AN: So really the only reason this series isn't the official sequel is that there's no overarching plot, no big finale that I'm building up to. Just a bunch of mini adventures and short story ideas that I'll attempt to keep in chronological order. I'll try and update this once a week and while I do have a bit of a buffer to last for a while, Falling Through the Breach is a bigger priority.
Dipper made his way down to the basement of the Mystery Shack, looking for Grunkle Ford and Mike. It had only been a few days since his and Mabel's second summer in Gravity Falls had started and he was eager to go on an adventure, hoping either his Grunkle or big brother wanted to join him. When he entered the main workshop, Dipper found Mike lying on an exam table, looking like he was sleeping. The face plates around his eye were open with several cables plugged in. The cables lead to a larger computer system where Ford was currently studying what was being displayed. Helpy sat on the desk, watching Ford as he worked.
"What's going on?" Dipper asked in worry as he went over to Ford. "Is Mike alright?"
"He's fine," Ford assured, looking at Dipper with a smile. "I'm just checking up on Mike's coding. The restaurant fire had a greater effect on his animatronic parts than we anticipated, though the damages weren't too serious. Mostly a few melted wires that we could replace pretty much immediately but I wanted to do a deep scan of the actual programming now that we're here with the proper equipment."
"When you did scans at the end of last summer, he hadn't been unconscious," Dipper observed, a little concern still mixed in with his curiosity. "Why is he this time?"
"Those were only surface scans or monitoring the active programs," Ford explained. "We had to make sure none of Molten Freddy's child capturing protocols were still active. Thankfully they were so corrupted beyond the ability to run that even Mike was willing to wait until this contraption was completely safe before we removed those protocols from his system completely. He isn't really aware in this state, basically in a deep dreamless sleep. Mike mentioned once that he might have preferred it to real sleep if it wasn't for the fact we were poking around his mind."
"We're can't like… accidentally erase his mind can we?" Dipper asked in worry, looking at the screens in a new light.
"Oh no, don't worry, Mike's neural interface isn't nearly extensive enough for something like that to occur" Ford replied easily, making Dipper breathe a sigh of relief. "Most of it is just so his mind can control his animatronic limbs as easily as his human one and to let him activate all his abilities with a thought. Even the memory files stored in it are more like backups rather than his actual memories. Deleting or cutting off his connection to the files would make him require more effort to recall those memories, but with enough prompting and reminders, he'd be able to remember everything easily."
"Why was Mike so worried about hidden programs then?" Dipper wondered. "It sounds like his mind isn't that suspectable to his animatronic side."
"That isn't entirely the case and there's a lot of factors to consider," Ford explained, taking a break for the computer to fully face Dipper. "One is the skill of the programmer. Take me for instance: while I have some skills in programming machines and weapons, I have very little knowledge of the sophisticated type of programming that it would take to affect Mike. If I were to try and make a program to influence Mike's behavior, it wouldn't have much effect. It'd be like when you get a random thought that you know is a bad or stupid idea, like wanting to touch a wall with a 'wet paint' sign on it. Those thoughts are easily ignored and are soon forgotten until you come across that same scenario again."
"But if you have someone that actually knows what they're doing things would be a lot different," Ford continued. "Molten Freddy's original programming, if it had been intact, would have been something more like a compulsion or a craving. Mike would still be able to resist it, but it would be much more of a constant struggle and there would have been a far greater danger of him accidentally giving in in a moment of weakness. And that doesn't even account for the supernatural influences mixed into everything."
"But that's if you're trying to influence or overcome Mike's mind and will directly," Ford went on. "In many ways, it would be much easier and far more dangerous to just bypass Mike's will to make something automatic. Take his eye for example it's programmed to automatically switch to 'Night Vision Mode' the moment the light drops to a certain level. And while Mike can turn it off manually once it's on, he can't control the initial switch. It'd be difficult, but not impossible, to apply that same principle to some of his more potentially dangerous abilities."
"So he not only has to worry about losing control, he has to worry about not having it in the first place," Dipper concluded, looking over at Mike. "No wonder he's so paranoid about his animatronic parts… it's a very scary situation to be in…"
"Yes, but it also shows how much trust he has in us," Ford added, turning back to the computer. "He's letting himself be in such a vulnerable state because he believes we won't take advantage of it. And I will do my best to make sure I don't misplace that trust."
As Ford went back to work, Dipper began examining the screens. The ones Ford was working on were mostly programming scripts that Dipper couldn't really understand, but one of the side screens had what looked like file folders. They were labeled with dates and it was easy for Dipper to realize those must be the memory flies Ford had mentioned. Dipper could admit, at least to himself, that he felt the urge to click on a few to learn more about Mike's past. But he wasn't going to give in to that temptation, not when it would completely destroy Mike's trust in him.
Dipper was about to turn away from the screen when one of the files caught his eye. It was different from the others, labeled in binary rather than a regular date. Dipper frowned at it in concern before saying, "Grunkle Ford… I think there's a memory file that isn't Mike's here…"
"Hhhmmm… I think you're right Dipper," Ford observed, studying the file that Dipper had pointed out. "I've never noticed because I've always avoided studying these files out of respect for Mike's privacy. That may have been an error in judgment…"
"What should we do?" Dipper asked.
"We'll need to confirm whether or not it really is a foreign memory," Ford admitted. "That means we'll have to open it. If it is a foreign memory, we'll delete it. If it's one of Mike's, we'll leave it be."
With trepidation, Ford clicked on the file opening up a video clip that began to play automatically
The screen shows two young kids, who shared an uncanny resemblance to Dipper and Mabel except for clearly being a few years younger. They are both sobbing as they are held in the air by wires wrapped around their throats. In the background is a red sky with a rip in reality sprawling across it.
"P-please… let us go…" the girl begs, hiccupping as tears continued to flow. "I-I… don't want to d-die…"
"I… I just want Pop-pop…" the boy sobbed, weakly scratching at the wire. "S-save us… Pop-pop…"
"I'm afraid no one's coming to save you," Molten Freddy's voice laughed. "Now let's get a closer look at you…"
The video focuses on the children's faces as a program is comparing their faces to Dipper and Mabel's, before displaying negative results. It then quickly cycles through all the members of the zodiac before once more showing up as negative.
"Hmmm… it seems you aren't any of my targets…" Molten Freddy commented ideally. "What to do… what to do… I suppose I could kill you anyway and it might even be a mercy compared to what Cipher has in store for you… and it's been so long since I've killed a child…"
The two children just sobbed harder at that and could barely bring themselves to beg to be let go.
"But I've never been a creature of mercy!" Molten Freddy laughed. "So I guess that means you get to live! Congratulations, you'll get to exist forever in eternal agony!"
The children barely had time to process what was going on before the wires flung them in the direction of approaching eye bats. The children are caught in mid-scream by the eye bats' beam, turning to stone, and carried off out of sight. The video then turns away as Molten Freddy continues his search before cutting off completely.
"That… That's the memories from Wierdmageddon…" Dipper whispered in shock as the video closed. "From when Molten Freddy had been in full control…"
"Indeed… and Mike doesn't need to have those memories in his head…" Ford replied firmly, deleting the file immediately. "I'll need to check for any more of Molten Freddy's memories to delete them as well."
"How did Molten Freddy know about the zodiac?" Dipper wondered as he thought over what he had seen. "Most of us didn't know about it until you painted it… how did that robot have a program that seemed to look for its members?"
"I've been such a fool…" Ford whispered in terrible realization. After a moment frozen in shock, Ford began typing furiously, programs opening and closing in rapid succession.
"Grunkle Ford, what is it?" Dipper asked in worry. "What did you figure out?"
"This whole time, we've only focused on the killer animatronic part that had been fused with Mike," Ford explained as he continued typing. "And we had very good reasons for that, but we failed to consider Bill's hand in the whole thing. That demon wouldn't hesitate to twist that kind of deal for his own purposes and he was bound to have added his own hidden programs and protocols into Mike's systems… Found it!"
On the screen came a file folder with the zodiac circle displayed on it. Ford continued to type when The file began to glitch and suddenly all the different screens were filled with Bill's image as the demon's laughter filled the basement.
"What happened!?" Dipper asked if fear.
"I was attempting to delete the program," Ford explained, backing up from the computer as the screens kept glitching. "But I accidentally activated it!"
"WHAT!?"
The glitching screens were suddenly filled with static and a lost connection error message popped up. It was at this point that Ford and Dipper realized that the laughter hadn't been coming from the computer, but from the exam table behind them. The two whipped around to see Mike sitting up, the cables disconnected from his now glowing yellow eye, a wide grin on his face as the laughter continued to pour from his throat. When Mike turned toward them, they saw that while his human eye was open, it was dull and unfocused, indicating that Mike was still asleep while Bill's program puppeted his body.
"Hi, Sixer! Pine Tree!" The Bill program greeted as it stood up. "Did you miss me? Admit it, you missed me!"
"Bill…" Dipper whispered in horror, backing up until he bumped the desk behind him. Helpy, confused and scared about what was going on, hid behind the computers.
"Remember Dipper, it's not really him," Ford reminded, stepping protectively in front of Dipper. "It's just a program the demon left inside Mike."
"Sure, I may not be the real deal, but I'm still more than enough to finally take care of you two," The Bill program smirked as wires emerged from his back. The wires shot forward, forcing Dipper and Ford to dodge. Dipper began scrambling for anything that could be used as a weapon while Ford grabbed something from one of the drawers on the desk. Before either of them could truly do anything, they both got caught by wires, lifted up into the air by their throats.
"Oh! That was too easy!" the Bill program laughed, bringing his captives closer. "You two were so determined to beat me and I was able to take you out in one move! Your just as pathetic as the rest of your meat bag race."
"We did beat you, Bill!" Dipper couldn't help but smirk, even as he struggled to get the wire off him. "We were able to kick the real you out of this dimension! And you're just a lame copy!"
"I doubt that you- curses- the zodiac!" The Bill program growled as it accessed Mike's memories to confirm Dipper's words, the wires getting dangerously tight as the eye flashed red in fury before relaxing. "We always knew that was a risk. No matter… that doesn't change your situation now. And for all your bravado, you are still at the mercy of a "lame copy" as you put it. Now why is that, I wonder?"
"I bet it's because I'm in this former skin suit!" the Bill Program taunted, spreading his arms as if to show off his control over Mike. "You humans and your sentimental bonds! You actually care about Eggs! And that means you hold back even with your fragile life in my grasp! It always makes humans so weak and now you'll pay for your hesitation!"
The wires began tightening slowly, making Dipper claw at his throat as he gasped for air. Ford also struggled to breathe, but instead of prying at the wire, he focused on equipping what he had grabbed from the desk over his hand.
"Hey nerds! We were wondering what you wanted…" Stan's question trailed off as he and Mabel stumbled onto the scene. The Bill program paused in his attack and even loosed the wires a bit as he turned his attention to the newcomers.
"What's going on?" Stan asked, placing himself in front of Mabel who was looking at Mike with fear and confusion.
"Hello, Fez! Shooting Star!" The Bill program greeted them with a wide grin, making them both shiver at hearing his voice. "How nice of you to join us! You can die- Aaaahhh!"
The Bill program was cut off as Ford activated his shock glove and slammed it on the wire holding him. It wasn't set to a very high charge as he didn't want to hurt Mike or himself too much, but it was enough to make the wires spasm and release both himself and Dipper.
"Stan! Restrain him!" Ford ordered with a slight cough. Stan acted instantly, racing forward and wrapping his arms around Mike. The hold pinned down Mike's arms as well as the wires.
"You better do whatever you're going to do quickly Pointdexter!" Stan grunted as the Bill program started to struggle. "I can't hold him for long!"
Ford didn't need the warning and had already been in motion, yanking the pendant off from around his neck. Ford slammed the pendant on the sensor in Mike's shoulder and said, "Activate Emergency Program Dream Bubble! Authorization code: Sixer!"
The Bill program didn't even get a chance to respond before its systems were forced to shut down, making Mike go limp in Stan's arms.
"Can you please explain-" Stan began only to be cut off by Ford.
"Not now!" Ford said, dragging Mike back towards the exam table. "Help me get him hooked up first."
Stan swallowed his questions and got to work helping plug in the cables. As soon as the monitors sprung back to life, Ford once more began typing furiously. After a few tense minutes, Ford slumped back into his chair in relief.
"I did it," Ford sighed, removing his glasses to rub his eyes. "The program is gone."
"What happened?" Mabel asked now that it seemed like the danger had passed.
"Bill left a program dormant in Mike's systems," Ford explained, putting back on his glasses. "When I first tried to delete it, it activated, but it's gone now."
"That's a relief," Stan said, finally relaxing his tense shoulders. "So I think we can all agree not to breathe a word of this to Mike?"
The others immediately voiced their agreement, all of them knowing Mike would feel guilty about what happened even though it wasn't his fault. It was better that he just never found out. With that decided, Ford finished deleting Molten Freddy's memories while Stan and Mabel administered Ford's alien healing cream to Dipper and Ford's necks to help remove the bruising.
"Hey little guy, were you worried about me because the exam seemed to take longer than we thought it would," Mike said to Helpy once he returned to consciousness, the little bear animatronic having immediately hug Mike as soon as the cyborg had woken up. Stretching his arm out a bit, Mike turned to Ford and the others, asking "Did you find something wrong?"
"I found some of Molten Freddy's memories amongst your files," Ford informed, making Mike look at him in shock. "I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of deleting them already."
"I'm glad you did," Mike nodded, shuddering a little at the thought of what those memories probably contained. "I rather not learn more about its kills than I already have."
"Since you nerds took so long, we'll just order out dinner," Stan announced. "So what are we going to get?"
A fiery but friendly debate immediately started amongst the family as they each tried to convince each other what they should get, filling the room with laughter as they all began to make their way upstairs.
AN: Feel free to leave any suggestions or ideas for mini adventures that you want to see the Pines family get up to over the years. I can't guarantee if or when I make use of the suggestions, but you never know what might inspire me!
