Chapter Text
Alphys fidgeted in the corner. Confused looks were directed at her from around the room. Next to her was a large, tarp covered machine.
“U-um, okay everyone”. Everyone consisted of Sans, Papyrus, Toriel, Undyne, and Frisk. Alphys smiled nervously “I b-bet you're wondering w-why you’re here” affirmative hums filled the room. “O-Okay, well this is why” She pulled the tarp down dramatically. There was a chorus of ‘oohs’ but Alphys focused her attention on Sans. He had the most experience and knowledge of this type and seemed to be dissecting the machine as he looked. The others saw the machine as a complicated mush of technology. They would see it as impressive but wouldn’t know why. Sans understood, he saw the beauty in the circuit boards and the intelligence (or stupidity) of the design itself. She was pleasantly surprised when Sans smiled and gave her a thumbs up.
“That looks Awesome Babe!” Shouted Undyne and Alphys blushed from the energetic response.
“I agree! However the others might be wondering what it does. Not me of course! The Great Papyrus understands completely!” Sans turned his head to hide his snickers from his over exuberant brother. Alphys smiled and explained. Her stutter, which had already significantly improved over the years, had all but vanished as she did so. She was completely in her element. She riddled off an outrageously complicated explanation that no one could follow. No one except Sans, who was listening intently while somehow keeping his nonchalant exterior.
The room was filled with blank faces afterward and Sans translated without thinking. “It taps into a monster's soul and core magic so it can see memories that shaped a monsters, or humans I’m assuming?” Sans paused and looked to Alphys for confirmation. She nodded and Sans continued. “- shaped their personality.” His translation was met with more blank looks. Mostly out of surprise he understood.
Papyrus, seemingly not surprised at all responded with a thanks. “I mean thanks for explaining to the others of course!” He covered quickly.
Alphys pressed on “y-yeah. Anyway I need test subjects and I was wondering…” She trailed off and noticed Sans’ suspicious look.
“The Great Papyrus would love to help test your experiment! I am sure Sans would love too as well”
A look that quickly turned to surprise when his brother agreed without thought, dragging him with. Everyone else followed suit and agreed.
Alphys nodded “I’ll grab six helmets then” Sans stepped-up “You need some help with those”. Alphys nodded and Sans followed her to the workbench. It was strange for Sans to go back to the old lab. Monsters had almost completely moved to the surface after Frisk broke the barrier, leaving most buildings abandoned. Normally the Underground was just a place to visit for a nostalgia filled walk, even some monsters didn’t want that. Harboring some illogical fear that the mountain would close up around them and they’d be stuck for another millennia. Sans was one of those monsters, he didn’t think the barrier would magically appear in 5 seconds but being underground made him slightly uneasy.
They were free and he was determined to stay free.
Unfortunately, there weren't any big buildings Alphys could use to house her lab equipment so she elected to say down here. Transitioning from living with her not so subtle girlfriend and working Underground in the lab. Alphys walked to her table and held one of the helmets in her hands. Sans was busy taking in the familiar look of the lab. A little more cluttered, somehow, but it still had the same aesthetic. “O-Okay Sans, spill” Sans snapped his head to Alphys.
“What?” Alphys pinched her nose in frustration.
“I’m not dumb Sans. Y-you just volunteered yourself for work that n-nobody offered to get done. W-Which means you wanted to talk to me.” Alphys said and began piling the helmets and other tools into Sans arms.
“Okay you caught me red handed” Sans laughed.
“Listen, not that I don’t trust your engineering skills but I don't how I feel about being a- didn’t you say you only needed six helmets!-” Sans groaned trying desperately not to drop the pile of tools and helmets in his arms, effectively cutting off his own sentence.
“I-I just wanted to s-see how much I could p-put in your arms before you said s-something” Alphys was laughing and Sans sported the most annoyed look on his face. What you could see of his face that is, most of it was covered by the pile. Alphys took some stuff off the pile and grabbed some helmets to carry for herself.
Soon the two were walking back into the main room and Sans realized he had never finished his statement. ‘And I thought I was good at directing conversation’ Sans thought as he handed a helmet out to everyone.
“Okay I-I’m going to fit each of the h-helmets to you so they stay on. B-be careful n-not to block the sensor at the top and be gentle with them.” Alphys was going around with a screwdriver and tightening the straps on the bottom of the helmets.
When she came to Sans he had yet to put the machine on his head.
“Listen Alph, I don’t think I’ll be joining you.” Sans said holding the helmet out for Alphys to take.
“Sans-” Alphys started but was interrupted by two booming voices.
“Sans!”
“Brother!” Sans flinched at the loudness. It was quite the yell and Sans was normally used to Undyne and Papyrus’ lack of volume control. Next came Frisk who grabbed his arm jumping up and down.
“Please!” they said, not quite as loud as his brother, but not their quiet voice either.
“Listen I’m just not comfortable with this-”
“What! you're too lazy to do something for your friend!” Undyne shot back and was quickly reprimanded by Alphys. Undyne stepped closer to Sans regardless.
“The royal guard disbanded Undyne, you’re not my boss anymore” Sans said his voice level and began to walk away.
“I bet we’d all dust before he decided to do something for us”. Undyne mumbled. It was clearly not intended to be heard but Sans heard it loud and clear. He froze in his tracks and clenched his fists. The others, who hadn’t heard his comment, looked on confused by Sans’ sudden reaction. Sans flung a bone attack into the wall next to him, earning a few concerned looks from those around him.
He sighed “Alright let's get this show on the road” Sans said reaching for the helmet. Alphys reluctantly handed it to him. The room was silent as Alphys tightened down the strap.
“Sans don’t do this if you're not comfortable. I-I understand. I-I’m sure they will too.” She told him. Sans fiddled with the strap nervously before looking at his friend.
“I’ll be fine” Sans said, sounding like he was convincing himself as much as Alphys. She nodded and moved on to her own helmet.
“I-I’ll be joining you all in the experiment. W-when the memories come they should appear on that screen” She gestured to a white computer screen attached to the large contraption. She messed with a few dials before counting down.
“Ready?” She asked finally and the room nodded. Alphys pulled a switch and Sans heard a brief spark. He felt a moment of panic when he noticed it came from the area his bone had hit. Suddenly, there was a pull, not unlike the pull of his shortcuts, and he was standing in white room. Or at least he thought it was room. The white went on for miles never giving any indication of boundaries. He looked around and saw the others. All with the same bewildered expressions on their faces as they saw the white room. At that moment only one word came to Sans’ mind.
“Shit” Sans mumbled.