EndTale - Galactic (revising w.i.p. - check desc for update notes)

Chapter 5: Under Your Nose

Past the pitch-black mushroom maze.

Past the whispering Echo Flowers.

Past Undyne's final checkpoint before Hotland.

The world skipping past me, not a moment to lose.

As I progressed, I did my best to keep myself from needing to stop and rest, though I was halfway to exhausted and mentally beaten. I can't take my time... can't let Gaster do anything to Papyrus. He could make it to where Papyrus is dead, erased... in all timelines... forever. And there's no guarantee I'd still remember Papyrus after that. Keeping this in mind kept me DETERMINED to save him.

I approached Alphys's Laboratory, the intimidating building looming over my comparatively small frame. I physically shook off my growing anxiety, and watched as the giant doors automatically slid open before me. I did my best to put on my casual act as I entered.

My gaze was immediately drawn to Alphys, who was watching her camera feed intently. "Dr. Alphys?" She must not've heard the doors open, somehow, because when I addressed her by name, she jumped.

She held a scaly claw over her heart, trying to catch her breath. Her tail clumsily collided with her computer chair as she turned to face me, making it roll to the side of the desk opposite from her. "S-Sans? W-What are y-you doing here?" She was leaning against her desk to support herself. "A-Are you o-okay? Y-You're sweating really b-badly! Uh-uhm..." A nervous look to her fridge. "D-Do you need i-ice, or s-somewhere to rest?" Alphys gulped, scratching at her neck.

You're acting a lot more anxious than usual. "I'm... I'm fine." I groggily replied, my balance uneasy. I started to rock in place, feeling a moment of motion sickness. "Woah- heh heh. Maybe not so much."

"S-Sans, please take a s-seat." Alphys shuffled over to me and gently grabbed my right arm. "Come on. S-Sit down."

"But Alphys..." My hands were trembling. I wiped some sweat from my forehead with my sleeve.

"Sit." She commanded sternly, setting me in her computer chair.

"Eh, thanks." I drowsily thanked her. "Don't you need this seat though, Dr. A?"

She seemed troubled that I asked. "N-No, Sans. I can take standing right now. I'm okay." Alphys let out a dramatic sigh, then collected herself before speaking again. "S-Surely, you didn't just w-wear yourself out to c-c-come and say hi to me? So, what d-did you come here to t-tell me? O-Or ask?" She had her claws clasped together with a frown.

"You lurk on the cameras... and you keep up with Undyne's work life... so don't you already know?" I responded, a bit of a spiteful attitude slipping through.

She looked at me sadly, then adverted her gaze. "Y-Yes, I know about Papyrus, and know that he was t-taken by an unidentified monster. I ch-checked security footage, and n-none of what happed was on an existing camera." She shifted her weight. "But I-I've been watching the cameras th-this whole time to try and help! If there's any change in Waterfall or an o-odd appearance, I need to report it- King's request." She shook her head. "B-But you still came here to t-tell me something, Sans." Alphys pushed her glasses up, eyes narrowed at me.

Well... at least she's trying to help. "You're not gonna like this, but an old friend of mine told me the 'unidentified monster' would be in the True Lab." I responded bluntly. "Right under your nose, this whole time." I scoffed, amused by the irony, just for a second.

Alphys went white. She was instantly disturbed. "O-oh, o-okay. Well y-you ha-have my p-per-per-miss-mission to go d-down t-there." She droned on emotionlessly. "J-Just be c-careful d-d-down there. I-It's ch-changed since you l-left, S-S-Sans."