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

Chapter 8: Reflection and Remembrance

"Hello, Sans. Long time no see, yes?"

"Hey... 'Super Science Dad.' Can't say I'm too happy to see you." I stalked into the room cautiously, gaze set on Gaster. I didn't trust him, and had no reason to. Damn, you look like you've been through hell. The black lab coat he'd been wearing before he disappeared seemed to have meshed with his body, obscuring any form that may've been left beneath it. The core must've done a real number on him. Frisk was right to describe him as a strange, black blob...

"SANS!?"

His voice caught my attention, a well of panic rising within me. As relieved as I was to have found Papyrus, it was beginning to look like rescuing him was going to take more effort than I previously planned for.

Papyrus was laying on a fairly large operating table near the corner of the room, heavy-duty restraints holding him down. Though he couldn't turn his head to look at me, he still tried his best to meet my stare. Both of his eyes were glowing orange... something I hadn't seen in the longest time. Papy... He looked beyond distressed.

I noticed that his left socket had some kind of black tape on it, of which was keeping the socket open. "H-HELP ME!" His body was trembling in the restraints.

"I will." I affirmed, despite my fears. My gaze snapped back to Gaster.

"You've just gotten here, Sans. How can you be so sure of yourself?" Gaster inquired, taunting me. His figure was slouched over, skull, cracked. It really didn't look like... he had much of a body anymore.

"What happened to you, Gaster? Why did you just- disappear one day?" I changed the subject, hoping to hide the truth of what I'd re-learned about Gaster's disappearance from Papyrus. "Why did people just... forget you ever existed?" At least that, is a legitimate question. But... does Gaster even know I got my memories back, after all the resets I've endured?

His sockets narrowed thoughtfully. "Well Sans, I guess it's as simple as that, really." Somehow, Gaster must've picked up on my secrecy. Or, I'm giving him too much credit, and he really does believe that I don't remember. "Consumed by my work as I was, I eventually disappeared into it." His sockets were closed, an uneasy smile spread across his face. I could understand the dual meaning in what he said. "And after I was gone, erased from their existence as I was, everyone forgot who I was. All except you, Minus, those who were consumed alongside me, and quite possibly that twisted, nosy prince. After all, Asriel's determination allowed him the ability to use 'resets' and 'save files' for only god knows how long." He snickered to himself. "What a horror to observe from the abyss, he was."

It felt as if he was speaking in riddles, and it was starting to annoy me. As if him kidnapping my brother wasn't enough of an 'annoyance' by itself. Both Minus and Gaster have mentioned Flowey now, in the same day. How can I both be aware of so much and yet so ignorant of how our world works at the same time? "I guess that would make sense..." that damn flower always knew too much. Always acted like we were lesser than him." As if we were nothing but his playthings... hm. I closed my right socket, lifting a hand to it, and recalled a fragment of an old timeline. "He liked calling me 'Smiley Trashbag'..." I had a brief memory flash before me- my hand being thrown up to launch a string of bone attacks at the twisted flower's face as he charged me, making waves through the river in Waterfall.

I blinked, shaking my head to push it away. Another pre-Frisk memory? Now??

Gaster looked amused to see me so frazzled. "Pardon, did I stir something up there?" He pointed a lanky finger at my skull.

I broke eye contact, browbones furrowed. "I know what you're doing, Gaster." Wasting time. I took a moment to compose myself. "Enough small talk and distractions- tell me why you've kidnapped my brother..." I glared into his dark, void-like eyes. I tossed the torch to the floor, a wooden clatter ringing out, but the motion failing to quell the flame. I quickly summoned several long, sharp bones, lifting my arm to point them at Gaster threateningly. "...before I make you explain yourself." I formed them in an arch above my head, feet spread to stand my ground.