"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Past speech"

"other"


Reaching the stairway at the end of the room, Adrian finds himself staring at a double set of doors. Climbing the stairs, he finds a lever, and pulls said lever. Slowly, the doors open outwards, letting him, and his new 'companion' through. Now they find themselves inside a long narrow hallway, with a two streams down near the end, which leads to another, more narrow hallway. The streams has two bridges, one with spikes coming out of them and the other just a normal bridge. Walking over the normal one, Chara stops and points to her right.

Adrian looks over and sees yet another lever, with a sign that's obviously seen better days. The marine looks back at Chara with his head turned sideways much like a dog. After a few seconds of silence, Adrian simply walks over to the spiked fill bridge.

"Hey, there's a lever right here you know."

The Corporal simply ignores her, opting to jump over the small stream instead.

Continuing forward, Adrian turns back to Chara, only to find her right behind him, causing him to raise his rife and stumble backwards. Chara giggles at the display while Shephard collects himself.

"Jesus Christ! Don't do that, for god sake I could of shot you!"

Again, Chara giggles, before replying that she's a ghost. With no answer, he turns around and heads to the hallway, grumbling to himself incoherently. After some turns, the duo reach another bridge with spikes. However, unlike the last one, there isn't a way for Adrian to jump across, so he simply walks over, or in some cases, between the waist height spikes with Chara following close behind. Crawling through the maze of over-sized spikes, the marine addresses the girl following him.

"So, you said that there are other monsters down here, right?"

The ghost phases through the spike next to him.

"Yep."

"You also said that their pretty friendly, correct?

She hums.

"But that they also want my Soul. Which means that they have to kill me."

Phrasing through yet another spike, Chara answers.

"Most will try to kill you, but less out of wanting to do so, and more of just for the sake of it. You can get by them without killing."

Now passed the bridge, the two continue on, passing a dinosaur shaped dummy. Adrian notices that the dummy is in pretty bad shape all things considered. Ignoring that fact for the moment, he continue to sweep the room for any signs of life, only to come up empty handed.

"So I don't have to fight them?"

Again, Chara once again speak, opting to hum instead.

"How sentient are these things again?" Shephard says, passing through yet another hallway identical to the last.

"Almost all of them are sentient. Some more than others." She grumbles out the last part.

Shephard doesn't hear her grumbling, instead opting to focus on clearing out the next few rooms. After a few minutes of checking every corner for possible life, Adrian turns back and heads to yet another hallway. He was expecting yet another room devoid of life, but instead he finds one of the weirdest things he's seen so far. Or at least the 10's weirdest things.

The Monster - for what else could it be - in front of him is quite simply, an oversized frog. At least it has the basic body of one. It's eyes are located on two very large bumps on the top of it head, instead of on the head itself. Another discreenable feature is the series of symbols on its chest.

"Ribbit"

Adrian looks over to Chara for some advice, to which she replies with a simple, "Flirt with it." Not questioning the bizarre answer, he looks back at the frog.

"I like your… um. Symbol?"

The frog actually blushes, and proceeds to hope away into one of the many holes in the wall.

"I'm too tired for all of this."

Chara giggles.


Passing through yet another hallway, Shephard finds his path forward blocked by an actually ghost. Not a ghost like Chara, or even the Businessman, but one you would see on TV shows for kids. Somewhat transparent, the ghost currently resides right in the middle of the pathway, blocking Adrian from continuing on. What is it doing in the middle of the path?

"Zzzzzz. Are they gone yet? Zzzzzzz"

Well sleeping of course.

'At least it talks.'

Moving closer to the "sleeping" ghost, Adrian contemplates jumping over the creature, not wanting to go through the effort of starting a conversation. The idea is immediately dashed as he crunches some leaves under his boots, causing the Monster to turn over and face him. Upon seeing him, the ghost immediately jumps up from its resting spot with a look of fear. Now deciding it would be the best time to speak up, Adrian addresses the floating Monster.

"Hey, your kinda in the way."

The ghost slowly floats upwards away from the marine and the path, before bolting towards the ceiling and phrasing through it. Confused, Adrian looks back to Chara for clarification on what just happened.

"That was Napstablook, and while he might look like a ghost, he's actually a Monster."

"Any reason why he seemed so scared?"

Chara looks at the soldier with an expression that can only be described as annoyed before replying.

"Oh, I don't know, maybe seeing a fully armored human with enough blood on him to fill a small puddle was a little too much? Or maybe it was the gasmask with the green lenses?"

"Okay, fair enough."

The pair continue forward, only being interrupted by a few more Monster; all of which, Adrian was able to convince to leave him alone. After another few minutes of walking does the marine slow down. The adrenaline from Black Mesa and his encounter with the demonic flower has completely left his system. Leaving Adrian to experience the exhausting that been plaguing his being for so long. His entire body feels as if it's on fire, with every step adding to the pain. This change does not go unnoticed by Chara, or his alien companions on his back. Chara tells him that there's a house nearby with plenty of food and a bed for him to lay on. She also offered to carry his bag of ammo, only to find out that it's far too heavy for her.

Rounding another corner, the exhausted Adrian finds the house that Chara was talking about. It's a nice one story house. A few windows here and there, a large tree out front, and sign above the front entrance. Comfortable, but obviously has some age to it, evident by the sign that's worn away due to the passage of time. Not wasting another minute, Adrian slowly walks over to the door. Once he reaches it, Adrian extends his hand out to open it, but hesitates. He turns to his ghostly companion.

"Does anyone live here by any chance?"

Chara simply nods.

"You could of told me that before we got here."

"You seemed tired."

"Still am."

After a moment of silence, Adrian slings his rife over his back and holsters it, and take out his trusty pipe wrench. With his pipe wrench in one hand, he slowly brings up a fist, and knocks exactly three times. Almost immediately, a surprisingly gentle feminine voice calls out from the other side.

"Coming!"

A moment of silence passes, before it's immediately interrupted by the sound of someone rushing towards the door. While it might just be a mix a paranoia and lack of sleep taking a toll on him, Adrian proceeds to tighten his grip on the pipe wrench, ready to bring it down upon any enemy should the situation call for. The door opens and Shephard is met with a wall of cloth and fur. Backing up a little to get a little distance on the behemoth and a better view, he can see that the Monster in front of him some type of amphomorphic goat. Over 8 feet tall, and adorned with a simple tunic that displays some type of symbol, the Monster is surprising human. Five fingers, two eyes, and knees structured much like that of a human. Were it not for the snout, floppy ears, and the fur, Shephard might of just assumed it was just a very large human. The Monster brings up its hands to it's mouth in a gesture of shock.

"Oh my."

Even the way it, no she, gesticulate is so much like a human, Adrian thought. Another moment of silence passes, with neither side really making a move. Finally, the Monster speaks up.

"Would you like to come in? You look like you need some rest."

Shephard nods weakly. The Monster moves further into the house and then takes a sudden right, leaving the door open for the marine. Closing the door behind him, Adrian follows the Monster. Chara hesitates for a moment, before following her new partner. The pair make it to a well lit living room. Shelves with books can be seen lining the wall, along with portraits of other Monsters. A large rocking chair lay adjacent to a lit fireplace, with Toriel standing next to it. The Monster gestures to the couch not far from the chair, prompting Adrian to slowly make his way to said couch. Taking a seat, Adrian notices how comfortable the couch is, causing him to relax his muscles. Chara takes a seat next to him. The Monster clears her throat before speaking up.

"I almost forgot to introduce myself. I'm Toriel, Caretaker of the Ruins, and I welcome you into my home Mr…?"

"Adrian Shephard ma'am."

Toriel's features soften, and mumbles something under her breath. Adrian can only pick up the words, "oh dear" and "young." Anyways she continues.

"I know this might not be my place, but can you take off your mask? No offense but it's a little unnerving talking to a gas mask."

Adrian tenses up. A solid fifteen seconds pass, before slowly, he brings his hands up to his head. First he unstraps the buckle for his helmet. Taking off the helmet reveals his dark black hair, shaven in proper marine fashion. Pressing a button on the side of his respirators turns off his Heads Up Display, causing his lenses to become dark instead of the usual green. Finally, and with pain staking slowness, he pulls off his respirator.


Chara didn't like being back here. It only brought back painful memories of the last hundred or so Resets. Flashes of fire, dust, and the glint of an old toy knife flashes through her head.

'No, not again. I won't let it happen again. I've changed god damn it.'

"We are Slaves~ We are all Slaves~"

Again, that voice assaults her hearing. It's been relatively quiet since the dream, only repeating the same phrase over and over again at random intervals throughout the Ruins. Why, she doesn't know. All Chara does know, is that apparently there all slaves. Slaves of what? Of the Resets? If so, then how is Adrian connected to all of this? It said that he will set us all free. Does that mean Adrian is the key to breaking the cycle? Or does it mean something else, something other then the Resets?

Putting those thoughts away for the moment, Chara puts her attention back onto Adrian and Toriel, with Adrian in the process of taking off his helmet. A burst of curiosity flow through her being. She hasn't seen what Adrian looks like behind the mask. He's been keen on keeping it on, never taking it off for any reason. So getting to see what her new partner looks like interest her.

After turning off his lenses, Adrian finally pulls off his mask, revealing his face. If Chara was honest with herself, she would say he looks quite handsome. With a strong chin line, clean shaved face and two bright green eyes. However, all of that contrast to obvious signs of sleep deprivation and numerous scars that dot his face. Dark circles are visible under his bloodshot eyes. While Chara knew he was tired, she didn't realize how bad it really was. It looks as if he hasn't gotten any sleep in a couple of days.

"My goodness, when was the last time you slept my child?"

Shephard shakes his head before responding to Toriel's question.

"Not for the past two days, but I swear I'm fine."

"You're fine?! My child, you look as if you could fall asleep any minute now. Please follow me, I think you deserve some rest. We can talk once your fully rested."

Shephard is about to speak up once again, but is interrupted by Toriel before he can say anything.

"And don't tell me your fine. Your getting some sleep."

Defeated, Adrian simply nods and gets up. Chara follows suit, and before long their following Toriel out of the living room, pass the front door, and into a long stretch of hallway with three doors to the left. Toriel stops at the second door. Opening the door shows the room exactly how Chara remembers it from the last Reset. A small bed, desk, bookshelf and desk all along the back wall.

"Please make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you Toriel, I'm serious, by the way. Things have been hectic for me as you can tell with my uniform."

"No need to thank me Shephard. I think we should have a talk about your uniform once you wake up. I mean no offense once again, but you don't smell awfully pleasant."

Shephard smiles and replies almost immediately.

"Yeah, I can tell."

You know, you look as young as someone I knew before…" A solem look befalls her face, before she shakes her head.

"Sorry, just reminiscing about something from the past."

Shephard nods.

"I understand. Goodnight Toriel."

Toriel nods, before closing the door, leaving both Chara and Adrian alone. Suddenly, Adrian turns to the ghost with a look of concern and ask a questionthat she's been dreading for the past 5 minutes.

"Are you okay Chara?"

Chara narrows her eyes.

"What do you mean?

"Don't play dumb with me Chara, you seemed really distant the whole time with Toriel. I know we just me and I don't want to push anything but I'm here to talk in case anything is really bothering you."

"I'm fine. Just don't bring up again."

Shephard stares at her for a few more seconds with a look of concern, before he nods and turns around. Taking off his backpack, his rife, Powered Combat Vest, pipe wrench and all of his other gear, Adrian puts it all in the closet along with his helmet and respirator. Grabbing Spitball and Sparky from his back, he addresses the two.

"You guys can go to sleep if you want, or, if you can, I guess."

In response, Spitball immediately curls around his arm, and proceeds to fall fast asleep. Sparky on the other hand, simply jumps, and starts to radiate plasma around his three appendages. Taking this as a 'no, he doesn't need sleep' Shephard lays down and lets the alien crawl on his chest. Turning to Chara, Shephard opens his mouth only to be interrupted by the ghost.

"No, I don't need sleep. Ghost remember?"

Nodding to himself, the marine closes his eyes and at long last, lets sleep overtake him.

With him fast asleep, Chara begins to wander over to the bookshelf. The voice hasn't spoken and thus have been forgotten about for the moment leaving her to become lost in thought. None of which are pleasant. Memories of all of her treks through this same house come back to her. Even before the Resets. Before it all went all so wrong. Before her transformation.

When she first "woke up" she remembers not having any empathy for the Monsters. Considering them all traitors, going so far as convincing Frisk to kill them after the first few Resets.

'Frisk.'

Chara use to considered herself a demon. That was before she saw that Frisk really was the demon all along. At first, Chara encouraged her, but as time went on, as Frisk grew more and more Determined, did she realized what she became, and it sickened Chara to no end. Emotions, real honest to god emotions came flooding back to her. Doesn't mean she forgives what Monsterkind, or what her brother did to betray her, but never she want to commit wish to be involved in their genocide. She begged for Frisk to stop after that, but she never listened. The once innocent girl was turned into a psychotic murderer, and it was all her fault.

Actually, Chara hasn't put much thought into it, but where is Frisk? Obviously a Reset has taken place since Toriel is still alive, but how is that possible? Frisk has never been able to Reset in the middle of a "run" before. And then there the subject of Shephard. At first she thought he had something to do with this, but his explanation of aliens and portals dismiss that theory. While it might be possible that he's lying about it, the way in which he got here, and the two creatures brought with him back him up, if only slightly. He's also completely ignorant of both the Underground and Monster kind, which adds another reason as to why he couldn't have been responsible. That only leaves two candidates.

The first one is obviously Gaster. He's always been an enigma, even to her brother. So it's possible that this is all his doing. However, Gaster has never shown the ability to control the Resets. It also isn't his M O. He always lurks in the shadows, observing Frisk - and Sans for some reason - but never does he interferes. Another reason it can't be him is due to Adrian himself. Adrian is a human, so how would Gaster be able to get another human to enter the Underground. Especially in such a bizarre manner. This only leaves her with one more culprit.

The voice.

"We are not the cause. I follow the change, not cause it."

'You can hear me?'

"I occupy the same space as you."

'But how? And more importantly, WHY?'

"I was drawn to you, for you~ are one of many keys to our salvation."

Chara blinks. Shaking her head, she responds to the voice in her mind.

'To who?! Who's Salvation?'

"The answer will come to you, but only in fractures, not a whole. For I am much like you, destroyed and shattered across the void."

'You're dead.'

A statement, not a question.

"By the one who brought on this change you witness. For HE wishes to use the keys. For HE is an INTERLOPER, and an enigma."

"Time is short, but know that the answers you seek will come in time."

'And why should I believe you. I don't even know what you are? Let alone your motives.'

The voice doesn't answer. Not wanting to wait for a response, Chara turns to the sleeping marine behind her, and the two "aliens" with him. Sparky, the blue beetle creature, is currently on Adrians chest, looking around like a guard dog. The green one on the other hand, Spitball, is curled around Shephard's bicep.

'Thats alot of muscle.'

Shaking her head, Chara gets rid of those thoughts and proceeds to shove them into the deepest corner of her mindscape. Where there hopefully never come back from. Chara stops shaking her head for a second. For a calendar on the wall has caught her attention. Normally it wouldn't warrant any attention from her, but something seems off about it. Walking up to it, she tries to see what's bugging her about this calendar. Nothing seems off. It's still December 12, like it has always been thanks to the Resets. Looking up however shows the problem.

Chara gasp as she sees reads the calendar.

December 12,

2041

Her vision suddenly goes very dark with a tinge of green on the sides, and before she knew it, she's having another "dream."


Another chapter, same questions.

Chara's found out the truth, and soon, Shephard will too. I can't wait to write his reaction to that! I wonder how that could of happen? She also has finally made contact with the voice from chapter 2. Who is it however? What does it want? And how was it killed?

Here's a hint on who that voice is btw. It's not the Geneworm, and it's not an official Half Life character. I put down Half Life: Echos for a reason after all. ;)

Also, please remember that Chara is 18(when she died), and Shephard 19 (age shifted.) So nothing involving minors.

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. See you on the next one!

REVIEWS

Kamerad Hans: Thanks for the encouraging words dear reader! I had this idea in my head for awhile and I couldn't get it out. I also thought that these games would make an interesting pair, but only if I added in some extra flavor. I can't wait to see what you think of the rest of the story and hope it's up to par.