Yo everybody, so I kinda lied before when I said I could wrap this series up in two or three chapters. So in good news, more chapters. Bad news, don't trust me saying it will end until you see "FIN" under a page. Anyway, here you go.
Chapter 15
"Wrench Please" Sans said holding a pipe steady.
For the past two hours Sans, Dr. Alphys, and a few kids… had been working on putting together a machine. A machine that could be the key to overcoming the literal wall in front of them. Before the disappearance of the first royal scientist, two creations were built. One was finished but the second was not. The first was the CORE, a marvel of technology that provided limitless energy. The second, was the "Underground escape Plan" or "UP" for short. It's original purpose was to traverse other worlds for worlds where monsters were not sealed underground, though never finished. It could never be finished due to lack of information. All blueprints were intact, but none of the monsters could read the encrypted letters. Not Sans, Asgore, nor Alphys could translate it. Alphys could read some of it, given that she studied many of the man's works and papers, it wasn't enough to get through full papers, let alone blueprints. The only other way to solve the puzzle, was through trial and error; a lot of trial and error.
-a few clinks, clanks, bangs and conks-
"Alright, Trial number 458" Sans said holding a small remote.
"4-458?!" Alphys exclaimed. "How did you fail that many times? Sans! When did you find the time to work on this?"
"Been working on it since you stepped up actually, good thing too. I was up next for Royal Scientist. gave me a whole lot of time to work. First few months gave me about two to three hundred tries, heheh" with that, Sans clicked the big red button on the top of the remote. The two meter tall 1.5 meter wide metal cylinder started glowing bright. It got bright, brighter, and eventually bright enough to fill the entire room. Everyone but Sans and Mettaton, who was setting up a bunch of recording equipment the moment he heard of the secret machine, close their eyes to protect them from danger.
*poof
The light vanished without a trace, a small amount of smoke fumed from one of the vents.
"Aa~nd that's fail number 458." Mettaton said turning off the camera.
"Sans? Can I ask you a question?" Alphys asked
"Shoot me" Sans replied
"What's causing the U.P. to smoke out?"
"Don't really know, last I checked, the electronics are running smoothly. Cooling system's perfect."
"Can you open the hatch up so I can look in it?"
"Sure"
Sans' eye glew and so did the U.P.'s door. The door slowly opened up near silently. Alphys crawled into the machine to inspect.
"Hm, it seems to be working, but…"
From the outside, everyone could hear the sound of typing, like the typing on a keyboard. Inside the U.P. there was a computer system for guidance and piloting.
"I think I've found some problems,"
"What is it?"
Mettaton turned the camera back on… a minute before Alphys went into the U.P.
"There's a few problems, for one, most of it is in Wing Dings of course. What I can read though, there's a power problem. I think Dr. Gaster was planning on using the four SOULs that had been collected at the time. This thing is running on near empty, even when plugged into the core, the computer's trying to redirect power to the engine except it needs that power to open a portal. On top of that, did you touch the piloting system? It's not even set to search for other dimensions. It's set to enter and escape from the Void." "did he make this thing just in case?" Alphys wondered.
"So the first thing we need are three souls. alright, hey kid, could you get those?" Sans asked.
"Y-yeah" Frisk said before running off to the Dreemurr house.
"While they do that, we can look at the other problems"
"Yeah, b-but they're all in Wing Dings. Why did Dr. Gaster have to do it like that? Nobody but him actually gets what these symbols and hands mean."
It was then, when Mary stepped up.
"Dr. Alphys?" Mary asked "did you say Wing Dings?"
"Yes, wh-what about it?"
"I know that font! Some of the dolls where I came from taught me it and how to translate it. Father was a fan of how the letters looked and made a few books with them."
That got the interest in the two scientists. Finally, someone alive who could read WingDings. This could've been very useful earlier on when there weren't four and a half hundred failed attempts. Mary picked up one of the blueprints, her eyes skimming through the hands and emoticons faster than anyone else reading normal text would.
"What does it say kid?" Sans asked.
"It says," Mary started " 'If someone is reading this aloud, then I'm gone and someone is reconstructing the U.P., if you haven't already figured it out, it's purpose is to traverse the void, not other dimensions exactly. While it can travel to other dimensions, the damage to space-time could be very hazardous. I had realized that and changed the piloting on the U.P. from the original goal. The basis for the U.P. has already been constructed, the machine itself is in need of no other components except for a sufficient power source. The actual machine only needs the ventilation system, hull, computer, and energy. Any alterations to the outer hull or structural manipulation of the machine itself mean nothing. On top of that. The SOULs will remain intact even after use of the U.P. the souls are safe for reuse in another incident. lastly, this machine was constructed for another reason. In the case someone were to fall into the CORE and be sent to the void. Luckily, I have never done so befo-' and it cuts there with a smeared white line." Mary concluded.
The two masters of their craft were speechless. One, Dr. Gaster had already been working on countermeasures for things as unlikely as falling into the core, but also the irony in the last sentence as well as his final moments in their world. Just then, Frisk returned with four of the six SOULs; green, orange, yellow, purple.
"Cool, four souls to use, let's charge this baby up." Sans said taking the souls within his magic's grasp and placing them into a box with a lightning bolt symbol on it within the U.P.
"Who'd like to go in with me?" Sans asked standing outside the door.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Can a camera do?" Mettaton asked holding a portable recorder.
"Sure, anyone else? It gets boring being the only one in a small metal tube… alright. I guess some people aren't ready for crossing dimensions on purpose.. I'll be back in a few," Sans said before taking the camera and closing the door. The tube started glowing and with a flash of light, the box was gone with the skeleton inside.
Contrary to popular belief, the void of the underverse was not a black empty space of nothingness, at least, not entirely space. The void was filled with countless numbers and letters flying around in linear patterns. Lines of words and sentences shot up and down, left and right, back and forth, in all three dimensional directions. The only places clear of numbers and letters were the areas surrounding anything but numbers and letters. Objects, individuals, etc. Within this "Void", was but a single monster, a monster with pure white skin, vertical cracks running up from his right eye, and down from his left. a white lab coat, black T-shirt, and khakis. He was the original, the one and only, royal scientist Dr. W.D. Gaster. He did not look very happy, at all. That would probably happen to anyone who spends their years in isolation with noone to talk to but themselves… and occasionally a small gray black eye pupil-less child, but aside from that, completely alone. That is, until the codes started bending.
"Huh?" the skeleton asked seeing the anomaly. "Wait a minute, did someone actually?" he thought.
The bending codes formed an open space about 3x3x2 meters large. Within it, was the U.P. with Sans looking through the window. Sans waved hello before opening the door, codes moving further away from the opened door.
"Hey there, G."
"...heh," Gaster chuckled. "Took ya long enough." he said. "Dear stars, the first real interaction is years… aside from that one kid who doesn't talk, must keep calm, must keep calm." is what he was thinking. "So, what brought you to this place? A simple rescue mission? Or something you need from me?"
"Both. for now, let's go."
"Ah, yes… wait, where are we going again?" Gaster asked confused.
"Back home, the lab of course."
"The… lab… of course." he recalled the lab, the place he spent many years in which was also where he "died". As the two white men (yes) walked to the U.P the codes in front of them parted ways to create a clear path for the too. The two got into the machine and left the world of numbers.
"Sans, how did you finish the U.P?" Gaster asked now escaping the interdimensional prison.
"A kid figured out your handwriting and helped us figure out the problem. You really got to learn to write normally."
"I can't help it you know, you and your brother's writing isn't the same as everyone else's either."
"Yes, but our words still make sense. Ever wonder why you got your nickname? W.D. stands for Wing Dings you know,"
"Yes, I'm quite aware, maybe once we get back I'll head straight for the nearest human library.."
"...yeah~ 'bout that."
"You haven't made it yet have you?"
"Nope."
"And that's why you've rescued me"
"Kinda"
"I should have never hung out with you in highschool."
"I was the only guy who'd partner with you during group projects, ain't my fault."
Gaster sighed, "that party was your fault." Gaster said remembering a certain dorm party involving him, his prototype blasters, and a lot of ketchup. First rule of skeleton parties; DON'T talk about them ever. "Which reminds me, do you have any ketchup on you?"
"Heh, sure thing" Sans said before summoning a red ketchup bottle from a compartment and handing it to Gaster. Being the first thing Gaster had to ingest in a very long time, he chugged it like there was no tomorrow.
"We'll be there in 6, 5, 4" Sans started counting down. In seconds, this forgotten relic of a monster would finally return to his world. Filled with others, other monsters, other people. However, given the monster luck streak, he'd probably accidently press self destruct on the UP and fall into the core again. For now, once again, a bright flash illuminated the lab, the U.P. had returned. Mettaton, Alphys, Ib, Mary, and Frisk watched silently.
Out popped the two skeletons, smiling and happy that the mission was a success.
"d-Dr. Gaster!" Alphys exclaimed.
"Little… Alphy?" he asked confused. "You're all grown up… there's a few humans next to you BTW, and is that a robot?" he then leaned into Sans' "ear" and whispered "if that's a he, is he… you know, that way?"
"Beats me, he's a robot, I don't think that's how robots swing, if they swing at all that is."
Then, Gaster remembered something, he was back in the underground, he could once again use magic. With a snap of his white boney fingers, seven skeleton hands manifested behind him. Each looked identical to his, but instead of empty holes where his palms would be, the circular holes in the hands were filled with the seven colors of the rainbow.
"Finally, It feels good to use magic again.
Gaster then approached the three children who stared at him in awe.
"Humans, hello, My name is W.D. Gaster. I am the former royal scientist and creator of the core and the lab you are currently in. It is nice to meet you."
"Same, Mr... Gaster?" Frisk said unsure of how to address the third skeleton.
"Please, call me what you wish."
"Okay."
"*clears throat* now then, by you three being here, I should assume you are not being hunted, nor pursued for your souls, but you" Gaster said pointing at Mary.
"You. I don't sense a soul, yet you are clearly alive, with DT in you as well. How is this?"
"Well, I-uh," Mary stuttered startled. Most don't open a conversation with "how are you so soul-less?"
"Hm, perhaps I shouldn't pry on that. I'm sure Alphys can tell me later. For now, I'm here for a reason, let's see it Sans."
"Follow me."
-a walk to the hall and explaining recent events later-
The black wall, a mysterious anomaly that had never before existed, until this run. Gaster pressed his hands against the wall and the hands started glowing their respective colors.
"Hmmm, this is interesting."
"What is?" Sans asked.
"This wall isn't like any magic or stone or metal wall any of you or even I have encountered. With that said. it is real, as real as you or I am. This wall is made of something we are all familiar with. This wall, is made of pure emotion. It's makeup is almost identical to that of a human soul. The only difference is what emotion this is made of. The seven basic colors are: Patience, Bravery, Integrity, Perseverance, Kindness, Justice, and lastly, Determination. All of these virtues make up the emotion of 'love' but not LOVE."
"Okay, where does black fit in?" Ib asked.
"It doesn't" Sans answered.
"Precisely; the attribute of this wall does not correspond with any of the seven virtues. That means it has nothing to do with love, but also means it might have everything to do with LOVE."
"I'm… confused." Mary said scratching her head.
"Child, the colors that you've seen before, the rainbow souls all correspond to the emotion of love. Immense feelings of passion and happiness. While 'LOVE' is the opposite. LOVE is an acronym for Level Of ViolencE. Black is not a part of the rainbow, nor is it the source. While white would be a combination of all seven colors; black, which is the opposite, has none of the seven virtues. By what you've told me of what happened before this wall appeared. The sibling of the prince must have cast off their soul, so what remained was what Chara was before the soul existed."
"That means," Frisk started.
"Yes; Chara has most likely returned to their, 'dark side' and created this wall out of another emotion. However, this wall was most likely made to protect you all from what they have become. That emotion is none other than HATE. HATE is another acronym, standing for 'Holding Anger Towards Everything. Chara would attack without hesitation if they saw any of us now."
"So we have to save them." Frisk declared.
"That will be a near impossible task. Sans couldn't outlast their determination nor yours child. Chara has the power to RESET now and is a corporeal form of pure hatred. Even with all of us, including the prince, would have slim chances of doing anything.
"Well," Sans started. "Until we get that wall down and help the kid out, none of us are going to get out of the underground. So let's suit up, eat up, and get ready."
"Sans, are you sure about this?" Gaster asked. " are you sure we should even attempt this? By destroying this wall we put the entire underground in grave danger."
"Eh, why not. First time for everything."
Everyone stood beside Sans looking at Gaster. They were all determined to get the true ending.
"*sigh* very well then, before I take the wall down, we should all eat. We want to be at ready as possible."
END