[A little spoiler-y warning : there is a minor car accident. Nothing graphic though, or I'd give this fic a higher rating than a mere K+.]
Usually, could be found in her lab researching or creating new things. Having access to human tech and books that hadn't previously been thrown away into a watery pit had opened up so many new possibilities she was fairly certain she wouldn't be able to explore them all in her lifetime.
Though, today the reptilian actually had something else to do. She glanced at the clock above her on the wall, saved her work on her computer then turned it off.
She got out of her lab, left an echo flower note to Undyne (who was currently volunteering at the school) and went outside. There waiting to be tested on an actual road was an old car she had recently rescued from the scrapyard and modified to better suit her lizard-like morphology. Soon, the engine roared to life and the yellow monster drove in the direction of the next town over.
On the way, she stopped by Greater Dog's place, as she knew it was his turn to look after Endogeny today and the lizard woman felt it was her responsibility to check in on the Amalgamates and their families from time to time.
The dogs were happily playing fetch with each other, taking turns catching and throwing the stick, when Alphys came to say hi. Everything seemed to be perfectly fine. Even their few human neighbours were used to the Amalgamate's presence by now. After all, as far as any human knew, they were just a weirder-than-average monster.
The scientist guessed it was better this way. It wasn't like she was still lying, right? She just didn't talk about the Amalgamates' true origins. Yes, no lie there. Just silence. It had to be better this way… right?
She got back into her car and stopped a couple more times to check in on a couple other, hum, former patients before finally leaving Ebott. She would visit the rest of them a bit later.
She drove to the hardware store to find new pieces for future projects, then to the bookstore to pick up a few manga and comic books that had just come out. Usually she would either have everything delivered or ask her girlfriend to pick something up for her, but she needed to test the new car. And also herself.
Going outside with people she knew and trusted was one thing ; doing so on her own was another. At least the inhabitants of this town were used to the sight of monsters by now so none of the few people in either store made any comment. Were they starring at her though? Or was it just her imagination? It probably was the latter but it didn't make the feeling of being watched and judged go away.
On the plus side, one of the comic books had a woman wielding two giant swords on the cover : Undyne would absolutely love this!
Once she had everything she needed, Alphys climbed back into the car and took mental notes of all the little things she could tweak to make the vehicle easier to manoeuver. She would also have to replace the radio. And install the GPS she had made the day before.
She was so distracted by her own train of thoughts she almost didn't see the human child running across the street near the parking lot's exit. She hit the break a second too late and heard a loud thud as the front of the car and the child's body collided with each other.
The monster got out of her car to rush by the human's side and crouch down next to them.
"Oh my- Are y-you ok?! Oh no I'msosorryIdidn'tseeyou! Oh no…"
She took her phone from her pocket, trembling claws trying to type the paramedic's number.
"I-I'm calling for help!" the lizard woman told the small human. "They-they'll know what to d-do, right?"
The child didn't respond, but they appeared to still be breathing so at least they were alive. Alphys had never been so grateful for humans' incredible resilience.
Her phone still in one trembling hand, she rolled the unconscious human onto their side as gently as she could and checked for injuries. When she finally managed to correctly dial the paramedics' number, she immediately explained the situation ; she was asked to say it again slower. She took several deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself before repeating everything and describing in great details where she was. The person on the other end of the line assure her an ambulance was on its way.
Alphys hanged up and let her phone slide down on the asphalt. It took a few minutes for the ambulance to arrive ; the entire time the monster kept apologizing over and over. Why couldn't she have healing magic? Would even that be enough if she did?
Maybe it would be best if she never went outside on her own ever again.