So... something weird happened in the last chapter. I recieved email notifications for the reviews left on it, and I can see the number of reviews going up, but Fanfiction does not appear to actually believe these reviews exist. So even though I read them all, I was unable to reply to any of them, something that I will rectify here. Hopefully they start working properly again.
To YamiChaos27: I believe the answer to your first statement will lie in this chapter. As for the second... Humans fear what they do not understand, what they cannot control. What they fear, they attempt to destroy. There are many people who have no problem with the Monsters, especially after this long of them being peacefully on the surface. But there are many others who would jump at any excuse to take up their torches and pitchforks, as it were.
To those bringing up the game Overwatch: As I stated in the author's note at the end of the last chapter, the Overwatch game (or games or whatever) have not influenced the Overwatch organization in this story in any way. Mainly because I've never actually played any of the games, only heard of them. OVerwatch was just too good a name to pass up for my purposes here.
There were also a couple of Guests who left some pretty interesting theories as to where I'm going with this. All I have to say to them is... I guess we'll see!
Anyways, on to the actual chapter!
Toby Fox owns Undertale and all associated Characters. Vigil belongs to me.
"So… Frisk's really gone?" Kid's voice was subdued, traces of worry in his eyes as he looked over at Chara.
"For now, anyway," Chara acknowledged, scuffing her foot against the sidewalk as they walked slowly down the street. "But these guys messed with the wrong family. We're gonna get him back." She curled her hands into fists. "And they're gonna regret ever taking him."
Kid moved a little closer to her, pressing his warm body against her side.
"You okay, Chara?" he asked quietly. The girl sighed and rubbed her forehead in response.
"Not… really," she admitted. "It's a lot to take in. And if the guys who took Frisk are really trying to reawaken magic in Humans..."
"Can they even do that?" Kid asked. "I thought Humans couldn't use magic anymore."
"If Frisk actually had magic, they might. But he doesn't even have as strong Determination as he used to. But that's what worries me. What are these guys willing to try to get the reaction they want out of him?"
"Yo.. don't worry. You've got Undyne helping look for him, right? I'm sure you guys'll find him in no time!"
Chara's lips twitched into a small smile that didn't reach her eyes, and she brushed her bangs out of her face as an errant gust of wind picked up.
"I sure hope so. I think she's got like, half the police force out looking for him. Plus Dad and Vigil. Too bad he doesn't actually have magic, otherwise it's be a lot easier to find him."
"Yo, wait," Kid said suddenly a thought striking him. "You're linked with Frisk right? Can't you use that to find him?"
"That's kinda what we're doing right now. But it's not as easy as it is for Monsters."
Kid cocked his head to the side.
"What do you mean?"
Chara was silent for a moment, trying to figure out how best to explain it.
"Well, Monsters can sense magical energy, right? And if you're good enough at it, you can even tell who someone is just by their magical signature. But me and Frisk, we can't actually sense each other. We can just talk to each other in our minds."
"Isn't that even more useful though? I mean, you could just ask him to tell you where he is, right?"
"Yeah, but it doesn't reach very far. I'd have to be close enough to hear him. We might be able to find something but…"
Her voice trailed off and she tightened her fists again. As she lowered her head to stare at the pavement passing by beneath them, Kid leaned over and nuzzled at her neck softly, earning a small gasp from the robotic girl.
"Kid…" Chara looked back up at him and he pulled back slightly, sympathy shimmering in his eyes behind the red glow of his visor.
The boy opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, a loud honking noise from behind startled the two. They turned to see a police car pulling up on the sidewalk, Undyne sitting in the driver's seat. As the car came to a stop, Undyne opened the door and and got out of the vehicle, turning to face at the couple.
"Any sign of him?" Chara asked quickly, disappointed, but not surprised when the fish-woman shook her head with a scowl.
"Nothing. I don't understand it, according to Vigil, he got taken right off the streets! How the hell did nobody else notice this?"
"You're right… that doesn't make sense." Chara agreed, her gaze narrowing. "It was in broad daylight too! There's no way it went unnoticed."
Undyne huffed in irritation.
"Don't worry, I'll figure it out soon. For now though," She gestured to the vehicle. "Get in."
"Where are we going?" Kid asked, immediately complying with Undyne's order before Chara could say anything.
"Toriel wants Chara back home, and right now, it's probably best not to be wandering around alone, if there really is a bunch of guys who hate Monsters kidnapping people."
"I'm almost as strong as you are, remember?" Chara retorted, not yet moving towards the car. Kid hesitated on seeing his girlfriend's reluctance, looking back and forth between the two. "I can handle myself, and Kid too."
Undyne shook her head in exasperation.
"Just get in, will ya? I have to go talk to the mayor again after this, and I want to get that over with as fast as I can. Besides, everyone else is meeting back at your place, maybe someone else will have something by now."
Chara let out an irritated huff, but complied, walking towards the car and opening the side door, letting Kid get in first before following. Undyne slid back into her seat and pulled the car back out onto the road, taking a right at the first intersection and heading back to the Monster district.
"So," Chara said carefully, helping Kid buckle in. "What's your take on Vigil?"
"He's pretty badass," Undyne admitted, her ear fins twitching slightly. "Knows how to make an entrance too, and we can use all the help we can get. Still…"
"What?"
"He outright refused to answer a bunch of my questions." Her grip tightened on the wheel. "I don't like people keeping secrets."
"Yo, but he's on our side, right? I mean, he told you that Frisk was gone..." Kid asked.
"True, and he did seem pretty genuine why he was talking to Mom and Dad. Still, if feels kinda… convenient." Chara explained. Undyne nodded in agreement.
"He's helping us, sure. But I get the feeling there's more going on than what he's telling us."
"Wait a minute," Chara said suddenly. "We should get Sans to talk to Vigil! He's really good at this kind of thing, if there's something wrong, he'll pick up on it!"
"He's way down in the core, remember? Even with it at low power, it still interferes with cell phone signals. Asgore sent a couple of guys down to see if they could find him, but you remember how well that worked out last time."
"What does he even do down there?" Kid asked in bewilderment. "I thought nobody went into the Underground anymore!"
"We're not sure," Chara replied. "He's kind of the master of keeping things to himself. Whatever the reason, it's pretty bad timing, he'd probably make things a lot easier now."
"As long as we get Frisk back, that's what's important." Undyne's voice was mostly calm, but a faint trace of steel had entered it. "And we will get him back."
The occupants of the vehicle were silent for the rest of the trip. It wasn't much longer until Undyne pulled into the driveway of Chara's home. She turned her head so she could look at her passengers.
"Alright, punks, get going. Let me know if anyone's found anything, alright?"
Chara nodded solemnly, helping Kid out of his straps and exiting the vehicle, which quickly pulled out of the driveway, turning sharply and screeching as Undyne sped away. Kid watched after it wide-eyed.
"Yo, I'm glad she wasn't driving that fast while we were in it!"
"Good to know she has at least some self-control," Chara said wryly. "Come on, let's-'
She stooped as there was the sound of flapping from overhead. She looked up, instinctively, backing up to shield Kid in case they were under attack. Kid let out a startled gasp, and her own eyes widened at what was coming towards them.
It was Vigil, still covered in pitch-black armour, but now huge wings stretched out of his back, flapping slightly as he lowered himself to the ground beside him. They weren't normal wings, they both seemed to be made of a teal energy almost the same color as Undyne's spears.
The he landed in front of the dumbstruck teens, he stretched them, rolling his shoulders as he did so, then retracting them into his back, until they disappeared entirely.
"Yo…" Kid breathed, before beginning to bounce up and down excitedly. "Chara! You didn't tell me he had wings!"
"He… didn't." Chara managed.
"I am sorry if I took you by surprise." Vigil stated. "I'm afraid my wings are large enough that it makes having them out inside… complicated."
"Yeah, those things were massive!" Kid enthused. "I bet they could wrap all the way around you!"
While his face could not be seen, the red light shining through the slit in his helmet seemed warmer for a moment as Vigil looked at the excitable boy. Then he turned his attention to Chara.
"Did you find anything?" she asked before he could speak.
"I am afraid not, pri- Chara. I know their presence is strong within this city, though I have never been able to find their main base of operations."
"Could they have taken him outside the city?"
"They could have," Vigil acknowledged. "But I doubt it. Their strongholds around this area have ever proved elusive to find, and from the few we have found, they are the most heavily guarded and well-protected that we've ever seen. If they want what I think they do… They'll have him around here somewhere."
"Let's hope Mom or Dad found something then." Chara began to walk towards the door, Kid following close behind.
"Don't get your hopes up," Vigil warned. "If they had found something, likely they would have already notified us.
Chara did not reply, and the three stepped into the house, noting how quiet it was. They made their way into the living room to find Toriel sitting in her reading chair, setting her phone down beside her and burying her face in her hands.
"Mom?" Chara asked in concern, striding quickly over to the Boss Monster, who looked up at her voice.
"Chara? Has there been-"
"Nothing so far," The mechanical girl reluctantly replied. Toriel let out a sigh that was almost a whimper in response.
"I have been making calls," the former queen told them, tears forming at the sides of her eyes. "I have managed to secure a little help for us, but…"
"We'll bring him back, Mom." Chara sat on the armrest of the chair and wrapped her arms around Toriel, who gratefully reciprocated the hug. Kid walked over hesitantly to stand beside his girlfriend.
"Yo, don't worry. Frisk made it through the whole Underground with like, everybody trying to kill him! He'll be fine, you'll see."
"I will do everything in my power to ensure he is returned safely to you," Vigil put in, remaining on the other side of the room, and watching the scene unfolding.
Toriel managed a small smile, squeezing her daughter a little tighter.
"Thank you… all of you." Before she could continue, Asgore stepped into the room, turning everyone's attention to him. At their expectant gazes, Asgore slowly shook his head.
"I don't suppose any of you have found anything?"
"I am afraid not," Vigil said quietly. "I take it your efforts have bor little fruit as well?"
The former king nodded reluctantly.
"I spoke with Undyne, and she is going to speak with the mayor now about getting permits to have her people search the city for clues. We'll see how successful she is."
There was a sudden buzzing noise, and everyone looked to Vigil, who pressed a finger to the side of his head.
"Excuse me." He turned and walked quickly out of the room, and they could just make out his voice speaking quietly from the kitchen, though they could not make out the words.
Asgore looked to Toriel.
"Have you had any luck?"
"Some of our allies have agreed to look into the matter, but apparently none of them have heard of Overwatch before. Most have offered nothing more than sympathy… some of it was even genuine."
"Really shows who your friends are when you're in trouble, doesn't it?" Chara snarled. "Three years of peace and integration, and this is what we get for support. Pathetic."
Kid looked concernedly at her, stepping close and pressing against her side, silently lending her his support. She relaxed slightly at his touch, though her face still bore a scowl.
"Yo.. it'll be okay, you'll see," Kid murmured.
Vigil walked back into the room, his arms crossed in front of his chest.
"That was one of my contacts." Everyone looked up at that. "A few months ago, I acquired some Overwatch documents, and I've had people trying to decode them ever since. We just had a major breakthrough."
"What does that have to do with anything?" Chara demanded, her eyes narrowing.
"Chara, let him speak." Toriel looked at Vigil apologetically. "I am sorry, please continue."
Vigil inclined his head.
"There is apparently a lot of information, but the important part is that we've discovered the location of an Overwatch outpost within the city."
The other Monsters in the room stiffened at that, and Toriel rose from her seat with a gasp.
"What are we waiting for? Let's go get him!"
Vigil raised his hands placatingly at Chara's outburst.
"I still need to find out exactly where this outpost is, and any other information we have on it. I wished to tell you as soon as I heard."
"We appreciate it," Asgore rumbled. "Please, do what you must. I will inform Undyne of this, and we will see what can be done."
The black-armored man hesitated for a moment, then said carefully;
"I don't want to give you any false hope. I from what I was told, the place we found is likely only a minor outpost. I doubt that they will be holding Frisk there.
"But," he continued quickly, seeing the disappointment on the family's faces. "It is a lead regardless. They may have some information regarding where Frisk is being kept. If there is, we will find it."
With that, Vigil bowed slightly, and turned, leaving the room again.
"See, Chara?" Kid grinned. "Told ya it was gonna be fine."
"We are not done yet," Asgore said quietly, taking the phone that Toriel handed to him. "But you are correct regardless. We will have Frisk back. One way or another"
If one was to watch Asgore closely in the moment he said that, they would see a faint gleam come to his eyes. One orange, the other blue.
Author's note: Unfortunately I can't post a link, but my friend Petalthorn was kind enough to make a quick sketch of Vigil! You can check her out on Deviantart as Petalthorn, and look for the work Standing Vigil. I'm very excited to have Fanart! Oh, and she's writing her own story on here, Corrupted File Exe. I would highly recommend checking it out!