Everything rests on your shoulders, my son
I return to talk to Frisk, who is trying their hardest not to bounce up and down on the walls. It's a bit frustrating, getting information from someone who is so energetic, but I'd rather be annoyed as opposed to being in total dismay. I accidently injected them with a lot of determination, it's honestly a miracle that they are alive, let alone in good standings. Something is strangely different about the lab today, but I can't quite place my finger bone on it.
" So, Sans; before I keep talking to you I think you should tell me a bit about yourself " They say.
" Well kid, you don't really want to know anything about me, I'm just a boring lazy skeleton who likes to sleep." I explain, a hint of my inner demons in my voice.
" But why are you like that? " They ask concerned.
Thoughts race float through my head.
Why am I like this? Nothing tragic or earth shattering had ever happened to me. Sure, I had to raise my little brother by myself, but I have friends, a home, a job. If I needed food I'd have a full stomach too. So to my knowledge… I'm perfectly fine. So why do I feel so nihilistic all the time?
Is there… something I'm forgetting? I ponder as I look down upon the floor.
No Sans, it isn't something you are forgetting, but rather someone who you are missing. Me.
A picture of 2 young boys with a tall slender shape flashes in my mind as an unexplainable sound faintly echoes from my desk, I am intrigued, but not enough to bother opening it.
" Sans you need to motivate yourself " a voice in a hauntingly distorted tone speaks. I snap back into reality, disturbed by what I just heard but yet… strangely comforted as well. I look around to see everywhere is exactly how it was before I spaced out before Frisk spoke,
" You're unmotivated, aren't you Sans? " they say, in a regular childish voice.
I sigh and nod my head, though being demotivated is the least of my dilemmas.
" Yeah buddy, I'm just bored is all " I give a fake chuckle and look up at the clock.
A yell from upstairs aligns when my gaze meets the clock. It's Papyrus complaining about the lack of a warm breakfast.
" I uh… I need to go, you should try to get some sleep. " I say, still a bit shook up from this session's strange phenomenons.
" But Sans, I'm not sleepy at all! I don't feel like I'm about to die either. Can't I come with you? " they plead.
" I'm sorry kid I can't let you up to see my brother… He's what we like to call a Human Hunting Fanatic" I lie. It was far from the truth, Papyrus would probably love Frisk, but I can't let him find out.
I feel like this is far too dangerous, even for me.
As I walk up the stairs to open the door, the door flings open and Papyrus, unaware of my presence, slams into me. Knocking both he and I down the stairs, landing upon Frisk's feet.
After a bit of groaning and chuckle, Papyrus cries " Sans I was so worried you were gone! "
Puzzled, by not only what he meant but also how he found my secret lab, I reply simply with the question " What are you talking about? "
He yells " I had a dream last night that you went down here and took a machine to a far away place, never to be seen again. It was awful brother! Also…."
He pauses as I await the inevitable realization.
" Why is there a…"
I hold my breath.
" Secret lab under our house?! "
I sigh and press my hand against my cranium.
" Sans you buffoon why didn't you tell me this house was actually 3 stories? All these years I've been getting on to you about overpaying for a smaller house in the middle of a snowstorm, while in reality, you got a steal! Imagine how many syllables I could have saved from yelling at you all these years! NYEHHHHHHH. "
He continues rambling while I begin to be lost in thoughts. When did I actually build this lab or discover this secret room? And what is this he talks about a machine that takes me to a far away place?
" To your right "
I, if by force, move my glance to the right of us to realize that there is something that I have never seen before in the lab. I'm not sure what it is, for it is covered by a very dusty old cloak, but as soon as I have some alone time I will find out what this mystery is.
" Also Sans…"
I gulp as Papyrus begins to speak again.
" Does your new human friend enjoy puzzles and Spaghetti? " He gets up to meet the human and shake hands, no whoopie cushion included.
" Greetings human! I am the great Papyrus! You seem to have gone through a lot, but do not fear child! I will be your friend and I will nurture your wounds with magical spaghetti sauce and seal your bandages with steel noodles! We will work on the Junior Jumble every morning while Sans goes off and does the loser version called The Crossword. We will also…"
I cut off his state of the union address to ask a lingering question.
" Hey uhh, Papyrus, why didn't you freak out when you saw the human? I thought you wanted to capture one so badly that you couldn't stand it. What changed your mind? "
" Well brother, I saw you save them from the water and I could tell they were a good person, so I let them be. I honestly didn't know where they were until I had that dream just now. That is also how I found out about the human, A dream! " He shocks me by saying this.
Papyrus would be so proud by how puzzled I am from what just came out of his mouth. He learned about all of this through a dream? I would say it's just coincidence, but seeing how I've been having hauntingly realistic dreams lately too, it begs the question to be wondered.
" What is going on? " I whisper under my breath as Papyrus and Frisk acquaint themselves.
About an hour goes by, us 3 talking and having a good time. I'm actually enjoying myself for once, Papyrus and Frisk are loving each other. They talk about puzzles, pasta and puppies, among other things. As much as I don't want this moment to end, I am strangely feeling motivated to get to the bottom of these happenings.
" Hey guys, I know we are really having some fun but you 2 must be extremely hungry, why don't you go upstairs and wait for breakfast. I'll be up in a bit after I clean up around here.
Frisk and Papyrus sigh, assuming I'll just fall asleep instead of doing anything, and head upstairs.
I walk towards the covered up object. I pull the dusty blanket off, debris floods the room. I'd be a goner if I actually had lungs. As the dust clears a shape starts to form. It at first appears to be a giant capsule with 4 legs, but as the image gets clear so does it's purpose. Flashing lights, several levers, a knob and a seat for 1 individual. I'm not sure how I know what it is, but I just know.
It's a time machine.
I cover it back up for later investigation, I do really feel like cooking for once and I'm sure those 2 are hungry. As I walk up the stairs to turn off the light and leave, I hear that strange sound from an hour or so before emit from the desk. Though everything in me doesn't care enough to check it, I strangely take the effort to walk back down the stairs to unravel what is causing it. I open the desk and search through everything. Documents, serums, dirty socks, and then something catches my eye.
It's the photograph from much earlier, except this time it isn't blank. It has a picture of me and Papyrus with someone who I do not recognize, but somehow… Know… and love.
I read the words " don't forget " as a single drop of emotion splashes upon the photograph. I put it in my pocket and walk back to go fix breakfast.
You are doing well Sans, I believe in you. But hurry for Armageddon is quickly approaching. There's not much time… my son.