Loads more drama in this chapter.
Again the credit for this chapter goes to Guest.
Thank you to the following people for your reviews on chapter fourteen: Frostbite, Energy witch, MabelLand, Fantasy Female Freak, CornChip, 2021FanGirl, Berrybanana05, ImpossibleJedi4, Marisol777, Moomoo Mouse, Firefox, Guest, Ella Le Hissy, Catgirl PA, Christina730, and young red-winged soul. You guys are amazing.
Ford walked into the living room with Shifty in the form of Bill by his side. Ford stood in front of the TV much to his brother's chagrin and announced a family meeting. Stan slumped in the chair with a near empty can of beer in his hand.
Mabel and Dipper both looked up. Mabel glanced over at Shifty who grinned. The girl lifted an eyebrow, but didn't say anything. To make sure he had his family's full attention Ford shut off the television.
"Alright, kids, listen up," Stan grumbled and finished the rest of his beer. He crunched the aluminum can in his hand.
"I'm only going to say this once," Ford said. He looked over at Dipper. "And you make sure to tell Soos and Wendy tomorrow, do you understand?"
Dipper jumped at his great-uncle's stern tone. He took a quick glimpse at Mabel then nodded.
"The shapeshifter tried to attack Bill a moment ago," said Ford. "The button on the holding cell had jammed giving him the chance he needed to escape." Ford looked over at his brother and continued, "It was a mistake for me to bring him here. I put all of you in danger, and I'm sorry."
"Why would he go after Bill and not you?" Dipper asked.
Shifty gritted his teeth at the boy, an action that went unnoticed by Dipper, but witnessed by Mabel. She looked over at her brother then at Stan, both who had their attention on Ford. Mabel glared at Shifty then turned her attention back to her great-uncle.
"I don't know, and I have no intention of finding out," he answered. He cleared his throat then said, "I have temporarily fixed the lock for now," Ford announced. "None of you are to interact with the shapeshifter any longer."
"What-what are you going to do to him?" Mabel asked.
"Tomorrow I will help Fiddleford to repair the cryogenic tubes in the bunker," Ford answered. "The Shapeshifter will be locked away permanently."
"How?" Dipper asked.
With a sigh Ford said, "Fiddleford and I will destroy the bunker. No one will be allowed in or out ever again."
Mabel opened her mouth to protest when she noticed the smirk on the false Bill's face. Again she glared at Bill, unwilling to believe her friend could return to his cruel ways.
"In the meantime if I catch either of you within twenty feet of the shapeshifter's holding cell, or even in the lab without my permission, the consequences will be severe," Ford threatened. His firm stare landed on both of the twins. "Have I made myself clear?"
Dipper and Mabel verbally announced their understanding. The two exchanged glances then looked back up at Ford.
"On a happier note," Ford said. He smiled at the man who stood to his left. "After McGucket and I take care of the shapeshifter, I plan to take Bill on a vacation." He turned to the kids. "But after some thought, I decided we can all go."
Mabel jumped up and clapped her hands.
"Where are we going?" Dipper asked.
"I haven't gotten that far," Ford said. He stepped closer to the teens and put a hand on their shoulders. "Perhaps you two can come up with a few suggestions."
Mabel's smile fell when she looked upon Bill's smirk. He stared at Ford's back and released a dark chuckle. She shivered then looked at her other family members who hadn't noticed. Hazel eyes landed back on Bill to see him smiling as normal. The girl wrapped her arms around herself, her sweater no longer provided her with enough warmth.
Again she looked over at Bill. In all she figured she was looking too deep into something that wasn't anything worth concerning herself with. Still she couldn't help that nagging feeling in her stomach.
Not long after Ford's announcement Stan ordered the kids to an early bedtime. They both protested, but a stern look from their temporary guardian encouraged them to follow his demands.
After the nighttime routine the twins snuggled into their beds. Mabel laid on her back while Dipper curled up on his side. The female twin sighed then turned over to face her brother on the other side of the room.
"Dipper, did you notice something weird with Bill?" Mabel asked.
Dipper shrugged. "He's always weird."
"That's not what I mean," Mabel said. She pursed her lips. "Something doesn't feel right. Bill looked way too calm." She sat up with the blankets around her legs. "You said so yourself, it didn't make sense for the shapeshifter to go after Bill instead of Ford."
Dipper yawned. "Bill is probably shaken up from what happened," he said. The boy snuggled his head against the pillow and shut his eyes. "Goodnight, Mabel."
Mabel sighed. She turned off the light then laid back down on her back. After a few minutes of restless thoughts she opened her eyes to look up at the ceiling. The only light in the room was provided by the moonlight peeking in through the window.
From downstairs the sound of an electric drill traveled throughout the shack. Ford and Shifty walked into the gift shop to see Stan with an electric screwdriver in hand and a few long nails poking from between his lips. The back of the vending machine was screwed into the wall.
Shifty ignored Stan and resumed looking through the binder. Although he couldn't read the majority of the words, he memorized the designs of nearly a hundred creatures that walked the town. The ghoul in particular looked interesting.
Stan pulled the last nail from his mouth and secured it in place. He held the drill by his side then turned to his brother and said, "I ain't takin' no chances that thing'll escape and hurt my family. I don't know why you didn't destroy it when ya had the chance."
Ford only nodded while he searched his brain for any reason he thought his plan to make an ally out of the shapeshifter could be successful. Of the two Stan was the one who made sense. He doubted the vending machine could keep the shapeshifter at bay were he able to escape the holding cell a second time, but he agreed an extra barrier would prove as a good measure to take until he transported him to the bunker the following morning.
"Where are you gonna sleep tonight?" Stan asked.
Shifty also wondered as he had spent the last few nights watching the human sleep as he thought over hundreds of ways to exact his revenge. For now Ford was safe, when the author revealed his plans for the next day he came up with the best way to get even. Poor Stanford Pines wouldn't know until it was too late, and Ford would realize his mistake when he was the one buried beneath the rubble that was once the bunker.
In the end Ford decided to sleep on the recliner in the living room with his laser gun in arm's reach just incase the captive in the basement found a way to escape. For the most part his sleep was dreamless, but deep enough for him to receive decent rest for what the next day entailed.
Shifty stood in the doorway of the living room with a wide grin. He switched into his true form and scurried over to where the author laid. The three fingers reached for the face of the sleeping human who had filled his life with misery. In such a vulnerable state it would be too easy for him to steal Stanford's life.
Shifty composed himself and instead stroked Ford's gray hair. The human moaned at the touch and turned slightly on his side. The knitted blanket Mabel made last summer fell on the carpet. Shifty chuckled then recoiled his arm. He resumed Bill's form and laid down on his stomach in front of the recliner, supporting his head on his elbows.
Soon the human would understand how it felt to be locked up for three decades with only himself and the occasional moleman for conversation.
Six hours later Ford opened his eyes. The glasses raised on his hands as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. With the frames back in place he smiled down at the copy of his boyfriend snoozing soundly on the floor, using his folded arms for a pillow. Ford took a quick trip to the bathroom and poured himself a glass of water before returning to the living room. It would be a shame to wake Bill, but the clock on the wall showed their need to meet Fiddleford at the bunker within the hour.
Ford gently shook the other man. Shifty's eyes shot open. He suddenly remembered his location and stopped himself from regaining his true form. His eyes switched to that of Bill's and he smiled up at the scientist with a wired grin. Shifty stretched the stiffness from his body then followed Ford to the kitchen. Thirty minutes later they were ready for their journey to the bunker.
On the way out the door Ford stared in the direction of the secret laboratory. Thus far Shifty had not escaped through the main entrance, and he was certain the creature didn't know of the secondary, less glamorous way into and out of the basement. He made sure to make sure the tranquilizer he gave the assailant the previous night was more potent than previous doses, but eventually the shapeshifter would wake, and he feared the temporary lock would not be enough to contain him. They needed to get the tube ready and fast.
Unknown to the two who walked out the door, a figure waited on the staircase waiting for them to leave. The thirteen-year-old dressed in her cassette tape nightgown tiptoed down the stairs. She checked behind her to make sure no one followed then crossed into the gift shop.
For an hour she waited for Ford to take his leave. Sleep didn't come easy, and she spent half the night wrestling with her thoughts.
The girl crept up to the window and peeked outside to see her great-uncle and Bill head in the direction of the bunker. Her stomach swelled as she made her way over to the vending machine. Once again she checked in the direction any of her family members that remained in the house would come then punched the code. She heard the vending machine unlatch as it had plenty of times before, but the secret door didn't move.
Mabel grabbed hold of the machine and pulled only for it not to budge. The girl tried the code a second time, but the lock on the wall had already opened. She peered around back to see the nails that bound the machine to the wall. The girl kicked the machine then hopped on her left foot while she held tight to her right one. Hazel eyes looked down to see a trickle of blood originate from the nail of her big toe.
"What are you doing?" a voice called from behind.
Mabel screeched then swiftly turned expected to see Stan or against logic Ford glaring down at her. Instead she saw her brother scratching at the side of his head with a sleepy look on his face.
"Dipper, someone screwed the door closed," Mabel exclaimed and pointed at the machine.
"You're trying to go down there?" Dipper gasped. He stepped next to his sister and tried to push her away. "You heard what Grunkle Ford said last night."
"But, Dipper, I can't stop thinking about Shifty," Mabel said. "Something's not right. Before Grunkle Ford decides to kill him, I want to hear Shifty's side of the story."
"Mabel, the shapeshifter is not your friend, Grunkle Ford said he's dangerous," Dipper tried to explain.
"He said the same thing about Bill," Mabel cried. She grabbed her brother by the collar. "Dipper, please, Bill just needed some love and kindness, maybe Shifty does too." She released her twin. "Please, I just want to have a talk with him. Before-before Grunkle Ford decides to kill him. It has to be a misunderstanding, it just has to."
Dipper could have spouted a dozen reasons why his great-uncle's logic was sound. He knew firsthand how dangerous the shapeshifter could be. Unlike Bill, Shifty didn't have a bond that kept him from harming human beings. However he made one grave mistake by looking in his sister's eyes.
"Please," Mabel begged.
"Fine," Dipper relented.
"Do you know where the screwdriver is?" the girl asked.
"No, and Grunkle Stan would hear us if we tried," Dipper replied. He took his twin's hand and led her out the back door. "I know another way inside." The two ran to the back porch where Gompers watched. The boy ducked under the porch. "I found this way by accident last summer."
Mabel crawled in after her brother. She recalled his brief explanation on accidentally falling into Ford's lab, although she doubted the uninententional portion of his story.
Dipper smiled when he saw the hole his grunkles had yet to repair. He warned Mabel to be careful then jumped in. The boy yelled as he tumbled to the basement. He landed on his stomach and winced at the sudden sting throughout his belly. The male twin yelled out when Mabel landed atop him. The girl quickly stood then helped her brother to his feet. Dipper gripped at his aching belly as they made their way to the holding cell.
Mabel jumped as they heard thumping coming from the holding cell. The twins looked at each other then rushed ahead with Dipper in the lead. They stopped in front of the clear cage as the form of Bill pushed himself against the reinforced glass. The demon took a deep breath and the flames erupted from his hands. He shot a wave of energy at the glass for the third time only for it to have no effect.
Bill gritted his teeth. He closed his eyes and allowed the energy to surge within him. His sweating palms were placed against the glass. He yelled as the magic pushed against the glass. Having nowhere to go the magic backfired knocking the demon to the floor.
The brunette rushed to the cell. Bill groaned as he moved to his knees. The instant his eyes caught sight of the girl he hurried over on his knees and pressed his hands against the thick glass. Using the walls to help him to his feet he mouthed the girl's name.
"Ma'el, hel' me," Bill said.
"Bill," Mabel gasped. She put her hands against the glass-Bill mirrored her action. The girl tried to tell herself it was only the shapeshifter in the form of Bill, but the fact that she witnessed the prisoner using magic gave her reason to doubt. She stared into his eyes to see the same sorrow she remembered from the few times she had been privileged to witness Bill's raw emotion. Mabel pounded on the glass with her fists. "Bill!" she yelled. She took a glimpse at her brother then set her eyes back on Bill. "Dipper, we have to get him out."
Dipper grabbed her by the arm. "Mabel, wait, what if it's a trap," he argued.
Mabel stared over at the man who had been her friend for nearly a year. She pulled away from Dipper and stepped up to the holding cell. Bill heaved as he attempted to catch his breath. Nineteen hours without food combined with using a good portion of his magic took its toll.
"The-the log is stug," Bill said. When he first woke and realized he was trapped in the cage meant for Shifty he had tried to remove the lock to no avail.
"It's broken," Dipper explained. He stared at the metal locks welded in place. "The button won't work."
"Please, Shoo' Star, get me outta here," Bill begged. "Sisser has 'e wro'g me." The demon winced at the pain pulsing through his jaw each time he talked. It was way past time for a painkiller.
"How do we know you're telling the truth?" Dipper asked.
Bill groaned. "Iss me, Pinetree," he said. His mouth ached more with each word.
Bill's eyes lit up as he got an idea. He brought his index finger to his mouth and let his teeth take on the form of fangs. The twins cringed as he bit into the flesh of his finger. Crimson trailed down his hand and he used his blood as ink on the glass: Ask me anything. Something only I would know.
"It is him!" Dipper yelled. He pointed as the crimson droplets splattering the cage floor. "His blood is red! The-the shapeshifter's is green!" He hurried over to the cell to examine the lock. The boy pulled at the locks. He lost his grip and fell backwards. "It's stuck."
Mabel helped her brother up and they both pulled at the lock. Meanwhile she thought over everything they told Shifty over the past few days. Even though Dipper confirmed her theory she still wanted to know for sure. It had to be something that Soos, Stan, or Wendy wouldn't have told him, nor anything written in the journal.
Mabel looked up into Bill's golden eyes. She released her hold on the lock as Dipper went to search the lab for something that could force the door open. The girl approached the cell. "When I left last summer, what did I say to you?"
Bill was taken back from the girl's words. However he smiled as he never forgot those kind words, as she was the only one who believed he could change, when he himself was resistant to the idea.
Bill squeezed his finger to produce another blood bubble. Under his previous message he wrote: You said I'm not as bad as I think I am. Bill stopped to think over those words. He wondered why the girl had given him more chances than he deserved. Even now she risked herself for him. Bill swallowed then continued: I can learn to love and be loved if I just give it a chance.
"Bill," Mabel said and placed her hand against the glass. She narrowed her eyes. "We'll get you out of here."
The two pulled. Bill stood against the wall and watched with captive breath as the two tried their best to pry the door open. Blood from his finger dripped down the clear walls.
The twins lost their grip on the crowbar. Mabel hissed as it bruised her fingers when it slipped through. The edge smacked Dipper in the face. He held his hand over his eyebrow then leaned over. Mabel pushed her brother's hand away to see the bright red mark that would eventually turn a blue black.
"How are we going to get him out?" Mabel asked.
Dipper rubbed at his injured face. "I don't know, but we have to hurry." He looked over at Bill. "Grunkle Ford is in danger."
Mabel gasped when she remembered her great-uncle was alone in the shapeshifter's company. She turned to Bill. "Does Grunkle Ford have another gun thingy in here?"
Bill shook his head. Ford had started constructing another raygun, but it was nowhere near ready. Neither he nor Ford would forgive him if either of the kids hurt themselves using it in its untested state.
"I got it!" Dipper shouted.
He picked up the crowbar then rushed over at the locked closet that contained Ford's various weapons and tools. He picked up the bar and bludgeoned the lock with the tool. On the third strike the lock broke off and fell to the floor. Dipper threw open the door and grabbed the magnet gun.
"Mabel, get out of range!" Dipper ordered.
He pointed the gun at the lock and fired. The gun pulled him against the lock. He winced at the sudden pain throughout his body when he slammed against the door. Once the magnet gun was secure to the locks he switched the lever to the reverse function. The boy shut his eyes and pulled the trigger.
Dipper shouted as he was hurled from the door. His back slammed against the wall. The pain froze him for a few seconds. Slowly he opened his eyes to see the lock connected to the gun. The teen turned off the magnet gun then rushed for the door just behind his sister.
Mabel reached the door first and pulled Bill into a hug the instant he stepped foot out of the cage. She snuggled against his chest and wept. Bill wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm sorry," Bill whispered to the girl. He leaned his head on her shoulder. "I'm sorry," he repeated. "I don' des'eve your kinness."
"Be quiet," Mabel ordered. She looked up and wiped at the tears with the sleeve of her pink sweater. She then looked over her shoulder at her twin to see the boy rub at his back. "Dipper, you're hurt."
"I'm fine," the boy answered despite the constant ache in his back. "We have to help Grunkle Ford."
Bill grabbed hold of the twins. He ran over to the secondary entrance and levitated himself and the children towards the hole. Mabel grabbed a hold of the porch and pulled herself out. She then turned to help her brother. Bill crawled out after them.
The three headed on in the direction of the bunker.
Ford and Shifty stopped in front of the tree that was the camouflaged entrance to the underground laboratory. The false Bill contained himself from jumping for joy at the thought of never having to go down into that place that had served as his prison for over thirty years.
The human took a deep breath and put his hand against the hollow tree. A part of him lamented the fact that he would soon demolish all that remained of his and McGucket's youth-the days they innocently surveyed the town for anything out of the ordinary, the times he often relived in his dreams.
A quick glimpse at the creature masquerading as his lover reminded him why it was necessary to destroy the bunker along with the shapeshifter.
"Fiddleford isn't here yet," Ford stated. He folded his hands behind his back then walked ahead of the shapeshifter.
"We shou' sersh the place for somethin' you mi' wan' kip," Shifty said imitating Bill's limited speech.
Ford nodded. "Good call," he said and gently clapped the other man on the back. Anything of Fiddleford's would definitely need to be cleared from the area they were about to destroy.
Shifty grinned as he watched Ford aim his laser at the lever. The branch broke off and landed by Shifty's feet. It didn't matter as the place would soon be a pile of rubble and ash.
The two made their way down the stairs. The entire journey Shifty's red eyes kept their gaze on the man who had been his captor for the entirety of his life. How fitting that the very place Ford chose to incarcerate him would serve as his tomb.
They passed through the security room then entered into the observation room. Ford looked around at all the technology that would soon be lost. Fiddleford showed no hesitation to demolish the place on the phone the night before, but if he had the chance to come down one last time, Ford wondered if after setting eyes on his work he'd change his mind.
Ford searched through paperwork. He gathered a few weapons and tranquilizer darts from the equipment closet. Then there was the collection of weapons he'd need to pull from the armory in the first room. He picked up a piece of paper that contained observations on a young Shifty. Most of the information had already been stored in his journal, but he figured he could keep the document just incase they ever came across another like Shifty.
Ford yelled out when he felt pressure in his arm. He spun around to see an empty syringe clatter on the floor. Papers littered the floor as Ford gripped at his aching arm. He looked up at the grinning face of his boyfriend.
"How does it feel, Stanford?" Shifty asked in his regular voice. He then slammed another needle in Ford's other arm.
Ford's eyes widened when he watched the impostor's mouth move despite the wires. Shifty laughed and the wires vanished. His eyes switched to his normal red ones while still in Bill's form.
"H-how?" Ford gasped.
"Simple, I learned your weakness and used it against you," Shifty gloated.
Ford fell to his knees. He gripped at the burning in his arms. His right hand shot out to catch his balance before he faceplanted on the floor. His vision blurred. Still the shapeshifter's laughter taunted him.
"You tricked me three times, so it's my turn to return the favor," said Shifty. He leaned against Ford in his true form.
Ford glared up at the monster. He reached for his laser gun. The instant his hand clamped around the weapon dizziness overtook him and he dropped the gun on the ground. Shifty tranformed into a rock giant and stomped on the gun smashing it to pieces.
In his weakened state Ford stared up at the shapeshifter with a fierce glare on his face. Shifty assumed Bill's form once more. He mockingly poked at Ford's nose.
"Do you want to know the best part, Stanford?" Shifty asked mimicking Bill's voice. He put his hand over his chest then placed the back of his other hand against his forehead. "You locked the poor real Bill away." He smirked at the fading human. "And you ordered your family not to go into your lab."
Ford gasped. He clenched his fist. His knees gave out on him and he fell against the floor. His arms fought with what little energy they had left to force him up. Shifty stepped on Ford's back, forcing him back down against the floor. The old man's glasses slipped from his face.
"They expect you to go on a vacation after our little business here," Shifty taunted as he stomped on Ford's back again. He grinned at the sound of cracking. "By the time they find out you're not coming back, poor Bill will have starved to death."
Shifty removed his foot from Ford's back. Through blurred eyes Ford watched the shapeshifer take on his form.
"Now I have a meeting with Fiddleford McGucket," Shifty said with a cackle.
Ford reached out his arm which fell limp on the floor. It became too much of a chore to move his body. The drug consumed him and against his will he felt himself fading. He couldn't fall asleep, because there was no certainty that he'd ever wake up.
Ford pushed himself to move. He managed to lift himself five inches off the floor before his heavy body collapsed once again. Pain pulsed through his torso. It was time to change plans. Ford reached into his pocket for his phone. He forced his eyes open and begged his body not to give out on him just yet.
Fingers shook as they hovered over the device. Lying on his back Ford strained himself to see the buttons while he struggled to grasp hold of his fallen spectacles. The glasses crudely sat over his eyes. He needed to at least get the word to Stan to release Bill from the cell.
His hand lost all strength and the phone bounced on his stomach. He felt his body shutting down. Tears welled up in Ford's eyes as he thought over the last thing he ever said to Bill. His imagined his beloved alone in that cell dying of a broken heart.
In that last minute of consciousness prayed that the twins chose this one time to disobey him.
Meanwhile Fiddleford stood outside the bunker. He looked down at his watch then lifted his eyes when he heard the door open. The old man watched as his research partner from so long ago made his way up the stairs.
"Good mornin', Stanford, I see ya made it 'ere afore I did," Fiddleford greeted.
Shifty nodded. He crossed his arms then looked over at the tree. Back in 1980 Fiddleford installed a self-destruct system in the bunker incase the worst were to happen. Ford had argued he'd found it cowardly to even consider such an option, but Fiddleford insisted some alternatives weren't worth dignity.
"Are ya sure ya really wanna let the bunker go?" Fiddleford asked. He smiled fondly at memories of designing the place and conducting research inside its secure walls.
"It's time to let go," Shifty answered. "I've got him trapped inside. Just press the button."
Fiddleford sighed. "I don't know if we should just kill him, I mean he is an intelligent life form."
"That nearly killed my family," Shifty pressed. "He's too dangerous." The creature wearing Ford's face crossed his arms. "Let's let this part of our pass be only a memory."
Again Fiddleford sighed. However, he too knew it was for the best.
The engineer pulled a small box from his shirt pocket hidden beneath his long beard. His finger hovered over the button that would demolish the bunker. This time he could trust his friend's judgment. His thumb pressed down on the button.