The world burst to life in Jake's vision as his system rebooted. Olfactory sensors detected an unusually high pollen count in the immediate vicinity. Observation revealed this to be from the yellow flowers beneath Jake. He was in an underground chamber, the only exit a small hallway that led to a massive open doorway.
His repair systems indicated no damage, so Jake rose to his feet to better observe the area for signs of the threat. The whirling energy of Sans's shortcut did not compute, but the being that attacked them managed to produce an incredibly powerful subspace field to break apart the teleportation stream and separate Jake from Glen and Sans.
A quick sensor scan revealed life-signs nearby, though none in the immediate vicinity. Fortunately, physical observation of the nearby area did not uncover any bodies, indicating that Glen and Sans likely survived. A trail of yellow petals extended a short way down the hallway, indicating that someone who landed in the chamber departed in that direction.
Reasoning that it might be Glen or Sans and that they might still be nearby, Jake decided the only logical action was to look for them. Rising to his feet, he trotted down the long corridor in search of his companions.
He was only half-way down the corridor when his auditory sensors detected sounds of distress from a young female human, much too young to be Glen or Sans. While his current objective was to find his companions, Sans automatically bypassed his logic circuit and ran to assist.
The young child Glen identified as 'Frisk' lay on the ground in the room beyond, cowering in fear in front of a small circle of grass occupied by a single yellow flower. White orbs of an unidentifiable energy appeared in the air in front of the child, spinning for a few moments before flying toward her.
Jake leapt forward, rushing to stand between the child and whatever was threatening it. The white projectiles deflected off his kinetic fields and hit the walls of the chamber as he scanned the area for signs of the threat.
"Hey! Who the hell are you?"
Jake's sensors honed in on the source of the voice. It was the flower; while superficially similar to those of the previous room, this flower had a distinct face.
Jake growled at the flower as it regarded him with an angry expression. "Are you ... growling at me?"
Jake barked at the flower. According to his canine behavior databanks, it would act as a deterrent, frightening away the threat.
More white energy pellets hit his kinetic shields. While he was in no danger, Jake interpreted this as a hostile action and acted in kind, projecting an arc of electricity from his monitor to shock the flower. His aim was perfect; the flower twisted on its stem, its face a mask of pain.
Without another word, the flower dove into the earth. Jake leapt forward, metal paws digging in the dirt only to stop when it became clear the flower was long gone.
With the threat eliminated, Jake turned his attention to Frisk. She looked frightened as he approached, so he switched his monitor image to his usual 'happy' configuration. When she still didn't get up, Jake sat on his hind legs, tilted his monitor to the side in puzzlement, and let out a small questioning, "Woof?"
The little girl stared at him for a few moments before letting out a giggle. She rose to her feet and slowly approached Jake before finally touching the side of his monitor with a slightly trembling hand.
The sensation of touch was ... pleasurable. There was no other word for it. While the sensation was strange, it also registered with some of the errant data files stored within Jake, triggering him into letting out a rather silly-sounding giggle.
Frisk giggled with him before throwing her small arms around his monitor. This too registered with the errant data within Jake; his presence was comforting the small child. While there was no logic or programming algorithm in his system to account for it, he found the child's presence comforted him as well.
Fast approaching footsteps made the child pull away and Jake turn about. He crouched down, ready to attack should the oncoming presence be threatening.
"Hello?" A voice Jake's memory files identified as the lady Toriel called out.
Frisk clung to Jake's side, shaking in fear as Toriel stepped into the chamber, a concerned look on her face. Jake let out a friendly 'woof' indended not only as a greeting to Toriel but to ease the child's fears as well.
"Oh, my!" Toriel said, slowly approaching and kneeling to speak with the child. "I heard you cry out, child. Are you all right?"
Frisk only hugged Jake more tightly. Jake was puzzled by this; Toriel was the child's mother, was she not?
"It's all right." Toriel said, extending a hand. "I mean you no harm. I'm Toriel, child. What is your name?"
Frisk reluctantly removed her hands from Jake and spelled out her name in sign language.
"I don't understand." Toriel said, her brow furrowing. "Can you not speak, child?"
Frisk's small shoulders sagged, a sad expression on her face. Fortunately, Jake's files included sign language. He raised his monitor so Toriel could see, displaying Frisk's name as well as the sign for each letter.
"Frisk?" She said, looking from Jake to Frisk and signing the letters as well as she could with her big hands. When Frisk beamed and nodded, Toriel gave a small chuckle and said, "I see. And who is your impressive machine friend here?"
Frisk looked uncertain, but Jake turned to face her, displaying his name in sign language in case the child could not hear. She signed his name back, to which he nodded and turned to Toriel so she could see it as well.
"Jake." Toriel said, nodding. "You are her friend?"
Jake let out an affirmative bark. Toriel giggled and gave the top of his monitor a gentle rub. Frisk hesitated for a moment before reaching out and touching Toriel's hand. She rubbed Toriel's fur, as though reassuring herself that it was real. Toriel didn't stop her; already Jake could see the same motherly look in the bossun woman's eyes he'd noticed back in Ebott.
"You aren't the first human child to fall into the Underground." Toriel said, taking Frisk's hand between her own. "I know you must be so confused right now, but I promise I'll do everything in my power to help-"
Frisk threw her arms around Toriel, hugging her as tightly as she could. Toriel seemed stunned by this for a few moment before slowly smiling and hugging the child back.
"Come, my child." She said once they released. "There is much to show you ... and your friend too, of course."
Frisk didn't resist as Toriel took her hand and led her to the door. Jake followed, but stopped as he reached the doorway. Looking back, he saw the flower staring at him from the small mound of raised earth. It dove back into the dirt before he could let out a bark, but he continued watching the spot until two hands touched his back, one big and furry and the other small.
"Jake?" Toriel asked. "Is something wrong?"
Jake glanced at the spot one more time before shaking his monitor and following Toriel and Frisk out of the room.
