I do not own the rights to Undertale.
Please review. Thank you.
It had been a few days since Captain Flamesman gave Gaster the unwelcome bit of news regarding a new assistant in the lab.
Subjects 4 and 9 had made preparations to advance the Soul and the CORE Projects. Materials were catalogued and requisitioned. Procedural measures had been set up for the process.
And the urchin brothers' cell had been soundproofed.
Not perfectly, but hopefully enough to where it shouldn't be a problem.
"The center of science and technology in the Underground," Gaster thought to himself, "and we can't insulate sound efficiently."
The doctor sat at his desk, looking over the plans to advance his projects and experiments, running numbers through his head.
"Doctor Gaster," Subject 4's voice came from the door. "Doctor Alphard has arrived."
"Send him in," he said, reaching for his mug.
"Yes, sir," Subject 4 said, as he went to fetch Alphard.
A short while later, he returned, another with him.
The newcomer was a short, bespectacled monster – reptilian in nature. His scaly skin was a reddish-yellow color, and he wore a brown suit and carried a briefcase. He nervously adjusted his tie with a three-fingered claw, and looked up at Gaster.
"Um, yes," he said, "I am Doctor Alphard. A-are you Doctor Gaster…?"
"I am," he said, putting down his mug. "Leave us," he said, addressing Subject 4. He turned back towards Alphard and extended his hand towards the chair in front of his desk. "Have a seat, Doctor."
Alphard complied, and sat down.
"Doctor Gaster," he said, "Let me tell you, it is an honor to be working with you. I've read of your research, and of your tactics during the war. I-"
"You were not appointed my assistant to grovel," Gaster said, holding his hand out to stop Alphard from talking. "Make no mistake, Doctor Alphard, I do not want you here."
Alphard frowned. "Oh," he said, sheepishly. "I'm, uh, I'm sorry, Doctor Gaster."
"Neither of us has a say in this matter," Gaster replied. "These are the King's orders. But do not worry. My personal feelings aside, your experience will surely be helpful."
"I will try my best, Doctor Gaster."
"Wonderful," Gaster said, taking another sip of coffee. He continued, "While you are working here, there are rules that you will follow."
"O-of course, Doctor Gaster."
"You will be provided with your own office in the laboratory," Gaster said. "You are restricted to the office, and laboratory levels 1 and 2."
"R-right," Alphard said. "1 and 2. H-how many levels are there?"
Gaster ignored his question and continued. "You are only to go to any of the other levels when authorized. You will be accompanied by one of my other assistants."
"M-might I ask why?" Alphard asked, raising a finger.
"Asgore has me working on various projects to aid the monsters' escape from the Underground," Gaster said. "Some of it is dangerous. All of it is secret. If you need to know, you will be told. If you are not told, you will not pry."
Alphard nodded.
"Your priority will be aiding in the CORE Project," Gaster said. "If you are needed elsewhere, you will be notified." He took another sip of coffee, and said, "Am I understood?"
"Yes, Doctor Gaster," Alphard answered.
"Wonderful," Gaster replied. "You will follow instructions, or there will be consequences. Am I understood?"
"Y-yes, Doctor Gaster," Alphard said, quietly.
"Wonderful," Gaster said, rising to his feet. "Did my assistant introduce himself?"
"The one with no eyes?" Alphard asked. "No, he just brought me to you."
"I think it's time you met them," Gaster responded, moving to the door. "Follow me, Doctor."
The short lizard followed Gaster to the main lab floor, where Subjects 4, 7, and 9 were all gathered.
"Gentlemen," Gaster said, walking down the stairs. "Please introduce yourselves to Doctor Alphard."
"Doctor Augen," Subject 4 said, nodding at Alphard.
"Doctor Sheh," hissed Subject 9.
"Doctor Grayse," Subject 7 said, bowing slightly.
Gaster raised a brow ridge at the name "Grayse."
"Nice to meet you all," Alphard said, bowing his head towards them. "I'm Doctor Alphard."
"Doctor Sheh," Gaster said, pointing at Subject 9. "Show Doctor Alphard to his office."
"Yes, sir," Subject 9 nodded, and slithered over to Alphard. "Follow me, Doctor."
The two walked back up to the office floor, and Gaster walked over to Subject 7.
As soon as 9 and Alphard were out of earshot, Gaster spoke in a hushed tone. "Doctor 'Grayse'? A curious choice, Subject 7."
Gaster looked Subject 7 in the eyes, the man obviously a little nervous. "Doctor Gaster," Subject 7 began. "I can explain."
"No need, Subject 7," Gaster said. "You're relapsing. Becoming that vagrant I found before you joined us."
"Doctor Gaster," Subject 7 pleaded, "Please, it's harmless. I will not jeopardize ongoing projects in any way, I assure you."
"I'm well aware of that, Subject 7," Gaster answered. He turned to Subject 4. "Subject 4, please take Subject 7 to level 6 and prepare him for reconditioning."
"Yes, sir," Subject 4 answered, and grabbed Subject 7 by the arm.
"Doctor Gaster, please!"
"Be proud, Subject 7," Gaster said, turning back to the stairs to return to his office. "You're aiding our pursuit. Now I know the conditioning has a limit, and I can improve the procedure. I will be with you soon."
"Doctor, please!" Subject 7 called out.
"Silence him," Gaster said as he walked away.
Subject 4 covered the struggling Subject 7's mouth with his hand and moved him into the elevator.
Gaster returned to his office. He closed the door and grabbed his mug. He took a sip of coffee, and sat in his chair.
"You're having a rough day, Gaster," came a deep voice from behind him.
"Oh, wonderful," Gaster said, rolling his eyes. "Just what I needed."
"So cold!" the voice came again. "After all this time apart, too!"
"Indeed, I was just beginning to enjoy the silence."
"Come now, Gaster. Is that any way to greet an old friend?"
"What do you want?" Gaster asked, his eyes focused on the papers in front of him. "Months without a word from you, and NOW you speak? What is it?"
"Mostly a chance to rub it in your face," the voice replied.
"Rub what in my face?"
"Your new pet skink," the voice said. "Doctor Alphard."
"Not my choice."
"I'm aware, Gaster. You forget that, while I can't be active for very long, I see and hear everything that goes on in here."
"I did," Gaster grumbled. "It was pleasant until you reminded me."
"You've put such restrictions on the man," the voice continued. "You couldn't even have given him some authority over the others?"
"There's only room for one authority in this lab," Gaster answered. "Multiple masters-"
"'Multiple masters confuse a dog.' Yes, yes. I know your creed."
"I would certainly hope so, given all the time we've spent together," Gaster said, standing up. He turned towards the shelf on the wall behind him.
On the shelf were books, boxes, and a fractured skull. Gaster picked up the skull and held it up.
"So NOW you face me," the skull spoke, chuckling – its eyes glowing red.
"I have no desire to continue this conversation. Say what you have to say, then be silent." Gaster answered, his eyes glowing white.
"Oh, you're glowing," the skull smiled. "This must be quite unpleasant for you."
"Losing my patience, Subject 1," Gaster scowled.
"You can't even use my real name?" Subject 1 asked, in a mock sad tone. "I'm hurt W.D."
Gaster narrowed his eyes.
"Fine," Subject 1 said, rolling his eyes. "Straight to the point, then." The bodiless skull took a more serious tone and said, "I overheard some of your discussion with Grayse."
"Subject 7," Gaster corrected.
"Yes, whatever," Subject 1 responded. He continued. "How many times has your conditioning failed now?"
"Eight times now," Gaster answered, frowning.
"Eight times," Subject 1 repeated, somewhat mockingly. "If it didn't work on me, and it didn't stick with 7 – not to mention the other six failures – why do you keep at it?"
"That's why you're no longer part of the Royal Science Corps." Gaster said, smirking somewhat. "You never quite grasped 'perseverance.'"
"Oh my," Subject 1 said, smiling. "Are you acknowledging me as the person I was, and not just an experiment number? That's a big step for you!"
Gaster scowled. He put the skull back on the shelf and turned away. "This conversation is over."
"Maybe for now, W.D.," Subject 1 shot back. "But you'll be hearing from me soon. Face it, you still need old Dr. T.N. Roman's scientific expertise! Why else would you keep his head around?"
Gaster grabbed his mug and exited his office, and the shelved skull laughed.
The laughter slowly got quieter, and the glowing red eyes dimmed and dimmed until the room was silent, and no light shone from the skull.
I think this is the first time I've had Gaster show emotion.
Anyhoo, here it is!
Sorry for the wait, all. I've got a lot going on – including two other stories that I've got a lot more invested in. Sorry, but Hands isn't too big a priority at the moment.
Anyways, tell me what you think. Good? Bad? How so? What can be improved?
Let me know. Leave a review.