Alright my little gremlings! Sorry it took so long to get another chapter up, but you can once again blame AngstQueen for that! As some of you may have seen, I have a new story added into this series, one that is more of a future project since it has spoilers for both our two previous works and stuff. Now it wouldn't be a problem if this didn't also feed my other plot bunnies as she feeds her own. -sighs- I adore AngstQueen, but she is also a curse on my existence as I try to stay on task with one story at a time. She once more triggered some ideas and I now have two more stories that will get added to this story, but worry not they are way far in teh future so I will not be posting them anytime soon, but it does mean that sometimes my brain may go towards working on them instead of working on this or Gradients.
Nonetheless please go show TheAngstQueen14 some love for her own works cuz as much as I like to give her shit, she is an absolutely solid sound board for my ideas and is the whole reason I have gotten as far as I have for this story. So go over show her some love and appreciation on her own works. WE LOVE COMMENTS SO PLEASE COMMENT!
Enjoy the Chapter my Gremlings!
After stomped away from Ccino's cafe and back towards the Omega Timeline door that he'd used to get there. Ccino didn't know what he was talking about. He and Outer were just friends and just because he'd offered to get them coffee for their meeting didn't make it a date. Right? Right!
He stepped through the door into the Omega Timeline and turned towards the right to move towards Outertale's door. Most who first came to the Omega Timeline didn't know how to tell the differences between the doors, especially with how random the colors and sizes were for them, but he had been coming and going for so long now, he had the doors down pretty well. This meant finding Outertale was a simple task and took him all of a few more minutes before he was stepping through into Outertale's Starfall.
It was interesting to learn that some AUs, like Outertale, didn't have a Snowdin, instead the town was named differently. After liked Starfall, the sky full of stars and all the echo flowers gave it an ethereal feel. It was soothing and different enough from his Snowdin that he wasn't concerned about confusing it for a reset when he visited. He thought Outer most likely felt the same when he visited other AUs, but then again maybe not.
As far as After was aware, Outer's specific timeline had only gone through one reset, their Frisk doing a single True Pacifist route and the monsters able to return to Earth as they saw fit. Outer and his Papyrus, Cosmic as they called him, decided to stay in Starfall after learning of the Multiverse. A few others decided to stay with the skeleton brothers to keep them company and help them keep a lookout for Error.
Brushing the thoughts aside, After made his way towards Outer and Cosmic's house at the edge of Starfall. He waved to some of the residents still within the small town as he walked, faces that were both familiar yet not with their star themed motifs. He reached the house, this one covered in stardust where he remembered his own being covered in snow. Knocking on the door, he waited patiently as he heard shuffling inside instead of the boisterous sounds of a Papyrus. 'Cosmic must be out.' After thought silently.
The door swung open and revealed Outer standing on the other side.
"Hey good to see ya, After." Outer greeted.
"You too. Brought your regular from Ccino's." After greeted back, holding out the cup for the other.
"Thanks. Come on in. Cosmic is off visiting with Toriel and Frisk at the moment, so we've got at least a few hours to chat." Outer said, waving him inside.
After stepped into the house and followed Outer into the kitchen where they settled at the table with their coffees.
"So what is this about Outer?" After asked, looking at his friend curiously. As much as he'd told Ccino they were going to talk about Patrols, he didn't believe he'd make a point to mention that Cosmic would be gone awhile for that kind of conversation. No, there was more to this than simply talking about Patrols.
"I suppose I should know better than to try and be subtle with someone who probably has similar habits." Outer said with a sigh, "How much do you trust the Omega Timeline, After?"
That was a question he hadn't been expecting, but one where his answer would define how Outer continued this discussion.
"I suppose it depends on what I'm trusting them with. I trust the Council and Core to be doing what they think is best to keep those under their protection safe, but I don't believe that always makes them right." After answered carefully.
"And the Labs?"
"I think we both know most Sans don't trust the Labs completely even those that might be working there especially with all the Gaster's running around in it."
Outer nodded in understanding and sighed softly.
"I'm starting to wonder if Core and the Council know what they're doing at all. I've been questioning it for a few years now." Outer admitted.
"What made you question?" After asked, softly. He realized immediately this was a touchy subject as Outer's eye lights went out.
"Red's death."
The first Underfell Gaster that had joined the Omega Timeline to help them in the Labs. He'd taken up the nickname of Red due to the red theme his AU often was depicted in. He was also Edge's older brother. After had joined the Omega Timeline after Red's death, but he'd heard a lot about it.
It had been an accident in the Labs that had killed him, but no one could explain what that accident was. Or they could but refused to talk. He'd heard about how Edge had tried to tear through the Labs to get answers. Up till then Core had refused to get involved with the situation, believing it was the Labs business to handle. They had remained out of it until they stepped in to stop Edge from tearing the building apart for the answers he'd deserved about his brother's death. When the Fell Monster had demanded Core investigate if they weren't going to let him get answers, Core had refused stating that the Lab handled its affairs without their interventions.
That had been the last straw for Edge and the rest of his Timeline. They pulled from the Omega Timeline and completely cut off any assistance or allegiance that they had made. That had been a few years ago now, showing After exactly how long Outer had been questioning the Omega Timeline.
"Is that why you told Core about your theory on Error? To see what they would do?" After asked, realizing this most likely went back to the kid Outer had seen get taken.
"It was. Though I should've suspected Core wouldn't intend to set anything in motion. This is also why I made sure Blue and Dream heard it as well. Core may not do anything, but Dream will realize why I mentioned it and do what he can to help." Outer replied.
"You think Dream will be able to retrieve the child from Error?"
"It's a possibility, he is one of very few that could enter the Anti-void and not immediately begin being affected by it. But I doubt he'll be able to find the area Error usually occupies even if he tries."
He supposed Outer was right. The Anti-void was an endless white space that drove anyone who stayed too long in it insane, Error being exhibit A, and even if you could get there searching through it would be pointless with how hard it was to tell direction. Not to mention Error would probably sense anyone's presence before they found him.
"So what conclusion did you come to with telling Core?" After asked, knowing debating Dream finding Error was pointless since it was unlikely to happen.
"That Core isn't going to interfere with the Council or the will continue to allow decisions to be delegated and I fear what that could mean in the future." Outer replied.
"What do you mean?"
"If they weren't willing to interfere when Edge was demanding answers and willing to take the Council's decisions without further investigation then I don't think I can trust them with any further sightings of that child."
"You think you'll see them again?"
After was surprised that Outer believed the child would be seen again anytime soon. Sometimes months passed without a sighting of the Destroyer, only word of his handiwork being spread. It had already been weeks since Error had taken the child.
"I think it's a possibility. As I said, Error has never brought someone here first before. If he wanted to take the kid to the Anti-void, why bring him to one of his favorite AUs?" Outer asked sceptically.
Outer had a point. Even if he had a different purpose then killing the kid, why bring him here? After didn't believe for a second it was accidental.
"I suppose we will have to be sure to be careful about where we share possible sightings then." After commented, sipping his coffee. He smirked a little when he saw Outer jolt in surprise.
"You don't intend to tell Core?" Outer asked.
After shook his head in reply and finished up his drink.
"I have no reason to. I trust your judgement on this Outer, if you think telling Core about any sightings would be a bad idea then I will follow your lead on the matter." He replied easily, smiling at his friend.
"I appreciate it pal. You're the first person I've spoken to that seems to have a similar view about Core and the Omega Timeline, well the first since Edge left. He used to be of the same opinion if a little more aggressive about it."
"You two were close?"
He would deny until the day he dusted that he felt a spike of jealousy fill him. It was ridiculous to be jealous anyway, Outer was his friend, but he could be friends with other people.
"Yeah. Haven't seen or spoken with him since he pulled away from Omega Timeline. I don't think I can face him anyway. I was never able to find answers for him." Outer admitted with a sigh. After slammed down on the growing jealousy and nodded in understanding.
"Perhaps one day you can find them for him." He assured.
"Perhaps."
It was then that the front door of the house burst open. Turning, After smiled a little at the star themed Papyrus that came rushing into the kitchen.
"BROTHER, I HAVE RETURNED FROM VISITING THE HUMAN AND OUR FRIENDS!" Cosmic exclaimed, before pausing at the sight of After, "OH HELLO! SANS I WASN'T AWARE YOU HAD INVITED A GUEST!"
"Sorry Paps, you left before I could tell ya. This is After one of the other Lookouts for the Omega Timeline." Outer introduced, "After this is my brother. You would know him as Cosmic."
"Hello Cosmic. Nice to meet ya finally. Heard a lot about you." After greeted.
"AFTER? IS THIS THE SAME AFTER YOU TALK ABOUT AFTER EVERY MEETING?!" Cosmic asked, looking at Outer.
After jolted at the question, glancing to Outer to see the other blushing furiously at the question.
"Yes Paps the same After." Outer muttered, covering his face with one of his hands. It was probably just the way Cosmic had worded the question that had his friend blushing. Yeah that had to be it.
"WELL THEN WELCOME AFTER! I HOPE MY BROTHERS LAZY TENDENCIES ARE NOT TOO MUCH TROUBLE FOR YOU TO DEAL WITH." Cosmic said, looking back to After.
"Nah, it's a common trait amongst Sans across the whole Multiverse so if anything I encourage him." After joked.
"NOOOOOOO! ANOTHER LAZY BROTHER!" Cosmic bemoaned making both of them laugh at his antics.
It seemed Papyrus' across the Multiverse were similar with that sentiment. They saw all Sans' as brothers, it didn't matter if they were their actual brothers or not.
After enjoyed another hour speaking with Outer and Cosmic, this time talking about actual Patrols, before heading off for home. He was in firm agreement with Outer about what they discussed. Core didn't need to know about any sightings that had to do with the skeleton child. As much as he believed the child was most likely important in some way for Error to have his attention drawn to them, he didn't believe it would be better to turn the attention of the Omega Timeline onto the child. More importantly, he truly believed it would end badly if the Labs ever caught wind of the child.