One day, when he was a scientist for the Nexus project, Tricky once experimented with souls and found out that people usually do not see those unless someone with the innate power to see and touch small little (usually) heart-shaped objects called S-3LF hearts—or soul charms—touches them before it reaches the other place. Once that happens, the soul charm becomes visible to all and becomes heavier, losing its ability to float to the other place.

Even if the soul reaches the other place, however, there is another way to see them, and that is to have that aforementioned ability. However, they do not take the form of the small soul charms they were when they are tied in the mortal realm, but rather, they form as ghosts, a manifestation of a soul that usually takes the form of the person while they were alive.

He also read that necromancy is possible, and, if anything, he has proof of that. He even did it a few times.

However, there is a side effect once someone is revived if they are at the other place at the time: the revived person gains the ability to see ghosts and untouched soul charms when it is usually an inborn trait. Tricky knows that the person he revived already got that ability a long time ago since he has been killed a lot of times (long story). The time between death and revival is long enough for that person to reach the other place (actually hell, but does it change anything?), resulting in him getting that trait.

…and yet, Tricky didn't have the ability despite dying multiple times. Perhaps it's because his soul charm didn't reach the other place in time before he was revived as a zed, and his insistence that 'clown cannot die,' reviving himself before his soul reaches the other place. If anything, this bothers the little clown.

Because it means he couldn't see his friend again.

While yes, he could do necromancy to his friend, there are two problems. One, Jebediah's body is destroyed beyond repair. Two, even if he did repair it somehow, the improbability drive is broken. While Tricky absorbed some of its powers, the keyword here is some. Necromancy is not one of the powers the clown absorbed.

Trust him, he tried that already.

He could just kill himself, reach the other place, then revive himself and his friend before the drive broke, but at the time, he was too insane to do it himself (plus, he didn't know about his friend's death at the time), and now, it is too late.

And so, he decided to go to his friend's grave in the ol' fashioned way.

Now that he thought of it, he had never been on that place before…

Tricky grabbed his things, including a handmade cross that looked like the cross where the real Jesus was crucified. Jeb loved these stories, but he seemed to have ultimately missed the point, looking back. Tricky doesn't remember anything in the Bible that said to kill others for the greater good.

Speaking of the Bible, he has one at hand to give to the man; just in case someone hasn't left it on his grave yet.

Packing up all of the gifts, Tricky prepared to teleport to Nevada. However, it seems like a certain someone decided to walk in.

"Huh? I didn't know you were a Christian!" Hex said upon seeing the religious objects.

"No, no, my friend is one," Tricky corrected.

"Oh… then, are these mementos?"

"I'm planning to put these on his grave," Tricky answered. "He likes this stuff."

"Oh, so you're going to his grave?"

"Yeah," Tricky nodded. "I'm going to Nevada, and you're going with me too!"

Hearing this, Hex is left with one question.

"Um, Tricks? How are we supposed to get-" Before Hex finished his sentence, Tricky hugged him then teleported them to the place in a blink of an eye.

…oh yeah, don't forget the other things too.

Hex and Tricky had appeared a few miles from a cemetery somewhere in Nevada alongside the handmade cross and the Bible. Why? Because they don't want to accidentally step on a grave. The robot seemed to be shocked.

"…there," Hex finished his sentence as he realized that Tricky answered his question for him.

The place looked as if Hex had a monochrome filter on his vision. The skies and the ground are grey, and he couldn't find a single object that has a different color except for the two of them.

"Ah, Nevada," Tricky said in a nostalgic tone, letting go of the robot. "Home sweet home!"

"I hope they didn't assume that you are truly dead," Hex whispered.

"Well, I doubt it!" Tricky said. "I think they know about my catchphrase already: 'you can't kill clown, the clown kills you!' Hehe," he added in a rather mischievous tone.

And so, they went to the cemetery to find Tricky's friend.

The two are at the cemetery. A war grave, to be more specific. There are… a lot of graves, which is expected since this is located somewhere in Nexus City. The place where everything began and ended.

It seems like Tricky doesn't know where he's going, though. The two of them are wandering aimlessly for what seems to be a long time. Perhaps it's because of the sheer size of the cemetery?

"Um, do you know where your friend's grave is?" Hex asked.

"Um, n-no," Tricky answered in an embarrassed tone.

"…what," Hex is dumbfounded.

"I was, uh, imprisoned when he died," Tricky clarified. "And if there was a funeral, then I, uh, definitely missed it."

"Oh."

…well, how are they going to get there?

"Um, are there such things as a grave map?" Hex asked.

"Last time I checked, no," Tricky answered.

Now that just sucks. It may seem like they have to look all over the place in order to find…

…oh wait, they found it, if Tricky's brightened expression was any indication. It looks like there is someone else who is paying respects to the grave.

After doing whatever they're doing, the person looked at the duo, and they seemed shocked.

The person is wearing mostly black; a black overcoat, black shoes, heck, even black bandanas. There is a splash of red in the form of his goggles and some white in the form of bandages wrapped underneath the bandanas and overcoat.

The person seemed to recognize Tricky. Tricky seemed to recognize the person.

"…Tricky?"

"Hank?"

If the stories are true, Hex can only expect the worst.

"U-Um, how about we-"

"Hank!" Tricky yelled in all of his might, rushing towards the other to… tackle-hug him. "I missed you!" he yelled, streams of tears coming out of his eyes as they slid on the ground.

Let's say that both Hank and Hex are shocked at this outcome.

"Um, er, what?" Understandably, Hank is confused. He looked at the robot as if asking what is his relation to Tricky.

Hex can only respond with a smile that says 'oh shit.' He does not want to cross this man. Ever.

"Oh, you're looking at the robot?" Tricky asked. "That's my new friend Hex!" he explained. "Hex, this is Hank!"

"Um, er, nice to meet you, I guess," Hex said. "I, uh, heard a lot about you! Hehe…" he added, 'sweating' intensely in nervousness.

It seems like Hank understood that the robot does not want to cross the man. Perhaps Tricky's stories might have included these times when he, uh, killed.

"Um, Hank," he introduced rather bluntly after getting up.

…silence.

They do not know how to respond. Hex is facing Nevada's most notorious serial killer. Of course, he doesn't want to say anything out of fear that he might, uh, dismantle him.

On the other hand, Hank doesn't know whether or not this person is trustworthy. Someone being friends with this insane zombie clown is a red flag in of itself, alongside some other factors. What if this robot is the reason Tricky disappeared that day in order for them to cooperate?

"Um, guys?" Tricky asked, waving his hands in front of their eyes. "Are you two ok?"

"W-Well, I was, uh, certainly not expecting to run into Hank J. Wimbleton himself today!" Hex yelled. "We just wanted to pay respects to the dead!"

"How do I know you two aren't planning to kill us all?" Hank yelled.

"Wait, what?" Hex asked in a dumbfounded tone. "Do I look like a… oh," he was about to object when he realized why he should have expected this outcome.

If anything, Hank and Tricky are like rivals. They fight each other all the time once they lock eyes on each other, even though they never actually met when the latter was a smart yet ultimately normal scientist.

For Hank, Tricky is a threat that needs to be removed, in contrast to Tricky who sees his rival as a toy to be played with.

Hank glared at the robot, still waiting for something that can confirm his suspicions.

"Um, er, I can explain!" Hex yelled all of a sudden.

"So, you are summoned by the Auditor to rescue that deranged clown?" Hank recapped. "And you let him stay in your home? That doesn't sound any better, even if that is indeed the truth."

"Yeah, I understand if you don't trust me even after that explanation," Hex pointed out.

"Um, could you move out of the way? We just wanted to talk to Jeb," Tricky said.

Hank complied at the command, stepping back to give the two some room. However, he hasn't left yet, possibly monitoring them just in case they did something suspicious.

And so, they went to the grave while Hank stood back.

There seem to be some gifts from the man with the red goggles in the form of an agrimony plant planted on a flower pot. From what Hex knows of flower language, Hank seems to be thankful for something. But what? Hex doesn't know. Not that he cared, as Hank probably picked a flower by random without knowing the meanings, as people usually do.

Tricky is now on the front of the little grave marker. The zombie clown placed the handmade cross near the marker. There is a little poppy made out of felt in the middle of the cross.

Next, he placed the Bible right next to the cross, double-checking to make sure it is indeed waterproof, fireproof, well, made sure it is protected from the elements.

"Jeb… it's me, your friend," Tricky said in a somber tone. "I… it's been a long time, isn't it?"

"I was gone for a long time, haven't I? I wasn't there when… that happened. Sometimes, I wish I could have been there and… save you from your fate."

"But… I didn't. I hurt you. I hurt… everyone I've met."

Tears start to fall. "And… I left you. Left you defenseless in the harsh world that is this hellhole. And… and…!"

The clown burst into tears as he apologized for everything. Even apologizing for leaving his friend to die even though he couldn't go there thanks to his imprisonment.

Hex tried to pat Tricky on the head in an attempt to comfort him, but he swatted the robot away. He took it as a cue to step back. Which was too bad, Tricky liked headpats.

"If I listened to you, none of this would have happened! I wouldn't go insane, wouldn't let IRIS reverse-engineer the drive, we…" a sniff. "We could have gotten out together!"

"Tricky," Hex called in a calm tone, trying to calm the clown down because he knows that it isn't Tricky's fault that everything went to hell.

Tricky's emotions are getting out of control, that's what's happening. Hex had to calm him down, lest he suffer from a panic attack, or worse, get killed by broken heart syndrome.

…no, he doesn't know if this applies to someone who is already dead, but Hex doesn't want to risk it.

"Tricky!" Hex yelled again. "Your emotions are going overboard again! Please, take a deep breath!"

Tricky tried, but it ultimately failed. The amount of sorrow this little clown felt is too much.

Meanwhile, Hank watched as all of this unfolded. It seems like Hex is watching him, wondering if he is going to do something or let his hatred of the clown stop him from comforting him.

Hank watched as his, uh, rival, if you could call him that, went over what is basically a mental breakdown over someone whom he apparently cared deeply about. However, it could be a trick in order to get him close to the clown and get him killed again.

But Tricky, despite his name, doesn't actually do trickery. However, that could have changed in the past four or five years he had been missing.

Hank wanted to help, which is a thought that even shocked him. Because, well, Tricky killed him multiple times for his own amusement.

But… There is a chance that Tricky changed for the worse, turning even more insane to the point of abandoning his 'fairness.'

The not-ninja is about to just leave the two alone when a certain familiar ghost decides to stop him from leaving.

Jesu- er, Jebediah.

"What are you doing here?" Hank asked in a frustrated tone. He just wanted to leave, goddammit!

"You do know that this is where I was… y'know," Jebediah responded.

"Well, yeah, but, Tricky is there with someone I have never met! There might be a chance that they are planning to kill me again!"

Jebediah can only do a mental facepalm. "Seriously? Hank, do you think these two are planning to kill you? In a graveyard of all places?" Jeb pointed out. "You know that Tricky doesn't do trickery!"

"But he might have changed since those past years!"

Jebediah sighed, a sigh that nobody but Hank heard. "Well, I'll tell you this: I watched for a week, and the robot seemed to be nice," Jebediah said. "He tries his best to help Hof… Tricky, deal with this guilt. But…" he then turned towards where Tricky was crying, with Hex trying to calm him down. It seems to be working, bit by bit.

"He blames himself for everything bad, but I know it isn't his fault," Jeb continued. "Well, he is to blame for some things, but the keyword here is some."

"What are you saying?" Hank asked, still angry. "Are you saying that I should calm that thing down?" he added, pointing at Tricky, who seemed to be in a worse state, trying to gasp for air.

"Yes, you idiot!" Jeb yelled. "He's literally suffering from a panic attack! Are you still that Hank who would betray his allies when they aren't needed anymore? Or are you the Hank who is willing to try and make amends and change for the better? Even if the other person might not forgive you?"

"…!"

"Tricky! Tricky! Can you hear me!?" Hex yelled, trying to get through the clown's ears. "You can just teleport away like you did last time!"

But Tricky didn't. He was too distraught to teleport away, even if he truly wanted to. He couldn't do it, even though he is capable of doing it.

"Oh no, I might have to call the Auditor for this…" Hex muttered. The employer can teleport them away from this place!

Before he could call them, however, Hank quickly stepped in as fast as lightning and touched Tricky's shoulders, as if he is an actual ninja.

"Tricky," the not-ninja called. "I'm here."

It seemed like the clown stopped crying. "H-Hank… you're here."

"Yeah, he's here with you now," Hex said in a soothing tone. "We're here for you, buddy."

It seems like Tricky was about to burst into tears again.

"Guys!" Tricky hugged the two as he cried nonsense.

Meanwhile, only in Hank's eyes, Jebediah spoke to him, "I told you he's trustworthy."

And so, the two decided that Tricky isn't ready for Nevada yet. He's still mentally broken for that stuff.

"Well, it was, uh, nice meeting you, Hank," Hex said. "But, we, uh, need to go now."

"I understand. It seems like you really do care for Tricky's well-being after all," Hank said.

"Hey, don't sweat it! I was created to be a friend!"

"Oh, really?" Hank asked.

"Yep!" Hex nodded. "Hey, you aren't that bad at all either! Calming down your, uh, rival, even with your, um, rivalry," he added, trying to not mention the… torture.

"Hey, don't mention it. A certain ghost told me to help him." Hank then faced the little clown. "He said hi, by the way."

This seemed to make the clown happy while Hex is confused.

"What?" Hex asked, not sure if that statement is metaphorical or not.

"Hank can see ghosts," Tricky explained. "He get that ability when he came to hell," he added.

"Oh."

"Should we go home now? I want to go home," Tricky said.

"Oh, right. You don't want to be there anymore," Hex said. "Well, I guess it's goodbye, huh. Tricky? Do the honors."

"Alright!"

Tricky executed the teleportation process, resulting in the two glowing in white light.

"Oh, before I forget, come visit us at Newgrounds town!" Hex yelled. "It's far away, but I think you'll like it there."

"Yeah! It's very different from Nevada, but you'll get used to it!" Tricky added.

"...I'll consider it," Hank said.

And so, the two disappeared in white light as Hank weakly waved towards the duo.

After that, the light dissolves into nothingness. The little assassin stopped waving after that.

"Y'know, maybe I should go to Newgrounds town next time," Hank mused once the light disappeared. "Perhaps meet an old friend, no weapons this time."

Don't expect me to build on that part about Hank's friend. I already written that fanfic but I won't upload that to this site because I'm too lazy to do so.

By the way, there is an Undertale reference somewhere. It only appears in one sentence, though.