[Restoration Complete.]
"...Ah."
No pain. No headaches. Back to my peaceful security room.
It seems the Memento Mori can fix these kinds of time-related issues in a pretty straightforward way—make them never happen. On the CCTV, I could see Dipper and Mabel meddling with the time tape, and here I am, back in time. Not just a few minutes into the past, but to the time when nothing happened, not even the time travel of Dipper and Mabel.
Now all I have to do is wait. If that time baby thing is correct, the time tape can't fix anything or affect the world. So if I wait for a bit, the kids will handle their problems by themselves. Now that I have some time, I should sit down and think for a while.
...About the Axolotl. What is that thing? I kinda thought it was a god or whatever, but I'm still not sure what it is and what it can do. But then also, an Axolotl is a god. How funny. It's not the flying spaghetti monster or an old creep in the sky, but a wilting axolotl.
Back to the more important part. According to his words, it sounds like he's fighting Bill Cipher. Like that crazy big Bill Cipher floating out there in space. Yeah, I can see Axolotl getting damaged from that, but how can I help? My physical body, strength, or whatever—it's all just weak.
If Axolotl gave me these powers, it could face Bill itself. Why did it even make the Memento Mori or at least made me have it in the first place? It could use it for its good and fight Bill Cipher with it...
Hm. But currently, there is no way for me to figure out whatever intentions it has, so let's leave it as a mystery.
There's also the problem with the repeating universes. If the universe is repeating again and again, it's possible that I might not be in the original universe where I died the first time.
...It was weird too. I died, right? That world... I didn't have any checkpoints. Then why did I come back to the exact period when I got inside 'this' Ray's body? Is there any meaning in it? Any reasons for this? Or is it just a coincidence?
And then I have to go to the question of why I am here in the first place... Um, I don't have any grip on it. I don't see the reason why that even happened. But considering that this world has Bill Cipher and stuff like that, unlike my original world... anything can be the answer. One thing is for sure, I don't know what it is.
Now the thing that really matters is the causality rate. That is the only thing for now I can change. I mean, I get that when it rises till the end it... will trigger something, according to my hypotheses. However, what will happen?
The causality rate has always been steadily rising every time I die and come back, but only a really small amount. About... 0.1% a time? It was not always the same, but it surely didn't rise that much. But now my causality rate is...
-32.2%
Hm. 32.2%. Considering it was around 20% before this event, it did rise quite dramatically. And the biggest difference this time from the other deaths is... Well, of course, the fact that Memento Mori made a time paradox not happen.
So to me, it seems like a number that rises according to how much work the Memento Mori did. If it's a rather 'simple' task like regression, it only takes a bit. But if it's a hard one like time paradoxes, it'll take some more power.
Maybe it's something like a... plank on lava. I'm fighting Bill Cipher on a lava plank, and when this hits 100%... boom. The plank falls, and we both fall into the lava.
I mean, if this Memento Mori is the power of a dying god, abusing it might just destroy the universe, right? That won't be good for Bill Cipher and me. Okay, I admit this hypothesis doesn't have much full evidence or whatever, and it is not convincing too, but I really can't think much about it.
...And as I was analyzing my thoughts, something caught my mind.
How did the kids get the time machine in the first place?
"That was the most important thing right now!"
Come on, Ray, you're not the main character! Even if I have this weird power to save and load... I mean, technically only load. The main characters are Dipper and Mabel! They are the ones who finish this show! Maybe they're the chosen ones! Maybe they have some secret weapon! I don't know! But the most important thing and the real reason I'm here at the shack is not because of work but because of them.
Okay. Whoever the irresponsible person is, I need to find out who gave them the time tape... I guess it's someone from the future? Okay, let's see... According to the security camera, the kids got the time tape from... a bald guy with glasses and... weird appearance-changing clothes. Huh. And he's currently riding a ride under Soos's supervision. Probably from the future?
'...You're dead for today, man.'
I grabbed my security hat and sunglasses. Now I look a bit intimidating. I walked over to the ride... The barrel ride, to be exact. Yeah, I remember having a hard time fixing that one with Soos. We finally found that one of the central circuit's wires was completely fried... had to replace it.
"Yeahhh! Weeehee!"
"Oh, Hi dude!"
While the guy was enjoying the ride, Soos noticed me and gave his usual smile. I nodded and answered back with a serious tone.
"Hi, Soos. Can you stop his ride? We have a certain...' security issue' to deal with that guy. I'm suspecting him as an imposter."
"AN IMPOSTER?! Oh no! What do we do, dude?"
"I can handle it. Slowly end the ride, and let me take him."
"O, Okay, dude... hehe, this feels like a secret spy mission."
Soos gradually decreased the ride's power, and it began to slow down.
"Yaaay... Aw, finished already? I want another ride...!"
"...I need you to follow me, mister."
As I looked at the guy with my sunglasses and the black hat that said 'security' in red letters, he glanced at the ground.
"...Um... Did I do anything wrong?"
"Yes, you did. Now follow me!"
I took the thoroughly frightened Blendin Blandin and led him to the security room. After offering him a chair, I sat in front of him.
"So. What's your name, mister?"
"My... my name is Blendin Blandin..."
"Mr. Blandin. So..."
I stomped the ground forcefully, creating a loud sound. As expected, Blendin shivered and flinched. He was easily frightened, and I decided to use that to my advantage.
"Care to explain why you gave the Time Tape to the twins?"
"The... The Time tape? How do you...?! No way! I had... I had it on my tool belt..."
Frantically searching for his tool belt, which I had tossed to him, Blendin realized he had left it on one of the barrel ride's spare barrels. He seemed quite clumsy. When he looked around the tool belt, he couldn't find anything. Of course, I had already searched it; the time tape was gone because the kids took it.
"Ahhh! They... they took my tape, sir! I swear! I didn't mean to do it! Please don't take me to the Time Baby! I... I just came here to look for a time anomaly, that's it! Please, we're the same kind of people, both from the future! Don't shoot me with your laser cannon! Please! Oh man, why the Time Paradox Avoidment Enforcement Squadron...!"
...Time Paradox Avoidance Enforcement Squadron? Whatever that is, I think Blendin is mistaking me for those guys. Yeah, this works. I can use this.
"Blendin Blandin, you've really messed up this time," I said, leaning in closer, maintaining an intimidating tone. Blendin, now visibly trembling, glanced around nervously.
"I-I didn't mean to, sir! Please, don't involve the Time Baby! I'm just a humble time traveler!"
I let a sinister grin play on my face, "Blendin, you don't seem to realize who you're dealing with. I'm not just any security guy. I have connections with the Time Baby, and I can tell him to reduce you to atoms if I want. Now, talk. Why did you give that Time Tape to the twins? What are you up to?"
Blendin stammered, "I-I told you, sir, it was an accident! I was just looking for time anomalies, and they took my tool belt, and..."
I cut him off with a stern look, "Enough of your excuses. You've put the fabric of space-time in jeopardy. Do you understand the consequences?"
Blendin nodded frantically, "Y-Yes, sir! I'm truly sorry! I didn't mean to mess up the timeline!"
While maintaining the facade of anger, I surreptitiously checked the CCTV. No sign of Dipper and Mabel yet. I needed to keep Blendin talking to buy more time.
"You know, Blendin, it's people like you who make my job difficult. The irresponsibility of handing over a potential time-altering weapon to children is mind-boggling."
Blendin's eyes widened, "Weapon? I didn't think it could... I mean, it's just a Time Tape!"
I chuckled darkly, "Blendin, you underestimate the power of time manipulation. It's not a toy for children." Hm, what should I talk about? Ah right. Maybe I should ask him about the causality rate. Maybe he has other ideas...and since he's a future guy, maybe he knows the literal definition of the causality rate. "Now, let's talk about something else. Have you ever heard of a causality rate?"
Blendin looked puzzled, "Causality rate? What's that, sir?"
So he doesn't know about the causality rate.
I feigned frustration, "Never mind. You probably won't understand. It's like a video game I play. Every time I use my powers...Of course, in the game... there's this rate that keeps rising, and I don't think it's a good thing for me. Do you have any idea what it could be?"
Blendin scratched his head, "Video game? Sir, who plays video games nowadays? Most people are into hologram games."
I corrected myself, probably that's the thing in the future. "Right, hologram game. Well, this rate is rising, and I think it might affect the whole game, not just my character. Any thoughts on that?"
Blendin pondered for a moment, "Hmm, maybe it's something like a CPU overload. You know, too much strain on the system. But in a hologram game, that shouldn't happen."
I nodded, pretending to consider his suggestion, "Interesting theory. I'll have to look into that. But remember, Blendin, the next time you mess with time, it might not just be a game for me. Now sit tight and think about the consequences of your actions."
CPU overload, huh? Maybe...it makes sense...So what happens when a CPU gets overloaded? It...Hm...
"Resets...Just like me."
Well, that sure brings another hypothesis to mind...By the way, where are the kids?
...Ah, and there they are. The kids! They were just shrugging near the guess-the-weight pig pen. I warned Blendin to stay in the room, came out, and waved at them.
"Hey! Kids! How was the time travel? Pretty fun, right?"
"...How do you even know that?!"
"Ray, be honest with me! Did you install a body camera on my sweater? Waddles! Say something!"
"Oink!"
...To be honest, I was kinda mad at them. They are acting too egoistically in this dangerous place. And I wish they knew that not only their fate, but my fate also depends on their actions.
I pulled them into the security room and flicked their foreheads.
"Ow...!"
"Ow!"
"First of all, kids...it is extremely irresponsible to just time travel and try to fix the past. And Dipper, I know that you have a crush on Wendy, but it doesn't mean that you can do 'whatever' to achieve it."
Dipper looked flabbergasted when I mentioned his 'crush'. Yeah, the event when he told me that he likes her didn't happen in this world...So it might be a surprise for him.
"And Mabel, you were supposed to help your brother stay in line when he gets emotional. You two need to complement each other, not worsen things going around. And what I meant about how you guys shouldn't go around in the woods without permission from an adult also means that you shouldn't have gone somewhere that we can't supervise your safety. Ha...Look, kids. I know I'm not the 'cool' guy in the shack, like Wendy and Soos. But still, please acknowledge that my heart is literally breaking down whenever you guys are not in sight."
...I'm starting to sound a lot like my mom when I was young...but whatever. I need to make my message clear.
"We're...sorry, Ray."
"Yeah, and we think you're cool! Right, Waddles?"
"Oink!"
I smiled at the twin's answer. Well, if they are sorry...and besides, I know that they will fall into a situation where they have to go on an adventure regardless of their will, cause...that's the whole plot of the show. I can...forgive them for that.
"All I want is just you guys thinking a bit more about your safety before you guys act. Promise me."
""Okay...""
"Wait! Wha...What do you mean caring about kids?! You're a Time Paradox Avoidment Enforcement Squadron member! And you two! Do you guys realize how many mistakes you made?!... Probably a lot, right...?"
Oh, right. Him. I almost forgot.
"Yeah, Mr. Blandin. I'm not part of that squadron. however, I can call them for you...do they also have time tapes?"
"...Yes, why do you ask that?"
"And they can track time anomalies and time tapes?"
"Yes...?"
"Good. Take this."
I took the time tape out of Dipper's hands and threw it to Blendin. And the moment he got hold of the tape...
"Blendin Blandin..."
Two tall, muscular men showed up and pointed laser hand cannons at him. They also had cool cybernetic suits...Wish I had that. That'll come in handy when I have to fight anomalies and horror stories...Well, but again. I don't know if Bill can control things like Skynet stuff.
Blendin, completely frightened, covered his face and shivered in fear. The two guys went closer to him and grabbed his both arms, ready to take him into custody.
"Our phones have been ringing off the hook! There are settlers high-fiving in the 1800s and calculators littered through eight centuries!"
"You are under arrest for violations of the Time Traveler's Code of Conduct."
"No! Wait, does that mean that he's not one of you guys?"
I looked away as Blendin pointed at me. The two guys looked at me and looked back at Blendin with a disgusted face.
"He's a kid, Blendin. Even we dystopian future people don't do child labor!"
"Now we see how he saw us TPAES are like...some freaks that use young kids as their undercover agent! How dare you!"
"NOooo! That's not what I meant...!"
And just like that, Blendin was taken over by the two future cops. They also shot Stan's dunk tank on their way back, successfully dumping him in the cold waters.
"...So that's how you knew about our time travel, huh? You caught Blendin."
"...Well..." Since it was a good reason, I decided to accept it. That's actually a good reason that allows me not to tell them about my regression. "Yeah, I caught him acting weird and found out that he's a time traveler. And thought about what you guys were up to. but it seems like..."
I looked at Valentino and Wendy happily holding hands, enjoying the fair. Huh. Weird choice, Wendy. Weird choice. You deserve better.
"...You failed, huh."
Dipper shrugged.
"Well, like you said Ray. Familly will be here for me, right? And besides, they aren't going to date the whole summer."
"I bet that they'll break up after a few days."
I giggled with Dipper as Mabel chimed in.
"Me too! And waddles!"
"Oink!"
"...Hm, then we don't have anyone to give us the money when we win the bet."
"Then lets all just look at Robbie's sad face when he breaks up."
"HaHaHa!"
The sun was going down as we laughed at the future...
...And the moon was starting to rise. It was huge and brighter than usual...quite beautiful, to be exact.
"Let's go get some dinner for you twins."
"Yeah!"
"Dinner!"
twitch...!
-TICK!
"..."
I froze as shivers crawled up my spine. Did something just... move?
I looked behind me. Something, something huge...moved. I could hear it...But all I could see were the fairgrounds and the moon rising above us.
"..."
And whatever it was, the sudden danger I felt was...over anything I ever experienced. Close to Bill Cipher.
"Ray! Come on! You're the one who can properly cook!"
"...Coming, kids."
And even as I walked into the shack, I couldn't stop feeling...the sense of uncanniness in the air.
Almost as if something was watching me.