Dipper had been bored in Geneva's closet, but that was preferable to the panic he felt now. Ford was in danger, and they had to get to him immediately. "So what are we going to do?" Dipper asked Gideon. "How are we going to find him?"

Gideon hunched up his shoulders as if they would form a protective shell around him. "I know exactly where he is," he said. "That's not the problem."

There were lots of problems right now, so Dipper didn't know why Gideon was talking like there was just one. "Okay," he said, "then why don't we just go after him? You with the amulet, me with the grappling hook, and then we'll both have a stun gun, and—"

"They know I'm here," Gideon said. His face was pale in the dim light of Mabel's moon, and his posture and the look on his face reminded Dipper of Mabel. It was the look she got when she wanted to run away and hide under a blanket. "They saw me, Dipper. They know how to fight against kids with amulets; a few of them have been here since my father had it at my age. I know where Ford is, but they know that I know, and they'll catch me before I can ever get to him."

"Well, they don't know I'm here," Dipper said. "You have me on your side, Gideon. We can go down together and use—"

"No," Gideon said, interrupting Dipper once more. Dipper was used to being interrupted (and to interrupting others), but it was still rather annoying. "You need to stay with the perytons," Gideon said. "Someone has to be ready to help Ford get on one of their backs and hold him there, in case he can't sit up on his own."

"Why wouldn't he be able to sit up on his own?" Dipper asked in alarm.

"Because the servants know exactly how to hurt you to get the effect they want!" There was a frantic look in Gideon's eyes, like a frightened animal. "He won't have the strength to walk or do much else once they're done with him. I'll probably have to levitate him onto a peryton, and you'll have to be there to hold him on."

"But you can't go by yourself," Dipper said. "I won't stay behind, either! He's my uncle!"

"Keep your voice down," Gideon hissed. "The servants could come up here any moment to interrogate my parents."

Dipper glared at him. Then his mind processed what he'd said. "Your parents. Why don't we ask Geneva to go down there and try to stop them from hurting him?"

Gideon shook his head. "They wouldn't listen. They might even hurt her if she tried. And my father has already made it clear that he won't help us." He let out a long breath. "It's a miracle he's not working against us."

"Then I'm coming with you," Dipper said. "They're expecting you, but they're not expecting me or Mabel's grappling hook. Same with the stun guns."

Gideon pursed his lips. "They have a stun gun, too," he said. "They took Ford's when they kidnapped him. They'll be able to see you and shoot you, and I can't levitate you and Ford at the same time if you fall unconscious. And who's going to help Ford onto the perytons?"

At that, Dipper felt Marigold the peryton gently interject with her thoughts. It was true that a human had to help Ford stay on the perytons, especially if they were making a quick getaway; but why not have one of the boys get on first, and then help Ford on?

"Exactly," Dipper said, patting Marigold's neck. "And who's to say he'll even need help? Ford's a strong guy."

"We have to prepare for the worst, Dipper," Gideon said. "That's what happens at this place."

Dipper wasn't sure how to respond to that. He studied Gideon, who looked highly uncomfortable under his gaze. "Is there something you're not telling me?" Dipper asked.

"Yes," Gideon said bluntly. "I'll tell you what you need to know to save your uncle, but everything else is private."

Dipper didn't like that, but Gideon looked too high-strung to argue with. He looked more worried than Dipper thought he'd be about Ford. "How much danger is my uncle in, really?" Dipper asked, not sure if he wanted to know the answer.

"Bill needs him alive," Gideon whispered. "Anything else is fair game."

Dipper's stress levels shot up at that sentence. "So how do we save him? What do we need to do?"

Gideon shook his head, thinking. "I don't know. You stay with the perytons and get them into position by a window I'll point out to you, and I'll. . . I'll take a stun gun and shoot the servants while invisible."

"How many are there? Ten, right?"

"Lincoln said two were sleeping, but I'm sure they'll get woken up to look for me," Gideon said.

"Well, that's way too many people for one person, especially if they know how to fight your amulet. I'm coming with you."

Anger pushed through the anxiety on Gideon's face. "Dipper, this isn't—"

"Gideon," came a quiet voice.

Gideon turned his head. "What is she doing?" he whispered. He gave Dipper a firm stay here gesture, then went to the edge of the roof.

A moment later, Geneva floated up to the roof, surrounded by the blue glow of Gideon's magic. Her face looked scared, but she took deep breaths. Gideon set her down on the roof; she stumbled, but he put out an arm to stabilize her. "Thank you," she whispered.

"It's not safe for you to be out here," Gideon said, but he led her back to Dipper and the perytons. "The servants could come by at any moment."

"Yes, but. . ." She took a deep breath and adjusted her fur coat. "I want to help. I want to help rescue Stanford, and I want to come with you."

Gideon stared at her in shock. "But you're safe here," he said. "Dipper and Ford are going back to the Mystery Museum, where the other ten servants are trapping everyone inside. It's physically safe there, but it's under siege. And once I rescue Mabel, Bill will turn all his resources into breaking in."

"Then I'll be there to join you in stopping them," Geneva said.

Dipper looked closely at Geneva. It didn't look like she had worked hard a day in her life, much less physically fought against anyone. Still. . . Dipper could see traces of fear in her face, but also a shaky determination. She was sincere.

"It won't be comfortable there," Gideon said. "They don't have as good a generator as we do, so there's low light and little heat; and the food is decent, but—"

"Gideon," Geneva interrupted, "do you think I care about comfort right now?"

Gideon shut his mouth, looking confused. It was clear he thought that his mother very much cared about her comforts.

Geneva saw his expression and nodded slowly. "I've been weak my entire life, I know. I don't blame you for thinking that. But when the servants took over, I. . . I realized I cared more about my own comfort than the fact that there was a demon living in my house. That's what it took for me to realize I needed to change. Not the cult, not"—her eyes flicked to Dipper—"not your father's behavior, but my own entitlement. Selfish, I know." She closed her eyes briefly. "I know I might not be very helpful. But I want to try. I want to do something besides sit here and complain about the servants. I'll do my best to take care of myself and stay out of the way. I. . . I want to go with you to the Museum."

Dipper and Gideon both stared at her.

"Please, Gideon," Geneva whispered.

"Does Father know? Will he try to stop you?"

Geneva stood up a little taller. "Your father doesn't own me, no matter how much I've let him rule over me in the past. I won't ask him for permission. But. . . no, I haven't told him."

Gideon looked hesitant. "You'll have to pack a bag, and ride a peryton, and the servants will come after us with a stun gun and who knows what else. I don't think. . ." He trailed off, obviously not wanting to tell her no, but not wanting her to put herself in danger, either.

Despite Gideon's hesitations, Dipper liked this plan. "She can be the one to stay with the perytons while you and I save Ford," he said. "It's perfect."

"I was quite a good horseback rider when I was younger," Geneva added. "I'm sure I can ride a peryton." She smiled softly at Rowan and Marigold, who inclined their heads respectfully to her.

Gideon's expression didn't change. "Gideon," said Geneva gently, "if it's my safety you're worried about, I believe it'll be safer for me with you than it will be to stay here. I'm sure it won't take the servants long to find out that I was the one to get your amulet. And then what will they do to me?"

Gideon flinched. "Nothing good," he whispered. He gave a small sigh. "You're right. You should come. But Dipper, I still don't think you should—"

"I'm coming with you," Dipper said. It felt good to interrupt Gideon, rather than the other way around. "That's non-negotiable. Geneva will take the perytons to wherever you say, and you and I will go get Ford."

Gideon's face was stormy as he thought. Dipper didn't know what he was thinking about, since it was already decided that Dipper was coming with him. But apparently those were his thoughts, for he said, "I won't be able to protect you. It'll be hard enough to get Ford out of there safely."

"The stun gun and the grappling hook will protect me," Dipper said. "You don't have to worry about it. And I'll help with Ford, too — we're doing this together, after all."

The silence that followed was ridiculously long, in Dipper's opinion, but finally Gideon seemed to see sense. "Okay. We'll go together."

Dipper grinned. "Awesome. So where are we going?"

Gideon opened his mouth to respond, but he was cut off by a sudden commotion from the room below. Gaston's voice carried clearly through the roof: "Have you no decorum anymore? You're supposed to knock!"

Dipper and the others fell silent. Dipper could hear the voice of someone else in the room, though it was muffled by the roof, and he couldn't make out any words. Gaston, however, was quite easy to hear. "Are you mocking me?" Gaston demanded. "Of course I haven't seen Gideon. He ran away, remember? You dragged me away from him before I could bring him home!"

The servant — for who else could it be? — said something else that Dipper couldn't make out.

"What? How could he have his amulet back? You know as well as I do that it's safely locked away!"

After this, Gaston's voice quieted down, so that Dipper could hear that there was a conversation occurring but couldn't follow it. Beside him, Gideon appeared frozen with fear, and Geneva's face was apprehensive.

Then, "What are you doing?" Gaston demanded. "Get away from there!"

The door to the balcony opened.

Gideon's eyes widened. The top of a woman's head appeared just beyond the roof. The servant was coming out here to look for Gideon.

She went to the edge of the balcony, scanning the sky beyond. If she turned and looked up, she'd see the boys and Geneva and the perytons. All their advantages would be lost.

Dipper frantically nudged Gideon with his elbow, then pointed at the packs and made a gun with his fingers. The stun guns were in there; Gideon needed to take one and shoot the servant with it before she could react.

Clarity returned to Gideon's eyes. He bent down, carefully unzipped a pack, and pulled out a stun gun. Then his amulet glowed blue, and he lifted into the air.

When the servant turned to look up at the roof, Gideon was floating above her, the stun gun pointed directly at her chest. He fired. She crumpled to the floor.

Dipper let out a relieved breath. Gideon flew back and hovered just above the roof, his shoes inches from the snow. "We should have about fifteen minutes before someone comes looking for her. Mother, pack a bag with warm clothes. I want to be ready to leave in five minutes."

Dipper frowned. "Leave? You don't mean—"

"No, Dipper, of course I don't mean leaving without Ford." Gideon's tone was waspish.

Dipper put his hands up. "You okay, dude? You kinda froze there."

"It won't happen again," Gideon said stiffly.

Geneva reached out, like she wanted to touch Gideon's shoulder, but then she stopped. Her hand dropped back to her side.

If Gideon noticed the gesture, he didn't show it. "I'll fly you down to the balcony, Mother, and come with you to put Julia in the closet. She'll be unconscious for a few hours."

"Did you hurt her?" Geneva asked.

This question seemed to bother Gideon — likely because this servant, Julia, would've done much worse to him than knock him unconscious if she'd had the chance — but he simply replied, "No."

"I'll stay with the perytons," Dipper said, trying not to sound morose. Gideon nodded, not really paying attention to Dipper, and went back down to the balcony with Geneva.

They took a little longer than five minutes. Dipper slung his pack over his shoulder, leaned against Marigold, and waited. He didn't hear anything happening in the room below. He wondered what Gaston's reaction was to Geneva's planned exodus. Dipper was usually good at understanding other people, but he couldn't get a read on Gaston. It seemed the man had deliberately raised his voice to warn them about the servant. But his anger at the servant and at Gideon had sounded genuine. Was that his version of helping Gideon avoid the servants? Why had it terrified Gideon so much?

Dipper thought back to what Geneva had said to Gaston earlier. I've sat aside and done nothing while you've abused our son. That must be what Gideon wasn't telling Dipper — why the boy got so tense and frightened around Gaston. Gideon had run away from abuse, and he was putting himself back in danger for Mabel.

He really did care about her.

So did Dipper. He cared about Mabel, and he cared about Ford, and he wanted to save them both. And he found he cared about Gideon's safety, too. Part of him was curious about the abuse, but most of him knew it wasn't necessary or appropriate to ask Gideon for details. Gideon had already promised to tell Dipper what he needed to know to rescue Ford. That was all that mattered right now.

Still, as he waited there on the roof, Dipper made a silent promise to Gideon that he wouldn't have to come back here. He could stay at the Mystery Museum for as long as he needed to, as far as Dipper was concerned. Yes, Dipper and Mabel were trying to get home — leave Gravity Rises, go home with their parents — but surely Ford and Melody would take Gideon in, even if the twins weren't here to keep him company. If they defeated Bill — when they defeated Bill — they would also give Gideon a safe refuge. Dipper was determined to make that happen.

Soon enough, Gideon and Geneva came back up to the roof. Geneva had a duffel bag over her shoulder, and she was wearing a thick coat, sturdy boots, and warm, slim pants to ride on the perytons. Dipper had only met her this morning, but he still found it strange to see her in something other than a dress. She mounted Rowan with a long-forgotten grace.

"You know where they'll have Stanford, Mother," Gideon said. "Dipper, it's a room on the second floor, on the opposite side of the Manor from here. You and I will sneak through the Manor to there, and Mother, you'll take the perytons to the library. Unless you can think of a closer window." Geneva shook her head, and Gideon continued, "Dipper, you'll be in charge of shooting the glass with the grappling hook so we can get out."

Dipper nodded. "There are nine servants left, right?" he asked.

"Right. They don't know we have perytons, and they know I can't levitate Ford and myself at the same time, so it's possible that some of them will still be guarding the perimeter outside. Mother, Rowan, Marigold, you should probably stay on the roof and out of sight until you hear the library windows shatter."

What if you can't get to the library? asked Rowan.

"You should be able to hear the glass break no matter what room we're in, so be ready to fly to a different part of the house if you need to." Gideon picked up his pack, then took a deep breath. "All right. Let's go."

Dipper ran his hand down Marigold's neck one more time before stepping back and waving. With Geneva on Rowan's back, the perytons walked softly through the snow on the roof as Geneva guided them to the correct spot. Dipper hoped the snow would muffle their steps enough that no servants would hear them.

Dipper and Gideon went back down to the balcony and walked quietly through Gaston and Geneva's room. Julia lay unconscious on the floor, rather than in the closet as Gideon had suggested, and Gaston lay on the bed. Dipper shot Gideon a surprised look. He'd shot his father with the stun gun, too?

"My mother did it," Gideon whispered. "It was my father's idea."

"He really is helping you, then," Dipper said.

Gideon gave a quiet scoff. "This way, he gets to pretend I attacked him. I'm sure he'll use that against me later."

Dipper stopped. Gideon glanced over his shoulder, confused.

"There doesn't have to be a later," Dipper said quietly. "You don't have to come back."

Gideon blinked in surprise. For a moment, his expression showed hints of hope and gratitude. Then the emotion disappeared from his face. "Let's go get Ford," he said. "Get out your stun gun and keep it ready. I'll scout ahead, invisible, and let you know when it's safe to come around corners and such."

Dipper pulled his stun gun from his pack. "How will you communicate with me while you're invisible?" he asked Gideon. "Touching my arm?"

Gideon stared at him for a moment. Then, "Yes, of course. I'll tap you twice if the way is clear and once if it's not." His voice was strangely tense. Maybe he was embarrassed because Dipper had thought to set up a signal, and he hadn't?

Dipper was tempted to make fun of him for that, but he didn't. "Twice means go. Got it," he said. "That way, you can stay invisible the whole time."

Gideon nodded, seeming somewhat distracted. Then he said, "The best way for us to get to Ford is through back hallways and down a hidden staircase," he said. "The servants won't know which way I'm coming from, but I'm sure they'll be keeping an eye on that staircase, so we'll have to be careful. Can you walk quietly?"

Dipper rolled his eyes. "I'm sure you think I stomp around everywhere, but I know how to sneak around. I'm the prank master back home in Piedmont." He grinned mischievously. "You know that from experience."

"Right," Gideon said, grimacing just a bit. "Well, this isn't a prank. It's a rescue mission."

"Same rules for stealth."

Gideon conceded the point with a tiny nod. "All right, come on." He turned invisible, opened the door silently, and then whispered to Dipper that the way was clear. Dipper slipped from the room and closed the door behind him.

"We'll be going down the hall to your right," Gideon said. "Stay here for a second while I scout ahead. Be ready to shoot any servants that may come around the corner."

Dipper stood by the door, with a good view of hallway corners on either side of him. He could hear Gideon's footsteps as the boy left, but only barely, and they quickly faded as Gideon got farther away.

No servants appeared, and Dipper soon heard those faint footsteps again, followed by two quick taps on his shoulder. He turned and followed the invisible Gideon down the hall.

Dipper's hand tightened on the stun gun. They were on their way. They were going to rescue Ford.

We're coming, Grunkle Ford. We're coming to save you.