With the loud clatter of hammers against nails and sheets of wood, it would be easy to confuse the isolated base as a perfectly friendly facility to any normal government branch or corporate institute. Yet to those who would have made the mistake to trek deep into the Idaho and Montana border would have met a fate debatably worse than... well, not death, at least.
But brainwashing and cultish activities were not something everyone could swallow.
Deep in a valley between the mountains of the high Rocky's that spanned far into the north, a base of some sort was under construction. Spanning into the high reaches of the cliff faces, a huge rail-road was being layered down at an alarming rate. People and advanced construction devices worked side by side, hastening the progress of the entire project.
It still wasn't fast enough for the man in the completed building in the center, a watchtower built to overlook the small airport that had been rigged up in the blistering span of two days.
"They need that railroad to get to northern Canada," Graupner Kinley spat as he glared through the window, watching the construction high above without a blink.
"They're working on it," Alvis calmly assured him, "after all, they have you to please. Even if it means dying and then being reconstituted to serve you in life afterwards, they'll do it."
In the highest room of the tower, the room was inhabited by only two; Graupner Kinley, the Warlock himself, and Alvis Leuthar, his second in command and studying apprentice. Graupner paced the large window walls that overlooked the growing base of operations that would soon become his station for power, while Alvis sat on a chair by a lone desk, pouring over more books.
"Enthralled or not," Graupner mumbled, "They're slow."
"They built this tower in merely one day," Alvis looked up with a smile, "To build over five-thousand miles of railroad will take at least a week or two."
Graupner gritted his teeth. "Too slow."
Alvis snickered, leaning back in his chair. "The best things take time." Alvis eyed the younger man by the window. "You're certain going to the north is what you want?" he asked.
"Yes," Graupner grumbled.
"Why, might I ask?" Alvis quietly inquired.
"People can live in deserts. People have made whole freakin' civilizations in deserts. No large group has ever lived in the freezing tundra," Graupner smirked. "Only the dead prosper in the cold. Like me," he grinned.
Alvis found the reflection of that linger smile on his 'master' too eerie. Whether or not the truth was that Graupner was undead or not, the man was creepy. But he knew what he could say to distract the young Warlock. Alvis had news from his latest sojourn in the Ritual. "This isn't, then, a bad time to inform you of our proposition again being ignored?" he asked tentatively.
Graupner snarled and spun in his place. "The Demon refused!? Again!?" Alvis sighed, a practiced performance to show off his 'impatience', and let Graupner feel like he was out of good ideas. The Warlock swore loudly, grabbing his own chair, and throwing it at the doors of the elevator that lead down to lower floors. The echoing bang could have been heard at the ground floor. "This creature is as impertinent, as it is annoying!"
"It was a risk," Alvis sniffed his nose, "But we can still profit off a union with a Demon like mister Bill Cipher. He and I made quite the discussion in the ritual."
"Don't call him that," Graupner pointed to Alvis, who bowed his head, "he doesn't get your approval until I say so."
"Of course," Alvis smiled.
Graupner turned back to the window, his natural eye and scarred eye-socket with the glowing, floating stone reflected back at him. The man massaged his throat idly, seeming less annoyed with it than he had before. "Unlimited power, infinite knowledge, and he talks about socks made of sinew," Graupner grumbled, "and drinking from glasses made of children's skulls."
"Charmer, really," Alvis rolled his eyes. When Graupner glared at him, he added, "It was a joke, I assure you."
"Right," Graupner huffed, and stared at the mountain. Then he held his eye, and gasped. Alvis stood up hastily. He would have bookmarked the page, but this was too important. He had to act like he cared about this man, or else the trust he had barely gained would be lost.
"Are you well?" he asked with his sickeningly worried voice.
Graupner lifted his face, looking more pale than he had before. "Just... tired," he admitted, and lifted himself to his straightest, and glanced behind to Alvis. The trained mind of a schmoozer like Alvis Leuthar knew it was best to expose someone to this kind of lie just a tad longer than expected. He waited just a moment as Graupner stared at him, and then he sat back down.
"You aught to rest," Alvis suggested, clearing his throat.
"I can't sleep," Graupner mumbled, groaning as he really rubbed at the base of his neck. "I gave up that to make sure I wouldn't die."
"A bold choice," Alvis nodded.
Graupner stomped over from the windows, peering down at this second and command. "Do you really think working with these demons is a good idea?" Alvis slowly nodded. "Why?" Graupner hastily added.
Alvis fought away a worried crease in his brow. He hadn't expected Graupner to look into such things yet, and he had expected such a question. Suddenly? No. Yet, as with his many years of lying, Alvis was ready.
"Books have been lost. Ideas forgotten. Notes crossed out that could have been answers. Demons are ancient, old, and wizened," Alvis explained. "With their answers to our questions, the knowledge of magic we have could... expand."
"Yes," Graupner snarled, "But Cipher refuses to take any other offers!"
"He truly wants a body," Alvis nodded, "Willing to hold off on a deal until we can get him what he wants."
"I won't give him anything like that," Graupner growled, "Not while he mocks me in your little sessions."
"He jests, I assure you," Alvis shrugged.
"I don't care," Graupner warned.
"Then," Alvis licked his lips, his opportunity arisen, "Maybe instead of the one demon, we could..." he slowed his words, teetering off in faux thought. If Graupner asked for more, he had already won. Graupner would be interested in whatever he said next, regardless what it was.
Graupner stared at his apprentice, his one eye focusing. "We could what?" he insisted.
Alvis smiled. "We could try... another?"
"San Antonio!" A loud, proud lady's voice echoed into the parking lot next to a motel, "A city of canals to swim in, murals to make funny faces at, and an old fort that did something like a hundred years agon or whatever!"
Distressed with inaccuracies galore, this young lady's brother grumbled. "That would be the Alamo," Dipper Pines answered for his sister as they climbed out of the car together. "And it was more than-"
"Who cares!" Mabel cried out, "This is Texas! Everything is big here! Big!" she shouted. Then she leaned across the hood of the car, and whispered to Dipper dangerously, "Bigger, Dipper," she winked.
"Ew, Mabel," he scolded her, and shoved her face away.
"The steaks," she continued, stepping past Soos and Waddles as they climbed out of their car, "The people," she said as she passed by Wendy as she scooted off Mabel's motorcycle, "And best of all," she turned around, her knuckles on her hips, "The personality! I'm in the state made for me!"
"It does predate you, just a little," Soos mentioned, "But I'm certain it welcomes you as a humble addition to its family."
"Humble! Hah!" Mabel barked, "the only thing humble here is that flag," she turned and pointed to an American flag suspended on a small visitor shop. "C'mon flag! You're in texas! Be louder! Prouder! More fireworks!"
"Mabel," Dipper groaned, "I know we were in a car for nearly twenty hours, but please try to stay sane. You'll draw attention from evil people... or something. Like the Chupacabra, or something."
She spun to him, her eyes shining with the unwillingness to do any such thing as relax. "I was cooped up in a sitting position for eighteen of those hours," She whined," I need a chance to be eccentric, or I'll die, Dipper. Besides, nothing is so terrible to only drink blood from goats. Oh," Mabel moaned and looked at Waddles, "But little goats, buddy. Just imagine."
The pig oinked.
"On that note," Wendy said, clearing her hair of knots with a brief toss, "I'm going to find a new jacket in that shop, hopefully. You guys get a room so you can rest?"
"Sure," Dipper shrugged.
"Dudes, I could use some rest," Soos said before yawning. Waddles stepped up next to him, prodding his nose against Soos's leg with a snort. "Sorry buddy, I was keeping mostly two eyes on the road. Can't play I spy: pig edition right now."
Mabel brimmed at such a comment. "Soos, you are the perfect caretaker for my pig," she assured him.
Starting her trek away, Wendy waved to the boys, "Okay. Go get a room. I'll be in the shop. Find me when you're done napping okay?"
"Sure thing," Dipper smiled and nodded to her, and Wendy spun towards the shop, an eager bounce in her step. "Well Soos, let's keep our end of the bargain and find a place so we can rest our mortal minds."
"Guys," Mabel laughed, "We only drove for twenty hours straight. That's not that bad."
"You didn't drive any of it," Dipper grumbled.
"Because I was too busy playing 'I spy: Shrub edition' with you," she said, "And let me tell you Soos, I naaaailed it," she bragged happily.
"Nice one, hambone," Soos said, trying to raise his arm for a high-five. Yet his arm trembled and shook. "Uh... nuugh... okay, I'm tired too."
"Pfft, fine," Mabel rolled her eyes, "Waddles and I will get you keys and then you can go upstairs and nap or whatever boring thing you nerds want to do. Okay?" she asked.
"Yes please," Dipper nodded.
"Can I also get a lemonade, waiter?" Soos asked.
Mabel giggled and skipped away, bounding in her step towards a front desk room. Passing into an air-conditioned room in the late afternoon, Mabel approached the desk. It was a dusty, glass-walled room, and the man at the desk didn't notice her.
"Hi!" she announced herself cheerfully as she came up to the desk. "I want the best possible room of this motel! With candy, please!"
The man, somewhere in his middle years, glanced to her, dead in his eyes. "That'll be the same as all the other rooms," he informed her.
"Oh. But the one we're getting has candy inside, right?" she asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
"...No," he said, and handed her a key, "That'll be fifty a night."
"Oh c'mon," she edged closer, leaning on the desk, "Smile! It's a sunny day!"
"It's always sunny in Texas, or its tornados," he grumbled.
"Oh. Uh... Smile! There's a pig in the room!" she said, and lifted Waddles, who oinked as he was revealed.
"There's a goat petting zoo across the highway. Don't care."
Mabel squinted at him. "Smile because-"
"Just take the keys and get out already," he demanded.
"Fine," Mabel huffed, snatching the keys from his hand with a whip of her hand. "I heard everything bigger in Texas. I guess you fit in. 'Cus they also need bigger jerks like you!" she blew a raspberry at him and spun about, storming out with Waddles.
The man on the counter had tears in his eyes, and quietly moaned to the ceiling. "I'm just having the worst day!" he cried as Mabel and Waddles left the front desk and the grumpy attendant. Mabel's path led her quickly to the weary-eyed brother and friend. Before them, she held out the key.
Mabel, as Dipper took the key, told them, "Room two-fourteen. And we should leave a mean review about the staff before we go."
"Jerks?" Dipper asked. Mabel nodded firmly and Dipper yawned. "Later, sure. I'm getting some rest. Soos?" he asked.
"Yeah dawg, I'm in," Soos agreed.
Mabel, restored to her happiness, sighed. "Well, Waddles and I will be Wendy in the shop of Texas Shopping! Shopping for Texas stuff!" She told them with a growing excitement. Dipper stalled and turned back to her. In her hands, he dropped the keys to the car. "Are you gifting me your car as well? Dipper, I don't think Waddles has a street-legal driving license yet."
"It's so you can go get our stuff later?" Dipper smirked, and tossed to her his vest, "And drop that in the car as well.
She pouted. "Whatever, lazy bums." Mabel watched them go and finally turned and waltzed away. To the car she hopped, trailed by the complacent pink pig. At the curb she stalled, unlocked the car, and tossed Dipper's things inside.
Only then did she hear a small buzzing. A vibration.
"Oh!" she gasped, and scrambled for the vest. "Guys!" she called out, turning to look where Dipper and Soos had been. They were already gone, probably to the second floor and inside. "Dang it," she grumbled, and wrenched out the phone. The number was unmarked, but she knew exactly who it was. "Oh Waddles," she turned to the pig as the phone rang, "Should I? I mean," she looked to the phone in her hand, "This is Dipper's, and we're supposed to sort of be on this as a team."
Waddles tilted his head and stared at her, his black dots for eyes subduing her worry.
"But this is the greatest looking man of all time with voice like soft feathers we're talking about... and there's no one here to interrupt my chat with him," she said, glancing around. Waddles oinked. Mabel giggled. "Okay, maybe you could if you wanted," she said. She held it before her, and smiled. To her pig, she said, "But seriously, be cool, okay Waddles? This is Mabel's time to shine!"
The Pig squeezed underneath Dipper's car, finding shade on the parking lot pavement. As he did, Mabel lifted the phone and answered it. Before she could even speak a word, Zander's voice echoed out.
"Dipper, you had me worried. You don't usually keep me waiting like that," the voice of Zander Maximillion called through. All Mabel could do is sigh, and stare at the device. "Ahem. Dipper?" the voice asked.
"Oh!" Mabel squeaked and held the phone closer, "Sorry! Just silly 'ol Mabel here! Howdy!" she replied.
"Mabel?" Zander asked, "What's going on? Is Dipper okay? After his furious call in Arizona, I figured the drive would have been okay."
"He's grouchy now, but just tired. Everyone's fine. Dipper's busy napping or something. Waddles and I are on watch and souvenir duty!" Mabel explained, "We gotta get the biggest thing that's small, just so I can slap Graupner around with it!"
The pause on the phone was long. Mabel blinked, waiting for a reply. Maybe, for once, she had over-stepped her boundaries for whimsy. Zander was trying to save the world from a tidal-wave of magic, and here she was talking about silly stuff. She felt a bubbling, sickening feeling in her stomach.
The she heard it. Laughter. Loud, happy laughter.
"Sorry!" Zander called through the phone, "I had to run into a closet so I wouldn't distract the rest of the guys!" he managed to explain before laughing more.
"Whaaat?" Mabel smiled, a wide, beaming grin that split her face ear to ear. "I'm not funny."
"The idea that the group of four kids going around the country to save the world, and they find time to chill and get souvenirs!" he cackled. "That's just awesome."
"Are... you making fun of us?" she asked cautiously.
"Not at all," he said as she could sense the calming in his voice. "You just make me laugh, Mabel."
Red hot pokers could have been stabbing at her cheeks as they went rose red. "Well, I, uh, yeaaah," she bumbled out. "Gotta keep everyone sane, right?"
"I suppose so," Zander agreed. He took a deep breath, and his voice was level again. "Mabel, listen up, okay?"
"Listening super-up," Mabel told him, leaning forward to the phone.
"The next Starkissed is in your area. The problem is, unlike the last two, it's mobile."
"Like a phone?" she asked.
"Even more than a phone," Zander compounded eagerly.
Mabel gasped, "Monstrous!"
"I've seen people with these before. Taking cars or planes, sure they're fast and what not, but they follow flight paths or streets, or heck, even trains. Whatever has this one isn't following anything traceable or predictable. Over hills and across creeks-"
"And far away?" Mabel asked.
"Like super-far away," Zander continued, "This thing is agile. I have no idea what's around. Wildlife in Texas can be pretty bad, and I'd worry about what would happen to a wild boar if it swallowed a Starkissed by accident."
"Maybe they'd turn into a clone of Waddles?" Mabel suggested.
The voice on the phone hummed. "Possibly," Zander said. "Mabel, always be careful, okay? With something stationary, it's usually a job of convincing someone to part with it. Now you may need to track whatever it is down, and grab it for yourself."
"The hunt is on," Mabel growled.
Zander laughed again. "And I imagine you'll make a great huntress." Mabel but her lip, resisting the urge to squeal. Several moments she realized the pause on the phone had lingered. She waited only a moment more, and found his voice was uncertain. "Everything is... okay with everybody, right?" Zander asked.
"Why?" Mabel asked.
"I don't... I think I'm just overly-worrying. I don't have any real reason to think you guys are in trouble... just intuition," Zander sighed on the other side, "But I'll let you go. I'm sure you have better things to do."
"Other than you? No way!" Mabel laughed. She then gasped. The wording to her response had been... waaay too much. "I-I mean, 'other than listening to you'! Yeah! Nothing weird!"
"Okay Mabel," Zander said with a few more chuckles, "Good luck. You know the drill. Grab stone. Call when done. Go to the next area. Save the world."
"Can do!" Mabel saluted. "Seeya!"
The phone clicked off as the connection was lost. She sighed, and let the phone fall onto Dipper's vest inside the car, and she fell to her rear on the parking lot. She groaned, rubbing her cheeks with displeasure.
"I should have asked if he was with my parents," Mabel told Waddles, who oinked. "Or maybe who he was with? I mean, who actually cares if he's laughing around," Mabel asked Waddles, who blinked. "I dunno. I just wish I could take his voice and turn it into pillows. Soft, feathery pillows. Then I could fall into them forever and never get up again."
She sighed, holding her shoulders tightly. His voice warmed her, bringing her a comfort that she had not felt in a very long time. Or at least, a comfort she was sure she hadn't felt in a long while. Or... ever? It was hard to tell sometimes. Mabel grunted and pushed herself straight, taking the keys and closing the door.
"So, to Wendy, or the Dipper and Soos first? Got to tell everybody what Zander said," Mabel asked the pig. No reply came from the pig, as expected. Mabel took it as an opportunity to do as she pleased. "To Wendy, my companion!" she said to Waddles. The Pig oinked, and climbed out from under the car.
A smaller square slab of a building was herald to a swathe of Texas ordained materials on the inside. "C'mon buddy," she encouraged the pig, holding the door open as she and Waddles stepped inside.
A pudgy man by the counter cheered to her, "Welcome to Buddy's Bastion! One-stop need for all things southern and Texan!" Mabel shuddered at man, only too aware of the name 'Bud' in her past, and the kinds of people who seemed to gravitate towards it. He, however, noticed her shudder. "What?" he asked, leaning forward, "Don't like Texas? The South!?"
"I'm here to shop with my friend," Mabel said to him, leaving his counter in a hurry for the red-topped teenager in the back of the shop. "Wendy!" Mabel waved.
"Hey man," Wendy nodded to her, currently pushing aside a large wrack of similarly designed leather jackets, "Help me pick something out, why don't you?"
"Sure!" Mabel nodded, reaching in and quickly assessing various jackets at will. "What size are you?"
"Two," Wendy sighed.
Mabel gasped. "Wait, whaaat?" as she eyed Wendy's torso.
Wendy shrugged. "I'd say I was trying to eat more to fill out, like my dad wanted," she chuckled, "But you know me. Can't eat. At least I'm not shrinking either."
"Wait a second," Mabel stepped up to the red head, staring her intently in the face. Wendy stared back, a curious smirk about her as Mabel slowly leveled a hand on her forehead, and slowly moved it forward. To her shock, it tapped the bridge of Wendy's nose. "Man. I'm almost as tall as you," Mabel said in awe. The green orbs of Wendy's eyes intensified. "But that's crazy! That probably means Dipper is as tall as you now! Or almost. I dunno."
Wendy rolled her eyes. "Help me pick something out, dork."
"Yes ma'am!" Mabel said, turning back to the rack. "Just us girls, shopping like normal people. Wow!" she lifted a jacket up, "Price tags! So normal!"
"Mabel, since when did you start getting into 'normal' stuff?" Wendy asked, checking her with cautious eyes.
"Eh, since we didn't have a choice to escape from the crazy, I think," Mabel gave her answer some thought, "I think right after my mom and dad got involved, actually. Yeah. Cus now I can't even drive home and pretend like it was all a wicked crazy dream. That's about right," Mabel summarized with a bite at the end, some of the buried fear and pain in her mind surfacing like a dreaded beast.
"Tell me about it," Wendy mumbled, pass jacket after jacket, her eyes unfocused.
"Nah," Mabel shook her head, "That's boring, and sad. We're moving away from that! Fixing the world from not drowning in crazy magic!" Mabel smiled to Wendy.
"Guess so," Wendy said, "I mean, it's still hard. Like, thinking that there's no more... town still," she said, looking Mabel straight in the eyes. "Nothing. Not even wreckage."
Mabel turned away; her eyes focused back onto the line of clothes before her. That image of a town being erased, torn from the drawing paper of reality like a giant eraser being dragged across... it ate at her. She felt that moment, nearly a week ago; the lifting of gravity as the tear of realty was feet behind her and Dipper.
"Still," Wendy smirked and shook her head, "We have each other, man."
"Yeah! We sure do!" Mabel gave a little hop, "And what else is going to keep us winning the day, each time!? Each other!" she declared.
"Yeah man, preach it!" Wendy grinned.
"When things get rough, the four of us get tighter!" Mabel swore by, shooting a hand above her head.
"Hallelujah!" Wendy laughed.
"If things get tough, we just get tighter!" Mabel proclaimed.
"Sing it, sister!"
"No secrets or lies between us all!" Mabel laughed.
"Hah," Wendy laughed too, and turned back to the clothes rack, her face buried between two jackets.
"Just imagine. Dipper is finally confident enough to use his skills alongside his super-awesome sister, and I can to begin to finally understand the crazy ideas he has!" Mabel added, more to her own acknowledgement than anything else. "Man, thank goodness we're all so trusting in one another." Wendy had yet to pop out yet, and slowly withdrew her face from the rack, perfectly neutral. "Which reminds me," Mabel said, "I need to go chat with Dipper about Zander. He called.
"Yeah," Wendy nodded, "You sure do." Wendy lifted a jacket up, her eyes unfocused. "Ugh," she groaned, "Can these jackets not have a confederate flag stitched onto them?"
"What? You don't like the southern flag?" Mabel asked.
"No," Wendy rolled her eyes, "Of course not. The only thing that gross-old-thing stands for is how stubborn the south is. They lost to the north, to us!" Wendy said, "And they're still waving that flag around with pride."
"HEY!" From the front of the shop, the man waved his hand through the air. "You won't remove one, single, flag from those jackets, ya hear?!"
"What?!" Wendy snapped, "Why not? If I buy it, I can do whatever the heck I want with it!"
"Those flags are a symbol of unity against a greater foe! The strength to rebel and stand up for what you believe in!" the man at the front of the shop barked.
"Yeah! Even if what you believed was wrong," Mabel shrugged, "Like slavery."
"Look man," Wendy groaned, "I don't care about your weird obsession with the flag, but I'm going to buy it and do what I want to it."
"Fine. The price for your jackets is doubled," the man crossed his arms, standing straight.
"Fine by us," Mabel nodded.
The shop-owned blinked. "Oh- uh- I meant to say triple the price!"
"Still not stopping me," Wendy glared.
"...quadruple?" the man squeaked.
"If I pay you five times the price on this jacket here," Wendy lifted the tag, "You'll shut up and leave me alone?"
"I certainly will," the shopkeeper nodded his head sleepily, his eyes went misty at the phrase 'five times'.
Not two minutes later, Wendy strolled out with a new leather jacket, a square patch on the arm a shade lighter than the rest of the brown leather. A flag of the confederacy was distinctly missing. Mabel left with two bags filled to the brim with as many silly and 'wonderful' merchandise should could find in her quick survey.
"Gotta say," Wendy grinned, "Having that card of Zander's is handy."
"Yup!" Mabel grinned, "Zander is quite the-" the grip on her bags was dropped. She had forgotten. "Shoot!" she barked and snapped her fingers.
"Mabel?" Wendy asked, adjusting her jacket.
"I forgot to tell Dipper!" She exclaimed, starting to pick up her new bags.
"Tell him what?" Wendy worriedly asked.
"That-"
A loud bleat from the distance caught her ear. Waddles, next to her spun about, his eyes widening as far as their beady little selves could. Mabel spun about as well, facing across the now quiet highway.
"I know that sound," Mabel blinked. "Waddles knows that sound..."
"Sounds like goats, Mabel," Wendy shrugged. "What were you saying?" Wendy tried asking.
"Not just any goats, Wendy," Mabel declared.
The loud bleat came again, and Mabel squealed with Waddles. "PYGMY GOATS!" she shouted, and without a second glance to the bags at her feet, she bolted across the highway without a second thought, Waddles hot on her trail.
"Mabel! Wait!" Wendy called, running after the brunette.
The vacant highway proved no threat to the J-walking girl and her pig as they darted across the asphalt. A cluster of low-hanging trees provided shade for the racing three, as Wendy trailed behind. Underneath the shade from the warm sun rays, Mabel came to a stop just at the edge of a fence only up to her shoulders. She clutched at the edge, a simple wire mesh, while Waddles poked his nose against the side. Behind the fence in a large, grassy area, were no less than two dozen pygmy goats wandering about.
"Awww, look-et-em Waddles," Mable cooed as Wendy jogged up behind her. "Just bounding around, sniffing the aiiir," she cooed.
"Dang Mabel," Wendy said, walking next to her an leaning on a post for the fences, "I thought it was just pigs for you."
"Nothing can replace the love for pigs I have in my heart," Mabel declared, "but I love all small, adorable, animals. Pygmy goats are small, and adorable, and animals. Check, check, and check."
A woman inside the pen spotted them. Thick dark hair and glasses on her face, she gulped as Mabel and Wendy leaned on the fences. "Hey," she called over, holding a bucker of feed in her arms, to which the goats began to swarm around her, "The zoo is closed."
"Aww, but they need my love," Mabel whined.
Wendy frowned at the woman. After a glance to the beautiful day around her, Wendy asked, "It's closed? Really? On a day like this?"
The spectacles wearing woman nodded tersely. "Yes. Go tell your friends that I'm not interested in helping their investigation. I just want to keep my goats safe," she said, waving her hand at them in attempts to shoo them away.
"Your goats aren't safe?!" Mabel gasped, "Who do I need to bury six feet under?"
"Mabel," Wendy chuckled.
"You don't mess with cute, innocent animals," Mabel proclaimed, "Without the Mabes getting on your case."
A new, but somewhat familiar voice called out from the front of the building where guests could enter the Zoo. "That's good, because we could really use your help."
Mabel leaned away from the fence as Wendy turned and faced the new speaker. The woman inside rolled her eyes and continued to fuss about with the goats, ignoring the speakers outside. A man, flanked by four shadows, stepped out.
Wendy blinked. "Wait, you guys?"
"The NPPP!" Mabel gasped.
True to her word, the man walking out, removing sunglasses from his face and wearing a simple cloth jacket with a plaid shirt, was none other than Geoffry, the ring-leader of the five-man band of the North Pacific Paranormal People. He nodded at them as the other four stepped out, all removed sunglasses in unison. Only one, Ben, poked his eye removing the glasses.
"What are you guys doing in Texas?" Wendy asked.
Mabel, too, was a tad confused. "Yeah. Unless my understanding of geographic nomenclature is outdated, the north pacific is way that way," Mabel said, tossing her finger over her shoulder to the generalized 'north' direction.
The woman in the fences shouted out, "They think they can stop it!"
"Stop what?" Mabel asked, and then looking to the five men before her, "Stop who?"
Geoffrey sighed and crossed his arms. "What else could we be in the area for? A monster in this region with the kind of reputation that we have to solve it for ourselves."
Mabel gasped. "Leprechauns!"
Luke stared at her, and shook his head. "No. The Chupacabra."
"Ohh," Mabel nodded. Then she snorted. "That's not real."
He stared at her. "Uh. Yes, it is."
"Nuh uh," Mabel teased.
"Yuh-huh," Geoffrey replied.
"Stop," Wendy stepped before them, now standing in between Mabel and the other ring-leader. "We have questions. You have questions... probably," Wendy said, glancing at the rest of the crew, "But rather than talking to us, we should get everyone together. Where's the rest of the show crew?" she asked.
The four behind Geoffrey had their heads drop, and the head of the N.P.P.P. shook his head. "They're all... gone."
"They died?!" Mabel gasped.
Adam, the looker of the NPPP, sighed. "Only in our hearts," he told them.
Leaning on the fence, Luke, the blond know-it-all explained, "They bailed on us."
Wendy turned to Mabel, her brows creased. "Group meeting?" she asked.
Mabel slowly withdrew her sunglasses, flicked the pink arms out, and placed them on her face. With large bubbly hearts before her eyes, Mabel solemnly nodded and said, "Round them up."
Roping the five men to the motel, which as it had turned out was the same place they were staying at, was a quick procedure. Dipper and Soos were half-way through a cat nap, and reacted in shock and annoyance with the loud arrival of the gang, Wendy, and Soos.
"Fine," Dipper grumbled, rubbing his eyes as he paced through the room, "Start at the beginning."
"Take it away, compadres," Mabel indicated from her seat on the bed to the five.
Adam spoke first, adjusting himself as he and the five took the only other bed in the room. "We were out with the film crew. Texas was going to be our next big gig. Justin wanted us to film some shoots for the actual show opening, not just the pilot episode. He even had the poltergeist with him setting up a haunting in Georgia."
"The same day of the show," Geoffrey said, "Our first episode, everything went wrong."
"How dudes? You guys had a heck of an advertisement," Soos admitted.
"We were in it!" Mabel cheered.
Among the quieter of the five men, Ben, grumbled. Picking at the bridge of his glasses, he sadly admitted, , "Yeah, but when the pilot aired, something really bad happened."
Marcus, who had his arms crossed, fell back into the bed with a loud flop. "Our show was instantly cancelled."
"Huh?" the twins mimed each other.
"How? Why?" Wendy asked.
"Because," Geoffrey growled, "Gravity Falls apparently doesn't exist?!" he asked. "On the episode itself, people were trying to find out how to get to the Mystery Manor, and Gravity Falls. Internet, call-ins, you name it. They wanted to see your Grunkle Stan's place."
"Only," Ben mumbled, "No source indicated that the town had ever even been real."
"Our show," Geoffrey shook his head, "Was instantly destroyed as a 'mockumentary'. The 'Watch People go to Places' channel already had one about a troll doll who comes to life and eat diner food for a living. So, we got our show cancelled as a fake!" he shouted.
Repressing a grin, Dipper noted, "Ironic," Dipper said, "But still, it wasn't! The people on the crew could vouch for-"
"They follow the money," Marcus groaned exasperatedly, "And the money said that we were now fakes. So not only did we lose our camera crews, but our reputation is down the drain."
"Not to mention," Luke added, "We're, uh, kind of stuck. We don't have enough gas money to drive back to state."
Dipper paused, looking to the five. "You said that people couldn't find any documentation of Gravity Falls?" The five nodded. "But you remember it!" he pointed out.
"Well, duh," Adam chuckled, "It's a real place."
"Anyone who's been there could tell you that," Geoffrey shrugged, "Justin Oppen-jerk just refuses to acknowledge it because he knows he risks losing his job."
Dipper smiled, looking to his friends and Sister. Mabel couldn't help but be infected with his grin. She knew exactly what was exciting him. They had found more who knew. They weren't alone. There really were others who remembered Gravity Falls; not just flukes here or there for some odd reason. People who had only visited the town recalled it, defending its prior existence.
"So," Geoffrey continued, "We're now here. The last sightings of the Chupacabra were in the area. So, we're going to prove it exists, and get our credit back, so another television company can hire us and make a new show."
"Really?" Wendy gasped in exasperation, "That's the plan? You want to discover a species so you can get back on television?"
"Yes?" Adam said.
"What else do you do with paranormal prowess?" Luke asked.
Soos nodded. "He's got a point."
"Please," Geoffrey sighed, approaching Dipper, "You guys made us what we are. We got as far as we did because you guys, and the weird world that just follows you around."
Dipper mumbled, "It won't just be following us anymore soon."
"Huh?" Geoffrey asked. Dipper merely looked to him. "Uh... whatever," Geoffrey shook his head, "But the point being – we want your help."
Dipper leaned closer to him, his eyes sparkling in a dark interest, "To track down the Chupacabra?"
"Sounds radical," Mabel snickered.
Soos pointed out, "And dangerous."
"Both are true," Dipper said aloud, "Look guys," he said to the NPPP, "I would totally be willing to help you look for this thing. It is another object on my bucket list since I got to see the inside of area 51.
"You what?" Ben gasped.
"But right now, and this is totally true," Dipper pointed to the four on the bed, "We're on a super-important mission to save the world. Couldn't make it up."
"But we... could use your help?" Geoffrey asked, his voice growing soft.
"Sorry guys," Dipper shrugged, "We can't take a stop. We're here for our own reason."
"Which is?" Adam asked.
"Saving the world?" Wendy reminded him.
Mabel pouted. The NPPP were an odd bunch, and they came off originally as a couple of jerks who just wanted to prove their worth. While that goal certainly seemed their continuing drive, their progress as legitimate investigators was good. Now they needed their help, and Mabel felt the pit in her stomach grow as she looked at the defeated faces. She stood up, and pulled Dipper away, towards the bathrooms.
"You know," Mabel shrugged, "Maybe we could help them?"
Dipper eyed his sister, and he warned her, "Mabel."
"I know, I know," she rolled her eyes, "We're up against some serious jerk-face and his mercenaries, right. But, maybe having a few favors here or there isn't a bad thing?"
Dipper looked over his shoulder, to the expectant and waiting Geoffrey. He turned back to Mabel, shaking his head. "They're already down and out. What could they offer us?"
"...Moral support?" Mabel suggested tryingly.
"Mabel-"
"I know, I know!" she barked.
"You know our mission," Dipper stated, "And Zander would be furious if we-"
Mabel jumped straight up, gasping. "Shoot!" she yelled.
"What?" Dipper asked, his eyes wide.
"I forgot to tell you!" Mabel laughed, "While I put your phone and vest away, Zander called!"
His stare, already critical, went harsh. "Really?" Dipper glared at her. "Only until right now?"
Ignoring his suspicious look, Mabel continued. "He said that the next target is highly mobile, and doesn't follow paths and roads and things. It's all over the place and fast," she said. Dipper's eyes glared into hers, and when he found not a trace of Mabel's poor bluff ability, he softened.
"You mean it?" he asked.
"Yeah, Dip-Dip," she nodded, "And something running around with a starkissed stone, in the wild of Texas, around the same time they're," she nodded her head back towards the gang, "looking for the Chupacabra? C'mon bro, do we really still believe in coincidences?"
"I've never believed in coincidences," Dipper reminded her.
"The what are we doing?" Mabel asked, "let's help them out!" she pleaded quietly. "A – It'll probably get us closer to the stone. B – it'll make me feel super better. Otherwise," she warned, "I'll whine about this for like a day."
"Ugh," Dipper shivered. "Okay, okay," he nodded, and then spun around, "We'll help.
"We will?" Wendy and Soos asked.
As the gentlemen of the NPPP grew in excitement, Dipper turned to Wendy and Soos. "Aside from the obvious chance to find out what the Chupacabra is," Dipper explained, "We're looking at the possibility to find one of our mission pieces," he said to Soos and Wendy. Soos blinked and frowned, giving the words some thought. On the other hand, Wendy's confusion dropped, and she nodded.
"As it turns out," Dipper looked to Geoffrey, "Our needs are-"
Soos snapped his fingers. "Right! Got it," he nodded. The room stared at him. "Oh. Sorry, just catching up," he laughed.
Dipper sighed. "We'll help. We help you get the monster, and you let us loot something off it, if we happen to find anything odd. Deal?" Dipper asked.
Geoffrey looked back to his crew, who seemed risen and eager in anticipation. With their stares, the leader swelled and puffed out his chest. To Dipper he nodded. "We get first photo chances if we catch it. After that," he extended a hand, "It's all yours."
The handshake was the sealing deal for the two forces to come together once again. For the next hour, while the sun began to set, the group settled on their plans.
According to the Five men, the tracks of the 'Chupacabra' indicated it was a high jumper; capable of easily leaping ten feet into the air. It was fast, but no faster on foot than a dog, which was plenty to worry about. Well, except for Mabel and maybe Wendy, who boasted the fastest of the group.
"This thing recently became interested in the petty Zoo across the street," Geoffrey explained over the plans, "And we're going to use it as a trap. The Chupacabra has good hearing and sense of smell. That's why Ben made these," he had withdrawn small wallet-sized plastic devices, "Sound jammers. You carry one on you, and unless that thing is ten feet away from you, it won't hear you. Scent is up to us, sadly," he had grumbled, "As it turns out, we're not too good with masking smells."
Sadly, but to Mabel's excitement, the best way to masks their smell was to rub themselves all over the goats, and then hide in the trees around the petting Zoo.
Dipper had (begrudgingly) agreed. With his guidance, the groups would be split up. Dipper and Wendy would sneak to hide by the set of trees closest to the Motel, nearby the highway. The N.P.P.P, armed with their sonic devices, would wait inside the Goat building after the zoo-keeper left, and wait there. Mabel and Soos would be deeper inside the woods, keeping an eye on the petting zoo from the direction the nine most suspected the creature to come from.
With the aid of Mabel, Soos was able to climb slowly into the second-tier branches of the trees, watching the pygmy goats in the setting sun as crimson light flooded the surrounding shade. With Mabel just a branch above him, the two took to their post, and Soos activated the noise canceller.
"And so, my watch begins," Mabel earnestly said.
Below them, a pig squealed, looking up the tree.
"Waddles, shh," Mabel said to him quietly, "Don't draw attention. Just sit and be patient. We won't let anything happen to the goats," Mabel assured the pig, who turned back and stared at his newly met four-legged companions.
"He looks worried, hambone," Soos told her.
"He's like me," Mabel told him, "A soft spot for small cute things." A buzz came from her sweater, tied around her waist. Undoing the tight knot, Mabel lifted up the pocket and withdrew he new pay-as-you-go phone. She lifted it open and said, "Dippodoodle! Wassup?"
"The Zookeeper just left in her truck. Wendy and I are preparing on our end for anything that could come by," Dipper said quietly, "Just remember not to move around too much. We don't know how good the Chupacabra's eyesight is, so for all we know even the slightest movement could be spotted."
"Ugh," Mabel grumbled, "Staying still is not my strong suit."
"I know, which is why I'm reminding you," Dipper sighed, "And be careful. People think this is some sort of alien left behind by another species. If our time with Yuki has taught us anything, it's that it could be possible."
"Maybe I could understand it," Mabel gasped, "You know, understand their language?"
"Only if it spoke the same language that Yuki spoke," Dipper reminded her.
"Urlin," Mabel said.
"Come again?" Dipper asked.
"The language was called Urlin, and it sounds like," Mabel said in the tongue as fluently as a highly trained and skilled linguist 'My brother is very smart but is also very dumb', making a series of low whistles and chirps. "See?"
"Whatever," Dipper said, "Just let us know if anything crazy happens outside of the pens. Wendy and I are on standby."
"Oho," Mabel chuckled, "I bet you two are."
"Shuddup," Dipper grumbled, and the line cut out. Mabel laughed and stuffed the phone away.
"Was that the language of the Alien race?" Soos asked.
"You bet! I usually sleep talk with it now, so Dipper can't make fun of what I say during dreams, because it just sounds like weird noises to him," Mabel smirked.
Soos chuckled. "Say something," he asked. Mabel pursed her lips. After a pause to scan her imprinted knowledge of the language in her brain, she smirked. She spoke quickly and intently, the whistles and chirps sounding almost as birdcalls. "Wow," Soos blinked, "so, was that like 'take me to your leader'?"
"No, it was 'I need to fart'," Mabel giggled. Soos laughed with her, holding onto the plastic device. He leaned forward, and for a quick moment, he nearly stumbled out of the tree, but he caught himself, and gasped.
"Close one," he sighed, and looked back up to Mabel, "So everything is all set up and stuff?"
"Sounds like it," Mabel shrugged.
"Wow. We're like secret agents ourselves now," Soos shook his head, "If only I could hear Abuelita now."
"Your grandma?" Mabel asked.
"Yeah," Soos sighed. His eyes gazed out over the horizon, where the distant center of San Antonio City collected. Mabel craned her head down to him, trying to get a read on his face. He was harder to see, since the shadow of the setting sun fell on their backs, and the trees around them cast deep, dark shadows. He looked up to her, and she saw his well-meaning smile. "Dipper and Wendy are okay on their side, right?"
"Hah," she muttered with a sly grin, "I think Dipper's more than happy over there."
"Oh yeah?" Soos asked.
"Yup," Mabel nodded, "I bet they're coming up with more plans than just the Chupacabra."
"Oh good," Soos sighed, "Because I was really afraid if Bigfoot decided to show up instead what would happen. I mean, he's like totally a big dude, and-"
"Soos," Mabel cut in, laughing, "I mean that Dipper and Wendy are probably flirting over there."
"Ohhhhh," Soos nodded his head. He stared at the goats for a few quiet moments. His head then turned to Mabel. "Really?"
"I bet," she shrugged.
"Wow. When did that start happening again?" Soos asked.
"Wait, Soos, really?" Mabel asked, looking down to her friend.
"What?"
"Dipper and Wendy have had the most relationship-tension that I've ever seen in the past 'my entire life'," Mabel rolled her eyes, "Like, the entire reason Dipper is trying to cure Wendy from her Wraith-thing, aside from being a good person," Mabel added as an honest note, "Is because she'll totally fall in love for saving her! Or at least, that's what my thoughts are."
"I thought Dipper and Wendy had an official understanding during the first summer," Soos pointed out, "That she was too old for him. I totally was hiding, you know?" Soos mentioned to her, "They never knew I was there."
"Right," Mabel chirped, "But you know Dipper. He's stubborn as Grunkle Stan. And, to back up my bro-bro," Mabel smirked, "If we consider that Wendy hasn't aged for the past three years, that actually makes her and Dipper the same age."
"Oh," Soos nodded, "Huh. That makes sense. In a really creepy way, I guess."
"Creepy is love," Mabel leaned back against the core of the tree, her hands behind her head.
"But man," Soos sighed, "That means I'll be the only person who isn't really tied to everyone."
"Huh?" Mabel leaned over her branch, looking at Soos. "Whatcha talkin' about?"
"Well, there's you and Dipper. Brother and Sister," Soos explained, "and now there's Wendy and Dipper, which then makes you and Wendy soon-to-be sisters in law."
"Soos, we think alike," Mabel nodded proudly.
"But I'm just the co-worker," he muttered, "That big guy that follows everyone around and slows up the group."
"Whoa, whoa," Mabel leaned off the branch she was on, and slid down the tree. Her eyes were wide as the light faded, and she struggled to see his face. Regardless of light, she could see the crestfallen man's face. He stared at the goats below him, deep frown in his gaze. "Soos, what's wrong?"
He slowly turned back to her. "Hambone, I don't know if I can really keep up with you guys."
"Soos, you are keeping up with us," Mabel stated.
"Well, yeah, having Mister Pine's car helps," Soos admitted, "But I mean in the group."
"What do you mean?"
Soos sunk in his seat. He held out his palm and lifted a finger. "Mabel, you're really good at fighting, and you're super good with decorating." He lifted a second finger. "Dipper is super smart, and learned from you how to fight." He lifted a third finger. "Wendy is crazy stealthy and never loses her cool."
"Wendy is the pinnacle of physical perfection, I think," Mabel shrugged, "I once wrote down that she was actually a princess from another planet in a book with Dipper."
"Right, see?" Soos nodded, "You're all super cool and good at stuff like this," he said, waving around, "Secret agent, saving the world, let's be waaay-cool kind of things. Mabel, what am I good at?"
"Being awesome?" Mabel chuckled. Soos stared at her. "Whoa," she gasped, "Wait, you... really mean it? Soos," she sat next to him, "Like, you're good at fixing things."
"I was a handyman," he said, "for the Mystery Shack. I can do some repairs and things, but what else am I good for?" he asked, "I wasn't able to call and tell Melody what had happened until Dipper get me a new phone. Mabel," Soos sighed, "Am I slowing you guys down, or anything?"
Mabel blinked, "Uh, no," she stated. "Soos, you being around is helpful."
"But what about earlier in Area 51," Soos said, "We got caught because I distracted you."
"That was just a one-time thing," Mabel sighed.
"Or when the Bison attacked the town," Soos sunk in his seat more, "Wendy had to scare them all into listening. I didn't help there at all."
"Wait, Soos," Mabel tried speaking more, but the heavy thoughts Soos had spilled further out.
"With the vampires in Spoons, or with your parents... I wasn't any help," Soos sighed, "and... I couldn't even stop Steindorf from getting to Mister Pines back when..."
Mabel watched, the light finally vanishing over the distant hills miles away, as Soos bent forward, his cap covering his face. This was... scary. Scary for Mabel to see an indomitable force of positivity and good tidings become so down. She couldn't blame him though. Sure, maybe he had been sad like this once before; with the improper celebrations of his birthday and the reminder of his father's lack of presence. Since then, he had always been the optimistic and forward kind of guy.
"Soos, buddy," Mabel patted his shoulder, "You're what we need. It's not just about how you throw a punch or stuff, okay?" she assured him, her voice quieter and more kind. "We always are glad that you're around. Even when you do mess up."
Soos looked to her, and sighed. "I guess. I dunno. It's just-"
Mabel sniffed something in the air. Her nostrils flared. The hairs along her arms and head stuck on end. Goosebumps rose along her body as she shivered. All this for a smell. One smell she never would forget.
"Mabel?" Soos asked, watching her shiver.
"Werewolves," she quietly gasped, and turned to look in the dark woods. "I just got a sniff of 'ol wolfy I think."
"Wait, a werewolf?" Soos gulped. "I thought this was a Chupacabra."
Mabel nodded. She bit her lip as she sniffed again. It was even stronger. Yet... "Something is weird about it," she mentioned quietly.
"Like it's got a whiff of chocolate?" Soos asked, slowly pulling up a bar of chocolate to his mouth, "Because I'm about to start nervous eating."
"No, not chocolate," Mabel shook her head, "It's... something in the smell. I don't recognize it-"
WHOOSH.
Landing in the center of the surrounded fence of goats was a creature. The goats in the center panicked, moving into the farther reaches of the fence, startled and away of the being's presence.
Mabel could barely see it in the shade. It was large: the size of a person. The thing, this Chupacabra if it was, slowly rose to stand on four legs, and then lifted itself up on two hind legs, sniffing the air. Patches of thin, whisker-like hair covered its body in odd spots. From the front of its sullen face, two glowing red eyes pierced the night, looking about the fence. On its hind legs, it turned all about, and found the closest pygmy goat to it, frozen in fear.
Then Waddles squealed and slapped his face against the wire fence.
The animal spun around, ignoring the goat for Waddles.
Sirens screamed in Mabels head: red alert. "Hey!" Mabel leapt outward, flying in the air for the animal.
"Mission Ambush is a go!" Soos shouted, and plummeted from the tree branch.
The moment Mabel landed before the thing; it towered over her. She could see the fang like teeth in its canine jaw, but only for a second. As soon as she made stance, ready for a fight, it leapt again. Clearing double her height and clearing over the fence in one leap, it landed next to Waddles, who shrieked.
"No!" Mabel gasped.
The thing, in one fell swoop, bent low, grasped Waddles, and stole him away. He leapt over Soos, who yelled as he dived straight for it.
Mabel's vision went crystal clear as her entire mind felt numb. She screamed into the night as she leapt and crawled over the fence. "Bring back my pig, you beast!" she screamed into the night.
Waddles screamed into the night as he bounded again and again, growing further and further away.
Mabel stumbled over the fence, and was on her feet, pushing her heels into the dirt and fallen dry leaves with as much gusto as she could muster. Behind her was screaming, shouting, panic. Soos's heavy breathing and begging for her to wait up was easily heard. He slowly vanished behind her.
All that mattered was an animal so sweet and innocent as Waddles had played the hero, and ended up taken by this creature of shadow. Again and again, Mabel heard the breaking of twigs and branches as this thing leapt further and further away, trailing the wailing pig into the night.
Her heart was tearing itself from her chest. Her lungs screamed for pacing, as she breathed and screamed in unison. Tears blotted her vision. Her mind chewed on her conscious: How could I let this happen!?
"Mabel! Wait!" Soos' words were a distant and lost thought as she pushed further and further into the night and into the wilderness.
"Waddles!" she shouted, running ahead.
"Mabel! I can't keep up!" his distancing voice pleaded.
She couldn't wait. She refused to.
Soon the woodlands opened into a vast field, and she raced over hills, aware the direction of the creature, feeling in the ground each impact as it landed and it leapt again.
If she had to save her precious friend, her helpless, loving, adorable buddy, she would draw blood.
That fury, that pressing anger drove her even faster and faster.
Her race was a black whirl of wind and sound.
Then the earth beneath her gave away.
Her head struck the ground first. Suddenly the sound of the race was instead a scrambling, tumbling, spinning mess. Her hair flew about as she slapped into the ground again and again as she fell into a ravine of some sort. At the bottom of the ravine, she heard a small 'click'.
She fell again, this time screaming. Her screams echoed around vividly, not muffled by the earth she thought she had fallen into. Reflective surface around her dully reflected her image, and she looked down in the split second she fell to see a solid floor racing to her.
Wham.
Her stomach hit first. All the air in her lungs were blasted out forcibly as the velocity of her fall came to a stop. Her entire body felt weak, like a perfect strike from her master, Arline Hirsh, had just got her in the gut.
But she knew that Waddles needed her help. She slowly pushed off the ground. It was cold, solid, and metal. Her watery eyes blinking, she looked up.
A figure in a lab coat looked down on her, holding a solid looking cylinder in her hands. Mabel barely had a chance to open her mouth. Her gasping cry for aid was met, and the woman struck downward with the object.
Mabel's world went dark.
Oh no! Mabel! Noo!
(EZB sees waddles in the distance) OH GOD! SCREW MABEL, SAVE THE PIG!
And once again, I leave you, my friends, with a little cliffhanger. What the heck happened there? Hmm, maybe this story is just a tad more complicated than it would seem. With the reappearance of the NPPP, this marks the beginning of seasonal character returns that have been in the making. Next episode, we're going to be getting quite the return of a character whom people have been asking about since EPISODE ONE. But that's neither here nor there. Right now, Chupacabra.
Lots of secrets going on with the gang. (puts on a Kylo Ren mask) there is an awakening in the trust. Have you felt it? (removes Kylo Mask) oh who am I kidding. I'm not a patricidal maniac. I can't wear this.
(Kylo Ren approaches)
Kylo Ren: I knew you had it. And now you're going to give it to the First Order. (EZB shrugs and hands it away. Kylo glares, but marches off)
Whatever angsty.
So, hope you guys enjoyed the update, and remember to turn in next week! The conclusion of this episode, and we'll figure out what is going on! Heck, maybe even with meany-face Graupner and Alvis? I dunno.
(A Tie-Fighter crash-lands onto EZB, exploding into fire and ruin and probably crushing him in his spot. Kylo Ren pops back out, noticing that the computer EZB wrote with was... undamaged.)
Kylo Ren: This is now too important to be incomplete. (he sits down by the desk, the fire and ruins behind him) I will finish... (he looks to the area EZB was just at) ...what you started. (begins to type away in an uncharacteristically upbeat way.)