On mornings like these, Cenna understood why Mezil slept at vampire hours. The exhaustion from miniscule amounts of sleep was nothing short of the worst.
And she already woke up later than usual. Eight in the morning instead of her usual six. Had to clock in for the morning patrol shift in an hour.
“Gah, I barely have enough time to get my shit together!”
The morning routine went by the same as ever. That included the time she had to take her medicines.
Cenna pulled out the desk’s drawers, revealing bottles of prescription drugs arranged in a two by three grid.
There’s one to slow the decay in her nerves. Her primary medication.
Another serves to deal with her muscles. Part of the symptoms include spasms; these lessen the chances.
Some are also of the magical variety. They make the reinforcement spell on her SOUL stretch as far as it possibly can.
The rest of the bottles were miscellaneous emotion regulators: antidepressants and such. Doctors said those afflicted by her condition may experience extreme swings of emotion.
And how she lost it.
…Almost killed Linda over a dumb provocation. Unacceptable. She owed her peace today to Captain Undyne.
Cenna groaned. “Ugh. What did the doc say about this again? Should I increase my dosage? But they said they could affect my aim. Dammit. I can’t have my aim become crapshoot, yet I can’t blow off my top either.”
Frustration flared. How tempting it was to slam the desk shut and skip the medication. Years had passed, yet she still felt the constant sting of humiliation.
The disease was a mockery against her gift and active lifestyle. Born so swift only to wither before time. It’s also a testament to her broken past. If her parents were as loving as Frisk’s, or even Chara’s… they would have sought treatment at infancy. Only those caught early had a chance to live until old age.
“Fuck this.”
She shook out her usual dosage, popped the pills into her mouth, and washed them down with a glass of water.
Now she could forget about the slow death sentence until the next day.
As per protocol, one cannot leave for duty until all gear checked out. The most complex item she had was her handgun. She gave it a cleaning last night, so all she needed to do now was a routine checkup.
In the middle of the procedure, her phone rang.
It’s from ‘Lucidia B.’
Cenna immediately answered it. “Yo, Lucy. How’s the Cinnamon Roll?”
“I’m more concerned about you, Judge Caraway. I had received a report that you almost ended a life over some petty insults.”
Stern mode, on. If the long night wasn't enough, she’s going to get grilled by Mezil’s wife.
When Mezil lectures she tunes the music out as yet another tsundere spell. But if it’s the missus who got angry? Cenna knew she screwed up good.
“S-sorry. I. Uh…”
There’s no way she could excuse herself.
“As long you’re aware of your poor decisions, young lady. That matter is not important at the moment. I’m here to warn you about Sans Serif. I do not suggest you to get any closer to him than you already are.”
“Message from Mez?” Cenna asked.
“No. I’m issuing this word of caution on my own volition.”
That’s news. That husband and wife team had always been the true brains behind the operations. They tell her where to go, what to do, and when she had the freedom to act on her own.
Cenna sat down on the side of the bed to stabilize herself. “Hey, Lucy. You gotta tell me what’s troubling ya.”
“Papyrus may be fine, but he isn’t sleeping. My weapon… had disturbed the fire in his Eye while he’s in the world of visions. As a result, he’s in a state between consciousness and sleep.”
“In human terms, I am detecting brain activity associated with an active, waking person. Whether or not he remembers his visions, it is still too soon to confirm.”
“There’s no guarantee that he will wake up the same. Knowledge can twist hearts beyond repair. Sans Serif and I know this more than anyone else.”
“Furthermore, the data I collected about Ebott’s Tactician… points to a dark path. It is the reason why I agreed to Seal him in the first place.”
“Wait.” Said Cenna. “Just. Hold up a sec. You did WHAT to him?! D-does Mez know this? When? Why???”
Lucidia refused to answer.
The Magus checked her family watch. Until now, she had yet to unleash the Determination stored within. That huge desynchronized gap had bothered her ever since Toriel pointed it out.
Mezil showed up at Mettaton’s Studio, just in time to intercept both the reporter and to calm the monsters.
He informed her that Alphys’ Lab was next on the hitlist.
Then he insisted on initiating patrols, with extra attention on the mountain itself.
Cenna thought her morning couldn’t get any worse. “How… how bad did shit go down in the last timeline?”
“Confidential.”
“Oh c’mon Lucy this ain’t the time for that!”
“I am not at liberty to explain, but you have enough experience to guess.”
The human lady clenched her fist tight. “Yeah, you’re right. I get what ya mean. But, what does this have anything to do with our short assassino?”
“Sans Serif’s primary self-imposed directive is to preserve the safety of his brother, Papyrus. What he considers ‘safe’ is undetermined still.”
Cenna asked back, “Why? I thought you had like at least fifty timelines on this guy.”
“His choices in the Underground still perplex me. My scope of vision of his pre-Surface actions are limited to the prevention of the Seven SOUL DEMON-GOD and Judge Thyme’s report on The End.”
“Predicament: Why did he allow Papyrus to duel Frisk despite the risks? It does not line up with his current actions.”
“So, you’re telling me that there’s an unknown factor in this whole mess?”
“Correct. I do not believe it is mere apathy. This is why I am delivering my caution, Judge Caraway. This timeline is foreign territory. For all of us.
“Shit…” Cenna covered her mouth. “I trusted him lots, Lucy. Told Frisky about that too. Goddammit, I made a really bad decision now.”
“No, it’s a wise action. Making him at ease with you is the best safeguard on your life. Maintain your current cordiality, but stay your lips on sensitive information.”
“One problem there, Lucy.”
“What would it be?”
“Frisky,” Cenna replied. “Our kid got full trust in that bloke. What if they try to include him in everything? If I back off, both of them are gonna notice.”
“If that’s the case, continue as usual. It can’t be helped. Encounters on your own volitions are the ones I would discourage.”
“In other words, I shouldn’t meet the guy alone.”
“Correct.”
She breathed a long sigh. “Sure. Can do. I’ll keep you updated.”
“Thank you. And, please stay safe.”
Lucidia then ended the call. Any appetite for breakfast had evaporated. It crossed her mind to get a smoothie and have an early lunch.
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Or maybe a quick 3-in-1 cereal mix? It’s the faster option of the two. So she mixed a sachet in a glass and guzzled that down whole.
The Magus finished up her routine and slipped the gun into its holster. Time to greet the sunshine.
It’s another morning of watching from the sidecar of a police motorbike. She would have been the driver, if only her wretched disease hadn't condemned her to the fate of a passenger. Auto-pilot tech had their merits, but she didn’t like the idea of letting a machine control her path. Perhaps she’s old-school when it comes to the road.
There's a ruckus up ahead. Looks like humans have flooded the Town Hall, again. Worse still, she recognized Linda’s car in the parking lot.
Cenna groaned. More PR problems. As if there weren’t enough of those to begin with.
Why’d they let that grating woman out of detention in the first place?
It is tempting to charge straight into the crowd and chase them out. But if she did that, Linda will raise hell and rally the rest to her side.
Her partner frowned at the scene. “I think we should stay out of this, Judge Caraway.”
“Yeah,” Cenna nodded. “Drive me elsewhere, please.”
The bike turned around for a detour. Ended up in front of Muffet’s Bakery.
It’s open. Odd. It should be closed because of the curfew, but the owner had enough guts to set up shop nonetheless. As a result, it’s far from quiet. Customers filled the place. Everyone wanted to get their choice food before the establishment closes again for the week.
Cenna recalled that the pastries from this shop were pretty tasty. Because they contained real spiders, they're also protein rich. Or so bug-food theories go. That kind of nutrition might make up for her skipped breakfast.
“Hey, want a snack?” asked Cenna.
“Sure. What’s good in there?” The partner answered.
“The doughnuts and croissants. But they've got some savoury stuff like pork in a bun too.”
“Oooh porkies! Get those. I don’t like sweets while on duty.”
“Guess that makes two of us.”
“Thanks!”
Delicious scents of baked goods and coffee paired together with the warmness of the spider café. Despite its choice of arachnid decoration, the large windows let in plenty of sunlight.
The otherwise pleasant atmosphere was overcrowded by the sheer amount of people. She headed straight to the bread corner and managed to nab the remaining two sausage buns.
‘Made with real Surface sausages’ was apparently a major selling point in this town.
The owner of the establishment also doubled as the cashier. Muffet recognized the Magus on sight. She passed her duties to a bunch of spiders and straight up approached the human.
She said, “Oh! Judge Caraway, right? You didn’t get held up in the Town Hall, dearie? I thought all the human Magi folks got stuck there, ahuhu~~”
Now that’s unexpected. Cenna asked back, “How’d ya know?”
“A little birdie offered to fly food packages over to that place. Nobody could leave because of all those pestering folk, but stomachs cannot wait ahuhu~~~
“So me and my spider friends thought we could try out a delivery service! Phone orders, you know. Ahuhuhuhuhu~~~”
Maybe she didn't need to call her colleagues after all. Cenna appreciated the convenience.
“Enterprising, eh?” the Magus smiled back, “I like that. Say, mind if ya tell me what’s with the fuss over there?”
Muffet explained, “Those pesky parent-wannabes insist that Ebott Town had become too dangerous for our little ambassador. They want Frisk to be placed under their protective care. Temporarily, so they claim.”
Cenna outright scoffed at the idea. “Yeah right! They’re the one causing the chaos in the first place. Temporarily, hah! I bet they’re gonna file for ‘permanently’ the moment they stuff the kid into the car.”
It was a good idea not to step inside after all. She knew she’d blow off her top right away.
“You’re their relative I heard?” Muffet asked.
The human tensed up. She saw friendly curiosity in all four of the spider woman’s eyes, ignorant about the uncomfortable details.
Cenna tried to hide under her hat. “Uh. Yeah. I am. That’s why I ain’t handing the kid over to some random stranger. Besides, Ebott’s really the safest place for them right now.”
The moment they leave the protection of monsters, Gungnir and other parties would seize Frisk like a bar of pure gold.
Muffet exclaimed, “That’s wonderful, ahuhu! Oh it’s good to know Frisk is so well-connected. By the way, if you see Sansypants please tell him that his order is ready. I haven’t been able to contact him for ages despite selling him a new phone.”
“Sansypants?”
“A.k.a Mister Comedian! You know, Sans.”
That skeleton does have an intricate network of connections. It didn’t surprise Cenna that this woman knows him. Furthermore, Lucidia would find the little trivia about the phone deal very interesting.
How much does this spider lady know about Sans?
What if she shared the baker a piece of insider information? How would she react?
The Magus decided to test the waters.
“Sure, no probs,” she replied. “I dunno if I could catch him either if I must be honest. His brother ended up in hospital. That’s why he didn’t answer ya.”
Muffet covered her mouth with her many pairs of arms.
“How terrible!” said the spider. “And he just recovered from that other hospital visit. Oh poor, poor, Papyrus. That explains why our tiny ambassador looked so distraught.”
In other words, nobody had seen Sans since yesterday’s mishap. And Frisk visited the bakery?
“Sucks right?” Cenna sighed. “Hey, sorry to cut the chat short but my colleague is waiting for me out there.”
“Oh of course. Let’s wrap things up, shall we? Ahuhuhuhu~~~”
Buns, bagged and paid.
Since then, Cenna kept a lookout for that skeleton. Lucidia advised against meeting him in person, alone. It doesn’t mean that she can’t visit him with Frisk in tow.
The plan was to spot the guy from afar, notify the kid, then meet up. Deliver Muffet’s message too.
Huh? I sensed something that shouldn’t belong here.
Or rather… someone.
There’s a skinny man in a full denim set perched on a tree: had a long-sleeved jacket with a matching pair jeans. He wore full gloves and a sturdy outdoorsman’s boots. Topped the whole thing off with a motorcycle helmet.
To others, he looked like a biker with a very strange viewing point.
To Cenna, he’s a walking spoiler.
“Really?” she grumbled, “Like, bloody really?”
She asked the driver to stop nearby. Got off the sidecar and stormed straight towards the one particular tree where the mystery fellow occupied.
Boot, to the tree. The branches rustled.
Kicked it the second time. Still no response.
She refused to play that game. Cenna summoned her drones and threatened: “If you don’t explain yourself, I’m gonna hang you upside down and call your cousin!”
The man tensed up over the threat. “Oy, oy, why do ya need to go that way? I was never here! Ne! Ver!”
Cenna snapped back, “We’re on high fucking alert you doof! If the Royal Guard saw you perching like some goddamn bird, they’re gonna think you’re either paparazzi or Gungnir. Now get down here already!”
“Sheesh, ya be blowin’ off yer fuse again. Fine, fine, have it yer way.”
The mystery man crawled down the tree in an unusual manner: he had the grace of a cat yet the stickiness of a gecko. It’s a bizarre method that clashed with his clothing of choice.
Once he got his feet on the ground, he stood on his feet like an actual person and started explaining himself.
“Thought ah should survey this timeline live, ya see. Fer the first time in forever we got a real development in this loopin’ mess. Cor Blimey, all of us Perseverance folk no longer remember what’s like to pass a full year without a blasted hiccup! Bet Sir Mezil feels the same.”
Cenna sighed, “I understand it’s tough. Heard a large number of Seers sealed themselves until we solve this case. You sure ain’t one of them, loony bin.”
The man chuckled. “To me, life’s interesting no matter where it spins. Like now! Oh lookit them Gungnir. Bein’ smart. Usin’ their scrubby gangster ranks to cause trouble, then let the misguided parents swoop in to play hero.”
A disgusted growl overshadowed the jolly disposition for one second. “Aye, it makes me wanna spit.”
He then resumed his usual tone. “Besides, Sealing meself be mighty uncomfortable. Ya think it’d be like wearin’ a simple patch on yer skin? No, no!”
“‘Tis be like tying yer hand to yer back. Or seein’ the world in a perpetual blur. Hated that numbness! Me Eye be a part of me. I rather deal with dejavu than to cripple meself. Even if it be temporary.”
The man waved his hand across his face. “Let’s change topics, aye? Ah still dunno how Sir Mezil managed to hold off the missing children case until now. Didn’t the ‘caring’ parents o’ Gungnir always try to make an expedition to dig them bones?”
Cenna pondered about that. “Well, you’re asking the wrong person. I don’t know what’s going on half the time too. I guess Mez managed to steer their attention away. And now, we have freaking Linda making a mess.”
“If ya wanna hear me opinion, it be those internet videos,” said the man. “‘Cause the world saw how the goat royalty burn rain, they no longer think Ebott’s full o’ harmless funny creatures. They be shows o’ might. Confirmed them conspiracy fears.”
She groaned because he’s right. Her jaw dropped the floor when the videos circulated online. The Dreemurrs put on a fancy fire display while Undyne suplexed a freaking van.
They’re supposed to show that monsters are good people who use their might to protect others. But there will always be paranoid idiots taking things the wrong way.
Cenna crossed her arms. “Hey, you better get outta here ASAP. Lucy issued a warning today, and it sure as hell applies to you.”
“A warning from the fairest lady?”
“Yup. Sans Serif… he’s on her red list. Like, ‘stay the hell away’ level.”
The man gasped. “Cor Blimey all the way to the Sun! That be bad, bad news. Aye. I shall hide me skinny self until the ‘tornado’ blows over. B-but please don’t tell anyone I’m here. I was never in Ebott Town. Nope. Noooope.”
“Fine, I won’t say anything. But you can’t run away from Lucy.”
“She be a close friend and certainly not me cousin,” he said. “That’s solace enough fer me.”
The Seer was about to make a swift bend around the tree, but Cenna stopped him. “Hang on. I gotta ask something.”
“Oh? Shoot, madam.”
“How’s the ocean holding up?”
She’s sure that he’s frowning underneath that helmet. His tone turned serious. Grim. Nothing but bad news. “…It be turnin’ rickety and weak like a worm-eaten driftwood. If we don’t do somethin’ about it, there dark days loom ahead.”
“I dinnae think it be best if ya charge in alone, Judge Caraway. Even with yer Ascension. ‘Cause, the last time ya did that… we aborted the mission and pulled ya out from the waters.”
Cenna bit her lower lip. It’s exactly what Lucidia had said. There were a few timelines where Spring did arrive. From the sounds of it, all versions of that one mission ended in failure.
“Noted. Thanks,” she said, “In return, I won’t tell your folks that you sneaked your pelvis to Ebott without permission.”
“Thank ya too, madam.” Showed his gratitude with a good old salute. “Take care.”
He vanished behind the tree. Went into a shortcut, and hopefully headed straight back to his home on foreign soil.
Three hours later, her round stopped her in front of the bunny inn. Frisk exited from the premise and started searching the perimeters. Seems like they’re looking for someone.
“Yo Frisky!” Cenna greeted. Tried to squeeze in some of her usual pep to not make the kid worried.
“Yo Cenna,” Frisk greeted back. The kid didn’t have as much energy, despite being more well rested. Or so the big sister hoped.
“What’s wrong? Did ya get any sleep last night?”
The kid replied in their quiet yet sturdy manner. “I slept well, but I’m worried about Sans.”
It just had to be the guy Lucidia warned about.
Cenna asked, “What makes ya think he’ll stop by here?”
“Mom and I tried to look for him at his home, but he’s not in. Grillby’s still closed too. Since the Magi have Papyrus I thought he might try to talk to you about the current events.”
Come to think of it, he should. Perhaps that’s why Lucidia contacted her in the first place.
Cenna laughed a bit. “I’m still on day shift for a few more hours! Even if he dropped by, he’d leave real soon.”
Serious business now. “Hey, Frisky. Mind meeting me at the inn after my shift ends? We have some super important things to talk about. It’s about your upcoming exam.”
“…I gotta test ya on something. If my hunch is right, Mez’s gonna school ya extra hard this round. In the meantime I’ll keep a lookout for Sans too.”
“Okay,” Frisk nodded. “See you in the evening?”
“Yup. See ya then.”
After waving goodbye it’s back to the patrols. When she’s well out of the child’s sight, she clutched her magic watch tight.
Mama, I pray your heirloom can get Frisky out of this trouble. If not…
…………
…Hell no. I don’t wanna fail them a second time!