Indeterminate

Chapter 4: A %?$!y Time

BG art by @Fire_Phoenix 

A/N: Man this was suuuper long. Next ones will be shorter. Probably. I made it long so I could cover the squad meeting them up too. The conversation between Sans and Chara will reveal a lot. Definitely my favorite part to write. The interactions between everyone was also fun to create. Thinking about making a patreon/ko-fi...having some financial problems because of graduate school and my dad's medical fees. We shall see...

Sans: "Wow. That was pretty childish."

Chara felt embarrassed, but she needed to get through to him.

Sans: "Heh, were you serious about making some new material? Well, you came to the right guy."

Chara: [...what.]

Chara was confused. In a previous timeline, Sans had this secret codeword that he shared with us to prove that Frisk was a time traveler. This way he could know for sure but...

Chara: "Huh? W-wait that's what YOU told me! Y'know, your password thing! For time travelers! I would never say something so dumb."

Sans: "Nah, that's not it kid. It's actually Joe."

Chara: "Who the heck is Joe!?"

Sans: "Joe mama."

Chara: ...

Chara: [Keep your cool Chara. Resist the urge to smack him...]

Sans: "Anyways, I'm just pulling your leg. Feeling better?"

Chara felt much less nervous than before.

Chara: [He's trying to make me feel better...?]

Chara: "Yeah...thanks a lot bonehead."

Sans chuckled and beckoned her over behind his house. There, she saw a silver door hidden behind some trees.

Sans: "Let's talk in here...You've been in here before, haven't you?'

Chara nodded. Frisk and her managed to find their way here in another timeline. She looked around. Everything seemed to be the same. Illegible blueprints were scattered on a table, and a weird machine was covered up in the back of the room.

They sat at a small table, face to face.

Sans: "Now then...Let's hear your story."

Chara poured out her soul to him. She told him everything. Her time as a ghost with Frisk. Her sins. All of the events that led up to her arrival in this timeline. Sans listened intently, never interrupting her.

When she finally finished, there was silence. Sans was deep in thought.

Sans: "That took a lot of courage kid, I'll give you that. Looks like we've both been to Hell and back."

Chara fidgeted in her seat upon hearing that.

Chara: [Empty praise...but that's to be expected.]

Chara: "I won't ask for your forgiveness. Or your pity...that would be far too selfish. Just know that I..."

Her voice began to waver.

Chara: "I...I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I regret everything I did. Even if you don't believe in my guilt, I'll apologize as many times as I have to."

Tears rolled down her face, but she looked at Sans right in the eye socket. The intensity of her gaze burned into his skull. Her fear was strong. But her determination was stronger.

Chara: [No running. No ignoring the past.]

Sans stared into her eyes.

Sans: "That's the expression...of someone who truly regrets the past. I've always wondered...Can even the worst person change? Can anybody become a good person if they just try?"