Anomalies

Stay at Home Scientist

Being homebound wasn't fun, but Gaster insisted that Sans recover from the C.O.R.E shock. The doctor himself had made himself part of their daily home routine to monitor Sans soul and note any changes the determination in his system had on him. And things had changed, alright. If it was possible, Sans seemed more stubborn than ever before, and they were speaking of the teen who had run the lab halls to get away from Dr. Gaster and make his mark. Sans was already sitting up two days before Gaster suggested and moving around two weeks before Gaster liked. But Papyrus was a good motivator like that, Gaster knew. Not very many people Sans age could keep the authorities off his back and raise a child like Sans was. He suspected that despite his efforts, the Royal Protective Services were right on his tail, waiting for a mishap - a mishap like getting zapped by the C.O.R.E, to happen. Hence, the doctor took him home rather than monitoring him at the lab. Papyrus fueled Sans determination, and Gaster could admit to being fond of the boy himself. He simply had to assist the two. Whether it be paying Sans bills while he recovered or raising his brother while Gaster monitored them.

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Something was different. Everything was different. Sans could feel it. He didn't know if it was the determination or the C.O.R.E that was the change. Both, probably. Sans looked over the scans Gaster had run on his soul again. The C.O.R.E element, CG-26, had integrated itself into his soul and destabilized his soul, overloading it and making him overheat. Gaster had used multiple injections of determination to stabilize him the CG-26, and it now seemed to be in a state of dormancy. That was the dumbed-down version, anyway. Sans set those papers to the side and grabbed his book on wingdings. Gaster's language. He got it a little before he actually got the job. He admired the great Dr. Gaster who built the C.O.R.E. He wanted to impress him with his comprehensive abilities and fast learning. Now it was just something to pass the time whenever he wasn't trying to get to the lab and get some work done so he had some G in his pocket. Gaster couldn't keep taking care of them, after all. At least he was trying to keep his mind active.

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"SANS! SANS! SANS!" Papyrus burst through the front door as Sans froze in place, halfway to tying his boots. Gaster immediately frowned disapprovingly while Papyrus climbed onto the couch and hugged him from behind. "I GOT TO SEE A BABY BUNNY TODAY! A REAL ONE! IT DOES NOT WEAR CLOTHES LIKE FLUFF BUNNY, BUT IT WAS REAL AND MY TEACHER LET ME FEED IT!" It wasn't uncommon for small animals like that to fall Underground, but still, for Papyrus to see one... "heh, really? that's so cool, bro!" Sans smiled happily at him as he tried to get the child off his shoulders. However, that wasn't happening. Papyrus was latched on tight. Eh, what could he do but enjoy the moment? "AND AFTER CRAFTS, DR. GASTER PICKED ME UP, AND WE GOT NICE CREAM! SANS! IS DR. GASTER OUR DAD?" Sans and Gaster both looked stunned. "who told you that?" Sans asked. "MY FRIEND ASKED! SINCE THE DOCTOR IS A SKELETON TOO, THEY THOUGHT HE WAS MY DAD!" Gaster cleared his throat, catching the boy's attention. "I am not your father, Papyrus. However, you could consider me a close friend of the family. I am your kin. A fellow skeleton, as your friend pointed out."

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Dr. Gaster made spaghetti for dinner. Papyrus had taken an immediate loving to the meal and made a mess of his face in the process. Sans didn't mind at all, though. He was quite amused. "How many times does this make now, Sans? Six?" Sans glanced up at Gaster. "i need the money, doc. i can't keep sitting home all day..." Gaster was certain this was the determinations doing. He could almost say he was excited to see how many more times Sans attempted leaving before he gave up... or better, succeeded. "It is only one more week, Sans. You may feel fine, and your soul may feel fine, but it and you are still adjusting to the strain of having both determination and CG-26 in your system. We still don't know all the effects it could've had on your magic and mind." Sans grumbled, but Dr. Gaster had a point. He could feel something was different about him, about his magic, but he had no idea what. But what about Papyrus? "what about the c.o.r.e? shouldn't you be checking on it after -"
"Already done, Sans. Try not to stress about work and eat, would you?" Gaster pointed at his partially touched plate.

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It was dark. Sans didn't know where he was. It unnerved him as he kept walking forward, but the scenery quickly shifted to the woods. The area was familiar, close to those old Ruins doors. "what... was i sleep walking?" How did he get out here? Sans shivered as the wind picked up, and he hugged his arms around his thin t-shirt. It was too cold for him to be out here at this time of night. Sans turned to head towards home when a loud noise rang out, echoing throughout the woods and making Sans freeze in place. He'd never heard such a noise before. Something was out here. Something dangerous. He could sense it. Feel the intent in the air. Sans started at a brisk walk, going straight back to where he was supposed to be. Home. Something cracked and rustled, and before long, Sans found himself running out of fear. Before long, the noise rang out again, and Sans stumbled and tripped in the snow, quickly turning to see something he knew too well. A human.