Chapter Text
Direct Message recieved from: TheDoubleUDee
TheDoubleUDee: KRIS
TheDoubleUDee: I HAVE
TheDoubleUDee: WONDERFUL NEWS
TheDoubleUDee: KRIS
TheDoubleUDee: KRIS THIS IS VERY
TheDoubleUDee: VERY
kriscrossApplesauce: dude its 4 in the mornin
kriscrossApplesauce: wyw
TheDoubleUDee: IMPORTANT
TheDoubleUDee: AH
TheDoubleUDee: THERE YOU ARE
TheDoubleUDee: THE VESSEL
TheDoubleUDee: IS READY
TheDoubleUDee: YOU WANTED TO KNOW
TheDoubleUDee: AS SOON AS IT WAS
kriscrossApplesauce: what
kriscrossApplesauce: real shit?
TheDoubleUDee: IT IS INDEED
TheDoubleUDee: REAL SHIT
TheDoubleUDee: I BELIEVE YOU WILL FIND IT
TheDoubleUDee: MOST ACCEPTABLE
kriscrossApplesauce: oh my god
kriscrossApplesauce: okay
kriscrossApplesauce: is mary awake or around or whatever
TheDoubleUDee: NOT AT PRESENT
TheDoubleUDee: I WILL INFORM YOU
TheDoubleUDee: WHEN THAT HAS CHANGED
kriscrossApplesauce: okay
kriscrossApplesauce: okay
kriscrossApplesauce: wow this is
kriscrossApplesauce: actually happening now
TheDoubleUDee: NOT THIS EXACT MOMENT
TheDoubleUDee: THE VESSEL'S RECIPIENT
TheDoubleUDee: MUST BE PRESENT FIRST
kriscrossApplesauce: yeah i know
kriscrossApplesauce: im just excited
TheDoubleUDee: AS I KNEW YOU WOULD BE
TheDoubleUDee: NOW KRIS
TheDoubleUDee: REST
TheDoubleUDee: YOU WILL NEED YOUR ENERGY
TheDoubleUDee: FOR LATER
kriscrossApplesauce: right okay
kriscrossApplesauce: ill try
kriscrossApplesauce: no promises tho
kriscrossApplesauce: gnight wd
TheDoubleUDee: SWEET DREAMS
TheDoubleUDee: LITTLE DREEMURR
kriscrossApplesauce: heh
The lab is... not dark, just dimly lit, as it almost always is. Gaster and Mary both like the ambience, not to mention the fact that it's easy on the eyes. Tables and shelves line the walls, adorned with all manner of assorted scientific equipment scattered around seemingly haphazardly. At the far end of the room is what Kris is here for; a transparent, cylindrical container, about as big as a gallon-sized carton of milk. Connected to it is a mostly-blank screen, currently displaying a blinking cursor in the upper-left corner of a text box, with a small red heart symbol below it. The heart being red tells Kris that Mary is indeed connected, observing their world through a pixelated window on her computer.
Within the cylinder is a human Soul, the size of a large apple and the same shape and color as the indicator on the screen. It floats suspended in the air in the middle of its container, steadily bobbing up and down in a rhythmic pattern. It is the Soul which once resided within Kris, controlling them, but now it serves only as Mary's window into this world from her own.
"Hey Mary," Kris says as they approach the cylinder, stopping a couple feet away from it. The cursor on the screen begins to move as text is written upon it.
* Hello Kris.
"How're things on your end?"
* They're fine. Though I have to ask the same for you.
* Everyone I've spoken to lately has been acting... odd.
Kris nods, and turns around for a moment so that Mary can see their face from her viewpoint.
* ...you're smiling.
"Is me being happy really still weird?"
* No, but given that you just turned around specifically to show me, now I *know* something's up.
* That is, if everyone's behavior for the last week or so wasn't evidence enough.
* So, riddle me this Batman, what's the big deal? Are you throwing a birthday party or something?
* I'm flattered, but I regret to inform you that my birthday isn't for another three months.
"Nah, that's not it," Kris replies, "though it being your birthday would've been just the icing on the cake."
* A present?
"You could say that."
* Well, that explains why nobody'll give me a straight answer.
* So what is it? Assuming you're going to give it now, anyway.
"You're gonna love it," Kris says excitedly, "Dr. Gaster's been working on it for weeks. He just finished it up last night."
* I'm sure I *will* love it, but you didn't answer my question.
* What actually is this present?
"Well, if you really wanna know that badly..." Kris grins, before reaching out and picking up the Soul's container with both arms.
* Kris? What are you doing?
"Relax," Kris mumbles as they make sure the screen is still attached, "I just gotta bring you somewhere for this to work."
* For *what* to work? What's going on?
"You'll see!" the teen replies cryptically. They turn around and head back towards the door, ignoring Mary's confused words continuing to appear on the screen.
The True Fountain is as imposing as ever, a swirling mass of technicolor energy cascading endlessly into the sky from a font squarely in the middle of the castle. It is here that Kris brings the Soul's container, where they are met by Ralsei and a certain otherworldly scientist.
"Ah, Kris," Dr. Gaster intones, turning to face the teen as they approach, "The preparations are all complete. Are you, and Mary, prepared for this?"
* Prepared for what? Why won't anyone tell me what's going on?!
"Ah, I'm so sorry Mary," Ralsei says apologetically, "but Kris was very insistent that this be a surprise."
"It will not take long," Gaster adds, "All you need to do is stay where you are."
* Not gonna lie, you're kinda spooking me here, but alright.
* Whatever you're gonna do, do it quick. My laptop's battery is running low and I don't know when I'll get to charge it again.
Gaster nods, and directs Kris over to a nearby table, upon which is a machine with a slot for the Soul's container. "Simply place the storage unit into that slot, and we may begin."
Kris obliges, and the container slips into place with a satisfying click. Ralsei motions for them to step back, and they do so, allowing Dr. Gaster to take position in front of the machine. He hums a quiet four-note tune as he inspects various panels and indicators, before nodding curtly.
"The connection is stable. We are ready."
The doctor snaps his fingers, and at once a Swatchling enters the chamber, pushing a hospital bed upon which lies what looks to be a comatose human body.
* Is that... the Vessel I made at the start of all this?
* The one that got thrown away?
"The very same," Gaster confirms. "Restoring it has taken much time and patience, but if this works then it shall all have been worth it. And it will work."
* Wait, if the present is the Vessel then...
* Is that what it is, Kris? A way for me to walk around and interact with your world that isn't writing text on a screen?
* Without controlling you?
"Something like that," Kris simply states. The Swatchling dutifully carts the Vessel over to the machine with the Soul, parking it such that the Vessel is facing directly away from the Fountain. The Darkner then bows to Gaster before excusing themselves from the chamber.
"The Vessel is stable, and ready to receive its host," The doctor says. "Before we begin, Mary, are you in physical contact with your laptop at this time?"
* Uh... well it's on my lap, if that's what you mean.
"Most excellent. Please remain as such until the procedure is completed."
* What procedure? What ar
Mary's words are cut off as Gaster pushes a button, and the screen showing them flickers out. With a wave of his hand, the doctor summons a magical construct, what looks like a Gaster Blaster shaped like a dragon's skull, which hovers directly above the Vessel. A few more button presses later, and the Soul vanishes from its container, reappearing a split-second later in the maw of the Blaster.
"Now we must be swift. Ralsei, you know what to do."
Nodding, Ralsei walks over to the foot of the bed and raises his arms, holding them out wide while mumbling something too quiet for Kris to hear. Mint-green magic begins to coalesce in his hands before being drawn upwards into the awaiting Blaster, gathering within its maw around the Soul. Gaster watches as this occurs, and makes a clenching gesture with his hands. The Blaster emits a hum, and begins to draw upon the font of pure creative energy in the True Fountain behind it, pulling in and absorbing a diverted stream of technicolor energy. After observing a series of readouts, Gaster grins widely, and he turns away from the machine with one arm outstretched.
"Now... remain still, Mary. This may hurt for a moment."
Fully clenching his hand into a fist, Gaster waits for the Blaster to charge for a few more seconds before splaying his fingers wide. With a loud roaring sound, the Blaster opens its maw and fires a rainbow beam of energy at an upward angle, seemingly at a barren wall. A few feet before it strikes the surface, however, the beam stops in midair, and cracks begin to form in the air itself, which Kris soon notices are confined within a square space. Gaster furrows his brow as he pushes the Blaster further, and after several tense seconds... the square of reality shatters inward.
For just a moment, Kris can make out something on the other side; a human figure, eyes wide and lurching back in fright, but that is all the teen can make out before the chamber is suddenly flooded with a blinding white light. Kris throws up their arms over their eyes to protect them, and for the next ten seconds all they can hear is the deafening howl of the Gaster Blaster, blocking out all other noise.
"I'VE ALMOST GOT IT... NOW, RALSEI!" Gaster yells, his voice somehow overcoming the Blaster's roar. Ralsei yells something back, and after a few more seconds... everything goes quiet. Kris slowly lowers their arms as the light dies down, and their eyes are immediately drawn to Dr. Gaster, who has fallen to his knees while gasping for breath. The teen starts to run over to him, but the scientist holds up a hand to stop them.
"I will be... just fine, Kris..." he gets out through heavy breaths, "I believe... you have someone... to welcome home..."
Kris blinks, before whirling around towards the bed with the Vessel. The Gaster Blaster is gone, and Ralsei is leaning on the bed as he catches his breath. Seeing Kris approach, the goat boy smiles, and nods towards the Vessel, which now looks noticeably less monochrome than before.
"It... it worked, Kris," Ralsei breaths, "It actually worked!" He shakily turns his head to the Vessel, which is now breathing softly. "Now we just... have to wait... for her to wake up..."