kurisu to say she is his girlfriend, reminding him every time they are a couple. However he turns on his mad scientist persona. "Ha! Don't worry, Kurisutina. A mad scientist can last weeks without sleep for the sake of plunging the world into chaos!"
"That is definitely not true! You will die before reaching two weeks without sleep!"
Okabe gets halted for she is right and gets ticked a bit, but continues the original topic. "A-Anyways! I will tell you about my dream." Okabe explains. "The dream I had last night was about a little girl who looked like she was around 10-13 years old. I don't know who she is at all, and I don't know why she appears. She rarely appears in my dream, but when she does, I am told from her about preparing for the future and how I must be ready to act, because of my actions. I don't know why nor I don't know when. That is normally all that happens. When I wake up from those dreams, I feel like my energy is completely drained out and I feel very weak with a huge headache for a short time."
Kurisu doesn't know what to say. The dream Okabe has been having is an encounter that is very unusual and he hasn't even met the person once before. "I don't know what to tell you. For once, this dream phenomena is something I have never heard of." Kurisu thinks. "However, maybe you have seen this person at least once in your life. You only need to see them once for dreams to have that person involved in them, and that is what happens to many of us."
Okabe nods. "That may be a possible reason, however, to have a dream that is still in the same place with a similar topic is something that I don't understand."
Kurisu agrees. It is a difficult thing to explain. Especially since it leaves Okabe very weak in the morning after he wakes up from only that dream. However Okabe reassures Kurisu for this issue. "Well, don't worry Kurisutina. Since I don't know why I have these dreams, I can only take them as a warning for what can happen in the future. I will have to manage until I find out more."
Although Kurisu agrees with Okabe's opinion, she is still concerned for him. The fact of him waking up from a dream that leaves him completely weak is not normal, and as his girlfriend, Kurisu could only worry more. However something else comes to mind and makes her curious. "Okabe, I also want to know, what is the orange meter you had earlier about?"
Okabe explains. "It's what I call a divergence meter. You will be surprised by what I tell so listen up. The name of it is not from this worldline. I learned it from the alpha worldline. It is a meter that can detect the change of divergences or otherwise to simply put it, the change in worldlines."
Kurisu is shocked. "Huh?! Is that really true?!"
"Yea." confirms Okabe. "After studying extensively in Viktor Chondria University and with my experience and knowledge of time traveling, I managed to build the meter. It's the one thing that shows physical proof that time travel and the divergences of worldliness is possible."
Kurisu is now very curious. "If that is true, I want to look closely at the meter when we get to next time! I wish to see the functions and how it was made!"
Okabe sighs. "You never change. If you want to, I can let you. However in case you forgot, the meter is currently for some reason broken. Two of the meter's phials are off and it is really strange. I made sure those phials wouldn't have cut out for at least a century and I wonder what happened."
Kurisu is curious about the problem if that is the case. However this more of a greater chance to study the meter and see how it functions. "Well, this is the perfect opportunity for me to help you out to fix it. I may not understand how to make such a gadget, but I can learn by fixing it with you."
Okabe smiles with his persona. "Then, I look forward to working with you on the gadget, assistant. By the way, the real name for it is Future Gadget Number 100: The Divergence Meter!"
"That honestly sounds like a real gadget compared to what you had back years ago." says Kurisu.
"Perhaps" says Okabe. There is a moment of silence. Okabe and Kurisu now sit there just wondering what to do next. Okabe pulls out his phone to check the time, and it is getting very late. "Seems like it's almost time for me to sleep. You should head back to Kuristina. We have more work tomorrow to deal with at the lab."
Kurisu agrees. However as she walks to leave the old lab, her concern for Okabe returns. After his explanation of his dream, and remember the nightmares he explained, she could only worry so much for him, after all, she is his girlfriend. Kurisu is shy to try and say what she wants next, but she gathers her courage and says it. "O-Okabe?! I-I w-will stay here with you for tonight!"
Okabe blushes as he is shocked by Kurisu's words. "H-Huh?! B-But this place is so not for a celeb like you to sleep in!"
"H-Hey! I-I'm not a celeb, and for your information, I can do whatever I want!"
Okabe pulls out his phone. "It's me! It seems celeb seventeen is a spy of the organization and is trying to kill me when I'm asleep!"
Kurisu gets angry. "I am not celeb seventeen!"
Okabe continues on his phone. "Huh?! What do you mean emergency request?! Got it. If it's the choice of Steins Gate. El Psy Kongroo." Okabe puts away his phone. "W-Well, Kuristina. Y-You can stay here for the night. You should be grateful that I, Hououin Kyouma, can show some kindness!"
Kurisu sighs "You would because I am your girlfriend, right?"
Okabe blushes as she is right and can't say anymore about it. "J-Just don't complain about how uncomfortable it is to sleep here. You can sleep on the couch."
That night, Kurisu sleeps on the couch while Okabe sleeps on the floor with a couple of blankets to feel comfortable. However Kurisu is having a dream. She is running, running to try and find someone through a huge laboratory with an unusual gun and with several soldiers. After several minutes, she reaches the room she was apparently looking for. Unfortunately, the dream turns into a nightmare, as she sees before her, Okabe, lying on the floor with blood on his head and clothes. She grabs Okabe and sees his heart monitor showing vital signs, but his brain monitor shows no signs at all, and is connected to his head. This means Okabe is brain dead. Kurisu becomes completely shocked, and cries in extreme sadness and terror, for Okabe is dead. However, her own crying then wakes her up from the nightmare.
Kurisu breathes heavily as she just had a very crushing nightmare. She sits up and looks to see where Okabe is and sees him asleep on the floor. She sighs to know her nightmare was just a dream. Her heavy breathing and panics wake up Okabe moments later. Okabe sees Kurisu not ok and becomes worried. "Kurisu, are you ok?"
Kurisu nods. "Y-Yea, just a bad dream is what I had."
Okabe felt concerned for Kurisu as she seems to be very unusual and not ok. So, to make things better, he gets up from the floor with his blankets and sits next to Kurisu on the couch. He pulls Kurisu on him as he hugs her to make her feel better. Kurisu is startled by his actions, but this makes her feel more secure and at ease. She adjusts herself as both her and Okabe decide to sleep together again to feel at ease.
September 23rd, 2021
Morning rises, but it is cloudy and it is sort of raining. Kurisu and Okabe wake up together after a good night's rest after they slept together. They both realized they were sleeping together, and greeted each other with a shy tone.
"G-Good morning," says Kurisu.
"G-Good morning," says Okabe.
Kurisu gets up and stretches for a moment. Okabe gets up and grabs all the blankets to put them all away. As he does so, Kurisu gets ready to leave, but before giving a sweet kiss on Okabe's lips. "W-Well then, t-thank you for letting me sleepover last night. I should get going. See ya at the lab."
"See ya," Okabe replies. He smiles as Kurisu exits the old lab as she looks like she is doing better, and with a kiss on the lips at that. Soon, Okabe does his daily morning routine. He showers, puts on his usual clothes and prepares his things for work, however, the door to the old lab opens, and who enters is his childhood friend.
"Tutturu!"
Okabe greets Mayuri. " Hello, Mayuri."
"Hey Okarin! I just saw Kuris-chan leave here in a happy mood. Did you do something with her?"
Okabe becomes shy as he responds. "Y-Yea, sort of. I a-allowed her to stay in the old lab last night so we could chat longer.
Mayuri smiles. "I see! Mayushii is happy that Okarin and Kuris-Chan are getting closer together!"
"Y-Yea."
"Okarin? Mayushii is happy for you and Kuris-Chan. You have changed to be a better person since you met her. I knew from then you would be able to have a better life with her."
"H-Hey, Mayuri! Stop babbling that type of unnecessary stuff!"
"But, you guys do clearly get along very well. Also you are in a relationship with her, so it makes sense you would feel better to be around her."
Okabe puts on his persona. "Even with Kuristina with me or not, I, Hououin Kyouma, will always feel better! And that is because I always find satisfaction when I plunge this world into chaos!"
Mayuri gets upset. "Okarin! Even mad scientists need a partner in their lives!"
Okabe notices Mayuri's upset face. "S-Sorry. If it is from you Mayuri, perhaps you are right."
Mayuri smiles. "Right?" She thinks for a moment. "Hey Okarin? Promise Mayushii one thing. You will try to marry Kuris-Chan!"
Okabe becomes embarrassed. "H-Hey Mayuri! What are you trying to make me promise?! I can't just promise you something like that! This love thing is so complicated I can't even move forward half the time!"
Mayuri's smile turns to sadness. "But Okarin, you love Kuris-Chan and she loves you. You have been in a relationship for over 7 years. It's about time to make the next big move!"
Okabe agrees with Mayuri that marriage would be the next thing, but he can't come completely clean to say how he really feels for Kurisu. "I-I can't promise that right now, but I will do my best to see the moment to ask her to marry me. How about that?"
Mayuri smiles again. "Sure, that is alright!"
At the Future Gadget Laboratory, everyone is working like usual. The place is filled today with conversations and experimenting. The reason for this is Okabe has announced the next big project for the lab is to present a new version of the old gadgets. What qualifies in this category is gadgets number 1 through 30.
Underneath the lab, Okabe is with Daru who are dealing with more information about the labs across America, Europe, and Russia. They have found out information about how the labs have been experiencing hacking towards their research data. Not only that, but Russia has succeeded in building a nuclear bomb that can wipe out a third of the continent. Although countries have been doing this for over many years, what is concerning is how the Russian Laboratory is part of this maddening research. This puts concern on Daru and Okabe for as it is further proof that World War III may occur at some point.
"I hate to say this, but you are right, Okarin. Russia has already made a powerful nuclear bomb. The labs of the world powers are also fighting for the research of teleportation. The only thing that is not mentioned is black holes."
Okabe thought Daru managed to stop the issue after yesterday, but it seems the countries have more top secret weaponry and other problems, more than they ever thought. He thinks about what is happening, but it turns bad as his PTSD begins to kick in. Fortunately though, he manages it to control it and focuses once again. "We will have to act fast to pervert a catastrophe. Hack into the Russian lab and delete all launch codes and data to create more of their nuclear bombs. This should halt their urge to cause tension."
Daru does what Okabe told him to do. He gains access to the Russian lab data and finds the codes and research for the nuclear bombs. "Well, let's erase them."
There is a slow moment before Daru hits the enter key on the keyboard. When he does, everything turns upside. Okabe begins experiencing the same scenery where he talks with the little girl, but now it's glitching between the real world and the dream he has been experiencing. The only thing that could be made out is when the girl says "Why?" Then, the intense glitching within his brain causes Okabe to black out completely.
Inside Okabe's office, we see the divergence meter not having changed one bit as two of the numbers from before are still broken. However, the scene becomes black, as it shows the Steins Gate worldline divergence number 1.045869 for a moment. But then, terror happens. The 1 and 4 on the divergence number change rapidly for a brief moment, before the 1 and 4 have changed places on the meter. The divergence number now reads 4.015869.