Broken Hourglass (Sanscest Multiship)

Time Traveller Holiday Party

"What is this?" Reality asked, looking around at the common area that had been defaced with colorful streamers and an exorbitant amount of fake snow.

"This is our holiday party; that you agreed to two weeks ago," Core said. As the head of personnel, she was the one in charge of events to make everyone's time at the base more enjoyable.

"So I did." They vaguely remembered a party being mentioned, but with the current sleep schedule his memory wasn't always the best. Great, now he has to stay and babysit these imbeciles, but first... "I have an important matter to attend to, but I will be back for the...party."

With no further explanation Reality left her to it.

Core whistled, calling over Mutt who rested its head on her lap. "Good dog," she praised the robot. They couldn't have real animals at the base, it was too dangerous, so instead she got a robot dog to help with tasks. Maybe it would have been smart to give Mutt higher intelligence than a regular dog, but not having to rely on a person was the main reason she got Mutt in the first place. "Bring water"

The dog happily went to fetch her a fresh water bottle.

"Where do you want these decorations?" Bird asked, walking in while holding a large box full of paper snowflakes.

"Would you mind hanging some from the ceiling for me?" She replied.

The harpy shifted out his grey-blue wings with a little salute. "Yes ma'am"

Very few shifters were time travelers, as the time portals could cause their magic to go a little, wonky for lack of a better term. It was different from how it affected the mortals, making them sick and their magic more difficult to use.

With a tail wag, Mutt placed a cold water bottle in Core's lap. Behind it, a skeleton studied the robot dog. She recognized him as one of the new trainees. "You're the one who called me 'Professor X'. Classic, right?"

"Yes. I'm so sorry about that and sorry for interrupting whatever you were doing. I've just never seen anything like this before," he gestured vaguely.

"What? A cripple?" Above them, Bird gave a chuckle from where he was hanging snowflakes. The trainee looked mortified. "Lighten up. Having a good sense of humor helps around here."

Classic nodded. "I should get back to my tasks before Butch makes me scrub the toilets with a Q-tip."

That sounded exactly like something the head of maintenance would do. "You don't need to be so tense. No one's going to rip your head off. Just relax and if you're having problems, that's what the personnel department is for. Feel free to stop by my office."

Core sent the trainee on his was with a written excuse so he wouldn't get into trouble, before checking up on how Bird was doing.

"Good job. That looks good. Let's go get the refreshments from the mess hall and I think we're good to go."

The R&D staff were fashionably late, as always. It was near impossible to tear those workaholics away from their lab. They sent their typical spokesman, G, to speak to Core and the other department heads who were sat around a table.

"Dr. Gaster sends his regards. Something urgent came up in the lab and he couldn't make it," the scientist informed them before slinking back into the party.

Gaster never attended any events. That self-important prick always stayed holed up in the lab except to flaunt his newest invention and oversized ego. The only reason he was a department head was because he was incredibly smart; maybe a bit too smart for his own good.

Reality sat sipping a cup of tea, watching his employees get as some would say 'fabulously drunk' off of eggnog. Thankfully, they were being fairly peaceful, if a bit loud and obnoxious. And then there was Geno. That one was beginning to become their problem child.

The new time traveler hopped up onto a table, gaining the attention of the whole room. They produced a small green brick from their pocket. "Hey, Hey!" They shouted. "Wanna see me eat rat poison?"

Geno did not wait for an answer before shoving the whole thing in their mouth. "Fuck you."

The whole room was too stunned to respond for a moment. Then Reality shot up into their snow leopard form rushed over to Geno, scruffed  them, teleporting both of them into the med bay and practically threw the idiot into a bed. Just because they couldn't die didn't mean that wouldn't do some damage.

"Idiot," Reality growled, feeling the need to pace like a big cat, fathered tail swishing behind him. "They ate rat poison." He informed the med bay staff.  The shifter had to suppress a snarl when the doctor started checking Geno over. Ick, all the hormones must be making them parental of everyone.

Reality backed out of the room and opened a portal home, he'd just be getting in the way here. Putting their front paws up on the railing, they peered over the side of the crib. Still asleep.

Just as the shifter turned to leave, the baby woke up, and as babies do, cried.

"Good morning, Ink," he said, shifting back to skeleton form and picking up the baby. He sighed. "Your dad was right, it is a stupid name."

Ink stopped his crying and made grabby hand motions. The name was growing on him. "Are you hungry?"

Back at the party, things had died down significantly since Geno's fiasco.

"Fucking anomaly," Fresh slurred. "What the fuck was that for?" He accidentally leaned on the nearest person.

The stranger didn't seem to mind. "Yeah, honestly what was broski thinking? That wasn't very rock and roll." He replied.

The two of them attempted a handshake. "I'm Epic," the stranger introduced himself.

"I'm Fresh."

"We're homies now, wanna go eat junk food and watch horror movies?"

This guy gets him. "Absolutely"

They put their arms around each other's shoulders like they've been best buddies their whole lives and stumble off to enjoy their rest of the evening.

—
"Log subject: Void Magic; Entry: 37." He took a moment to compose his thoughts. "I have exhausted nearly every resource at my disposal, both magic and technology and yet I am still no closer to controlling it."

The black substance rattled the energy field surrounding it. He managed to contain the magic with the same technology that created the time portals, but it wasn't a permanent solution.

"Whatever this is, I fear it may not be of this world. I am concerned our 'fearless' leader hasn't been entirely honest. As usual, it is I alone who must unravel this mystery. I'm on the edge of a breakthrough, I know it."

The strange magic settled.

"I still have yet to find what stimulus triggers these reactions, but I am certain it is within this building. Perhaps it is time to venture out of the lab in search of answers. End Log."

———
Merry Crisis. Sorry that it's a little late. I spent yesterday with my family and fiancé and didn't get a chance to write. Hopefully we found this entertaining and enjoyed some of the bonus spoilers for reading this unnecessary chapter. See ya, imaginary people.