Three days. He slept for three days straight. When he woke up he spotted his glasses and put them on. The scan activated after confirming his iris. He will get something out of Jeremy mess up...
He had no idea where he was...
Standing up he noticed his blasters were missing, a sinking feeling settled in his stomach. The room was spare but well light, no window. He walked to the door and tried to open it. Locked.
No.
He pushed harder on the knob. It didnt budge.
No.
He knocked on the door rapidly.
No. No. No.
He avoided this situation for so long.
A prisoner.
He had enough magic for two short cuts. He could flee and... he needed a better plan if he wanted to keep on working on the anomaly...
The door unlocked and two uniformed men entered it. Two souls made up of determination,each with LV over 20, the second even close to 30. He saw what one kid with LV around 10 was capable of. He remembered the killer intent of the humans in the war, those trained soldiers. Who knew that their lv were. He stood no chance if they wanted him dead. He visibly stepped away from both of them, body sprung and ready for action.
" I see you joined the living, Professor. I am General Christian and this is Colonel Alfred. You gave your friend quite the scare when you both arrived here. " A polite smile, an attempt to ease the tension up.
"Its doctor...I am not a professor."
"Of course, Doctor. Forgive me for my mistake. There isnt much about you." The general spoke and Gaster pulled on the determination. He was the king's first royal scientist he will not look like a scared animal. He will stand proud if this was his execution.
"I forgive you. How can I help you?" The general was still politely smiling, but the colonel till now with a neutral expression, narrowed his eyes when Gaster posture changed. Gaster frowned when he realized barely any determination was curling around his soul as he tugged on it.
"Answering a few question would be great. But you must be hungry after resting so long. Lunch is being served and your friend would feel better knowing you are doing fine." The general nearly fatherly spoke towards him as he stepped aside to lead Gaster to what he presumed was cafeteria. Gaster nodded and stepped forward, having the general place a hand on his back.
He was on a military base.
The amount of red souls was the highest from any place he ever saw. Sure there was a lot of justice souls as well but the others were much rarer. He didnt spot a green soul yet. The General was chit chatting commenting about how the base history was going way back to the second world war and anecdotes. The man was really trying to be pleasant. It was hard for the monster to look any other way then as if he was walking down to his execution with head raised.
Jeremy spotted him the moment he entered the mess hall.
A friendly face.
A soul he knew.
"I keep telling you to not work until you faint! But no. How long was it since you had a nap."
Gaster eyes focused on Jeremy. The human said nap, not sleep. Was he looking that badly when he came?
"I am fine. It was just a few days." He responded hands held on his back.
"Well whatever G. Your things are with me." He snooped, at least Gaster did lock all his things down. Without the password and finger press there will not be a way for anyone to access the live feed. He wanted to check on Sans. See where Frisk was now.
"If you could give me my phone." And out the pocket Jeremy pulled the slim device, Gaster took it and without looking at it he was pocketing it.
He had to wait just a bit longer, the moment he is alone he will give it a glance.
They sat down and ate. "I never saw any civilian being able to eat the meatloaf with such a vigor." Colonel commented as Gaster was taking the last bite of the food.
"I never was a picky eater." He politely returned. The body needed substance and he was giving it. The faster he was done with it the faster he could do what he wanted. All of this was annoying him. The pretending as if there were guest. He knew if he even attempted to leave they would stop with the being nice act and show their true intentions. He could read it from their intent towards him... Yet it would be bigger hassle, he didnt have time to afford... Thought he would prefer spaghetti.
"Well, if you wouldnt mind we should get down to work, right doctor?" The general stood up, placing his hand on Gaster shoulder. The man was powerful and hands on, in every sense of the word.
"Of course." Gaster smiled as determinedly back at the man, as he could. The monsters were always so weak... and he... a sheep in wolf clothing. He stepped after the man as he was lead to the room. A interrogation room. They didnt need to spell it out for the greatest mind to realize what it was.
They questioned him.
He answered unwaveringly.
It was easy to hide monster kind away from them, when they were so focused to figure out if he was an enemy of the state. Or to which country he was a spy off. He valued his loneliness as he worked he would give the inventions to Jeremy. Did he invent everything 'A Monster company' was selling? Most likely he answered.
Security, medecine, green energy, products for the masses, transportation, etc. The company was a global influence for a few years now, Gaster really didnt care about that as long as he was financially covered. and the brand of monster was having a positive picture in society. Yet now that he was forced to answer question after question to the company activity... He realized just how much his genius changed the surface world. There was barely an area AMC global was not involved with in one way or another. It especially hit him when the man asking him referred to the 'A Monster company' as 'The Monster imperium.' referring to the influence it had over the business and technology world.
It wasnt Gaster intention to create that, but then on other hand... he had worked for his king since childhood, and once in The underground helped to build the kingdom of monsters up from nothing... This... was just the same, his habits made this...with Jeremy on the top...
Jeremy was untouchable, if he wanted he could easily move to another country. But Jeremy knew quite well Gaster wasnt planning to get away from Ebott any time soon.
The next three days he was talking to experts, explaning the blueprints they found and what his intention were. He had barely manage to check on the recordings. Frisk was further down the path than he hoped. It wouldnt take them long before they are in the fight with the robot.
They were testing to see if he was really the genius he was claiming to be. If he came up with all of those things, it would mean he single handled pushed humanity progress for several years, maybe decades ahead of their time.
"... We concluded that I am the greatest mind alive. Could we now move to the point. I even going to say please." Gaster snapped as he felt like he was answering the same question for the fourth time, just differently prashad.
"This isnt a simple matter doctor."
"I disagree. Its quite simple."
"Oh and how so?" The man across him caressed his beard.
"You tell me what you desire and as long as it isnt a weapon I make it reality. After that we both go back to our lives, like this never occurred."
The man put his pen and paper down, moving closer to Gaster face. There was an unreadable expression on the human face. Gaster waited as the human as he took a deep breath and gave him the glare of the decade.
"Do you think we are some joke? That you can bribe your way out of this?" Gaster blinked, bribing? He... well he could see how it could be seen as bribing, but the only thing he owned and was willing to share was his mind. If they didnt want that...
"I am here to figure out if you lie to us. And let me tell you. You are."
Gaster groaned, his fingers twitching in annoyance. "I did not lie. I have never left this country. Never was interested. I didnt even interact with anyone who is from aboard." He really wasnt, why wouldnt this people already get it. The only thing he was interested in was The underground, Frisk and anomaly. He didnt have the time for other humans. He barely keep in contact with Maria and Jeremy. With Maria only because she would let the phone ring for over two hours till his blasters started to bark at him to make him pick it up. Jeremy was annoying with his visit and collecting on his invention, but he did approve it when the man brought him food so he didnt have to leave his lab to do shopping. His foster parents... actually he didnt call or visit them in a long while... he should probably give them a call, to let them know he was still working.
"Doctor Gaster, do you know what body language is?"
The doctor in question moved his glasses up, fingers brushing over the hair that fall in his eye tickling the age old scar above it.. He should cut it soon. Head nodding at the question, his other hand thumbing against the table. Adding a I am not a idiot, and what with it?
"Good, then you should know you would make the worst spy in existence."
Great if they concluded that, then why not let him go already? He wanted to check on Frisk.
"Well I am a expert in reading body language... And are you aware how much do you talk with your hands?"
His hands slowed mid motion and Gaster body all but froze. The man who talk in hands. That how other monsters would occasionally call him. That how the river person refereed to him when they warned the kid. He restrained himself from thinking anything else at the moment.
"I see you understand the implication. At first I thought it was sign language, but it was not in any of the languages on this world... Your hands have to be paired up with your words. They fill in the meaning and add explanation. They move when you think... So yes, I do know you arent working for another government or terrorist... But you are hiding something big. How about it? "
Gaster still didnt move a muscle.
"You simple be honest with us, and after that we return to our lives."
The man left him, so he could have some time to think about it. He couldnt tell them about monsters, he feared what they would do... but if he stays here maybe Frisk will forever be resetting and loading the world. How long till their mind fully breaks. The blank expression was what truly scared the doctor. They were doing things to the extreme so they could have something to react... He worried what Sans would do when he meet them in judgment hall, with everyone dead... Gaster wasnt sure if he could watch Sans dying... or kill. Though he could understand the urge.
He closed his eyes, hoping for a miracle.
He was given a day break, and the following evening they called him to come with them.
He didnt speak or even allowed himself to move a muscle during the next session. It was about to end when the general entered. Sometimes a star hears your wish. Apparently some operation in the east went horrible wrong. Good men were held hostage and if he helps they would only keep an eye on him.
So Gaster did what he did best, research and throw himself at the work. He gave them a solution, he didnt like that he didnt have the time to make an alternative. His solution relied on small dose of magic electricity. Now it was only time to wait to see if the rescue succeed. Hopefully they will overlook it. He made it so that once it was used it would self destruct, hopefully eliminate any way for them to replicate it on they own. Or figure it out in the first place.
"..." The general was sitting beside him. The man looked worried, the monster felt the urge to say something, to fill the silence.
"I am the great dr. Gaster. Its is a fact that they will be rescued." Was he referring the soldiers, or monster kind? Probably both.
"...Have you children, doctor?" Gaster opted to stay unmoving, knowing if he moved he would say that he do. The sudden words from the general being a bit of surprise to him. Officially he didnt... as a human. He didnt plan on letting them know. Even as a monster it was a bit complicated. They were watching some recruits fighting, their training. The sounds of grunts and punches filling the air around them.
"My son is one, of whose lives depends now on your work... Because of it I am not allowed to be directly involved with the mission...So I dont know if he is going to survi-"
"They will be rescued." The general looked over at him. The man not awaiting to hear the amount of empathy in Gaster voice. Neither to see the doctors smile of unshaken confidence. Not out of ego but because he believed it was the only way it will end. Pure unshaken believe was rolling of him. The older man eyes becoming unbelivable soft. Something Gaster would never await to see in a soul with such a high lv. He gave the general hope. Humans were truly a fascinated breed. Even with so much exp the man still was able to experience something like hope.
He excused himself and in the bathroom took out the phone. He had to check on Frisk.
They started.
Two hours ago Frisk walked up in front of Sans. The kid died in Sans first attack. It was so fast done. Fast forwarding he saw it took twenty minutes before the load occurred. Gaster switched to the live feed. The kid was dead, its blood pooling around them as Sans was simple staring. The look in his sons eyes, he recognized from himself. Anger. They made his son a killer. An executor. Gaster hands shook, his soul paining.
He put the phone away, he couldnt watch. Even if that was what he wanted to do the most. He returned to the general side. He knew Sans went for the killing blow from the moment the kid crossed the line. Not to break their arms or legs and make Frisk unable to fight on, but to end them.
His posture must have betrayed something from his inner thoughts because the general stood up and placed his hand on the doctors shoulder. Giving him a comforting pat.
"How about we spar as well? Sitting like this may drive us both crazy." The general smiled.
"I dont think its a good idea." Gaster spoke attention on the man, but it was hard to keep his mind of what was happening right now. It felt different than any other time Frisk died. They made Sans kill. His son killed...and once in the future Frisk will kill him as well. Will it take days? Weeks? How many times will Sans kill them? Would Frisk chop his head? Or just stab him once. Would they say anything? He only had one point.
The pool of blood on his son's feet. Dirtying and getting socked in the pink fluffy slippers he wore.
"I promise I will be careful with you, doctor. You can look at it as self defence lessons. One should always know how to defend oneself." The general Christian urged him on and then there were on the mats.
It was too easy.
So easy to only see the red soul of determination and to see the high lv.
So easy to see Frisk in front of him.
Not the general, or any of the recruits around them.
Dust, knife, blank face.
The punch thrown slow, all the other sounds meaningless.
So easy to slide to the side and avoid it.
So easy not to care if it was considering cheating.
The muscles screaming as the bones they were attached to moved on their own accord, pushing speed and power beyond what they were ready for.
So easy to hurt that red soul filled with determination and LV.
Wishing to see it shatter.
To want countless of red shards.
The sickening crack of bone echoing in his skull. A pleasing sound.
The warm red fluid dropping. A pleasing view.
So easy to want it suffer.
Quick end would be mercy. They never gave mercy.
So easy to see the field covered in silver dust under the grey sky above his head.
So many hands reaching towards him. He will not stop fighting. They will not subdue him.
The red blood against the golden floor.
A wave of fire arrows cast at them lighting the sky up like a sunset would.
His head slammed against the ground hard, yet it wasnt as hard as it should have been. He pushed against the humans. He couldnt fail now. He had to... A strong voice screamed his name off.
"Professor Gaster!"
Words started to cut in and he stopped resisting, breathing. Voices were telling him stuff. Was he really on the military base? Was that really the current date? ... Yes it was. He blinked. The glasses were gone, broken from someone stepping on them.
"I am fine." He spoke there was weight on him. He was being restrained. He went limp against his captor.
"You should have told us you served in a war!" That was the voice of the general. Gaster flinched but felt relieved the man was speaking. It mean he was alive. Even though his voice sounded off, suppressing pain. He tried to turn his head to see the man he was sure he harmed. But alas his head was still pressed down by a strong hand. It was making him really uncomfortable.
"I am fine." He repeated in lack of any other response he could think off.
The hands loosened their hold and he raised himself up. But they stayed so close ready to return him down to the floor. Eyes searching around. So many of the recruits and other soldiers were close by. The colonel had a gun pointed at him as well. And in front of him was the general holding his teeth together. Gaster eyes slipped from his pained face down. There it was an arm.
A arm with an open bone fracture.
The white piece of bone poking out the red flesh, nearly like it was a bone attack.
He knew he didnt use any of his magic so he did that... with his bare hands.
He felt ill.
A nap would do him good.
When he woke up he felt disoriented. When did he fall asleep? He couldnt place any time period to the white ceiling. That was starting to be a regular occurrence in his life. Those ceilings, always feel the same, maybe all healing institution buy their ceiling paint from the same place? Maybe he should do research into it.
"Morning professor!"
That voice... He didnt move his head. A face still entered his view. General Christian face looked overjoyed. So odd. He awaited a killer intent. Revenge, or at the very least fear. "The rescue mission was an success. There were some injured, but they all made it out alive and I have to thank your work for that. " Gaster sat up, the human wore a cast he winced.
"My son and I will be matching for a while. " The man said noticing the flinch the doctor made at the sight of the cast. "They broke his arm when he didnt corporate..."
"Why didnt you kill me?" The words slipped out in a honest curiosity. Gaster felt tired. He wanted to be around his blasters, he wanted to make spaghetti. He wanted to hear the cool Papyrus and be napping with Sans on the floor where they drop from over working. He wanted to have Asgore pick him up and plant him down for cookies and tea and make it an order to take it easy. He wanted to tease the nervous monster with the question if he could read the shipping fiction he knew they wrote with him in it. He wanted to explain his inventions...
"God gracious why would I do that! My son would be dead without you. I am grateful."
"But I wanted to... level of violence..." Gaster spoke, trying to figure this puzzle out, how ever he looked at it, it didnt make much sense. The experience with humans told him that the man should fear him. Be out to dust him, yet... yet... Gaster thought of the humans he meet as a human... The biological father... and the contrast the foster mother... Dave...
"I shouldnt have pushed you. I am sorry. If you had just told us you were a veteran I would have never put you in that situation." The voice used was soft.
"...I never were in a war." He tried to bluntly lie.
"Sure, professor. You obtained battle hardened reflexes, survivor instincts and close combat moves from watching late night TV." He wasnt believed, but for whatever reason silence settled. He wasnt questioned about it. Obviously they should, they were out for his secrets...So why not ask which war he was part of? He wouldnt have an answer for them... not without telling the whole truth.
"No further denying?"
"I dont understand it..." Gaster pushed himself off the bed, standing he faced fully the general. "... You killed before."
There was awkwardness now in the mans face expression. "...I did."
"So, why didnt you end me when I harmed you?" He was aware the general was studying him just as much as he was watching the human in front of him. Somehow the general decided to answer a completely different question.
"On the battlefield things are simple. "The man started, not breaking eye contact with Gaster.
"You are told what to do, you do your part... You know what is awaited from you, and you can do it. You fight to live, for your unit to live. Everyone has their part."
The general took a deep breath, as if he was silently saying that it wasnt exactly that, yet it was. Gaster couldnt look away. "You do your job. The world outside becomes complicated. With the unit you do what everybody else does. "
The general, placed his healthy arm on Gaster shoulder. The human really was a hands on man. It was so strange comparing this man to Frisk, both had killed but, the child had a empty expression...if he looked cumulatively at all the life taken from all the timelines...how high would their level be?... Maybe their mind...was carrying something over. The generals next words just barely above a whisper, forcing Gaster to strain his ears to catch them. "But always ... there is always the one nagging question... why do I then hurt like this?"
Silence, Gaster curiosity took charge speaking directly out of . The kid was hurting because they couldnt save everyone. They had to leave some behind. " Doesnt it become easier the more..." The snort cut him off, it was a dangerous sound. The type of sound that send a shiver down the spine of the monster in humans skin.
"It never gets easier... well maybe if you are some psychopath then it gets easier."
Was his reserch wrong? Or maybe lv obtained from humans are different than the one obtained from monsters? Was it possible the resets didnt exactly turn the effects of lv down to lv1, but left some phantom feeling, that still affects them? He had to understand this if he was to stop them. And right now he was having a red soul with lv in front of him. One that knew how to care and worry.
"What about... what if their face is blank. Empty from any emotion?"
"Then maybe the near death is the only moment when they are sure they are still alive."
"What wouldt help them?" Gaster asked openly and hopeful he would receive an general took several moments to study the man in front of him.
"Reach out, and make them feel something."
"Would feeling hope help?"
"It would be a start, but far from the end." The general removed his hand from him, in the look he received was a understanding that made Gaster mind replay the conversation wondering if he said too much.
The general left him without a goodbye, he was told by a solider that Jeremy would pick him up. Which was a blessing for them. Which confused Gaster some bit. Asking why they told that they wouldnt have to deal any longer with the horde of lawyers Jeremy employed. Gaster didnt even knew the man did that. Apparently if he had only insisted he could have left. But instead he was highly cooperative. He didnt because the intent of all the humans around him was to keep him in was unarmed against such a powerful collected intent. If he had a bit of determination he could have already be at his lab...
Gaster fingers touched his chest.
That was unusual, he will have to do a scan. He would have awaited to feel determined at any point but...he didnt? Not even once once he was on the base... Highly interesting. Nearly as the determination keeping his soul together was far away? He tugged at it when he woke up on the base but afterwards...he forgot about it with all the other things happening around him... Why wasnt it as active as he was used from it? It was worrying.
He waited boredly, and heard them before seeing them. Actually he was tackled to the floor before he saw them. His blasters. Wing and Ding were ensuring his face would be dripping wet with slobber. He hugged the dogs back thighly. They whined, both were missing Gaster. And he felt overjoyed that he had his two friends back, petting and hugging them back he tried to convey how much he missed them.
"You arent getting in my car like that. Get a towel or shower. " Jeremy was standing arms crossed over his chest and deeply frowning. "Your stink machines are impossible. They made it their life goal to stink up my car and get mud all over my bed. I dont know where they found mud."
He gave both dogs a kiss on their forehead, trying to calm down the over excitement both had. "Thank you for taking care of them."
" They are important to you. ... "Gaster smiled, but before he could form another thank you Jeremy turned away speaking up. "Whatever. Let go."
Soon Gaster was in the back seat Wing and ding heads nuzzling into his lap, both of them napping. His hands searching through the bag beside him. Jeremy swore on his life that no one entered his lab. He spotted the scanner. Briefly he gave a look to Jeremy who was driving. Then he didnt care any longer. The human most likely snooped around anyway, but at the very least didnt let anyone beside him know or do it. He kep his knowledge under deal.
He activated the scanner and a heart shape floated out his chest.
"Holy! What are you doing back there?! What did you pull out!? Put it back in!" The car waved for a bit as Jeremy was trying to look both at the road in front and at Gaster in the back.
"Could you try not to crash." Gaster simple said reading the status. No changes in determination levels. His soul got one shard less, which meant two shards managed to heal up. Most likely during the way to the base. It didnt exactly explain why the determination didnt spike and influenced him like he noticed it had a habit of doing. It briefly made him worry, without it to hold the shards together Gaster had no illusion his soul would simple be gone. Without soul he is dead... would he turn to dust or be a corpse? Interesting question he didnt exactly wanted to know the answer to...
Was it because of the company? Would that be good for Frisk? He will have to give it some more research before he decided.
The car pulled over and Gaster looked up from the scanner.
Jeremy was staring at him.
"What?"
"... Can I see mine?"
Gaster let his soul float back inside his chest. He had not awaited Jeremy to say that.
"I dont see the point of it..."He could see the businessman about to handle for it. He didnt let him as he turned the scanner around to get it in front of Jeremy chest. "But if it means you continue driving already. Fine."
The human soul floated out, and Gaster got a in depth scan from it. He saw the man take a deep breath as he was staring at that which was his soul.
"Thats me..."
"Yes, thats the culmination of your being."
"Its not rotten."
Gaster blinked and looked at the human more carefully. The statement was said in a dead serious tone, like question a fact one knows so well and knew it was true, but suddenly wasnt any longer. "Its nothing, forget it... How do I get it back inside?"
There was doubt and some other emotions most leaning towards hurt. The soul floated back inside just as Jeremy asked how to do it.
"You are a good man." Gaster offered, only to have the man in question bark out a bitter laugh.
"For a good man I sure cannot hold a wife for long." Jeremy was dropping back into the driver seat.
"...oh... "Wait, wife, not woman or girlfriend..."Wait you are married? Since when?"
Another laugh a more warm one. "Gosh that why I love you my friend! Will have my second divorce soon, more like in few days."
"Second? You were married twice?" How did he missed that? Well maybe because he never asked Jeremy about his life? Logically he answered to himself. It still was surprising.
"It doesnt matter, it not like either believed I cheated on them with you... well my first did for a while."
Gaster opened his mouth to only close it again. As Jeremy started the car again calling it a joke, he swore to himself to never allow Jeremy and Maria to be in the same room as him. They would bond on his misery. The ride continued and continued and...
"This isnt the way to Ebott."
"Took you long enough to notice."
"Am I being kidnapped?" Gaster dead seriously asked, Wing woke up raising his head and eyeing the front seat. Gaster hand moved to rest on top of the dogs head. Keeping him calm, saying its fine with his pats. Jeremy shifted in his seat, his eyes going to the back mirror eyeing Gaster before speaking once more.
"Have to show off the co-founder to the shareholders, as well as introduce you to a recent friend who helped us with this mess." The words were spoken hastily, and Gaster debated if it will be too much effort to strangle the driver. It would be, he concluded.
"Fine." He said, fingers touching the pocket with his phone in it. It surprised the human that he wasnt protesting but only pouting. Truthfully to himself he was simply too tired. He finally let his guard down once he wasnt surrounded with red souls.
No, that wasnt it. He was a horrible monster. A coward. It was too tempting not to check the stream, postponing it because humans had things for him to do. Having something else to think about then the fate of his son. Wondering if he was already dusted... He probably wasnt. Sans was strong when he was angry. And Frisk made him angry and pushed him to a place he had nothing to lose. Had no more reason to pretend. No more reason to hope for a happy ending for even one monster.
So ...Gaster will hope instead of him.
But he was tired, maybe after a nap. Yes, that sounded doable. After a nap... He fall asleep soon.