Gwen pulls out papers from a cardboard box, she sifts through them, unsure of what she's searching for. AJ's across the room, doing the same. He scratches his head as he looks through some video games.
"1984," Gwen whispers as she comes across a notebook with the year scribbled across the front.
She opens it slowly, hundreds of formulas written down, she scans them all, curious of what she's witnessing. A bright light flashes before her eyes and images of Nate begin to pass as well. Him being stabbed, shot, drowned, beaten, buried. Everything. She blinks rapidly as she sees all of these, echoes, memories, events that have happened. Tears begin to fall from her eyes, rolling down her cheeks. But the formulas, the numbers, they rearrange themselves, they make sense, they make perfect sense.
"Gwen?!" AJ shakes her back to reality.
Gwen smiles, tears pouring down her face.
"I've got it," she murmurs, "I've got it."
AJ looks at her, dumbfounded.
"Got what?" AJ mutters.
"It." She holds up the notebooks, smiling wide.
AJ takes the notebook, flipping through the pages. Each one filled with a jumbled mess of numbers and letters. He shakes his head and furrows his brow in frustration.
"None of this makes sense," he exclaims, tossing the notebook to his side.
"No, see, it does," Gwen says, wiping the last of her tears away.
She points to one of the formulas, written in blue ink, "You see, right here, Nate theorizes that the ability to teleport is the ability to transport particles of matter from one place to another. He wrote a formula to dematerialize and re-materialize objects, in and out of existence. Nate was able to create a device to teleport within our world as long as you had the correct coordinates inputted in the machine. Change the coordinates, change where you go."
AJ nods as Gwen's brown eyes light up.
"Then, in this formula, he tested the theory of transporting to other dimensions, other realms," Gwen points to a formula written in black ink, "In doing so, he successfully teleported an apple to Dimension 14. That being said, he teleported himself to Dimension 14, then back."
Gwen flips the pages of the notebook fervently, pointing to what appears to be a journal entry, but it's written in gibberish.
"He theorized, with the correct input code, the correct coordinates, and the correct frequency, you would be able to teleport into Dimension 13, but he hadn't worked out logistics yet. He didn't know how to get back," Gwen explains, "But I do."
She jumps up, running to the other side of the room, ripping open another cardboard box. She rifles through it before pulling out a disc. She beckons AJ over and he joins her side, taking a seat next to her. Gwen sits on her knees and sets the disc in front of them.
"What's this?" AJ asks, pointing to the disc.
"This is the key to setting the device to the right frequency. If we can replicate the formula that Nate had for Dimension 14, then we can effectively transport one of us there, grab Nate, and return home, safely," Gwen describes her plan.
"How do we know it can support that kind of travel?" AJ inquires.
Gwen pauses, looking between him and the floor. She taps her index fingers together, innocently.
"I don't," she admits.
AJ sighs in defeat, "It's worth a shot."
Gwen smiles, "We can do this, we can fix this."
AJ mirrors her smile, but he secretly doubts her plans. Gwen hops around the room, gathering everything she needs and AJ loves seeing her active, happy. Not sluggish and depressive like she usually is. AJ turns away for a moment though.
"Is she right?" He whispers, "Will this work?"
"I don't know," Eggman's gruff voice responds, "She might be right, but she could also be, chicken, winging it. I can't be eggs-actly sure, at least not until I see this in egg-tion."
AJ nods, crossing his arms across his chest, "I wish we could know, just, know."
"AJ, these things aren't easy," Spooky says softly, "They're big trial and error."
"We don't have room for trial and error, genius," Susie responds.
"Hey! Go back to your office, monster," Eggman commands.
"Excuse me?! That's my girlfriend you're talking to," Noelle speaks up.
"Back off, deer brain," Spooky spits.
"HEY!" Kris exclaims, "Leave her alone!!"
"Oh, I'm sorry, Mx. I-can't-handle-people-talking-to-my-girlfriend," Spooky rolls her eyes.
Everyone begins yelling at each other, throwing insult after insult at one another. AJ shakes his head as the arguing continues.
"SHUT UP, ALL OF YOU," He yells.
Everyone stops talking and looks up.
"I am done with you guys not being able to get along, we're not here to argue," AJ bites, "If you're going to be so problematic, I'll send you all to the mines."
Everyone looks down in shame at the threat.
"Okay, thank you. Gwen and I are going to go back to our house, we're going to work on the device. Eggman! You're going to take the co-pilot seat for this, make your way up to the cockpit. Spooky! Go track down Goose, wherever the fudge she is. Susie, Kris, and Noelle! Go busy yourselves, I don't care with what. I will call you if you're needed, do not, under any circumstance, leave the C.O.R.E., you're all on call," AJ commands each of them, "Repeat this to Ralsei, Stanley, and Queen, and anyone else who might be caught in the crossfire."
Everyone nods and walks away. AJ sighs in frustration as Gwen taps on his shoulder. He jolts up out of shock, looking over his shoulder at her. Gwen smiles, holding a small box. AJ turns around.
"Got everything you need?" AJ asks, calmly.
Gwen smiles and nods, "Let's go get your best friend back."
YOU ARE READING
Random Encounters: Home
FanfictionAfter Nate became trapped in Dimension 13, Gwen had a complete breakdown. Whilst in recovery, she and AJ found what may be the key to undoing all their problems. Meanwhile, Nate is trapped in the endless Hell called Dimension 13. He tries to fend of...
