NegaSans stood up, cheekbones flushed from exertion. "There, Doc; he ain't goin' nowhere."
Sans was forced to agree. In addition to arm, leg, and three spine restraints, a shimmering forcefield hummed mere millimeters from his bones. It wouldn't hurt him, but if he even tried to move he'd get a nasty shock.
If that wasn't bad enough, they'd taken his clothes as well. He wasn't particularly modest, but being pinned to a metal slab bare-boned left him little in the way of dignity.
Alphys's spectacled face moved into his line of view, the eyes behind her swirled glasses cold and analytical. "Interesting. His resemblance to you is quite uncanny."
"I dunno about that." NegaSans said, tossing Sans's coat onto the pile of the rest of Sans's clothes. "Way too small for me."
"Fooled your brother well enough, didn't it?"
"Don't remind me." NegaSans said with a scowl.
"What did he say?"
NegaSans paused for a moment before saying, "I didn't tell him."
Sans gave NegaSans a strange look. Alphys, however, adjusted her spectacles and gave him a mirthless smile. "You just told him you found the human, didn't you?"
NegaSans scowled, but didn't say anything. Alphys laughed and shook her head. "Relax; I won't tell him your double bested you multiple times."
"Thanks." NegaSans mumbled, turning to leave.
"If."
NegaSans froze for a moment before slowly turning back to the doctor. "If what?"
"If you bring the human child to me first."
"And let you hog the glory?"
"Come now, Sans; you more than anyone should know I've no interest in currying favor with our brooding dictator. He will get the child and its soul in due time ... after I've finished with them. Bring the human to me, and rest assured, your dear brother need not know of your continued blundering."
"You're a real piece of work, doc." NegaSans said, a glimmer of light in his red eye.
"No flattery, please." Alphys said. "I get enough of that from that Undyne."
"Her affections seem a bit fishy to you?" Sans said.
NegaSans and Alphys glared at him, both looking annoyed at the interruption.
Shaking her head, Alphys said, "Bring the kid to the lower lab when you catch her ... and use a shortcut so you aren't seen. Less fuss that way."
"What about him?" NegaSans asked, jerking a thumb-bone at Sans.
Alphys barely spared Sans a glance. "All in good time; I'll need to prepare my examination room before I get started on our friend here."
"Take your time, Doc." Sans said, "I ain't goin' anywhere. You could say you've got a captive audience."
Alphys glared at Sans, only to turn and glare at NegaSans as he let out a snicker.
Her beady eyes rolling behind the glasses, Alphys said, "I suggest you get moving Sans. And as for you, my humerous friend-"
NegaSans and Sans both laughed at that one, much to Alphys's obvious annoyance. "That's not what I ... ugh. Sans, get out of here. Our guest might as well laugh while he can; he certainly won't be laughing once I get started on him."
""Why doc," Sans said, "I do believe you're flirtin' with me."
Alphys turned away with a disgusted snort and slunk towards the depths of her lab.
NegaSans shook his head and said, "You're funny, I'll give you that. Kinda a shame your about to get dissected by our resident mad scientist."
"No reason to get torn to pieces over it." Sans said.
NegaSans chuckled again. "Not yet anyway."
He took a few steps away before stopping and turning to face Sans again. "What's it like? Your dimension?"
"Empty." Sans said, smile fading. "The human we got wasn't as merciful as yours."
NegaSans nodded Before he turned away again, however, Sans added, "But Glen ... the lady I was travelling with before I ended up here, she came from a world where we lived on the surface with the humans in peace."
"With the humans? They're the ones who cursed us to this underground hell!"
"The humans who put up the barrier are long dead, dude. The ones left on the surface? They think we're just a story, something their grandparents told them to scare 'em into behaving."
NegaSans shook his head and turned away.
"If you don't believe me, try talkin' to Frisk."
"Frisk?"
"The human kid. Just give her a chance; she's no threat."
NegaSans glared at Sans for a long moment. "How do I know you aren't lyin' to me?"
"Cross my heart ... well, you know what I mean."
NegaSans let out a snort, but Sans thought he saw some contemplation on his other self's skull before he turned away once more.
"So long, me." NegaSans said. "Hang in there."
"Ha! Good one." Sans said, watching NegaSans depart. In truth, he was worried; NegaAlphys was every bit as clever as her counterpart in his dimension. He could detach his arms and legs, even his head for a time, but even a skeleton needed a spine. She'd even dredged up several null generators to cancel out his magic. It wasn't enough to stop his abilities altogether, but it certainly weakened them to the point of uselessness. Concentrating with all his might it was all he could do to make a scalpel on the nearby table rattle in its tray.
Alphys approached, watching the tray with an air of amusement. Mettaton stood behind her, his face impassive. Sans was flattered; clearly, Alphys still viewed him as a threat despite everything else she'd done to restrain him.
"Impressive." Alphys said, adjusting her glasses. "Normally that much nullification would render Sans powerless ... the Sans who's supposed to be here anyway."
She pointed a small remote at Sans. The upright slab slowly moved forward, heading toward the lift.
"Well," Alphys said, walking casually alongside the moving slab. "Why don't you tell me a little bit about your universe on the way? I'm dying of curiosity ... well, technically, you'll be dying for my curiosity, but I'm sure you know what I mean."
"My universe?" Sans said, "Ain't nuthin' special. Mettaton's king of the Underground. Me and Pap are his lackeys, and he has you hosting a late-night television show."
"Very amusing. And Asgore?"
"He's a busboy at Grillbys." Sans said, figuring he might as well have what fun he could get. "I always tell him I'm ordering to goat. Gets him every time."
"I see. What of the barrier?"
"Oh, that? We put up a bunch of wallpaper and forgot about it. Nuthin' up there we really needed anyway."
"Yes, that sounds sensible."
Sans's slab rolled into the lift and slowly spun about in time to see Mettaton and Alphys enter as well. Once the lift was moving, Alphys asked, "So why did you come here?"
"Accident." Sans said. "I was tryin' to go back to Snowdin and got ambushed in mid-shortcut."
She frowned at him. "Something attacked you in the middle of a short range teleportation stream? Highly unlikely."
"Hey, do you think I want to be here?" Sans asked. "Pap's a jerk, you're a certified mad scientist, and the king's a genocidal madman. If I knew a way back, I'd leave in a second."
"And Sans? The Sans of this dimension?"
"Seems all right. Lousy taste in condiments, though."
The lift doors opened to the lower lab. At a button press from Alphys, Sans's slab continued moving again.
"How are the amalgates?" Sans asked.
Alphys stopped immediately and glared at Sans.
"Amalgates?" Mettaton said, speaking for the first time. "What is he talking about Alphys?"
"Nothing." Alphys said, still glaring at Sans. "Nothing at all. Just the nonsensical ramblings of a skeleton who is, as I'm sure he'd put it, seriously boned."
"Ha! Good one, Doc!" Sans said. He almost had the restraints around his hands and free; his power was a little stronger now. Perhaps one of the nullifiers was malfunctioning. Whatever the reason, Sans started focusing his telekinesis on the spine restraints.
"So, Doc." Sans said as they entered a large surgical room. "What exactly are you planning to do to me?"
"Well, for starters, I'd like to get a good look at that eye of yours." Alphys said. "I could make use of that kind of power."
"Nuthin' hidin' in my baby blue, Doc."
"We'll see." Alphys pointed the remote at Sans again. The slab reclined until it was horizontal.
He heard the sound of metal tools rattling together, followed by a satisfied, "Ah, here we go."
Alphys appeared in Sans's field of vision, now bearing a slightly rusted surgical saw.
"Now then," She said as she started up the saw. "Hold him down, Mettaton. We wouldn't want him to accidentally damage the eye while thrasing about in agonizing pain now, would we?"
"Heaven forbid." Sans said. Only his feet were restrained now; he tensed in preparation for the fight ahead, only for the entire room to go black. Emergency lighting kicked in a moment later, filling the room with a dull ambient blue glow.
Alphys let out a frustrated sigh as the surgical saw's motor died. "Can't I have a single moment to myself in this dratted place?"
A jaunty anime jingle filled the air. Sans almost couldn't believe it; despite the differences, both his Alphys and this Alphys had the theme to Mew Mew Kissy Cutie set as their ringtone.
"What?" Alphys snapped into the cell phone's receiver. Sans strained to make out the rest of the conversation, but it was too faint to make out.
"Uh huh." Alphys said, pinching the bridge of her snout. "I'm sure its fine; they're probably just realigning the transfer circuits. Just leave them alone, Undyne, that's why I built the damn things. No, I can't go over there, I'm busy! I need to ... fine. Yes. Ugh ... fine. Right. I'll be over there in a few minutes."
Alphys looked at Sans for a moment before turning away and saying in a hushed whisper, "Love you too, Al."'
"Aww!" Mettaton and Sans said in unison.
"Shut up." Alphys said, the yellow scales of her cheeks growing dark. "I'll be back ... eventually. Mettaton, you stay here and keep an eye on him."
"But darling, I have a show in half an hour! I need to-"
"Stay here. If he gets away, I swear I'll take you apart and put you back together as a washing machine!"
Alphys stormed off, still looking embarrassed as the door slid shut behind her. One down, Sans thought to himself.
Sans and Mettaton exchanged glances before Sans said, "Wow. Touchy, isn't she?"
"You have no idea." Mettaton said dryly. "Great. Now I'm going to forget my lines ... again."
"Then go rehearse, buddy." Sans said, waving his restrained hand as much as he could without giving away the strap wasn't secure. "I ain't goin' anywhere like this."
"Well ... I don't know." Mettaton said, twisting both sets of fingers nervously. "She's not kidding when she says she'll tear me apart. If I'd known she was going to use me as her little servant ..."
"... you'd still have had her make you that body." Sans finished. "Just for a chance to dazzle an audience."
"Oh!" Mettaton said, metal cheeks blushing. "Have ... have you seen my show?"
"Not in this universe, but you were a big hit back in mine." Sans said, realizing with a small amount of amusement that it was the truth. "The last performance I saw was definitely a show-stopper."
"Really?" Mettaton said, eyes wide. "I've worked so hard to get an audience here. I must've tried a hundred different programs, but the ratings never budge an inch. What did your Mettaton do?"
"Hey, what didn't he do? Cooking shows, news reports, opera, gladiator battles ... incredible stuff. I mean, hey; I don't have to tell you. You do the same stuff probably."
"Well ... no." Mettaton said, rubbing his arms and looking surprisingly sheepish. "But I've got some good ideas. I thought a documentary show-"
"Oh, wow. Uh, Mettaton, you mind if I give ya a little advice? If you wanna please the crowds, you gotta know your audience. These people, their pent up, they're angry, they need an outlet. As a prospective entertainer, you need to give them that outlet."
"My word." Mettaton said, looking strangely taken aback. "You don't mean ... racy programs?"
Sans sighed. The idea of a timid Mettaton was just almost too much, even when it was working in his favor.
"Tell you what; why don't you try this. Pap's got a bunch of puzzles set between the Ruins and Snowdin, yeah? You get a bunch of monsters, put them at one end, then tell them the first one to the Ruins wins a big prize!"
"What prize?" Mettaton asked, staring as though transfixed.
"Something good. Something everyone will want. The bigger the better, Mettaton; you gotta make them want it and want it bad. What's something everyone in the Underground wants? What's something everyone would find valuable? Dangle that carrot in front of them and record the footage on all of Alphys's spy cameras, and simply provide commentary ... perhaps along with someone else, just for flavor, and I guarantee your ratings are gonna take off like a bottle rocket! Your viewers will love you!"
The look in Mettaton's eyes made it clear Sans had hit just the right button. "Yes ... yes! Yes, you're right! That's brilliant, Sans!"
Without another word, Mettaton headed out of the room. As the door slid shut, Sans felt the final restraint give way.
"Whew." He said, "Just in time."
As though hearing Sans's relief and moving to spite him, the lights of the came back on moments later, the force field surrounding him activating with a loud hum.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me!" Sans said, once again stuck. He looked around for something that he could use to bash the underside of the slab; with any luck, he'd break the field emitter or one of the nullifiers.
He was still looking when the slab suddenly shook. The sound of metal and plastic being mangled was audible beneath him, followed by a massive jolt as the slab fell on its side, spilling Sans to the floor.
He sat there for a few moments, stunned at this turn of events until a small yellow face peeked over the side of the slab.
"Hey! Smiley trashbag!" Flowey said, "We gotta get moving!"
"Flowey?" Sans said, scarcely believing his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm a hero, I know. C'mon; we gotta get moving before Docter Frankenlizard and Metalhead get back."
"But how ..."
"That's the good thing about being a flower." Flowey said with a nervous laugh. "You can squeeze through all kinds of cracks. Now come on!"
Sans climbed over the slab, taking a moment to look at the thick vines pulling away from the remains of the equipment on the underside of the slab. Flowey slid up and around his arm like a snake. He wasted no time retracing their path to the lift. Once back in the main lab, he grabbed his clothing.
"Put it on while you walk!" Flowey said. "We've gotta hurry up and help Frisk before they catch her!"
"All right, all right!" Sans said, slipping on his pants. Flowey grumbled as Sans approached the lab entrance, pulling the sleeve over the recumbent flower. He reached for the button to open the door, only for it to slide open before he even touched it to reveal a wisp of blue flame in a somewhat tattered school uniform.
Sans stared for a moment before finally managing to utter the name, "Fuku?"
"Well, yeah." Flowey said, shrugging his pedals. "You didn't think I made it all the way here by myself did you?"
Sans tried to imagine Fuku carrying Flowey and failed. Shaking his head, he smiled at the young flame woman and said, "Well, I'm glad to see a friendly face."
"Well, you did save me." She sounded non-chalante about it, but Sans thought he detected a hint of pink in the flames where her cheeks would be.
"Hey, couldn't let Grillby's girl go out in a blaze, right?"
She giggled but quickly caught herself. "Flowey told me ... y'know, about you being from another dimension. I should've known, of course; Sans ... our Sans would never have risked himself for us like you did."
"Well, believe it or not, where I'm from, me and Grillby go way back. We're such good friends that every now and then, I actually think about paying my tab."
He winked at her. "I never do, but you know what they say; it's the thought that counts."
She giggled, one hand covering her mouth. Sans found himself thinking how pretty she looked, but quickly forced that thought away. This was definitely not the time for that.
"I told her you were trying to find a way back." Flowey said, coiling around Sans's neck as though trying to get comfortable.
"Not necessarily back." Sans said, "But definitely away. No offense, but I'm not a fan of this reality."
"Neither am I." Fuku stared down into his eyes. "Please ... can I go with you too?"
Sans was momentarily struck by the way the flames of her 'hair' flickered, just a shade lighter than the rest of her.
"Rrgh ... focus, Sans." Shaking his head, Sans said, "Well, assumin' I can get myself out." He said, "But it's probably gonna be a one-way trip."
"I don't care." She said, holding her head up defiantly. "I ... I hate this place. Anything would be better than this."
Sans considered his own reality, with all the other monsters gone. "Yeah, I'm gonna agree with you there."
"It's not just me either." She said. "After what you did in Snowdin, after what your brother-"
"That Papyrus is not my brother." Sans said sharply. "My brother loves spaghetti and puzzles, and runs around in paper mache armor annoying Undyne and getting on my case about taking naps while I'm on duty."
Fuku's flames died a little as she shrank back from him. Sans realized then that his eye was flaring.
"Sorry." He said, backing away and putting a hand over the blue orb. "Sorry, Fuku. Yeah, I'll take anyone outta here who wants to go, but we can't do that without the crystal."
"Not a problem." Fuku said, pulling the chunk out of her skirt pocket.
"You took it?" Sans asked, looking at Flowey and trying to get the mental image of him dragging the crystal behind him down the Core corridors.
"I tried to wake you up. We both did." Flowey said, glowering at the skeleton, "But you were out like a light."
"Yeah. The thing in the core took a lot outta me." Shaking his head, Sans said, "Okay, I have an idea about what we can use for power, but it's gonna take a pretty good plan."
Fuku nodded. "Yes ... Flowey told us. A human soul. The rest of Snowdin is out looking for Frisk right now."
"What? No, not the kid's soul!"
"But Sans, we need to get out of here!" Fuku said, desperation in her voice.632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXIYXl35at
"Frisk ain't done nuthin'." Sans said stubbornly. "I ain't sacrificing her to get outta here, not when our dear king Asgore's just sitting on six souls ready for the taking. If it comes to staying here or killing Frisk, I'll take my chances here."
Fuku wrung her hands, a thoroughly unhappy look on her face. "Sans ... I don't want to kill anyone, but ... but everyone knows the human's down here now. They're going to be looking for her."632Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeK9C951XO1
"All the more reason for us to find her first." Sans said. "Fortunately, Alphys has cameras all over the Underground. Sooner or later, we'll catch sight of her."
"Are you crazy?" Flowey said, "We can't just stay here! Alphys is gonna come back, and you wouldn't believe the stuff she could throw at us."
"Oh yes I could." Sans said, thinking of the hulking amalgates. Shaking his head, he said, "But don't worry about it; I've got a computer linked into her camera system back in Snowdin. We better get movin' though. Like you said, Flowey; who knows what she's gonna throw at us when she realizes we're gone?"
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