Chapter 12: Bartek's Research

Ford had pulled over to one of the bars that was in a new dimension they hopped in, thinking that the two wanders could probably use something to eat and drink to distract them from recent events.

Layla looked over to the building, her gaze looking skeptical. "Why here, Ford?" she asks him.

"Well, I think we both need a pick-me-up to forget some things." Ford admits. Back in Gravity Falls he had his alcohol during his research times if things went wrong or another lead got away. "So, what are we waiting for?" he then asks casually as he gets up from the vehicle. He then walks over to the door and opens it. "Ladies first." He gestures.

"My, you were right, your mama raised a gentlemen," Layla says in a southern accent, even fanning herself with emphasis, causing her to laugh. When she went inside Ford followed close behind her, shutting the door behind them.

Inside it was pretty empty, only a few other patrons that looked like they were lizard-like people. Both Ford and Layla go and sit at the nearly empty bar, both asking for the strongest the alcohol that was available. The two companions took their shots and bottles of whatever they got.

"Welp, you two actually escaped, I'm impressed." A voice said next to them.

Ford spits out his drink, spraying the table in front of him. He glances to his right, seeing Rick there taking his own shot then pulling out his flask and taking a long swig from it. He puts it back into his lab coat, giving Ford a glare.

"What?" he snaps.

"R-Rick!?" Ford gasps as he jumps from his seat, Layla following suit. "I-I thought you went back home!?"

"Nah…" Rick mutters. "I kind of can't right now, the portal gun I made isn't fully functioning to get back to our home dimension. Some kind of boundary thing." He then explains as he pulled out his device. Rick sets it on the table, the green light glowing slightly. "I'll have to configure it again… I didn't have time with Magum get'n all in my business."

Layla went to touch it, but her hand was slapped as if she were a child. "OW! You ass!" Layla shouted.

"That's what my wife said to me!" Rick laughs, alcohol spilling over his mouth. "Hey-O!"

"Why did you even come back!?" Layla demands, her standing up, but her balance was a little off.

"Because I heard that you ran into Dr. Bartek," Rick explains, him taking another shot that was brought before him. "He's not such a great man that you thought he was, huh?" he asked gently, a little bit of sadness creeping in.

Layla steps back, almost tripping. "G-get out of here, you asshole!" she shouts at him.

"L-l-l-look, I know that g-g-guy was your dad, but come on, who was the real asshole?" Rick points out angrily. "T-think about it! T-t-the man did unethical experiments, k-k-k-killed people, and he was about to hand off h-h-h-his one and only daughter to not one, but two d-d-demonic entities!" he at this point had gotten up and with each word got closer and closer to Layla, causing her to get a panicked expression on her face. "So, I-I-I'll ask you again… who is the real asshole here?"

"YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT!?" Layla cries out, tears in her eyes. "You think I don't know? The man ever cared for me… not one bit… he killed my mom… he killed so many people… he put me in this damn dimension…! All these years I kept trying to justify him, all these years I kept trying to make him to be someone who really cared for me…!" Her tears started to fall, causing Ford to stand up from his seat to try to go comfort her. "So the real asshole is me! Is that what you wanted to hear, Rick?! To hear that I was wrong to be a daughter that wanted to try and love her father despite all his faults!?"

Rick actually gives her a sympathetic look. "No, t-t-that's not what I wanted… f-f-far from it…" he admits. "I-I-I've had my bad share of Daddy I-Issues too, that's w-w-why I'm gonna try to make sure my d-d-daughter doesn't g-g-go though it too…" he sighs softly.

Ford hands Layla her glass that had her drink still in it. "Look, you never expected what was going to happen… so, right now we should try and think of where his research is at." Ford says finally.

"W-w-wait, Bartek d-d-didn't tell y-y-you where it was?" Rick exclaims.

"No… he said he hasn't had it for sixteen years…" explained Layla. "For all we know it can still be back in Gravity Falls, Oregon."

"That place sucked ass." Rick nonchalantly said as he drank more from his flask. "I mean gnomes, goblins, and dumb pixies? I'm a s-s-s-scientist, that stuff is just kid bullshit!"

"Then… what is all of this?" Ford asks seriously, gesturing around him.

"Adult bullshit." Rick confirms.

Ford gives himself a face palm. "Okay…" he drew out the word. "But, we need to somehow find it… that way Bill doesn't get it… Bartek made it sound like it was in these sub dimensions somewhere…"

"O-o-or with someone." Rick then points out.

"Someone?" Ford asks. "Who would he leave it with? Are you suggesting yourself?"

Rick scoffs, "A-a-a-as if," he then points at Layla.

Layla's electric blue eyes widened. "Why the hell would I have it if I'm looking for it!?"

Rick then taps on her head, the metallic sound being heard. "Use your head, Layla." He mutters. "Y-y-y-you're not an idiot, Layla, why else would Bartholomew do that to you?"

Ford puts a hand to his head, remembering the pain from his experience with putting the plate in his head. It is supposed to block out Bill from trying to get into your head… but, could it also hide something?

"Rick…" Ford slowly says. "Are you suggesting that Dr. Bartek… implanted his research into Layla?"

Rick shrugs. "I have no clue, Sci-fi," Rick replies. "It's a theory though…"

Layla puts her left to her head, her three full fingers slowly drumming on her temple. She then begins to pace around, chugging down her drink. "That's insane! Impossible!" she muttered to herself.

"There is only way to find out though…" Rick whispers. "Y-y-you got to get to t-t-that metal in your head… and there is only o-one being that has the t-t-technology for it…"

Ford's eyes widen in realization. "Magum…" he whispers.


A/N: Hello again everyone! I'm sorry this is short... but like I said I have trouble writing "Beyond the Portal", mainly because I have to try to write about 30 years of content... which may prove to be impossible. But, I'm going to try!

Also, the return of Rick! I figured he can't get home just yet because if it was so easy to leave then Ford and Layla could leave easily too, that wouldn't make sense.

Thanks for reading as always!

~Skye Hendersen~