The source of the noise met her around the left rear corner of the house, in the form of eight people with covered faces and body armor, clad all in black and carrying suppressed weapons of some sort. Winter paid no mind to the type – the second one of them seemed to notice her, she snapped the whole group into marbles and watched them fall to the ground with their guns and equipment.

"More of you already? That was fast," she sighed, picking up one of the firearms to examine it. "You and your guns." This was no pistol, either; it was something closer to an assault rifle with a long magazine. "Military?" Her eyes grew steely – and somber. "Here we go again."

After gathering up their equipment and forging it into more marbles, which she dropped into a flower pot hewn from a rock on the ground, Winter went back inside. Summer was floating by the twins' bedroom door, hands glittering black and ready to strike. "Just the wind, I hope?" Her eyes went to the pot. "I guess not."

"Eight people. Possibly soldiers." She shot a glance at the marbles and frowned. "This is escalating fast."

The red-eyed woman settled on her feet and nodded an agreement. "What do we do?"

"I don't know yet." She looked at the cracked door. "Are they asleep?"

"Yes, finally."

"Let them stay that way." Winter motioned for her sister to follow. "It may be necessary to send a message to these people," she added gravely as they moved toward the living room. "A message they can understand."

No further clarification was necessary. "But we don't do that anymore," Summer countered, her face pallid. "We made a promise."

Weighed down by the vow, Winter came to a stop and stared at the floor. "I know." A series of noises – including a squeak of pain – from behind made them whirl. They found Mabel, on her knees and clutching her face after apparently falling flat on it. "What are you doing?"

A few pained noises escaped before the words managed to. "Nothing! Just... uh." She paused to wince. "I think your floor broke some part of my face. Ow."

"Were you spying on us?" Summer asked, using her power to help Mabel to her feet.

"Pfff, what? Come on! I was-" Her voice wilted under their curious, but stern stares. "...little bit. I had to pee but then I lost control of my nosy."

"Go back to bed, please," Winter said, pointing down the hall. She let her arm drop when Mabel refused to budge. "I did say please."

"Why you got a flower pot?" she countered, arms crossed in her best impression of the blue-eyed woman. "Unless you're doing some midnight gardening, which by the way I'm not gonna believe."

"Mm." Winter clammed up until a look from her sister broke the ice. "I ambushed more trying to move in on us a few minutes ago. Soldiers, it seems."

"Wow." Mabel leaned on the wall, heart quickening. "Do we—I mean, should we be doing something? 'Cause..."

More sounds, this time from the far end of the corridor. Dipper's unsteady footsteps were the source. He stumbled forth, rubbing his eyes and groaning. "Mabel, what the heck? Why are you up? Did something happen? I'm freaking out a little over here." He smiled at her hug of apology. "It's fine. Seriously, what's up?" he asked again, looking toward the older twins.

"More people with guns," Summer replied with a smile, doing her best to make it seem less serious with a chipper tone. "Sister stopped them outside."

He acknowledged that with a surprised "Welp," and glanced around. "No sleep for us, I guess."

Winter disagreed with him, though her words ended up more resigned than assuring. "It's fine. Go back to bed." No surprise that neither of the Pines moved an inch. "I don't even know why I tried that."

"Yeah, I wouldn't call 'being hunted down by the government' fine," he said, scratching at his messy hair. "Even if it doesn't bother you guys, it kinda bothers me."

"And me!" Mabel added happily. After a second she frowned to herself, realizing how painful her statement actually was. "This blows. Bro, we gotta do something."

Dipper nodded. "I'm all for fighting back, but how? We don't have powers." Suddenly his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. "But we do have a weapon!" he exclaimed, walking quickly away from them down the hall. Before anyone could ask for clarification he was gone, but returned again almost as fast. Journal three was in his grasp.

His sister met him with hands on hips and a mostly-serious scold. "Dang it, man! How many times I gotta tell you to stop leanin' on that thing so hard?"

"If they're going to use guns, I'm going to use this," he countered simply, clutching it like a precious treasure. "Unless you two want to give us some heat?"

Mabel unleashed a shrill squeal of delight at the notion, causing the older twins to raise eyebrows. "I don't think that's such a good idea," Summer said, tacking on a nervous chuckle. "But maybe Dipper has a point. Why not use the power of Gravity Falls to help us?"

"Mm." Winter cast her eyes at the floor in thought. "I suppose it couldn't hurt." She looked down at the journal, then its bearer. "What did you have in mind?"

A self-satisfied smirk was on Wendy's face as she carefully picked her way through the woods. She'd lost track of time toying with the Sheriff and driving around – confident it'd take him at least until morning to find the car, her next goal was to get back and bum a ride off Stan or Soos to go home. "Man," she said with another smile, "I wish I could see the look on his face. Poor guy must be ready to pass out."

The image faded against a backdrop of concentration. With only a pen light to see, Wendy had to be more careful than usual poking around in the forest. Progress was slow. In a few minutes the redhead had to admit it; she'd gotten herself lost. "Oh, man, what a-" The beam had come to rest on a yellow arrow with writing which cut her complaint short. "This way to the Mystery Shack. Neat." Whistling a little tune, she strolled in the direction it pointed. Something dragged at her mood, however; with each step it became heavier. Before long it had enough mass to form a question: what had she gotten herself into?

An answer would have to wait. Ahead were lights that should not have been, casting a pall through the trees. Soon it became obvious these were cars in the clearing. Nervous, Wendy put away her light and sneaked closer. Two black SUVs took shape as she got to the treeline – the kind that screamed law enforcement. Her heart shot into her throat. "Oh, crap." She scanned the area and noticed two people standing guard on the grass near the side porch, each with a terrible-looking gun. Her first instinct was to rush in and see what was going on. Then she thought of her father and brothers. As far as she knew, nobody had any clue of her involvement. They would still be safe. She would still be safe. The concept of throwing all of that away gave her immense pause.

Then she thought of something else, three words she'd heard twice that made the decision even harder. "We ride together," she mumbled with a scowl. There was no sign of Soos or Stan. Even after loitering in cover for a few moments, watching, she found it hard to tell exactly what was going on. A noise from her cellphone made her jump; time stopped as she checked to see if anyone had heard it. The sentries hadn't moved.

Equal parts annoyed and relieved, she checked it and found a text from Robbie. "What the... 'bby why u no luv me'," she read lowly. "I swear to god, boy, if you don't—whatever. Man, I wish I knew their phone number. I sure could use a hand." Fuming, she tried to figure out what to do – and then her brain delivered a helpful memory. She did know the twins' number, even if she didn't. Dipper had used her phone to call them. "Oh yeah." With shaking fingers she pored over her call history for a strange number, finding one and calling seconds later. "Please let this be right," she pleaded quietly through the rings.

"Hello?"

Relief washed over her – it was one of the twins, but she couldn't figure out which. Not that it mattered; help would soon be on the way. "Hey, uh, could one of you-" Wendy abruptly fell silent. Something hard was poking at the back of her skull, only just now becoming apparent through her thick red locks. "Uh..."

"I thought I heard a phone go off. Who are you talking to?" a woman asked – a woman pointing a suppressed UMP at Wendy's head. Her face hidden by a black balaclava, she was fully outfitted for combat. "And what are you doing here?"

Her racing heart now pumped ice, but Wendy maintained enough of her wits to utter one more sentence. "Hey, come back. You left something really important," she said quickly, then closed her phone. Now she groped for an excuse that wouldn't introduce a bullet to her skull. "Sorry, just calling a friend. I uh, I work here. We left some stuff."

"Is that so?" Her assailant's tone was a little softer now. "Hmm. Keep your hands where I can see them and walk toward the building." Wendy complied, moving along with arms raised. The sentries by the porch walked over when they saw her emerge from the woods and also aimed their weapons. "Hold it, guys. Just a teenager. Says she's an employee."

"So, uh, what's going on here?" the redhead asked with a nervous smile.

"Not your problem," one sentry said. Like the woman they had balaclavas hiding their faces, but both were obviously men. "You got some ID?"

"Just my learner's permit... does that count?"

"Yeah. Show me." He took the card and shone a light on it. "Hey, I need a background check on a Wendy Chloe Corduroy," he said, head tilted as he used his headset. "Address is 409 Mongoose Road, Gravity Falls, Oregon, 97701. Birthday is 9/3/1999."

"You can drop your arms now," the woman advised. "Just call me Jane, all right?"

"Sure." Wendy focused on trying to calm down. From here, she could see people moving past the windows inside with flashlights. "Am I in trouble?"

"Nah, but maybe you can give us a hand. How well do you know Stanford Pines?"

"Kinda well, I guess?" she replied, rubbing her forearms and glancing around while she tried to figure out how much to spill. "I mean, he is my boss. I'm friends with his great niece and nephew." She jumped when the sentry handed back her permit.

"She's clean," he said. "Sorry about the scare, miss."

"All right, then." Jane bade the redhead to follow her inside while the guards went back to their positions. "You wouldn't know of any secrets in this old house, would you? Trap doors, explosives, entrances behind walls. That sort of stuff?"

"What the heck, man?" Wendy said, pouring on the disbelief. Two more with lights walked by as they entered the living room. "In this place?"

Jane chuckled lightly. "I figured. Worth a shot. Look, we're gonna keep you here for a bit, so just stay out of the way. Once we're done you can go home."

She smiled anxiously, trying to keep the panic squashed down. "Cool. Can I go get a soda?"

"Sure, but you're giving me your cellphone first." Jane squinted faintly at Wendy's squirming reluctance, but she finally gave up the device and shuffled out of the room. "Huh." She set her weapon aside and checked the number before activating her headset. "Hey, can you give this phone number to our PRISM liaison?" she asked. "It's 541-555-2293." Her eyes went to the entryway as she waited for information. When she got it, her eyes widened. "Are you sure?" Another confirmation caused her to toss the phone down, grab her UMP and walk into the kitchen. Wendy was seated at the table, trembling hands clasped in her lap. "You know Summer and Winter Weiss?"

The redhead slumped forward a bit. "There goes the act, I guess." She glanced up to see the gun pointed her way. "Really, man? You're gonna shoot me?"

Jane raised the muzzle further, aiming at Wendy's head. "Who were you talking to?" Even at gunpoint, she refused to speak again. "Damn it!" She went back to the headset. "Kepler, I need to know if you've found the sisters yet." She blinked at the silence – not static, just dead quiet – that was the reply. "Kepler? Hello?" With a growl, her attention went back to Wendy. "You better start talking."

"I ain't a sellout," she countered, her jade eyes hard as iron. "Shoot me if you want. If you do, you're gonna regret it. I freakin' guarantee you."

Before Jane could reply, the lights went out. "What... you sit there!" she yelled, sweeping the UMP around as she flipped on her shoulder-mounted light. "On me, kitchen and side entryway! Now!" Like the call to Kepler before, though, she only got silence from her radio. "...oh my god. This cannot be happening." Several tense moments passed. Not knowing what else to do, she took a crouched position in the doorway, looking out for threats.

"I am running out of patience with you people."

"What the hell?!" As she turned to face the new voice, her gun flew from her hands and out the open window. She found herself being lifted by an invisible force a second later. "What in god's name is going on?!" she screamed, flailing in the air. Her body, equipment, clothing and all, compressed into a marble and dropped noisily to the floor.

Wendy had been staring at the silhouette as soon as her sight adjusted, but didn't bother to get out of the chair or move. She watched it leave, floating an inch above the floor. A minute or so later the lights were back on. "Hey," she said with a wave as the shadow – who turned out to be Winter – returned. "Thanks." Pent-up fear began to seep out. "They know that I know. Guess I'm about as well off as you guys are now."

"Someone was going to figure it out sooner or later." Winter magically dropped the former operator in her t-shirt pocket. "Where are Stan and Soos?"

"No idea. Those guys didn't know either." Her eyes lit up as she stood. "Bet you they're in the lab." As the two women went to look, Wendy's eyes lingered on the scattered marbles on the floors of the rooms they went through, including several in the gift shop. A chill went up her spine. "Man, the way you can just fold people up into nothin' is kinda freaking me out."

"Better folded up than dead," Winter replied solemnly, examining the vending machine. "I don't know the code." She beat her fist lightly against it a few times, wondering whether or not to change it so they could enter.

However, no magic or code was necessary, as the machine emitted a heavy thunk and swung open after she stopped knocking. Stan was behind it. "Wait, are they gone?" he asked, looking around. "Also, when did you two get here?"

"Half an hour ago, I guess?" Wendy said with a weak shrug. "I called for help, that's why Winter's here." She hugged herself while taking a few steps away from the secret entrance. "So, uh, what am I supposed to do now? Do I go back home? Would these jerks chase me there?"

Stan rubbed at his eyes for a while. "I wouldn't doubt it. Anything they could use to get to me, they will." A worried Soos arrived just as he finished speaking. "There you are. Coast is clear."

"Hey hey, that's great. We all good up here? Huh? Huh?" To sway things in a positive direction, he gave everyone two thumbs up. "Yeah?" Their expressions made his heart sink. "No, huh. Aw, dudes, nah. Turn those frowns and/or expressionless faces upside down!"

Wendy scoffed, turning and walking away. "We'll manage, man. Get outta here before you end up like me."

"She's got a point, Soos," Stan admitted with a sigh. "Nobody knows you were here. Maybe you should go home."

Soos needed a minute to screw up enough courage. "No way, Mister Pines. I said I'd stay here and I am. Even if we have to hang out in the weird science place."

"All right, but I am not responsible for anything that happens to you from here on out. You get hurt, don't come cryin' to me for workers' comp," he replied, grinning as he cleaned his glasses. Humor left him when he looked at Wendy, who stood by the door with her back to them. "Hey, kid, you okay over there?"

Her answer was lifeless and weary. "Not really. I can't go home. Otherwise I'll get my family killed. Least that's what it feels like. And no offense, but that underground thing creeps me the heck out."

"Come with me, then." They all looked at Winter, who regarded them blankly. "We have room. If you're worried about dragging your family into it, stay the night at our house. In the morning we can try to figure out something else."

"I... all right, sure. I can get grounded once it's over." She produced a wispy laugh while moving toward the living room. "Let me find my phone and we can go."

"...this is starting to get bad for people I never wanted it to get bad for," Stan grumbled to himself. "We're gonna drop by in the morning, all right? I think we need to have a chat. All of us. Right now I'm too tired to see straight."

"I didn't know you could see straight," Soos chimed in with a smile.

"Don't get smart with me. Your life is in my hands for the next few hours."

Soos and Winter cracked a tiny smile at his quip. The redhead came back, stuffing her phone into a pocket. "All right, I guess. See you guys tomorrow? I mean, today. I... whatever." She blinked a few times when Stan came over and gave her a hug. "Whoa. You okay, man? You're showin' some concern. Not like you."

He snickered and pulled away. "I know. We gotta end this stuff quick before my heart thaws out."

The blue-eyed woman took a few minutes to gather up all the human marbles to take home with her. Goodbyes were said, and in a flash Winter and Wendy were off through the night sky.

When they landed, the former entered first just in case something had gone awry. Fortunately, all was as she left it: Dipper and Mabel asleep in an adorable pile on one end of the living room sofa, while Summer read the journal on the other. "Oh, welcome back, sister," she greeted, not yet looking up. "Did everything go-" Wendy's presence caused a confused stare. "I guess not."

"She's going to stay with us for now." Winter nodded over at her. "One of us will set up a room for you in a moment."

Wendy nodded back, almost idly, while pawing at the back of her head. "Thanks. Wish we knew what they were planning."

"I..." 'Agree' was supposed to be next, but something made her stop. A hand went to her chest and came to rest on the marble still in her pocket. "Perhaps we might find out. Summer, would you see to Wendy?" She floated quickly down the hall and took a right, soon ending up in one of the unused bedrooms. Once the door was shut, she tossed the marble to the floor and let it bounce a few times before returning Jane to her original state. Her body dropped like a stone, leaving her woozy – and that gave Winter enough time to take her headset, sidearm, and balaclava. To keep the intimidation factor high, she left the lights off.

"Where am I?" the operator finally asked, holding her head.

"Does it matter?"

"You!" Jane instinctively reached for her pistol and headset, freezing when she felt neither. "...crap." She scrambled away from Winter's shadow into the nearest corner. "What is this? An interrogation? I won't talk. I'm more afraid of my boss than you, lady."

Winter cracked her neck a few times. "I can fix that. I'd rather have a conversation first."

"To hell with you! What did you do with my team? With Kepler? With Charlie?"

"Mm." Hands behind her back, she began to pace around the room. Her eyes never left Jane. "Let's just say they will not find the bodies. I'm not sure you understand who you're dealing with."

"How did you—okay, Charlie's kind of a dope, but Kep..." Scrambling, she got to her feet and stared Winter down. "How?"

"What does your government want with me?"

Stung by the steel in her tone, Jane stepped back and rested against the wall. "What do you think? If the project became public knowledge, society would collapse. There are things nobody should know."

Winter stopped walking and crossed her arms. "So the plan is to kill us all, then?"

A cruel grin appeared on Jane's face. "You got it. You fools are so dead. Doesn't matter that you've gotten away today. You'll screw up eventually. Hell, we'll just send Delta Force or something, erase you guys real good." The bravado didn't last long when Winter picked up the pistol at her feet. "Wait. No. No."

She paid no mind, instead examining the gun and its suppressor. "I am so dead?" Now the pistol was pointed at the left side of her head. Stone-faced, she pulled the trigger. Unlike the first time, the awful thing inside of her was ready for the impact. There was blood but her skull remained whole, only moving a bit with the shot. With a nonchalant toss, she rid herself of the gun and approached Jane, who was now cowering in terror on the floor. "I don't think I am. Now listen closely. I only look human, and I would hate to be harassed by your government until I feel the need to call my home world and reduce your planet to dust."

"What in god's name are... are you guys extraterrestrials? No wonder your backgrounds were so empty."

"I suppose we are." Winter rubbed gently at the wound while waiting on it to mend. "This is my first and only offer to you and whoever you work for. Leave us alone – and by us, I mean Gravity Falls. If you do not, there will be consequences. Will you deliver my message?"

"What if I say no?" Jane's attempt to sound defiant failed before the first word fully escaped her lips; by now her teeth were chattering.

"Take a guess."

"Uh, I..." This wasn't a subject she wanted to think about too hard. Instead she swallowed her fear and stood again. "Okay, fine. Give me my equipment and I'll tell them."

Winter shook her head. "No. I want you gone first." A quick snap later, Jane was a marble again. After making sure the bleeding had stopped, she walked out and bumped into Summer, who had been listening through the door to their conversation. "Are they still asleep?"

"Wendy isn't. I had to beg her not to come check on you. Mabel and Dipper are still out cold," she confirmed, frowning at the state of Winter's head. "I certainly wish you'd stop shooting yourself."

She shrugged while looking down the hallway. "Better me than her. I'm taking our guest out of town. I'll make a door out the back. Seal it up after I leave."

Summer smiled oddly, shifting on the balls of her bare feet. "Okay. How did it go?"

"I've got an offer for our attackers. Hopefully they'll listen. That's what the gunshot was for, to prove my point. Perhaps it'll be enough to get everyone off of our backs for the moment." Her head cocked at the red-eyed woman's strange behavior. "What?"

"Nothing!" she chirped, though her false grin crumbled under Winter's stoic gaze. "Well. That day we went to the hospital... the kids left something out of their stories. Something I read in the journal." Summer's face became grave. "There's a being here called Bill Cipher. It can invade people's minds. Why didn't they mention it to us?"

Winter's blank face gained a surprised tint. "That is a very good question. I'll look at it when I get back. Perhaps we can use it to our advantage."

"I don't think that's such a good idea," her sister replied warily. "Not based off what I've been reading."