The test results came back positive.
As Gaster had claimed, he was an Amalgamation of two others: Times Roman and Helvetica.
The parents.
Alphys and Undyne stared at the results displayed on the work PC’s monitor. Sans’ Hotdog Dog shimeji continued to animate silliness on the screen, but it did nothing to liven up the situation.
“Oh god…” the lizard lady squeaked. “This is horrible. Sans just tried to kill his elders. I-I never thought he would do this.”
“I think we have a bigger problem than the fight itself,” said the fish. “Like. How? I thought they would have long scattered the dust for the funeral.”
Alphys squeezed her hands together, fretting. “Doctor Gaster must have kept some for himself. Then, he injected Determination while they were in his possession.”
It was the only possible conclusion.
“But, why???” Undyne questioned.
“…Desperation.” Alphys answered. “I know that feeling too well. Maybe he needed a major breakthrough.”
“If Gaster is a genuine Amalgamation, then why didn’t we hear the skelecouple speak at all? I thought they should be competing in a mess. Like Lemon Bread, for example.”
“Well…” the lizard explained, “The Amalgamation under my care were injected with Determination while they were near death. Whole. They didn’t turn into dust yet. For Roman and Helvetica, most of their original bodies were probably already scattered. As such, they don’t have enough material to reform as a full person.”
Which explained why Sans insisted that it wasn’t the same. In a way, he’s right.
Undyne had another question. A vital one. “Are they… really his parents? If you bring someone back without their SOUL, they’re just gonna be hollow memories.”
Alphys thought of it for a moment. “It seems like they’re sharing Doctor Gaster’s intact SOUL. That means their personalities still have access to the essentials. I guess we can say they are themselves? By technicality…?”
She continued, “B-because they don’t have enough material for a complete reconstruction, they’re stuck as a limb. Also, Doctor Gaster is a very strong-willed person. It’s natural for him to assume full control by default.”
“The parents… they remind me of grafted trees.” All that reading about the Surface sciences paid off. Here Alphys thought that she was just absorbing needless trivia.
A shiver ran across Undyne’s scales. “Yo. I’m so reminded of that fuckton creepy sakura tree episode. Didn’t they used this ‘grafting’ technique too?”
“Y-yes,” Alphys answered. “They did. You can also imagine the parents as cybernetic implants. If. That’s easier to grasp.”
That thought disgusted Undyne. This came from someone who’s used to interacting with Amalgamates. The school had a few of them as parents.
For example, Snowy’s Mom attended as many school events as she could, even if she couldn’t say much.
Yet, this? This was too much. “…I can see why Sans was as bitter as hell. Damn. I pity him.”
The two continued to stare at the results, contemplating on their next move.
“I’m gonna get my armour,” thus said the once Captain of the Royal Guard. “You stay here Alphys. I’m gonna grill him one-on-one.”
She had one unsolved case that had collected dust for too long. Now, she must do whatever it takes to give it a proper closure.
The once-proud gear of their army hung on its armour stand, serving as a glorified decoration for a few months now.
It’s time for her to don it again. By equipping herself with her nations’ old uniform, she made a declaration that she meant serious business.
Serious. Legal. Business.
She stared down on her gauntlets, pondering about the past. When she was an urchin training under Asgore, she’d catch glimpses of the previous Captain.
A stoic man of fire who never showed his face. Very quiet. Spoke no more than he was required of. Yet, he had a warm, glowing kindness. Captain ‘Grillby’ was revered by everyone as a paragon. Not that they ever knew his real face or name.
She once looked up to him too, but then… she realised that it was an impossible standard. In the end she chose her own path: determined to be the best Captain of her generation. The polar opposites of their personalities didn’t matter as long they protected the nation.
Undyne knew that she doesn’t have the case files right now, but she could record Gaster’s testimonies for a comparison later. Her phone should be enough to do the trick.
Just as she finished strapping up, Mettaton knocked on her door.
“Psst, Undyne darling.” He said. “Can I discuss something with you for a moment?”
She was hesitant at first. That robot was a pit of bad ideas to her. Hang around long enough and she might accidentally subscribe herself to one of those.
But… she’s curious of Papyrus’ condition. Ever since they got home, the star had been comforting his number one fan. Blankets. Hugs. Some of morning’s pasta on standby.
The young skeleton healed his uncle with the same magic that brought him back into the world. Then, Papyrus retreated to a solitary corner away from others.
So Undyne entertained his request and spoke to him face to face.
“How’s Paps?” she asked.
Mettaton answered. “Poor Papyrus needs more time. He stopped crying, but he’s still whining. Very softly. Where’s our skeleton doctor?”
“At the dining table with some goldenflower tea. Provided that blasted man hasn’t tried to run away yet.”
“That’s good. You see darling, I know people like Doctor Gaster. Confident, self assured. He’s not going to answer any of your questions if you don’t win his heart first.”
Undyne furrowed her brows. She noticed a certain professional persuasiveness that belied his usual nonsense. Maybe the planets aligned and Mettaton actually had a sensible idea.
At the very least, she thought that she should listen. “What do you suggest?”
“I noticed that he had tremendous respect for Alphys dear,” said Mettaton. “Perhaps if we stage a conversation instead of an interrogation, he might divulge more information.”
Have Alphys smooth things out? A good idea, but not quite her style. “…Honestly, I just want to suplex him. More so after what he did to Sans and Frisk. I’d use that tactic for a different person next time.”
“Frisk?”
“Yeah. Frisk. Let’s just say I had a hunch.”
If only the real parts of anime were the fun and fantastical bits. But no, it had to be the serious ones.
Gaster sat down at the dinner table, sipping on his second cup of goldenflower tea. He glanced at the armoured fish and knew full well what lay before him.
“Colour me curious,” he said. “I wonder if you are bright as Grillby.”
It was a subtle taunt. Undyne knew that she already had two strikes of negative impressions: one for her ambush on Sans as a kid, the other for Papyrus’ horrible cooking.
But she won’t let Gaster intimidate her anymore. She sat down opposite of the man, facing him square in the face.
“Let me get this straight into your skull.” Undyne began, “Whatever happened earlier was the most fucked up shit I’ve ever seen. And you, sir, are gonna explain what the hell is going on.”
As Mettaton had warned, Gaster was secure in himself almost to the point of arrogance. He sipped his hot tea in silence. Waiting.
True to her nature, she decided to cut straight into the point. “The last person who saw you alive during the Core Incident was Sans.”
“Of course.” Gaster answered.
“You took your assistant to the Core. Alone. With no one else,” she continued. “Was it an experiment?”
Gaster remained silent for a while. “Aren’t we jumping into conclusions? It could have been maintenance work.”
She slammed her gauntlet down on the table. “Like hell you do maintenance without an engineering crew!”
“An accusative conjecture at best, Captain Undyne. I suggest that you first prove to me that you’re capable of handling this information.”
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
How she wanted to punch him in the face and suplex that damn doctor back into the Void. She knew Gaster's guilty, but on what charges?
If the serious parts of anime were real, she would draw from those experiences and rip the truth out of his bones.
Think. Try to take a different approach. What would she do if she’s casted as a detective…
Undyne took a deep breath to calm herself down. “Okay. Fine. Let’s start this from the beginning.” That’s what they’d do right? Ask more innocent questions, then slowly use them to corner their suspect.
Lies can only stand for so long.
“What is a ‘Chronograph’?” Sans mentioned that Gaster would have trained Papyrus into that thing if given the opportunity.
Gaster calmly placed down his cup on the saucer. Levelheaded. Assured. “A Chronograph is a time-recording device.”
“Like a clock?”
“More than a clock. A clock only shows the present time. A Chronograph does much, much more. Hmm, how do I explain this in layman terms… have you ever had a dejavu? The feeling that you had experienced something before?”
Undyne tried to recall. She wasn’t sure, but she could just wing it and see where it goes. “Yeah. I get them sometimes.”
Gaster then said, “We’re on the same page then. Well, Captain. Those were not just mere feelings. You had indeed experienced similar circumstances before. Repeatedly. Who knows for how long?”
She squinted her single good eye. “…What the fuck are you talking about, old man?”
“Time-travel, my dear simple fish,” he replied. “Rewriting reality. I’m sure some of your ‘anime’ material covers this subject. Not all of them are accurate, but they do give a nice visual to a vague concept.”
The old scientist added some fresh hot tea to his cooled cup. Then, he picked it up for more sips. “Have you ever wondered how we lost the War oh so long ago, Captain? Do you really believe that monsters are so weak that they cannot defend themselves?”
If she must be honest… she had always doubted Waterfall’s history. Since a child, she saw no reason why monsters must stay weak.
They can grow strong. They can be strong, just like their King. Humans could die in so many ways… So why can’t they fight back…?
Perhaps it’s due to her mindset, she was one of the few who could generate their own Determination. Though Alphys warned her that she’d end up melting herself if she pushed it too hard.
“No,” Undyne answered. “I believe monsters can be strong even in the face of violence. Despite what the books say.”
Gaster nodded. “I too believed the same. But strength is pointless if there’s a certain foe who could predict your every move. No, I should say… memorize. Memorize your tactics. Your weakness. Everything about you.”
The more he talked, the less she understood. Undyne thus exclaimed, “Impossible! Unless you’re a genius like Sans, you’d have to repeat something a ton of times to memorize that much!”
“That’s what exactly happened to us during the War.” Gaster kept a stern glare at Undyne as he continued drinking. “One human, fuelled with Determination, repeated time to the point where they achieve guaranteed victory.”
Determination.
As far as she knew, the only person who had Determination beyond hers was… Frisk.
Thus Gaster continued, “Humanity’s ultimate weapon is not a sword or a gun. It’s a ‘person’: the one who rights what’s wrong and wrongs what’s right. Whatever progress you and I have made in our lives are at their mercy.”
After hearing this, Undyne wondered if she should have brought Alphys along. She didn’t quite understand Gaster’s explanation. Yet, a sense of dreadful horror strung around her neck like a noose.
Alphys might just break down in an existential crisis. Perhaps it was for the best to leave her out for now.
She clicked her tongue out of frustration. So much for trying to drive Gaster into the corner. At this rate, he’s steering her to his whims. And he knew it.
Undyne crossed her arms and leaned back against the chair. She’s not ready to give up yet. Let the old man talk for now. Listen and learn.
The scientist continued his speech. “That would be true if we don’t remember. Their strengths will be effectively negated if every bit of their actions are recorded. Turn their own tricks against them. Therefore, a Chronograph is the ultimate defense against the ultimate weapon.”
“Okay,” she nodded. “How can this Chronograph be used as the ‘ultimate defense’ then?”
“Calculation, prediction and exploration,” Gaster answered. “By adjusting your base data, it’s possible to map out all possible outcomes. In short, it grants one the ability to calculate the future.”
“With the right powers and intellectual capacity, one could exploit the Chronograph’s data to reach the far ends of reality. To witness every possible turnout of events.”
“Which… you have,” she concluded.
One quick blink and his Eyes lit up cyan and orange. “That, indeed I do.” He dispelled them a few seconds later.
Something didn’t make sense in Undyne’s head. “Hold up a moment. If you could do that, why did you need Sans to help?”
“Well, just because I planned the Core doesn’t mean I could build it alone. What you enjoy today was the result of teamwork: architects, engineers, material specialists and what have you.”
“For the Chronograph, you can thank your apparently ‘lazy’ friend. Sans has a much better grasp of spacetime sciences than I do. He theorized the foundations. I made it a reality.”
In short, Sans created the Chronograph for Gaster’s use. Similar to how a weaponsmith crafts a spear for a warrior.
“So…” Undyne asked. “If Papyrus was, well, not the guy we know today, you wouldn’t need to build this Chronograph machine?”
“Oh, there’s always a need,” Gaster answered. “It just wouldn’t take its current form. And maybe… life would have been different.”
Ever since Gaster had the liberty of explaining his genius, Undyne noticed a marked reduction of hostility. Maybe this would be the right time to press.
“What did you see?” She asked. A simple question, but a vital one.
The scientist froze. His expression turned blank, devoid of intellectual liveliness. With the heaviest tone he answered: “The death and destruction of the Underground. No matter where I turned, or what I calculated… I found myself standing at ‘The End’.”
“‘Dark darker yet darker, the darkness keeps growing’. I still remember its horrors to this day.”
But the world didn’t end. “We’re here and alive today, sir. Did something go wrong with your machine?”
“Well,” Gaster replied, “The Chronograph does have its limitations. It can only give me futures based on current variables. We’re here on the Surface due to an unexpected anomaly. The game-changer, if you will. I would have identified the exact source if Sans didn’t betra--”
Before he could finish that sentence, he splashed his cup of still-hot tea on his own face.
Gaster yelped from the sting. “EGADS, HELVETICA! What in the world were you thinking???”
Or rather, whoever owned that scarred right arm did it. Sans’ mother. ‘She’ put the cup down and slammed on the table in protest.
“It’s the truth!” said Gaster. “Sans betrayed us--!”
That same right arm then slapped him across the cheekbone. Gaster’s left arm remained rooted in place, refusing to move upon his will.
“Oh no, Roman. Are you serious? You’re going to deny me the right to defend myself from the onslaught of your wife?!”
It devolved into an almost-comedic struggle of a man getting slapped by his own right hand.
Undyne then had an epiphany. If she can’t break through Gaster alone, she could enlist the help of the couple residing deep inside.
So she asked: “Mister Roman? Madam Helvetica? Can you hear me? If you can, drum your fingers on the table.”
The arms jerked around as they fought over control. In the end, love prevailed. ‘Left Roman’ and ‘Right Helvetica’ glued their hands on the surface and drummed their fingers as requested.
They’re listening.
“I’m Undyne,” she introduced herself. “A longtime friend of your son. I need your help to prove his innocence.”
“Sans is not innocent!” Gaster insisted, but Helvetica refused to hear such nonsense. That comment earned the scientist yet another slap.
Good. They’re against Gaster. If she could get the parents to spill the beans as witnesses, then she could finally deliver justice. They must know that she’s on Sans’ side. Their side.
So she continued: “Sans may not always do the right thing, but I know he accounts for everything. He will never take drastic actions unless it’s the absolute last resort.”
“Sir, madam, please tell me what happened down in the Core. There’s a high chance my bestie’s parents died in that incident. Knowing Sans, he will figure this out sooner or later. It’s going to crush him with guilt.”
Pointing straight as Gaster, Undyne said: “Don’t you think a certain someone needs to share the burden?”
“W-wait, a death?” The scientist widened his sockets in shock. “I was very sure that we were the only casualties of that incident!”
“No.” Undyne glared. “There were more. On the Surface. When that quake happened, the south part of Mount Ebott collapsed and killed people. Humans have families too, you know. Like us.”
“Did you just say a human is your best fri--?”
She gave that scientist no time to question. It’s time to dish out the spades. All of them. “If word gets out that Sans is related to this case, the human law enforcers are gonna be after his ass. I’m very, VERY sure our sir and madam will want to avoid that!”
The arms trembled. Out of fear, anger or both… it’s hard to tell.
‘Left Roman’ pointed towards a bottle of salt. Unlike other the Amalgamates who had merged whole bodies, these two only existed as mere limbs. They will need a different method of communication.
Undyne retrieved the salt and handed them over to the parents. Husband and wife then worked together to remove the cap.
They poured out the grains. Spread them out thin to form a white drawing surface. With their bony fingers, the two drew their testimonies within the particulates.
‘7TH SOUL’.
This was definitely Alphys’ field of expertise. To her, that statement was more of a puzzle. And how she hated puzzles.
“Did Gaster kidnap a human and hide them in the Core?”
The hands erased the previous statement to write their clarification.
‘NO.’
‘WE ARE THE 7TH.’
It didn’t make sense. Monsters can’t replace the human SOUL so easily. From what she understood of Alphys’ notes, trying to make a substitute required a ton of energy and the entire population of the Underground.
Then…
The implications hit her like a truck.
“…What. The. Fuck.”
Why oh why must the antagonist parts of anime be real too? This man fit the mad scientist trope to a T.
Undyne kicked back her chair and summoned her spear. She pointed its razor sharp tip right at him. One cannot kill Amalgamates through conventional means, but that won’t stop her from pinning him down by force.
“Doctor Gaster,” so she said. “You’re under arrest for endangering monsterkind! If you try to run, I have every right to turn you into a fucking pincushion.”
“…And how will you punish me?” Gaster asked back. He remained quite calm despite the circumstance. “You have no prison nor legal jurisdiction to execute penance. You may wear the Captain’s gear right now, but does the Surface recognize your authority?”
Undyne grinned ear to ear. “Hah! Are you forgetting someone? I’m gonna take your case to the King! He’ll give you what you deserve, and free Sans once and for all!”
“‘Free Sans’?” replied Gaster. “As I had gathered, you’re not as bright as Grillby. You will only incriminate him further. The Core Incident happened because Sans sabotaged it! He knows. We know. Why do you think his dear parents are so defensive over this subject?”
The confrontation was interrupted by an untimely shriek. Undyne recognized that it belonged to Papyrus.
“Oh god, not now Paps--” She muttered.
Too late. Papyrus in his full extrovert glory barged into the dining room. He’s dressed in his ‘battle costume’ and equipped with a sling bag, ready to go somewhere.
“UNDYNE, WE NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL RIGHT NOW! FRISK IS SICK AND I CAN’T BELIEVE WE NEVER REALISED IT! NO WONDER THEY’VE BEEN QUIET.”
Mettaton gestured from the back that Papyrus had tried to phone Frisk. And thus, the secret was broken forever.
“ONCE I PACK THE SOUP, WE’RE LEAVING! I HAVE ASKED ALPHYS TO GET THE SHORTEST ROUTE THERE WITH HER ONLINE MAP THINGY. AND OF COURSE, THE GREAT PAPYRUS WILL DRIVE! NO MORE DELAYS! DAYLIGHT IS WANING!”
The tensed scenario completely flew over the young skeleton’s head. Maybe Papyrus did recognize the tension, but the idea of visiting his best human friend in their time of need took priority above all else.
“Uh,” said Undyne. “Kinda busy here. You go ahead.”
Opportunity. Gaster grabbed it for his life’s worth and played to Papyrus’ tune. “Oh, a friend had taken ill? Mind if I come along?”
Papyrus being Papyrus, will only give one answer: “SURE, UNCLE GASTER! I’M VERY SURE THEY’LL BE DELIGHTED TO MEET YOU. AND MOM! AND DAD!”
“Papyrus, no.” Undyne objected. She kept throwing glances at Gaster just in case he tried to flee. “He’s under arrest! Meaning, I’m capturing him.”
He took a moment to digest her statement. Then, he said, “ALL THE MORE WHY YOU MUST BRING UNCLE GASTER ALONG! THAT WAY, YOU CAN KEEP A WATCHFUL EYE ON HIM AT ALL TIMES. ALSO YOUR COOL ARMOUR WILL CHEER FRISK UP!”
With his message given, Papyrus hurried off to the kitchen. Mettaton decided to follow his fan. Whatever went down with Gaster was too heated even for a star like him.
Undyne growled. “You lucky bastard…!”
No choice but to listen to her pupil, she whisked away her spear.
The elder skeleton then got up with a certain smugness in his smile, temporarily freed from her pointy threats.
“It appears there are more urgent matters to attend to.” He said, “Fret not, Captain Undyne. You will soon appreciate my expertise.”