{Handplates chapter references: Beans are spilled, Two sights}

The sound of the laser rang through 2-P's ears, and he watched in shock as the laser directly penetrated his brother's eye socket. He hurried towards the experimentation chair, reaching for him: "BROTHER!! HOLD ON, I'LL SAVE YOU! I'LL... ??? BROTHER WHERE'D YOU..." 

As 2-P approached the chair, he found it empty and he looked around in confusion. Gaster stepped up to him, 2-P's frantic behavior not going unnoticed: "You saw something, didn't you."
It was more of a statement, rather than a question. Gaster had the answer right in front of him and there was no way 2-P could deny it or find any kind of plausible excuse. 

2-P turned to him, his eyes wide and alarmed as he backed away from Gaster. "NO! NO! I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING!"

As Gaster stepped closer to him, 2-P grew more desperate, backing away further.

"N...NO. I DIDN'T...I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING.", he tried to convince Gaster but it was more than evident that he was not buying his excuses. With every step that Subject 2 took back, Gaster took one to approach him further until he was backed against a wall. 2-P was cornered.

"He's scheduled for tomorrow but you saw him now, didn't you? You saw him just now in the chair." 

"I...I DIDN'T..." 2-P's body started trembling as he stared up at Gaster. The look in his face was unreadable but just as unsettling. There was a glint of desperation, maybe almost obsession in his eyes and 2-P didn't like it at all.

"How long have you been seeing these things?" 2-P averted his eyes, persisting that he did not see anything at all. 

"You are a bad liar. Which makes me wonder, what would give you the idea to lie to me about this..?"

Gaster brought his hand up to his chin, pondering. He knew the answer already, of course, but he enjoyed seeing 2-P in this panicked state.

"NO. NO NO."
2-P clawed on Gaster's sleeve as he tried to deny the assumption that soon left Gaster's tongue.

"It was 1-S, wasn't it? He told you to keep this from me." 

"N-NO, IT WAS, IT WAS MY IDEA, DON'T- DON'T BE MAD AT HIM, PLEASE-"
Gaster turned away a little from 2-P, still gently gracing his own chin as he thinks about what to do now with this new information. 

"Well, it doesn't matter. I'll find a way to get the information I want, whether you two tell the truth or not. But for now....if you don't want 1-S to get in trouble..."

Gaster towered dangerously over the small skeleton. 2-P started shaking again, his eyes glowing in a gentle purple color.

"...you will tell me everything."

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.

.

With the new revelation of Subject 2 being able to have visions, the tests and experiments changed almost immediately. What Gaster, however, didn't know was that 1-S was also able to see things. 

After Gaster found out about 2-P's visions, 2-P told his brother about what happened and they agreed to keep 1-S's visions a secret for the time being. Not only was it to spare him from cruel experimentation but also to deny Gaster any trace of additional information. At least for once it felt like 1-S control over at least something. 

However, what that also meant was that 2-P was the lab rat for the new procedures.

Gaster stared at the letters of his PC, adjusting parameters and commands. "I DON'T LIKE THIS.", mumbled 2-P quietly. As always, he was strapped into the chair but this time a metal collar around his neck. He also wore a headband which connected the headband and collar through metal beams which were threaded through his eye sockets. 

"There's always an adjustment period with new things." 

"IT HURTS." 

"Pay attention. Today, I want you to see." 

"BUT I- I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING LATELY. I CAN'T CONTROL IT, IT JUST HAPPENS." 

"That's not what I mean. Location-based glimpses are proof of concept but not much use down here. What we are going to work on today is looking past this particular place. The overflow of- no, it'd be lost on you. How to explain..." 

Gaster stood behind the console, directly facing 2-P as he typed away on the keyboard.

"Your vision is still weak at this point, but it will grow stronger as you acclimate too each new dosage of magic." 

"DOSAGE? YOU MEAN THE LASER." 

"Yes, the laser. Right now you can see things where you are, but as your vision grows stronger, you won't be limited to your location." 

The clacking of Gaster hitting several keys on his keyboard filled the room as both of them were silent. 2-P processed the information. 

"That's what I am going to assess today. Now, close your eyes and focus your thoughts on the future. Describe what you see."

2-P did as Gaster told and closed his eyes, trying to relax and steady his breathing. There was uncertainty gnawing at his mind, fearing he might fail Gaster somehow. 

"THE FUTURE...? UH... I SEE... UH, I SEE YOU! AND YOU'RE..." 2-P's posture straightened up a little in excitement, a small smile on his face as he let his mind wander: "AND YOU'RE TELLING US YOU'RE GOING TO BE NICE TO US FROM NOW ON. UH YOU'RE TAKING THOSE THINGS OFF OUR HANDS, AND YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE US HOME WITH YOU AND... WE'RE ALL HAPPY.." 

Gaster's heart sank with every word that 2-P spoke. His gaze flickered to his hands, to the scars that would forever remain and remind him of what he had done. Gaster's eyes carried a hint of sadness as he tried to keep it together. There was no turning back. Besides, he wasn't just doing this for himself. He did this for everyone in the Underground. 

"AND IT'S REALLY NICE SO..." 2-P opened his eyes, turning to Gaster: "SO NOW YOU HAVE TO DO THAT, RIGHT? CAUSE THAT'S DEFINITELY WHAT I SEE, REALLY." 

It was more than obvious that what 2-P described there was made up. It was wishful thinking. It was something, that one day, a very distant time ago, was a viable option. An option Gaster could have chosen. He could have spared them. But he chose to fight and now he has to live with the consequences of his choice. And he could not just reset and start over. 

Gaster looked up from his hand and back to Subject 2, a resentful look on his face. He looked like he was in pain or...something.

"...You're looking to the past. There's no point to that, it won't change. Look forward."

2-P squeezed his eyes shut once more, trying his best to concentrate: "I DON'T SEE ANYTHING."

"Try harder." 

"I DON'T SEE ANYTHING!", 2-P repeated as he continued to see nothing but darkness behind his eyelids.

Gaster sighed: "As always, disappointing."

2-P opened his eyes, looking at Gaster with a saddened gaze. "I'd projected you being able to at least-" 

Subject 2 immediately sat up straight, his voice almost desperate. He really wanted to prove himself. "NO- NO WAIT, I CAN DO IT! I CAN DO IT!! LET ME TRY AGAIN, PLEASE..."

.

.

.

A while later, the session was finally wrapped up and 2-P stepped up to Gaster as he scanned the data on his monitor. He hummed as he brought his hand back up against his chin as he clicked through the different entries. 

"MY HEAD REALLY HURTS.... DID IT WORK? DID I DO A GOOD JOB?" 2-P rubbed the back of his head; one eye shut to try and reduce the pain.

Gaster's eyes were still fixated on the screen: "You're below expectations, I'll have to shift my timetable. At least this data will provide a good baseline for other things..." 

"I TRIED REALLY, REALLY HARD... I REALLY WANTED TO SEE SOMETHING, I DID!", 2-P still attempted to impress Gaster somehow, but it was so incredibly difficult.

"I KNOW I CAN DO IT... OW OW OW..." 

Gaster rose from his chair and walked with 2-P back to the cell, 2-P trailing after him while still holding his head due to the pain. 

"There's always an adjustment period. 1-S can deal with the headache. I have work to do."