🔴[Error]🔴 ~ MCYT Lab AU

Chapter 7 ~ Planeteater

Late Happy New Year!

Tubbo and Philza wandered through the blank white hallways for what seemed like the millionth time, heading to a room Tubbo had never seen before.

"U.M.S stands for Unidentified Magical Substances." Philza explained quickly as they walked. "We'll only be watching one today, only highly-trained scientists can handle these things."

Tubbo was barely listening, constantly glancing at his mentor's back, imagining the enormous dark wings he'd seen two days ago. Philza hadn't mentioned any of it since, and they hadn't bumped into Wilbur again, who was busy with his own tasks on the other side of the facility.

He'd wondered if what he saw in that room had all been a dream, then had seen the vial of potion in his coat pocket and knew it was real.

He watched as Philza pushed open a door marked with 'U.M.S TESTING #7'. He glanced at Tubbo one more time, a bit of worry in his eyes, then lead him into a dark room.

"Phil!" A tall man greeted them as they entered. "Hows'it going? Is this your App'?"

"Hello, Schlatt." Philza didn't answer any of his questions. "Has it started yet?" He stared at a dark screen seperating the grey-black room they were in and a pale tiled one, where a clear box stood on a short table.

"Nah, don't worry." Schlatt grinned. "It'll be starting in a bit." He turned back to Tubbo, stretching out a hand. "Name's J. Schlatt, and I'm guessing you're Tubbo, 'eh?"

Tubbo reluctantly shook his hand, not meeting his amber gaze.

Schlatt didn't seem annoyed; he instantly turned back to the screen. "What you're about to see is something I discovered." He explained proudly. "I call 'em 'Holes'."

Tubbo opened his mouth, about to ask his mentor what he was talking about, but was interrupted as two scientists wearing large suits and masks burst through the door, heading straight toward the box.

On of them lifted up the top, a sort of lid, and placed it next to it on the table. The ither pulled out a tiny vial full of a dark liquid and leaned forward, dropping the tiniest aount possible onto a small dark orb Tubbo hadn't noticed before.

The orb exploded into a circular black mass, covering nearly the entire bottom of the box. The first scientist took a small item out, it looked a bit like a nail or a twig, and dropped it into the dark circle. It vanished.

Tubbo quickly realised why it was called a 'Hole'.

"Holes are part of a group under the U.M.S umbrella that I call I.O, or Indestructable Orbs." Schlatt seemed delighted to be explaining this to someone. "So far, there's one other I.O we know of, one called 'Paper'."

"Are they really inestructable?" Tubbo murmered, realising he'd said out loud a bit too late.

"Almost." Schlatt said. "Unsurprisingly, the only thing that can destroy an I.O is another I.O! I think."

"You think?"

"Well, we know a Hole can destroy other Holes, and a Paper can destroy a Paper, but we've never tested if a Hole can destroy a Paper, or the other way around."

"Seems like you don't know much about your discovery." Tubbo muttered.

"We don't," Schlatt admitted. "But we have plently of guesses. Philza himself thinks the Holes are related to Planeteater."

"What's Planetea-"

"C'mon, Tubbo, we've seen enough here." Philza interrupted him, heading to the door. "Schlatt's taught you plenty, it seems."

Tubbo quickly followed him, waving a goodbye to Schlatt, who returned it with a grin.

Philza shut the door and hurried away, making Tubbo have to run for a moment to catch up to him.

He decided not to question Philza's panicky exit; he'd ask Tommy about it some other time.

He stared at the large windows they constantly passed, getting glimpses of the outside of the facility for the first time in a while.

At the edge of a stretch of concrete there was a tall forest, which was amazingly colourful compared to the white and grey he saw every day.

Movement caught his eye. A tall creature was standing in the shade of a tree, watching the facility intently. He stifled a gasp as it met his eye, staring at him for a moment before dissapearing behind the shadows in the forest.

What the fuck was that?

~~~~~

Ranboo stood at the edge of the trees, staring at the tall, pale grey building not far away. He'd finally reached the facility.

But how on earth could he get in? He couldn't teleport in; he could end up anywhere in there, surrounded by scientists or cameras.

He wouldn't be able to disguise himself like he did when he was Philza's apprentice; he didn't have any potion, and had no idea where to find any more, if there was any left.

If only he could find a way to talk to Phil, or Wilbur, or Tommy, or any of the scientists and hybrids he trusted, but he knew that none of them ever left the facility.

He stared at the dozens of windows lining the wall facing him. Was there any way he could get someone's attention? Even if he did, how could they help him get in?

He realised someone was watching him from within the facility, gazing out of one of the windows and meeting his eyes while following a familiar blonde man.

He locked his gaze with the scientist for a moment, then broke away, returning to the safety of the darkness in the forest.

He didn't recognise the boy, but recognised the scientist he had been following. Philza.

Had hus old mentor gotten a knew apprentice already? He knew he shouldn't be surprised, but couldn't help feeling a pang of sadness at the thought of being replaced by someone else.

He ignored his nostalgia. Philza was there! Maybe he'd be able to find him again after all.