Broken Bones (Undertale)

Manufactured

Sans found it hard to move the amount of debris threatening to topple over him and the human. It was heavy, and he couldn't risk using his magic to move it, either. He was too close to breaking completely at this point, and he could say the same for the companion on his back. He heard their small cries and questions about what would happen if they didn't make it out, or if the rubble fell on top of them, or...

He was tired of hearing of what could happen, but his mind always cast back to their soul colour changing. If he had a lip, he would be biting it. Sans didn't even know what he was doing with this kid any more. One wrong move and he would lose his HP, turn to dust and it would be over. The kid couldn't reset any more, and Sans didn't want to test his limits and see if he could still be determined enough to even attempt it. He shouldn't be able to, and he knew that too well.

Sans looked over at the kid, noting that they still clung to him with shaky hands. He couldn't change that right now. Their fear consumed their soul, their entire being! If they weren't determined, Sans didn't know what he would do. If he couldn't return their determination...he didn't want to think about it.

He stopped walking, taking the time to gaze upwards at a large structure blocking his path. It was too heavy to move on his own, and he could see that the lab would be round the corner from it. He needed to use his magic. It would be risky, but he had no other option. 

His left eye glowed, a deep blue surrounding his socket and left hand as he concentrated on the rubble. It was soon surrounded in a blue light as Sans began to move it out of the way, turning it around and placing it vertically beside him. 

As soon as he had finished, a loud cracking sound reverberated through the corridor, scaring the human but not Sans. Sans looked down at his hand, a sad smile on his face. A large crack ran through his bones, not quite deep enough to rip him apart. He didn't feel his HP go down, but he knew that the use of magic had broke him further. At least his skull was safe, for now. 

He trudged onwards, allowing the human to hold onto him tighter as he walked. They had no questions, and any questions they would have had would have been left unanswered. Sans' concentration was focused on finding a way out alive, and maybe finding something that could help the human regain their lost determination. 

He hoped anything would be there.

As soon as Sans arrived, he stopped to let the human get off. He watched as they immediately gripped onto the arm of his jacket, not wanting to be left alone. He couldn't blame them, the lab was a scary place when the lights weren't functioning properly, the thought of dying looming over them. Sans more than the human. He knew that he could and he should die with one more hit, but the human could last quite a few rounds. This would be troublesome.

"Kid...we're gonna have to go forward..." Sans murmured, trying his best to sound somewhat reassuring. 

The human just nodded, but Sans knew that at this point they would be a liability. Their lack of determination would stop them from doing what they would normally do. Heck, it would stop them from doing anything.

Sans sighed, "Stay here."

"B-but Sa-"

"It's easier this way, kid. I can't risk you getting hurt or becoming too scared to do anything. Here's safe, anyway. Stay put."

Sans waited for the human to let go of his sleeve before he ventured forward into the lab. He didn't want to do that, but the human was too much of a risk to keep around. He just hoped his skull didn't break before he found something.

He slowly wandered around the desk, listening to the soft hum of the barely functioning monitors and the buzz of the lights. Everything was almost destroyed. Chunks of rock lay scattered, dotting the dark area with grey slabs. Sans didn't know where he wanted to start. The archways in which he would find all of his research were blocked, and he couldn't risk using magic again. If his hand broke any further, his HP would definitely go down, and he didn't feel like dusting on the kid right now.

As he was contemplating what he wanted to do, a quiet, but brusque voice echoed around the lab.

"Sans...why don't you come over here?" Sans' bones rattled, "Follow me...I won't hurt you. Don't you remember me?"

He didn't have a choice. He could see a small orb, bouncing around like a fairy, trying to get his attention and lead him somewhere. Sans knew that he would probably be dust the minute he trusted this orb, but with the human down and unable to do almost anything, he had to try.

Sans couldn't remember who the voice belonged to as he followed the orb down the corridor he never knew existed. He was sure something like this would be destroyed along with the rest of the lab, but apparently this one, tiny, twisty corridor thrived. It looked as if it had just been cleaned, which was impossible. Sans didn't recall ever seeing something like this when he worked here, either. Did it just appear out of nowhere?

But that was impossible. Corridors don't appear out of nowhere. Did the former Royal Scientist...keep this from him? (Sans liked to assume Alphys was still alive somewhere.) But why? What was so precious that it had to be contained from Sans for so long?

The orb stopped at a dead end, breaking Sans out of his train of thought. It danced around him for a while, giggling in a voice that didn't feel right, before vanishing. Sans was left alone in the dark.

He looked around, trying to make something out, until he saw it. That precious thing worth hiding from him all these years, the one thing that the former Royal Scientist couldn't tell him until this moment. 

His sockets became void of everything.

A soul that was bright red, floating in a tube that emitted a dim but still powerful light. The former Royal Scientist had managed to manufacture the soul of determination.