Mad Science

Samas made her way to the Capital, where her family awaited. Upon entering the home, a sweet smell filled her nostrils. 'Mother must have made dinner.' she thought, quickly brushing it off.

However, when she made it into the kitchen, all she saw was a pie, now cold. How long had it been sitting out? How late was it?

She made her way to the bedrooms, and before she could open the door to her room, it opened on its own. Inside, was her eldest brother, Edrege First Captain Of The Royal Guard.

He was large in stature, rivaling even father in his size. He was already donning his armor, yellow and white. Like those of holy scriptures, donning a mace even bigger than his head, no, maybe even the size of Samas herself.

"You're late," Edrege said bluntly, he was searching Samas' room when she had shown back up. "Did you run off with that mad scientist again? You are aware he only holds the position of a royal scientist because of his brother! He is insane Samas!"

Samas was unfazed by her brothers' insults, instead, she just walked past him into her room. "You know, I don't appreciate you snooping around in my room and judging my personal life"

Edrege was unfazed by his sisters' snide remark, not showing much emotion. "My job as the first captain is to ensure the safety of the royal family, I cannot achieve this if you're running off with Lunatics like Roman!"

Samas tried to remain steadfast in her emotions, but she wasn't as stoic as her brother. "All of you have something!" She screamed "You have your position as first captain! Asriel and Chara are running their tea shop! What do I have?! All I have is science and Dr Roman! So don't you judge me when you've been given it all!"

This seemed to chip into Edrege's stoic armor, and he quickly snapped back with a soft anger of his own. "You'd have it all if you spent time with your family! Do you have any idea what today is?! Today was Asriel's eighteenth Birthday! And you missed it! To spend time with Roman! You'd rather spend your time with him than with your own family!"

Edrege's words rang true, but Samas wasn't willing to hear them, brushing aside her brothers' words she simply asked "Where's dad"

He had no response, just a sigh filled with disappointment and sadness "Father took Asriel and the family to meet with Dr Gaster. To see the progression of his work."

Samas nodded, quickly rushing off, but stopped when a question burnt into her mind "Why didn't you go with them?"

"Because I was worried about you Samas. Despite everything you're still my sister, and I love you. With Asriel and Chara being as close as they are, when Mom and Dad pass, we are all that we will have. I just wish you showed you cared more"

Samas didn't think about it, it broke her heart, but she knew her and Dr Roman's work was meant to save the very universe… and to save Asriel and Chara. So without another word, she ran off.

***

'The core… my brother's lifeblood.' Roman thought as he walked through the corridors of this massive contraption.

"A bit tacky" he couldn't help but say aloud, chuckling at himself, until a familiar voice chimed in

"Tacky but efficient, I would say"

Roman quickly turned to face his brother. When face to face with him, Roman couldn't help but laugh, patting his brother on the shoulder "Oh you know I meant nothing by it, we just have different tastes in design is all"

Gaster however wasn't amused, brushing Roman's hand away and staring deep into Roman's eyes, as if gazing at his very soul. "You're meant to be a Royal Scientist Roman, present yourself as such"

Gaster quickly grabbed hold of Roman's lab coat and pulled it fully over his shoulders, even buttoning it for him. "And also act like it! Concerning yourself over design! All the shady things you do, do you have any idea what the people say about you?"

Roman was no longer amused. Slowly unbuttoning his lab coat once again, and sliding it halfway down his shoulder. "I do not care what others think of me, Brother. My work won't just save all of Monsterkind, but all life itself! From a curse you couldn't even begin to comprehend!"

"What you are is a-"

Gaster was quickly cut off by his brother, speaking over him. "Did I say I was finished?!"

Roman collected himself and let out a small laugh "Sorry, I lost my temper. Brother, I've discovered anomalies to our existence, to our very universe. Not only that, but I've found set points in time guaranteed to happen! I'm working on preventing these set points! To prevent our world from being plunged into a perpetual loop of determination!"

Gaster was taken a bit back by Romans words. "Determination? Young Chara's soul trait? What about it?"

Roman cracked a smile as he spoke, he'd finally one upped his brother. "The determination soul is magnificent! As long as the user wishes to persist, the will. Even through death! They will just return to life ar a set point in time, erasing the memories from everyone of the following events as if they didn't happen! I've seen it!"

Gaster now composed, frowned, turning his back to his brother "You're speaking of madness Dr Roman… stop you're lunacy at once, or you will be removed from the labs. Find something better to fill your time"

And with that, Gaster retreated from his brother, his mind wandering. 'If Roman has discovered the nature of Chara's soul… this could be dangerous. Only a select few were allowed to know this, how could Roman have figured it ou-" His thought was cut short as Samas ran past him towards Roman, greeting him.

"So that's your game Roman… winning royal favor." Gaster scoffed and continued his leave. He had to meet with the king."

***

'Life has been magnificent' A young girl thought, gazing at her best friend as they entered a wonder of science, The Core. Almost completed, it stood as a beacon of hope for monsterkind.

It hasn't been too long ago she claimed Mt Ebott to take her own life, but now, such thoughts didn't even cross her mind. She was finally truly happy.

"Chara!!!"

She was snapped out of her trance and looked to Asriel, who had just called out to her.

"Hey! Chara! You were staring off into space again! I called out to you multiple times!" He jested, looking at Chara with Amusement.

She just gave him a small smile, trying not to laugh. She admired Asriel's older brother Edrege, and wanted to be like him, so she figured she should remain stoic. "Yes, sorry, I was just reflecting on how far everything and everyone has come. I mean, look Around us Asriel, power… for the whole underground right at our fingertips! Gaster has really outdone himself"

She was at a loss at how amazing this was, centralized power for a whole species. Humans could never.

She felt her first crinkle into a ball at the thought of humans, but quickly managed to stifle her anger. "I'm surprised you're not lost in your own head Azzy, you're eighteen now! Which means you are now a candidate as rightful heir of the underground!"

Asriel got a bit embarrassed, laughing sheepishly "I wish it were that simple. You forget my competition is Edrege. The most beloved monster in the underground second only to my Dad. I'm happy to be an heir, but I'll never be king, but that's fine, as long as I have you and Edrege… I'll have nothing to worry about"

Chara gave him a small nod, when from the corner of her eye, she saw a figure. Quickly turning to it, she saw Samas, standing a bit away, looking down

"Oh! Samas! It's good to see you!" Chara took a step towards her sister but stopped when she saw something fall from Samas' face down into the core… a tear.

Samas quickly turned and ran from Chara, but Chara quickly gave chase, hearing Asriel and Asgore call out for her as she ran after Samas. "Samas! What's wrong?!"

Chara gave chase to Samas, going deeper and deeper into the lab and away from the core, into what seemed to be a pitch black series of halls. Using only the sound of Samas' tiny footsteps to guide her.

"Samas! Samas where are you? I just want to know if you're okay. I saw you crying"

Chara proceeded deeper into the darkness, no longer able to hear Samas' footsteps. She could no longer tell up from down. It was all a total haze. She kept going deeper into the darkness, but fear began to grip her heart as this void of darkness began to fill with whispers.

She couldn't understand what they were saying, not a word. She felt as if something was grabbing onto her very soul, as if her heart would be ripped from her chest at any moment. That's when she saw it, a light.

Relief filled her as she ran towards the light as fast as possible, it seemed so warm. Its golden hues give off a vibrant welcome as she approaches.

"Good work Samas"

A voice rang out as she came within inches of the golden light, feeling an intense sting in her neck as if she had been stabbed.

"You brought her right to me"

She felt all strength leave her body as she fell to the floor. Helpless to whatever fate awaited her, total fear washed over her once again.

"Let's begin our experiments… shall we?"

The last thing she heard was a laugh, so familiar… yet so strange… the light was getting brighter, before it all faded, to black.