Anomalies

Gaster's Inventions

It was subtle at first. Dr. Gaster's changes. Sans noticed the doctor spent a little more time in the determination testing room. He pushed a little more on a new test. He seemed more... confident. Self-assured. Gaster was already very confident and self-assured, but somehow it just seemed... moreso. It made Dr. Felidae more nervous. Dr. Tika became suspicious while Dr. Vexta seemed more curious than anything. Dr. Muzc didn't seem interested or didn't care, continuing on with his work without a worry. Sans had a feeling that had something to do with the determination. He didn't know how he felt so sure. It was something of a sixth sense that he had felt here and there, but it had worked out since... since that time with that human. After a full week of this, Sans finally decided to pop Gaster's bubble and enter the soul lab, permission be damned. Dr. Gaster was examining a golden vial while his pen scratched rapidly against paper. As Sans drew closer, he recognized that it was a blueprint. Some sort of skull looking machine that looked like something small could fit into its mouth... something like... a soul.

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"doc..?" Sans asked, snapping Gaster out of whatever it was he'd been writing about. "Sans! Just the skeleton I wanted to see!" A magic hand pushed Sans towards Gaster as he beckoned Sans forward. Before he would protest, Gaster was already explaining himself, his hands betraying his excitement as they signed along with him. "I believe I have found a way to fix your soul without any of the negative consequences! This machine I am working on here will give us all the DT we need to do it as well! I can not simply inject it all into your soul at once, or you'll melt. But over the expanse of various DT shots, I think it will not only fix you, but strengthen that magic of yours as well! We can fix you, Sans!" Gaster turned eagerly to the teen who was still processing what he was being told. "... what about papyrus? i don't want to... disappear on him..." Sans couldn't die. "Sans. I have been running tests on myself. It is perfectly safe, I promise." Gaster assured. So his hunch was right. "how long... will the machine take?" Gaster shrugged as he looked proudly at the paper. "A few weeks, maybe."

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Papyrus was happy to be home, sitting next to Sans while he they played Clue. "so bro." Papyrus made a noise of affirmation as he took his turn. "doctor gaster found a way to make me feel better, but it might take a little time to recover. you might have to sleep over at the inn. is that ok?" Papyrus stopped what he was doing, his sockets going wide. "REALLY?! DR. GASTER CAN MAKE YOU NOT LAZY?!" Ouch. "something like that, yeah." Sans replied. He knew better. Papyrus was a smart kid. Knew something was wrong with him. He didn't know what, but he knew Sans... struggled more than others. "THEN I WILL STAY AT THE INN AND BE GOOD!" Sans broke into a proud smile. "that's my bro. i'll get better in no time, paps. then ya won't have to worry." Papyrus was wearing a smile of his own as he nodded eagerly. "CAN WE GET NICE CREAM WHEN YOU GET BACK?!" Sans laughed and shrugged as he took his turn. "we will see, bro. it'll be a few weeks, yet." Sans admitted. Papyrus tried not to show it, but Sans noticed his expression fall, just a little.

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Sans tried to make the best out of the rest of the night before going to work the next day. "I have something to show you." Gaster was already there, waiting. "uh... yeah, alright?" Sans followed Gaster down to his personal lab, where nobody seemed to be yet as Gaster led him... towards the C.O.R.E? "doc? you sure i can... i haven't been given authorization-" Gaster shut him up quickly. "Oh, you'll be fine. Just stay with me and don't touch anything and I won't have to kick you out!" Gaster opened the door leading to the C.O.R.E's catwalks and Sans followed him in, taking in everything he could about the machine that made Dr. Gaster so famous. "Unfortunately, there was no space to store them in my lab, but I was thinking... they could be perfect for channeling determination through. The inspiration I needed for the DeTermination Extraction Machine. I want to train you with them, once the determination has settled into your magic." Gaster explained, but Sans didn't understand at all. "what are you talking about? what can i channel determination through?" He asked as they stopped at a door.

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They were skulls. Giant, animalistic skulls with with razor sharp teeth and blank sockets. They looked kinda like big disembodied dog heads that were just... suspended in midair. "These are Blasters. Weapons from the war that I made to destroy humanity. They have long since been shelved, but they may need to be put to use again. I want to train you how to use them to channel determination. Just in case." Sans took a step back, shaking his skull. "i, uh, they are really cool and all, but doc... i ain't a fighter. i don't think i could..." Gaster sighed softly and nodded. "I understand, Sans. I just thought you might want to... protect Papyrus. You never know when a human could fall again. Who knows who they'd hurt. Perhaps they will harm nobody?" Gaster shrugged while Sans frowned. "mm... if it comes down to it, we will cross that bridge, but i stand not to cause harm if necessary." Sans told Gaster firmly. Gaster caved... for now. "Well, I'll let you think about it, then. I should continue on to building that machine." Gaster led Sans back out while the skeleton glanced back wearily. He hoped he never needed those things.