Anomalies

Death of a Timeline

Sans didn't go anywhere, didn't let Papyrus go anywhere. Something was going to happen today, something about Sans dreams warned him that he'd just made things worse, not better, and he'd gotten poor little Papyrus involved despite trying to keep him away from it all. Gaster was mad. Mad with power and determination, and Sans knew that if that monster wanted to, he would break the damn door down to get to them. Sans didn't know if his determination would be enough. It scared Papyrus, of course, to have Sans covering the windows and nailing down the curtains. "Sans..? What's Going On...?" Papyrus asked softly. "it's... you should go upstairs bro, it's complicated." How did he explain to Papyrus that he'd had a nightmare about mass genocide that he was certain was going to come true. He needed to keep Papyrus here and safe before he went to stop that damn machine and make him reset the world once and for all. "Sans? Sans I'm Scared -" Sans guided Papy up the stairs and to his room to shut and lock the door. "it's gonna be ok, papyrus. i ain't gonna let anything bad happen to ya. i promise."

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Sans waited with Papyrus in bed. He didn't know how long. He didn't know how much longer it would be. He only knew that at some point, Gaster would be coming, and this time would be different. He REFUSED to die. He would stop Gaster, stop that machine, and keep Papyrus safe from whatever Gaster was planning. The genocide. He would shield Papyrus from as much of it as he could. He read Fluffy Bunny to him to keep Paps calm and keep him from worrying about what was happening with the world. He let Papyrus into his lap so he could see the pictures and even read along and for a little while, at least, he too, forgot what was happening and the state of the world as Gaster continued down the path of darkness. He could relax a little and just enjoy the moment with his bro. He could ignore the muffled sounds of blaster fire and screams outside as he clung to his baby brother and read to him so he could not hear. Papyrus never said anything on it, so Sans could only hope that it worked for the best.

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Papyrus was almost asleep when a blaster was turned on their house, and Gaster let himself in. "SANS?!" Papyrus clung to him as the house shook with the force of the Gaster Blaster. "shhh... it'll be ok... he won't hurt you... i won't let him..." He would make this right. He had to. "He? He Who? S-Sans-" He pulled Papyrus closer to him and prepared to fight back as Gaster's heavy boots stomped up the stairs and towards his room. There was a pause at the stairs- probably Gaster checking Papyrus room before they got closer. "close your eyes, bro..." Sans whispered and summoned his blaster. As soon as the knob twisted Sans, let loose the magic and took off running with Papyrus in his arms. He jumped the rail and fell from the mezzanine level, landing and rolling off the couch before he rushed out into the cold. He turned to the basement to perform a reset before things could get any worse still. Gaster yelled out and fired a blaster at them, which Sans countered with his own as he stumbled down the stairs with Papyrus clinging on for dear life and Gaster on his tail.

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Sans let Papyrus cling to his legs as he started inputting information for a reset in, as fast as he could. He didn't have the time for this. He could hear Gaster rushing down the stairs, and he could almost taste his murderous intent like metal on the back of his tongue. "Sans! You touch that button, I will only begin again! You cannot stop this!" Gaster started to close in like a predator Stalking its prey. "and you can't take lives! don't you realize this is murder? that what you're doing is wrong? they might not remember but they will still feel the echoes!" Sans tried, but Gaster's manic grin only expanded. "Precisely. You are such a smart boy, Sans. It's a shame you cannot see the vision! The power right beneath your hand. Press it Sans, I dare you, and talk to anyone. See that their loyalties aline with me! With us! If you just g i v e i n to temptation. You could be my personal assistant." Sans pushed Papyrus behind him, shaking his head. "this is wrong, g... come on, you're a smart man, you know it is... please... where's the monster that saved my life?" Gaster stopped inches from Sans. "I am right here, Sans." Before Sans could stop him, Gaster pressed the reset button.

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Sans dragged Papyrus back with him and shoved him under the desk as the reset activated. A blaster summoned and turned on the machine, firing to make it explode before Gaster could touch it again. Sans ducked under and clung to his baby brother as Gaster screamed and tried to shut the machine down before the reset could finish, but something cracked, loud and echoing like thunder and the machine boomed, throwing Gaster back. Sans turned his head and hugged Papyrus to the wall, one hand gripping the table leg welded to the floor. The world trembled and shook, and the boom echoed louder. Gaster laughed as something akin to a vacuum started to suck at them, the ground, and everything else. Sans refused, though, held Papyrus tighter so they wouldn't get sucked in. He closed his sockets and whispered quiet assurances to Papyrus until all he could hear was the wind and the shattering sound of outside. Then it went eerily quiet. No sound. No pull. No laughter. Nothing. There was absolutely nothing as they hid under the table in the basement.