S1-120
Dimensional error
10:19 AM
03/29/3272
Yionus's moon, Zuter - IMC testing site Echo-918
Chamber 137
Music
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - Briefing Room & Ambience Theme
As Michael was checking up on the World Gate, the Shadow came in, holding the Dimension Key to the timeless void. "Michael, I think we should give this one another go."
"Why? It's empty."
"Maybe it's not as empty as we thought."
"{That's a good point.}"
Michael dragged a hand down his face. "Alright." He sighed. "Let's check it out." The Shadow engaged the Key and opened the green portal to the timeless void.
Dimension 1
Timeless void
Music
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - Inside a Leviathan Seed
They entered, and Michael had Rocco deploy a locator arch so they wouldn't lose track of where the portal site was. "Right. Let's take a look around."
After a while of searching, Michael saw something in the distance. He activated his Cloak and got closer to it, only to see that it was the Shadow. "Are you trying to mess with me?"
Michael put up his hands in apology. "No, sorry, I thought I saw something, but it turned out to be you."
"That's understandable." The Shadow's attention was drawn to something behind the Pilot. "Hey, what's that?"
Michael turned to see what the Shadow was looking at. It looked like a short entity that appeared mostly pure black, with the exception of what looked like a blue scarf and pure red legs. The entity was also surrounded in what appeared to be multiple instances of what looked like the word 'ERROR', blinking in and out of existence. "OK, I'm pretty sure that wasn't there before."
It was then that Rocco appeared. "{Mind if I check it out?}"
"Be careful."
Rocco silently floated closer and closer to the entity, seeing it in greater detail, and of course hearing a male voice that seemed to be... heavily distorted and glitched. "N̷-̸n̷-̶n̶-̴n̷-̵n̵o̷w̷ ̷t̵h̴e̸-̴e̴-̶e̸n̴,̴ ̸i̵f̸ ̸I̷-̸I̸-̴I̶ ̵w̴e̷r̸-̶r̴-̷r̵-̸r̶-̶r̸e̷ ̶t̷o̷ ̴t̴r̷a̷c̸k̴ ̶d̸o̸-̵o̴-̸o̷-̵o̸w̸n̸ ̵w̴h̵a̸t̸e̵-̵t̶e̸-̸t̴e̷-̸t̵e̷-̷t̵e̴v̵e̷r̸ ̴i̷s̶ ̸g̶-̸g̶-̵g̵-̵g̴-̵g̵o̸i̷n̷g̶ ̴t̴h̶r̴-̴r̷-̶r̸-̵r̵o̵u̸g̸h̵ ̵A̴-̶A̸-̵A̴-̴A̷-̴A̵U̵s̷,̴ ̵I̷ ̸s̶h̸o̵u̶-̵o̸u̸-̷o̸u̶-̷o̵u̸-̸o̶u̸l̴d̴ ̷b̴e̶ ̵a̵b̶l̵e̷ ̷t̶o̵-̶t̸o̸-̴t̶o̶-̸t̴o̴ ̴e̸-̴e̶-̷e̸-̸e̶-̸e̵r̷a̵d̶i̵c̸-̸c̵-̴c̵-̸c̵-̶c̵a̵t̶e̸ ̴i̸t̴-̸i̵t̷-̷i̵t̴.̴" The entity appeared to be a skeleton in hobo-like clothing.
Somehow, it heard Rocco blink, then turned around to face the Ghost. The face on the skull was nowhere near natural, as it appeared to have a smooth surface instead of regular skull facial features, while also sporting visibly red eyeholes, yellowish teeth that didn't appear to have a seam through the middle, and strange blue tattoo-like marks going down from the eyeholes, which themselves held two different eyes, with the right eye holding a simple dot and the left having a bigger blue circle outlined in the same yellowish color as the teeth.
"{Who... WHAT are you?!}"
"I̷-̸I̶-̶I̶-̷I̵-̷I̸ ̷w̶o̷u̸l̴d̵'̵v̷e̸-̴l̶d̵'̴v̵e̷-̸l̶d̶'̵v̵e̸-̴l̷d̶'̸v̵e̷ ̸a̵s̶k̴e̸d̵ ̸y̵-̷y̴-̶y̵-̶y̸o̷u̶ ̷t̴h̴e̸ ̸s̵-̸s̷-̵s̶a̶m̸e̷ ̷t̸h̸i̵-̴i̶-̸i̸-̴i̵-̸i̶n̷g̷.̷ ̷O̷h̸ ̴w̶-̶w̶-̸w̵-̷w̷-̵w̴e̴l̸l̸.̸" From the entity's yellowish and red fingers came what looked like blue-colored strings, which tried to cling onto Rocco, but the Ghost was too small and too fast.
Rocco managed to get away, hightailing it back to his Guardian. "What happened?"
"{I think it tried to catch me and EAT me!}"
Michael looked at the entity, who was approaching them with curiosity. "Nobody hurts my Ghost and gets away with it." With that, Michael pulled out his Spitfire and lined up the Threat Scope dead center on the skeleton-like entity... which wasn't highlighted blue or red in its AR display. "Stay back, and identify yourself, or I will open fire!"
"G̵-̶g̷-̵g̵-̴g̵o̵ ̶a̷h̶e̴a̶-̸e̶a̷-̶e̶a̷-̵e̵a̶d̷ ̶a̷-̶a̷-̷a̶-̷a̶n̷d̵ ̶t̵r̸y̴-̸r̶y̶-̷r̷y̷-̵r̴y̸-̶r̴y̴ ̵i̴t̶.̸"
Managing to piece together the entity's distorted and broken speech, Michael let loose with his weapon, but it didn't seem to be doing anything. He put away the Spitfire and pulled out the Charge Rifle, built up a beam that could pelt through the military-grade AT-cobalt composite armor of a Titan, and fired it... but it didn't seem to affect the entity. "Wha... How... Uh... WHAT ARE YOU?!"
"Y̶-̴y̷-̵y̵-̴y̸o̴u̶ ̴d̷o̶n̸'̷t̸ ̸k̷n̷-̷k̵n̶-̷k̵n̴-̶k̷n̷-̵k̷n̴o̵w̸?̵ ̷T̴h̷-̸t̷h̶-̶t̶h̸-̵t̷h̶e̷y̷ ̷c̵a̵l̸l̴-̴l̶-̷l̶-̸l̴ ̸m̸e̴ ̶E̶r̸r̷o̷r̴.̶"
"Well, I can see that. It's literally written all over you."
The skeletal entity appeared to be... less than amused. "L̸-̴l̴-̶l̶-̴l̶e̵t̸'̴s̵ ̶s̵e̸e̷ ̵y̷o̵u̴-̷o̵u̵-̸o̴u̷-̵o̷u̴ ̸h̶-̷h̷-̸h̷a̶n̴d̵l̶e̴ ̴T̸-̴T̷-̶T̶-̸T̵-̵T̸-̸T̸H̷I̵S̸!̵"
Music
Metroid: Other M - Enemy Encounter
The entity sent out blue threads that seemed to move like snakes, but Michael formed the Ward of Dawn for protection. "O̵-̴O̸-̵O̸-̵O̵-̷O̷K̷,̵ ̸I̴'̶v̷e̷ ̶n̵e̷v̷-̷e̵v̴-̵e̷v̵-̴e̸v̷-̸e̷v̵e̴r̴ ̵s̴e̷e̶n̶ ̴t̷h̷a̴t̸ ̴t̴-̴t̵-̸t̷r̶i̷c̶k̶ ̴b̶e̶f̶o̸r̷e̷.̶ ̶T̵h̶a̵t̷'̵s̷-̴s̷-̵s̸-̵s̷-̵s̵-̴s̴ ̴n̶e̶w̴.̷"
"It's called the Ward of Dawn. Get used to it. Death, you know what to do."
Music
Super Paper Mario - River Twygz Bed
"Let's do this." The Shadow turned into a black particle trail, zoomed out of Michael's Ward of Dawn, then reformed right behind the entity, which felt his dark presence.
The entity turned around, and the Shadow was staring down into its red eyes. An unfathomably massive surge of fear started rushing through the entity, causing it to fall and try to scoot away, with an arm up to try and shield itself from any attack that could come. "G̴-̵G̸-̷G̶-̴G̸E̴T̴ ̶A̴W̷A̵Y̸-̵A̸Y̷-̴A̷Y̶-̴A̵Y̶-̸A̶Y̶-̵A̴Y̸ ̷F̵R̴O̶M̸ ̷M̷-̴M̷-̵M̵-̷M̸-̴M̷E̵!̸ ̷A̷A̴A̷A̷A̴A̷A̵A̷A̶H̸H̴H̷H̵H̷H̶H̶H̷H̴H̸H̵H̷!̶"
Music
Titanfall - You Are Marked For Death
Michael came by, having formed three Andromeda Cannons. "I think it's about time you start explaining yourself. Make it quick, and make it clear."
"A̷l̸r̶i̸-̵r̷i̸-̵r̷i̵-̸r̵i̴-̵r̸i̵g̷h̷t̸,̶ ̸a̵l̴r̵i̴g̸h̸t̴-̷t̵-̷t̴-̵t̴-̶t̵-̸t̸!̵ ̸M̵y̵ ̶n̸-̴n̵-̸n̸-̷n̶a̸m̶e̷ ̴i̵s̷-̶s̸-̷s̴ ̵E̶r̵r̶o̸r̷ ̴S̸a̷n̴s̸,̵ ̵m̵y̷ ̴s̶o̵l̵e̷ ̵p̶-̷p̷-̸p̵-̸p̵-̵p̶-̷p̶-̸p̴u̶r̵p̴o̵s̴e̷ ̷i̵s̶ ̵t̷-̵t̵-̸t̷-̶t̸o̶ ̷d̸e̶s̶t̷r̴o̵-̷s̸t̴r̷o̵-̴s̵t̸r̸o̸-̸s̷t̵r̴o̵-̶s̸t̶r̶o̶y̵ ̵A̷U̷s̷.̴"
"What sort of grudge do you have against the Aurora Units? Better question; How do you know about the Aurora Units?"
"A̴-̷A̶-̷A̵-̵A̷-̸A̴u̷r̷o̸-̷r̶o̸-̷r̴o̵-̶r̸o̸-̸r̸o̵r̶a̵ ̷U̷n̵i̴-̴n̶i̵-̴n̶i̸-̴n̵i̴-̸n̷i̵t̸s̸?̵ ̷W̵-̵w̴-̶w̴-̴w̸h̶a̸t̶ ̸a̸r̸e̷ ̷A̴u̴r̶o̵r̵a̷-̶r̷a̶-̵r̷a̷-̵r̴a̵ ̶U̴-̴U̴-̷U̵-̵U̸-̷U̵n̴i̶t̸s̸?̷"
"Biological supercomputers."
"I̴ ̷s̸u̵-̶u̵-̸u̷p̴p̶o̸s̵e̷ ̴y̵o̸u̵ ̷l̸-̵l̵-̶l̸-̴l̶e̴a̴r̵n̵ ̶s̷o̶m̸e̵t̶h̷-̶t̶h̴-̷t̴h̸-̴t̶h̵-̵t̴h̴i̸n̸g̷ ̴n̷e̶w̶ ̷e̷v̷e̸r̶y̴-̶r̸y̵-̶r̸y̶d̷a̵y̸.̷" When they least expected it, Error Sans lashed out the blue strings that came from his fingertips, trying to wrap around something he thought was in front of Michael's chest, only to reveal nothing.
Music
none
"U̵h̷.̶.̷.̵"
"I'm guessing the different laws of our realities are to blame here."
With 'Error Sans' now in their custody, Michael and the Shadow headed back to the spot the closed portal was located. Michael took out the Dimension Key, and opened the rift.
Yionus's moon, Zuter - IMC testing site Echo-918
Chamber 137
Upon entering the dimension, Error Sans seemed to fluctuate, and it seemed painful, as evidenced by his screams. Once it ended, the entity appeared to have become stable. "That... really hurt... Wait a minute... My voice! I... I'm not glitching anymore!" That appeared to be true, and the blinking instances of the word 'ERROR' appeared to be gone.
"Looks like your world was making you unstable, and by bringing you to our dimension, the laws of our reality stabilized you." Michael surmised.
"Looks like it. So, this world isn't data?"
Michael was shocked by this revelation. "Wait... Was that timeless void just some empty virtual world?"
"You're saying that your world is... made of matter?"
"{Yeah, what's the problem with that?}"
"This explains everything!" Error Sans jumped back through the portal, but didn't seem to become unstable again. He was now permanently stable! He came back through the portal just before Michael used the Chrono-Extractor to take the Dimension Key and close the rift. "What is that thing?"
"This is a Dimension Key. My machine, the World Gate, uses them to open portals to other dimensions. This gauntlet, known as the Chrono-Extractor, pulls out the Dimension Key, closing the portal."
"Impressive technology. Now, something else... You don't look like a Sans, but you seem to exhibit their major traits."
Michael raised an eyebrow in confusion. "The word 'sans' means 'without'. I don't understand what you mean. Anyway, my name is Michael W Johnson. This is my other half, the Shadow, but he prefers the name 'Death'. He controls an army called the Taken."
"I guess we both have some explaining to do." Error Sans stated.
"Yeah, but you've only got seven hours before you need to return to your timeless void and come back." The Shadow said.
"In seven hours, the conflicting realities will begin tearing you apart from the inside. Returning to your own dimension undoes the damage, and resets the seven hour counter." Michael added.
Error Sans nodded in acknowledgement. "OK, that's new."
10:37 AM
03/29/3272
Music
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - Briefing Room & Ambience Theme
After the group had exchanged all relevant information, they started piecing everything together. "You might have it a bit lucky. Whatever event that created the Monsters and magic in the multiverse I reside in seems to have been replaced with the creation of your Traveler here in your world, which would explain a lot." Error Sans explained.
"If that's so, then think of your multiverse as outcome A. Our world seems to be outcome B."
"{If that's true, then it can be assumed that we were once the same, but some force had to make the decision of whether to create Monsters and magic, outcome A, or to create the Traveler and the Darkness, outcome B.}" Rocco added.
Error Sans nodded in understanding. "Surprisingly, that makes sense."
"Imagine a tree, the first tree, producing two seeds. Both seeds grew into new trees. The tree that is your multiverse has been growing more and more branches; these alternate universes of yours. The tree that is our world grew no branches... at least, none that stayed. You see, it seems different with our world. Any alternative actions seem to just erase themselves immediately, falling off from the tree as a single splinter and rotting away." Michael explained.
"I see. What about those two extra-dimensional prisoners of yours? Shouldn't they be catatonically ripped apart from the inside by now?" Error Sans asked.
"Not really. The properties of the Dreadnaught within Saturn's rings seem to make it a dimension-neutral zone." The Shadow responded.
"A dimension-neutral zone? That would mean that your Dreadnaught is basically a reality-flexible area, keeping any different realities isolated for the duration of their stay." Error Sans surmised.
The Shadow nodded. "Exactly."
"Fascinating." Error Sans was immensely intrigued. "So, those weapons you used in my Anti-Void-"
"You mean that timeless void? Is that what you call it? The name seems to heavily contradict with the place itself. The name 'Anti-Void' would obviously indicate that it isn't a void at all." Michael pointed out.
"Seems like I have to work on my naming skills. Reminds me of Asgore..." He trailed off.
Michael didn't catch that last part. "What was that?"
"I have to work on my naming. You're right; the name and the place are contradictory to each other. I never thought of it until now."
"As you were saying?" The Shadow urged Error Sans to continue.
"Oh yeah. Those weapons Michael used in what you call a timeless void. What are they?"
At this point, Michael took out his weapons and laid them on the floor. "These are my Pilot weapons. They consist of the Spitfire, the Hammond P2016, and the Charge Rifle. The Spitfire is an anti-personnel fully automatic light machine gun, the Hammond P2016 is a semi-automatic pistol used in situations where my primary weapon runs out of ammo mid-firefight, and the Charge Rifle is an Anti-Titan directed-energy weapon."
"Whoa. You've got some heavy weaponry right here, but... how did it not hit me?"
Michael shrugged. "I don't know. The Spitfire can punch holes through Pilot armor and Titan circuitry, but it just seemed to phase through you. The Charge Rifle can blast through the armor of a Titan, but it didn't even affect you."
"It also looks like you had some weird Gaster Blasters."
This further confused the Pilot. "'Gaster Blasters'? What?"
It was then that two black, unidentifiable skull-like entities appeared, but they weren't made of Light or Darkness. In response, Michael formed two Andromeda Cannons. "OK, your Gaster Blasters look especially different."
"They're not... 'Gaster Blasters', whatever those are. These are my Andromeda Cannons."
Error Sans let out an impressed whistle. "Andromeda Cannons, huh? Those sound powerful."
"I have an idea on how we can compare them." The Shadow stated.
11:02 AM
03/29/3272
The Dreadnaught
Hall of Souls
Music
Kingdom Hearts Re:Coded - Castle Oblivion
They arrived in the Dreadnaught, and a couple of Taken Phalanxes were waiting with their shields ready to block the attacks.
Error Sans went first, forming a 'Gaster Blaster'. A black beam hit the shield, but it didn't seem to do much.
Michael followed it up with one of his Andromeda Cannons, charging and releasing a deadly blast. The massive beam of Light that shot out of the Andromeda Cannon completely destroyed the shield, took out the Taken Phalanx behind it, and tore a massive hole in the wall behind where the Phalanx once stood.
"OH HOLY CRAP!" Michael turned to Error Sans, the Eye of the Traveler still aglow. "OK, making the Traveler was the better choice!"
"Compared to what I'm truly capable of, that was just a wave of a finger." Michael chuckled, the glow in his eye dimming out.
"I see! And your world, it isn't just some alternate universe. Your world is its own universe!"
"{Glad you see it the way it is.}"
"That's Rocco; my Ghost. Ghosts originated from the Traveler itself. They seek out their Guardian companions from the ancient dead, and resurrect them, pulling their souls from the afterlife back to the land of the living. Me and my team were dead for centuries before our Ghosts found us. If they hadn't... well, I never would've gotten the chance to propose to Samus..."
"Wow. That's just... Wow. This world is much more expansive than what I'm used to seeing."
Michael shrugged. "I've seen a few other dimensions myself, but your void realm is the first I've seen."
"The first? What do you mean?"
11:13 AM
03/29/3272
Yionus's moon, Zuter - IMC testing site Echo-918
Chamber 137
Music
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - Briefing Room & Ambience Theme
They returned to the World Gate, and Michael held out what Dimension Keys were created so far. "Take your pick."
"This one with the black background and red blocks looks interesting." Error Sans picked out the Key that led back to where he came from.
"That one leads back to your dimension. Try another."
Error Sans procured another Key. "What about this one with the weird bird symbol?"
"That leads to a dimension where Earth is replaced with a world of mountaintops called Atmos. That symbol is the insignia of that world's protectors, who call themselves the Storm Hawks."
"Let's take a quick look."
Dimension 4
Planet Atmos - Far Side
Warpgate Terra
Music
Super Mario Galaxy - Space Junk Road
The portal opened, and the group walked into the dimension, stepping onto the Terra on which the portal itself resided. "Well, here we are."
"This place seems peaceful, yet uneasy. I don't know what to think about it."
Michael chuckled. "This is a region known as the Far Side; an uncharted section of Atmos. We call this world 'dimension 4', since the fourth Dimension Key created led here."
"And I guess the Anti-Void is dimension 1?" Error Sans asked.
"Correct."
"Can we see dimension 2?"
11:15 AM
03/29/3272
Dimension 2
Planet Earth - SCP Foundation
Outside
Music
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - The Valhalla's Depths
"This is dimension 2, most notably known for the SCP Foundation. This is a place where the Shadow can just use the Grasp of Death on the SCPs contained here to basically surge up his strength and power."
"Interesting. What are SCPs?" Error Sans wondered.
"{SCPs are creatures, objects, or entities with supernatural and anomalous properties and effects. For example: a statue known as SCP-173 was extremely hostile and could only move when not directly observed. It would kill by snapping at the base of the neck. Michael killed it with a punch through the concrete head.}"
"There was also this humanoid known as SCP-096, which hunted down any who saw its face, until the Shadow added it to his Taken. I still don't understand what he had planned for it." Michael added.
"Impressive. Can we go back now?"
"Yeah, we can go back."
Yionus's moon, Zuter - IMC testing site Echo-918
Chamber 137
Music
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - Briefing Room & Ambience Theme
"So what do you think?" Michael wondered.
"Other universes just happen on their own. I realize now that there's nothing wrong with that. I suppose I am the bridge between the alternate universes of my own multiverse, and I should be proud of that. The differences are what make them all unique. Thank you for showing me the truth. I will never forget it."
"Anytime."
Error Sans walked through the portal that led back to dimension 1, flashing Michael a thumbs-up. The Pilot closed the portal, taking out the Dimension Key as the Shadow went back to the chamber where the Taken responsible for the creation of the Dimension Keys were waiting.
OK, that was one of the more unexpected chapters.
Errortale? Here? That's quite a surprise
I'll see you all next time.