HOME | DD

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

Chapter 18: Break Rules a Little and Live

“Bon Voyage, Mr. Pines and Mr. Author. Bon Voyage.”

“Soos, you do realized they’ve left three hours ago?” Melody informed her boyfriend/boss, now dressed in the official Mystery Shack uniform like Soos used to wear.

“I know. I just miss them already.” Soos started tearing up.

“I miss them already, too.” Melody comforts her boyfriend. “Come, I’ll make us some hot chocolate.”

“Ooh, did you ever try hot chocolate with gummy koala and honey?”

That statement froze Melody. “Soos …. You are a visionary!”

Soos and Melody walked into the shack to see Wendy checking herself out in the mirror.

“How you like the uniform, Miss Handy Gal?”

Wendy turned to the couple. She was dressed in an official Question Mark T-shirt and wore a pair of old work jeans. She tugged Dipper’s cap and gave the thumbs up. “Great and Dad approved.” She looked over at a broken air conditioner. “And you’re positive I’m right for the job? I mean I know I’ll understand this better than Algebra, but that’s really stretching it.”

“You’ll be a natural at it.” Soos informed his now employee. “Even if you stink at it, I can still be Mr. Mystery and the Handyman while you’ll be jobless. Wait. That came out wrong.”

“Relax; we’ll handle it when we reach the road.” Wendy walked over to the candy machine to grab a snack. “Now what snack do I want…..” Before putting her money in, she recalled what lie behind this machine for many years. The secret passageway to Stanford Pines’ lab, the lab she’d never gotten to see. With a curious look, she glanced at her new employer. “Hey Soos, when was the last time you were down there?”

Melody looked at Soos who was scratching his head. “Not since after that portal thingy. Remember when I told you everything?”

“Yes. I do remember.” Wendy said with a stern voice, recalling the long phone call that had stolen her precious sleep time. “So anyway, think we should check it out?”

“I don’t know, Wendy. Ford said that only he, Mr. Pines, and Dipper are aloud down there.”

“Is it really that bad?” Melody asked. “I’m sure all those dangerous experiments must be locked up.”

“That does sound true.” Soos said. “Ford is a smart enough mystery dude to keep all that dangerous stuff in a strong safe and not in cheap plastic containers. Buuuuuuut I still don’t want to go against his demands.”

“Well he let Dipper down there.” Melody added. “If it’s safe for a thirteen year old, it would be way safer for us.”

“I wouldn’t downplay Dipper like that, but that does sound good to me.” Wendy said. “Come on, Soos. Do it, do it!”

Soos glanced at Melody and Wendy over and over as sweat ran down his face. “I uh … uhhhh… right dog. I don’t know the password. So I guess we can’t go down. What a shame.”

“Done.” Wendy said as the passageway opened up. She leaned on the wall and smirked. “How, you ask?” She pointed her thumbs to herself. “Because I’m a Flippin Corduroy.”

“Woah woah, I still dunno.” Soos was finding it harder and harder to say no.

“Soos, you’ve been down there before.” Melody said. “Do you remember anything dangerous, besides that portal that’s gone now?”

“…… You’re right. There’s nothing that dangerous down there. Well except for that burn-hazard symbol on the machine that gave Mr. Pines that burn mark.”

Wendy came up with one more point to win Soos over. “And you’re the owner of the Mystery Shack now.” Wendy pointed to Soos. “And this machine is in the shack, so that means you own the machine too, which also means own the passage way. And you don’t want to let a perfectly good passage way go to waste.”

“Wow, never thought of that.”

“Like one of my favorite people used to say.” Wendy spoke with a big smirk as she turned her hat backwards. “Break Rules a Little and Live!”

“Heh, I see what you did there.” Soos made his decision. “Alright, let’s go exploring. But no touching. Also don’t tell Abuelita on me.”

Melody nodded as Wendy gave the zip lip gesture.

“Well, here we go.” Soos locked the Mystery Shack up and the three entered the passage way. When they got on the elevator, Soos noticed the second floor is now accessible. “You know, we haven’t checked the second floor before. Let’s do that on the way up.”

They landed on the third floor and the three explored a bit. “Woah, this does look like that bunker.” Wendy glanced around the glass case and noticed the Infinity Sided Dice, a Cyclops Squid, and other strange objects.

“And this is where that portal machine was.” Soos directed their attention to the window showing the large empty room with what remains of the portal stacked up from the final fight with Bill Cipher. “You wouldn’t believe how tense it got here before Ford showed up. We thought that Mr. Pines was some kind of evil master mind.”

Wendy grunted. “I just had to go directly home after seeing the place being raided. That would have been awesome, and I could have had more sleep.” She glared at Soos.

“More sleep? What kept you up?”

Wendy gave herself a face palm as Soos pointed at the symbol. “This is that strange symbol I told you guys about.”

Melody and Wendy checked it out, it wasn’t turned on, but Wendy could recognize it is as Stan’s supposed tattoo. “So what does this mean anyway, Mr. Mystery?”

Soos instantly went into his ‘Mr. Mystery Instincts’. “Why that is a mystery even I do not know.” Soos waved his fingers. “Some say it represents the vengeful spirits that haunts this underground base, other says it came from above the stars, or it could be from Dipper’s waaaaay too nerdy board game.”

“Is it as nerdy as your cardboard, fantasy, make believe game?” Wendy smirked, but Melody started getting hyper.

“Soos, does she mean FCLORP?”

Soos’s eyes widened with joy. “Do you play FCLORP?”

Suddenly Melody was now dressed in a cardboard princess outfit. “Save me from the dragon? Pardon me, but I will stand and fight beside you instead!” She held out a cardboard sword and smiled.

“I know what we’re going to do after this!” They both started tiptoeing with joy as Wendy smiled at their childish romance.

“I wonder if I’ll act that dorky when I actually find my ‘dream guy’ or whatever those sitcoms call them.” Wendy sighed quietly as she turned her attention away. “So is this all that’s down here?” Wendy glanced around some more to only find some secret security cameras and that the totem Pole was a Periscope. “Wow, I could have gotten caught big time. I hope this doesn’t record.”

Soos looked around the room. “Hm, well Ford’s only been here a short time after being in another dimension. Maybe we can find something cool on the second floor.”

The three entered the elevator and went directly to the second floor; a dark study filled with plenty of artifacts, dusty furniture, and a few inventions scattered around.

“Wow, this would make a great man cave.” Soos said as he spun a globe and continued the activity non-stop. “I can do this all day.”

Wendy looked around the desk, skimming some old notes until she noticed a huge pile of broken statues and torn up drapes. “What’s this?” Wendy took one piece and noticed a familiar looking triangle. She glanced around the pile and realized that it was all related to the dream demon that terrorized Gravity Falls not so long ago. “On second thought, never mind.” She dropped the piece and noticed Melody checking out a large computer.

“Hey, Soos. Want to amaze me on what this is?”

Soos jumped in and spoke. “This is the Genie-Machine!” Soos picked up a helmet that was connected to the machine. “You place this thing on your head and whatever you wish, it comes true.” Soos demonstrated as he gentle remove the Fez and laid it on a table like a fragile piece of glasswork. “Now show me the bacon!” Soos turned the machine on and the screen showed some steamy bacon. “See, it works!”

Melody noticed a note on the machine and translated the science talk into English. “Looks like this computer can read minds.”

“Awesome!” Wendy said. “Wait, read my mind how?”

“You just have to wear that helmet and it will tell your thoughts.” Melody said as a list of Soos’s thoughts played out.

‘We shouldn’t be doing this.’

‘I want some bacon now.’

‘Melody is like the coolest.’

‘What should I make Abuelita for dinner?’

‘I hope I don’t let Mr. Pines Down.’

‘I want Mr. Pines to adopt me.’

‘There’s something not right with that mailman.’

‘Who would win in a fight? SuperBat or Manman?’

‘I’M MR. MYSTERY NOW! ALL MY DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE!’

“Woah, that’s awesome!” Soos spoke like a child. “What else can it do?”

Melody read the note about fixing it after an accident and something else. “Says here that Stanford wants to duplicate an invention a friend he met in another dimension made. Also a reminder to zap a bending robot for stealing his wallet. Hm, that sounds fun.”

“Whatever it is, I want it now.” Wendy said in a stern voice. “So anyway, Gimme a shot at that.”

Soos removed the helmet and gave it to Wendy. Just like Soos, Wendy gently placed Dipper’s hat on a table and put the helmet on.

‘School is super dull.’

‘What wouldn’t Thompson eat?’

‘Just got the high score! Beat that Tambry!’

‘What would Dad say at a time like this? Probably ‘I want to marry my bed’.”

‘I so want to ride a tank!’

‘I’m the coolest.’

‘The next person that spreads a rumor about me won’t be walking for a year!’

‘I just cleaned that you guys! Go play with Dad or something!’

‘Dad, you broke the fridge again! And the ceiling! And the floor! And my bedroom door?!’

‘If I was a guy, I’ll be bald by now. Wait, can girls get bald?’

‘Oh you think I’m just one of those dime-a-dozen pretty faces? You’re not gonna like the next thirty seconds.’

‘Another F?!’

‘Soon I’m going to drive a car!..... With road laws …. Darn it!’

‘Every single guy I date, he always does this. Every. Single. Guy!’

‘Dipper and Mabel are home now. Ugh!’

‘Nate, Lee. You had like three golden opportunities to rip on this stupid movie.’

‘No more random crazy drawings from Mabel anymore.’

‘I need to get Dipper to be my online tutor or something.’

‘Here’s hoping Mabel doesn’t get her heart broken by some random guy.’

‘Dipper does deserve a cool girlfriend his age.’

‘Mabel’s just like the sister I always wanted.’

‘You mean a lot to me, Dipper.’

‘I hate it that I missed most of those mystery hunts.’

‘The author showed up when I wasn’t there?!’

‘Things just got super boring already?’

‘Wonder what the dorks are up to?’

‘I wish I could punch that gum brat.’

‘Really, how can someone not give him a valentine?’

‘Dipper. Mabel.’

‘Dipper. Mabel.’

‘Dipper. Mabel.’

‘Dipper. Mabel.’

‘Dipper. Mabel.’

‘RRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHH!’

“……Woah, that was building up.” Wendy sighed after hearing all those thoughts. “Sorry you had to hear all that.” Wendy felt sort of embarrassed, but the two looked compassionate.

“Don’t stress out too much, Wendy.” Soos informed her. “You gotta remember all those stuff that make you cool. Like your lumberjack-karate hybrid fighting moves.”

Melody placed a hand on Wendy’s shoulder. “And if you need someone to listen to you, I’m all ears. Well I just have two.”

“Thanks guys.” Wendy softly smiled at them. “Haven’t heard anyone talk to me like that since Dipper and …. Scratch that last part.”

“And we’ll always be here.” Soos said. “Come on; let’s see what else got here.” Soos looked around as Melody joined him.

“You guys are lucky that you got to hang out with Dipper and Mabel this summer. They sound amazing.”

“Yeah ….” Wendy thought back on the summer she had with them as short clips played on the screen. “They sure are.”

Then the machine showed two more lines of thoughts.

‘Mabel, if any guy breaks your heart. Just tell me and I’ll beat the living snot out of them while you hold the camera.’

‘If Dipper was a bit older-’

Wendy’s thoughts immediately stopped as her face turned dark red.

“What was that last part?” Soos asked as he and Melody were being too distracted by a snow globe with a singing snowman in it.

“Oh, it uhhh.” Wendy felt the heat coming off her face as the screen was being bombarded with ‘Don’t Look!’ ‘I’m I blushing?’ ‘Think of something, girl!’

“H-Hey look, a spiral staircase!” Wendy pointed to the set of stairs leading who knows where.

Both Soos and Melody turned away from the snow globe and looked at the stairs with large google eyes. “Spiral staircases are my favorite.” They both said as they climbed right up.

“Phew. Close one.” Wendy sighed in relief and said to the machine. “You’re just a wise guy, aren’t you?” Wendy joked around with the machine as her own thoughts appeared to be answering her.

‘Not as wise as you.’

“Thank you for pointing out the obvious.” Wendy leaned back as she listened in on the commotion Soos and Melody were making over another small object. “Just like what she used to always say.” Wendy leaned back and breathed easily. “‘Break Rules a Little and Live!’.”

‘Why did you have to die, Mom?’

Pure shock ran down her body as she took the helmet right off and threw it to the ground in a panic. She held onto her beating chest as she slowly catches her breath.

“Wendy, is everything alright down there?” Melody asked from above.

Wendy took deep breath and picked up Dipper’s hat. “Yeah, just following some good advice.”

“O.K., you should check this out. Soos found some talking toys.”

“Cowboy, Space Dude, and all you copyrighted toys; you are all gonna have a blast when Melody and I combine our imagination!”

“Hooray!”

Wendy started climbing up the stairs as she gave the machine one last look. She took another deep breath and hid her face away from the old computer that can read the thoughts of others, even the deepest, strongest, and unwanted memories hidden deep within.

End of Chapter
Pqobpp colj ebo cxjfiv fp ebxiba tfqe ilsb, yrq qeb ploolt peb cbbip colj qeb ilpq lkb pqfii ifsbp fk ebo ebxoq.

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

Chapter 18: Break Rules a Little and Live

“Bon Voyage, Mr. Pines and Mr. Author. Bon Voyage.”

“Soos, you do realized they’ve left three hours ago?” Melody informed her boyfriend/boss, now dressed in the official Mystery Shack uniform like Soos used to wear.

“I know. I just miss them already.” Soos started tearing up.

“I miss them already, too.” Melody comforts her boyfriend. “Come, I’ll make us some hot chocolate.”

“Ooh, did you ever try hot chocolate with gummy koala and honey?”

That statement froze Melody. “Soos …. You are a visionary!”

Soos and Melody walked into the shack to see Wendy checking herself out in the mirror.

“How you like the uniform, Miss Handy Gal?”

Wendy turned to the couple. She was dressed in an official Question Mark T-shirt and wore a pair of old work jeans. She tugged Dipper’s cap and gave the thumbs up. “Great and Dad approved.” She looked over at a broken air conditioner. “And you’re positive I’m right for the job? I mean I know I’ll understand this better than Algebra, but that’s really stretching it.”

“You’ll be a natural at it.” Soos informed his now employee. “Even if you stink at it, I can still be Mr. Mystery and the Handyman while you’ll be jobless. Wait. That came out wrong.”

“Relax; we’ll handle it when we reach the road.” Wendy walked over to the candy machine to grab a snack. “Now what snack do I want…..” Before putting her money in, she recalled what lie behind this machine for many years. The secret passageway to Stanford Pines’ lab, the lab she’d never gotten to see. With a curious look, she glanced at her new employer. “Hey Soos, when was the last time you were down there?”

Melody looked at Soos who was scratching his head. “Not since after that portal thingy. Remember when I told you everything?”

“Yes. I do remember.” Wendy said with a stern voice, recalling the long phone call that had stolen her precious sleep time. “So anyway, think we should check it out?”

“I don’t know, Wendy. Ford said that only he, Mr. Pines, and Dipper are aloud down there.”

“Is it really that bad?” Melody asked. “I’m sure all those dangerous experiments must be locked up.”

“That does sound true.” Soos said. “Ford is a smart enough mystery dude to keep all that dangerous stuff in a strong safe and not in cheap plastic containers. Buuuuuuut I still don’t want to go against his demands.”

“Well he let Dipper down there.” Melody added. “If it’s safe for a thirteen year old, it would be way safer for us.”

“I wouldn’t downplay Dipper like that, but that does sound good to me.” Wendy said. “Come on, Soos. Do it, do it!”

Soos glanced at Melody and Wendy over and over as sweat ran down his face. “I uh … uhhhh… right dog. I don’t know the password. So I guess we can’t go down. What a shame.”

“Done.” Wendy said as the passageway opened up. She leaned on the wall and smirked. “How, you ask?” She pointed her thumbs to herself. “Because I’m a Flippin Corduroy.”

“Woah woah, I still dunno.” Soos was finding it harder and harder to say no.

“Soos, you’ve been down there before.” Melody said. “Do you remember anything dangerous, besides that portal that’s gone now?”

“…… You’re right. There’s nothing that dangerous down there. Well except for that burn-hazard symbol on the machine that gave Mr. Pines that burn mark.”

Wendy came up with one more point to win Soos over. “And you’re the owner of the Mystery Shack now.” Wendy pointed to Soos. “And this machine is in the shack, so that means you own the machine too, which also means own the passage way. And you don’t want to let a perfectly good passage way go to waste.”

“Wow, never thought of that.”

“Like one of my favorite people used to say.” Wendy spoke with a big smirk as she turned her hat backwards. “Break Rules a Little and Live!”

“Heh, I see what you did there.” Soos made his decision. “Alright, let’s go exploring. But no touching. Also don’t tell Abuelita on me.”

Melody nodded as Wendy gave the zip lip gesture.

“Well, here we go.” Soos locked the Mystery Shack up and the three entered the passage way. When they got on the elevator, Soos noticed the second floor is now accessible. “You know, we haven’t checked the second floor before. Let’s do that on the way up.”

They landed on the third floor and the three explored a bit. “Woah, this does look like that bunker.” Wendy glanced around the glass case and noticed the Infinity Sided Dice, a Cyclops Squid, and other strange objects.

“And this is where that portal machine was.” Soos directed their attention to the window showing the large empty room with what remains of the portal stacked up from the final fight with Bill Cipher. “You wouldn’t believe how tense it got here before Ford showed up. We thought that Mr. Pines was some kind of evil master mind.”

Wendy grunted. “I just had to go directly home after seeing the place being raided. That would have been awesome, and I could have had more sleep.” She glared at Soos.

“More sleep? What kept you up?”

Wendy gave herself a face palm as Soos pointed at the symbol. “This is that strange symbol I told you guys about.”

Melody and Wendy checked it out, it wasn’t turned on, but Wendy could recognize it is as Stan’s supposed tattoo. “So what does this mean anyway, Mr. Mystery?”

Soos instantly went into his ‘Mr. Mystery Instincts’. “Why that is a mystery even I do not know.” Soos waved his fingers. “Some say it represents the vengeful spirits that haunts this underground base, other says it came from above the stars, or it could be from Dipper’s waaaaay too nerdy board game.”

“Is it as nerdy as your cardboard, fantasy, make believe game?” Wendy smirked, but Melody started getting hyper.

“Soos, does she mean FCLORP?”

Soos’s eyes widened with joy. “Do you play FCLORP?”

Suddenly Melody was now dressed in a cardboard princess outfit. “Save me from the dragon? Pardon me, but I will stand and fight beside you instead!” She held out a cardboard sword and smiled.

“I know what we’re going to do after this!” They both started tiptoeing with joy as Wendy smiled at their childish romance.

“I wonder if I’ll act that dorky when I actually find my ‘dream guy’ or whatever those sitcoms call them.” Wendy sighed quietly as she turned her attention away. “So is this all that’s down here?” Wendy glanced around some more to only find some secret security cameras and that the totem Pole was a Periscope. “Wow, I could have gotten caught big time. I hope this doesn’t record.”

Soos looked around the room. “Hm, well Ford’s only been here a short time after being in another dimension. Maybe we can find something cool on the second floor.”

The three entered the elevator and went directly to the second floor; a dark study filled with plenty of artifacts, dusty furniture, and a few inventions scattered around.

“Wow, this would make a great man cave.” Soos said as he spun a globe and continued the activity non-stop. “I can do this all day.”

Wendy looked around the desk, skimming some old notes until she noticed a huge pile of broken statues and torn up drapes. “What’s this?” Wendy took one piece and noticed a familiar looking triangle. She glanced around the pile and realized that it was all related to the dream demon that terrorized Gravity Falls not so long ago. “On second thought, never mind.” She dropped the piece and noticed Melody checking out a large computer.

“Hey, Soos. Want to amaze me on what this is?”

Soos jumped in and spoke. “This is the Genie-Machine!” Soos picked up a helmet that was connected to the machine. “You place this thing on your head and whatever you wish, it comes true.” Soos demonstrated as he gentle remove the Fez and laid it on a table like a fragile piece of glasswork. “Now show me the bacon!” Soos turned the machine on and the screen showed some steamy bacon. “See, it works!”

Melody noticed a note on the machine and translated the science talk into English. “Looks like this computer can read minds.”

“Awesome!” Wendy said. “Wait, read my mind how?”

“You just have to wear that helmet and it will tell your thoughts.” Melody said as a list of Soos’s thoughts played out.

‘We shouldn’t be doing this.’

‘I want some bacon now.’

‘Melody is like the coolest.’

‘What should I make Abuelita for dinner?’

‘I hope I don’t let Mr. Pines Down.’

‘I want Mr. Pines to adopt me.’

‘There’s something not right with that mailman.’

‘Who would win in a fight? SuperBat or Manman?’

‘I’M MR. MYSTERY NOW! ALL MY DREAMS HAVE COME TRUE!’

“Woah, that’s awesome!” Soos spoke like a child. “What else can it do?”

Melody read the note about fixing it after an accident and something else. “Says here that Stanford wants to duplicate an invention a friend he met in another dimension made. Also a reminder to zap a bending robot for stealing his wallet. Hm, that sounds fun.”

“Whatever it is, I want it now.” Wendy said in a stern voice. “So anyway, Gimme a shot at that.”

Soos removed the helmet and gave it to Wendy. Just like Soos, Wendy gently placed Dipper’s hat on a table and put the helmet on.

‘School is super dull.’

‘What wouldn’t Thompson eat?’

‘Just got the high score! Beat that Tambry!’

‘What would Dad say at a time like this? Probably ‘I want to marry my bed’.”

‘I so want to ride a tank!’

‘I’m the coolest.’

‘The next person that spreads a rumor about me won’t be walking for a year!’

‘I just cleaned that you guys! Go play with Dad or something!’

‘Dad, you broke the fridge again! And the ceiling! And the floor! And my bedroom door?!’

‘If I was a guy, I’ll be bald by now. Wait, can girls get bald?’

‘Oh you think I’m just one of those dime-a-dozen pretty faces? You’re not gonna like the next thirty seconds.’

‘Another F?!’

‘Soon I’m going to drive a car!..... With road laws …. Darn it!’

‘Every single guy I date, he always does this. Every. Single. Guy!’

‘Dipper and Mabel are home now. Ugh!’

‘Nate, Lee. You had like three golden opportunities to rip on this stupid movie.’

‘No more random crazy drawings from Mabel anymore.’

‘I need to get Dipper to be my online tutor or something.’

‘Here’s hoping Mabel doesn’t get her heart broken by some random guy.’

‘Dipper does deserve a cool girlfriend his age.’

‘Mabel’s just like the sister I always wanted.’

‘You mean a lot to me, Dipper.’

‘I hate it that I missed most of those mystery hunts.’

‘The author showed up when I wasn’t there?!’

‘Things just got super boring already?’

‘Wonder what the dorks are up to?’

‘I wish I could punch that gum brat.’

‘Really, how can someone not give him a valentine?’

‘Dipper. Mabel.’

‘Dipper. Mabel.’

‘Dipper. Mabel.’

‘Dipper. Mabel.’

‘Dipper. Mabel.’

‘RRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHH!’

“……Woah, that was building up.” Wendy sighed after hearing all those thoughts. “Sorry you had to hear all that.” Wendy felt sort of embarrassed, but the two looked compassionate.

“Don’t stress out too much, Wendy.” Soos informed her. “You gotta remember all those stuff that make you cool. Like your lumberjack-karate hybrid fighting moves.”

Melody placed a hand on Wendy’s shoulder. “And if you need someone to listen to you, I’m all ears. Well I just have two.”

“Thanks guys.” Wendy softly smiled at them. “Haven’t heard anyone talk to me like that since Dipper and …. Scratch that last part.”

“And we’ll always be here.” Soos said. “Come on; let’s see what else got here.” Soos looked around as Melody joined him.

“You guys are lucky that you got to hang out with Dipper and Mabel this summer. They sound amazing.”

“Yeah ….” Wendy thought back on the summer she had with them as short clips played on the screen. “They sure are.”

Then the machine showed two more lines of thoughts.

‘Mabel, if any guy breaks your heart. Just tell me and I’ll beat the living snot out of them while you hold the camera.’

‘If Dipper was a bit older-’

Wendy’s thoughts immediately stopped as her face turned dark red.

“What was that last part?” Soos asked as he and Melody were being too distracted by a snow globe with a singing snowman in it.

“Oh, it uhhh.” Wendy felt the heat coming off her face as the screen was being bombarded with ‘Don’t Look!’ ‘I’m I blushing?’ ‘Think of something, girl!’

“H-Hey look, a spiral staircase!” Wendy pointed to the set of stairs leading who knows where.

Both Soos and Melody turned away from the snow globe and looked at the stairs with large google eyes. “Spiral staircases are my favorite.” They both said as they climbed right up.

“Phew. Close one.” Wendy sighed in relief and said to the machine. “You’re just a wise guy, aren’t you?” Wendy joked around with the machine as her own thoughts appeared to be answering her.

‘Not as wise as you.’

“Thank you for pointing out the obvious.” Wendy leaned back as she listened in on the commotion Soos and Melody were making over another small object. “Just like what she used to always say.” Wendy leaned back and breathed easily. “‘Break Rules a Little and Live!’.”

‘Why did you have to die, Mom?’

Pure shock ran down her body as she took the helmet right off and threw it to the ground in a panic. She held onto her beating chest as she slowly catches her breath.

“Wendy, is everything alright down there?” Melody asked from above.

Wendy took deep breath and picked up Dipper’s hat. “Yeah, just following some good advice.”

“O.K., you should check this out. Soos found some talking toys.”

“Cowboy, Space Dude, and all you copyrighted toys; you are all gonna have a blast when Melody and I combine our imagination!”

“Hooray!”

Wendy started climbing up the stairs as she gave the machine one last look. She took another deep breath and hid her face away from the old computer that can read the thoughts of others, even the deepest, strongest, and unwanted memories hidden deep within.

End of Chapter
Pqobpp colj ebo cxjfiv fp ebxiba tfqe ilsb, yrq qeb ploolt peb cbbip colj qeb ilpq lkb pqfii ifsbp fk ebo ebxoq.