The Truth is out there: Book 1 Of the inside job/gravity falls universe
By
Neztro
chapter 2: First Day
Notes:
Hello everyone, this is based on a piece of fan art where Reagan and adult Dipper hook up so I decided to write a whole story/universe around it… I may bring Mabel into the mix with Brett at a later date but first some ground rules. 1). Reagan is in her early thirties like the show and Dipper is 19, 2). it is going to be a slow burn type fanfic. 3). it's not gonna be perfect but imma try so if there are Any OOC moments just know I am improving as I go along.
Why do I have to break in the rookie? Reagan Thought, her hand on the steering wheel of her skiff.
The rookie in question sat on a tackle box writing in that stupid journal. The thought that he managed to compile all that information under the shadow governments nose made Reagan sick. It didn't help that it was 100% accurate.
The bigwigs probably think I'm incompetent for letting this happen. Reagan knew that the people who ran the world didn't like for their employees to mess up, especially when it came to sensitive info-leaks.
The boat sailed across the sea, This Skiff had been upgraded by Reagan to move quicker on water among other upgrades.
"So Miss Ridley, what are we doing here?" The Rookie asked fanning himself with his hat. His brown hair swaying in the wind.
What, don't you know everything already? Cocky little boy. Reagan gritted her teeth and turned her gaze forward. She looked out to the mist-filled sea and shook her head. It was a calm day… too calm.
"An Atlantean emissary vessel is being sent to meet with us to deliver a tribute of payment in exchange for pearls we have in that tackler you're sitting in." Reagan explained rolling her eyes. How did this kid manage to thwart all our attempts to keep the truth hidden.
The scientist couldn't help but obsess over it. He didn't look like the super agent type and he definitely didn't have anyone in the big wigs otherwise he'd already know all this stuff. Which meant he was either really lucky… or really smart… like her.
Reagan shook her head. No we are not alike. I graduated at the top of my class at MIT when I was thirteen, meanwhile he was screwing around with his sister in gravity falls at that age. He's just a snot-nosed brat.
"so Atlantis is real. Cool." He said scratching more notes in his journal.
Cool, that's your response to finding out the fabled lost civilization is real. Dweeb. A smile crept on Reagan's face. He reminded of her on her first day… except he was more out going. Her first she was a trembling mess, doing the same thing Dipper did. The meeting didn't go well due to a reptoid rebel attack which cost her trainer his life… it wasn't pretty.
The ship came to a stop in front of the mists. "Kid come up here."
The boy hopped from the tackle-box and ran up the stairs to stand next to Reagan.
"When you meet the Atlantean your job is to hand them the pearls. Don't ask them any questions, and don't try to strike up a conversation with them." Reagan instructed pointing out to the horizon. "the Atlantean controlled two thirds of the planet and thus they have a bit of an ego. The fact that they have to deal with humans in order to get the pearls they need makes them sick."
"Why do they need us for pearls. Don't they grow underwater?"
"Yes, but the Atlantean see any form of labor beneath them save for fighting and artistry thus let their slaves do it for them. The thing is they don't have anyway to refine the pearls the way they like them so that is where we come in." Reagan looked down at the boy who was back to writing in his journal. "Are you even listening!?"
"Yes ma'am!" Dipper jumped when she yelled and showed her his journal.
Reagan looked at it and noticed that Dipper had made perfect notes of what she just said. "Well, don't go writing stuff while I'm talking. This is a matter of life and death."
"Hey, how far are we from the meeting place?" Dipper asked, looking out to the vast sea.
"well we just past the border between open waters and the Bermuda triangle so about one hour until we get to the isle of black fire where the Atlantean outpost is." Reagan said all this in a monotone voice. She's done this trip every year for almost two decades.
"Wait Bermuda triangle? You mean the Bermuda triangle!?" he sounded so excited, with a goofy grin on his face that reached ear to ear.
"Uh huh, the same." Reagan replied, holding the steering wheel with a bored expression.
"does that mean the Bermuda triangle belongs to Atlantis?"
"yep, it is smack dab in the middle of their territory. That's why so many planes and boats go missing there. Because if there is one thing the Atlantean hate… it's intruders. That's another reason why I need you to be on your best behavior. If this deal doesn't go through then the Atlantean will rip us a new one."
Dipper gulped at her answer, "got it."
the ship sailed through the misty sea. An eerie feeling of dread pervading the mysterious sea.
"so we were just in Washington D.C. a few hours ago… how did we get into the caribean so fast." Dipper asked looking into the sea. His eyes scanning the vast expanse of the deep blue.
"this boat was modified by yours truly. We could go from one end of the world to the next in the span of one and a half days. It is one of the many marvels that I've made for Cognito Inc." Reagan said, beaming with pride. Even though this kid was annoying, she could see the wonder in his eyes when she explained the workings of her craft and she kinda enjoyed that look in his eye.
"Woah, you are a super-genius or something. Man, my grunkle ford would love you, you're just the type of family member he'd be proud of." Dipper couldn't hide his excitement and Reagan. took it in with genuine surprise. A smile on her face.
I expected some jab at my pride. Or maybe a bit of jealous spite. But praise, excitement, what is this kid angling for? There was no way a guy like him would be nice to her unless he was getting something out of it. He wants my job, that's it.
She shook her head when the thought crossed her mind. You're just being paranoid. That is your father talking.
Rand Ridley was not the best dad but he knew what he was talking about when it came to people. But that doesn't mean that Reagan would let that jeopardize her job. JR likes this kid and I know better then to make him angry.
Reagan knew that Jr's erratic behavior would make him do crazy things to strangers. He loves sending people to black site prisons just for the fun of it.
Besides if this kid ever becomes a threat. Then I know how to make accidents happen. Reagan chuckled to herself when the thought crossed her mind.
Out in the horizon Reagan spotted a small shadow of land. "Land Ho, Dipper grab the flare in the tackle box."
"Yes Ma'am." Dipper dashed to the tackle-box and rooted around then pulled out the flare gun then pointed it upwards.
"Fire!" Reagan ordered and on her command a red flare flew high which turned yellow then green the higher it ascended.
It popped once it passed the fog barely visible to the two humans on the skiff. It was a dazzling display of technicolor light which ended with a firework display of epic proportions.
"Now what?" Dipper asked looking toward the isle.
"Now… we wait." Reagan sighed taking a seat in a lawn chair she brought from home.
Dipper grabbed the tackle-box and sat next to her.
"What do you want?" Reagan groaned, this was the last thing she wanted while waiting for the Atlantean.
"I have a couple questions."
"About what?"
Dipper reached into his tote bag which was his sign-in bonus and pulled out a notebook with a name on the front that read 'mystery shack' and had images of ghosts and other creatures."this is a list of conspiracies that I haven't had time to look into. I figured since I work for cognito now then I should be privy to what is real and what isn't."
"why would I waste my free time playing twenty questions with you?"
"Because if you don't then I tell everyone about the nsync poster I saw In your apartment when you helped me move in to the building next to yours." Dipper smirked at that. "what would your co-workers thinks when they find out the big tough Reagan Ridley is into a boy band."
Reagan growled. I knew I should've burned that poster. "Fine," she sighed, glaring at the boy. "ask your questions you little monster."
"First question are sneople real?" Dipper asked, reading off his list.
"What, in the hell, is a sneople?" Reagan wore a bewildered look. How did this kid manage to evade us… how? He's so dumb.
"Snake people, they control the world government." Dipper explained, he said it like it was the most normal thing ever.
"The politically correct term is reptoid and yes they are real."
"Reptoid…" He sounded out each syllable like he was learning a new word. He then began writing in his notebook. How he managed to keep such an upbeat attitude after discovering the horrifying truth was a little unsettling.
"next question, is the earth really flat, please say no." he said turning to a new pages in his notebook then looking up expectedly.
"No the earth isn't flat."
"Oh thank god."
A smirk crossed Reagan's lips. "It is hollow though."
"No way." Dipper wore a face that made it clear his mind was blown. He wrote more into the notebook.
"Yep, there are mole-men, sea monsters, and the family from land of the lost in there." Reagan said, enjoying this little conversation. It was like training a protege.
"Sea monsters and mole-men are real too? Cool." the way the smile never left his face when faced with the horrible realities of life drew the scientist in.
"Okay, okay, next question, are Moth-men real and is it true they are heralds of disaster?" Dipper asked, finishing a whole page on his notebook and turning to the next.
"Ah Moth-men, the things I could tell you. Well for one, they are less grand then the stories make them out to be. They love light of course and also spicy foods. They are kinda like the typical American bible belt citizen. Complete with their own religion. In fact our HR director is a moth-men… he's kinda eccentric but down to earth too if that is possible."
Dipper's went wide like saucer Plates. Reagan took in the look with a small bit of pride.
Dipper wrote down more notes on in his book and mumbled to himself
A splash in the distance broke Reagan out of her trance as she turned her head toward the source. The Mist Made it hard for her to see anything far away from her skiff.
Dipper took notice and turned his head up. "what is it?"
"I don't know, but I don't like this." Reagan spotted a black silhouette in the water barrel towards them.
"Dipper duck!" Reagan charged the boy and tackled him, evading a tentacle that shot out o the ocean.
"What is that!" Dipper exclaimed.
"No talk, evasive maneuvers!" Reagan. wrapped her arms around Dipper and rolled out of the way of another tentacle attack.
The scientist rolled to edge of the ship then picked herself along with the boy up. Reagan dashed up the stairs and stood at the steering wheel. "Initiating protocol shell fish… battle stations." She yelled as an electric bounced off the ship making the tentacles rescind.
Dipper looked down the water breathing heavily. "what... Was that?" He asked jumping back when the water splashed.
"Kraken, which means one of their pods has sprung up nearby. This is bad." Reagan mumbled to herself as she began pressing buttons on the steering wheel.
"Why is it bad? What's going to happen?"
"It's our job to round up Sea monster pods and take them to the entrance to the hollow earth as part of our agreement with Atlantis. If we missed one and the convoy get hit, it will be an international incident." Reagan pulled a lever and a bright clear light enraptured the ship.
"what is this?"
"Air tight force field. Durable with it's air supply that can last for up to 24 hours." Reagan said, taking the controls as the ship began to descend.
"What are we doing?" The boy was flustered, All the cool and calm was gone. Reagan knew that this kid hadn't experienced the horrors of an active battle before… it'd been years since he had to fight anything of this scale.
"going down and making sure the emmissaries are safe. If you want then I have an escape pod that can send you back to the HQ. This has gone well beyond just a training mission and from now on we are playing for high stakes."
Dipper stood still for but one moment and his eyes hardened. "I'm with you to the end my captain."
he doesn't have to be so corny. Reagan thought, internally smiling. She was experiencing something that was unfamiliar to her… pride in someone not herself.
Normally newbies take the escape pod option, assuming they're lucky enough not to get grabbed by what they're hunting. But this kid almost became a giant beasts meal and still decided to stay with her… it was admirable.
"In that case, go over to the tackle-box and give me the device. It's a tracker." Reagan pointed.
Dipper saluted her and then ran to the box opening it to reveal a pile of pearls and many different gadgets. Dipper pulled it out and looked at it.
"Here you go Reagan." the boy returned to the scientist handing her the device.
Reagan looked it over and shook her head. It seemed to not be up to date. "I'll need to tinker with this. Dipper, take the wheel."
The boy nodded his head and grabbed the wheel. He steered down below and once they were halfway down in the sea he turned the skiff forward steering forward.
Reagan meanwhile opened the panel then used her tool belt from under her coat to begin modifying it. "C'mon, C'mon, help me find that monster pod."
the tracking device beeped out and several dots converged a hundred clicks away from them. "Got it, and looks they have set up just under the isle of black fire, great. Pull us forward Dipper while I ready the weapons system."
The ship pulled forward while Reagan ran to the side of the ship and pressed a hidden button and out of various hidden compartments guns of many different shapes and sizes. "Lock and Load Dipper, we're gonna capture a pod queen."
"Capture? Why are we not gonna kill it?" The boy asked grabbing a small hand gun with a laser sight.
"Killing a Kraken pod queen is impossible without fire that can burn underwater which we no longer have due to budget cuts. Plus all Kraken are psionically linked to their pod queen kinda like a hive mind which means if the queen is moved to the hollow earth then they will follow." Reagan explained looking out to see they finally reached their destination.
The pod seemed to be a giant coral palace big enough to be a mountain. Darting back-and-forth around the palace was several Krakens. Reagan counted how many she'd seen and noticed that there were at least seven which made this an average hive.
"Dipper press the green button, third to the left of the middle." Reagan whispered luckily the Kraken couldn't spot them unless they entered the territory.
"Yes ma'am." Dipper pressed the button and the ship began to become transparent along with it's passengers.
"Cloaking device? You're a genius." Dipper said whispering but still holding that same excitement as they entered the Krakens territory. Dipper and Reagan. breathed easier when the Krakens paid them no mind.
They slowly drifted into the palace and entered at it's bottom level.
"Alright, follow my lead and don't touch anything." Reagan instructed pulling out a pair of underwater suits for her and Dipper. Reagan handed a suit to Dipper then took off her coat and shirt then removed her pants and shoes.
Reagan zips herself up and turns her head to see Dipper with his back to her.
"what are you doing?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm not supposed to look at a woman when she undresses." He replied, in a nervous tones.
Reagan froze when he said that. The other interns had no problem looking at her when she stripped for her underwater suit operations. Dipper was out of this world naive… but it was kinda charming.
Reagan chuckled, "well I'm dressed now, it's your turn." she smiled as Dipper slowly removed his shirt and undid the button on his belt. Reagan turned her back to him when he turned around to reveal he was kinda ripped.
He wasn't overly muscular but he had an athletic frame and toned skin. He was kinda handsome for someone his age.
"Alright, I'm ready." Dipper said, zipping his black underwater suit.
Reagan handed him a neck brace which worked the same way as the force field for the ship save that it covered their whole body.
The two drove the skiff upwards and surfaced in a cavern filled with purple crystals. "Ah, this is why they chose this place. These are pure amethysts which are kinda like candy for Kraken due to their strong psychic attunement properties. Their kinda like batteries for psionic energies."
Dipper's mesmerized gaze over the crystals reaffirmed Reagan's opinions on the boys inexperience.
"This is so amazing. I can't believe how much I'm learning. You're an awesome teacher Miss Ridley." Dipper complimented walking next to her.
Both Reagan and Dipper took a couple steps just under a cavern opening. "Alright Here are the climbing tools. All you have to do is aim upward and shoot then hold on tight."
Reagan gave Dipper a grappling hook gun with a strap to slap on his wrists.
Both of them then pointed their guns upward then shot their grappling hook. They ascended upwards and a moment later they stopped with a loud crunch.
"Press the button on the side then hold on for dear life." Reagan instructed, pressing the button then allowed the pull of the device to shot upwards. She looked down to see Dipper close behind her. Quick study, good at taking instructions, I think I could work with this kid and not be too depressed.
The pair reach the top of the cavern and land on crystalline floors of the same amethysts as the ground. They look out to see they are in a grand room sculpted with depictions of Kraken's sinking ships, eating people, and wrapping their tentacles around people.
"Woah, who built all this?" Dipper looked around and took a couple steps forward.
"They did." Reagan replied pointing to the image of the Kraken. "they manipulate the amethysts psychic nature and sculpt it into what they desire… these must be older Kraken to have this much control over their powers."
"I can't wait to put all this in my journal. I knew taking this job would be a benefit to my research."
"And you do realize that nobody is gonna see your research, right?"
"I mean, I didn't until I started working for Cognito."
"Then why continue doing it if you will never publish it."
"For the love of the knowledge. Also if I keep records of this stuff then I can form strageties against them and thus be able to save life's."
"Hero huh, and why do you wanna save folks?"
Dipper stopped in front of a pair glass doors and without turning his head looked up. "Because it's what a good person would do If they were in my position. If you see someone dying and you can save them then it is your duty to do it… like it or not, I have been given the opportunity to save people."
Reagan didn't sense a bit of pompousness or arrogance. This kid actually believed in saving people because it was the right thing. How could someone so young be so wise. She knew about what he faced in gravity falls everyone in the company knew about it and they really hated that for some reason their memory erasers didn't work on the people in that town. But they all seemed to be able to keep a secret, so they allowed it to work without interference.
The scientist mind reminded itself of when she was young and wanted to do just what Dipper wants to do but she let reality get in the way. She knew that eventually reality would stop him too… she just hoped he takes It better then her.
The two entered a crystalline prison complete with cages suspended by overhead by crystal hooks.
"You there! Get us down." A voice yelled from above the pair. Dipper and Reagan looked up to see a man with pale skin and gills on his neck look down at them with a sneer.
"Woof, that's our dignitary." Reagan. then grabbed her gun and blasted a laser over her cage which came crashing down and then she pressed a button on her stopwatch which made the cage levitate mid-air.
"I daresay I am quite disappointed with your efforts in keeping the sea monsters at bay. Mind explaining why a Kraken pod has found it's way on our sovereigen shore?" He asked in a haughty tone which made Reagan irritable. The scientist took a deep breath and then looked him in the eye. "It seems we have made a mistake your excellence, we will correct it post-haste."
The emissary looked Reagan. up and down with his blue and yellow hetero-chromatic eyes then smirked. "I expect no less from simple land dwellers, see that you do."
Reagan wanted to scream but she knew that if this dickhead got offended then it would make her job harder.
The three made their way to the next part of the complex which thankfully was the queens hibernation chamber and luckily the queen was asleep inside.
Reagan tip toed and took a couple steps toward the queen. She raised her stun gun to the creatures head but then a sneeze broke the silence.
Reagan looked back to see the Atlantean wiping his nose and she shot him daggers.
"Reagan look out!" Dipper running toward her.
Reagan felt a tentacle wrap around her stomach and lift her off the ground. Shooting her up and swinging her too and froth.
Reagan looked down and saw the glowing white eyes of the Kraken queen as she opened her peak to devour her. So this is how I die? Figures.
A blast struck the Kraken queen on her arm as she began to scream bloody murder dropping Reagan. The scientist used her watch to slow her fall and looked down to see Dipper with the stun gun readied.
The Kraken thrashed but the stun gun made it so that her psionics were completely cut off. The queens body came up on the surface of the pool and would stay that way for 36 hours and her drones would leave her believing she was in deep meditation. Long enough for an extraction team.
"well I must say this was a most unconventional rescue mission." The Atlantean blubbered, looking wearily at the corpse of the Kraken queen.
"Once again I'm sorry for this inconvenience your excellence. But I promise it won't happen again."
"See that it doesn't, humph." the Atlantean then turned taking a cocky strut away from Reagan.
Once he was gone Reagan's forced smile turned into a frown. She sighed and took a couple steps next to Dipper.
"That guy's a dick." Dipper said bluntly.
"Yep, but he is one of the more important people who influence our company."
"Are you okay?" concern was clear on the boys tone as he placed his hand on Reagan's shoulders.
Reagan wore a half smile at that. "I am thank you for the assist Dipper."
"I'm sure you would've gotten out of it just fine without my help." The boy blushed and turned his gaze from her.
Reagan smiled and placed her hand behind her back. "you wanna go grab some coffee at base camp and talk about different company secrets."
The boys eyes lit up. "Heck yeah!"
Reagan and Dipper took a long walk back to their skiff while the scientist let her mind wandered.
Naive, overeager, and too cheery for my liking but he's also smart, quick to react, and a fast study… I definitely think this kid could be a good addition to our team.