Sans immediately scrambles to the timeline monitor. Sure enough, there are several messages from Dr. Gaster, shouting at Sans to get over there. It doesn't look like he's gotten to the point yet, though, where he's threatening to drag himself from the Void to murder Sans.

Sans sits at the keyboard and starts typing.

>C:/TL_MONITOR: i'm here, i'm here!

>VOID: good.

>VOID: then you can explain to me just what you think you're doing.

>C:/TL_MONITOR: trying to build the machine and save you.

>VOID: then care to tell me why there are suddenly bits and pieces of machinery and papers and floor tiles everywhere here?

>VOID: or why i could feel myself being dragged deeper in, being erased further?

>C:/TL_MONITOR: uhh

>C:/TL_MONITOR: we started up the machine and the fold was unstable. it opened another hole, just like last time.

You can practically sense Undyne, Alphys, and Papyrus's confusion, so you tell them what happened. "That's why I told you not to start it up, Alphys.

>VOID: oh, so, in short, what youre saying is you screwed up my plans.

>C:/TL_MONITOR: what?! no!

>VOID: yup. the plans I gave you were practically quadruple checked, sans.

>VOID: i spent eternities maknig them.

>VOID: they were foolproof.

>VOID: and ya screwed it up, sans.

You can tell Dr. Gaster is joking. It's what he does. And he's good at it, too. Even after Sans came over to the monitor, you could tell he was still shaky from the last few resets. But Dr. Gaster has efficiently distracted Sans.

>C:/TL_MONITOR: pff, g, i think you made a mistake.

>VOID: me?

>VOID: not a chance.

>VOID: this is definitely all on you, sans.

Sans seems to realize that he's not gonna get any other sort of response from Dr. Gaster, so he moves on.

>C:/TL_MONITOR: well regardless of who's fault it is, what do we do to fix it?

>VOID: well...

>VOID: lets see...

>VOID: you could

And then there's a long silence, with no communication. It's not uncommon for Dr. Gaster to lose contact for a moment or two as he's overcome by the pain of interacting with the world, but that's always been accompanied by strings of gibberish text as he struggles to recover. And he's always left of his own violation, always said goodbye before leaving, never just gone silent before.

Sans seems to be getting concerned, too.

>C:/TL_MONITOR: are you still there?

The response is slow in coming.

>VOID: ... yes.

>C:/TL_MONITOR: are you ok?

>C:/TL_MONITOR: i mean, as much as you can be?

>VOID: ... yes.

>C:/TL_MONITOR: so what's the holdup?

>VOID: ...

>VOID: i don't think i can let you do this, sans.

>C:/TL_MONITOR: what? i'm not sure i understand.

>VOID: yes, i'm sure.

>VOID: im not going to tell you how to fix it.

Everyone is silent for a long time, not quite sure what's going on. Finally, Sans expresses everyone's confusion.

>C:/TL_MONITOR: why not?!

>VOID: because i can't let you.

>VOID: i thought i could. but i can't.

>C:/TL_MONITOR: can't WHAT?

>VOID: let you build the machine. let you keep trying to reach the void. let you recsue me.

>VOID: take your pick. any will do; they're all synonymous.

>C:/TL_MONITOR: but... WHY?

Dr. Gaster takes a long time to respond.

>VOID: because i've seen how it ends.

>VOID: ive seen each path this could take.

>VOID: every route this could follow.

>VOID: ive seen where every timeline ends up going.

>VOID: sans, ive even experienced it myself.

>VOID: someone is going to get hurt. killed. erased.

>VOID: i can't let that happen.

It almost seems like Sans doesn't quite know how to respond. But, after a moment, he does.

>C:/TL_MONITOR: but what about you?

>VOID: i've already been here for eternities. i'm fine.

>C:/TL_MONITOR: no you're not! we're gonna get you out of there!

>VOID: N O .

The arrival of Gaster's message is accompanied by a burst of static over the computer's speakers. It's loud, and everyone cringes.

>VOID: sans, listen to me.

>VOID: it's cold here. unbelievably cold.

>C:/TL_MONITOR: yeah, you've already said this.

>VOID: its so cold that usually, my soul is completely numb.

Your breath catches in your throat. His Soul is numb? You didn't even know that was a thing that could happen.

>VOID: usually, i can't feel anything

>VOID: nothing physical. nothing emotional.

>VOID: nothing at all.

>VOID: but the suffering that's in store for you if you keep building the machine?

>VOID: that hurts me, sans.

>VOID: and the thought of you being here, in the void?

>VOID: that hurts me in ways you cannot imagine.

>C:/TL_MONITOR: so i won't fall in. we'll rescue you.

You couldn't have said it better yourself.

Dr. Gaster isn't satisfied, though.

>VOID: please sans.

>VOID: the agony that will come if you continue isn't worth the results.

>VOID: shut it down.

>VOID: please.

Sans just sits there for a long time. Everyone does. Just wondering, wondering what's ahead.

Finally, Sans reaches for the keyboard again.

>C:/TL_MONITOR: no.

>C:/TL_MONITOR: no, we ARE coming for you.

Dr. Gaster is slow to respond.

>VOID: ...

>VOID: that is unfortunate.

>VOID: though not unexpected. you are too determined.

>VOID: if you will not shut it down, Sans...

>VOID: i will do it myself.

Sans sucks in a breath. You get his sentiment perfectly. Gaster isn't a man to bluff, but he's also implied he can't really do much with the world. So will he, or won't he?

Finally, Sans asks the question on everyone's minds.

>C:/TL_MONITOR: can you do that?

And Gaster is equally slow to respond.

>VOID: it will be painful. agonizing.

>VOID: but nothing compared to the pain it will save us all.

>VOID: please Sans. just make this easier for us. stop.

Sans presses his knuckles to his jaw. He's tense and nervous, you can tell. But it's his call; he's been the leader of this project the whole time.

And finally...

>C:/TL_MONITOR: i cant.

>VOID: ...

>VOID: i thought as much.

>VOID: i am sorry, sans. i really am.

>VOID: i'm sorry.

Something explodes and you all duck behind the control panel.

>VOID: please don't try to rebuild, sans.

There's another explosion, and something looking like a solid tendril of pitch black oil suddenly crashes down on a part of the machine, crushing it.

>VOID: please give up.

The tendril curls around the machine and rips it up, then smashes it into the floor again. Around the room, more tendrils are doing similar things to other bits of the machine.

>VOID: please stop hurting me.

The machine is reduced to rubble in a matter of minutes.

>VOID: i'm sorry, Sans. but this is for the best. for everyone.

And the black tendrils sort of collapse, liquifying and draining away, leaving behind nothing but a twisted heap of destroyed machinery.

>VOID: I'm sorry.

One final tendril crashes down, cutting off for good the communications to Dr. Gaster, crushing the control panel and destroying the timeline monitor.

Everyone just stares at the wreckage.

§

A/N

And you all thought Gaster was gonna cheer Sans up. [=

Anyway, thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it! Comments and votes are my Favorite Things, and every notification I get makes my day!