PLDF Chapter 7

"Chapter 7: Asriel Decides (Sub-Entries 61-70)"

Sub-Entry 061: "Asriel Has Much to Ponder.  We All Do, Now."
I had dropped this bomb on Asriel in February. It was now March and he was taking his time to make his own decision before he was ready to talk to us about what our decisions would be.

On top of that he was really trying to burn the candle at both ends. He wanted to be a college graduate if possible before we took any action. Plus he was really hoping and praying we could stabilize Hill Valley's timeline. Once he was sure S.T.C.'s future was in good hands...once he was sure that it was no longer in danger...he could move on knowing that I could move on without fear that a major paradox could prevent EVERYTHING I'd ever gone through from happening. Including our friendship in the first place.

I'd worked tirelessly to make sure a situation like this wouldn't arise. And like that Gozer had knocked everything off kilter and then the Decepticons had to go and make things worse. So many things were all connected, now.

To date...there had been two instances where Asriel avoided me.

The first was while Adonis' pico-drive sub-molecular virus that held me unknowingly hostage. I forgave him for having to make a tough choice.

The second was when Adonis broke him. He broke many of us but the hurt he inflicted on Azzy was so deep he secluded himself far worse than when he was 10 and still catatonic from a century in Gaster's void. He snapped out of it thanks to, of all things, the Mask of Loki. Last known to be in the possession of Stanley Ipkiss.

This was the third time and...we all knew it was probably coming. This was more a matter of his mind being bogged down by so much to remember...and so much to absorb from my research.

It had to get downright depressing at times...seeing other Asriel iterations who...met with a terrible fate, to coin a phrase right out of Termina.

Huh. That made me think of that passing thought of a child Asriel in certain green attire with a certain floppy cap worn by many iterations of elfin hero reincarnated many times in Hyrule...

But levity aside...the real grueling test wasn't his.

It was ours.

The temptation to go up to him and ask if he was okay or if there was anything we could do...try to spend time talking it out with him. It's been said before but...in this instance, talking was not the solution to this matter. Or...some context like that. Had it really become so reflexive to draw from Undertale for comparisons and metaphors?

No. We made it clear that this was a journey he'd have to make on his own. He'd come to us when he was ready to decide what to do. He was a grown adult. There would be no hand-holding. Apologies to you, Toriel, on that note. It would take more courage and mental preparation for him to get through this than weave his way through a spiked-floor puzzle.

Asriel assured us he could handle it.

This is why he sacrificed his memories in the first place; because as a teenager....even though 18 was by definition, legally an adult...he knew he wouldn't be ready for the responsibility. He was now and now was the time for him to prove it.

I'm going in circles with this, aren't I?

What more is there to say when...you don't know what to do but give it time?

Naturally...it would be hardest for me.

Second hardest would be Violet...because she was usually one to give in to the temptation. Vi had a history of ignoring her inhibitions.

That was where Bunnie came in. To keep her best friend in line. Let's face it. She had the most cast-iron will out of all of us.

It was still the off-season. Sally as...actually in kind of a state of boredom. She was finding it hard to drift back to her old bookworm persona from when she was a child and a princess. She had walked in Sonic's shoes for too long and the idea of going without her biggest fan-turned-friendly-rival? She was most certainly trying to avoid bouncing off the walls and we weren't swimming in missions during this time of peace.

Lupe remained patient. The plants and the animals of Gaia's Navel Sanctuary missed him as much as she did but nature waits for no one. Yet, nature would always be there when one returned to it, provided nature was given the love and care it needed to sustain itself--the very lesson that Lupe's people took to heart that the Vorostovians did not.

Mitzi was waiting for the day that she could have a snail pie ready for him...despite how much the idea of working with snails made her green behind the gills. That was what Antoine's assistance was for.

Of course...it was also hard on his parents.

Scott probably understood best the delicate art of giving someone their space. He was certainly afforded plenty of it in his own early years with UCIAT. Trust issues abundant, the enemy all around you...only they weren't the enemy anymore. His own country turned their backs on them. Even his own family was said to disown him as a traitor to his people.

It was a long time before Scott finally came to terms that everything he ever knew...was wrong. We weren't the devils or demons or monsters Vorostov said we were. But in all fairness...they weren't all the angry, non-human racists and war mongers that we were afraid they were. It was in this experience I learned the most destructive part of war wasn't the casualties or the destruction itself...but the propaganda. Especially when it worked.

Callista understood his need to be alone for a completely different reason. Attention can be a good thing...but it can also be a distraction. It can be smothering; whether it's positive attention...or negative attention. Being overwhelmed with fame? Goat Son had walked a mile in her sandals both during times before he was neuralized...and times afterward. She assured him that it was even worse when you're a psychic. Asriel drew the comparison to Superman. Image being able to hear the whole world around you all at once.

While matured somewhat...even now it would be too much all at once unless we let him ease into it at his own pace.

Of all of us...Pit was the most beside himself, unable to be there for his friend. Even more so than me. As an angel, it was his nature to help. But...sometimes even an angel has to stay on the sidelines and give the reigns to the only one to be in control......time.

There was that word again. Time. A time-traveler like myself could never escape the word. It runs and runs but can never flee. It is often watched but never seen. When long it brings boredom. When short it brings fear. Yes. Mentor would agree...there are few intangible concepts that can be respected and feared as much as time itself. We were all trapped by it...and we were all part of it. Right now...Asriel was in its grip and only time would tell when it would release him. By extension...he'd be the one to tell us when were released.

At this moment my mind has diverted to something else bugging me. That this was looking like a log entry that I couldn't exactly record any interactions between us. No...this was another of those rare expositions. Those inner monologues of mine that just spells out the situation. No one to say anything. No one doing anything. Just that period of waiting until something happened. Until then we were all pondering what to do...what to do........what to do...

Holy schnikees. This had to be boring to at least someone reading this right now. Right? I mean...I'm so beside myself I'm stretching our dimension's proverbial fourth wall just to make a point. I mean...I can't REALLY be carrying this entry into my personal research logs on wit, charm, and a dry sense of humor alone. Can I?

Ahem. Right. Back on topic.

I found myself wandering the day...in a metaphorical zombie state. On autopilot thanks to routine. If anyone had anything to say to me it probably went in one ear and out the other. That was how "in my own head" I was. I found myself trying to empathize with Azzy, figuring him being in his own head was, by comparison, as great or greater than my own state of being.

Not to say I wasn't paying attention. I just...wasn't really feeling it.

Bunnie's classes went on as always. But without its recent graduate to watch over or even be asked to be an assistant instructor. I could tell...there were things on her mind. Just as much as the rest of us. I had my theories. Subtle clues pointed to the possibility that she was...thinking of Toriel. Possibly Undyne, too. Yeah...I'd say those two made the biggest impact in her life, during our experiences some five to seven years ago.

Violet was tempted to try to get reactions out of Asriel on those rare instances he was seen outside the sub-lab.

But ultimately she couldn't bring herself to prank him.

Instead she felt the need to retreat to her own personal head-space. And unlike Bunnie...she didn't exactly make it a hard guess what was going through her own head. Yeah...she was thinking about Mettaton. Probably the only person who actually appreciated her talent for showmanship...for being larger than life...and for being uniquely her and feeling no shame or regret. Truly  the essence of integrity as a person. If you can't be yourself...then who are you?

Mitzi's thoughts were triadic. I could name two off the top of my head that she formed bonds with.

The first was Muffet. Obviously a baker with a flair for her fellow spiders to clap in synchronized rhythm to the beat. Mitzi...tried to convince herself that the fine print only said "made for spiders by spiders"  and not include the part about being "made OF spiders". Yeah...ignorance is bliss. Spider-Cider could get downright addictive if you hit it too often but...the easy cure was thinking about what it was squeezed from. Pondering what was in the spider donuts didn't help either. While Marcel could appreciate the greed, it was the passion for the baking and the outreach to her fellow spiders that made sure Muffet had earned Mitzi's respect.

Then there was Grillby. A being of pure fire was far less creepy by comparison but more intimidated when you considered if there was any safe way to make physical contact with him. But really...as a monster, I was pretty sure his flames were magic and he could control them. So...if it weren't the case he would have incinerated the ground where he stood, his clothes in the process, and of course...every meal he served me. As a fellow patron of the culinary arts and owner of her own eatery...yeah...I'd say Mitzi and Grillby were a friendship that was bound to happen.

Gadget...yeah...Gadget and I both could think of no one more deserving of the top spot than Alphys. And really...thinking of Alphys made us both miss her dearly. I...always worried for her after she lost her position as Royal Scientist. But...Undyne was now out of a job now that the Royal Guard was disbanded, leaving Papyrus the sole member and technically captain. I think with the two of them now officially a ship--as Violet called it--they were both going to be just fine.

Jon could only think of one person. The Great Papyrus. I had no doubt he was still as great as he ever was. Even now that as the only Royal Guard member he assisted Asgore with watering a lot of flowers and tending to the gardens at Toriel's school. Plus...I know he was just hankering for more of Paps' spaghetti. Ughl...hopefully it was far more edible than the last batch I remember eating.

Lupe and I both worried for Asgore. Sure he'd spend his days as a garden, now that the throne was completely abdicated by both him and Toriel. But...would he ever really be okay with that weight forever around his neck. For what he had done. I wonder how he went about facing justice for the fallen children? Given how much time had gone past since each of them fell...who'd still be around to prosecute him for it? I never really had a definitive answer if the statute of limitations ever ran out for the killer (or killers) of all of them given when Frisk had become the eighth. So...maybe in some timelines it was best if it was all just left behind.

And speaking of Lupe...only one name really mattered when I could see she was deep in thought.

It was the one I couldn't help but see pop up in the back of my own mind.

What of Flowey? By now...if it was true that Asriel Dreemurr couldn't maintain his form for much longer without the souls...he had to have turned back long ago. Though...in some AU's that wasn't the case...in a few rare ones...Asriel managed to persist even after his own self-exile. And that lead to unique AU's all their own.

I had remembered Asriel D.'s words...his warnings if we ever returned. We'd be dealing with those consequences if Asriel A.'s choice ended up being what I thought it would be.

And then...I still had to consider what to do about Chara.

"Damn."

The first word I said all entry and it was a curse word. I was really frustrated, wasn't I?

I felt a hand on my shoulder. It should have made me jump but...

"Hi, Mom.  Hi, Dad.  Hi, teacher."

Garfield, Odie, and Nermal all together. They always did know when I was at odds with a situation.

"Takes me back, you know.  You had your moody moments way back when."

"When it was a lot harder for me to be patient but...still no less frustrated."

"Yeah."

"I have been running the calculations and have made progress on those...items you wanted me to revise from Dr. Brown's incident."

"The altercation with Edna Strickland.  The one that resulted in two instances of the Delorean and her accidental incident which burned Hill Valley down in the 1800's...forcing Doc and Marty to find a way back and fix that little glitch in time and bring that fifth part of their...1930's and 1985-B adventures to a close." I was still thinking about the events that...were in grave danger of being wiped out if we didn't get the timelines fixed.

The items in question...I was preparing to repurpose as a pre-cursor to when Asriel gave his decision.

"Don't let it get you down.  Take your mind of things for a bit.  You can't just hope for a mission or adventure to pop up to distract you.  Sometimes you have to find other ways.  It also...helps to have family support you all the way." Garfield slide a plate with a generous portion of lasagna in front of me.

"Heh."

"He'll come around.  He always does." Nermal hugged me.

"You're right."

"We're all making pre-cursor preparations in anticipation of actually taking action." Odie assured. "That way they'll be ready for when it's truly time."

"Yeah...truly time to go back."

That was always the option. But it wouldn't happen unless Asriel wanted it to. For all I know, he was like me. I....really didn't want to know about the before times....the times of my biological family and village. No...those times weren't coming back. I had made the decision that it would do no good to dig up the past and find out where I really came from. I was living in the present and looking to the future. That's all I needed.

But Asriel wasn't me. My gut was telling me...he'd want to know. He'd want to get in contact with his past again. He'd want to meet his birth parents...even if they were another timeline's Asgore and Toriel. Was a timeline really the barrier that would make him think of them in any other way than his parents?

"Well.  Eat up or it'll get cold.  And then we'll all have a long sit-down."

"Sounds good to me."

I promised I'd wait for you, Asriel. So...if you got done finding yourself before I did...wait for me. I'll be with you soon enough.

Sub-Entry 062:  "A Knight Rides as a Phoenix Rises":
Gadget had been ominously quiet as of recent. I soon discovered why when info was passed along from the Phoenix Foundation; the modern iteration.

I had forgotten that a while ago Gadget teamed up with two iterations of the Phoenix Foundation's best from two parallel timelines somehow existing back to back--one rooted deeply in the 1980's...another existing in barely a year's difference from present day. It must've been pretty surreal for both worlds but...it was the experience of a lifetime for little sister while Asriel and I were trying to escape the other VideoLand while the Crossover Wars had just begun.

Cutting to the chase...the news was regarding the present-day Phoenix Foundation and...its shakeup after one of its own left to pursue a target that he'd spent a lifetime trying to track down and bring down. The news...was not good.

Gadget had kept up to date with what the Foundation had gone through after its servers were burned and their world's government pulled funding and shut down their operation...only for the band to get back together thanks to its assets being bought up by a private company; formerly Spearhead Industries. I had always meant to check up on this "Russel Taylor" person...but I never did. Thank goodness Gadget is always good at investigating when some times some crimes go slipping through the cracks.

It was months back but she informed me that after a long, winding fight against this eco-terrorist organization that went back to the 1940's known as "CODEX"...finally ended with their ranks broken...but at tremendous cost. Most notably the last relations of Phoenix's star agent making the ultimate sacrifices; a father to a bomb and an aunt due to stopping a volcanic chain-reaction.

They always come in threes.

"You're...sure about this?"

Gadget looked up at me sadly and nodded, sniffling.

It was some time after addressing their world's Senate hearing, some time after their world's "lockdown", and several missions of "business as always".

"I'm...sorry.  I don't know what to say."

It hadn't hit Gadget NEARLY as hard as her friends...the team of the Phoenix Foundation. Including previously aforementioned star agent and pioneer of the personal motto, "improvise or die".

Earlier in the day, Sally and Violet poured one out for their fallen comrade. It was just now I had learned of the fate of modern iteration Jack Dalton. He always had a prophetic fear that one day he'd get it in a IMD explosion; he'd always have Angus MacGyver to bail him out.

Not this time. And honestly...Gadget wished as much as the next person that she could have been there.

It would only be days later Gadget would let me know that the person responsible had finally been caught in the act and brought in. Little Sister would ask for some time off to visit somewhere where the skee-ball was epic and the pizza was far greasier than Mitzi's...don't know why she considered that a good thing...and that she would be spending the day with a marathon of Die Hard movies. Okay...interesting combination....but I'm told that it had...special meaning.

At the present time I was trying to assess where we were with our friends at F.L.A.G. and the Knight Foundation. As Devon Miles soon informed Asriel and myself, new chapters of anti-crime and anti-terrorism were starting to fill in a previously blank stretch of history between Michael and K.I.T.T. splitting up and going separate ways...and the Maddock-era incident in his timeline's year of 2000. I'd know it as the final moments of Devon Miles and the re-birth of K.I.T.T. in the Knight 4K body. If my hunch was right...this could lead to another timeline split...but somehow still allow the current timeline to continue on. I felt a sigh of relief whenever I avoided a major paradox.

Violet was clearing her bill with the A-Team a few weeks back while KOMMAND returned Airwolf to Tails' virtual hanger in the Z-Vault. Both of them had off-handedly mentioned something about getting a Ferrari back to some private eye who had an affection for Hawaiian shirts and harassed a personal butler named Higgins. And I think there was a helicopter pilot involved, somehow?

I was becoming more and more familiar with agencies and law enforcers from the 1980's eras still in our virtual Rolodex; somehow making a comeback. Not that I was ungrateful or anything or tired of the nostalgia (like THAT would ever happen)...it was just and inopportune time for this to be happening with Asriel off on a cloud and deciding where the path of his life was about to go. No doubt...this was Madam Fate's attempt at a not-quite-but-definitely-annoying-screw-you to us all.

"...and there you have it." Violet chuckled as she held up the holo-tablet. "Definitive proof a Pontiac Trans-Am can beat a 69' Charger."

"Violet..." Bunnie grumbled at Vi's attempt to stir the pot.

"That isn't even the real General Lee." the Major glowered at the footage of K.I.T.T. in an alternative fuel race. "And those are most certainly not Bo and Luke Duke."

Ah yes. I hadn't thought about them in a while or how Violet cheapened their appearance during Asriel's and my shootout at Moo Mesa with daring them to do the Three Amigos salute on the grounds she'd treat them at the Boar's Nest and money was no object.

Even Asriel had to admit their appearance was pretty shoe-horned in there. Even by Violet's standards.

I decided to leave Bunnie's recruitment of Bravestar out of it.

Back on topic...well, the one I had now diverted to...Bunnie was most certainly not having it with Violet making light of another of her matchups between icons of the 80's (or of today with her insistence on another AVG vs. Nostalgia Critic)...this one being the General Lee versus Knight Industries Two Thousand. I was about ready to have Violet write on a blackboard 100's ala Bart Simpson: "I am not Boomstick and am therefore forbidden to hold my own Death Matches in real life".

Bunnie was also refusing to acknowledge the elephant in the room Vi was trying to draw attention to. Namely...what the Duke family was constantly in trouble with the law of Hazzard County over--the family business. One I didn't approve of and the Major considered too much of a stereotype.

No doubt her mother would be amused nonetheless if she were still alive. But I digress.

"180 proof internal combustion--"  *WHAP*

"Welcome, Major.  Violet, I told you before.  This lab is "dry county".  Keep your talk of the three-X jugs to yourself.  That includes the "other" kind so I'm also preemptively telling you to keep your mind out of the gutter."

"Would you rather I talk about "sick fruit juice" instead?"

Goddammit, Vi. You somehow found my research on DeltaRune. I'd later learn she dragged it out of Callista's database of sessions with my dream adventure.

Before I get any FURTHER off topic...

I ordered the two of them to cool it. Quickly they caught on about the news that Gadget had brought us.

Recently we'd renewed ties with a different foundation. The Knight Foundation. In all likelihood we created a new timeline split. I was starting to appreciate the three-way split of the Hyrule Timeline.

I might be a mostly-retired vice-emperor of all space, time, and dimension; leaving 98 percent of it to Daimyou and KOMMAND, mind you...but even I don't have the foresight to predict when we will cross paths with allies. Whether it's been decades or less than a month ago...sometimes the boomerang's flight path and return is collectively shorter than estimated.

I suppose the tip-off should have been the part where the Knight Industries semi trailer found its way to a UCIAT warehouse storage depot and one Dr. Bonnie Barstow and one April Curtis came looking for us with news that...Michael Knight had been kidnapped and was being held hostage...by someone we DIDN'T expect.

"Say that again...?"

"He calls himself Murdoc--"

And that was how the Knight Foundation ended up crossing paths with the Phoenix Foundation.

For the uninformed, "Murdoc"...if that was his real name...was a trained killer, mercenary for hire, and total sociopath madman with a twisted sense of humor that took things to James Bond level of death traps. While, also having the uncanny ability to cheat death more times than a mortal person--especially scum like him--ever should. His personal signature of assassination? Taking a photo of his victims at the exact moment of their deaths.

The question was...which Murdoc? The one from the 1980's AU...or the one from the modern AU which the year would now be 2021 by this point.

Gadget had been keeping in contact with the 2021 edition so...she hadn't considered telling the 1980's Jack Dalton about his counterpart's...demise. At least not yet. I mean...how DO you go about something like that?

Anyway...if it was the 80's edition, then we were dealing with the one who was a member of H.I.T. or Homicide International Trust. Bunnie's Interpol connections had nothing even remotely civil to say about them.

"Looks like Michael stepped on someone's toes hard enough for a hit to be put out on him." I frowned.

It was pretty bad stakes. Murdoc's record was nearly flawless with...taking out targets. But one person we knew had a consistent record of putting blemishes on that record and had since become Murdoc's favorite personal obsession.

But the bad news didn't stop with him. At the same time Asriel had gotten some air from his time in my dimensional sub-lab to check up on UCIAT operations...and he was just in time to snag a fax forwarded by one Devon Miles.

"...you've GOT to be kidding me!" I gnashed my teeth. "We just put this barf bag away!"

Oh yeah. Garthe Knight escaped and had dropped off the grid.

It was then that Gadget's old contacts had gotten back to her at that exact same time.

"Big brother!" Gadget hurried over.

"We just got contacted by Mr. Thornton--"

As soon as she said "Mister", I knew which of the two MacGyver dimensions we were dealing with. Specifically Peter Thornton. That meant the 80's  edition MacGyver AU. I really should start numbering these the way I had with Undertale.

"Let me guess.  Murdoc rose from the dead on their world and found their way to Michael Knight's world."

Gadget blinked a couple times before nodding her head vigorously but also in a bit of a panic.

"There's more, though..."

That was how I learned about the disappearance of--

"But what would Garthe Knight want with Angus MacGyver?" Asriel interrupted my thoughts.

Goat Son was on top of his game, figuring out a split-second earlier what I had.

"What is this?  Nemesis exchange?" I grimaced.

"Well.  It wouldn't be a cross-over if we didn't have enemies...well...cross over."

"Clever, Goat Son.  Clever.  So...what do we do about this?"

Some time later we were aboard the Semi.

"I'm glad Murdoc didn't get his filthy, blood-stained hands on you, K.I.T.T."

"Believe me, Gadget, the feeling is mutual."

"Any damage to him?"

"Gadget and I have just finished with the major repairs.  Dr. Barstow and Violet are running final checks on K.I.T.T. microprocessor." April replied.

"All this attention...if I could blush I'd be a shade of candy apple red right now."

"Was that a jab at Knight Industrials Four Thousand?" I prodded.

"Now that would be most unsporting and completely undermine any professional relationship we have." K.I.T.T. replied.

As soon as I was out of hearing range...

"Of course it was."

"Oh you...!" Asriel sweat dropped.

"Gadget, I want you to go on ahead.  Michael may be an ex-cop but I don't fancy his chances of getting out of one of Murdoc's overelaborate death traps."

"I'll go with her and take the CMD-X." Mitzi had also gone along.

"K.I.T.T., Asriel and I will try to intercept Garth.  The black sheep of the Knight family might not have Murdoc's capacity for crazy, but he's still a master criminal and a dangerous man."

"We meet up together we'll join forces later."

"You just want to see a meeting between Michael Knight and Angus MacGyver, don't you?" I smirked at Asriel.

"Maybe.  I have to gauge Michael's reaction to a MacGyver-ism.  But tell me you're not itching to see Mac react to a talking car.

Okay that was worth a smirk."

"You better take my spare backpack, then, big brother.  Mr. MacGyver might need some things from it to get out of a jam."

That-a-girl. I was so proud of her.

I nodded and accepted the satchel.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

"One.  Two.  Three.  BREAK!" We overlapped hands and let it fly.

The back of the semi opened once we were in the driver's and passengers seats.

Kitt backed out and pulled a major U-turn.

Still inside the Semi, Gadget un-collapsed the Cyber Gate that Dr. Barstow had transported from the Knight Mansion's lab. Sally was already en route to provide her with some backup.

"To borrow a phrase from Hazard County...YEEEEEEEEEE-HAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!" Sally's voice came over the headset.

"This must be what it feels like to be the Roadrunner!" Sally tore a path down the desert highways.

"At least one of you no longer has a coyote chasing after you."

"Hey!  Don't go there!" Sally at least had a sense of humor about it, now.

"Do go picking up any stray turtles and giving them the ride of their life!" Violet joked.

"Oh, you."

"I'm glad you two are enjoying your levity but...the clock IS still ticking."

"What was that?  You asking me to speed up?  You just said the magic words, Commander."

"Technically you did but--"

The next thing I heard was a sonic boom as Sally took it up to well over 700 MPH.

"She'll be there in no time.  She might even outdistance Gadget if she's quick enough."

"I don't know...outracing an instantaneous Cyber Gate, Asriel?"

"Oh I have no doubt Gadget will touch down first.  But getting to the rendezvous before Sally?  Now that's wishful thinking."

It was good that we were being this upbeat in light of some pretty heavy things that were going on now that Asriel knew. It was a good sign that he was so quick to go back adventuring again; recovering from all those life-changing revelations.

Sure enough...

Sally leaned up against the brick wall, tapping her foot just as Gadget rolled up on her skateboard.

"OGPX Suit trumps skateboard.  Even with a Cyber Gate head start."

"Awww!  I still wanted to hold my own, Miss Sally!"

"Good enough, kiddo." Sally mussed Gadget's hair. "We'd better get prepped.  Murdock's inside and I don't expect him to fight fair."

"Yeah...his counterpart in the 2021 era AU nearly burned his MacGyver’s face off with his own make shifted blowtorch."

"Jeeze.  A little less sophisticated than I was expecting from the guy who likes to whistle and play head games.  What happened?"

"Don't know if you heard the debrief but a plot right out of a spy movie; using a skyscraper's tectonic damper to actually induce a 6.8 earthquake on the city with the Phoenix's best inside.  But that was second only to the fact that for the greater part of several years, he's had the Phoenix Foundations entire communication system hijacked."

Gadget looked a little stressed that. "A lot of.....personal secrets and...laundry in the hamper got hung out to dry for everyone to hear." Gadget looked really distressed by it.

I'd later learn that Gadget was talking about specific matters...like how it was kept from Wilt Bozer that his long-distance romance ended when his girlfriend was killed on a mission...and Russel Taylor withheld that from him so he wouldn't be distracted.

But worse...was Murdock spiling the beans on Angus MacGyver planning to propose to Desiree...while also revealing the romantic triangle with Riley Davis that she had been keeping under her hat.

"Man.  That's low."

"Hopefully the 80's iteration here is a little more straightforward to disarm."

"How are our chances?"

"Not...the best, Miss Sally.  But...Mr. Knight's chances are worse.  Mr. MacGyver at least knows how to improvise using what's around him to get out of a jam but...without K.I.T.T...."

"Yeah.  I follow you."

Meanwhile...

"Garthe's not known for being subtle but he is ruthless, Asriel.  As far as criminals go he'll go to large scale lengths and feel no regret.  Wilton Knight's own flesh-and-blood disappoint."

"Any chance he's got Goliath rebuilt?"

"Let's bank on the possibility he did, just in case."

"I don't know this Angus MacGyver by reputation.  Do you think he has any more chance of survival than Michael?"

"I'd say his chances are probably better if Garthe is sloppy enough.  He leaves so much as a paperclip behind and Mac will probably be busting out of there with a homemade shotgun or chainsaw or something." Asriel mused. "At least that's what Gadget has told me and not in so many words.  But she did tell me he frequently builds blowtorches out of spare pipes and various metal scrapings and well as a remote-controlled smokescreen with cleaning products and a Capsella toy.  Did you know he disarmed a bomb with a hockey ticket and built and arc welder out of a battery charger?"

"Now that I have to see." K.I.T.T. was intrigued.

Just wait until Gadget tells him about how the modern version makes a spy camera balloon out of a cell phone and recycle throw-away or infrared night goggles out of a TV remote and some glasses. Also from what Gadget also told me, he tended to bend paperclips into shapes when he was receiving mission briefs.

One thing the both of them had in common...that signature red Swiss Army Knife.

"Maybe we should know a little more about Michael to pass on to Gadget.

"And they can tell us more about Angus." I reasoned.

"Angus?" K.I.T.T. asked, intrigued.

"He likes his first name about as much as you like using "ain't" in a sentence."

"If I had the capacity to, I'd state that I already feel his pain." Despite that, K.I.T.T.'s tone certain reeked of him cringing, metaphorically.

With all the pieces on the chess board...let's start with moving the Knight...

Sally hunkered down as her RHN-Iota armor snapped around her Tengu Suit in time for the deadly saw blades to bounce off but still leave some scratches and gashes on it.

"Okay.  I guess he was inspired by one of Mac's ideas to bring a blade launcher to a blaster fight."

Gadget looked around the old foundry for anything.

"Starter motor from an abandoned tanker truck...electric fan, some gears and a chain-belt....some control boards from the assembly line's Programmable Logic controller..."

Gadget shuffled around in her backpack for parts.

"Hydraulic cylinders and shock-absorbers, a small compressor..."

"And I thought my day was going to be rather run-of-the-mill without my favorite target to find some clever way out of my death trap." Murdoc gloated gleefully and tauntingly. "Well, Miss Acorn was it?  Adding you and your friend to my kill count just might drive the price up a bit.  I was going to assassinate our friend, Mr. Knight at a discount but complications...well...I'm sure H.I.T. can tack a few more zeros onto the check."

All the while his vehicle turned around and came straight for Sally.

"Bringing a slow clunker like that to an overdrive fight?  Snoozer."

"Your confidence is inspiring!  That's what intrigues me so much about those who have so much confidence.  There's a tradeoff, you know.  Confidence is for the cerebrally lacking while doubt is for intellectuals."

"Oh.  Is that all I am?  Wow.  I guess I should be insulted."

"Snappy retorts will not save you.  I'll be sure to spend my time pondering what you are as I'm dissecting your corpse!"

Sally's shots kept bouncing or reflecting off the bullet proof glass windshield.

"I bet Sonic never had to deal with an egg-o-matic nightmare like this.  There's got to be a weak spot!"

"I can tell you’re a far cry from the inventive type, Miss Acorn.  I cannot express my disappointment at this moment.  You just don't have the flare and the spectacle that Mr. MacGyver often challenges me with."

"You're right.  I'm a planner, not a tinkerer..." Sally suddenly tucked and rolled as her Tengu Suit's alt form kicked in and she spin-dashed out of the way as Gadget popped up and took aim with her weapon, launching of all things, railroad spikes!

Murdock instinctively dodged as the projectile went through the windshield with a CRACK!

"Well now....that's more like it.   Time to switch targets."

"Gadget, get back!"

"Life sign detected, Sally." C.I.P.H.E.R. announced.

"Your timing is quicker...Big Brother." Sally pulled out her portable mainframe.

"We...still have to have a discussion, Sally."

"Not the best time, Elias.  But yeah...Nikita's last secret that she kept...we're going to have to have a sit down over that.  And the reveal.  Now where's that heartbeat coming from?"

"Thermal imaging is faint but I've traced it to a cold storage freezer.  Not sure why one of those is on site at a chemical foundry.

"Probably a storage area for dry ice or liquid nitrogen or something else." Sally let fly with a couple of Zeus Thunderbolt grenades which managed to slow Murdock down until he was able to restart his vehicle. Which gave Gadget enough time to makeshift another solution.

She hurried off to find Michael.

All the while...

Azzy and I both took cover behind K.I.T.T.

"Yeah.  Pretty sure Garthe remembers us." I winced as I heard the rifle reload. "I just didn't think he'd go the sniper route."

"And we left our sharpshooter to rescue Michael." Asriel frowned.

"This is one situation I don't think 80's Jack Dalton could fast-talk his way out of."

"K.I.T.T. can you do something about those automated turrets he's got us pinned down by?"

"Already on it." K.I.T.T. said as the button labeled "Micro Jam" lit up.

And the hail of ordinance stopped. A frustrated Garthe threw down his rifle after emptying it again and hurried back from his vantage point on the roof.

"He's probably going after his hostage!"

"Dang!  We better get in there, fast."

"Focus laser on the front door, K.I.T.T.  Hopefully we can blow it wide upon once we weaken it enough."

"Alloy security doors are just a nuisance, aren't they?" Asriel spun his JoyCons like cowboy pistols before taking aim with me.

We all focused our ordinance on the door. After a few moments of heating it up, we managed to melt a hole through it.

"Let's go!"

"Cover us, K.I.T.T.  If he tries to escape out the back way, cut him off!"

Once in...

"Yeah.  Not a sophisticated guy but definitely not an idiot either."

I noticed the land mines on the floor.

"He's had a history of hijacking military grade stuff.  Those missiles for example."

"Yup."

"But he didn't count on one thing."

Asriel grinned and unfolded the NX Switchboard. "We're going for a ride!" And we full-tilted it through the simple traps and army grade explosives and automated weapons.

That was when the lights went out.

"Night vision goggles?"

"Didn't think they existed in this time period.  They must be prototypes." I growled, sniffing around. I winced as a bullet struck inches from my ear.

I clutched at my ear, the ringing in it being excruciating.

"You're going to pay for crossing me, beasts!"

Asriel fumbled around trying to light up the NX Board

"No you don't!'

Azzy doubled over as he felt the pipe impact his stomach.

He hurriedly tried to sense his way around in the darkness.

The next swing he heard coming and managed to dive behind a large table or furniture in the darkness.

His ninja training was paying off but he was still at a disadvantage as he had dropped his JoyCons from the blow to the gut.

"C'mon..." I shook off the dizziness and the searing pain in my ear. I started to generate a ball of electric plasma to see.

Moments later I heard something metal swinging toward me--

"OOOF!" Right between the eyes. That was going to leave a mark but I'd heal from it.

Something suspended from the ceiling that hit like an anvil.

This guy wasn't as over the top as Murdoc but he was certainly resourceful and tenacious. I was starting to see that he very much was Michael Knight's equal and opposite.

"Volt!?" Azzy tried to echo-locate his way in the darkness as I stumbled around.

I immediately felt something seize around my throat.

And I soon heard Asriel yell out pretty close to me before suddenly choking.

He had us both; squeezing his hands around our throats.

By this time we were squeezing our eyes shut and struggling to pull his meat hooks off our necks.

"Who rescues the rescuers?" He said just before it happened.

"GAAAAAAAAAH!"

I smelled something incredibly hot burning with the sound of something like a blowtorch.

"My nose...you broke my d*** nose!!!  How did you--"

"The accommodations weren't all that great so I checked myself out of your hotel.  And while I was at it I built myself a magnesium flare."

"That voice...MacGyver?"

"You came all this way to rescue me but I guess I always had a knack for working backwards."

"I'd say it's good to see you but who can see anything in the darkness...plus I'm pretty sure I still have double vision from where he clocked me one."

"C'mon.  Let's get out here."

"So how'd you escape?"

"It's amazing what you can do with a rubber band, some paperclips and counting on the fact that your capture was pretty sloppy at leaving my pocket knife out in the open as a taunt.  Also helps to have some shoestrings and a magnet handy."

"You are as good as they say you are." I managed to find my way to a wall socket and force some electricity into it, lighting up the place enough for us to navigate out of the building.

"K.I.T.T.!  Rev up!  Package acquired, Pete Thornton is going to want to hear the good news."

The car immediately shifted into gear and got to where were were, its doors opening. We crammed inside.

"Uh...quick question.  Who's driving?" MacGyver immediately picked up on the car moving on its own and opening its own doors.

"That would be me."

MacGyver immediately spied the consoles.

"The car talks.  yeah.  Not the strangest thing in my day.  Not at all."

"If I may meet your acquaintance, I am the voice of Knight Industries Two Thousand's central microprocessor.  K.I.T.T."

"I want you to know that right now I'm really trying to curb my scientific curiosity right now.  This is artificial intelligence way beyond my pay grade."

Heh. Let's just hope he never meets "Sparky" in Bozer's lab at the 2021 edition Phoenix Foundation's lab. Of course Wilt had said quote: "He's in a time-out because he was getting a little too full of himself." Whatever he meant by that.

We tore out of there like a bat out of you-know-where.

Meanwhile back at the foundry.

Gadget lowered her goggles and struck the flint pieces together, igniting the end of the pipe and getting a moment of torch level flame out of it.

Quickly she got about cutting the lock off before her fuel ran out.

Immediately she spied the man in the black leather jacket.

"Michael Knight?"

Chained up, but otherwise alive...

"Let me guess.  You're a friend of Volt Arcade, right?"

"Little sister.  Adopted.  Hang on.  I'll get you out of there." Gadget finished bending the metal and paperclips and started picking the locks.

"That guy out there is two grapes short of a fruitcake.  How'd you get past him?

"I have help.  I'm more of a thinker and a crack shot than a fighter.  Don't worry.  Big brother and Asriel are with K.I.T.T. right now.  It might be a bit before you get within range that you can contact him."

Gadget hurriedly rummaged around before finding where Murdoc had stashed his watch. Definitely a little more careful about leaving things out in the open to escape with than Garthe Knight.

"Come on.  We have to give Sally a hand before Murdoc gets the upper hand."

Meanwhile...

"Volt.  Asriel.  I'm detecting a large vehicle behind us and gaining speed--

Bullets ricocheted off of K.I.T.T.'s shell at that moment.

"...and heavily armed."

"Garthe." Asriel clenched his fist.

"We're hardly in a position to attack him as it is."

Hmm?"  MacGyver spied Gadget's spare backpack.

"You mind if I..."

"Get to work on a MacGyver-ism?  By all means."

"Macgyverism...still never going to get used to that."

He rooted around until he found it.

"A magnetron.  Perfect."

"Little sister gutted it from a microwave that Skeeter Walrus neglected to take the tinfoil off of  his fast food or taking the metal silverware off the plate before nuking it."

After a bit of tinkering around...

"That what I think it is?"

"Depends if you think I'm going to use it to--"

"Boil the radiator into exploding!" Asriel finished.

"Somehow I think that wasn't just a lucky guess."

"Gadget's like a little big sister to me."

"So noted.  She's a good friend."

"If you don't mind, can you step it up.  I'd really like to get my driver and partner back."

I clicked the button for the sun roof and MacGyver climbed out and did his best to stabilize his makeshift microwave cannon, aiming it toward the grill of Goliath.

"This going to work?" I looked at the jumper cables leading into the back pack.

"Just keep her steady!"

We kept trying to evade,

"Uh...guys?" Asriel pointed to the bridge out sign.

"Can you get any more cliche?" K.I.T.T. complained.

"Hold on to something, Mac!"

"Why, what are you doing--"

Was all he got out before I hit the Turbo Boost.

"Whoa!  Mac almost fell back into the car and almost dropped his device.

We'd gone airborne right about the time a muffled explosion erupted from Goliath's engine bay.

"He's not going to head us off at the pass any time soon." MacGyver climbed back in.

"And authorities are already en route...with backup."

"Then let's hook up with Sally and Gadget."

Sure enough...

The CMD-X headed our way with Mitzi at the wheel and Violet, Sally, and Michael in the passenger's and back seats.

Mac climbed out of the sunroof and waved to the approaching vehicle.

We came to a stop and regrouped.

And of course...it was a meeting of the ages.

"Michael Knight.  Angus MacGyver." I was all to glad to bring them together in [a] crossover.

"You're uh...pretty handing I can tell." Michael pointed out the microwave cannon Mac was still hauling.

"Yeah.  Just a little something to get out of a jam.  Speaking of which...  You've got quite a partner here."

"K.I.T.T.!  You're a sight for sore eyes.  They've been taking good care of you, buddy?

"I find myself unable to complain, Michael."

"Well.  Between the Phoenix Foundation and the Knight Foundation, I'd say this little adventure is wrapped up."

"Yeah.  With Garthe about to do another stretch in prison.  So...what about--"

I didn't have time to finish my statement as a missile suddenly headed our way, missing us by yards but the shockwave still knocking us down.

"Uh...yeah...about that..." Gadget looked as if there was something she REALLY needed to mention.

"Everyone scatter!"

Michael and MacGyver were first to saddle up inside K.I.T.T.

"That maniac!  He's really trying to kill us!" Gadget hid behind Sally.

As it turned out, Murdoc had acquired another lethal vehicle of H.I.T.'s providing. And a lot faster and more armed then the rig he was using back at the foundry. Who's paycheck went into these experimental suckers!?

Mac climbed out of the still open sunroof to confirm what we all knew.

"MACGYVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!" Murdoc screamed bloody murder, just as bloodied up with his fight with Sally.

"Here's a little present from me to you, friend.  To show my appreciation for everything you did or were about to do to Michael." K.I.T.T. announced, with a tinge of anger in his voice moments before his lasers rang out, repeatedly striking the vehicle before it eventually tore through the outer shell and by chance hit the fuel line...

A bloodcurdling scream...cut off immediately by a massive fireball explosion.

"There's no way he survived that." Michael stated.

"I'm not so sure..." Mac looked away.

Some time later...

"On behalf of F.L.A.G. and the Knight Foundation, we can't thank you enough for all your help and risking your lives on this mission." Devon Miles commended us.

"The Phoenix Foundation also acknowledges your hard work and dedication in saving one of our best agents." Peter Thornton congratulated.

"It's what we do as the first family of crossovers." Asriel gave a thumbs up.

"I guess we'll be seeing you." Gadget hugged MacGyver.

"Yeah.  Don't be a stranger, now."

Asriel accepted a firm handshake from Michael.

"Look us up if you ever need a lone rider on a crusade against the criminal underworld."

"Count on it, "Knight Rider"." Asriel nodded.

A couple of Cyber Gates open and the Semi and K.I.T.T. were headed back. I'm sure K.I.T.T. would be coming back to the Z-Vault sooner or later.

"Keep in touch." MacGyver waved as the yellow and black Taxi cab pulled up. Sure enough, Jack Dalton was in the driver's seat.

"Hey, while you're here, I got kind of a proposition for you." Jack began. "It's a guaranteed lucrative deal with no strings attached--"

"I'm going to stop you there." Asriel crossed his arms. "You know there was a bit of writing in the Phoenix Foundation's men's room that reads: "Whenever Jack Dalton's left eye twitches, he's lying like a mat. So. Going to have to turn you down."

"But I...!"

"C'mon, Jack.  Let's get going." Mac patted his friend on the shoulder.

And through the Cyber Gate he went.

"You know.  This is just what the doctor ordered."

"Seconded."

"Here, here."

It was good we got all that adventuring done. For our next case...we see 100% less action.

Just warning you so you won't be disappointed, whoever may read this log.

Sub-Entry 063:  "Twin Hurricanes Complete  with Race Cars, Lasers, and Airplanes.  Observing a Duckburg AU From Afar":
Duckburg had been quiet. Too quiet. Especially with F.O.W.L. in the final stages of their master plan against the McDuck family.

A lot had developed since Bradford Buzzard was exposed as the top bird of the Fiendish Organization for World Larceny.

By this time...Asriel and I were well established that yet another timeline had split. The timeline WE knew on our world...and the timeline running parallel to it. Ironically the one on our world was more in tune with the 80's...almost completely displaced from time and space; like a city that eras had forgotten.

But the one running parallel to it? It was more modern. And quite frankly had a lot of differences I wasn't prepared for. Including new interpretations of familiar faces.

Usually...the worlds that time forgot were the other or alternate worlds/universes while the ones localized to our galaxy were the ones that lined up with our timeline, give or take a year like with the whole MacGyver thing.

I wasn't ready to discover how their Gadget Hackwrench and the...Rescue Rangers came into existence. It paralleled my little sister almost too closely. Though...less electrochemical accident and more intelligence-boosting ray on purpose.

Once a lab animal, always a lab animal.

Now the dealings with Dr. Bulba and the RAMROD made more sense. Our world was the other side of the equation. To this day I still couldn't get Violet to stop making memes about a sea monster that ate Scrooge McDuck's ice cream.

I was noticing something else. In the past...Asriel's and my crossover adventures were cut and dry and a lot of things would be relatively subtle. While we had our fair share of campy adventures, they were all pretty new to him. And in some cases, me too.

But now...they were getting more and more out in the open. More things were seemingly...blatant. I couldn't give a specific example of this...but I could just...feel it. Asriel could, too. While the Crossover Wars were going on...I probably wouldn't have ever name-dropped Bradford. Nor would I mention Dr. Bulba much less the RAMROD so causally.

We both agreed. Madam Fate's scripts were starting to lose what little originality that had...and were now getting more fanfiction-y for the sake of being fanfiction-y. Hmmmmmmm...things felt like they were getting meta all over again. Weird. Anyway...

I couldn't believe I was actually considering this but...this shift had all started once she lost her Black Knight. For someone who wasn't very original in his own methods...how was it that...........gods, I might as well say his name........how was it that Adonis somehow made her scripts less...driven by trope and cliche even though he often flooded our adventures with them?

I mean...I had to admit...his end game had more twists to it than anyone could have expected. He just wouldn't go down and he had too many contingencies forcing us to bust out our own.

Who honestly would have seen Evil-Chara come back when his soul was shattered and scattered to disappear into nothingness? And who would have thought that in the end...W.D. Gaster was my trump card to play? Heck...I probably wouldn't have believed it 8 years prior.

Whoa. Better get back on topic. I'm rambling again.

So yeah...from the other side of the mirror, we were watching and waiting for F.O.W.L. to make its move in the other dimension. I think...Nicodimus had a worry that what happened in one AU might influence another.

I'd seen similar effects happen with Memory Echoes and Emulation Rift Anomalies. Or straight up universe reboots. And boy oh boy...had Madam Fate pulled the wool over my eyes with that last one many an instance.

Oddly enough...it was Rotor taking the most interest.

I think he was getting to be a bit like 2017 edition Webby Vanderquack. Or maybe it was the other way around? Either way...the conspiracy theories had reached a new plateau with him.

According to Gadget? His latest stick-pin and thread diagrams had encompassed his room so much, he'd turn the place into one big red spiderweb.

"I'm getting a little worried about him." Gadget confided in me. It had been some time after her birthday; also Hina Matsuri as the Major celebrated the Jangese Girl's Day doll festival.

"Yeah...maybe this time he has reason to  be paranoid, little sister."

I looked at the sample of crystal in the containment field. We had it in our possession thanks to contacting the cargo company started by one Baloo Von Brunwald. Little did we know that said cargo company had already gotten a visit from one Della and son, Dewey Duck.

Getting it back from who recovered it...now that was a story I hoped would be de-classified some day. S.H.U.S.H. was...very clear about that part.

"I'm told this chipped off an artifact in their world and it possesses a strange...power.  And well..."

I turned to the lab animal cages and rubbed my brow.

"Violet's...not appreciating the irony."

I think this hit a little too close to gene-splicing.

I looked upon the fusion of completely opposite animals. Never thought I'd see the day Lupe would turn away an animal from the sanctuary but...it was going to be hard to sell to tame a grizzly bear with butterfly wings or a half rhino, half giant ape.

"By the way...remind me to ask Dr. Lynx HOW and WHY Violet chose a moose and a seal as completely random lab animals to work with?"

"Try not to imagine the mishap when this thing somehow dropped into our dimension through a quantum white hole and landed in the zoo of all places."

Asriel facepalmed at the footage of panic. Very clearly in the video was what appeared to be a baby blue furred hippo with rabbit ears, cotton tail, and teeth.

So yeah...we had a real "Mooseal" in the lab and a "Hoppopotamus" at the zoo that was now quarantined.

We looked at each other,  knowing full well what this reminded us up.

"I don't know if Mom is ready for real-life versions of her custom stuffed animals."

"Dr. Faraday and Dr. Persephone already took a gateway to that AU in secret to meet with the delivery service that was handling it in there universe.  We're keeping it on the downlow but...you should recognize a lot of things in this video footage they sent us through A.E.O.N.'s back door." Asriel explained calling up the video clip.

"Hey...that's...!"

"Yup.  The Sea Duck.  The signature cargo plane used by what's known in both our universes as the delivery service, "Higher for Hire"."

"Admit it.  You like that little couplet, don't you?

"It's in the same vein as puns, best friend." Asriel smirked. "But you'll never believe who--"

Between both monitors he had our world displayed and the alternate universe's.

One the right side the Sea Duck was most certainly flying through the air as piloted by a big grey bear in what looked like a tour guide uniform out of the Jungle Cruise ride. Hitching a ride behind it, by using a water-skiing tow was a child bear cub in a small overcoat and a ball cap...surviving on a collapsible boomerang glider.

But on the left side was the alternate universe where the same Sea Duck was shown...but piloting it was a adult brown bear in...the same clothing as the kid.

"Are you saying this universe is like a future version of ours?"

"More like a modern version of our ours.  Our Duckburg feels like it never left the 80's.  This one--"

"Yeah, I get it.  But if my suspicions are correct, Volt..."

"Then the sky-surfer and the pilot are one and the same.  They are both...Kitt Cloudkicker."

Young Cloudkicker always seemed like a person Asriel would have met when he was ten...but...I hadn't really started taking him off world in those days. New York and Hill Valley were his starting points but...I eased him into later worlds in the next five years. He was full tilt by the Providence adventure.

"Then that's who we need to speak with about the missing cargo."

"No need.  They recovered the cargo and got it where it needed to go both not before Della and Dewey had a...misadventure of their own.

The video cut to the archived footage that A.E.O.N.'s telemetry provided.

"Okay.  A giant ape...merged with a rhino.  This is too weird." I recalled another of Nermal's plushies. "It's like they're channeling things in our universe."

"From their perspective ours would probably be channeling things from theirs." Asriel noted.

"True."

"And it seems our worlds have something...or someone else in common." Asriel was taking to my research into AU's like a fish to water.

Yet if he was still researching Undertale...it wasn't on my watch. I was sure he was only doing so in his spare time...so that he could keep focused while he was on the clock.

I groaned and rolled his eyes.

"We just can't seem to catch a break when it comes to French coyotes."

"Hey.  Be nice.  Antoine's improved a lot."

"Yeah...but this guy...I don't think this is an apple worth making apple cider from."

"Yeah.  This Don Carnage seems pretty rotten to the core.  Pun fully intended."

We both crossed our arms at the same time.

Asriel and I both were starting to feel like this was an adventure best observed from the dimensional lab rather than take an active role in.

No, this was a case of observe and report. Until we had confirmation that this would affect the time space continuum in any impactful way, it was better off as research from afar.

"So.  No chance in letting Gadget find out about this world's take on Gyro Gearloose?"

"No way.  I mean...jeeze...I never once entertained the thought of what Gyro would be like if he was far more angry, surly, and pompous.  This is one of those things that I never knew that I didn't want to know in the first place.  Now...I wish I didn't know."

"Don't forget cynical and verbally abusive to his intern.  But you have to admit...he's still a good guy underneath.  This footage of B.O.Y.D. proves it."

Speaking of Gadget, our Gyro Gearloose was keeping her out of the loop.

It was weird that he was keeping tabs on his counterpart, without his counterpart knowing about it.

So what about our Duckburg?

Well. It was quiet and wasn't going anywhere. Things had calmed down after our Scrooge McDuck and family had returned from Mount Vesuvius, having dealt with Dracula Duck and recovered those five treasures from Flintheart Glomgold with the assistance of Magica DeSpell.

Yeah...what can you say about an adventure which takes you to our world's equivalent of the Amazon, Transylvania, an African Mine, the snowy Himalayas, and a UFO on the Moon?

I bet this would have made a great game in some other dimension. Maybe one good enough to get its own HD remaster complete with voice acting and a couple new stages?

Where DO I come up with these ideas?

As for theirs...

So why wasn't UCIAT making a move?

Well...we couldn't. At least not yet. There was probably a saying about fools who jump headfirst into the fire but...I can't think of it now.

As if to hammer it home, STC gave specific instructions to observe and report. The "time tornado" incident had gotten the Council's attention.

And while that should have been enough to bring us in...this one came from the top. A semi-retired vice-emperor of time and space must still defer to Daimyou. She had her reasons as always. I'd look for the hints from her that indicated when it would be appropriate to ask her about them. Right now...I knew to leave well enough alone.

So to that end...we were observing from afar. Honestly...I was beginning to suspect this was one of those adventures that STC and UCIAT weren't needed for. Less work for us and satisfying to know we don't always have to have a hand in the grand scheme...but also unsatisfying to know...we weren't needed, either. Sometimes...it felt good to be part of the solution...to be there for your allies. To know you made a difference; not just narrate what's going on parallel to your dimension.

Kind of a cop-out to shortchange this set of log enties with this severe lack of action and adventure.

But...with the way things were now...reducing Goat Son's work load was necessary. I had a feeling his decision was right around the corner. And when he made it, we'd all have to start preparing...

"Anything to report, Rotor?" I asked over the coms.

"Well...I'm hoping for once my conspiracy theory proves wrong but...there may be evidence that Bentina Beakley--"

"..."

Asriel looked at me like he knew what Rotor was about to say.

"...has gone afowl." I finished.

"I hope I'm wrong.   But I was right about a lot of things, including my suspicions of Gandra way back when."

"I only wish she was a soft-voiced blond and just another pretty face dating Fenton like in our universe."

The headphones-wearing, black-haired version of her...well as Violet was calling it...the "Reboot" AU would likely never get free of F.O.W.L. if Bradford had anything to say or do about it.

"Hey, boss.  I got one for you.  Launchpad-ception."

"Vi.  No.  Bringing to Launchpad McQuacks together would be completely nuts."

"Twice the dim-witted, cinnamon roll airhead, twice the--"

"Crashes." I cut in. "No thank you but no one's insurance is that good."

"One thing I can say, Volt...it's a lot easier to tell which triplet is which, even without the signature colors."

True. Huey was the responsible elder. Dewey the attention-seeking middle child. And yes...Louie was the "evil" one. Or rather the lazy, scheming one.

Of course that was just their face value stereotypes. Going deeper, Huey always needed a logical explanation and the Junior Woodchuck guidebook was his go-to for advice. His need to be sensible covered up his deeply suppressed temper...proof that he was like his Uncle Donald and his mother, Della.

Dewey, sure enough was the adventure-seeker. The show-boater who loved his flair. But I also discovered how determined he was from many telemetry feeds. And what lengths he'd go to in order to find a long-lost mother. He would pal around Launchpad and was usually the one who teamed up with Webbigale Vanderquack...but that was jumping ahead in my notes.

And yes...Louie, the lazy one was also a born scheme-maker. But that only was the flip side of his talent for seeing the bigger picture. Sure, he had Scrooge's capacity for avarice but sometimes the youngest had that ace in the hole you didn't expect in a pinch.

Which left Webby. Ohhhh boy a far cry from the way-too-sweet tag-along from our universe that flaunted a pink bow and a Quacky-Patch doll. Asriel described her as "Mabel from Gravity Falls" IF she were NOT a social butterfly but more socially repressed and desperate for friends. And took to Beakley's spy-training like a fish to water.

"How soon does Daimyou want the report?" Asriel asked.

"As soon as this last big adventure comes to a close.  This could be the opportunity to shut down F.O.W.L. for good...or...it could be one penultimate trap." I folded my arms.

"Do you think there will be reverberations felt across our Duckburg's timeline?"

"It's happened before.  What effects one dimension has often some kind of effect on the other.  Plus...we did have first contact with them when their Scrooge and the trio were banished to our dimension thanks to the RAMROD."

"And for some reason it caught them in that very meme-able time loop that--"

"Violet won't shut up about--"  I started before I could hear her voice down the hall.

"A sea monster...ATE MY ICE CREAM!  A sea monster...ATE MY ICE CREAM!"

"Goddammit, Vi."

"You know it's weird we're discussing this like..."

"Like some kind of online fandom.  Yeah.  Our dimension has no shortage of those moments." I examined the Axis of Realities.

I started to slide my gaze toward Asriel...but then I caught myself in a moment of weakness about to ask him if he was doing okay. I mean...yeah...he hadn't made a decision about Undertale, yet. I was getting anxious. We all were.

"The waiting is the hard part.  Even for a werewolf whose capacity for patience was made infinite thanks to the Goddess Contract and a goat who still has the Patience Virtue carved into his soul along with six other virtues."

"Yeah.  It doesn't stop the wondering and the worrying, sometimes.  It just makes us able to bear the length of time without going out of our skulls.  Without the urge to take action and do something drastic."

"It's like meditating, really."

"Yeah.  Good comparison."

* BAMF*

"Major."

"You made it back." Asriel said as she also returned the device to me.

I opened it up, revealing the motherboard. Or rather...Solego's Circuit.

On their world, Solego's Circuit was the core of the RAMROD. On ours...well, it was the epicenter of a little device that Neo Arcadia invented called the Dimensional Rig. Yeah...what Waddlemeyer had stumbled upon by accident, our dimension had solved as an offshoot of the research Emmett and I founded at the Institute For Future Technology. And I had retroactively implemented into UCIAT's own experimental dimensional lab...and my sub-lab.

About the same time I discovered...you know, let's just call it DT-2017 for simplicity's sake...our Gyro collaborated with Emmett and myself to adapt the Circuit into this compact form.

Bunnie had just returned, having used it for reconnaissance into F.O.W.L. headquarters. It seemed...it was going down as I was penning this log entry.

Asriel and I both read it...and we were more than shocked by what we read.

"What...?" I uttered.

"That explains why they only wanted one of his feathers...and...it wasn't the only time, was it?" Asriel reasoned.

"April, May and June..." I tried to make sense of it.

"This can't be...this part about Isabella Finch." Asriel covered his mouth, aghast. "Then Bradford is...!"

We looked at each other.

"All of these artifacts and mysteries stolen...this was his plan all along!?  That's...that dark." He looked horrified.

"Well...this little bit about Project 87 sure clears things up.  And...opens doors I don't know if I really wanted to open in retrospect.  Thank goodness Rotor's conspiracy theory turned out to be wrong."

"I knew.  I had a feeling it all went back to the Papyrus of Finding--"

Asriel hesitated at the word, Papyrus. Now that he knew about Undertale the word had another meaning and...I was starting to pick up that he was intrigued by the greatest of great skeletons. A cinnamon roll recognizes a cinnamon roll.

An awkward silence as we understood the gravity of the greatest of McGuffixes. This coupled with all the thefts and Solego's circuit and Project 87...

"I have a feeling that we're going to see how it's all connected in the years to come." I watched Gyro and Gadget on the other side of the room. Lil' Bulb was with them, too.

"Major."

"Indeed.  It seems we might not be able to return in time."

"You took a big risk.  You were lucky to get out while you did.  Impressive recon, Bunnie.  But...it looks like the McDuck family is on their own."

"Well.  That version of our Duckburg will just have to press on without UCIAT's help."

"Yeah.  But I have a feeling they'll do just fine."

"Because they're tougher, smarter, and sharper.  And they'll do it square."

Asriel had a way with words.

"Can't help but feel like I've heard that before.  But y'know...it's really the best summary of why they'll always be adventuring."

We shared a knuckle bump.

"Woo-ooooh!" We chorused.

Well. This got Asriel in a better mood.

He was close to making his decision. I could feel it in my bones.

Sub-Entry 064:  "His Only Chance is to Find Those Buttheads.  Evading Biff and the Decepticons":
Asriel and I had learned not to underestimate our enemies. But somehow...they always manage to dig a new low.

In all this time we'd completely forgotten about how Starscream belittled Biff Tannen for failing to meet Energon quota.

Well. As a different Starscream put it: cowards do survive. And lo and behold the bully that popularized the put-down, "Butthead" was willing to sell out his own mother to get one last chance. As much as Gertrude Tannen probably deserved it...I'm going to be the better man and not ponder what they deserve and focus one what's important in the moment. He was about to endanger our future. Again.

As it turned out...that last chance was...find the Autobot resistance and the escaped Marty McFly.

"You really think Biff is clever enough to figure out where Autobot HQ is?" Violet sneered as she filed her nails.

"No.  But it didn't stop him from overhearing Emmett talk about the time machine in 2015 and snag Gray's Sports Almanac out of the trash can before following the Delorean to Hill Dale and stealing it while Marty was distracted by an automatic dog-walker.  And SOMEHOW he figured out how to even USE the Delorean despite no one telling him he had to turn the time circuits on, set his destination and accelerate the car up to 88 MPH." I scolded.

"Volt's got a good point.   You know what underestimating our enemies got us in the past."

"Plus let's not forget.  He's working for and with the Decepticons.  And those are evil machines you DON'T mess around with." I pointed out.

I sighed.

"You're really worried now.  Aren't you?"

"We've got a version of Dr. Emmett L. Brown out of place with no idea where the missing link in the timeline was.  Namely...the Doc Brown who never came back from Hill Valley, 2015."

Who would have thought that at that moment in time...the answer I desperately sought...showed up where I least expected...

George McFly had gotten himself into a scrape after literally tripping over...Emmett's pet dog, Einstein?

Okay...so confirmation, Einstein was most certainly not in a state of suspended animation at a 2015 kennel.

So here we were. Right back in Hill Valley's Energon production camp, Scrapper of all Decepticons was making things pretty heavy for George and Lorraine McFly. And it looked like Mamma McFly hit her breaking point.

It's no secret that a human standing up to a Decepticon is...hardly the smartest thing in the world. Marty had already proved that.

But at least Marty had someone to--

* LASER BLAST *

...hold that thought.

Granted, AEON's telemetry had a hard time zeroing in on the moment in question so much of the conversation and a number of frames of the video feed had been lost to time...pretty sure that AEON's redundancy checks would kick in at some point in the future and fill in the blanks. But for now the earliest recorded message was from none other than mentor himself...

"...I'm glad to hear it, Mr. McFly, because this is a red letter day—the day we take the world back from the Decepticons. The question is... will you join the fight?"

Emmet L. Brown, you wonderful, wonderful scientist, you. Never in my days would I have EVER believed you'd be leading a resistance to free mankind from evil, sentient robots.

Though one question, and not necessarily in the order that I should be asking these...how did he get back to 1985 if he was stranded in 2015?

Back to the present, we had made it to our destination. The last remaining Autobot resistance. Hopefully to get an update.

What we knew at this point was Biff was still in charge of the Hill Valley work camp; all too eager to please Starscream.

Though...one major player hadn't shown up. Namely Megatron himself. Gigawatt's explanation of how he personally gave Megatron his resignation before barely escaping with his life filled it at least one gap in my notes. Thank goodness he was able to scan the Delorean before he got out of there.

But I wonder...with things going on the way they were...could the ripple effect end up bringing him to our front door?

Another thing I was worried about...2015 edition Emmett. If Gigawatt's story was on the money, then that meant Rumble managing to survive the 1985 encounter with Bumblebee and...ahem..."befriending" Emmett in 2015...then he was the one who stole the Delorean and brought it to the Deceptions. That left me concluding that Emmett was now stranded in the future with no route back to 1985...thus severing the timeline leading to "Back to the Future 2" and beyond. One long chain of events the Institute For Future Technology was depending on.

Speaking of...they were buying as much time as the technology would allow. It was holding now but...it wasn't like VGM-098. A major paradox here would follow the course until it reached the dynamite.

It was a slow burn, reminding me of the title sequence of Mission: Impossible, down to the moment the fuse was lit. How much time did we really have until the theme song reached its stinger, to put it metaphorically?

We finally reached the Autobot resistance base.

"You remember to bring those supplies I asked you to?"

"Got the box right here." Asriel nodded. We went in and got to work discussing with Rodimus and company what the plan was thus far.

As I soon learned he had more to tell about the future...and insight about how the Decepticons got a hold of the Delorean to begin with.

How my mentor had made a horrible mistake; to paraphrase the last thing he said in Marty's nightmare back in 1986 after Emmett went missing. The night he went back in time...instead of Einstein reappearing after one minute...instead Emmett's miscalculation was, in his words "A horrible mistake" which led to his erasure from time as well as the erasure of Twin Pine Mall and everything around it. A major paradox that ended with Marty waking up to realize it was just a nightmare...wasn't it?

But speaking of that horrible miscalculation...

Emmett had much to regret having arrived in 2015 and becoming acquainted with Rumble.

"You're a robot. An actual functioning robot. The future truly is a wonderous place."

This would begin what he only thought was a comradery. He live to regret it.

Jump cut to...

"I've never seen anything so pathetic. I'm outta here!" Rumble set the coordinates, leaving Emmett stranded.

"The time machine. No!" Dr. Brown feeling of betrayal turned to instant horror.

"Sorry, Doc. But you know how it is. Places to go—history to rewrite!" Rumble felt no regret. Megatron would have the perfect trump card to eliminate those Autobots, now...

Elsewhere and else when, Biff had his own regrets. Namely how he got into this raw deal.

It began in 1974...

"Hey, watch where you're driving, butthead." Biff would instantly regret his road rage.

"You! What year is it?" Rumble demanded.

"T-the year? It's 1974." Biff replied, suddenly feeling a lot less save.

"Excellent! We have much to do. And when I say we, I mean—YOU!"

And low and behold the stage was set for the Decepticons to arrive and change the course of history.

Fast forward to 2015. Thirty years more and thirty years worse. The ripple effect hadn't yet transferred our own interfering with time......or had it?

At that moment, the Constructions were in a foul mood and for good reason.

Scrapper was now "deactivated". Or at least knocked off-line. I doubt his spark was damaged in any way but if he did get reactivated any time soon...he'd probably be as ticked off as Hook was at that moment. And he was giving an even older Biff an earful. It wasn't pretty. However, not all of the Constructions were on the same page...

"...to be fair you don't trust anyone, Hook--"

Mixmaster was immediately backhanded.

"Did I give you permission to talk, Mixmaster!?"

...not on the same page at first.

"We need to make an example of the human before Megatron finds out!  Don't let him escape!"

You know there's something to be said for when sniveling cowards' luck runs out. Ironic that Starscream, of all people, left Taken in charge of the Hill Valley work camp. Screamer was all too familiar with moments when his own luck ran out.

"Bonecrusher, what are you waiting for!?  Make good on your name!"

"Thought you'd never ask!"

Normally I'd be amused watching Biff Tannen run away from a bulldozer on a rampage. But even my amusement gave way to sympathy at times. Besides...Asriel would give me the stink eye if I gloated about it.

This was the part where it did us no good being displaced 30 years in the past where things were still a mess.

Though it seemed we were about to find out what effect Emmett's intervention in liberating George and Lorraine McFly had on the last 30 years...

"Just wait until I get my hands on whoever did this...  I'm going to flatten em' good!" Biff tried to rage in a panic while trying not to be run down. He managed to evade quick enough for Bonecrusher to mow down a massive pile of Energon cubes.

"PREPARED TO BE PULVERIZED--"  was all Bonecrusher got out before he was lit up in the back by some kind of weapon blast. One that tore him open, causing a discharge of Energon-infused sparks accompanied by Bonecrusher's bloodcurdling scream.

"Biff!  Pssst!  This way!" Came probably the last voice Tannen expected to hear.

"McFly!?" Biff was in disbelief, seeing George behind the park bench, just out of view."

Sure enough, George and Lorraine were hidden by the bench out of view.

Now I'm pretty sure neither of them were Biff's rescuers. So the question is...who was it that saved Biff Tannen...and HOW?

"Wait! Don't I know you?"

"Once met, never forgotten, even with shifting time-streams."

No. No, it couldn't be! It HAD to be! There was no other explanation.

"What?"

"Never mind. My name is Doctor Emmett Brown and I will be your liberator today."

The plot thickens.

Call it a matter of foresight but...rescuing Biff Tannen of all people? I know your heart's in the right place, George and I know the two of you have had decades of history together...but bear this in mind: don't let him con you.

Violet would most certainly confirm my own cynicism. No one saw Cipher's betray until he already sold out Morpheus and everyone else to Agent Smith in return for being plugged back into Matrix as "someone important". And Hell...S.T.C. had its own fair share of turncoats we have a chance. Do I even need to explain that one of our former members, who joined Adonis went by the pseudonym, "Dr. Benedict Judas"?

To put it simply? Yeah. If I had been in that time period instead of 1985, I would be counting down the hours until he sold us all out to the Decepticons.

While that was going on. Thirty years prior...

So why were Asriel and I in 1985 instead of 1975? Well...I considered it too much of a risk until we had a better plan and plenty of contingency to work with to dare try to disrupt Rumble's interference in 1975. Too many things to go wrong until I could get proper tech support and assistance from AEON. And Gigawatt had his own bad news to add to the pile which only further complicated matters.

So why weren't we in 2015, helping out?

Simple. To fix a problem, get to the root of the problem. It's the same explanation mentor gave as to why they couldn't just go back to 2015 and stop Biff from stealing the Sports Almanac...er...originally. (Hopefully we could still recover that timeline). That's how DON'T think fourth-dimensionally. If Doc and Marty traveled back to 2015 from 1985-A, then it would be the future of THAT reality--2015-A.

Much the same as we wouldn't arrive in 2015 to stop Rumble from stealing the Delorean...we'd be arriving in 2015-A where the Decepticons have already had 40 years of ruling the Earth. The most we could do is stop Biff from selling out Dr. Brown's resistance. And we'd still be no closer to fixing the timeline once and for all.

Once we knew where a viable source to stop this was, we could kick history back to where it was supposed to be. Asriel and I both had thoughts on that.

But we were also about to get a reminder that not everyone could think fourth dimensionally like we could nor could they see the bigger picture...

"Hey!  Where are you--"

"There's somewhere where we have to be.  I'll explain later." Gigawatt assured me as he transformed to his Delorean form and sped off.

"Well someone's not being a team player, I scoffed."

Bumblebee and the remaining Autobots looked at me with uneasy looks. The situation was awkward until--

"Uh...where's Marty?" Asriel suddenly brought up.

Oh crap.

"He DIDN'T!" I sighed. "He did."

"He's going to try to bring their Doc back.  You'd think he'd learned this lesson after--"  Asriel stopped short when he realized it at the moment I started to explain.

"Except he never learned the lesson because Doc never told it to him.  The trip to 2015 never happened after the night he got back from 1955." I realized. "He doesn't understand the problem of alternate timelines, yet!" Asriel reasoned.

"And I don't think Gigawatt explained it to him.    Which means one of two things.  Gigawatt doesn't understand himself and rushed in to bring Marty to the future on the same presumption or..........he DOES understand it and has other reasons for taking Marty forward in time."

"Then we have to back."

"W...where!?" Ectotron sputtered, out of the loop.

"Back to the Future!!!" Asriel and I said in unison. Nice.

This was still counterproductive. We needed to fix this whole mess at a viable point in time and with 1985 overwritten, making sure Rumble wasn't a factor in surviving until 2015 wasn't an option. And with 2015 re-written as a result of that, we couldn't stop him from stealing the Delorean, either.

And by the time we were already revving up our copy of the Delorean, it was just occurring to us that we maybe we SHOULD have went back to 1975 to interfere with Tannen’s meeting.

Too late now. We'd already reached 88 MPH.

The future was even worse now as I thought it would be.

"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face." Asriel commented on my disdain for how the plan was unravelling already.

"I hate to heap more bad news onto the pile but..."

Asriel rooted through the box I had brought from the Institute For Future Technology. A souvenir or several from fixing Edna Strickland's joyride through time in that fourth incident I hadn't really of. Fixing "Citizen Brown" had only lead to a bigger problem after Edna's meltdown at the expo...which lead to her screwing up Hill Valley's history in the 1800's...forcing Marty and Doc to try to fix the timeline one last time before returning to 1986.

Ahem...the box in question contained the synchronizing units that Doc and Marty had used to sync the temporal clone of the time machine with their time machine so that it could be brought back to the 1930's...thus leading to Edna's crash and arrest...and for the time machine clone to destabilize and cease to exist leaving the one Delorean left.

"There are a number of units missing and--"

"I think I know where they went." I looked out to the side where Ectotron had trans-scanned us.

"He didn't..." I facepalmed before opening my eyes again and seeing four of the linking units suction-cupped to his outer shell.

"He did." For a brief time, Ectronymous Diamatron had mimicked our own Deloreon, flux capacitor and all. And he used the devices to sync his time circuits up with ours.

Ectotron then reverted to his other alt form--that of the Ectomobile as we came in for landing on the outskirts of Hill Valley. As we drove past the billboard, we could clearly see the word "Hill" painted over in red paint letters so that it now read "Doom Valley".

"Huh.  Never would have guess he was a Triple-Changer." Asriel rubbed his chin.

"I hope Rodimus goes easy on us..." My ears drooped.

"If he's not one with the Matrix." Ectotron replied.

"Not.  Helping."

"Somehow I don't think we can leave the Delorean lying around here, Volt."

"You're right.  Well...no time like the present."

"You mean the future."

"Precisely!"

Once we got out and I fiddled with the remote control I packed...

"Volt.  Did you figure out how to combine the Time Machine with George Jetson's car?" He mused as the Delorean packed itself up neatly into a suitcase.

"Nope.  Mentor did."

Yup. A little something from post BttF3 era with Doc settling down with Clara and having adventures with his kids, Jules and Verne. But we rarely discussed the *ahem*....animated series adventures as Vi called them. She still hadn't given Jules back the baseball card he loaned her of Pee-Wee McFly from the...baseball adventure. Or the fishing rod from 1903 from the time of "Daredevil Brown". Oh boy.

"Speaking of, we better get to the town square.  I think that's where the action is." Asriel hurled down the NX Switchboard Pro.

"Meet us there, Ectotron.  And don't pick any unnecessary battles.  We're going to need you to cover us and it's going to complicate matters if the Decepticons spot you before then.

We hopped on and soared off.

Midway through the trip, I tried accessing the board's apps and called up Asriel's music player, queueing up "Mr. Sandman Dream Me a Dream".

I immediately got the stink eye.

"Too much?"

"Just a little." Asriel pinched his fingers together, clearly not liking the song given the setting. A rare moment when I was the one exercising levity.

Once we got there and peeked out of the alley way. I watched in time as Doc made the shot. I recognized his weapon as a complete rebuild of his mind reader device from 1955; updated with 2015 tech into an alpha-wave ionic nullifier. Brilliant, mentor!

But we didn't have time to have a reunion as in the chaos, the McFly’s and Emmett and Einstein escaped.

I looked at Asriel who looked back.

"We got to follow them." We said in unison and hurried our way there, catching up to Ectotron along the way. We quickly got aboard and hurried off. Granted...his form was pretty much holding up a sign and saying "here we are". But...Asriel felt luck would be on our side.

Once we caught up to Doc and company.,,

I have to admit when Azzy is right....because he was right. Not only were we fortunate not to draw attention to ourselves but also fortunate to miss out on Biff complaining how bad their chances were.

As it turned out...Emmett was already hatching a plan involving hover sleds liberated from the work camp. The plan was to hijack a Decepticon relay station and get a message to the Autobot Resistance Base. Probably where Azzy and I should have went first or...at least split up and tackled separately. It was a good plan. Combining both resistances? That was the only chance we probably had.

However...the one thing I should have considered was...

Einstein's barking of course gave us away before we could subtly approach.

"Great Scott!"

"What the Hell are those things!?" Biff immediately got the Hell back.

"George!  I'm scared!"

"It's going to be okay, Lorraine!"

"Well...to borrow a phrase, Mentor...once met, never forgotten, even with shifting time-streams.  Though this version of you, we haven't met...yet."

"You are...from an even further future?"

"You have no idea, Emmett.   Volt Arcade.  Before this day I'm pretty sure you wouldn't have put stock in visitors coming down from other planets but...time makes fools of us all.  Doesn't it, Mentor?"

"Mentor...?  Why do you keep calling me mentor?"

"It's a long story.  And an even longer wait through time to catch up to you...and yet, I'm still very much early for our first meeting."

"What's he talking about?" Biff complained.

Asriel gawked at him.

"What are YOU looking at, butthead?"

"You know that might be the first clever thing you've ever said, Biff Tannen.  I could actually butt heads with you but I don't think you'd get the better end of the deal with these beauties." Asriel pointed to his horns. "And really...goats have a knack for headbutts....butthead."

"As much as I'd love to catch up well more than 100 years worth of crisscrossing time adventures and such, your golden rule about knowing too much about one's own destiny stands."

"No doubt about it.  You have to be a student of mine.  Refreshing I have one who actually pays attention to my warnings."

I thought about Marty. He had to have made it to Autobot Base by now.

So. The plan went ahead. Yet as Master Splinter's advice goes...Asriel and I are compassionate not insane. We gave Biff a chance, but we weren't giving him one to betray us. So, while Doc was rewiring the array to send a message...

It was a risky move leaving the resistance to fend for themselves. It was times like this I wish I had the Eye of Agamoto to enhance my foresight into possible futures. But...AEON assured me that their survival was less guaranteed if we stayed behind.

"We're going on ahead to Autobot base in case your transmission doesn't get through."

"On foot?" Lorraine questioned.

Asriel and I grinned.

"Hardly." I replied as the weather had gotten stormy...and as if on cue, a bolt of lighting arced across the sky.

"Azzy, my boy...we're about to do our take on Wonder Woman '84."

He grinned and held onto me as I cast an EMF barrier around us...then formed a tether of electricity in the shape of a lasso...

"RIDE THE LIGHTNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!" Asriel hollered as I used my electromagnetic lasso to swing from lighting bolt to lightning bolt across town at a breakneck speed. The question is...could we make it back in time with reinforcements before...!

...okay...I trust AEON didn't steer us wrong. But boy is he cutting it close on their survival. I should have known Biff would sell everyone out.

"Sorry, Doc. I know which side of my pancake's buttered." Biff shrugged as he showed no remorse for thinking of just himself.

"It's bread, you imbecile. Even we know that, and we don't eat the stuff." Hook growled.

Let's cut to the chase. With Marty, Gigawatt, Rodimus, Bumblebee, Ectotron, Skillz, Azzy, and myself racing to make it back, things were not so good with Doc's resistance facing an execution.

Azzy and I both knew Marty's biggest character flaw; he was hotheaded. Whether being called chicken or being feverishly loyal to Doc Brown...he always jumped in without regard to planning or common sense. So despite Rodimus and Skillz' advice to keep a cool head, what do you THINK happened?

"...dammit, McFly!" I growled as we tried to catch up to him. But I was soon greeted with a sight that rang familiar bells. Tannen’s exosuit...it was like Spike and Daniel's from the Unicron invasion of 2005. And armed with Doc's disruptor.

Suffice to say...stuff went down and it became very hard to keep track of what happened exactly...just that Einstein managed to give Marty a chance to retrieve the Nullifier and Skillz trans-scanned a hover sled to gain an alt mode just like Marty's hoverboard from the original 2015 timeline.

And of course...it wouldn't be a Back to the Future incident without Biff Tannen getting dumped into some kind of waste. In this case a dumpster. He already had a history of him (and his ancestors) getting dumped in manure. So...why not?

Rodimus came to the rescue in time to put the beatdown on Starscream.

"This is the end of the road, Starscream.  It's time you were stopped once and for all."

"Ha! By you?! The pretender to Prime's crown? Don't make me laugh!"

"Okay, I won't. But know this, Starscream: One shall stand—and the other will get knocked into next week!"

Classic.

And true to his word...Rodimus left Starscream knocked out. And it seemed like the day was saved until...

"I'm not seeing this.  I'm not seeing this." I gaped as I looked up and up and up at the new Decepticon creation; easily as big as Devastator...

"This reminds me of the time Vi told me how the Big Cheese once turned Little Tokyo's Royal Palace into a giant robot with Emperor Fred's likeness for a head..." Asriel joked.

The entire Courthouse, clocktower and all had become a robot as big as Fortress Maximus.

We were all at a loss for words until Emmett finally said it:

"Looks to me that we need to beat the clock once and for all!"

How would we get out of this one?

To be honest...I'm about to do something in my logs that I thought I'd never do and might tick anyone reading this off a little. I'm going to leave off on a cliffhanger....

Hopefully I'd have the time and a chance to explain in a future log entry. But for now...cue that famous JoJo's Bizarre Adventure segue which Back to the Future did first...

To Be Continued... < < < = = =

Sub-Entry 065: "Asriel Makes His Choice":
"Volt." He looked me in the eyes.

"I know what I want to do now."

"Asriel...?"

"I've thought about it for some time...and..."

"And?"

The longest of pauses...the longest moments of being kept in suspense...and finally...

"I want to go back.  Back to my place of origin.  Or rather...the timeline that stands in its place, now."

"Asriel...you really mean it?"

"Yes.  I want to go back to Undertale."

And that was all he said about that. No clarification...no implying where he was going with this. He was most certainly not making it clear what he wanted to do beyond that.

No...the message was simple and had only one goal.

Where we went beyond that...I wasn't ready to think about. Nor did I feel like I ever would be.

But that aside.

"Alright.  Then it's decided."

"It's decided...but...not for all of us.  Just me so far."

"Azzy?"

"All of you have a say in this."

It was only a day later from our last adventure. Honestly, I though Asriel would make his choice by my tenth sub-entry in this month's logs. But nowhere this soon.

"Very well."

We all got to our feet. The whole extended team was here.

"I support this." Bunnie was first to speak.

"C'mon.  We knew we'd be in for a reunion some day." Vi shrugged.

"I'm in." Mitzi followed up.

"Can we really go see them all again, Big Brother?"

"Undertale or bust." Sally gave a side grin before brushing the back of her fist across the underside of her chin before turning it into a thumbs-up.

"Let us go and support Asriel." Lupe agreed.

"I'm game."

Callista and Scott looked each other in the eyes before turning to us...both that them same question on their mind.

Pit also looked like he had apprehension.

It was then I realized there were far more of us wanting to get in on it and see Asriel's world than I bargained for. We'd need more vehicles to transport this many of us. and...well it was getting cumbersome.

Granted it made sense that all of us who HAD met the monsters of Undertale should have a reunion. And...honestly I did want those of us who HADN'T see it for the first time.

But where should we draw the line? How many is a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth?

Hopefully by the time we actually set out to Undertale we'd have our group finalized and vehicle arrangements in tow.

I'd need to dig into the S.T.C. vaults for some equipment. Barring that...go directly to the Institute for Future Technology. I knew a few things I could use to facilitate a mass transport to off world.

But I think right now...what we really needed to do...was make up for lost time. Now that Asriel had made his choice I think he was going to open up to us again. Knowing him...he'd also offer and apology for being so distant. It was okay. We'd already forgiven him. He had to know we would. We'd always be there for him when he needed us to be...and away from him when he needed his space. But in either case, we'd always be connected to him.

"I want to--"

"Apologize?  You're already forgiven."

"J-just like that?"

"C'mon.  We're your family and friends.  You know us better than that."

"Yeah.  Yeah I do."

"We got a long road ahead and a lot of preparation to do."

"I can see why."

A moment of silence.

"Well, Cinnamon Roll, from this moment, it's a countdown.  I declare, from this moment on: Undertale or bust!"

Asriel smiled.

"Kind of a dated cliche to use, Vi.  But you're right.   Everything we've done has all been leading up to this."

"We have a lot of work to do up until then.  And a lot of loose ends to wrap up."

"I know.  Plus...the outside world's not going to slow down or stop to let us go ahead with our plans.  We're going to have to adapt.  We're going to have to roll with the punches."

"But most of all...we're going to have to let a lot of people know.  I now understand my destiny.  I not only know that I am revered across the universe...but also why."

"Five years ago...you made a desperate call to every corner of the universe that we knew of.  Everyone that we did and didn't know about...we asked them for help.  To join us for the penultimate Crossover War battle.  The one for all the marbles.  And in the final moments, you and I seized victory from Chaopolis.  We broke their ranks, punished their members, and tore their cult out by the roots and then burned them roots and all.

As if that weren't enough...you found a way in despite Undertale being chopped away from all of reality and sealed off from existence to serve as the detonator cap for an InfinityVerse-ending master reset. A doomsday plan to undo everything the Big Bang had ever set in motion. You set Frisk's soul free, battled seven Absolute Gods--alternate universe versions of the boss monsters of Undertale and set them all free from their own chains.

And with Frisk's help you finally won the game...and broke it forever. You took back their lives. You cut Madam Fate's strings. You did what no one had been able to do for...multiple reboots of our UltraVerse.

And...you chose to be everyone's best friend. That alone is truly amazing."

"Where we go from here...is a choice you're leaving up to me to decide."

"Yeah...but let's not talk about such things.  How are you going to ready yourself for this?"

"A number of ways.  But...I'll get to them.  Right now...I think I know what it is we need to do."

"I was thinking the same thing."

"It's time I opened up to everyone and let them know that I know.  We've got a long list of people to visit.  And from there...who knows.  We'll make it up as we go."

"But also reserve time to plan out what we're going to do." Sally interjected.

"You bet."

"Well.  I'll start making the list with you helping, Azzy.  Who all do you want to talk to?  I can try to arrange as many meetings as possible.

It was then that something unrelated decided it needed to be taken care of.

"Nikita?  I think we should talk." Sally pulled her away.

"Yes.  I...I believe we must."

"Hmm?" Asriel watched Sally head off.

"Hmm..."

I always felt like Nikita had no shortage of secrets to keep. But this one felt...deeper...more personal. Plus I had never seen Sally like that before.

Bunnie had an idea what it could be. But she chose to clam up out of respect for her friends.

I'd address it later if it became a problem. But for right now, it was full steam ahead with Destination: Undertale.

Heh. That sounds like it could almost be its own AU.

Right now, I was only concerned with one of them.

Timeline UTPR-3235.

Lady Daimyou confirmed it did still exist. Its timeline was continuing to go on. And no sign of reset, overwrite or anything else. It was functioning as a normal timeline without any hiccups.

So why was I still worried Madam Fate could still make a game out of it, even with the game's system and rules a sea of dead code that flickered out of existence?

Well. Hopefully this would be one of my unfounded worries that never came to pass.

Either way...now was the time to have plenty of reunions with old friends to let them know...Asriel was ready to meet the family. His family. The biological family that was separated by a reset...no...a game crash and a reset. H

The timeline he came from was gone and everything in it but Chara's soul that had somehow managed to reincarnate.

Well.

Let the past come back to us as we go back to it.

Sub-Entry 066: "Spreading the Word That He Knows":
"Asriel?" Ben Ten-Thousand was just as surprised as everyone else to see us arrive via Cyber Gate, unannounced.

"What's wrong.  You look--"

"Don't tell me that Asmith finally took your Unitrix away." Kevin folded his arms.

"No.  It's nothing like that."

"Asmith can try." I curled my lip, exposing my werewolf fangs in a growl. "Asriel earned it and has proven responsible using it.  He tries to take it away, I'm going to introduce him to "Galvan Football".  And I don't even like sports."

"That's one way for the smartest know-it-all in five universes to be the ball."

A brief smirk but no laugh from Asriel.

"Then...what is it?" Gwen asked.

"He knows."

"He knows?" Kevin looked surprised.

"He knows." Ben immediately understood. He took a moment to tug at his beard for a second or two.

"We've been friends so long now...all the time keeping it from you--"

"No, it's cool, Ben.  It's cool.  Now that I have my memories back I understand the reasons behind it.  It was my choice to blank parts of my life.  To give myself time to recover.  To...grow into a level of maturity I could finally deal with it all.  See things in a new light...new perspective."

"I don’t' say this much, but...much respect." Kevin outstretched his fist for a fist-bump. Asriel gladly obliged.

"Have you told Rex, yet?"

"He's next on the list.  And don't look so smug that I told you first."

"I didn’t' say anything."

"You didn't have to." Asriel wrinkled his snoot.

"C'mon.  You know us.  We got to be competitive."

"I know." Asriel nodded.

A moment of silence.

"How do you deal with it, Ben?  Saving the universe several times over.  Heck, as Alien X you actually managed to completely rebuild the universe after the Annhil-arrrrgh went off."

"Yeah...still not sure why you of all people believed me when no one else would.  Even Rook."

"I think it might be something I picked up from Master Splinter.  He always did have a sixth sense of his own when it came to truth and lies."

"Well.  Now that you know, you got to do it."

Asriel let out a brief chuckle.

"Yup.  I got to celebrate in style."

And so...

"I have to admit...the smoothies at this location are better than all the other Mr. Smoothie franchises out there." Asriel said before taking another large swig from his drink. "Just as long as we avoid Store 23?"

"Oh go on." Ben mused. "You know...all this time later and I haven't outgrown these yet."

"You're what keep stock in Mr. Smoothie so high." Azzy mused.

"Well.  I'm properly celebrated.  And I did thank you extensively for buying several rounds.  But...can't stay in Bellwood.  I'm off to pay Providence a visit.  And then way too many other stops after that."

"Don't be a stranger.  The wife and kid would like it if you came by and said hi."

"Yeah.  That would be nice."

Don't say anything, Volt. You were worried sick about...that. Again.

"C'mon, best friend.  To Providence.  And let's...try to downplay who I visited first."

"My wolfy lips are sealed." I opened the Cyber Gate.

On the other side...

"A world without Meta Nanites.  A world without danger of turning EVO."

"First time we can come to this world without quarantine protocols.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

I nodded.

"Well.  Let's head on over to Providence."

However at New Providence base...

"What..."

"I'm sorry but Rex has taken an extended leave of absence." Dr. Holiday clarified.

"How long ago?"

"It's been a few weeks now."

"Rebecca, any idea where he's gone to?"

"I'm afraid not, Volt.  Usually he's pretty up front about personal matters with me."

Probably because he still kept an ember of flame glowing for his older crush. But...I think it was clear he was beginning to accept that there was chemistry between Holiday and Agent 6.

"Taking time out of your busy schedules to visit us during restructuring is appreciated."

Speaking of.

"Ah.  Six.  Been a while.  I regret that Bunnie couldn't come along for the ride."

"There will be other chances to reconnect.  In the mean time pass a message on that I wish her well."

"Of course."

"You know, I think I have a lead on where my moody hermano disappeared to."

Cesar peaked out of his lab.

"You do?" Asriel's tail was already wagging.

And before we knew it we were off to China...

"You know, I'm not surprised." Asriel said to me.

"Hmm?"

"He's had a past here...after one of his numerous blackouts and "mental resets"."

"Ah.  The reason he kept that external device and that written journal." I rubbed my chin.

"And where his past is, I'll be we'll also find Circe."

"The girl with the incredibly glass-shattering singing voice?"

"Joke if you must." Asriel mused. "It's just as well.  There was no way that Rex was ever going to win over Rebecca Holiday.  I mean...age difference, for starters.  And her idea of a date would be studying the different species in the Petting Zoo...well...if it were still occupied by E.V.O.'s.

What did surprise me was that Bobo wasn't with him.

We'd later find out...

"...Vegas?"

"Yup."

And who should we find with the eye-patched monkey EVO in the fez but...

"I guess he finally took her up on that offer." I facepalmed as I watched him paint the town red with Violet of all people.

"I don't want to think about what kind of apologies and P.R. clean up will have to do after they're done.   And I'm almost afraid to try to put a stop to it."

"Because you're reasonably afraid your underpants will end up on national TV?"

"You don't miss a beat, Goat Son."

"Get in on this action?"

"Thanks...but no thanks.  I don't gamble."

"Your loss." Bobo Haha slapped down another set of poker chips.

"Let it ride."

Asriel shrugged

Finally...he did make his way to China and...sure enough there was Rex with his old group of ruffians and Circe.

"Hey."

"Hey."

"You're looking muy caliente, Rex."

"Go figure.  Everyone speaks Spanish better than me.  Even a goat who's never even studied the language."

"Sorry."

Rex turned around.

"That's a new look for you.   Not at ALL inspired by the sixth most dangerous man in the world."

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." Rex stroked the goatee.

"And what did Six have to say about it?"

"Well..."

"Yeah.  You don't need to say anything.  I can guess.  That said..."

"You're not just here to trade witty banter."

"Nope."

"So...?"

"So.  I know."

"You know?"

"About...that."

"Hey, I sear the stains were already on the suit before I--"

"Not THAT.  I mean...why everyone's been...in my younger self's words...so nice to me.  To be frank...I know why I'm famous, again."

"So.  Doc gave you back your memories, huh?"

"Yeah."

"That's a load onto your shoulders."

"But I'm ready for it."

"Level with me.  You talked to Ben first, didn't you?"

"Annnnd there it is..."

The conversation was as awkward as Asriel expected but...otherwise still pleasant.

And so...

"I thought I might find you here."

There was adult Zach Saturday at a lone gravestone bearing the name Leonidas Van Rook.

Asriel reached into his jacket and poured out a bottle of ginger ale.

"Sorry.  It's all I had in the fridge.  And you know how Volt feels about alcohol."

Asriel twisted the top off and held it out.

"To our fallen comrade." He said before turning the bottle completely upside-down and emptying its contents to the ground.

"It's the thought that counts."

The next visit took him back home to someone more recent...

"I do not love the sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its quickness, nor the warrior for his glory.  I love only what they defend."

"That a quote from Master Rabbotou?"

"No.  The translated chorus of Boromir's death in Fellowship of the Rings.  Can you believe Aunt Vi actually convinced Nikita to translate it from Elvish?"

"That sounds like Violet."

"So."

"So.  I guess you know."

"Yeah."

"I wanted to be consider it and let you hear it from me personally."

"It's...it definitely news."

"She-Lion...I mean......Shishiko."

"You'll always be the one that got away.  But...I'm okay with it. "

"I guess I'll...be visiting home soon."

The conversation just...stopped there. Neither wanted to follow up what that meant. She was sharp. She knew exactly what I was hesitant to bring up.

Elsewhere...

"Thanks for bringing me here, Pit.  I feel safer taking the Lightning Chariot with you at the helm."

"Ambrosia got her license suspended.  I believe that's the mortal phrase."

"Yeah.  It caught up with her.  She and Ripper are too much alike."

"Don't tell Chameleon that.  I think he'd lose respect for me if he knew I had a relative as reckless as Robert Traveson."

A shared laugh ensued.

So. Back to the Chamber of the Gods.

"I come before you all this day to inform you...I now understand everything.  I remember."

"Then you understand the great debt all worlds owe you."

"I am...gradually being introduced to how much clout I really carry.  How many lives I've saved.  How...much my name has spread across the UltraVerse.  It's...overwhelming but.  Now I get it.  I've done a lot and I...I still find myself feeling unworthy of the praise.  I just...did what I thought was right."

"You are indeed...truly special, young Asriel." Palutena affirmed.

"Yeah, I guess he's alright." Viridi gave props under protest.

"If Viridi accepts you then you have my respect." Dark Pit remained standing arms crossed, back toward everyone else.

"That's...the best you're going to get out of him." Pit whispered.

Dark Pit let out a short, angry snarl at that.

"Then your path is clear, is it not?" Dimitria spoke. Wait...Zordon's associate actually WAS a Goddess from Inquiris? Huh. Don't know how I let that detail slip past the last time Asriel was here.

"This is cause for celebration, yes?"

"I thought you would never ask." Asriel smiled.

Off to another world...

"Great to have ya' back, Doc." Ace shook Asriel's hand.

"The Loonatics appreciate all you've done." Zodavia congratulated him.

"Big whoop." Danger Duck scoffed, ego dripping green with envy.

"You got to be happy about seeing the folks again."

"I barely remember them even though I met versions of them in the dimensional nexus between worlds.  Even with my memories restored...but yeah.  I'm getting hyped for this, Lexi."

"Do stay in contact with us.  We'd love to hear all about it."

"Well...I'm not making promises if my home doesn't have the means to do so.  But I'd if I can, I will.  I value my friendships too much to intentionally drift apart from you all."

"That's the spirit.  Drop us a line and we won't hesitate to send ya back a wire."

Even my Mentors got a visit from him. Just...not stories to tell this time around.

From place to place to place Asriel went, carrying an energy I hadn't seen out of him in a long time. If he had done this at any other point in his life, he'd be tiring out before he even got halfway down the list.

But he kept on going, motivated by a strong sense of knowing who he was, what he had accomplished, and where he was going.

The day finally wound down and...

"Well.  That's everyone I wanted to tell personally.  And...they'll spread to word from there.  It'll start trending on social media at this rate."

"You've famous, Cinnamon Roll.   Embrace it."

"Oh, Aunt Vi..." Asriel shook his head. "But uh...there is an irony to this, isn't there."

"Yes, there is." Bunnie acknowledged.

"Everyone's in the know...except..."

"Yeah.  Undertale.  They...don't even know you exist.  That's...kind of the complicated part of the reunion, isn't it?  I've been going through this in my head for fifteen years and...I still have reluctance to go through with this.

Toriel said that it was...not the sort of question I should ask. It...really was kind of disrespectful to the dead but...you're not dead, Asriel. But she doesn't know it. Nobody knows it."

"And even still. It’s not actually my timeline.  It's another Asriel's and he's..."

"Eternally an angry flower who can't feel anything or so he claims."

"I'm...pondering how I'm going to handle him.  He said we wouldn't be welcome and...well...I believe him."

"He'll have to get over it." Violet wrinkled her nose.

"We'll figure it out as we go along.  That's a promise, Asriel."

Asriel nodded and smiled...before he collapsed forward onto the huge number of pillows he had set up before hand...and immediately started snoring.

"I guess he deserves it.  He really exhausted himself." Mitzi looked on.

"Well.  Let sleeping goats lay where the may." Sally mused.

I unfolded the nearby quilt and draped it over him.

"Goodnight, Azzy.  I'll let your parents know you're sleeping over."

We all exited the mostly empty auxiliary sub-lab and I switched off the light before I closed the door.

"Hopes and dreams, best friend.  All your wishes are about to come true."

Sub-Entry 067:  "The Last Starfighter.  And We Do Mean Last":
Honestly...this was the last "80's movie" world I would have ever expected to come up in this day and age. But...given Asriel's fascination with space and being a hero? It was, in Thanos' words...inevitable.

"What's on your mind, Asriel?"

"I've been discussing things with Pit and..." Asriel paused. "It's about the old days...before my time.  The...N-Division."

"Hmm?  Yeah, long disbanded.  Restructured into the current Ultra Crew Institute Action Team model.  What about it?"

"Well...you said that the N-Division came together as a result of a prophecy.  The Ultimate Warp Zone, both in our universe and the other Videoland, foretold Kevin's arrival."

"Yes."

"Something's been gnawing at me.  The initiative to put this together...by any chance did it begin EARLIER than the VideoLand wars with Mother Brain?"

"Well...."

"Actually.  Yes, it did." Bunnie sudden wisped into existence with Mitzi in tow. She'd gotten good at that sudden appearance thing, too.

"Major?"

"I've looked over many archived events before my time and even before Pit's time.  Garfield-sama has most certainly recorded many off the books instances that pre-dated Videoland."

She reached into her gi jacket and pulled out a scroll....wait, how does she do that? If she was carrying a scroll, why didn't it leave a physical shape underneath her clothes like she was carrying it in the first place? That anime subspace pocket of hers...still baffles the mind. At leas with E.N.G.I.N.E. dots and the V.E.H.I.C.L.E. system we have scientific notes and schematics explaining it. This almost seems to be...convenient plot device for the sake of convenient plot device.

I just got meta again.

Bunnie unrolled it and presented a list of documented cases.

Obviously the N-Division and the Power Team were on there, among others. But it was where the list began before that...

"This explains Ultra Crew Institute's connection to ENCOM and Kevin Flynn." Asriel rubbed his chin. The programmer of C.L.U. and the one who sided with T.R.O.N. to take down the M.C.U. All to free the enslaved world inside ENCOM's entire network system and prevent it from engaging a hostile takeover of the military's weapon systems."

"And it all started over Kevin Flynn just trying to find proof his bosses plagiarized all the arcade games he wrote." I noted.

There were lesser ones on there that included the likes of the "War Games" incident to that huge SNAFU at Space Camp to butting heads with Nova Robotics (more so the military than Howard Mariner's company) and of course the invested interest in the military cover-up of the space craft and its "Gizmo" time warp drive engine or two high school losers hacking a military supercomputer to "make a woman" who would live and breathe...and "aerobicize" while wearing...ahem...."women's undergarments" on their heads. Yeah.

"Why the interest, Asriel?"

"I had a thought.  We've been...in peace time for a while.  Well...there's wisdom in seeing the danger of complacency."

"Hmm?"

"I mean...when the Crossover Wars started, we were NOT prepared for them.  And we almost lost everything because we weren't prepared.  There was no warning no contingency to fall back on.

But back in the days of the VideoLand war, there was a standing prophecy. Just like there was one in Undertale. That last hope that gave us something to believe in and to band together for."

"Where are you going with this, Azzy?"

"I'm wondering...why there hasn't been another Game Master prophesied?"

Silence among us.

"Asriel actually...makes a good point.  Granted...Prophecies are the tools of the Goddesses to really stir the pot.  When Lady Destiny makes them it's usually the catalyst for the ties that bind.  VideoLand wouldn't have come together if it didn't have some kind of hope passed down."

"You're...actually thinking of preparing in case the next threat...the next pretender to Adonis' sick, twisted dream comes forth again."

"Yeah.  A sort of...just-in-case."

"A rare thing for you to have worries, Asriel."

"Well...now that I remember everything, burying it all in the past is...easier said than done.  Time has healed everything but still left scars."

I nodded, understanding fully. Lines were crossed. Things that couldn't be taken back even though they were corrected and things were hunky-dory again...

The silence continued for a few moments before...

"I suppose you really do know how to channel me." I opened  up a holo-window.

"I've been doing a little research of my own to see if...any of these missions we've been on have some kind of pattern to suggest if Lady Destiny and Madam Fate have started up another game.  The data still shows exhibitions so...it might not be anything serious, yet.  But...they always seem to get into a bigger one sooner or later.  Most of the data suggests no pattern but...a few coincidences make it hard to ignore there might something here to predict a possible moment of concern in space-time."

A bit of looking over it...

"That world...there.  It's a Terran planet, right?  An alternate Earth?"

"Set in the 1980's, yes."

"Anything special about it?"

"The time stamp is 1984.  Good year, y'know?  The initial data A.E.O.N. suggests shows nothing out of the ordinary.  The only thing even worth a glance is this kid, Alex Rogan.  Trailer park teen.  Lives with his mother and brother, Louis.  If anything he's unimpressive the whole nine yards around; recently rejected for a scholarship application."

"Ouch."

"We have lots of people at Computer Valhalla who are good at games.  Being good at just one doesn't make for a Game Master."

Unusually dismissive for Vi. But she was right. A Game Master had to be well-rounded and have knowledge all over the spectrum if not be completely encyclopedic to nearly ever scenario and game world there was at the time but adaptable enough to excel at a new one.

"What's this game he's so good at?  If you say Polybius, Rotor, I'm going to brain you."

Rotor rolled his eyes and got back to work on the sprinkler system.

Bunnie eyed the telemetry photos for a bit.

"Uh...Starfighter.  No record of it in our master database across countless worlds and AU's--"

Violet spit out her drink. "Say that again...?" She looked at me.

"Starfighter.  Sounds kind of generic--"

"No.   No it's not..." She muttered.

At that point Bunnie furrowed her brow.

"Violet's instincts are correct."

"Hmm?" Asriel looked over the scroll again..."

"Wait...the Last Starfighter?  You don't mean--"

"This arcade game is no mere game."

"What?" I admit it sounded familiar but...

"The five of us should head to this world at this point in time." Bunnie pointed to the photo.

"I have a feeling, Volt..."

"This seems like a lot of speculation but...I feel like you've never steered me wrong before, Asriel.  And if both Bunnie and Vi are in agreement.  Maybe...maybe the time of Game Masters isn't completely a bygone era..."

Some time later.

"We're loaded up in Roadie and Wheels."

"I've brought along the synchronizing modules and a spare flux capacitor/dimensional rig combo units.  Gadget and I make shifted an adaptor for the spare Mr. Fusion units.  Each car has one set of each and is wirelessly linked to synchronize both cars."

"Coordinates are entered, Volt.  Let's get down there and scout before STC pulls the plug." Asriel entered the coordinates.

And we were off.

"Tell me about this "Starfighter", Vi.  What makes it more than just a Polybius conspiracy theory?"

"The game is called Starfighter, in which the player defends "the Frontier" from Xur and the Ko-Dan Armada in a space battle."

"So?  As imaginative as Galaga or Gradius or R-Type."

"Yeah...about that." Violet showed star-charts from NASADA. "We collected this with deep space dimensional telemetry through AEON and made possible with NASADA's system, just outside of Angel Grove.

"The setting of this game...actually exists IN his AU.  Not outside of it.  Within their sets of galaxies." Asriel reasoned.

"Rylos?  Hold on...I've heard that planet's name.  Back when I was a kid and watching Garfield and Odie do their thing." I rubbed my chin.

"You want to know something even stranger?" Violet said as she set down an old carrying case full of NES game packs. She opened the case and thumbed through them until she found one, slid it out of its sleeve and held it up."

"It had an NES game."

"This world was part of Videoland?" Asriel and I looked at each other.

"It's all connected, isn't it?" I pondered.

"How's the game play?"

"Eh.  Unimpressive.  Barely has anything to do with the world we're going to check out.  Honestly, it's a sub-bar remake of a game called Uridium.  It's good if you want to waste time in an overhead, side-scrolling space shooter which gives you the ability to make Star Fox 64 U-turns."

An awkward silence.

You know as smug as she was being about it, I was about ready to check and see if Computer Valhalla had a comic book adaptation of it in Vi's extensive collection. Our UltraVerse's wonky umbilical cord tying fictional worlds to reality counterparts was still something I never got used to.

"Want to check it out?" Violet mused, actually meaning the world and not the game cartridge.

Once there...

"Looks like we just missed him." We scurried around, in human disguise but...still kept a low profile.

"Violet.  Azzy.  Check the game."

"Okay...just figuring it out." Asriel put in a quarter that Violet had procured from this world...somehow. I'd learned not to ask how.

"Remember.  Play the game but DON'T get the high score." Violet reminded. Just enough to get your initials in.

"Okay...I seem to get it, now.  And...I'm toast." Asriel deliberately threw the rest of the game once he had enough to get the lowest high score.

"This must be his initials on the high score."

Bunnie stared a hole through the game. "This is not what Alex thinks it is."

"Hmm?"

"It's training simulator to test aptitude." Violet concluded.

"For what purpose?"

"Recruitment." Violet replied.

"Look!" Asriel pointed to the fancy car. Some teenage kid was talking to the driver. I strained my ears as we tried to get close without being seen. Not a lot of cover to rely on.

"I heard him say "Centauri".  Claims to be the inventor of the game and Alex has apparently won a prize."

"And I have land to sell in Florida worth a mint..." Violet mused.

"C'mon, let's follow--"

And that was what we were NOT prepared for.

"Uh...did anyone see that...?" Violet looked up and up and up as the car disappeared into the star-lit night sky and kept going up and up and away.

"Pretty sure our vehicles are NOT modified for space travel." I grimaced.

"Then let's get some rides that are." Asriel mused.

Some time later...

It took us a hours to commission it but...

"I don't know how you got connections to KO-35, Asriel."

"This is actually the THIRD Astro Megaship they've cranked out.  Unfortunately Andros was very adamant about taking the one from Forever Red." Asriel explained.

"Is it weird that we have a lot of Power Rangers connections that somehow apply here?" I noted.

Asriel just smirked. "I should also brief you about what's going down in Pine Ridge."

"You've been teasing that ever since you stepped inside the Morphin' Grid with Devon.  What did you see?"

"I'll tell you as soon as I can."

"You're taking too many cues from Violet."

"I have the coordinates for Rylos.  I'm cloaking us now and just in case, I hope Nikita was able to reverse-engineer a friendly electronic ID signature.  Otherwise we are SO going to be shot down as one of the enemy.  Any more about the game or the war, Vi?  And how do you know so much about it...?"

"Hey.  I own an arcade.  I've made a life of collecting the obscure in all forms of media.  Games, music, movies, etc."

"And no slouch with mainstream, either." I begrudgingly admitted.

"The Starfighter arcade game represents a real-life conflict between the Rylan Star League and the Ko-Dan Empire; the latter is led by Xur, a native Rylan traitor to whom the Ko-Dan Emperor has promised control of Rylos. The game was designed as a test to find those "with the gift"; Alex, expected to be the gunner for a Starfighter spacecraft called the Gunstar, befriends a reptilian pilot named Grig. He also learns that the Frontier is a forcefield protecting Rylos and its surrounding planets from invasion; Xur has given the Ko-Dan the means to breach it."

"Sound familiar?" Asriel asked.

"It seems similar responsibilities have been prophesied and inherited by others we've recorded before."

"Kevin Flynn, the user that the MCU digitized into the system.  Kevin Keen who became Captain N the Game Master when the Ultimate Warp Zone chose him."

"And Alex Rogan after accepting a ride a man who wasn't really a man in a car that wasn't really a car." Violet mused.

"Well maybe we can catch up to him before--"

And there they went right past us.

"Did that look like the "not-car" that we were chasing after?  And did it look like it was headed back to Earth?"

"I sense a familiar theme, as well." Bunnie furrowed a brow.

"Let me take a guess.  The responsibility is too much for the hero to take in and here's where the reluctance to rise to the challenge comes in."

"Huh.  Kevin didn't even get the chance to go back home when he initially turned down Lana's plea for help.  Walked face first into the wall as the warp zone closed."

"Why do I feel like this is inopportune?" I folded my arms.

Asriel shook his head. "I'm going on ahead." Asriel snagged his NX Switchboard Pro and fiddled with his Bracer.

"You didn't..." I noted the modification. "You did."

"I got Andros' okay." He waved before he headed to the chute and called out "Let's Rocket!"

The next thing I knew he outdistanced us all the way back to Earth, landing right in front of Starlite Starbrite's signpost.

According to his tracker, his location placed him somewhere in North Los Angeles. Kenya Road in Santa Clarita, to be precise.

"AEON...any more info on this Rogan kid?"

Azzy accessed his scanner glass.

"Ahh.  I see.  This story seems all too familiar.  Young man who wants to get as far away from his mundane life to chase a dream.  Only it seems he didn't find his dream...his dream found him.  Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it, huh?

Let's find out what gave you cold feet. And on a related note...find out why no one's in a panic over you going missing. From the time we chased after in the Megaship it had to have been at least 24 hours of you not being on Earth."

Asriel passed by the office of the trailer park's manager, catching a glimpse of the name, Jonathan R. Betliel.

Asriel snuck around the area, glad that it was dark out and he could investigate like the ninja he was trained to be.

"Hmm?   There he is?  He sure got changed quick--"  Asriel heard movement and quickly ducked out of sight.

Back on the Megaship.

"...he really picked up too many habits from Sally." I groaned at him going on ahead.

Then again...I also knew he was smart when it came to rushing ahead of us; it wasn't on a whim, it was usually thinking practically. Just like Sally.

Asriel arrived on Earth pretty quick. The Astro Megaship's transport system combined with Andros' red ranger powers were just the ticket to go chasing after our would-be hero.

I suppose that meant we had to keep an eye on Rylos. Something tells me something was not good in their neck of the woods.

"D.E.C.A.  Can you give us an insight on a time window to work with."

"Intercepted communications indicate that the Ko-Dan Armada's invasion will begin once the moon of Rylos is in eclipse."

"Lunar eclipse?"

"I don't suppose we have time to contact Nasada to figure out when the next one is due?"

"I have a feeling a lot sooner than we think, Vi."

"I have successfully decoded a global transmission sent by Xur.  Shall I replay it?"

"Do it, D.E.C.A."

And thus we were greeted by Xu's speech.

"Yes, Father.  Your mighty Frontier goes weaker by the moment."

"Do not call me father!  You are no longer my son.  You are an outcast.  Why have you returned?"

"Who's he talking to?" Mitzi asked.

"I would think it's pretty obvious." Vi wrinkled her nose.

"Standing by.  Rendering other 50% of the full-duplex transceiver signal."

We were then greeted by two side-by-side fully 3D holographic images.

"I have returned for the good of all of Rylos."

"An Armada of Kor-Dan Warships behind you?"

"Some Rylands would welcome me, Father."

"Starleague Justice put down your Xerium Cult.  Your followers are few and scattered."

"STAR LEAGUE!?  A TRIBUTE TO THESE WORLDS NOT READY TO BE OUR EQUALS!" Xur's image futzed up with TV static. All too familiar to me after seeing many a case of Undertale's micro glitches during UTPR-3224's unstable timeline.

"That is for the Rylands to decide and not for a dangerous and evil child as yourself to decide."

"And yet it was this child who caught your MASTER SPY."

"Uh-oh." I gulped.

"This does not bode well." Bunnie narrowed her eyes.

We were then greeted by a third window...showing a Ryland's subsequent torture by a red laser beam.

Judging by the leader's expression...what Xur was saying was true. And heartbreaking.

"Hear me, Rylands!    When the Green Moon of Galan is eclipsed, Ko-Dan Armada will invade and not even your mighty Starfighters will be able to save you."

"We shall see, Xur.  We shall see!"

And then the transmission cut out with Xur's laughter but not the video replay.

"You still want to go?  And miss all the excitement?" were Centauri's last words before the video did end.

"Ohhhhh that' CERTAINLY nothing that could scare off an Earth recruit who thought he broke the score for an arcade game and didn't actually pass a test to determine if he had the Gift.  I most assuredly can see NO REASON why anyone would ever thing this mission could get him killed."

"If you're done trolling, Vi.  We'd better get to Rylos.  I sense bad things afoot.

"Yeah, I'm good."

"Well then.  Let's help em' out." Mitzi smiled.

"Victory or death!" Violet started chanting.

Bunnie facepalmed.

"Not.  Helping." I smoldered.

"Well if death is such a primitive concept, we can think of it like they're all battling evil in another dimension!"

"I can't tell if you're making a joke relevant to this world or the original dub of Dragon Ball Z..." I smoldered.

"Can't it be both?"

I wasn't about to give her the pleasure.

"Punch it." I ordered as Bunnie engaged the engines full speed.

As it turned out, not only was Alex late in getting home...

...we were too late to help the Hanger.

"...oh gods..." Mitzi covered her mouth.

"Xur's handywork."

"Every last Starfighter." Bunnie bowed her head.

"Typical villain tactic.  Doesn't have the honor to start a war proper...just snips them off at the--"

I hushed Vi before she could get gross.

"Right, right.  I know it's just logical strategy and smart tactics...but it still pisses me off."

"I hope Azzy's doing better than us."

Meanwhile, outside of the convenience store...

"Back here again." Azzy wrinkled his snoot. He looked at the game, tempted by it.

"No.  Better not risk getting recruited.  As much as I'd love the opportunity to be a Starfighter...I can't abandon Ultra Crew Institute and S.T.C.

Asriel heard movement and immediately got out of sight. "Ninja vanish!"

"There he is now...wait...how'd he change clothes so fast--"

"C'mon, Alex!  Don't be such a wimp!"

"Wait...you're Alex, right?   Then...who are you talking to?  Yourself?  Or--"

That was when the laser blast hit the arcade machine.

"What?!  Assassin!" Asriel growled.

That's when the alien changed targets and fired at someone else who had just shown up.

"What the...?  Two of them?  One of them has to be a--"  Asriel didn't finish his thought. "Huh.  Looks kind of like that guy from Halloween 2...or the guy from Jaws the Revenge but without a beard.  Strange."

Asriel shook off the moment of confusion.

"Gotta help em both!" Asriel summoned the NX joycon controller to his belt buckle and detached the joycons from them and switched to NX Zappers. Remembering Scrooge McDuck's advice about not yelling at your opponent because you'll lose the element of surprise, Azzy opened fire.

The Hitbeast fired back, only momentarily distracted. Once he had driving Azzy back to cover he again opened fire, alternating between the two Alex's.

"Okay...going out on a limb and guessing this is the reason nobody's noticed he's disappeared.  Some kind of synthetic robot replacement?" Asriel muttered to himself. "No offense, but compared to his original, he looks kind of sickly and has the most unconvincing wig to come out of the 1990's.  Heh.  Savage, Asriel.  Savage.  You're picking up Vi's bad habits.  And in the heat of battle.  Stop that."

It was then that Centauri drove up and backed them all up.

"Centauri, look out!"

"What the...!"

After a couple back and forths, Centauri managed to shoot the creature's arm off, sending it and its limb crashing to the ground.

"Whew!  Foul stench!  Dirty creatures." Centauri breathed a cheerful sigh of relief.

"No kidding." Asriel got back up from where he had taken a sniper position.

"Friend of yours?"

"Never seen him before."

"Hi.  Asriel Arcade.  Agent of Ultra Crew Institute.  Was kind of here to observe at first but now I guess my friends and I are here to help.  It's complicated.  So...you must be the new Game Master or...something."

"What?"

"Never mind.  I'll explain later."

Centauri looked at the corpse. "Get a good look, Alex.  You can bet your asteroids you'll be seeing more of them."

"What?"

"This is a Zando-Zan.  An interstellar hitbeast, compliments of Xur."

"Xur?  Why is he after me?"

"Somehow he figured out you're a Starfighter."

"So you see, Alex.  You gotta go back." The double, now identified as Beta followed up. Strange. He seemed to have a lot more courage than his original. "Cause if you stay down here, you're dog meat."

Asriel wrinkled his nose, knowing Jon would take offense at that.

"Trust Centauri, my boy.  Because in two hours this place will be crawling with ten Zando-Zans with one thought on their microscopic little minds:  Kill Alex Rogan."

"Kill Alex Rogan!?"

"He's right, Alex.  At least up their you have a fighting chance in a Gunstar."

"Exactly.  Meanwhile, down here, they'll be going after Beta."

"Beta."

"Beta?" Beta suddenly sounded surprised.

"Well yeah, who do you think he's here for?"

"Wait a--  Wait a second, Centauri."

"Alex, look out!" Centauri and Asriel said in unison before drawing and firing.

The arm may have been severed but it was being telepathically controlled by the not-dead corpse. And its shot rang out...hitting Centauri but not getting a chance to re-aim for Azzy.

Several shots laid it to waste; all of Azzy's aimed for limbs and non-vitals while Centauri went for lethal blows. Azzy still had that tick against kill or be killed. He might have been lucky this time. But Centauri...not so much.

The creature went up in flames.

"Centauri!"

Before he could act, Asriel watched as Alex got Centauri back into his car and it was again taking off for space.

"Well.  I guess it's just you and me now.  Somebody's gotta help you acclimate to Earth life while you play decoy."

"Not helping."

Some time later we arrived in time to reach Starfighter Base...in time to see Alex return and bring a wounded Centauri back where we watched helplessly as he succumbed to his wounds.

Introductions and briefings were quick. And before long we had each other's full cooperation. Though...to what end was not looking particularly optimistic.

"Something tells me Asriel ran into big trouble."

"So your his friends."

"Yeah...lot of good we do him up on this tin can." Violet mused before Bunnie thwapped her.

"You don't seem very confident that your world is safe."

"Look, I got this double taking my place called Beta.  I wasn't back long before we were both hunted by this hitbeast.  Centauri died protecting me."

"Yeah.  I know that story." I sighed, knowing all too many people who took the hit for me when they didn't have to. When they shouldn't have. When if they had only let me explain that I was the immortal one who should have been taking the hit for them... Gods that was a feeling that sucked so hard. You never got over the guilt of surviving when someone else threw their life away for you.

I guess that was enough to change his mind. He was off to meet up with Grig--a reptilian pilot who'd been working on a Gunstar prototype...

I folded my arms as Alpha 6 joined us, informing us he had contact with Asriel on Earth.

"Good job, Alpha." I accompanied him back to the Megaship and picked up the call to Azzy.

"Talk to us, Asriel.  How's things going down there."

Back at Alex's room...

"Well...could be less awkward." He looked into the window of Alex's room, deciding not to spook Louis.

He explained before going back to his recon.

Asriel accessed more of the footage that AEON had recorded earlier in this world's timeline to get a bigger picture of what kind of life Alex was living.

"Hmm...that kid hanging around his kid brother, Louis kind of looks like a young Will Wheaton.  Strange."

Asriel turned his attention back to Not-Alex.

"Now I need an ear-job.  I'm dying here."

"Okay.  Yeah.  He's definitely the clone." Asriel deadpanned as he watched Beta remove his own head.

"Alex!?  What the Hell is going on!?" Louis gasped.

"Alex?  You're having a terrible nightmare.  Go back to sleep.

"Huh.  He bought that." Asriel mused. "In all fairness I would have at that age."

It was about that time Asriel noticed something in the night sky headed toward them.

"Ohhh nooo..." Not-Alex or rather "Beta" moaned as he grabbed and pinched the bridge of his nose in a frustrated expression. Made all the weirder by the fact his head was still off his shoulders and a blinking red light and circuits could be seen in the opening of his neck.

"Oh no is right." Asriel had a gut feeling they weren't friendlies.

Asriel hopped on the NX Switchboard and headed toward it...sure enough.

"That looks like a communications base.  Not good.  Gotta go warn Beta. And anyone close to Alex who might be in danger...."

As it turns out Beta was a step ahead and Asriel soon discovered Alex's might-be girlfriend, Maggie Gordon and was hopelessly trying to explain the truth to them.

Unfortunately...keeping a low profile wasn't as easy as it looked. Then again...Beta was the decoy. And it was inevitable the decoy would draw attention from the Zando-Zan. And what happened next? Well...doesn't take many guesses to figure out.

"Some aliens never learn." Asriel forged the NX Sabers and swooped in and sliced.

"Sorry to give you a Jedi's wound but I'd rather dis-arm than dis-head.  But have a dis on me:  You ARE dirty creatures!  ZING!"

Maggie yelped at Asriel's sudden appearance...but also started to believe the story once she was staring at the exposed circuitry of Beta, who'd taken a shot in the crossfire.

"Hi.  Asriel Arcade.  A friend.  I met Alex.  He's fine but uh...we might want to get out of here, quick.  Pretty sure we've made this a hot spot."

"Good idea.  Follow the cow."

"Uh...I'm a goat." Asriel smoldered, shaking his head. He really did resemble Toriel at times.

By this time we were in the end game and despite our support in the Astro Megaship, we were finding ourselves outnumbered and outgunned.

"Guys!" Asriel had boarded again.

"Azzy?" I gasped as he demorphed out of the Red Ranger powers.

"The report will have to wait.  I'm going out there."

"NO way.   Even as a Red Ranger, you will NOT survive that onslaught."

"Not on an NX Board.  But I packed a little something that will help us."

"The Nasada space shuttle was destroyed long ago nor do we have the code box to unlock the Astro Megazord even if we did have it."

"I got something else.  Not as big but...it'll buy time for Alex to get in position."

"To what?"

"Take out that mothership." Asriel gave a thumbs up before heading down to the cargo bay.

"You have any idea what he's talking about, Vi?"

Vi shrugged.

And that's when he launched it.

"Violet...is that what I think it is?"

"Yup.  That's the XT-7.  From Power Rangers to Captain Power."

"We've lost all control over this crossover."

Asriel opened fire. "Score...or be hit!  And yes...I do realize that they will fire back.  They WILL fire back." He put his pilot skills to the test.

"Almost as good as a Gunstar."

And sure enough Alex and Grig deployed and got into the thick of it, lasers blasting.

"Even with that firepower I don’t' fancy their chances." I frowned.

"I have been analyzing Alex Rogan's Gunstar and I note some additional modifications.  Of interest is a weapon system simply called Death Blossom."

"Death Blossom?" Bunnie arched an eyebrow.

"I like that name.  Sounds intimidating." Vi grinned.

"What do you think it does--"

At the moment the ship's lasers and weapons seemed to run out...

"Oh crap..." I grimaced

"Wait for it." Asriel said, as if he was expecting something big. He broke off formation, getting a safe distance.

"Might want to put up those shields to avoid the friendly fire."

"Wha..." I got out before I noticed the Gunstar start to spin around its X, Y, and Z axis like a gyroscope gone crazy moments before...it unleashed HOT FURY. A barrage of death lasers the likes I could hardly count int he time it was going ballistic.

"Death Blossom?  Aptly named." Asriel mused, rubbing his snoot with his index finger.

"Who feels like opening a can of butt whoop?" Mitzi cracked her knuckles and readied the weapons aboard the Astro Megaship. "Because I feel the need to stand up to some bullies."

"I was thinking the same, Mitzi."

With the fleet destroyed, Lord Kril ordered Xur executed for his arrogance and failure to ensure victory, but Xur escapes the mothership.

However, Xur had other ideas.

"Xur's getting away!" Asriel narrowed his eyes. "You really think we should let that slide?" He mused, contacting Alex and Grig.

"No way, Jose."

We all opened fire on the Mothership.

"FORGET THE GUNS!  RAMMING SPEED!"

As Grig managed to reroute the power that the ship had left...

"Fire!  FIRE!!    Alex made the final shot, disabling its guidance controls.

"Damage report!"

"Guidance systems out.  Auxiliary steering out."

"DIVERT!  DIVERT!"

"She wont' answer the helm.  We're locked int he moon's gravitational pull!  What do we do?"

Lord Kril answered with only two words. "We die."

We all watched as the Mothership impacted the moon and exploded violently.

"Yahooooooo!"

Some time later, back on Earth...a crowd had gathered as the ship began to land.

It was a heart-felt reunion but...also a tearful goodbye. With Xur escaping, the universe was far from safe.

It seemed we lost another potential Game Master candidate...but we gained another hero who'd be protecting another part of the UltraVerse.

"Why can't you just stay?" Maggie asked.

"Maggie.  I have to leave.  I want you to come with me."

"Alex!  Hurry!" Grig beckoned.

"Well, I gotta go.  Bye." And with that he shared a passionate kiss with Maggie.

Asriel on the other hand had some things to discuss with me.

"Beta?"

"Sacrificed himself to save her.  Took out the communication base with the truck.  It's...it's still weighing kind of heavy."

"Yeah.  It tends to do that." I patted his shoulder."

"Alex, we can't hold off their radar any longer."

"Yeah, okay!  I gotta go, Ma." Alex bid his mother, brother, and his friends all farewell.

"Granny?" Maggie turned to her grandmother.

"Be sure and write.  Or whatever it is they do up there.'  And with that Maggie joined Alex at his side before the two of them boarded the ship.

A plethora of goodbyes as the ship took off.

As we were leaving aboard the Megaship, Asriel turned to see the sight of Louis standing before the Starfighter arcade game as its voice beckoned "Greetings, Starfighter.  You have been recruited by the Star League to defend the Frontier against Xur and the Ko-Dan Armada!"

As Alex's ship left the atmosphere and Louis looked up he let out an excited "WOOOW!!!!"

"I couldn't have put it better." Azzy turned and boarded the Astro Megaship before we headed home.

Sub-Entry 068:  "Who is Gridman?":
Our group trudged out of the Cyber Gate, no worse for wear...and giving dirty looks to one of us in particular.

But shock of the century...it wasn't actually Violet this time.

"Hey, I said I was sorry!"

"For the record...we can't return to that world's Las Vegas...or its planet Mars again." I growled at Gordon Shumway.

Alf turned to his companion.

"Give him time.  I think he'll actually let us off the hook."

Gizmo babbled something to the effect of "and the check's in the mail"...at least I think that's what it sounded like.

"Joe Dante's ghost, Alf.  What were you THINKING!?" I was trying to keep my temper under control. "I mean once in Las Vegas was a plain and simple accident.  But the containers on the Mars colony CLEARLY said "pressurized water"."

"You know I should really come to expect this kind of persecution.  They did this to Richard Donner after making the first Superman Movie."

"How is this even REMOTELY like the Donner/Lester controversy!?"

"It is fortunate that Wing is not alive to see this low point in our lives." Bunnie grumbled as she tore the hanging ripped sleeve off of her gi jacket and threw it in the trash, completing the accidental Ryu cosplay.

"Help me out here, Vi!  It's an alien-eat-alien world and I'm in an Alpha Centauri quicksand pit wearing iron boots."

"Can't help you out of this one, man.  You're really in the dog-house."

"If I pay you in twine and tin foil, you think I can upgrade to a cat house.  I'd prefer my prison with an all-you-can-eat buffet."

"As funny as I find that...I'm going to head to Computer Valhalla to get a change of clothes.  One that is NOT covered in gremlin phlegm." Violet said, slinging a blob of nasty across the floor.

"Hey!  Somebody has to clean that up, Vi!"

"Look at the bright side.  You pay security and sign a waiver for the camera footage all over the compound and we have the makings for a low-budget movie.  I can see it now: Gremlins 3: Loose in Las Vegas.  Plus we'll have enough left over for a fourth one where we go to Mars."

"Okay, I've made my fair share of movies in the day and as an experienced actor/direct, I got to tell you, Gordon...that is the...WORST idea...I have heard all day.  And I was the one who gave you a pass over the lunar rover demolition derby."

"WHICH lead to the second incident, Violet." I glared.

"I never thought I'd see the day Violet would find a cure for my unquenchable appetite for all things outer space." Asriel retracted his horns.

"I'm more surprised she's not chasing after the money-making opportunity by going Hollywood.  Usually she loves getting behind the camera or in front of it." Sally observed.

"Didn't stop Alf from pressing a hard sell." I wrinkled my nose.

"Some people are blinded by the thirds for money.  And it makes them lose their values and...and go crazing and do things they shouldn't do." Lupe reasoned.

"That explains Ghostbusters II." Alf interjected.

I rolled my eyes.

"First dibs on the chemical showers in the lab."

"Azzy!  Those are for chemical accidents, not domestic use!"

"What do you think THIS is?" He wiped the remains of one of the gremlin casualties off his clothes.

"...you drive a hard bargain.  As for you, Alf...you and Gizmo are confined to quarters.  And banned from anything remotely liquid.  Especially water."

"Come on!  You're bustin' my chops here!  This can't be the worst trouble I've ever gotten you in.  what about that one guy...the uh...bio-exorcist and that whole Hawaiian disaster?"

"...I'll give you that one.   That nightmare couldn't have been more of a brain-screw than if it had been written by Kevin Smith."

"Now hold on, Commander.  I think a Kevin Smith told version of that story would have been AWESOME!" Violet grinned.

"Yeah.  Not surprised."

"Well it's a tale that will be covered up and disavowed just like the "Superman Lives" case.  Both the original and the 2011 edition."

"I missed out on some messed up stuff, didn't I?" Asriel muttered.

"Can you believe the incident got solved by the B-man himself winning a surfing contest?"

"And that's why his world is no longer on the red list and now on the yellow list." I replied. "As of this moment any mention of " Beezle-juice or whatever that...abomination was is taboo in the lab."

We all grumbled in agreement.

Well. I'd touched ground on the Ghost with the Most before but this attempt to bring Asriel to a very-pun-driven Neitherworld filled with supernatural magic and incidental sight gags based on said puns had backfired drastically. As it turned out we had accidently opened the coordinates to an AU of an incident that...never really happened in terms of movie counterpart.

Sometimes the world of fanfiction brought to life can be unimaginably cruel. And meta moments like this certainly don't help.

"Let's just pack it on, already." Jon grumbled, wanting to get some shuteye.

"I wish we could." I sighed. "But we got one last stop to make and it's a really baffling case."

"Hmm?"

"On this world..." I showed the holo-window.

"What's so special about it?" Rotor looked it over.

"S.T.C. has dubbed its dimensional designation SSSS-716813."

"Wait a minute...7-16-9-13........Grid...?" Violet was already deciphering the numbers. Really we should have used a more complex numbering system for this iteration of dimensional pseudonyms."

I immediately wanted to give a Knuckles the Echidna inspired "oh no".

She suddenly grinned. No. More like grinnnnnnnnnnnnnnned. Widely.

"Vi.  No."

And of course she had to figure it out at that moment and belt out a song.

"In the digital domain!  Evil doers may appear!  When trouble starts-a-brewin'!  A superhero will appear!  Superhuman Samurai!   Superhuman Samurai!  They're gonna rip it up!  Kick some gigabutt!  They're gonna tear it up!  A superhero makes the cut!  Superhuman Samurai!  Superhuman Samurai!  Super Human Samurai...Syber Squad!"

Asriel looked at me before looking at Vi.

"What...you've never heard of Servo?"

Actually...he hadn't. This was something Violet hadn't explained to him.

Azzy shrugged.

Truthfully...I kind of forgot the reference, too. Normally old realms from the past, no matter how obscure were something I practically had cached in my own memory at any time but...if that was the case...why was I COMPELLED to think about this with dread and why was I so quick to admonish Violet for bringing up...what I...couldn't quite remember.

Was it just that...forgettable?

No...something felt...off.

"We are SO checking it ot."

"Wait, Vi.  I don't know if this is such a good idea." I was reluctant.

"Hmm?" Rotor looked at me strange. He wasn't in the know any more than Asriel was.

"C'mon!  It'll be great to re-live all that 90's cheese."

Wait. If I couldn't remember what this was all about...how was it that Vi could?

"Vi, we don't just embark off world on a whim.........." I stopped myself after remembering what we had just done with the Last Starfighter.

"Never mind."

And so..."

"Why are we taking the Golden Condor again?" I watched Asriel pilot the controls.

"Bunnie has a feeling that we shouldn't deploy too close to this world...there's something weird about--"

We exited the cyber gate.

"...it." Asriel's eyes widened.

"Whoah."

"Yeah, whoa." Sally looked over my shoulder.

"What...is this place!?" Mitzi gasped

"Hmm." Bunnie narrowed her eyes as Violet looked confused.

"Uh...this doesn't look like your Saved By the Bell meets Tokusatsu rubber suit shows." Violet rubbed the back of her head.

"This city...it's ripped from the ground and floating in the sky!?"

"What kind of a  place is this?!" Mitzi looked a little weirded out.

Bunnie suddenly narrowed her eyes and grunted.

"Major?"

"There's something here.  Big.  Violent." She narrowed her eyes as she attempted to gaze through the clouds.

"Kaiju." She growled.

Moments later a massive fireball flew past us.

"This was a mistake." I grimaced.

No one had time to make a follow up comment because the next--

* TRANSMISSION DISRUPTED... *

* TRANSMISSION RESUMED. *

"Ouch." I tore the twisted metal out of me and took a moment to let my wound heal up.

"A little late to say 'well that escalated'..." I grumbled...before realizing my team had been scattered.

"Wellllll shhhhhhhhhh....shoot my monkey." I caught myself in time to self-censor. Just because I could swear didn't mean I should. Dang, Goat Son, you've certainly had an effect on me.

"But I'm still going to say 'dammit, Vi' over this..." I climbed out of the rubble then looked up at what--

"Oh.  Right.  Kaiju." By this time that was a word in Jangese I DID recognize off the bat. Though I had to say...I almost wished it were actually Godzilla and not whatever abomination was attacking the city.

Elsewhere...

"I gotcha!" Sally's arms clutched around Mitzi in midair before her butterfly burners fired up.

"You're a life-saver.  Literally."

"Don't think you're getting out of it.  Pretty sure there are people all around that can't fly at super speed or compress photons."

"Make it discreet?"

"Like ninjas."

Mid-air high five before both broke away like sky-divers separating from formation. Mitzi summoned the Green Turbines around her arms and used them in combination with her Jet Anklets to steer her descent while Sally switched out the standard burners for the "Shinigami-Sama" Death Jets from Soul Eater.

And one after the other they started plucking innocent bystanders and humans in danger out of the destruction; one by one by one in rapid succession, essentially saving their lives...before flying off before anyone could see what happened.

Bunnie on the other hand made use of some less orthodox sword techniques to make sure the falling rubble was not an issue to the retreating masses.

"The Three Sword Style Secret Art: The Billion-Fold World Trichiliocosm!"

She would never tell Violet that she picked up this technique from a certain moss-haired pirate-hunter. But...with this art and three swords at her disposal...there was NOTHING she couldn't cut through.

"Ninja vanish...!" She disappeared in a BAMF! as the people below were confused by the huge amount of debris now falling down as harmless dust and sand.

Bunnie reappeared, standing on the side of a skyscraper, out of view as if she had a wall-crawler's powers. "Hmm."

Asriel and I had our own hands full with minimizing the fallout and chaos.

From within the immense spaghetti mess of power lines, webbing every which way...something that Bunnie assured me was pretty common in Japanese places like this...ahem. From within the transformer arrays, I manipulated the snapped cables like the arms of an octopus and managed to catch more than a few falling object and fling them elsewhere.

Fortunately people were in too much of a panic to question what and why.

"This is proving to be a test of our abilities to strike hard and strike fast and fade away without a trace." Asriel mused, glad we'd all picked up a little bit of Bunnie's ninja training.

All was well and good except for one detail...

Where did Violet land...?

At a nearby bus-stop...

"They ruined everything.  It's their own fault why this is happening."

It was a trick of the light that the sheen across the lens of the girl's glasses completely obscured her eyes underneath.

"It's only a matter of time.  Before...he shows up to spoil things again."

"Akane, you should know there's an...unforeseen complication."

The digital alien being who appeared on her smart phone warned.

"Alexis	Kerib."

"Foreign entities have seemed to have found their way into this world and are severely reducing the number of casualties."

Akane Shinjou scoffed.

"Are they working for...him?"

"Unclear.  It would seem your trap to lure Gridman out has caught unexpected pests instead.

"This does not make me happy." Akane tightened her grip, cracking the screen a little more than it already was.

"Should we take measures to rectify this?"

"I don't feel much like continuing this conversation." And she immediately terminated the communication, her mood soured.

Suddenly Violet, in human disguise. She didn't say anything. In fact she made no indication that she was even paying attention to her surroundings. Just...staring off into space nonchalantly with an amused smile.

"Sooooo...you are going to take cover right?   Kind of dangerous around here, y'know."

"Hmm?" Akane Shinjou turned to Vi.

"Y'know.  You should run.  Take cover.  Or don't.  Might be more fun to hang around and risk your pretty face in all this chaos.  I man, YOLO, am I right?"

Akane narrowed her eyes, thinking to herself--

"Violet.  I know you didn't ask but, that's my name."

"Akane."

"Well.  There's somewhere I got to be and it's not under all this falling debris.  Hope you got some place safer than this chaotic mess.  Sooo...see ya!"

Violet started to walk off.

Akane glared dubiously.

Meanwhile, Asriel and I were trying to be careful to avoid being seen as we hadn't gotten a breather to don our human disguises as we needed to access our powers to save lives.

"We don't have the fire power to take that thing out."

"It's times like this I wish I still had my Perseverance Virtue Power.  I could really use a Megazord right now."

"I hear ya.  I don't think we can get word to your new friends in Pine Ridge for help."

"They're already tied up with recovering the Sporix.  They only recently got their numbers up from three to five but...I don't think they can spare the resources with Void Knight on the loose."

"If only we could get Dr. Lynx to sense us Rob Simmons' Orbots."

That's when Asriel noticed...

"Hey...shouldn't that kid be running AWAY from the action?"

"Hmm...maybe there was something to what Violet was saying earlier about an S.S.S.S.?"

"Somehow on this world...I don't think it quite stands for Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad but...maybe the answer isn't that far off."

"Follow him?"

"I think we should."

At the same time...

"Sensei!  Thank goodness we caught up to you!"

"Hey ya, Buns.  Thriving and surviving as I'd expect no less.  Hmm?"

"Sensei?"

"I know that look...what's up?"

"That girl over there..." Bunnie zeroed in on...

"Hmm?" That's when Rikka Takarada noticed she was being watched.

"Young one.  I have a feeling we should talk."

"...!"  Rikka's eyes widened at the presence of the trio, who had not donned human disguise.

As for Violet...

"Who does she think she is--"  Akane snarled under her breath.

"...by the way...was the next thing you were going to say "You're not supposed to be here."  or more accurately...you certainly didn't make me as part of this world."

"Tch...!"

"Yeah.  I know."

"It's not nice to go snooping in a--"

"Goddess' reality?  That is what you claim to be...isn't it, Akane Shinjou."

"You know more than you let your friends think you knew about this place."

"Actually.  Yeah.  Your world has been on my radar for a while now.  I just had to wait for the opportunity to bring it full circle.  What I might not have is all the answers...but what I DO have is curiosity.  And while yes...curiosity does tend to kill the cat...no other state of being invites such intrigue...such risk...such amusing possibilities to learn even ones that carry great risk."

"You're not afraid to die.  Are you?"

"C'mon.  We're all afraid of that at some level.  Some of us are just more willing to enjoy the ride there.  But...some of us don't intend to make it easy for the Grim Reaper to carpool us to the afterlife.  You know what I'm saying?"

"You're not as crazy as you let people think you are."

"And you're not as innocent and meek as you let yourself be known as.  Oh I have no doubt you're quite popular around here.  But nobody knows the REAL you.  I know why you made this world.  Why you make Kaiju...rather the REAL reason."

Elsewhere....

Asriel, yet again, got ahead of me. I'm starting to think I'm slowing down in my old age.

But it's just as well. I ran into someone else while he was following his own lead.

"Hmm!?"

"You!  You have to be connected to them!"

"Them?"

"Don't play dumb with me!  Answer me!  WHERE IS GRIDMAN!?"

"Uhh....who are you?"

"It doesn't matter!" Anti protested. "Bring Gridman here!"

"Uh...what do you want with this Gridman?" I sniffed for a moment before...! "And I thought I was the only one of us not human.  You're one of those Kaiju, aren't you?"

"So what if I am!?  The only thing that matters is that I exist solely to defeat Gridman! "

"Whoah.  You've got quite the hate-on for this guy.  What did he ever do to you...?"

"He exists!  That's all there is to it!"

Okaaaaay...I'm definitely behind the times on this. What is this kid's problem?

While I was detained by Anti...

At Orie Takarada's junk shop...

Shou Itsumi was already on hand and standing by with the so-dubbed "Neon Genesis Junior High School Students" or...rather the members of the Gridman Alliance; Samurai Calibur, Max, Borr, and Vit.

You know, now that Violet had mentioned it...there WAS something familiar going back to that Servo...didn't Vi once tell me that their supporting units were named Borr, Tracto, and Vitor? It couldn't just be coincidence...could it?

"Yuta isn't here yet?"

"Something must’ve delayed him."

"He must get here as soon as possible." The Hyper Agent on the old computer monitor remained unphased by the situation.

"Maybe that punk that's been getting in the way had something to do with it." Borr scoffed.

It was about that time when...

"I don't mean to interrupt but someone just showed up--  Rikka's mother, Orie peered into the backroom of the shop.

"Yuta?" Shou got up.

"I'm here!" Yuta Hibiki had managed to arrive first.

"There isn't  moment to lose." Gridman urged.

"Right!" Yuta held up his arm and powered up his bracer, moments away from giving the command--

"Umm...I don't mean to interrupt again, but someone else has arrived.  Is he a friend of yours?"

Calibur quickly went for his samurai sword as Borr drew his/her knives as Tracto's gauntlets transformed into a mace.

"Anti followed us here again?" Yuta was on guard.

"Uh...hi!  This is...awkward.  I was trying not to be noticed but uh...the owner kind of spotted me before--"

Dead silence.

"Oooooh...I forgot to put on my human disguise again?  This is...really embarrassing.  I'm getting sloppy in my old young age.  Hahahah...ehh....so....yeah.  I'm Asriel.  I think my friends and I are...kind of out-of-towners...it's complicated.  Um...if it's convenient, I think we should have a sit-down and get up to speed over the giant monsters trashhing the city.  Yes?"

But while that was going on...

"C'mon.  What's your end game here.  I'm curious."

"It's really none of your business.  I don't want you in--"

"Yeah, yeah.  I have a tendency to stick my nose where it doesn't belong.  You know a misunderstood genius recognizes a misunderstood genius.  While, sure...I might drive my friends up the wall, I'd like to think there are some lines I don't cross.

So...what's your excuse. Why does killing people have to always be the solution for when you have a bad day."

"You wouldn't understand."

"Well, that's where you're half-right.  You're wrong that I wouldn't understand.  But you're right that I wouldn't agree with you.  Thing is...life is kind of precious, whether you're human, goddess, or kaiju.

That's what this is really about, isn't it? You want to be the one in control but...you're clearly not. Are you? If you were...then Gridman wouldn't be the one showing up to destroy your kaiju.

And that's not even the wonkiest thing with this world you claim to have created is. Why don't we get into the dynamic of why the very next day after a kaiju attack...people have no memory of it happening. The damage to this world is suddenly repaired...and all the people you killed...just never seemed to ever exist in the first place?"

"You have all the answers, don't you?"

"Already said I don't.  Why are you so reluctant to fill in the blanks?" Violet looked up at the kaiju in the distance.

"You know...I think you're just longing for her right now.  Rikka, wasn't it?  Your friend.  At least...she's convinced she is because that's how you made her?

All the world's a stage...and everyone in it your puppets. Except for Gridman. And people like me and my friends who've stumbled into your world. Yeah, I admit I brought them here with an agenda in mind but...only because I felt like I needed to nip this in the bud while they could have one of their adventures and the two of us wouldn't be distracted.

"You've thought this out, Violet."

"It's what I do.  Anyway...the curtain is about to rise.  Isn't it about time he made his appearance?"

As it turned out, Gridman and company had gotten us all up to speed, once Mitzi, Bunnie, Sally, and I made it to Asriel's position.

"...whoa. That’s...that's hard to wrap my head around."

"You want to know what's not so hard to grasp?  That Violet knew all about this all along."

"What?" Sally gasped.

"You mean Aunt Vi goaded us here as part of an agenda?"

"I think...she had some kind of personal stake in this." Asriel mentioned.

"We're wasting time.   We have to act now!"

"Right!  ACCESS...FLAAASH!"

Before any of us could blink, Yuta was pulled into the computer screen and then the image changed to where the kaiju were attacking...and that's when he appeared...in a physical form. Gridman.

"Whoah.  He does kind of look like Servo." Asriel mused, looking at the images on his scanner glass.

Out of all of us, Bunnie was the only one who was barely phased by this sudden reveal.

And thus we watched the hero of the hour make his appearance and engage the monsters wreaking havoc.

"So.  How'd you get away from Anti?" Jou asked.

"Simple answer?  He got bored of me when it was clear I didn't know anything about Gridman.

We watched in anxiety, hoping this fusion of Yuta and Gridman was enough to put an end to this senseless violence.

But while we were observing the puppets on stage...

...Violet was dealing with the puppet master.

"You never asked me what my stake in this is?"

"You're going to tell me anyway."

"Your friend, Alexis...ironic name for an alien being who exists in a cyber-intelligence form.  And I thought it was amusing asking my Google Plus for random internet questions...they're the one REALLY bring these things to your world via Instance Abreaction.

You see...that's the thing. I've kind of had a problem with alien programs and viruses meddling with peoples lives in some way or another. I mean granted...he's no Kilokhan sounding his most Tim Curry-esque...but he's quite the master manipulator, isn't he?"

"Shut up..."

"You see it's not you, I have a problem with, per say.  As a responsible hacker who recently had VENJIX...or rather EVOX put down like a sick dog...I'm definitely drawing a line in the sand and watching and waiting for him to make that one fatal error that will get him erased and you can get back to living in the real world."

"You don't know anything about--"

"I do know that while I love escaping reality...this world of yours is no substitute for it.  You're going to have to wake up sooner or later.  Or otherwise...your partner is going to amend your deal."

Violet watched as the clash between Gridman and the Kaiju went on before the Gridman Alliance sent help in the form of the NGJHS, taking on their alternate forms--Battle Tracto Max,  Buster Borr, and Sky Vitter. And of course Samurai Calibur in his alternate--Electrifying Great Sword Gridman Calibur   All once combined with Gridman to form Hyperlink Combine Full Powered Gridman.

"There's just no substitution for a good-old Tokugsatsu rubber suit hero battling kaiju.  So...just sit back and watch the show.  But...you really should reconsider your path in life...before Alexis ends up using you to his end in a way you'd never expect.  Keep your friends close and your enemies closer, Akane."

"You talk too much."

"And you don't listen enough."

At the climax of the battle, Gridman would end it with his ultimate attack:  Grid Full Power Finish.

"Another one bites the dust.  But...I suppose it doesn't matter.  It'll all reset anyway.  Man...can't believe I'm quoting ole' Smiley Trash bag himself." Violet invoked Sans' name rather casually.

"Well.  I guess that's my friends' and my cue to skidoo."

"You..."

"Yeah.  Me." Violet dropped the disguise as she backed away to the edge of the building and spread her arms out...before falling backward off of it!

Akane charged over to the side and looked down...only for Violet to hover back up, arms crosse.

"I'll be around...just not in your world." Vi gave a wave before saying one last thing...and actually turning serious for it.

"I urge you to stop."

"You don't tell me what to do."

"Yeah...yeah, I guess I really can't.  Oh well.  You'll find out soon enough." Violet flew off toward where we had gathered.

"...thank you for your help defending the city." Yuta shook Asriel's hand.

"I guess this kind of makes us honorary members of the Gridman Alliance?"

"Sally!  That's a bit much to ask for!" Mitzi giggled.

"No.  You have proven yourselves." Gridman's image appeared on the computer, "Junk".

"Just know that we're looking out for all kinds of anime worlds like yours.  I mean...we didn't do much compared to how you destroyed that kaiju." I shrugged.

"A lot of people's lives were saved today.  That in itself is commendable." Calibur replied.

Bunnie turned to Yuta.

"A friend of yours is not here."

"Rikka?  Is she alright?"

"Yes...though...I believe she has someone she needs to see right now."

At the bus stop...

"Akane?  Are you okay?  I was worried."

"Of course you were.  That is your nature."

"Huh?"

"It's nothing.  Did you have something you wanted to discuss?

"Well...no.  No, not really."

And so a bus ride later...

Rikka thought back to Bunnie's words.

"Your friend hides another side to her.  Be on guard.  For you may not like the answers that will come to you when all is revealed.  She is...truly a troubled soul underneath.  For that reason...I think that you're the friend she needs...even though you were always intended to be the friend she wanted."

It didn't make sense. What the rabbit said to her. What was she getting at?

It would be something she'd have to worry about another time.

For now...

"Rikka!  Thank goodness you're okay!  We were really worried about you!" Jou felt like he had been holding his breath in anticipation they'd find out that Rikka was another casualty of a kaiju attack...and that they'd end up forgetting she existed once it all reset.

"Are you...okay?" Yuta asked.

"Huh...?  Yeah...I'm okay.  Just...it's just been a chaotic day."

"Right!  Because of the kaiju!" Jou concluded.

"Yeah...yeah, let's go with that."

As for us...

"So.  Want to tell us what that was all about, Vi?" I put her on the spot.

"Why, whatever are you talking about?"

"I know when you are hiding things from us, Violet.  However...in the interest of the situation...I'm going to let it slide.  We all have our secrets.  You're entitled to your own>."

"Cool, cool, cool!"

"Just don't say something like that again." Bunnie narrowed her eyes.

Asriel rubbed the back of his head, like he was confirming he knew the in-joke. "Oh boy...you'll never escape the flack from that one if it gets back to you, Zayto." He muttered, thinking about the new Red Ranger.

"Well.  I'm sure you had your reasons, Aunt Vi.  But...next time don't be so shady about these things."

"You got it, Goat Son."

We'd never get the whole story about it. But it didn't matter. This matter seemed like it didn't really need our intervention. Plus we had gotten a full report on it for our archives.

Violet sighed a mused to herself:  "Special Signature to Save a Soul". Meh...just doesn't have the same ring."

Sub-Entry 069:  "I Believe It's Magic":
"You sure you don't need any help?"

"I'll be fine."

"It's just that...this world you're headed off to.........it's a place where magic is everything and--"

"And I don't have any." Asriel admitted. "Which is why I'm the one to help out the Clover Kingdom's own curious anomaly."

"...yeah...the one boy born without magic."

"A young man who never had magic teamed up with a young man who lost his magic.  Never let it be said that you dont' have your own sense of irony, Asriel.

Still...I still wish you 'd at least take Sarina with you or another high-level magic user."

A moment of silence.

"I dont' exactly have Asgore or Toriel to lead me around by the arm."

That took me completely by surprise.

"...I--"

"Sorry.  That came out wrong." Asriel's eyes appeared underneath the shadow of his bangs, having previously disappeared under it.

The sistuation felt awkward...and yet we understood why each of us was as we were at that point.

"You're remembering...the spark of what you once had and..."

"I don't want to keep peering over the fence now that I remember my heratage.  I made do for fifteen years without the magical esper that the Dreemurr Family prided itself on."

"And you've been worrying that...now that you've decided to return to Undertale...your not sure what your people...your own family will think of a prince who doesn't have magic anymore.   Who's...changed so much at a fundamental level."

"I didn't mean to take it out on--"

"You didn't.  You didn't even really lash out.  If anything you sounded more down on yourself than irate at me."

"You're just looking out for me."

"Yeah.  And on that matter...  Asriel.  Do you have a contigiency plan?  You know...if your tech doesn't work?"

"Little Sister's advice from her friend comes to mind:  improvise or die.   I have a bigger toolkit than just the NX gear."

"Mojikara.  Hadou; both the Gouken wave fist style and the Soul Reaper demon arts.   Makeshift Science that Little Big Sister imparted on me.  And of course Splinter's lessons about sensing chi/ki."

"Yeah...not to mention..." I lifted Asriel's arm up and gave his bicep a gentle squeeze. "I'd be a little curious to see how your jacked body holds up against his."

"Oh stop."

"Seriously.  If you're going to help the Black Bulls with their situation--"

"Don't worry.  I have you on speed-dial if anything goes wrong.  You can have Sarina call in the calvalry at a moment's notice and...if things go REALLY wrong......don't hesitate to turn to Queen Brooke."

Our Queen versus a Devil from their world? Considering how the last devil they dealth with put the Clover Kingdom through the ringer...I was sure Brooke could hold her own. But I'd never escape that worry that the match-up wasn't as one-sided as I might thing. And the even greater worry that the match-up wasn't as even as I might think.

How badly would I kick myself if she ended up in another situation like Adonis had wrought upon us. A situation where he got the better of her when he summoned Omnitaru and had him drag her down to the depths of Gehenna.

And to think I used to use Trigon as the standard for how royally screwed a civilization was when an all powerful demon-lord sudden tore open a rift into their dimension.

"Well.  Good luck to you.  And...be careful.  You have...a home of your own to get back to when you return."

"Yeah.  We'll talk about it when I come back.  Maybe even bring souverniers."

Asriel stepped through the gateway as he put on his headphones and queued up Mick Smiley's one-hit single, "Magic".

"Empty Woods.  

Endless Tombs.

'You see me. I see you.'

In the crowd, see my face.

I love you."

Asriel emerged in the forest and continued his way. Eventually passing the resting grave-like resting place of Lumiere Silvamillion Clover  before the demon skeleton; the resting place of the First Wizard King. What a sacrifice he had made.

"Take my hand and walk with me.

Love you do will always be

Fantasy can come true

If you believe, believe it will"

Asriel was still staving off would-be girlfriends who'd chased after him for some time. Nearly every one was superficial at best. No one really understood him. Ironic that his adult self paralleled Hyperdeath's sad monologue about Chara.

Yet at this moment...he kind of did wish he was with someone special that he could hold their hand and walk together in this place.

He...kinda knew someone like that... ...but did that person even still remember him after all this time?

"I believe it's magic

I believe it's magic

I believe it's magic, magic, magic"

He thought back to when he managed to pull the Eighth Fallen's soul out from Ultimate Hyperdeath's soul collective out of countless others, including the Six Fallen. He was there for the prophecized when they needed help...when they needed to be saved while trying to save everyone.

"Here for you, that's what you said

I never felt like this woman, any woman

Strangers meet, strangers dream

Some call it love, I call it magic"

Was that the feeling in the back of his heart all this time? Was that the spark that let him remember? Was...I just thinking too deep into this?

"Now I'm in you and it feels so right

So hold on, hold on tight

Yes, it's true

I believe, believe in you"

Asriel always believed in people. And people believed in him. He'd earned that trust after they already had his to begin with.

"I believe it's magic

I believe it's magic

I believe it's magic

I believe it's magic

I believe it's magic

I believe it's magic, magic, magic..."

Asriel's eye's snapped open from his moment of reflection in time to become aware of his surroundings and the hostile creatures that zeroed in on him. At that point, the point the song changed and flipped over to a much different style.

"Those are the meanest, most monterous boars I've ever seen.  They make Beebop look good." Asriel wrinkled his nose as he jumped, doing the splits in mid-air as one charged under him in a fit of rage.

"My baby told me once"

Asriel hurled a Taiyoudama

"And my baby told me twice"

Asriel dodged and hurled two more, one from each hand.

"My baby told me three times

Three times nice"

This time he launched three in a triangle formation.

"Please

Please

Please, let's make some

I believe it's magic

I believe it's magic

I believe it's magic, magic

I believe it's magic

I believe it's magic

I believe it's magic, magic

Magic, magic"

Asriel leaped about, using his ninja training to put spins,  flips, twists, and other high-flying kung-fu manuevers to the ultimate show of mastery while attacking and counterattacking with as many fireballs as he could conjur.

"Turned my hand and walked with me

She said, "I'll tell you, Mickey, I do believe

In the power of love, your magic wand's

The thing that makes me sing this song"

Asriel suddenly snapped off the NX JoyCons from the NX Switchboard pro and ignited them.

"Expecto Patronus, jerks!" He said as he pointed each one outward in a T-Pose before pulling the triggers and launching laser blasts.

"Please

Please

Please

I believe it's magic

I believe it's magic

I believe it's magic, magic

Magic, magic, magic...."

Asriel had wiped the floor with all of them but the alpha leader and it looked like--

"BACK OFFFFF!!!"

Asriel whirled as he caught sight of the massive black blade belt the boar straight up into the stratosphere and came face to face with a spikey, white-haired young man in a black robe bearing a bull motif on the back.

"Thanks!  I owe you one."

"Whaaaaaa!  What kind of crazy thing are you!" The stranger jumped back.

Okay...manners where not his strongsuit.

"You...must be Asta." Asriel sweatdropped.

"Huh?  Yeah, that's me."

"I'm Asriel.  The um...help that you sent for?   As for what I am...well...I'm a goat.  So you're a--"

"I'm a Magic Knight and a proud member of the Black Bulls!  And some day I'M GOING TO BE THE WIZARD KING!" Asta pounded his fist against his chest.

"Well, I do admire a guy with a strong goal and determination."

"So you have crazy strong fire magic but...where's your Grimoire?"

"My what?"

"Come on!  You have to know what a Grimoire is!  Everyone has one on this world--"

"Yeah...well...I'm kind of an out-of-towner and...truth be told that wasn't exactly magic.  I...don't exactly have magic.  Well...not anymore."

"NO WAY!  You don't have magic, either!?"

"But you just said...!"

"I know, right!  I was born without a drop of magic but I still got a Grimoire!  And check it out!  It's the five-leaved clover!" Asta's book of magic hovered in place...completely black and radiating a dark essence.

"That sword of yours is impressive." Asriel touched blade.

"You're really not kidding!  You don't have magic!  If you did, it would be sucking it right out of you!"

"Ohhh...so...Anti-Magic DOES exist.  I knew I was wise to sit in on some of Sarina's classes at the Magic Academy."

"Oh no!  I totally forgot!  I have to get back to the Black Bulls or Captain Yami will be pissed!"

"I don't want to hold you up.  Since I'm here, why not offer you a ride."

"You have a broom?"

"Even better..."

And so...

"WAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!"

Asriel's NX Switchboard Pro was just big and powerful enough for the both of them to ride the wind.

"You sure this isn't magic!?"

"Nope.  Science."

"So you said you don't have magic any more!  How do you lose magic?"

"It's a long story.  The magic I was born with wasn't compatible with the world I was adopted into so...it kinda drained away and diffused or dispursed or something.  Probably converted to another form of energy.   I really don't know."

"But you were using fireballs like Magna."

He was referring to Magna Swing. Hot-tempered delinquint and user of Fire Magic. In constant rivalry with happy-go-lucky Luck Voltia--a lightning magic user with a borderline psychopath who was always smiling and always taking way too much enjoyment in challenging strong people to a fight (thus earning the nickname Luck the Cheery Berserker).

"It's...actually a body mutation.   Like a mutant power.  You know...sort of like how electric eels can generate electricity or...something like that..."

Asriel immediately could tell it was going over Asta's head. Yeah...obvious that Asta wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed but...

it was here Goat Son noticed that Asta was hefting that insanely big sword with ease. Yeah...he was clearly jacked under that clothing.

"It's complicated." Asriel finally gave up and went with the answer he gave whever he was sure someone was outside their box of comprehension.

And so...

"Sweet." Asriel looked at the small castle fortress that was the home of the Black Bulls.

And in no time Asta was meeting the team starting with er...

Asriel looked at the door marked WC like a deer in headlights.

"We'll...come back later..." Asta rubbed the back of his head.

"Captain Yami really doesn't like people interrupting his er...private time."

"Hey!  Keep down out there."

"We should got before--"

"One more interruption...and I'LL KILL YOU...!"

Asriel siddled away as Asta backed away.

"Well that was awkward."

The uh...less explained, the better. If I'd been there, I'd be having flashbacks of a certain weeb lizard needing to use the little pangolin's room. Apparently nobody can take a crap like the captain of the Black Bulls. Not my words. His own.

So first on the list...

Magna Swing. Yami's right-hand guy. Good-natured yet a temper like volcano. He owns a personalized magic broom, which he calls "Crazy Cyclone". Asriel wondered if Quidditch was a thing here. Though his inherent-mana is low, he maked up for this weakness by launching several low-magic fireballs with varying effects. Originally a commoner from Rayaka Village near the Clover Kingdom border, abusing his power in antagonizing the nearby village of Sosshi. He frequently fought against the village elder, sharpening his skills, before becoming his disciple, who influenced his choice to join the Magic Knights. I did mention his lop-sidded rivalry with Luck, right?

I think Asriel gained a new rivalry...albeit as one-sided as Luck's. Suffice to say Asriel's "Solar Creation Magic" proved to be Fire Magic's superior. Oh boy.

Luck Voltia. I already gave a description of this cheerful nut. With the demeanor of a Jim Carrey character, on the naive side...yeah. Born a commoner within Yvon Village and raised by a troubled woman before she died of stress, Luck was instilled with the notion that winning a fight is the same as being loved. This motivated him to fight stronger opponents to test his strength, joining the Magic Knights while gaining infamy from his conduct of nearly killing an opponent in the entrance exams. He and Magna are best friends and they have a good-natured rivalry.

I think afterward Asriel had a bit of fur-grooming to do. In the years with me, I'd never given him even one "static accident". I valued our friendship too much to ever zap him. Even by accident.

"So that's what being shocked feels like..." Asriel  moaned, coughing up a cloud. And the odd thing was...he'd made quite a strong friendship with him. The joyful laughter was...proof. Right?

Gauche Adlai. His magic type? Mirror Magic, augmented by the small mirror in place of his left eye, that let him create mirror clones of himself or another.

Asriel would learn "Gauche" was more than just a clever name. Oh boy...we both knew his type.

Gauche was originally a noble years prior when his parents died in an "accident" and then both he and his little sister Marie were robbed of their inheritance by another noble who cast them into the street. Gauche's devotion to Marie, which bordered on an unhealthy obsession that gave him a sister complex, motivated him to provide for her through criminal acts until he was arrested and Marie placed in an orphanage. Gauche was later recruited by Yami while attempting to escape prison and reach the orphanage. Though Gauche initially didn't get along with the squad, even making attempts on Asta's life when Marie developed a crush on the youth, Gauche eventually started to open up to the squad after seeing Asta's determination to work as a team.

Asriel just...pivoted on his heel and pretended NOT to see Gauche's nosebleed while gazing longingly at his little sister's photo. For anyone who knew anime cliches...that was just so wrong.

"I hope I don't find an AU where Chara and I have that kind of relationship..."

Ignorance is bliss, Goat Son.

Charmy Pappitson. A member of the Black Bulls who was constantly eating and often has food on her mind, being an adult despite her childlike appearance. While she uses Cotton Magic to usually create sheep that cook her meals, Charmy's magic has been seen to be extremely powerful as it has helped the squad out of more than one difficult situation, using a powerful binding spell, creating a giant sheep monster, and restoring people's magic, the only known spell that does so.

Every team need a healer. And Azzy found somemone who didn't end in an awkward friendship.

"You are just the cutest thing!  You're so fluffy I could eat you up!  But I wouldn't though!  Let me treat you to something wonderful!"

Though...he did end up walking away with a bit of a tummyache. Still worth it, though.

"That was sooooo good."

Vanessa Enoteca, Asriel would describe as very laidback. Visually, a pink-haired witch even down to all the cliches but definitely of the sexy variety. During Vanessa's childhood, she was estranged from her mother, the Queen of the Witches, when she tried awaken Vanessa's ability to alter a person's destiny by keeping her in captivity for most of her life. After being freed by Yami, she joins the Black Bulls to forge her own path. Her Thread Magic grants her the ability to create threads too thin to be detectable to even magic, letting her manipulate people and objects on the battlefield.

"..."  Asriel looked down where she was passed out among a couple empty bottles of wine.

"I'll come back later.  Nice to uh...meet you."

Grey (true name unknown). Every team needs its super-shy, shrinking violet. That person so embarassed by her appearance she spends more time hyding.

Although initially depicted as a mysterious and massive shadowy man, Grey's true appearance is later revealed to be that of an extremely shy blue-haired girl, who uses her skilled Transformation Magic to temporarily assume the appearance of another person. Her magic also allows her to transform magic into other attributes, such as converting Sally's Gel Magic into crystals or vines. Grey was abused by her stepmother and twin stepsisters, who forced her to do every chore. She runs away from home when her stepsisters attack her after she transforms into them to try to be accepted. She is nearly robbed, but is saved by a runaway Gauche, who tells her not to run if she is not prepared to survive on her own. She develops a crush on Gauche when she meets him again in the Black Bulls, though he does not recognize her as she was transformed during their first meeting. She often spends time around him and Gordon, due to Gordon also having communication issues.

"Eeep!  D-don't look at me!"

"Why not?  You're fine.  Don't worry.  I'm not going to hassle you."

It took some convincing but she finally did open up to him.

Though I'd have to say Asriels' next encounter...?

* staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaare*

Gordon Agrippa. Make no mistake,  Gordon was very friendly and cherished his comrades despite being misunderstood because of his pale and creepy appearance along with his whispering most of the time. But...yeah...that appearance. And there was the simple matter of...

* unintelligible whispering*

"Uh...?"

Asriel had to strain his ears just to make out what he was saying.

"Er...nice to meet you.  I'm Asriel."

* unintelligible whispering*

Also...the white makeup and German...biker(?) appearance did kind of make him look like he had just come from Police Academy's Blue Oyster Bar. But...don't judge on appearances. As...easy as that was to do in this case. Oh, man.

An expert in Poison Magic, specifically curses, Gordon came from a commoner family that specialized in curse magic that their ancestors used for murderous purposes. Because of this, he rarely interacted with anyone during his childhood, leading him to develop poor communication skills. He was further rejected during adulthood due to his Poison Magic, further increasing his desire for friends. He eventually starts speaking up more with his squamates, who accept him wholeheartedly. Gordon initially wanted nothing to do with his family since their legacy caused his childhood isolation, only to learn later that his father Nathan became a healer who uses their family's knowledge to locate and treat those who are cursed, which Gordon was unaware of due to his father being a poor communicator too.

Eventually...

"...of course!  It's so simple!  I had no idea how much of a philospher you are!  I certainly enjoyed this conversation.

* unintelligible whisper*

"Yeah, you too.  Stay out of trouble and I hope you make many more friends."

Zora Ideale -- cynical and often disrespectful member of the Black Bulls who used his versatile Ash Magic in creating various trap spells against his opponents, his most often used spell being one that rebounds an opponents spell at double the strength. He is harshly critical toward those he defeats. Zora's ideology developed as the result of the death of his father Zara, who looked up to Magic Knights and eventually joined the Purple Orcas as the first commoner Magic Knight. Zara was secretly killed by a teammate during a mission because of this. This disillusioned Zora, giving him a hatred of nobility and royalty, and made it his goal to put every corrupt Magic Knight in his place, refusing to wear his Magic Knight robe after Yami made him a member after defeating him in a battle. He infiltrates the Royal Knights Selection Exam under a false identity for his personal agenda, and constantly argues with Asta due to their drastically different personalities and worldviews. After witnessing his bravery, sense of justice and desire to work with others, Zora is inspired to work with others as well, and decides to officially declare himself as a Black Bull member. Though he still retains some of his arrogance and continues to argue with Asta, he joins the Royal Knights and fights alongside his squad against the Eye of the Midnight Sun.

"I haven't been that riffled on since my days with Chara..." Asriel felt like he had been through the wringer. His ears were metaphorically bleeding from that encounter. "A lot of attitude, that one."

Asriel's encounter with Henry Legolant was...lengthy. Not because he was held up or anything. It's just that the person in question talked...reallllly...reallllly....slowly.

The actual owner of the Black Bulls' base, using his Recombination Magic to remodel the building and rooms as he seems fit. Being bedridden due to an strange illness from birth, being born into a noble family, Henry prolongs his life with a magic absorbing constitution by passively siphoning mana from others. This forced his family to live in seclusion in the Common Region within the estate that would become the Black Bulls' base, the building itself stabilizing Henry's mana siphoning. When Henry's parents eventually left and never returned, Henry assumed that he would die soon until he was later found by Yami, and offered him ownership of upon his death. Yami refuses and instead tells Henry to survive as the base will soon be filled with many healthy and active people for him to siphon mana from. Since then, Henry expressed a sense of obligation to the Black Bulls. Though he speaks very slowly and does not reveal his existence to most of the Black Bulls for a long time, he secretly wanders the base to witness the camaraderie of the Black Bulls. Brief glimpses of Henry and the rearranging building lead to a rumor that a ghost haunts the Black Bulls' base.

The only members Asriel didn't get to meet were Secre Swallowtail and Nacht Faust.

So the last person on the list to meet was actually a pretty big deal as she was *ahem* nobility. Yup. That old song-and-dance. By this time in his life...Asriel has most certainly met other royals. Many who were...um......well, no real polite way to put it other than "stuck-up".

A silver-haired member of the Black Bulls and the fourth-born child of the Clover Kingdom's royal family, House Silva. While incredibly powerful as a royal, possessing a vast amount of mana, Noelle initially had trouble controlling her Water Magic with her older brother Nozel acting resentful to her as his way of protecting her from both harm and the truth behind the death of their mother Acier. While Noelle used a wand as a means to cope with this magic, she learns that she has been unconsciously holding herself back out of fear of hurting anyone. Eventually, her training and the positive feedback from her new friends in the Black Bulls allow her to overcome that flaw, displaying her full potential when fighting the elf Kivn and gains the ability to create water-based armor that increases her offense and defense. Noelle, wanting to help Asta, would later learn the truth of her mother's death being caused by a devil named Megicula. She harbors strong romantic feelings for Asta, though she is reluctant to express it.

In otherwords...a tsundere, as Violet would put it.

"I happen to be nobility!"

"Well.  From one royal to another."

"Do not mock me."

"No, it's true.  Family crest." Asriel showed off the Delta Rune. "First and only born prince to King Asgore and Queen Toriel Dreemurr.  That's the honest truth.   You're looking at an honest to goodness monster prince."

"See I told you the Black Bulls were awesome!" Asta whapped Azzy on the back a couple times.

Asriel actually stumbled a bit. Dang...Asta really was ripped.

The sudden appearance was enough to make Noelle clam up...and look a bit flustered. LIke she was trying to cover up how she was ready to deny that she had any interest in Asta at the drop of a hat.

"Well, I answered your call from my realm.  What's the trouble?  What did you need help with?"

That was about the time Yami slammed the bathroom door open, cigarette in mouth.

"What the Hell is this crap?"

"Uh...I can explain!" Asriel started.

"We got outside help to help us in our missions!  Isn't that awesome!?"

"Hmm...so....you're another brat without magic, huh?"

"Yeah, but...I make up for it in guts."

"Is that so"  Yami's presence was...intimidating at best.

"Well then.  You're gonna get a chance to prove it."

A bit later, Asriel was brought in to meet with all people...the current Wizard King, Julius Novachrono. He was.....not anything like Asriel was expecting. In the most prominant way? Younger. Much younger than expected. Azzy would get the...backstory of that another time. But in most ways...better than he was expecting. I guess the word Asriel was looking for was..."likeable".

This was a meeting that was...way above top secret. Just like the Wizard King's disappearance from the public eye after his supposed death during the Elf War incident in the capital. It was complicated.

Unfortunately due to this meeting and the time that came afterward...the rest of Asriel's journey had to be ommitted from his logs. As Violet, hoping to get the skinny on another "Shonen Jump World" put it..."What a gyp!". That said...

"Welcome back, Asriel.  Any trouble?"

"Nothing we couldn't handle.  But unfortunately nothing I can reveal either.  Solid promise to the Wizard King."

"Yeah.  I actually encountered many instances I had to do the same for STC reports.  Nothing new.  But...as long as you had it under control."

"Some day I'll be able to tell you about it."

"Yeah.  Some day."

Sub-Entry 070:  "Seeing the Future Unfold Before Our Very Eyes":
"We've pretty much gotten all our affairs in order."

"Yeah.  Still loose threads to wrap up and..."

"Yeah.  Something pretty big right around the corner." I looked at the box where Asriel's graduation cap and gown lay.

"Volt.  This is going to work out." Asriel put his hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eyes.

I wanted to stay optimistic. But right now...I was just really drained thinking about what lay ahead. Granted, we were already climbing up the mountain and once we reached that peak, it was all downhill from there.

We were on the bridge and crossing it.

There was no going back.

"Volt.  Best friend.  Baby steps, okay?" Asriel let go and headed off.

"Yeah.  What you said.  Like that.  No worries."

No. Too many worries.

I wasn't the only one deep in thought.

"I enjoy our moments together, Bunnie-chan.  You have excelled as a student and a teacher."

"Thank you, sensei."

"If I may be direct?  What troubles you?"

"You needn't ask.  I believe we all know the epicenter of this...concern."

"Ah yes." Splinter set the wooden tea cup down.

"The time draws near."

"Forging bonds is no easy task.  It takes refinement and skill like shaping clay until it is that perfect blend of smoothness intermixed with texture and detail."

"But once forged it will last forever.  Even if broken, the pieces can be glued together again and again.  Like the flower pot that has been broken apart."

Splinter was hinting at something I'd witnessed among one of the many Undertale AU's. Frisk attempting to bring a flower pot to Flowey and take him out of the Underground. But he refused and smashed the pot...only for Frisk to superglue it back together on the spot while Flowey watched, promising they'd offer again. It wasn't the hostility or the endless amount of attempts that intrigued me. Rather...it was that Flowey allowed Frisk to even reassemble it in the first place. And it wasn't the first time. His comment that Frisk was getting good at this...

It made me wonder.

"Of course." Bunnie nodded.

"You should focus on the wonderful times you have ahead.  The return to familiar places.  The reunions.  But most of all...that Volt-hakase's plan is finally reaching its conclusion.  Everything he worked for shall reap its just reward."

"Yes.  He would not have attempted this if he did not think we could actually do so.  And here we are.  About to make a miracle happen."

Elsewhere...

"I've got soooooooo much to decide!   What to pack?  What to wear!   And how much anime and manga I'm going to load Alphys up with!"

Violet was all over Computer Valhalla, sorting through costumes and games, and movies and stuff, trying to assemble the perfect loadout.

Violet wasn't going to wait for us to start preparing for the journey. She was already there.

"I hope Mettaton will be there!"

Stacks and stacks of cinema for Mettaton to absorb all the charisma and acting chops of the word's greatest performers on TV, on Broadway, on the silver screen, and MTV when MTV actually stood for Music Television. And a whole wardrobe for him to choose from when he went on tour.

Of course she couldn't forget about Blooky. No shortage of music to share with Napstablook and she couldn't wait to get have a jam session with Sally just for him.

Oh she was going to have some fun.

Sally, on the other hand had a discussion with me to prepare...something special for Undyne. That, asside, she spent her days in intense training and in workouts to get into top shape. Granted she'd want a rematch with all of us, and I was allll to willing to take a number...in the hopes I'd be the last she'd challenge. Maybe by the time she wore down after several battles, I'd stand a chance?

Do I give myself too little credit?

Ahem...anyway...

"It's going to be so much fun!  I can't wait!" Gadget was too excited to sleep even her usua 14 minutes a day. I was beginning to wonder how many all-nighters she could pull.

"I just want to to see everyone again!" She exitedly fiddled around with spare parts, inventing one thing right after another with Lil' Bulb standing by.

At Rock-Afire Pizzaria.

"Hmm..." Mitzi sorted through stacks of recipes a mile high that she had collected in her time working with Hestia.

She'd already arranged many of them in a master scrap-book of everything she wanted to make before we started actual prep work.

"Definitely." She had been spending days perfecting her equivalent of Toriel's recipe for Butterscotch-Cinnamon pie. That B.C.P  No way was she leaving this out.

Toriel was the obvious one she wanted to hook up with. But she had a couple others to reconnect with as well.

For one thing...she made sure she drew enough finances from her accounts just in case it got...expensive with Muffet.

And of course there was Grillby. Hopefully there was still a restaurant for him to do what he does best. And Mitzi was more than determined to help him with a lunch crowd.

Rotor...well...Rotor didn't have any stand-out relationships to fall back on. He was friend to everyone.

Then there were our human friends...and angels, where applicable.

Pit wanted to meet everyone. I still had reservations about...if it was a wise move bringing an angel...and ACTUAL angel to the Underground.

Well...I figured...what the Hell? It was best just just get it all out in the open.

Scott and Callista were a given. One way or another I had to bring the parents...to meet the parents.

This could become its own sub-entry if I let it. I'll...probably come back to this if and when it becomes an issue.

What about Drew? Did he have any interest in going off world?

And there were still others I felt I had to consider. People who weren't even part of Ultra Crew Institute. Would I dare bring Chameleon off world? I already rode the line with him coming aboard our starship in the final battle of the Crossover Wars. He had issues with space. What about going off words, through time, or crossing dimensions?

Marcel? Good question. Usually the only way I could get himn to tag along with UCIAT was if it was important...or lucrative. I wonder if he ever settled the rivalry with Lupin III?

So many others I hadn't named.

But in the end...I think all of us had a good idea of who was going...and who was staying behind.

Chapter 8

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