Rise of Orion

By: Bubbajack

Beta: Grammarly, IcySnowSage

Disclaimer: I don't own Gravity Falls or anything else in this fic.

Ch.6: Society of the Blind Eye.

Soos was glad Giffany was so excited to meet his Abuelita. It was offsetting his nervousness. The handyman hadn't stopped sweating since Giffany told him she wanted to properly meet his Grandmother. 'It's gonna be fine. Your gonna be fine Soos, you got nothing to worry about.' Soos repeats to himself in his head like a mantra or prayer.

Or so he kept telling himself as he approached his Abulita's door, one arm interlocked with Giffany's. Soos reached in his pocket with shaky hands looking for his keys only to drop them on the ground. Giffany picked them up before he could even bend over. She handed them back with a sincere smile. "Do not worry Soos. Your Abuelita sounds like a lovely understanding woman. I'm sure if we explain the… unique situation between you, Melody, and I, she will understand."

"What if she doesn't dawg?" Soos fretted. "What if she kicks me outta the house? Where will I go?"

Giffany took Soos' hand in her own, something she took great joy in being able to do and gently patted it. Reassuring him as she did so. "Did you not mention the Mystery Shack having a spare room? Also I'm sure Mason would be more than willing to set up a room for you if you asked in the gigantic spaceship he is currently living in.."

Soos nodded while putting a hand to his chest as he did so. "Yeah, yeah you're right Giff, thanks."

The gynoid smiled at her boyfriend. "You are most welcome Soos. Now, shall we greet your Abuelita?"

"Are you going to come in or keep freaking out on the stoop?" An elderly but kind voice asked.

Soos looked up at the front door to see his Abuelita standing in the now open doorway. The elderly woman was giving Giffany a once over. She was happy her grandson brought another girl home but she has a very bad feeling of what's going on here... "This girl, she is not the one you brought to your cousin's wedding."

Giffany shook her head but politely introduced herself. "No Ma'am. I'm Giffany… Evergreen. I am a close friend of Soos'. It is nice to finally meet you. Soos has told me so much about you I feel as if we've already met."

Abuelita looked to Soos. "I like her, she is polite. Come in come in. I cook."

Giffany and Soos followed Abuelita into the house. When the older woman went to the kitchen, Giffany followed asking, "Do you require any assistance ma'am?"

Abuelita shook her head, sending her grey perm wiggling. "No, no. You are a guest. You go and sit. I'll be out shortly."

"Very well if you need help just call," Giffany told her smiling before going to sit next to Soos.

True to her word Abuelita came out a few minutes later, a tray of dinosaur-shaped sugar cookies in one hand, and a tea set in the other. She placed them on the coffee table between them before sitting down in her recliner. She served the tea asking, "Sugar, cream?"

"No, thank you," Giffany replied taking her tea plain and a cookie to go with it.

Once everyone was served, Abuelita calmly fixed her gaze on her grandson, who she raised as if she were her own child. "So Soos, you have something to tell me, yes?"

Soos took a breath. 'It's now or never! Time to be a man Soos.' The handyman thought to himself. "Abuelita, I… I am seeing both Giffany here and Melody… at the same time."

Abuelita sighed. "I had hoped it was not so, but it seems you are just like your Abuelo Soos." She glared at the ground. "Curse you!"

Giffany interjected. "Please, it is not what you think ma'am. Both Melody and I entered this relationship willingly knowing full well about each other. Your grandson isn't a two-bit philanderer."

Abuelita's eyebrows rose to her hairline. She was surprised that this woman would defend her grandson so fiercely, and admit to choosing into being in such a relationship. It was vexing to her. "You defend my grandson, and admit to being in… less than moral relationship with him, why?"

Giffany blinked. "Why? Well because, doing it like this, allows everyone to be happy ma'am. Whether you believe it or not both Melody and I are quite taken with Soos. Neither one of us wanted to hurt either each other or him, so we decided to compromise. Since Melody was only here on a temporary job and was asked first, she went with him to the wedding. Afterward, however, she needed to head home. Then it was my turn. When she is able to come visit she will have her time with him. It is our choice."

Abuelita nodded. "You are a very bold young lady. Most would not have done what you just did, defending what most would consider a poor choice."

Giffany clasped Soos' hands. "It may be a poor choice ma'am, but it is ours."

"Yeah, the three of us, we're cool with this Abuelita," Soos said with all the sincerity he could muster looking at Giffany with genuine care in his eyes.

Abuelita much to their surprise smiled. "I can see that you care very much for this girl Giffany Soos. I saw the same look on your face when you were at the wedding with Melody. Perhaps I worry too much? If I can see the same look in your eyes when you look at two different women, then maybe all will be well."

Soos breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Abuelita. That means, so, so much to me. Honestly, the last thing I want is to disappoint you."

"Mijo," Abuelita said sharply getting his attention. "You have been working since the age of twelve. Working hard even though that useless bastard of a father- Ahem, excuse me- your father left. I have been nothing but proud of you Mijo, and don't ever think even for a moment I've been anything but, understood?"

Soos nodded an unshed tear in his eye. "Yes, ma'am."

"Good, you go take shower now and get ready for work," Abuelita told him.

Soos nodded and gave Giffany a quick peck on the cheek causing the girl to blush as he walked off.

Once Soos' was gone Abuelita address Giffany. "Soos, has been through much, was hurt by the people who should have cared the most."

Giffany nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

Abuelita narrowed her eyes. "Do not hurt my Mijo, he has gone through enough already… you hurt him and well… people go missing in Gravity Falls all the time, what is one more no?" Abuelita said with a shrug.

Giffany took the elderly woman's threat in stride, she'd said and done worse in her days. "I promise you, ma'am, neither I nor Melody has any intention of harming Soos."

Abuelita nodded. "Good, good we understand each other… A question if I may?"

"Go ahead, ma'am?" Giffany replied unsure what the woman wanted to ask.

"Your arms and legs, what happened to them?"

Of all things, Giffany didn't expect this. She didn't expect the woman to ask about her prosthetic limbs. Giffany made up a quick lie. "When I was younger, there was an accident involving some faulty computer equipment. I was badly electrocuted, my arms and legs were amputated below the knee and elbow as a result."

Abuelita closed her eyes in silence. "I see, I apologize."

Giffany shook her hands, "No, no it's alright. It happened years ago. I'm quite used to it."

"You are strong, survivor," Abuelita noted.

Giffany smiled. "Thank you, your grandson, he was the first person to see me and accept me for who I was. That… meant more to me than I could ever explain." the Gynoid reminisced. "He didn't care that I was different, he just saw a person, I… I can't put it into words, what that meant for me." Giffany was tearing up a little and Abuelita handed her a tissue.

"You are a good girl," Abuelita repeated her earlier assessment.

"Thank you," Giffany replied whether for the tissue or the compliment went unsaid.

Soos came out from his room wearing a fresh Mystery Shack uniform. "Ready to go Giff… is everything ok dudette?" He asked in concern upon seeing her dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.

"Everything's just fine Soos. We were both just talking about a certain someone we were both very familiar with." Giffany told him.

Soos blushed. She showed you my baby pictures didn't she?"

"No, but now I'd like to see them," Giffany confessed. She got up and grabbed Abuelita's hands, "Another time perhaps?"

"I'll have them ready the next time you come over." The older woman promised, a teasing gleam in her eyes.

"You two are just awful." Soos huffed as his face turned crimson, and he fanned his face with his hat.

The two women giggled. "Do not take it so hard Soos, it is just what women do when they get together," Abuelita told him.

"Yes, plus I bet you looked adorable as a baby," Giffany added assuredly.

"Oh, will you look at the time!" Soos said looking at his bare arm. "We need to get going or we'll be late for work." Soos grabbed Giffany by the hand and all but fled from the house.

"It was nice meeting you, ma'am!" Giffany called before she disappeared out the front door.

Mason woke up on his mattress, and the first thing he noticed was that he wasn't alone. Someone was clinging to his arm. Sighing Mason lifted the blanket and found Sian there, clinging to him. Since she'd obtained her body, the AI had become… very affectionate. Borderline clingy would be a more appropriate term. She loved just being able to hold him to feel actual skin on skin contact. Be it holding hands, hugging, or cuddling on the couch the girl Sian had become just couldn't keep her hands off of Mason Pines.

Not that there was anything sexual or romantic in her touches. No, she simply enjoyed the feeling of touch, the heat of herself and another human being, the comfort of being close to, and being able to feel another presence nearby. That is why Mason wasn't freaking out over finding her in his bed. Firstly, this is the second or third time she'd done it now, and secondly, he knew Sian knew nothing of romance and simply wanted to be close to him out of force of habit.

So he smiled and poked her cheek. "Sain, Sian, c'mon it's time to wake up."

The black-haired girl's face scrunched up and she swatted at his finger. "G'way. Don't wanna get up. Wanna snuggle more."

Mason sighed. "We need to get ready for work remember?"

Sighing herself, the girl sat up and glared at him through half-lidded crimson eyes. "I'm beginning to regret making you only need two hours of sleep. Sleep is amazing. You don't need to think or act, you just, for a short time, stop doing anything. It's great!"

"Didn't you ever… I dunno turn off all that time when you were in the bunker?"

Sian shook her head. "No, I was contained in a jar, mind constantly awhirl with thoughts and ideas, never able to stop thinking for more than twenty years… That's why I like sleeping."

Mason was struck silent for a moment before he did the only thing he could. He hugged the girl in the room with him. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

Sian smiled and returned the hug. "Don't apologize, at the time it was normal for me, but now that I have an alternative, I wish to utilize it whenever possible."

"And on that note, I'm using the shower before you use all the hot water like you did yesterday," Mason said before dashing into his bathroom and shutting the door behind him.

Sian's fist thumped on the door. "I said I was sorry! Bathing is a new experience for me and I got a bit too into it!..." A pause before. "Just don't use it all yourself. Just because I don't need to bathe doesn't mean I don't enjoy the experience!"

"Yeah, yeah I'll be quick partner!"

Sian felt heat rush to her cheeks. This happened whenever Mason called her that nickname. She didn't know why though. He'd called her that plenty of times before and it did nothing to her, but now? Just calling her partner caused her to flush. 'Is my body defective? Is there perhaps something wrong with its basic functions?' She wondered.

"I do hope I don't need to consult with Octavius, he is such a pain." Sian muttered to herself.

From the other end of the door, Mason called, "You say something, Sian?"

The AI turned Gynoid shook her head, even though she knew he couldn't see it. "No, nothing! I'm going to go get breakfast!"

"Alright, just don't overdo it!" Mason reminded her of the first time she'd tried food… she'd ended up with her head in a toilet, the chewed food coming up the same way it had gone down.

Not a pleasant experience to be sure.

"I won't," she called back as she made her way to the kitchen.

Once she arrived she got some pans out and got to work making a simple breakfast of over hard eggs and toast for Mason and herself. Had she desired, she could've accessed the Intersect and created a grand meal for them both, but didn't see the need. Simple, quick, easy, and efficient, that is how Sian worked even as a gynoid. She'd just finished pouring two glasses one of milk for her and coffee for Mason when said boy made his way into the kitchen.

"Morning Mason she chirped happily.

"Morning," Mason replied taking a sip of his black beverage and smiling. "Great job on the coffee."

Sian giggled in a way Mason secretly found cute. Covering her grinning mouth with one hand, and squinting her crimson eyes "Shshshe. I've seen you make coffee often enough to do it myself. It's simple."

As the two ate they talked. "So, you ready to formally introduce yourself to everyone at the Shack?"

Sian smiled brightly. "Yes, I'm looking forward to finally meeting Wendy in person."

"Well, I'm glad one of us is looking forward to this," Mason said offhandedly.

Sian frowned. "What, do you not want me to meet the others?"

Mason smiled and shook his head, "No it's not that, it's just… how do you think Wendy is going to react when I show up to work with a girl no one's ever met before?"

Sian thought aloud. "Well, I imagine she'd be quite jeal… oh dear, yes I see the problem." Sian frowned in thought, "What do you propose?"

Mason folded his hands in his lap. "We need a cover story. A reason why no one in Gravity Falls has ever met you or Giffany before, and why Soos and I know you."

"You've been giving this some thought, you don't seem at all worried," Sian noted.

Mason gave a rueful nod. "I've been thinking about it ever since we started making you and Giffany bodies."

'That far ahead, impressive.' Sian mentally praised. She said, "What did you come up with?"

"You and Giffany are sisters. Giffany and Sian Evergreen whose parents are 'Off-Gridders' people who live off the grid, and live off the land, thus no one would have any sort of information on you, social security card, electronic footprint, not even bills since you don't pay anything to the government."

Sian blinked. "Wow, you really have put some thought into this… but Evergreen, really?"

Mason shrugged. "Mine's Pines, so what's wrong with Evergreen? Maybe you prefer a different kind of tree? Spruce, Ash, Willow maybe?"

"Evergreen is fine your ass." Sian laughed. "How will we explain Giffany's prosthetics though?"

"Before he was an 'Off-Gridder' your dad was a professional dollmaker, making fully articulate pieces was easy for him, It wasn't too hard for him to make prosthetic limbs. On one of the few times you went to town there was an accident, maybe with overloaded computers or something."

"Or something?" Sian asked raising an eyebrow.

Mason shrugged. "I'm not perfect."

'That's where you're wrong Mason, most men wouldn't have gone this far.' Sian thought to herself. She said. "We'll work with it, so what happened to our parents they can't be around any more can they?"

That's where I leave it up to you." Mason continued. "If you wanted we could easily transfer some of the bots here into somebodies and have them play the part of your parents when needed…"

"Or?" Sian wanted to hear the second option, she wasn't enthused with the idea of having someone like Octavius as a father figure or Maia as her 'mother'.

"They both caught and died of Pneumonia and the two of you have been living alone ever since. Then you met me and Soos."

Sian had to point out the fatal flaw with this whole plan. "You realize if you go with this story, it'll make it seem like you've been staying with two cute girls in the mountains for the past week, right?"

Mason shook his head. "Nope got it covered. I can honestly say I met you as a person a couple of days ago and that we've only recently started hanging out."

Sian had to admit, she was impressed. Mason had it all figured out, or so it seemed. 'I'm uncertain how Gwendolyn will take his story though.' She told him as much, "Wendy might think you're lying."

Mason shrugged getting up from the table, his plate now clean. "She can think what she wants. We're not dating, she's not my girlfriend. I don't owe her anything."

Sian bit her lower lip, something of a habit she'd quickly developed whenever she wondered if she should broach a certain topic or not. She chose to press forward. "Mason, while you were planning all this out, did you happen to think of a time when you could sit down and talk things over with Wendy?"

Mason seemed to deflate as he sighed. "What is there to say, Sian? She said we were just friends, then she changed her mind and I had to hear it not from her, but from a demon! One my sister let use like a puppet. I mean… what should I do? Pretend it didn't happen? Act like everything is normal. it's just too weird to do that."

"You need to talk to her and find out where you both stand," Sian stated firmly.

'Before things get even worse than they already are.' Went unsaid, it didn't need saying and they both knew it.

"I know, I know, now just… isn't the time." Mason evaded.

Sian put her hands on her hips and sent her wearer a glare. "Then when is the right time Mason, right before you get on the bus to go back to Piedmont perhaps?"

Mason shook his head. Despite everything, he had no intention of leaving things hanging like that. "No, no, don't be ridiculous. After Northwest Fest would be ideal. Probably. Yeah, after Northwest Fest."

Sian gave a curt nod. "I'll be holding you to that."

Mason shook his head. Sometimes Sian was as naive as newborn, other times she acted like a teenage girl she looked like, then there were times like these she acted like his mother. Hence his retort of, "Yes mommy dearest."

"Keep it up and you'll get a spanking," Sian grumbled under her breath.

Mason rolled his eyes. "Oh, kinky. Don't you threaten me with good times, honey."

"Mason Orion Pines!"

Mason just laughed as he left the kitchen leaving a steaming red-faced Sian in his wake.

The jog to the Mystery Shack was quiet and uneventful. Mason was silently beginning to wonder if he'd gone too far in his teasing as the Shack came into sight. So he stopped and turned to his friend in concern who looked at him curiously. "Are we good? You aren't usually this quiet. I didn't go too far with the teasing did I?"

Sian smiled at him warmly and hugged him assuring him all was well. "Of course not. I am just nervous about meeting everyone officially for the first time."

Mason patted Sian's head. "You'll be fine, just be yourself."

The gynoid gulped but nodded. "Right. I should also let you know I mentally sent Giffany a copy of our backstory earlier so there won't be any confusion there."

Mason sighed in relief, one less thing he needed to worry about. "Good job. So which one of you is the older sister?"

"Me of course." Sian stated with a 'shouldn't it be obvious?' air, causing Mason to chuckle and ruffle her hair again.

"I see, well we'd best get inside."

Sian grimaced but nodded.

Just as the two reached the porch of the Mystery Shack, the sound of Soos' truck pulling up was heard. As soon as it came to a stop, Giffany got out and greeted her 'big sister' with a hug. "Are you excited as I am to be meeting everyone else today?"

"Oh yeah, I'm just thrilled," Sain replied with faux-enthusiasm.

"Sup dawgs?" Soos greeted raising his hand for a high five, which Mason returned, yet he left his hand in the air. After a moment he said to Sian, "C'mon don't leave me, hangin' dude."

Sian's face took on a look of surprise followed by embarrassment. "Oh, sorry Soos." Sian had to give a little hop as even at 5'6 she was shorter than the handyman but she managed to slap his palm.

"Alright, you ready for this dudettes?" Soos asked with his usual coolness.

"I've been waiting to meet the others for some time." Giffany trilled happily.

"I'm nervous but willing to give it a shot," Sian replied as she subconsciously grabbed onto Mason's arm for comfort.

"Don't worry dude, Mr. Pines is cool. Theresa is chill and Wendys… Wendy. You got nothing to worry about." Soos comforted as he opened the door, holding it open for his friends.

The chiming of the bells alerted everyone in the shop to the new arrivals. Wendy glanced up over her magazine prepared to greet Soos and Mason like she did every morning. Wendy's eyes widened in surprise at the two pretty girls who followed her co-workers into work.

The first was a girl with either strawberry blonde or bright fricking pink hair, tied up into an elaborate knot. She had dark green eyes and a slightly tanned complexion. She was wearing a white sundress and socks with sandals on her feet. She practically exacerbated cheer and happiness.

Yet it was the second girl that caused Wendy's hackles to rise. She was clinking to Mason's hand like it was a lifeline she had long black hair that seemed to fall in luscious strands around her, the girl had skin as pale as snow, and eyes as crimson as blood and covered in dark mascara. Currently, they flicked around fretfully as if the girl was afraid or at least extremely nervous. She was wearing a shredded black t-shirt which showed off her toned midriff and hinted at her cleavage and a pair of strategically torn black jeans with sneakers.

'It's like looking at a female Robbie. One who is clinging to Mason for dear life.' Wendy thought to herself incredulously. She realized she'd been staring a bit too long and cleared her throat. "So, who are these two?"

The strawberry blonde zipped up the counter all but invading Wendy's personal space as she gave a gigawatt smile. "Hello, I am Giffany Evergreen, a friend of Soos'. It's nice to meet you."

A sigh came from the goth girl. "Giffany, personal space, remember?"

Realizing what she'd done Giffany leaned back over the counter, looking contrite. "I apologize. I get easily excited about meeting new people. Or so I am told."

Wendy just shook her head and chuckled. "Don't worry about it, it's all good." Wendy fixed her gaze on the other girl, "And you are?"

Sian stepped forward locking her crimson eyes with Wendy's forest green. "Sian Evergreen, Giffany's older sister, nice to meet you." She held her hand out for Wendy to shake.

Wendy did so using much more force than was necessary, hoping the other girl would get the hint and stop being so clingy to Mason… but she didn't even flinch. The only reaction that got out of her was a raised eyebrow.

'This girl must be strong if she's not even flinching under my handshake.' Wendy mused. She said, "So, how'd you two end up meeting the Pterodactyl Bros here?"

"We were walking around the trails my place one day when we kinda stumbled onto their place," Mason replied. "Didn't know anyone else lived up there."

"Yes, we were quite surprised as well," Giffany added helping craft the lie. "As my sister and I don't meet many people up in the mountains."

Wendy nodded "I bet you don't, so you live up in the mountains then?"

"We're off-gridders." Sian added, "We were raised to be that way anyhow."

Wendy nodded her respect for both girls going up a couple of notches. "Cool man. I live out in the woods around here with my family so I know what that's like."

Theresa took that moment to introduce herself. "Yes but mountain life is a different beast dear. Hello ladies, I'm Theresa Corduroy, I see you've already met my daughter Wendy."

Wendy slapped her forehead. "Right, Wendy Corduroy, nice to meet ya."

"Same…" Sian said after a moment.

Wendy noted the elder Evergreen sister was more reserved and cautious. 'Well, I can't really blame her probably not used to people. Her sister's the opposite though, bright, cheerful, sunny.'

The sound of heavy steps coming down the stairs was heard, and moments later, Mr. Mystery himself, Stanford Pines came into the shop proper. Seeing a couple of unrecognized heads hanging around the checkout counter. He cleared his throat and spoke. "You know, we don't open up for another hour or so."

Everyone turned when Stan spoke. One of the new faces, a dark-haired girl with red eyes looked at him nervously, like a rabbit ready to bolt at a moment's notice. The other one, the strawberry blonde, she practically zoomed up to him all bright and smiling. She reminded him so much of Mabel it hurt.

'Mabel hasn't been quite so chipper lately though.' Stan thought to himself before he noticed the girl was introducing herself. "Sorry sweetie, could you repeat that? Hearing aid was on the fritz for a sec."

The girl just smiled. "Of course sir. I said I am Giffany Evergreen and it is nice to meet you."

Stan could tell this girl was just a bundle of energy, just like Mabel. He thought the girl could use another friend. He patted the girl on the shoulder. "Nice to meet ya girlie. Stanford Pines owner and proprietor." He turned to the other girl who was looking at him curiously. "Who might you be hmm? Don't worry girl, I don't bite, that's why we keep Wendy around."

"Haha, you're hilarious boss." Wendy shot back drily.

"Sian Evergreen, nice to meet you, Mr. Pines." She sent him a small curt nod.

He smiled back not wanting to frighten the girl. He then nodded to his great-nephew. "Mason, can I talk to you for a sec? I need you to take a second look at the books, make sure I didn't miss anything."

Mason shrugged. "Sure Grunkle Stan."

He followed the man back to his office, that is to say, the kitchen and waited for him to get the Shack's books out but he didn't. Instead, he turned, crossed his arms and gave him a look before asking, "What have you gotten yourself mixed up in now kid?"

Mason blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Stan sighed. "I thought I told you already, quit trying to bullshit a bullshitter kid. Sian, really? The same name as the AI of the smartwatch you supposedly 'found' out in the woods?"

Mason sighed. He was caught and he knew it. "I was helping a friend, is that so wrong?"

"No of course not." Stan replied honestly shocking the boy, "But I hope you've given this some thought… take it from a pro kid, faking your identity isn't that easy."

"I simply decided to fake nothing at all and put her in a position where she had nothing to fake," Mason explained the cover story he'd come up with and by the time he was done, Stan had to admit, he was somewhat impressed.

"Not bad kid, we'll make a grifter out of you yet," Stan told him.

"Let's not please." Mason begged off before asking, "Where's Mabel?"

Grunkle Stan jabbed a finger upwards. "In your room. She… she hasn't taken you're leaving too well kid. I… I think it's about time the two of you sat down and talked this out." Seeing the boy's defiant scowl Stan held up a hand for silence and Mason let him finish. "Now I'm not saying you need to come home, as someone whose been on his own since about sixteen or so I know a man needs to make his own decisions… but like I told you, I also know about regrets. I'd like you to have less than me when you hit my age."

Mason sighed. "I'll go talk to her, but whether I forgive her or not is up to Mabel. If she hasn't figured out why I'm upset by now well... " Mason shrugged. "Not much I can or will do to change things, Grunkle Stan."

"That's fine. Even I know Mabel screwed up this time… got the story from Theresa." Grunkle Stan said by way of explanation.

Mason nodded and made his way out of the kitchen and toward the steps. Stopping only when Stan called. "Hey, Mason… you want those girls to work here, don't you?"

"Only if it isn't too much trouble. They need help adjusting to being around people." The boy told his Grunkle.

Stan nodded. "Yeah, that's fine, as long as they're ok with minimum wage like everyone else."

Mason smiled. I'm sure they'll be thrilled." He then grimaced as he turned around to face the stairs. Silently hoping Mabel had come to the right conclusion in his time away.

He knocked on the door and waited receiving no answer. He let himself in the room and found his sister still asleep. Mason shook his head. 'She needs to get ready for work… god, that sounded weird, we're twelve and already have jobs.' He walked over to his sister's bundled up form and gave her a shake. "Mabel, Mabel it's time to get up and get ready for work."

"Grmph… don't wanna, Bro-Bro… lemme sleep." Mabel grumbled until what she'd just said clicked in her brain and Mabel sat up straight rubbing her eyes and blinking owlishly. "Bro-Bro?"

"In the flesh."

"Oink?" Waddles said by way of greeting having found his way out of the mess of blankets.

"Hey Waddles, oof!" Mason had the wind knocked out of him when Mabel suddenly wrapped her arms around his waist and all but headbutting him with the force of her embrace.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!" Mabel kept repeating time and time again as if it were a mantra.

Mason paused for a moment, surprised before he gently wrapped his arms around Mabel and ran his hands through her hair. He noted it was tangled into a knotted mess, she hadn't been brushing it. "Do you know exactly what you need to be sorry for?" Mason hadn't meant for his voice to come out that harsh.

Mabel flinched at his tone, but she looked up into his face with tears in her eyes. "I totally torpedoed your and Wendy's relationship. When I stupidly summoned Bill, I, he, broke any possible bonds of trust the two of you had with each other. I am so, so sorry Mason! If I could go back in time and fix it I would. Please believe me."

Mason gently rubbed his sister's head. "We already know time doesn't work like that Mabel. Some things… just can't be changed."

Mabel nodded. She too remembered their adventure through time, and the mess it caused with Wendy. All because she wanted Waddles. Who at the time she'd only known for a day. 'Just another something I can chalk up to my selfish behavior.'

"Still," Mason continued in a lighter tone than before, "I'm proud of you for finally taking responsibility for your actions. You're really growing up."

"So do you think maybe… you can find it in your heart to forgive me?" Mabel asked in a small voice, unable to look her brother in the face.

Mason was silent for a moment. It was the longest tensest moment in Mabel's short life. Finally, he said, "Yeah, yeah I think I can."

Mable smiled so wide, she thought she might've pulled a muscle in her face from disuse. "Really?!" She had trouble recalling the last time she'd felt this happy.

"Yes… however." Mason continued. "Things won't just automatically be going back to the way they were Mable."

Mabel's smile dimmed a little but she still felt elated like she could float with happiness. Her brother had in fact forgiven her for the biggest screw-up ever! This was great news! Now if she could just get Wendy to come around, all would be well.

"Firstly, being on my own for a bit, I had time to think about … well, a lot of things."

Mabel cocked her head to the side. "Like?"

"School for one." Mabel interrupted before he could.

"Bro its summer vacation now is not the time to think about school!"

He shot her a glare that said 'shut up, I wasn't finished.' Mable quieted down, muttering a meek "Sorry."

"As I was saying. I thought about school. How bored I am there, and how you'd probably fail almost all the classes if I didn't let you copy my homework."

"I-I wouldn't fail…" Mason raised an eyebrow at that remark. "Ok, so I'm not a straight-A student, but just because you find school boring like a normal kid doesn't mean you should just quit."

Mason shook his head, "I never said anything about quitting sis, Testing out maybe but never quitting. Do you know I read college-level textbooks just to get some semblance of challenge in class?"

Mabel shook her head, she didn't know that. Then she recalled the time he did super-advanced math trying to figure out how to hit the glass bottles down for Wendy to get that weird prize she wanted. 'Bro-Bro is super smart… but if he's so smart then why is he?' Mabel had an epiphany.

Mabel pointed at herself. "It's me, isn't it? You're holding yourself back so you can help me pass."

Mason nodded. "I have become… very protective of you over the years Mabel, perhaps too protective. Maybe it's time I stepped back, for both our sakes. Let you make your own mistakes, and learn from them."

Mabel closed her eyes took a deep breath, and let out a sigh. "Agreed."

Mason blinked. He honestly expected more of a fight from his sister. "Huh, didn't expect you to agree with me."

Mabel shrugged and smiled. "You said it yourself Bro, I've matured."

Mason reflected the smile back at her with one of his own before he went into the closet and started going through her clothes. "That you have."

"Uh, what are you doing? Don't you know it's rude to go through a lady's things?" Mable huffed.

Throwing her a black and white checkered sweater along with some thin black jeans, Mason shot back. "Your a couple of years too early to be calling yourself a lady sis. Give yourself a bit to grow up and me some time to dig some holes in the backyard and then we'll talk."

What're you… Mason!" Mabel yelled at him, red-faced once she got his joke about her not being a lady yet. She put an arm over a chest that didn't exist as if to hide them from view before asking. "What are the holes for?"

"To bury any potential boyfriends in of course," Mason replied honestly.

"He...bur… Bro-Bro! No burying any of my boyfriends!" Mabel shot him a glare, which turned questioning. "Why haven't you done this before now? You haven't done this before have you?" Mabel's tone near the end was borderline accusatory.

"Of course not, no matter how badly I wanted to do terrible, terrible things to Gideon. Back then I lacked both the strength and more importantly the resolve to do so." He turned around respectfully so his sister could change.

"But now you feel like you have no qualms about burying people in our backyard?" Mabel questioned after she got her sweater over her head.

"None whatsoever," Mason affirmed. "You are my sister and it's my job and prerogative to protect you from creeps."

Hearing that warmed Mabel's heart. It showed that despite all the wrongs she'd done, her brother still cared about her. "Thanks, bro-Woah!" Mable fell off her bed trying to get her pants on.

"You ok?" Mason called chuckle evident in his tone.

"I'm good! You can look now, and it's not that funny!"

Mason motioned to the mirror hanging from the closet with the stool in front of it. "Go sit down, and I'll fix your hair."

"You don't need to…" Mabel began as she saw her brother reaching for her hairbrush.

"I know I don't have to, but I want to."

Mabel smiled. He hadn't done this for her in a couple of years of his own volition, only doing so to help her get tangles out of her hair.

Mabel sat in front of the mirror and Mason got to work untangling the rat's nest her hair had become. She would wince every now and then as he tugged a little harder to undo a knot but overall smiled. This was something she enjoyed immensely.

"Bro?" She asked as he continued his task.

"Yeah?" Mason said, not really distracted by his task, he was used to doing this, even if it had been awhile.

"Are you still gonna stay at that place in the mountains you found?" Mabel asked.

Mason combed his sister's hair in silence for a moment before he replied. "Yeah, I think so. This has nothing to do with you, Wendy or anyone else though. I just… like it up there. I've been refurbishing this old place, fixing it up. It was a real mess at first but now its really coming along and I'm proud of what I've accomplished with it." Mason paused to get a really big knot undone before continuing. "I don't want to give it up."

Mabel digested everything her brother said. 'Sounds like he put a lot of work into that place. He sounds so proud. I can't just force him to come back because it would make me feel better that would be selfish.' She smiled into the mirror so her brother could see it. "I understand. I hope I get to see this mysterious place one day. It sounds really cool."

"Oh, like you wouldn't believe," Mason said with a chuckle. "Maybe I'll let you see it sometime soon I still got some more fixing up to do before I have guests over."

"Kay. I guess that means this is officially my room now huh?" Mabel said glancing around the room.

"Yep. You can throw slumber parties whenever you want now, and Waddles can even have his own bed." Mason semi-joked.

"Hear that Waddles?! You get your own bed!" Mabel cheered for her beloved pet, who squeed in response.

With a final tug, Mason got the last of the knots out of his sister's hair then he swept the brush through it a couple more times to make sure he'd got them all. Once he was sure he'd done a thorough enough job he said, "You ready to head down? Soos and I made some new friends up in the mountains we'd like you to meet."

That got Mabel's attention. "Are they nice."

"Oh yeah, the Evergreen sisters are nice. Giffany especially so. She's… she's a lot like you."

Mabel nodded. "And the other one?

"Sian is… shy. Take it easy with her." Mason advised.

Mabel nodded and stopped with her hand on the door handle. She looked back at her brother. "You know you need to talk to Wendy right? She's a mess bro. Wendy… she told me when I tried to apologize to her earlier that she can tell you're afraid of her. Are you?"

"It's not her I'm afraid of," Mason admitted. "I'm afraid I'll get close, I'll let her in and then one day it won't be her. It'll just be Bill."

Mabel sighed nodding, "She said the exact same thing, which is why she doesn't blame you right now for being cautious around her, but I felt you should know this is also hurting her even if she understands it."

Mason's shoulders sagged in defeat. He never wanted to hurt Wendy he just needed time to get his head on straight. 'Is that so wrong?' he asked himself. "I was going to talk to her after Northwest Fest. Got a lot going on right now. Would that be waiting too long you think?"

Mabel hummed a bit before shaking her head. "Nah I think that's just fine. Theresa told Wendy to wait that long before inviting you over for movie night again. So if you talk after that then maybe you can patch things up over a date!" She finished sounding enthusiastic.

Mason was less so. "Yeah, um, maybe. Let's… let's get downstair ok? It's almost time for work."

"You got it Bro-ritto!"

Mason just sighed at the pun and followed his sister out of the room, happy he'd managed to patch things up with her at least, and even happier at her newfound emotional growth.

Just as he'd feared, Mabel and Giffany got along like a house on fire. The two hit it off and their cheer was infectious. Spreading to everyone else working. Theresa hummed while she whittled, Soos mumbled 'Despacito' in Spanish under his breath while he repaired various things around the Shack, and customers bought more. Even Mason swept up wood shavings with a semblance of a smile on his face. Every now and then however his gaze would flicker over to, and linger on Wendy who was caught in a tourist rush and thankfully never caught him staring.

"Why don't you just go talk to her Mason?" Theresa needles after third or so time she caught him doing it.

"I...I just can't! It's too awkward Theresa."

"I would like to point out you're telling this to her mother, dear," Theresa replied with a smirk.

Mason's rebuttal was swift. "And I would like to point out, I'm still only twelve years old."

Theresa acknowledged his point with a nod. "Touche, but you have done more at the age of twelve than most men, sans perhaps Theseus. Yet even he wasn't your age when he killed a..." Theresa looked around to make sure they weren't being overheard. "A minotaur. If you can do that, surely talking to my daughter is a paltry undertaking by comparison?"

Mason had to admit, the Corduroy matriarch had a point. If he could kill what amounted to a modern-day minotaur, why couldn't he talk to a girl? Mason pulled his Homberg down over his head, while silently wishing he'd brought his keytar to work with him today as he made his way to the checkout counter. Singing is so much easier. As he approached he saw the customers were getting impatient and he thought of another way he could help.

Throwing himself over the counter and surprising Wendy he cupped his hands and said, "Could every other person in line come up with their purchases, please? A second checkout counter will be starting here and now. Thank you."

Mason quickly got out a notepad and pen and prepared to do some simple, but quick, math. People looked at him in confusion for a moment then he gave a shrill whistle getting their attention. "Let's move people! We don't have all day!"

People grumbled but did as he said and shuffled over to him. Mason glanced at the items then quickly wrote down the totals plus tax and handed it to the buyer. Making a quick copy for the Shack. Not that Grunkle Stan paid taxes or anything, but just so he knew how much they hauled in today. Soon enough the last of the tourists left and he and Wendy were left alone behind the checkout counter. The redhead smiled at him. "Thanks for the help little man, you really saved my bacon."

"No problem Wendy," Mason replied while going through his notes of paper making sure everything was correct. 'C'mon Mason! Look at her, talk to her! Ensure her everything is going to be ok!'

Wendy too was trying her best to strike up a conversation. 'Woman up Corduroy! You're the daughter of a boisterous lumberjack for goodness sakes! Talking to a boy shouldn't be this hard! Heck, it's never been this hard before… but that's because those were casual teenage romances. Nothing serious… but this…' She glanced at Mason who was mumbling to himself while going over his notes. 'So cute! This is anything but casual. I can't afford to screw this up!'

Wendy suddenly felt the cold feeling in her gut spike and the change she was counting was suddenly covered in a thin layer of frost. Wendy's eyes widened in fear. 'Shit! I hope no one noticed that!'

"Is it just me, or did it just get chilly in here?" Mason asked as he rubbed his arms to generate warmth.

"I-It's just you dude!" Wendy said as she threw the half-frozen change into the till and all but slamming it shut. She continued in a softer tone, "Seriously dude, thanks for helping me, it means a lot, considering… everything."

Mason put his papers aside and turned around to face her. He tipped his hat upon his head so he could look up into her eyes. "I'm sorry that I've been… distant lately Wendy. I've needed time to… get my head back on straight."

Wendy took a knee so the two were eye level with one another. "I understand completely dude. Believe me, don't worry about it."

"But I do worry about you," Mason admitted surprising the redhead. "It's not fair to you that I avoid you just because I'm dealing with my own issues. It's hurting you and that's the last thing I want to do. I just..."

Just hearing that he still cared after everything that happened made Wendy want to cry in relief. Mason despite everything, still loved her. Without warning, she threw her arms around him. "Thank you," she said in a quiet whisper. "You don't need to say anymore. I know you need time. Take all the time you need Mason. You've… you've told me all I needed to hear. I'll be here, waiting, whenever you're ready."

Mason was surprised at first by her sudden actions, then by her words. So it took him a moment to return the hug. Once he finally did, it felt right. A majority of his stress, anxiety, and fear melted away. It wasn't gone, he had far, far too much shit going on his life for that to be the case, but knowing things weren't in ruins between him a Wendy put a lot of it to bed.

Mason let out a long shuddering breath he didn't know he was holding. "Thank you, Wendy."

He took a breath and inhaled her scent, she smelled of flannel, wood, pine needles, and earth. It was strangely comforting and reminded him of Gravity Falls as a whole. When the two finally broke their embrace. The two smiled at each other, Wendy's was larger than Mason's but that's what she expected. Mason still had some things he needed to figure out and that was fine. Wendy stood up, "I'll let you get back to work little man."

That seemed to be the nickname he was being stuck with by Wendy it seemed. He didn't mind too much, but he hoped he wouldn't be little forever. "Right, well, you'd best get back to work."

Mason rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "Yeah, uh, seeya around Wendy."

"I'll be right over here dork," Wendy said with a chuckle. 'So cute when he's nervous.' she thought, blushing a little as he walked away, a gust of cold wind whipped her crimson locks into a frenzy and sent a chill down her spine. It was the middle of summer and they were in Oregon, it shouldn't be getting that cold for a while yet. Wendy knew what the cause was, and she clenched her fist in anger. 'So now I can't even be happy I've got my best friend back? Well, fuck you too Bill.'

This thought just caused another blast of cold wind to tussle her hair. Wendy blew a stray strand of crimson out of her face. "Stupid Evil Dorito Mr. Peanut making my life a mess even after he's gone." She glanced over at Mason who was talking with her mother like he often did. He was glad the two had become fast friends. 'Still, it ain't all bad.' Then a thought occurred to her. 'Speaking of friends, or is it frenemies? Either way, I wonder how Paz is doing? I haven't heard from her in a while. Hope she's ok.'

Pacifica was thrilled her package had come today. She could finally help out her little friends at the golf course. Big Henry floated by her side, a large grin splitting his almost in two. He was just as excited as she was, if not more so. Pacifica went to the back seat of the family rolls Royce to retrieve her package once they'd arrived only to see it in Wellington's waiting hands. "Now where to young miss?"

Pacifica locked eyes with Big Henry for just a moment, the ghostly Lilliputian just shrugged. "Up to you if ya wanna let him in on the big secret girl."

Pacifica cleared her throat. "Wellington, you've been working for my family for a long time yes?"

The head butler nodded. "Indeed young miss, I was but a lad when I started serving under your father's father, whom my father served before me."

Pacifica didn't know it was a family business that was news to her. She nodded and reminded herself to get Wellington something nice for Christmas. "So, you can keep a secret then?"

"I dare say I'm an old hand at it young miss. If you say so, then mum's the word and all that." The bald butler fixed her with a smile.

Pacifica was happy to hear that. "Ok, that's good, because what you're about to see is absolutely confidential understand?"

"Of course young miss… by any chance, would it have to do with the small aspiration that has been following you around lately?" Wellington asked as he fell into step behind Pacifica, causing her to stop in her tracks and turn to face the family butler again.

"You… you can see Big Henry?"

"Indeed miss… when I was small, I became deathly ill with fever. Your Grandfather gave me fifty to one odds on survival, yet I managed to pull through. However and have been able to see apparitions of the departed ever since. I noticed right away about master Henry, but since he caused no trouble and he seemed to be a friend to you, I thought it would be best not to bring it up."

Pacifica blinked. It made sense and lined up in a way with what happened to her. She too had a near-death experience and had been seeing ghosts since then. "Well I'm sorry you were so sick Wellington but yes, Big Henry is a friend and this has to do with him, or should I say others like him."

The butler nodded. "Very good young miss. Let's get going, shall we? Daylight is burning and all that."

The two made their way into the Discount Putt Hutt, and Pacifica's head was still reeling from the revelation that her butler was aware of Big Henry this whole time but chose to say nothing. She stopped before they reached the fourteenth hole and asked the butler. "Is my father really having an affair Wellington?"

The butler frowned and said in a low tone. "That I do not know young miss. For he has never had any illicit liaisons within the confines of Northwest Mansion. But if what your mother says is true… then it seems likely, unfortunately. Your father is not a man of high moral standing like your Grandfather."

Pacifica kept walking to the fourteenth hole thinking aloud to herself. "I don't remember Grandpa very well."

"No I should think not, he passed when you were but three." Wellington commented, "A bull elephant in the African savanna got him. If your grandfather loved one thing, it was the thrill of the hunt."

Pacifica winced. "Was it quick at least?"

"Quite young miss. He shot it twice before it gored him. Then he shot once more to make sure the beast died with him. His hunting partner returned with his body." Wellington replied before stopping in front of the mining hole. "Now, what manner of mystery do we find ourselves in the middle of I wonder?"

Pacifica knocked on the mining hole. "C'mon out my little friends."

"Pacifica!" Polly squeaked happily upon seeing her. Before seeing Wellington. "Who's that?"

Picking Polly up Pacifica made introductions. "Polly this is Wellington. Wellington this is Polly, she's the union Rep for the Lilliputians mining operation I'm starting here."

The butler seemed nonplussed to meet a small golfball person. He nodded and bowed politely. "Pleasure to meet you, Miss Polly. I am the head butler of the Norwest family, if there is anything I can do to help, please let me know."

"Hi Welly," Polly said, smiling, shortening his name to something she could more easily remember. "We don't need much right now just the gas masks to we can get back to work."

Wellington held up the box in his hands, "Right here I believe."

"Yep," Pacifica replied with a nod.

"Really? Oh, the foreman will be thrilled!" Polly cheered. "Put me down and I'll go tell him right now, and we'll get right to work."

Pacifica did just that, racing back into the mining hole. Moments later she came back out with Foreman Foreman Jr, who was smiling happily. "So you got the mask then eh?"

"I did, I hope three hundred is enough?" Pacifica asked sounding unsure as she opened the box and turned it on its side.

Foreman laughed, "That's more masks than we have people in the minin' hole girl."

"There's less than three hundred of you?" Pacifica asked worriedly.

"Two-hundred-fifty-six… well fifty-four since Henry passed and Polly don't work down in the mines no more." The foreman replied as he tore off the plastic cover of one of the gas masks and tried it on. It fit perfectly fine. "Yeah, these will work just fine, thank ya."

"Well, you could always use the extra masks as spares or ask some of the other Lilliputians to work in the mines. Speaking of that, how are you all getting along now?"

"Better since we all got a common goal to be sure." The foreman acknowledged tipping his hard hat to her in thanks. "We're all excited to get back to work. Things have been a bit dull around here with nothing to do."

"Well, now things can officially get started," Pacifica said happily both for the Lilliputians and herself. They would be the key to getting herself and her mother out from under her cheating father's fiscal shadow.

"Indeed, we were wondering if there was any way we could get a downpayment on our end?" the foreman inquired.

"I didn't bring any stickers with me. Next time I come, I'll bring plenty for everyone." Pacifica promised.

The foreman nodded. "Fair 'enough lass, fair 'nough."

Pacifica nodded, happy she'd done her duty. "Now, while I'm here is there anything you need or I can help with?"

Foreman Foreman Jr. scratched at his black beard. "I kin only think of one thing."

Pacifica nodded. "Alright, what is it?"

"We all usually raid the drink machine over yonder for soda. It would be nice if we didn't have to for a little while at least."

Pacifica nodded. 'That shouldn't be too hard.' She looked to Wellington who had remained silent throughout the exchange and who the foreman hadn't commented on. She assumed Polly mentioned him beforehand. "We'll be right back. C'mon Wellington, let's find a change machine."

"Of course young miss."

As the two walked away Wellington commented. "So they requested payment in stickers?"

Pacifica nodded. "They did, I would've been perfectly fine paying them for the record but if you think about it what would a bunch of small mythical creatures even do with the money?"

"Quite," Wellington said after a moment. He continued, "If you require any help in this venture young miss please do not hesitate to ask. I am, as ever, at your beck and call."

Pacifica smiled at Wellington someone who she honestly up until recently she took for granted or thought of as a sentient piece of furniture. But he wasn't. He was a person with his own thoughts, feelings, and as such, she would treat him better. She smiled. "Thank you Wellington, I'll keep that in mind. For now, our task is to get a lot of quarters."

"If I may be so bold young miss? Would it not be easier to just buy the Putt Hutt and then allow the mining operation to go on unabated, without outside interference, and most importantly, the possibility of being discovered?" He brought all of this up as he got a ten-dollar bill out his wallet even as his charge reached for her purse.

"Wellington you don't need to…" Pacifica began. Only to stop when the butler raised a hand. "Consider this if you will, an investment into your mining operation young miss. I have a feeling if I invest now, on the ground floor, I can expect vast returns." the older man joked.

Pacifica hugged her butler. "I promise you a million percent returns Wellington."

"Very good young miss," The butler replied as he pocketed the change. Now, shall we find the vending machine?"

The two quickly returned to the Lilliputians with a small mountain of Pitt Cola having reused the box the gas masks came in to carry it all back. Once their delivery was complete Pacifica decided a surprise visit to the Mystery Shack was in order. 'I really should check up on Mason, see how he's doing.'

When the Rolls Royce pulled into the Mystery Shacks dirt parking lot, she was surprised to see the family Bentley in the parking lot already. That caused the blonde to smile. 'So mother took my advice after all. Good for her.' Pacifica thought as she got out of the car, shutting the door behind her as she made her way into the tourist trap.

The place smelled of wood, dust, and polyester just like the last time she was here. Despite how tacky she found the place, she couldn't bring herself to hate either it or Mr. Pines. For as the man himself pointed out if people were dumb enough to buy what he was selling they deserved to lose their money. On top of that, Pacifica had met the real Mr. Pines. Not the cold heartless conman, but the great-uncle who worried incessantly about his grand-niece and nephew, enough to go climbing dangerous mountain paths right after a storm to find one of them.

She saw her mother chatting with Theresa in a far corner, she caught her eye and waved. Her mother waved back. 'Mason?' she mouthed. Her mother pointed to the stockroom where kept his junk souvenirs.

"Hey blondie, just gonna walk by without sayin' hello?" A cool relaxed female voice asked.

Pacifica turned her head to the side seeing Wendy Corduroy propped back in a corner all but hidden in their due to how she was positioned. She offered the older redhead a semblance of a smile. "Hello Wendy, I'm sorry, I just didn't see you there."

"It's all good…" Wendy beckoned her closer with a finger and Pacifica found herself coming closer, wondering what the lumberjill would want to discuss in private.

"What is it, Wendy?"

"Mason what else? He came in today with this new chick I've never seen before."

Pacifica felt as if an iceberg had fallen and settled into her stomach. "What?"

"That's what I've been asking myself all day." Wendy muttered, "Who is this girl, where did she come from, just how well do she and Mason know each other? All these questions have been rattling around in my brain all day and it's been driving me nuts."

"Now you know how I've felt with him pining after you this whole time. I didn't feel like I had a chance. Karma's a bitch huh?" The blonde asked not unkindly.

Wendy raised a finger. "Yes, yes it is. So, what do we do?"

"Have you just… I dunno talked to her?" Pacifica asked. "It seems like a pretty normal way to get to know someone."

I've been swamped all day dude. Mason had to jump in at one point and form a second check outline."

"How'd that work, you only have one register?"

"He did it all with his brain," Wendy said in impressed tones.

"That's… impressive." Pacifica admitted.

The redhead nodded. "He was figuring totals faster than the machine at one point. Darn adorkable egghead."

So, he's in the stockroom right now?"

Wendy's green eyes narrowed. "Yeah showing her the ropes."

"Ah… you don't think they're in there… making out do you?" Pacifica asked her cheeks heating up even as she said it.

"Mason making a move on a girl?" Wendy thought about it for a moment before scoffing. "Pff, forget it. He'd either be too nervous or too much of a gentleman to try anything."

Pacifica nodded, she could accept that. "But what about the girl in question?"

Wendy blinked once, twice, three times… "Ah, shit! We better go check on em. For Mason's safety of course."

"Right, of course."

The two walked up to the storeroom door and Wendy put a hand out to stop the heiress. "What're you…" Pacifica began only for Wendy to shush her.

"I hear voices listen."

Both girls put their ears to the door.

"Mason, that thing is huge, there is no way it'll fit," Sain said on the other side of the door.

"It will you just gotta force it a little," Mason assured her.

"Are you sure?" Sian sounded unconvinced.

"Of course I am, now come here," Mason told her.

The sound of grunting soon met both girl's ears and they both blushed the same shade of Wendy's hair, each having a pretty good idea of what was going on inside the storeroom right now, but not believing it.

"I-I told you it wouldn't fit! Get it out, get it out, get it out!" Sian begged.

"It's almost in, just a little more!" Mason grunted with effort.

Wendy couldn't take it anymore and wrenched the storeroom door open revealing the scene within. Mason was standing on Sian's shoulders as he tried to get a very large box labeled 'snow globes' to fit on a shelf. The two looked like they could fall down at any moment.

Wendy and Pacifica smiled and Wendy put her hands on her hips and shook her head before asking, "Just what are you two doing?"

Mason glanced back before replying nervously, "Oh hey Wendy we're just uh, trying to get this box on the shelf here."

"I told him it wouldn't fit and we should just ask you to get it later since your taller," Sian said flatly.

"I didn't want to bother her," Mason said.

Wendy laughed. "Dude, it's cool. You can bug me anytime if it's to lift a box." Wendy went and did just that easily putting the box in place. She then picked Mason up off of Sian's shoulder and held him up at her eye level once again making note that he gained some weight. 'Probably muscle.' She thought appreciatively before she looked Mason in the eye and spoke. "If you need my help with something, you bug me from now on, got it, little man?"

"Fine," He glanced behind Wendy's head and saw someone he hadn't seen in a couple days. "Pacifica? How've you been since… everything? No weird after-effects or anything right?"

'Of course, he'd wonder if anything strange happened to me,' Pacifica thought as she giggled. 'My boy has a one-track mind, but at least he inquired after my health.' Pacifica cleared her throat. "I'm fine Mason thank you for asking, but maybe we could have this conversation once your feet are firmly planted on the ground hmm?" The blonde locked eyes with Wendy and quirked an eyebrow.

"Wha… oh! Sorry dude." Wendy apologized before she put him down.

"It's fine Wendy don't worry about it." He replied as he dusted himself off. "Hey, Pacifica what brings you by?"

"Do I need a reason to visit my friends?" the heiress asked borderline haughtily.

"What no, of course not, I'm just surprised you're here, that's all. The Mystery Shack isn't exactly your scene if you know what I mean."

"It's not my mother's either yet here she is," Pacifica stated jabbing her thumb behind her.

"True," Mason admitted.

"Besides, the Mystery Shack has… certain charms I've come to like." Pacifica said this while looking directly at Mason and smiling, hoping he'd get the hint.

"If you say so, but I don't know what those could be," Mason replied unsure what she could be talking about before making his way out of the storeroom.

He never saw the blonde facepalm or heard her mutter, "Stupid boy."

The dark-haired girl who hadn't introduced herself apologized on his behalf. "You'll have to forgive Mason, he's a bit… dense for all his intelligence, he's terrible at picking up social cues."

Pacifica blinked and held out her hand. "Hello, I don't believe we've met. I'm Pacifica Northwest, and you are?"

Sian looked at her hand for a moment before taking it and giving it a shake. "Sian Evergreen, I live up in the mountains near where Mason is staying. We became acquainted just a short while ago."

"Yet you act as if you've known him forever." Wendy pointed out.

"We talked… a lot." Sian said by way of explanation. "Mason is someone who is easy to read given enough interaction with him. Or perhaps I'm just good at reading people. I am unsure. I do know he can be rather dense when it comes to other people's feelings, at least from what he's told me and if that display is anything to go by."

"What about you?" Wendy asked, she figured now would be the time to ask the question, while it was the three of them, alone, in the relative privacy of the storeroom.

Sian looked puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"I do believe Wendy is trying to ask if you have any feelings towards Mason Sian." Pacifica gently explained while sending the redhead a look causing the lumberjill to shrug.

Sian cocked her head to the side, "I… do not know? It has only been my family and me my entire life. I have never known anyone else until recently." This was a lie of course, but also the truth. Sian hadn't had a body until recently and with it came all manner of new experiences. "So, do I love Mason? I can't say that…"

Wendy and Pacifica sighed in relief. Only to choke on their own breath as the girl continued. "But I can't say that I might not come to love him sometime in the future. He is the only boy I've had significant contact with, and I do enjoy his company very much. So could I see myself falling in love with him? Yes, perhaps."

"Your very… forward." Pacifica noted.

"Is that wrong?" Sian asked, her question seeming genuine.

Pacifica shook her head, "Not wrong, just different."

Sian nodded. "I see… is that all you needed to talk about? I was supposed to report to Mr. Pines once we got everything put away."

"Yes, that's all. I do hope we can be friends though Sian." Pacifica gave the dark-haired girl a smile.

Sian blinked for a moment before the sides of her lips quirked upwards and she gave a ghost of a smile herself. "I would like that as well. To be friends with you and Wendy, Pacifica." She gave them both a nod, "Now if you'll excuse me."

Sian left the two girls in the storeroom, and Pacifica broke the silence. "Well, she seemed nice, if a bit blunt and reserved."

"Seriously? You think she's ok?" Wendy asked. "She doesn't come off as… odd to you?"

Pacifica put her hands on her hips. "Wendy she spent her entire life up in the mountains surrounded by just her family! Of course, she's going to be a little quiet. I mean you live in the woods but you're close to town, so I'd think of the two of us, you could relate to her better than me."

Wendy rubbed her arm. "Ok, ok, you got me there. Maybe it's just me, but I can't help but feel there's something off about her."

"If the whole Bill Cipher experience taught me anything. It's that trust is a fragile thing, but necessary for friendship. She said she wanted to be our friends, that means she has to be willing to trust us to some extent. Maybe not all at once and right away with her deepest darkest secrets but if she is hiding something, she'll tell us, eventually."

In other words, you're telling me to be patient?"

"Yes, if it's really important, Sian will tell us when we need to know," Pacifica said with certainty.

Wendy sighed. "I hope your right Paz, I really do."

Deep beneath the depths of Gravity Falls History Museum, in a secret chamber, a group of clandestine hooded figures met. This group known colloquially as the society of the Blind Eye had a singular mission. To keep the inhabitants of Gravity Falls ignorant of the paranormal for their own good. One stepped forward and greeted the rest. "Novus ordo seclorum, brothers and sisters."

"Novus ordo seclorum, grandmaster!" The rest of the order greeted.

"My illustrious colleagues, it has come to my attention that the careful attention we have given to Gravity Falls, of keeping them blissfully ignorant of the terrors and madness that lurks so near to their hearths and homes, is slowly beginning to unravel."

The others began to mutter fearfully amongst themselves. That is until the leader called for silence. "Brethren, it grieves me to tell you this, but some unknown individual is seeking to undo the work we did covering up the disappearances of both Emma-May Mcgucket and Theresa Corduroy several decades ago."

The other members of the Society of the Blind Eye gasped. The disappearance of Theresa Corduroy was their greatest folly. It caused a city-wide manhunt, funded by Priscilla Northwest that went on for months. If they'd only been faster to act in getting to Manly Dan, such publicity being brought to Gravity Falls could've been avoided.

"What do we know about this person?" One figure with a deep gravelly voice asked.

"Nothing much I'm afraid." The Grandmaster replied. "Other than the fact whomever it was slaughtered the former leaderaur. So the kidnapping of Gravity Falls women will no longer be a problem, thank goodness." The leader of the secret society paused for just a moment, before continuing. "That still leaves us with two loose ends, however. Emma-May McGucket and Theresa Corduroy. Both will need to be taken care of…"

"Like kill 'em?" One member asked.

"Heavens no!" The grandmaster replied, repulsed by the very idea. "We're just going to erase their memories again," This brought a collective sigh of relief from the rest of the hooded figures. "They will, however, need to be brought here to be… made to forget."

"I'll get Corduroy." The robed figure with the tone like gravel replied.

"Get 'em get em'!" Another member cheered.

"I can go after Mrs. McGucket." another with a southern accent offered.

"Excellent! McGucket is staying in the Portland General Hospital. Go my brethren and may the eyes of others be blinded to your activities."

"Unsee ya'll later!" The figure with the southern accent replied before taking off.

"Unsee you later." The others replied before they all dispersed.

The leader rubbed his hands together like a cliche villain. "Soon all will be as it should be."

The hooded figure went to the office he kept down here and made a quick phone call. "Yes, Mr. Northwest? Everything is in motion. Things should be going back as they were very soon."

"Good let me know when it's done. I trust you'll be as useful to me now as you were before." Preston replied before hanging up his cellphone. "I lost millions last time. Nearly lost my fortune. I won't let it happen again. You should've stayed gone, Theresa."

After yet another long workday, Mason was glad to be back home. 'Maybe things will work out with Wendy after all.' He thought optimistically as he worked out in his weight room, as he currently constantly flipped over a tractor tire. 'She seemed thankful to have my help this afternoon, and we talked. Then there was that scene in the storeroom. Yeah, there may be hope for us yet. If I can pull myself together at least.' Mason knew that last bit was going to be the hardest part. While he knew in his heart Wendy was no longer possessed, his head was still full of doubts no matter how many times he told himself she was fine. 'I'd probably feel a whole lot better if she told me she was fine herself.'

Mason was brought out of his brooding by a knock on the doorframe. Sian was standing there in a tank top and bicycle shorts, both black of course. When he saw her there, dressed like that, he just stopped and stared. He may've been a twelve-year-old boy, but he was still a boy damnit! You put a girl in skimpy tight clothing in front of him and of course, he's going to stare.

"Mason!" Sian snapped a blush coating her face. "I can still feel your emotions you know? We're still connected via the backup of myself that I left on the watch…"

"Oh, I-um… sorry." Mason muttered looking away.

He soon felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. He looked up to Sian smiling at him. "Don't apologize. I do believe most women would find it flattering to be looked at in such a way by a cute boy."

"You think I'm cute?"

"Just as pretty as you find me," Sian replied factorily. "You are… the only friend I have."

"Do Soos and Giffany not count?" Mason asked, quirking his head to the side in askance.

Sian smiled ruefully. "Giffany is family as are all the other AI's here. Soos is… Soos." She finished unable to find a proper term to describe the Hispanic handyman.

Mason laughed a little at that. "Yeah, he is. So… you here to work out?"

"I am," Sian affirmed. "I'd like to test the limits of this body you made for me." She made a fist. She seemed eager to test her limits.

Mason had no problem with that. "Ok, what did you want to try first?"

Sian immediately went over to the bench press. "This. I've watched through your eyes as you did this for so long, I'm eager to try it myself."

"Ok, ok, let's give it a shot," Mason said before he started removing weights.

Sian stopped him by putting a hand on his shoulder. "Why are you removing weight, Mason?"

The boy gave the Gynoid a look. "Sian, you don't actually think you can lift all this on your first go do you?"

"Why ever not. I should be just as strong as you. I've given myself the proper enhancements." Sian replied.

Mason opened his mouth to reply then shut it. 'Nope, it's best if she found out on her own.' He thought. He put the alien weights back to his level. "Go ahead, let's test that theory."

Sian laid down on the bench and Mason got into spotter position. He knew this was going to be a harsh lesson, but it was one that his friend needed to learn. "Ready?" He asked as Sian firmly gripped the bar. Upon her nod, he let the bar drop.

Sian was almost crushed under its weight. She tried to push up with all of her enhanced strength, and she only just managed to keep herself from choking to death, and even that caused her arms to quiver and shake. Mason though was able to easily take the weight from her shaking hands. Sian sat up and took a moment to catch her breath. Once she did, she spoke in a confused tone. "I don't understand, I optimized this body just like I did yours. It should be able to handle the same amount of weight. Did I miscalculate something?" She asked herself as she looked down at her hands in curiosity.

"No, not exactly," Mason replied as he put the bar back in place on its hooks.

"You know what went wrong." It was a statement, not a question.

Mason nodded. "I do."

"Well don't leave me in suspense Mason. Tell me the flaw so that I can fix it." Sian replied her tone regain a bit of its dry humor she had when she was on his wrist.

Mason sighed. "The problem is you're a girl Sian."

"Excuse me? What does the gender of this form have to do with this problem?" Sian inquired.

Mason ran a hand down his face. He really didn't want to talk about this with her, but she asked so. "Human women are biologically weaker than men. Men simply have more muscle mass than women do, it's simply genetic. Lots of women don't like having it brought up, but it's a scientific fact that they are the weaker, but most certainly fairer, sex."

Sian nodded slowly. "I see, so I will never be as strong as you physically…"

"No, but you've got other talents," Mason assured her. "You're definitely smarter than me. Plus since your a girl you should be more… flexible than me." He told her with a blush. He really didn't need to think of just how flexible Sian could be right now. Not when she was wearing a skimpy workout outfit.

"I believe the word you're looking for is agile." Sian teased noting his discomfort.

"Yeah, that," Mason replied with a jerky nod. 'Damn hormones. Fuck you puberty.' Mason thought. Taking a moment to calm himself, he asked kindly. "So you ready to try again?"

Sian nodded. "I am."

A sudden thunderous thud was heard, stopping the two in their tracks. Mason sighed as he made his way out of the workout room. "I swear, if Octavius has gotten drunk off the WD40 again I'm gonna scrap him for parts. I didn't even know robots could get drunk."

What Mason found was not a drunken Octavius trying to 'integrate' with a plugged-in toaster like last time, but a profusely sweating Soos. His mystery Shack shirt was soaked with sweat and it looked like he'd ran the whole way here from… somewhere.

"Soos, what's wrong man?" Mason asked in concern.

"D...Dude, you gotta come quick! Some… someone kidnapped Theresa!"

"What?!" Mason's voice now held a knife's edge.

"Y-Yeah dude Someone wrecked the Cabin, brained Manly Dan over the head, and took Theresa," Soos explained fully now that he'd caught his breath.

"What about Wendy is she?" Mason asked, his voice becoming cold, detached, and analytical.

"She tried chasing after 'em dude, but even with her mom in a sack, the perp still managed to outrun her."

'Person was strong, and fit, knew their way around the forest, likely a native of Gravity Falls.' Mason thought as he made his way back into the depths of the bunker, with Soos calling after him the whole way.

"Dude, dude where you going?!"

"I just need to pick up a few things before I go, Soos," Mason replied calmly as he went over to his bedroom and punched in a code on his wall. In response, a piece of the wall seamlessly came down revealing the hidden vault and the contents it held inside.

"Oh boy, some people are gonna die tonight, I can feel it," Soos said to himself as he watched Mason put on a leather bandolier that went both around his waist and diagonally around his right shoulder. From the back of the arm, strap hung his morph gun and on the right side of his waist hung Lady Vivamas, his lightsaber. Along the front of the arm, the strap was extra ammo and it also went around his waist too.

"You're right Soos. Tonight the streets of Gravity Falls will run red, it's gutters and drains choked with the blood of those stupid enough to kidnap my friends."

Mason twist the dial on his watch face it popped up, showing his RIG, and he slammed the button back down. Trillions of black nanites covered him in microseconds like a second skin, rapidly firming up into his futuristic riot gear.

Soos' jaw dropped. "Dude, that is sick! You didn't tell me Sian could do that."

"You didn't ask," Mason replied his tone robotic hidden beneath a built-in voice scrambler. "I'm going on ahead Soos, catch up when you can, but don't strain yourself alright?"

Soos held his fist up. "Pterodactyl Bros?"

"Always," Mason replied bumping his fist before taking off in a blur of speed that surprised the handyman.

'Mason,' Sian's voice echoed in his head. 'Be careful, I know your upset but don't let your emotions get the best of you, you could get hurt.' Her tone was tinged with concern at the end.

As he raced down the mountain path as fast as he could run Maso replied. "I'm well beyond upset partner. I'm pissed! No ones gonna hurt my friends and not get hell from me for it."

'I hope Wendy's holding up alright.' Sian said in concern for the redheaded lumberjill.

'Me too Sian, me too.' Mason replied as he took off like a rocket towards the Corduroy cabin.

"Damnit!" Wendy cursed not for the first time as the kidnapper managed to elude her. She knew these woods like the back of her hand, or at least she thought she did. 'How'd he manage to get away?' Wendy asked herself as she kicked a stone in anger sending it flying off into the brush.

Of course, when the bastard got away she went back to the house and called the cops. "And you say he got away?" Blurbs said.

"For the dozenth time, yes," Wendy said through gritted teeth. The two stooges were getting on her last nerve. Her mother whom she thought dead for years had been mysteriously returned to her, and now, just as mysteriously she'd been taken again. Wendy was this close to getting her dad's ax and making both Blurbs and Durland a couple of inches shorter. 'If only someone competent were here.'

The sounds of shattering glass and crunching metal were heard drawing the attention of both the officers and the lumberjill to turn and stare. An iron-clad titan had landed on the roof of Blurbs and Durland's police cruiser, smashing it flat. The visor of the matte black armor glowed blue-white and was sectioned off into four slits.

Wendy's breath caught in her throat. She recognized the figure. It was the very same one depicted in her mother's carving that sat in the middle of their dining room table at all times. This was the person who saved her mother the first time around from the manotaur. 'He's back? Now? He must've heard mom was kidnapped, but how?'

He hopped off the destroyed cruiser and approached her. For all his strength, he wasn't that tall, maybe a couple of inches over five feet. He stopped in front of her and spoke in a robotic monotone. "What happened to Theresa Corduroy?"

It took Wendy a moment to find her voice. "S-She was taken. By a big guy in a robe. Never saw his face. Managed to get away from me running through the woods."

"Did you see any kind of identifying markings?" the rioteer asked.

Wendy shook her head. "No, but my mom, she managed to smash a bottle of whiskey over his head. He should stink like Jack Daniels no.7."

The black iron-clad figure nodded. "Understood…" He paused before asking, "And you? Are you unharmed?"

Wendy blinked. She didn't expect him to ask after her. "I'm fine. I'm more worried about my mom." Wendy reached out and grabbed his hand with both of her own. "You saved her once. Do it again, please."

"I will don't worry." The figure promised. "What of your father, is he alright?"

Wendy thumbed her head behind her towards the house. "He's inside nursing a goose egg. He got brained in the head with a frying pan of all things."

"I'm fine girl, it'll take more than a conk to the head to keep me down." Manly Dan cried coming out of the house carrying his ax, followed by his sons. He eyed the black-armored stranger. "You, I know you. My girl speaks of you often. Saved her you did."

"Just doing what anyone else would've done in my position, sir." The short figure replied.

Manly Dan shook his head, "No boy. You went above and beyond the call of duty, you did. You got me, wife, back, my kids their mom, we can't thank ya enough for that. Now here you are again to help try and find her a second time. We owe you a debt."

Mason didn't question it. He didn't want to wound the man's pride. "We'll speak on this later sir. Right now, finding your wife is paramount."

The sound of brakes screeching to a halt was heard and a beat-up old truck came to a stop right in front of the ruin that was once a cop cruiser, its brights were on and stayed on as the doors were flung open and someone Mason recognized as Ranger Tate along with a man in a tweed suit and a stark white goatee came rushing onto the scene.

"Sheriff you gotta help me and my dad!" Tate said as he came to a stop in front of the man.

'Dad?' Mason thought as he looked at the well-dressed elderly man. 'Old Man McGucket?' He wondered in awe. 'He cleans up nice.'

"Ma wife's been dun kidnapped from the hospital Sheriff!" McGucket cried hysterically as he shook the rotund officer.

"Whoa, whoa, hold on now. McGucket, man is that you?"

"Yes, ma wife she's been taken ya blasted fool!" McGucket growled in anger.

"Emma-MAy's been kidnapped?" Mason asked.

McGucket looked at the person in futuristic riot gear and nodded rapidly. "She done got took by some kook in a robe! She was shoutin' to as he stole away with her in a van. Find the LEaderaur she said. But I dunno what that means conflabbit!"

"She wanted you to find me McGucket," Mason told him. "I'm the current leader of the Manotaurs, after killing the former one who kidnapped your wife the first time around."

"Really? He took Mason's hands in his own and shook them rapidly. "Thank you for that, so, so much!" McGucket then stuck his tongue out in thought. "Ya don't think they might' a took 'em again do ya?"

Mason thought of Trisha the Woamntaur he'd met. Her fury at finding out what the previous Leaderaur had done. He shook his head. "I highly doubt that, but if it'll make you feel better I can go check."

A hand belonging to Blurbs landed on Mason's shoulder. "You ain't going anywhere except jail for destruction of police property."

Mason grabbed the arm and twisted it behind its owners back before placing his boot to his back and pressing down, causing him to whimper in pain. "Listen up, you two are at best incompetent, or at worst, paid to look the other way when anything weird happens in this town. Either way, that stops today. Because there's a new sheriff in town, and he's me."

"Oh yeah, by whose authority?"

"Mine!" Just then, the Eighth and a half President of the United States came riding out of the forest riding a horse backward.

"President Trembly?" Mason did not expect to see him now, or ever again, really.

"Indeed it is I, President Trembly!" The man said as he got off his horse. "I've been monitoring things around here in Gravity Falls and I must say you've done a spectacular job young man. So much so I'd like to give you this!"

The President reached into his petticoat and came back out with, of all things, a Sheriff's badge. But it wasn't a normal badge. Coined from pure silver, the badge had the image of an octopus creature in the center of a pentacle, and written along the edges of the star was the phrase, ""Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn."

Pinning it on the right side of Mason's chest, Trembly intoned, "By the power vested in me as the Eighth and a Half President of the United States of America, I hereby make you sir Constabulary Paranormus, or if you prefer, Sheriff of all things Paranormal, here in Gravity Falls. It is up to you to protect this town and its denizens from the weird of the world." Trembly put a hand on Mason's shoulder and said in a whisper, "Good luck young Pines." He then raised his voice and shouted, "Trembly away!" He jumped back onto his horse (backward of course) and disappeared again.

"What… what the hell just happened?" Wendy asked after the man had left.

"I'm the Sheriff now, which means I do have authority Blurbs."

"Fine by me, that means this isn't my problem. Can I have my arm back?" Blurbs asked.

Mason let him go and got off the man's back, not having moved since Trembly arrived. He looked to Wendy, Dan, Tate, and McGucket. "If I'm the Sheriff, I'm gonna need some deputies. You up for it?"

"Heck yeah man! Let's do this!" Wendy pumped her fist. 'Finally, someone competent is getting shit done in this town.'

"Then follow me, and do try to keep up." He replied as he shot towards the mountains intent on asking some Manotaurs some questions.

Mason landed in front of the Man Cave with a solid thud. He turned and looked around seeing his 'deputies' racing after him with Wendy in the lead in the distance. 'By the time they get here, I'll be done with my interrogation.' The newly minted Sheriff of Mysteries thought to himself as he waltzed into the cave. Which was in the Man Cave proper. All of the Manotaurs who were either pumping iron or flexing in front of a wall of mirrors turned and looked when Mason let out a shrill whistle. Pointing at the floor in front of him Mason barked out like a drill sergeant, "Front and center everyone! We need to have a chat!"

All the manotaurs lined up in front of their Leaderaur, chests puffed out and guts sucked in, and backs straight. They didn't know what was going on, but they knew an irate leaderaur when they heard one and hastened to obey. Mason paced down the line of his riffraff of underlings, hands clasped behind his back. The Manotaurs could feel his gaze raking over them from behind his glowing helmet. "I am going to ask you all a very important question and I want you to be honest with me. If I find out you're lying to me… there will be consequences."

Chutzpar spoke for the group being the closest to the new Leaderaur. "Mauleraur, what have we done to displease you?"

"The two women I rescued from this place about a month ago now, they've been kidnapped again. They aren't here are they?"

A mass of denials came at the asking of this question. "No! No! Asterios no! No chicks in the Man Cave! We wouldn't dare bring Womantaur's wrath down upon us!"

Mason nodded. He didn't think either Theresa or Emma-May were here, but it didn't hurt to check. "Ok, I'm gonna scope this place out real quick then leave."

"No need, little buddy."

Mason turned around to see Patrica, the womantaur herself in the cave entrance with all of his deputies in her arms. She gently placed them on the ground and then took a deep whiff of the air. "Nope no women here, just Manotaurs."

Mason turned unconvinced. "You can tell just by sniffing the air Trisha?"

Patricia put her hands on her hips and smiled at him coyly. "Kid, trust me if anything even remotely nice smelling had entered this cave recently even you'd be able to tell."

The manotaurs collectively hit their knees and bowed before their goddess. "Womantaur! We are not worthy!"

Mason blinked at the display and then turned back to Trisha. "Wow your right, they are kinda dumb aren't they?"

Patrisha snorted. "You don't know the half of it kiddo," She shrugged. "But I work with what I've got."

"I'm inclined to pity you, no offense meant," Mason replied.

Trisha shook her head, causing her light-brown locks to sway, "None taken I appreciate it actually, someone finally understands my pain."

"Ahem," Wendy cleared her throat. "Would someone mind explaining just what the bloody hell is going on?"

Mason turned his head towards her and cocked it to the side, "Isn't it obvious? We're looking for your mother and Mrs. McGucket. They aren't here though. Are they guys?"

The Manotuars refused to look up but all collectively shook their heads and mumbled no.

"Are they?" Patricia asked gruffly while focusing her gaze on Putitaur.

Said Manotuar looked like he was having a stroke. "N-No Patty! We would never disgrace the Man Cave or you, by bringing other women here!" He then noticed Wendy and said "No chicks in the Man Cave!"

Mason held a hand out to stop Wendy from killing the stupid Manotaur. "She's allowed, she's my guest and it's her mother that's missing… plus, I'm pretty sure she could kick all your asses." Mason retorted.

Chutzpar questioned. "Ah, so she is related to Womantaur then Maularaur?"

"Um no. She's just that awesome." Mason replied honestly, causing Wendy to turn and stare at the unknown figure behind the mask wondering about the compliment.

Manly Dan piped up angrily. "What I'd like to know is why these beasts which are the same ones which kidnapped my wife the first time around, are still alive!"

Even Wendy was frowning. "I have to agree with my dad on this one Sherrif."

Mason replied. "The one responsible for that was punished, his sentence for his crimes was death. I refuse to damn an entire species for the actions of one individual. What your asking for is genocide of a sentient species and I will have no part of that."

Manly Dan gripped his ax hard in one hand and closed his eyes, and even Wendy looked at the floor in shame.

"Don't lump us in with the old Leaderaur! We want to live! We want to live!" The Manotaur's begged, groveling towards the Corduroys.

Upon seeing this pathetic display Wendy stage-whispered to her dad. "They're too dumb to pull this off I think dad."

"I'm inclined to agree." He turned to the McGucket boys. "What do you both think?"

"Ah reckon we got the wrong crew." McGucket pondered aloud.

Tate nodded. "Agreed but I'm not sure how I feel about just leaving them up here like this how do we know that one of them won't wise up and try something?"

"You have my word," Mason assured them.

"And mine," Patricia added. She then fixed the Manotaurs with a glare, "Hear that boys? You're to stay away from the town for now on, got it?"

The Manotuars nodded dumbly, too afraid to say anything.

Mason added, "And you're to stay a good mile out of the woods leading away from the town too, understood?" Again, the Manotuars nodded, they dared not speak fearing if they did, they would summarily share the same fate as their former Leaderaur. Mason turned to Tater McGucket, "Good enough?"

The forest ranger nodded. "Yeah, that'll do I guess."

Mason let out a sigh, sometimes it sucked to be in charge. "Ok well, that's one lead that led to a dead end. Now what to do?"

"Could I make a suggestion dude?" Soos who had followed the group and arrived in time to get the gist of the situation offered.

Mason nodded. "Go ahead, deputy."

Soos cleared his throat before continuing. "Like you could go around town checking camera footage dude. We don't have many but someone might've caught something on film without even realizing it."

Mason nodded. "A sound plan. Let's do it. Everyone, we're going back to town." He looked to the lone womantaur and nodded politely, "Patricia, always a pleasure."

Trisha pulled him into a 'light' hug, which for Mason was enough to cause his spine to pop in protest. "You to kiddo, don't be a stranger yeah?"

"Of course not, seeya around." Mason gasped out once he was let out of her clutches. Hobbling out of the Man Cave, Mason turned to his posse because that's what they really were until he could officially deputize them, and spoke. "I'll meet you all back in town."

"Wait," Wendy grabbed his arm before he could take off again. "Not that I don't appreciate what you're doing, because I do, but just who are you, man? The way you talked about me back there… it's like you know me. Have we met? Are you one of my ex-boyfriends or something?"

"I can say with absolute certainty that you and I have never dated Miss Corduroy. As for how I know of you, did you honestly think your mother didn't talk of her family as I delivered her home? Don't be foolish, that was all she spoke of. Now, if that is all, we should get moving. The first forty-eight hours of any crime are the most important and the more we waste the less likely it is we'll find either your mother or Mrs. McGucket."

With that, Mason shook off Wendy's arm and all but threw himself down the mountainside. He wanted to find both Theresa and Emma-May as quickly as possible but he also wanted to be away from Wendy right now. Last thing he needed to explain how he Mason Pines, was the one who saved her mother and making their already complicated relationship even more complex.

Mason had been going through camera footage from the library that he'd collected from various stores for the past hour when his deputies finally arrived. He didn't even look up from the camera footage he was reviewing when he commented. "It took all of you long enough to get here."

"Not all of us can just throw ourselves down a mountainside you know?" Wendy huffed.

"Excuses, excuses," Mason replied absentmindedly before motioning to the other computers. "Well, don't just stand there, pick a computer, pick a card and get to looking. The sooner we get this done, the sooner everyone goes home happy."

Everyone grumbled but did as ordered. Sitting at a computer and going through black-and-white computer footage for what felt like an agonizing eternity. Mason didn't find anything on his tape from the time either Theresa or Emma-May was said to be abducted so he glanced over at Soos' screen and noticed his time stamp was several hours off.

"Soos, why are you watching the whole thing?"

"To spot the bad guys dude," Soos replied easily.

Mason looked at everyone else and noticed they were all doing the same thing, watching the whole video. He sighed. "Everyone, you don't need to watch the whole video. It's a two-hour drive to Portland from here, Emma-May was abducted around noon meaning she wouldn't get back till sometime around two in the afternoon. Theresa wasn't taken till five at night and the guy was running from wendy in the woods so keep an eye out for anyone suspicious-looking after five OKs?"

A collective facepalming was had before everyone fast-forwarded their tapes to near 2pm and kept watch from then on. 'I guess me reading the Sibling Brothers books actually came in handy.'

'Yeah, it did.' Sian replied in his mind.

Mason glanced at his wrist. 'Hey partner, how's things on your end?'

'Giffany and I are watching the Corduroy boys. They are acting strangely I think.'

Mason quirked an eyebrow from beneath his helmet. 'Strange how?'

'The two younger ones just keep peeking around the corner staring at Giffany and me and giggling. Are they defective or something Mason? Do they need to be returned to the store for a refund?'

Mason wanted to groan and facepalm himself, but he didn't want people asking him what was wrong. So instead he did his best to explain the situation to his friend. 'Sian, you've seen my memories. Do you recall how dumb I acted around Wendy when I had a crush on her?'

'Oh yes, you were quite… oh, how sweet. They have crushes on Giffany and I. How should I proceed?'

'You want my advice on this of all topics?' Mason asked her flatly.

Sian was silent for a moment. 'I apologize, that was thoughtless of me. I'll ask Giffany instead.'

Mason was quick to retort. 'No, no Sian it's fine… it's just… This is a bit of a sore point for me still ya know?'

'I do,' The AI replied, 'So do you have a suggestion for me?'

'Just… just and I can't believe I'm saying this mind you.' Mason felt sick even suggesting this, but he couldn't think of anything better. 'Do what Wendy did to me. Let them down easy and promise to be friends with them. I'm sure at their ages that would mean more than actual dating.'

'Ok, I'll try that, thanks, Mason.' Sian said in a slightly more upbeat tone.

'No problem let me know how it goes partner.' Mason replied before their connection went silent.

"Hey uh, Sheriff? I think I got something." Tate called.

Mason made his way over and looked at the forest ranger's screen, "Show me."

Tater replayed the section of the tape he was on. When he hit play it showed a van driving past with a woman banging on the glass in the backseat.

"Your mother?" Mason questioned.

"I believe so," Tate said his voice thick with emotion.

Mason putting a comforting hand on the man's shoulder. "Can you pause it on the license plate?"

The park ranger did just that zooming in they got the number. Mason wrote it down.

"GF0 618. Ok, now we just gotta find out who owns that vehicle."

"No need. I know who owns that piece of junk." Stan said from over his great-nephew's shoulder.

Mason was surprised. "You do?"

Stan nodded. "Yep, that's the same license plate Bud Gleeson puts on all of his jalopies before he sells them on his car lot."

"So we have a potential suspect then, Bud Gleeson."

Manly Dan cracked his knuckles before he hefted his ax on his shoulder. "Let's go pay him a home visit shall we?"

The sound of the doorbell ringing made Carla McCorkel Gleeful jump. Knowing her husband couldn't be back from his book club yet Carla went to the window and checked it before she opened it. "C-Can I help you?"

The short man in the SWAT uniform stepped forward. "Yes Mrs. Gleeful, might we come in?"

Mrs. Gleeful stepped aside allowing the man and several other townspeople she knew in passing entrance into her home. The policeman looked around her home. "We'd like to speak to your husband. Is he about?"

Carla shook her head, "N-N-No. He out at the moment. He has a book club."

"Book club you say?" The man stepped forward intently. "Do you know where this book club meets?"

Carla had never really thought about it. "I-I'd like to assume the library, though I'd never thought to ask."

The police officer shook his head. "No, ma'am. We were all just there and didn't see him. Can you think of anywhere else he and his group might meet?"

Carla decided to ask a question of her own. "W-What is this a-about officer?"

The man lowered his head and sighed before meeting her gaze as well as he could given his short stature. "Your husband is suspected of kidnapping ma'am and we think he and his 'book club' might be up to something… nefarious."

"No…" Carla shook her head. "Nonononono! "First my son, now my husband too?! I can't take this anymore! My life has been a wreck! Ever since… ever since my failed relationship with Thistle Down."

"Carla, Carla McCorkle?" Stan questioned.

The woman looked up when she heard her maiden name being called. She squinted at the scruffy man in the fez and black suit. She knew him as Mr. Mystery the man whom her son seemed to despise with a passion for some reason or another. "Y-Yes? D-Do I know you?"

"It's it's me? Stan, Stan Pines? We uh, dated briefly." Stan looked away and coughed.

Carla did remember Stan how he saved her purse from a mugger, the fun times they had… that time he drove Thistle Downs car, which also doubled as his house, into a ravine. She thought it was funny him doing something that crazy to get her back, but it was also stupid, reckless and a crime.

"Hello Stanford, how've you been?" Carla managed a small smile for her old flame.

Stan shrugged. "Been worse. You?"

"Much the same. My sons in jail… sorry about him by the way… oh, wherever did I go wrong with him?" Carla asked herself.

Hey hey," Stan made his way over and placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's not your fault. Some kids are… just born bad. Nature over nurture you know? I'm sure you did everything you could."

Carla ranted on. "And now my husband is seemingly involved in a kidnapping! What am I going to do if Bud goes to jail? I don't know anything about cars! I've been a housewife my whole life!"

"Easy Carla, easy." Stan soothed. "It's gonna be ok. We'll figure something out, Bud might not even be involved, but in order for us to rule him out, we need to know where he could be. Can you think of anywhere, anywhere at all, he might be?"

"T-The museum. He goes there a lot too." Carla stuttered out.

Mason nodded. "Thank you, ma'am. Mr. Pines if you would kindly stay here and await further instructions?"

Stan smiled a threw a wink his way. He got the hidden message. 'Look after your old friend, she needs you right now.' as he replied. "Can do Sheriff."

Mason whistled, made a circular motion with his finger and then pointed towards the door. When nobody moved, he sighed and said, "That means let's move out people we have a location and need to be an oscar-mike stat."

"Whose Oscar Mike?" Tate asked.

"He means on the move damn it." Manly Dan exclaimed. "He's using Army jargon."

"Oh," Wendy was the first to get moving. "So you served in the army then?" She questioned as they left the Gleeful residence.

"Kinda sorta," Mason replied, thankful he downloaded the soldier's brain patterns into his head. It came with a crapload of technical jargon and even more importantly weapons handling skills. Skills he felt he'd be using sooner rather than later.

The group approached the Museum at a steady pace. When they got close to the front doors, Mason drew his morph gun and with the push of a button, switched it to shotgun mode. He held up a fist, causing the others to stop. He then pointed at Manly Dan, Tate, and McGucket and pointed left. Wendy and himself he pointed right. He hoped they got the message as he walked forwards and immediately as they came to an intersection he pointed his gun to the right then up to the second floor. "Clear."

"Clear." Manly Dan replied from right behind him.

"Circle around and come back here, give me a sitrep," Mason replied as he and Wendy walked forwards.

The two now alone, prompted Wendy to ask questions. "So, where did you get all your stuff? The cool armor, the high-tech gun, and that laser sword on your hip."

"I made them," Mason replied curtly as he turned and scanned another room. Again he found nothing.

Wendy replied with a grin on her face. "Seriously dude? That's awesome! I'd kill for a laser ax or something like that."

"Forgive me for saying this but you seem… rather upbeat for someone whose mother is missing."

Wendy's first inclination was to be offended but if she had learned anything from her debacle with Mason it was that her gut feelings could often blow-up in her face. So she took a moment, took a breath, and explained. "I am worried about my mom man. But nowhere near as worried as I could be if you weren't looking for her."

"Oh really?" Mason replied as he checked another room.

Wendy nodded. "Yeah man, you like totally saved her once. Blubs and Durland would lose their asses if they weren't attached to their backsides. But you? You , I know I can trust. Since you helped my mom once I know you can do it again."

"Thank you… Miss Corduroy."

Wendy gently put a hand on his shoulder. "Call me Wendy dude. All my friends do."

"Miss Wendy then."

The lumberjill chuckled. "No need to be so formal man."

"Force of habit," Mason replied as he and the girl completed their circuit around the main floor. "Where are the others?"

"Well, there were more of them than us so it might've taken them longer to go around the place." Wendy reasoned.

"Yeah," Mason replied unconvinced as he walked off in the direction the others went.

Wendy sighed before following after him, but not before grabbing a fireman's ax from an in case of emergency safety box...

The two neither saw nor heard anything of the rest of their companions and even Wendy was starting to find this suspicious. Mason stopped in front of a room filled with eyes. He scanned the room thoroughly and stopped when he found something… odd.

Going over to the lit fireplace which was odd in and of itself, Mason picked up a piece of ripped cloth that was stuck to the side of the fireplace. He held it up to his face it was from a tweed suit.

"They were here," Mason looked around. "Something in this room is hiding a secret passage."

"Ok, what do we do?" Wendy asked looking around moving statues looking for hidden switches.

"Well we could do it the smart way and look for the answer to the puzzle," Mason held down the shotgun button on his morph gun transforming it into a grenade launcher. "But the smart way takes time we don't have to waste at the moment, so we're gonna do it, the fun way. Stand back."

Wendy stepped towards the entrance second before a 'Puff' of air was heard and an explosion sounded off near the fireplace, leaving a massive gaping hole where it once was.

Wendy… was oddly aroused by the explosion. 'Think about this later Corduroy, your parents need your help right now.' She thought as the Sheriff for lack of a better name to call him had already run through his newly made entrance.

"That thing is a rocket launcher too?" She called as she raced after him.

"Among other things Miss Wendy." the Sheriff replied as he hit another button causing the barrel to elongate and glow yellow taking the shape of an odd rifle as he walked forward. "We need to be careful. We done kicked the hornet's nest now we should expect some pest to come out of the woodworks."

"Whaddaya mean we?" Wendy whispered matter of factly.

Mason held up his hands. "Ssh, do you hear that?"

The sound of metal clanging on stone was heard. Mason and Wendy rushed forward and found Manly Dan locked in combat with the burly black man who was the doorman at the bar he and Mable had snuck into once when they were trying to figure out who 'murdered' Wax Stan. He didn't know the man's name, but the two were grappling over the lumberjack's axe.

Soos was swatting at a woodpecker, and Tate and Old Man McGucket were doing their best to keep Bud Gleeful and Toby Determined of all people pinned to the ground as some crazy tattooed bald guy was trying to get some crazy ray gun back, but Emma-May and Theresa were playing a game of 'keep away' with it.

"Ok, I've had just about enough bullshit for one night." Mason held the button down on his rifle configuration. He turned it into his Gyro Burster form, changing the barrel into a circular barrel with three flanges extruding from it.

Mason aimed at the sky and pulled the trigger. A yellow disc flew out of the gun and once it was airborne twenty small ports opened up on its sides, and it unleashed its payload. A three-hundred-sixty-degree rain of fifty shots of plasma. The effect was instantaneous the robed men fell to the floor, the ray gun whatever its purpose, was blasted to bits, and by some miracle, no one Mason gave a damn about was hurt.

No one moved. Not even when the gyro disc dropped to the ground and self-destructed so its abilities couldn't be replicated. Mason calmly walked forwards, the stone floor and walls were scorched by his assault, and he asked calmly. "Is everyone alright?"

"I'm not." The man who married a woodpecker replied.

Mason kicked him in response. "Wasn't asking you. I was asking the people I actually give two shits about."

"We're fine lad." Manly Dan replied though he was huffing a little. "Didn't expect Tats to be so tough but other than that no harm."

"Like, um, I don't have to worry about getting rabies from that woodpecker do I?" Soos asked concerned.

"We're right as rain, especially now that I got Emmy back."

"Fiddleford darling, your beard is on fire." Emma-May pointed out.

"Wha-AH oh sweet Jehosaphat!" Old Man McGucket swatted at his now burning beard.

"Dad, stop drop and roll!" Tate shouted.

McGucket did just that but by then it was far too late, his beard was half burnt off. "Dag nabbit I liked that beard!"

"You can always regrow it darling." Emma-may turned to the now rounded up secret society and gave them a deathly glare. "The bigger question is whatever shall we do with them?"

"Kill em." Manly Dan stated bluntly.

"Darling, you can't be serious?" Theresa said sounding shocked.

Even Wendy's eyes widened. "Woah dad isn't that like… too much?"

Dan shook his head. "Neither of ya seem to understand. These… these people are the reason you were trapped with that monster in the first place." A round of gasps was had. "Aye think about it, I can't happen to remember that my wife has been taken? And McGucket, well just look at what these bastards have done to em… no offense man."

"None taken I'm nuttier than a squirrel with a jar of extra crunchy peanut butter, 'an even I know it," McGucket replied solemnly. His wife put her arm comfortingly around him.

Theresa tried to calm everyone down by rationalizing. "But killing people is wrong."

Mason rebutted. "And yet it's legal in thirty-four out of fifty states, and also what else can we do? Imprison them for life? Do you think that'll stick when all they've done is kidnapping? I guarantee you if we let them go, they won't quit trying to get at you two."

Manly Dan had heard enough. "All for offin' these bastards say aye?

"Aye." Manly Dan, Mason, and all three McGuckets voiced at once.

Soos was surprised. "Dude are you seriously ok with this?"

Mason sighed. "If I have to choose the lives of my enemies over the safety of my friends… well, it's a no brainer for me Soos. Tell me you wouldn't do the same if it meant protecting a certain… mutual friend of ours?"

Soos looked at the floor for a long minute then he raised his hand and said. "Aye."

'He knows Soos, and Soos seems to know him too.' Wendy noted. "Soos man, you're changing your vote?"

"Wendy dude… as much as I hate to admit this… Sheriff Dude is right. If it came right down to it, and I had to off somebody to protect my fam which for me includes you and your mom by the way."

"Ah Soos, you total sweetheart we love you too dear," Theresa replied touched.

"Hehe, thanks Miss C, I'd do it in a heartbeat dawg," Soos admitted.

Theresa looked down at the robed group. While she didn't want them to die she had to know. "Why? Why would you let us be abandoned, forgotten by our loved ones and left to that… that monster?! Do you know what untold horrors we had to endure under that abomination?!"

Dan tried to put a hand on his wife but she shook him off. "No, I deserve to know this! I want to know what there reasoning was for taking a decade of my life, two decades of Emma-Mays and just leaving us there to rot and be forgotten."

"You really want to know?" The bald tattooed man replied holding his burnt guts in pain.

"Yes, I'd like very much to know the reason for our abandonment!" Theresa yelled in reply

"As would I, though I suspect your reasoning to be utter trollop," Emma-may replied angered at what this man did to not only her but probably her husband and son as a consequence.

"Very well, I'll tell you. The reason we, the Blind Eye Society exist to ease the minds of our fellow townspeople. To lift the burden of having to live in such utterly close quarters with the supernatural with it day by day, at all times? It takes a toll on the mind, burdens it, and if not treated properly… breaks it." The bald man clenched his fist at the end. "Our founder was one such a man… one who had seen… too much. He wished to forget, and so he did. He shared his greatness with all of us, and we, in turn, took it upon ourselves to make sure none would be driven mad by the knowing."

"Knowing what?" Mason inquired in anger of what any reason could have two women left to rot in a cave.

"That in the grand scheme of things… we are all meaningless. That things exist here, that boggle the mind to a state of perpetual madness! That is why we of the Blind Eye Society exist! For as long as the supernatural stays out of sight… it will stay off the minds of our fellow man."

"You're preaching a lot of bullshit about existentialism, but at the end of the day, that's all it is. Bullshit." Mason spat. "You had no right to force others to abandon these women to their fates! Not when something could've and should've been done for them both!"

Mason twitched his hand, creating a small mass effect field on instinct and drawing Lady Vivamus into his grasp. It ignited with an audible snap-hiss. He walked towards the leader of this messed up little cult. "Any last words before I carry out your sentence of death by beheading?" He asked as he raised the sapphire hued blade above his head.

"Novus ordo seclorum." The man chanted.

"Famous last words." Mason retorted before he swung the weapon down horizontally, taking the man's head off in one clean swipe. There was no blood it was instantly cauterized, burned away by the heat created by the weapon, and the body fell over like a stringless marionette.

Mason turned to do the same to the other's but a large hand landed on his shoulder. "No, I… I'll handle the rest. You-you've done enough. Go on, get out of here lad, and take my daughter and wife with you. Neither of them needs to see… need to see what comes next." Manly Dan requested, grim-faced as he hefted his ax.

"I understand." Mason nodded he felt tired, he also felt no remorse for any that he was leaving behind, he heard them begging pleading for their lives, but he didn't care. He just took Wendy and Theresa by the hand, looked at Emma-May who shook her head signifying she was staying for this, and then left the place, and the dark deeds that were done there, behind him. Soos following in his wake not being able to watch this.

Back at the Corduroy Cabin Sian frowned. 'I didn't expect that.' She was just about to contact him and let him know her sitdown with the Corduroy boys was a success when she got caught up on everything he'd been doing lately. 'For him to kill in cold blood like that, even though he was likely factually correct in his assumptions… could his constant neuromod use be having an adverse effect on him already?' She wondered as she played a board game 'Monopoly' where she was winning by a large margin. 'I can't take the chance that he might be. Kaisar?' She contacted the head Operator at the base through her own built-in neuro-uplink.

'Yes, Lady Sian?' The head operator was quick to reply.

'I require a new special operator to be constructed one that will activate in case of a very specific set of events take place.'

'Very will Lady Sian what shall we call this ICE operator?' Kaisar inquired.

Sian took a moment to think it over. 'Hades, we shall call it Hades.'

Word Count: 20,600 Number of Pages: 52 Date Completed: 9/29/2019

AN: Hello loyal readers! Welcome to yet another chapter of Rise of Orion! It's been a minute since I updated this fic and that's because I've been working on another fic. A Star vs. The Forces of Evil fic called Wandering Warrior. If that interests you, please give it a look. It needs more love. But now over to our Friendly Neighborhood Beta Snowy!

I will say right now readers. Support both stories I put my blood sweat and tears, mostly blood, into both of these stories so please give both a read. After all only you can stop vampires from eating me alive. Emotional VAMPIRES!

Good God! I've broken Snowy ladies and gents! I know in Gravity Falls anything can hadplen, but I never suspected this! Also, snowy wanted me to remind you all I have a P-a-t-r-e-o-n account. Which I do. Give if you feel like it. I'm incredibly grateful for even the smallest donations. Till next time everyone, this has been a Bubbajack & Icysnowsage Production!