The morning seemed to arrive too soon for the group. As everyone prepped themselves and drank their coffee, Alma pulled Stan to the side. "I have to talk to you." She said to him.
"What is it?" He asked, taking a sip of his cup.
"I know you were worrying last night." Alma said.
"So?" Stan replied.
"You can't let this get to you, Stan. Mean I get why you feel that way but-" He stopped her by lifting his cup up.
"It isn't the whole robot thing or whatever the hell you think." He sighed before turning his back to her. "I'm afraid of which one of us isn't coming back. Being you, or the kids, or Ford." He stared into the remaining coffee in his cup, a grief reflection staring back. "Or me."
Alma sighed quietly. It was pretty much a suicide mission. One of them may not come back. And it never really occurred to her. The wind blew around them, rippling at her jacket and scarf as the silence took them.
"Even so, Bill has to be stopped." Alma finally said. They both turned to face each other at the same moment. "If you had a choice. Who would you rather not have?"
Stan was shocked to hear such a thing come from her mouth. Even if she wasn't considered blood or anything else, she was still a family friend. And one his brother loved. He couldn't take that from him. But she had a point. If it came down to it, he'd pick himself.
He couldn't get the guts to reply. Instead, he started walking away. He left Alma there in the forest to her thoughts. All she knew is today was the day. It was the day she and Ford have been waiting for. However it starts and ends – only fate would tell.
Alma let herself cool down, taking a calming breath before following the path Stan gone. All the faces she met along her way to the Shacktron were rearing to go. It was just a matter of waiting for the right moment and moving in now. Everyone had a spot and a purpose. Alma would be the one giving the first shot at Bill.
It wasn't long before it was go time. Everyone piled in and took their positions. McGucket had the Gobblewonker, Grenda and Candy were the arms, Wendy was on top along with Alma, the others were inside the shack, pulling levers and what not. When the time came, the rescue team will go in and get Ford. Most of the Mystery Shack gang were going to be that team, along with McGucket and Alma.
On their way, Stan seemed a bit distasteful about something. Dipper and Mabel apparently knew why already. He had apparently been complaining that this whole mission was about Ford and how he was going to just be pictured as the hero. As much as Ford can be a hero, Alma believed that there was going to be something bigger. The whole walk across the flattened town, she had a sickening feeling in her gut.
-
Ford was being tortured inside the pyramid by the time the Shacktron was even seen. Bill had been trying to force Ford into letting him back in or at least, give him the info he is wanting. Ford swore he'd never tell. But Bill was seeing it as only a matter of time before he broke him. All Ford could do was fight.
"Come on, Sixer. Tell me how to break the barrier." Bill was getting some rather sickening joy from shocking Ford. How he managed to survive through it, was amazing as it is.
Ford weakly lifted his head, his body smoldering with smoke. He could feel his heart palpitating from the shock. "Never." He managed to mumble out.
"Is this you wanting to die, Fordsie?" Bill questioned while forcing him to look at him. "Mean if you want to die, I'd totally be fine with that. Just means a free body for me."
"Bite me, Bill." Ford threatened.
Bill chuckled. "Oh ho, I will happily bite you." He released another shock onto him, Ford letting out a scream. Suddenly, he'd stop.
