Sadie Byers considered herself very mature for her age. Nobody else in her grade got trusted to be home alone! No, she was smart, and mature, and when the little blue girl tried to make her open the front door she remembered stranger danger and kept it shut. She did everything right.

But… if she did everything right, then how come the big yellow person was able to barge in and take her anyway? Maybe she didn't do everything right. Maybe she did something wrong, and this was her punishment for not listening. Oh, when was her punishment going to end? When could she go home? It seemed like it was going on forever! It wasn't fair!

Sadie Byers considered herself very mature for her age. But that night, she curled up on the pink floor and cried for her mummy.

"Pah. Look at it." Holly Blue stabbed her finger at the small human in the medical cell. "What's wrong with these new humans? We're satisfying all of their needs, but they don't follow the routine, they don't interact with others of their species, they don't do anything! Disgraceful. They're in no shape to present to Blue Diamond. Amethysts, what's wrong with them?"

The Amethysts shrugged and shook their heads. 8XJ, finding herself near the front of the crowd, piped up.

"We don't know, Holly Blue. We-"

Holly struck her cheek with the back of her hand. "Don't lie to me! This, this is sabotage. Ever since those… visitors came, the whole cut of you has been conspiring to make me look bad! No wonder Aquamarine refused to speak to me; with off coloured Earthlings like you on this station, I'm more surprised she lowered herself to come here at all! Deactivating these humans, popping Rose Quartz bubbles-"

"Holly, we didn't do that-"

"-Arguing with their commanding Agate! This can't go on. Amethysts, if I find one more inactive human in this ward before Blue Diamond arrives, I will have you replaced. All of you. That will be all."

"But-"

"That will be all. Return to your post, 8XJ."

8XJ sighed, then saluted Holly Blue before filtering off with the other Amethysts. They all split off down hallways in little groups, whispering in hushed, worried tones.

8XJ walked alone. She cast a million little glances over her shoulder as she took a turn that was not in the direction of her post.

8XJ reached a door. A pink door, with a lock Amethysts were not allowed to use.

8XJ knocked.

"Tiny Mabel?" 8XJ whispered. "Are you there?"

There was no answer. 8XL sighed.

"I know you're in there, Tiny Mabel. And look, if you don't wanna come out, don't come out. That's fine. Just, please, don't pop any more of those bubbles, okay?"

8XL waited for a reply, a noise, anything that would indicate the human inside was listening.

8XL heard nothing, nothing at all. She clenched her fists.

"Fine. Do what you want, human. But I'm not coming back here anymore – it's too risky. Find your own way out."

And 8XL turned on her heel and left. She cast one last glance over her shoulder before turning down another corridor, and heading back to her post.

And the pink door stood silent. Closed.

Dipper had to admit… the treehouse was pretty cool. It was little more than a pile of branches bundled up between two thick limbs, but it was more than big enough for the two of them and high up enough that they could see most of the Zoo. Considering the resources Laramie had available at the time, it was impressive.

"So?" Laramie leaned forwards. "What do you think, little buddy?"

"It's, um, nice." Dipper cracked a smile. "So are you like your last name?"

"Huh?"

"Carpenter? Because, you, um, built a treehouse, and your last name is Carpenter, and I was trying to ask if you're like your last name… nevermind. I like the treehouse."

Laramie paused for a second, a blank expression on his face. Then he blinked. "Ooooh! I get it now! No, I'm not a carpenter, I'm a security guard. Worked at that place for a whole six months before I got taken here."

"Huh. So how did you get taken?"

"I was on duty by a gate when this little girl comes up to me and starts rattling off a list of names-"

"Was she blue?"

"Yeah, she was real blue." He pointed to his cheek. "Had a teardrop right here."

"Aquamarine."

"Yeah, blue, aquamarine, whatever you wanna call it. So I hear my name, and I'm like, 'yeah, that's me', and she's like, 'You're a Lars?' and I'm like, 'Yeah dude, I know what my name is." Lars made a face. "And then she got kinda angry with me, we shouted a bit and then this huuuge – I think the lady called her Topaz – came lumbering up, and, ah, well, I knew I'd lost at that point. I still punched her in the face though."

Dipper cringed. "Yeesh… how'd that go over?"

"She did not even blink, little buddy. It was nuts." He cupped his hand over his wrist. "She caught my fist and dragged me kicking and screaming into the nearby cornfield, where her weird spaceship was waiting to take me off to wherever this place is. And that's where I've been ever since! Here. All alone." His eye twitched. "In my treehouse."

Dipper frowned. "Wait, you were the cornfield guy. I-I read about you!"

"They did a story about me?"

"Yeah, in my magazine. It's about paranormal stuff, and-"

"I'm famous!"

"Well, it's a little niche-"

Laramie punched the air. "I'm famous! Oh, that's awesome! I thought that time I photobombed a news reporter at a football game was my fifteen minutes of fame, but apparently I've got thirty minutes! Hell yeah!"

"Yeah, man. You're famous. Good for you."

Everyone, come to the lake! It is time to take a bath!

Dipper rolled his eyes. He heard a rustling in the bushes, one of the Zoo humans making their way towards them, a big smile on his face.

"Depper! Lars of sorts! It is so nice to see you! Where have you-"

"Oh, no, no, no." Laramie stood up and pointed down at them. "You stay away from my little buddy, with your creepy grin and happy happy rainbow voice! Go on, get out! Shoo!"

The Zooman tilted his head to the side. "I do not understand what you are saying, Lars of sorts."

"Yeah, yeah, that's what you all say. Get out of here!"

"I know how you are feeling! You are nervous!" He stretched his arms out. "Would you like a hug?"

Laramie clenched his fists. He picked up twigs and started chucking them at the Zooman, who stood there passively. "Get out! Get out! Get away from me, I don't want to see you, I don't want to hug you, I don't want to take a bath with you just get out and leave me alone, you awful awful-!"

"Whoa, whoa!" Dipper caught his arm. "Easy, there, big guy. It's okay."
The Zooman smiled. "That was a fun game! Would you still like a friendly-"

"No! No, thank you, he doesn't want a hug. Hey, why don't you go off to the lake? We'll, uh, meet you there."

Don't you want to wash off in the lake?

"See? That's what the Little Voice wants you to do so, uh, go do it, man."

The Zooman nodded. "Yes, I will go to the lake like the Little Voice says! Meet you there, Depper, Lars of sorts!"

Then the Zooman turned and ran off into the forest, leaving Dipper and Laramie alone. Dipper turned to Laramie, his eyebrows raised in concern.

"Hey man, are you okay?"

Laramie took a few deep breaths before he responded. "I'm fine… I'm fine. You know, I-I've spent so long with nothing but these guys and the Little Voice, the Little Voice all day long in my ear telling me don't I want to do this and don't I want to do that… I just… I can't handle it." He looked up at Dipper. "I'm sorry, little buddy. I tried, so hard, but I don't know how I'm going to get us out of here. I'm not a smart guy, I don't know what any of this means. I don't know what I'm supposed to do here! I just… I want to go home. Take a shower. Sleep in something that's not a treehouse."

"Me too. We'll figure something out." Dipper thought for a moment. "In fact, why don't we go back to all the places you tried?"

"Do you really think you'll find something?"

Dipper had never been all that great at cheering people up. He wasn't a people person; Mabel was. But when Laramie stared up at him, tears streaking down his face from missing his home, he knew he had to get out of his comfort zone.

"We'll find something." He gingerly patted Laramie's shoulder. "I mean, we've got to get out of here, right?"

He shrugged. "Yeah, but how? We're in a human zoo guarded by super powerful aliens, floating who knows where in space. Even if we wanted to escape, how're we gonna do that?"

"Well… we'll… uh... I mean, first, we've got to look around-"

"And I've done that, over and over and over." He sank back against the trunk of the tree, staring off into space. "Face it, little buddy. We're stuck here. What can we do against aliens who invented actual space travel? We're just animals to them… animals who get put in a zoo and gawked at. Our lives, our friends, our family… we're never gonna see them again." He put his head in his hands. "Oh my god."

Dipper just stared at the ragged man, wanting so bad to have some plan, some evidence – even just a scrap – that'd prove him wrong, make his little speech stop making so much sense.

"My sister Mabel came with me," He blurted out. "And she isn't in the zoo. Maybe… maybe she somehow found a way?"

Laramie didn't speak, didn't lift his head up, didn't react at all. Dipper clenched his fists.

"Well, I think she did. There's got to be a way out of here! There's just got to be. And if there's a way out, I'm going to find it." He walked to the edge. "I'm going to check the door again."

Dipper scrambled down the tree, and landed with a stumble. After brushing himself off, he turned and headed back in the way of the pink door. He was well on his way when he heard a "Wait!" from behind.

He turned to see Laramie running to catch up. "Wait a sec, little buddy," He panted. "I'm coming with you."

Dipper raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? You seemed pretty sure that this was hopeless."

"Um…" His cheeks reddened. "I mean, look. I-I didn't want to stay up there, all alone."

"Okay. Let's go, then."

"Thanks, little buddy! And hey, maybe, maybe you will find something, huh? A fresh pair of eyes can't hurt!"

Dipper rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

Another night in Beach City. The moon shone down on the little house built into the rock, revealing a figure leaning against the balcony.

"Is this the alien you saw yesterday, Soos?"

"Yes, Mr Pines."

"Good. This appears to be a routine for them." Ford put away his binoculars, and scooted back from the edge. His face was shrouded in darkness as he pulled out something from his coat and began to tinker with it. "We'll have to be prepared. We only get one shot at this."

Stan drew out his bat. "Oh, don't worry. I'm prepared all right. Are you?"

Ford pressed a button on what was in his hands. A whirring noise started up, and then electricity arced up and back around, bright yellow and crackling. Soos shielded his eyes. Stan grinned.

"Fancy. What is that, a taser?"

"Something similar to a taser, yes. I'm testing out a concept; if it works the way I think it will, we'll have a much easier time capturing the alien."

"Sounds good to me!"

Soos eyed the taser nervously as Ford pocketed it. "It looks kinda dangerous, Mr Pines. What if it doesn't work?"

"It'll still hurt, I'm sure." He rose to his feet. "That's all we need."

"I hope it hurts. Suckers deserve it for taking Dipper and Mabel. Now come on, let's go get that alien!"

"Shh, Stanley!"

"Sorry. Let's go get that alien. Grab a bat, Soos."

Soos gingerly picked up a bat, and followed them as they started the long trip down the hill. The moon illuminated them the whole way; once they were on the beach, they stuck to the shadows by the cliff face.

"We're getting close now." Ford said in hushed tones. "Everybody must be absolutely silent, Soos."

"Heh, good one, Mr-"

"Shh!"

"Sorry."

Soos was aware of every breath he took, every step he made in the sand as the beach house came into view. All the lights were off, and they were below the alien on the balcony, but one noise could alert the whole group to their presence. Soos did not want that – he'd watched the tape with the yellow alien enough times.

But there was also something about this alien, something much less threatening. What was she staring at? The stars?

Somebody jerked his arm. Stan led him towards a rope ladder Ford had secured around one of the legs of the house, directly under the alien. Ford motioned him to climb, and he did.

His foot slipped on one of the rungs, but he recovered. Ford dragged him up the last few and placed him to the side. Soos looked up while they waited for Stanley, but he could see only darkness.

Ford tapped on his arm. He pointed up, and Stan nodded. They looked towards him, and he nodded too.

Silently, they made their way toward the edge, towards the balcony. Soos could see two arms from where he was standing, hands relaxed and drooping downwards. They almost looked a little green, though it was hard to see in the moonlight.

Stan passed Ford a rope, and he inched a little closer to the edge. He breathed in, and he breathed out.

Then he surged upwards and wrapped the end of the rope around the alien's hanging wrists.

"Hey, what-" Soos could hear before Stan and Ford pulled downwards. The alien cried out as it was dragged off the balcony and below the house. "Who are you? Let me go! Let me go, you cl-"

Stan clapped a hand around the alien's mouth. It wriggled and fought against the restraints, legs kicking wildly. "Help me, Soos! Hold it down!"

Soos caught one of her legs. The alien's head jerked up, and she glared at him before aiming kicks in his direction.

"Ow!" Stan retracted his hand. "Sonuva- it bit me!"

"Help! Help! Steven!"

"Do it now, Ford!"

Ford drew the taser from his coat.

"Steven! Amethyst! Gar-"

And jabbed it into her side. There was a great poof of air, and Soos coughed and waved away the dust clouds that it had stirred up.

It was then that he realized he wasn't holding a leg anymore. And when the clouds cleared, he could see the alien had disappeared entirely.

A cold lump formed at the pit of Soos' stomach. "Oh, no, dudes. We killed her!"

"No, we didn't." With a little grin, Ford picked something up from the ground. "My theory was true. They're holograms."

"What do you mean?"

"Save the questions, Soos." Stan hissed. "A light just went on in the house. We gotta run."

"Where?"

"This way!" Stan raced down the rope ladder and started running down the beach, Ford close behind him. Soos tried his best to catch up.

"Soos, run faster!"

"I'm trying!"

"Peridot?" They heard a voice from the house, and Stan swore under his breath. They were in sight of the town now, just a little farther…

"Peridot? Where are you? Peridot!"

"Where do we go, dudes?"

"Uh… in here!" Stan led them behind some sort of doughnut shop. He picked the lock, opened the door- and immediately ushered them out. "Nevermind, burglar alarm. Get out, get out."

"Peridot!" The voice was getting closer, louder. Stan hesitated for a moment, then pointed at the dumpster nearby.

"There. There's our hiding spot. Go!"

Stan hoisted open the lid, and Ford jumped inside. Soos made a face.

"That really stinks, dude-"

"Go!"

Soos climbed inside. Stan followed, and eased the lid closed. It was pitch black; Ford turned on a flashlight.

They were all here. They were all safe. Stan began to grin.

"Sheesh, it really does stink in here."

Maybe it was the adrenaline dying off, but they all found that very funny. Soos held his nose and giggled along.

"Yeah, dudes, I really thought we were done for after we got the alien." He paused. "Where is the alien, anyway?"

"Right here." Ford opened his hand, revealing a bright green gemstone that shone brilliantly in the light.

"Jeez," Stan's eyes widened. "Thing's the size of your palm. How much d'you think it'd go for?"

"It's not a regular gemstone, Stanley."

"I know. Just speaking hypothetically." He carefully took it from Ford. "So this is our alien, huh?"

"Yes. They're clearly some sort of light projection from this gemstone, which is what I originally thought when I saw the security tapes."

"So, what do we do with it?"

"I'm guessing at some point, it'll form a new projection. We just have to get it to a secure location and wait until then."

"Alright." Stan sat back, staring at the green gemstone. "You just wait, little guy. You're gonna tell us where Dipper and Mabel are, whether you like it or not."