As it turned out he did end up having to abandon the elevator half way through the trip. Getting out of it was a nightmare but it still gave him a good head start against the human. Fortune seemed to smile upon him once he reached the Core. A small division of Royal Guardsmen were there already. Some of them clearly should have been enjoying their retirement but had chosen to take up old weapons once more in order to bring Hope to the Underground in its darkest hour. Others were simply brave volunteers who had stayed behind when they could have fled. Mettaton would call them foolish for trying to act the hero but at this point he had to admit with some reluctance and a grimace that he had allowed himself to get sucked up into this whole ordeal right along with them.

“Mettaton. Why are you here?” A massive armored figure asked, her deep, smooth voice seeming to echo inside parts of her armor. The face in her belly gave her away as a Knight Knight. She seemed to be one of the more imposing members of her band. Her followers consisted of a few court magi, an old but wise looking Froggit and the occasional Winsum who had donned polished armor for the occasion. They stood out the most among the civilians, such as a few of the older members of the Eyewalker family.

“Same reason the rest of you are here, I’m afraid. Still no word from the king?”

“I’m afraid not.” She rumbled. “We sent two of our own into the blackout zone a few minutes ago and have not heard anything from them yet. We just finished evacuating the rest of the stragglers. We are planning to split our forces now that everyone is out. One half will form a blockade while the other tries to penetrate this terrible darkness one last time.”

Mettaton looked into the eyes of the last remaining members of the Royal Guard. Their faces were shaded by grim shadows as they gripped their weapons and stood like they were bracing themselves against an unrelenting wind. Hm, loyal to a fault and stubborn till the end it seemed.

“Actually, I have a better idea, if you would be willing to humor me.” He held up a hand and displayed the USB for a brief moment before hiding it away again. “I was able to contact Dr. Alphys and some of the Core workers she is hiding. They sent me something that may be able to identify and fix the power problem. If you can give me enough time to use it, I may be able to get the phones back online long enough to send a message through.

There was no hesitation. No looks exchanged between the group. They simply nodded in agreement. “What do you require of us?”

“Time. I just came from the resort. The human is already there. I used the elevator to get ahead of her but I lost precious minutes when I neared the Core and my transport broke down.”

“It already broke into the resort?” One of the Eyewalkers gasped.

“but that means- 01 and 02...” A Wimsum murmured, jaw set against the wave of emotion that hit the whole group at once as they realized what the human's progress meant.

“We will honor them.” The Knight Knight rumbled. “01, 02, the canine unit of Snowdin, Undyne, the innocent residents of the Underground…” She gripped her staff in both massive hands and stood to her full height, casting a long shadow over the rest of the monsters in her presence. “We will honor them and their bravery with our own.” Then she stooped down a little so that both her faces could somewhat align with Mettaton’s. “We will give you what time we can. Angle guide you, Mettaton.” She rested her weapon over one shoulder and thundered: “Move out! The human will be here soon. Blockade her within these walls. Give our friend all the time he needs.”

With a series of snapped salutes the band moved out, a few of the civilians looking over their shoulder one last time as they backtracked to some choke point deeper within the Core.

Mettaton caught the eye of more than one monster as they departed and wondered if that would be the last thing he would ever see of them: grim eyes looking back.

He made his trek to the access port on his own from there. The halls seemed dark and narrow now that he was by himself again.

Usually the Core was churning with activity. Workers running maintenance, off duty Royal Guardsmen on their way to enjoy a meal at the MTT resort, random groups of people making their way home after a day of work or conversation; things like that. But it was all empty now. Dark and quiet.

The room he needed was unlocked. It was a relatively small room. The lights had dimmed into a shade of twilight in the absence of the Core’s workers. He tried to lock the door but he wasn’t too sure if it worked. The system was acting funny.

He slipped his USB into the nearest port and began to initiate the diagnostic; all the while feeling an ever growing shadow pressing against his back.

This was it then. He was basically the last person standing between the human and Asgore now.

What if the diagnostic took too long? What if the problem was more complicated than they thought it would be and he wouldn’t be able to fix it on his own?

He watched that pitiful percentage mark slowly climb higher and higher. It was a horribly anticlimactic way to save the world.

Was he saving the world? That’s what it felt like. The more he thought about it the more he began to fear that the human would not just be satisfied with cutting a path of dust up to the king.

“Damn this program.” He grumbled, leaning over the screen and mentally willing it to go faster. The world was not going to end on a loading screen dammit!

Several painful minuets ticked by, each one more sluggish than the last. 60%. 65%. 70%, 75%.

Someone knocked on the door behind him.

He went rigid and froze. It couldn’t be. Not yet. Not so soon. The last of the Royal Guard, were they already gone?

He prayed that the lock would hold. Just a little bit longer. That was all he needed.

There was a familiar scraping sound and then with a labored shudder of resistance the door creaked open a few inches. It had not locked all the way.

Mettaton looked down at the screen and his little white USB. 78%.

Before he could even hope to cross the distance and force the door shut again manually, it gave way and opened with a displeased creak. A shambling figure wandered into the darkness, panting a little and hunched up against the shadows.

“You.” She breathed, a mix of annoyance and triumph bouncing off the walls.

There was no one left to stall her now.

He laughed softly to himself, realizing he had finally gotten himself in too deep. But did it really matter? If the human got Asgore’s soul it would all be over. A creature like her with a power like that… my, that would be grim wouldn’t it? She would use that power to reap from him what little he had left to care about in this world.

He realized he couldn’t let her just walk by without at least trying to stop her. The realization was a cold and silent thought that made him feel grim and queasy. Yet among that nervousness was unflinching acceptance. Even if he couldn’t stop her, he could distract her. If she didn’t notice the program then maybe someone else would come along in time and…?

“I’m sorry Alphys,” He whispered, looking into the bloodshot eyes of the dust covered creature. “It looks like you truly are the only smart one down here.”

The human tilted her head, curious about his soft muttering.

He straightened himself, clapping as if proud that she had achieved something great instead of terrible. He braced himself. “My, my. So you have finally arrived. Took the long way around I see.” He taunted. Her clothes had some new holes in them but she didn’t seem to be bleeding anymore.

Mettaton vaguely wondered if the burger kid had stayed behind his counter.

He suddenly felt a stab of guilt at not having bothered to remember the kid’s real name. Ever since an amusing incident in an alleyway he had taken to calling the guy Burgerpants. The slight sat heavy in his chest now that he realized he would never be able to make up for it.

She glared at him; shoulders slumped in some mix of exasperation and annoyance. “As a matter of fact I did have to come the long way around. And I bet you had something to do with that, didn’t you?” She sniffed. “So then, are you going to throw more insults at me then fly away again like a coward? I’m in a bit of a hurry. Father never did like me staying out this late.” She shrugged off her own words before he was given a chance to comment on it. “So what brought you all the way out here anyway? You were home free.” She was stalking towards him now, one careful foot placed in front of the other like a cat stalking a bird. “I thought you said all the smart ones would stay out of my way.”

“Oh and that remains to be true, you nasty little creature. But alas, after our first encounter, I realized something ghastly.” He began to inch away from the screen he had been guarding. He took up a spot near the center of the room so that he would be less likely to accidentally draw her attention to the program running in the background. “You are no longer just a threat to monsters, but to humanity as well.”

She tilted her head to the side. “Very good.”

He tapped a finger against his screen as if in thought and sighed. “See now, therein lies the problem. I can’t exactly be a star without an audience, now can I?” He began to access an old program of his. He had never really thought he would have to use that old thing. He wasn’t even sure if it worked properly anymore. Alphys had removed a lot of the old components to make room for the new body she had been working on for him. But his old form still had a gun and sometimes all the hero really needs is a big ass gun.

This was it. He was really going to do this. He felt the vague hope that maybe seeing a more humanoid face may call back some scrap of her humanity but the look in her eyes told him not to hold his breath.

He could feel the systems booting up, causing his insides to heat up a little. “Besides, you foul little creature you, there are still people left in this world that I want to protect.”

She took a few bold steps towards him, that rudimentary weapon of hers at the ready.

He wheeled backwards just as far as she stepped forward. He laughed and waggled a finger at her, stalling for a little more time. “Eager as always I see. But don’t touch that dial! For you see, there is something you haven’t accounted for!”

Just a few more seconds.

From deep inside his body a whirling sound began to press against the confines of his shape.

The human took a wary step back.

He smiled. “As any true fan would know, I was first created as a human eradication robot!”

She cocked an eyebrow. A gleam of worry danced in her eye. “You can’t be serious.”

“Of course I am. It was only after becoming a star that I was given a more… photogenic body. However, those original functions have never fully been removed. Come any closer and I will be forced to show you my true form!”

She scowled for a moment then shrugged. “What the hell, its not like I don’t have backups. I’m calling your bluff.”

His heart sank. He had been hoping she would have more of a self-preservation instinct than that. Then again she didn’t seem to be in her right mind anyway- if the little terror had ever had one to start with. “Fine then.” He sighed, the whirling noise growing louder as his outer shell began to fall away. He wouldn’t need its protection now anyway. She had consumed too much power on her way to the Core. Her intent to kill would eat through his armor one way or another, wouldn’t it? “Ready?” He took a deep, bracing breath. “Iiiit’s show time!”

In a cloud of smoke set aglow by the blaring strobe of his own lights, his old body components came together. Joints locked into place, long forgotten systems powering up and sending a hum of energy through his body while his rectangular shell tumbled to the ground. He took on a more humanoid shape; an old power, now rediscovered, shining in his eyes like burning stars. He was taller than her now- and thanks to the thrusters in his shoulder guards, he would be faster too.

He stretched, gleaming eyes set upon the surprised human. He planted one foot forward and activated his boosters. They sprang to life with a roar.

The human shielded her eyes from the light of his new form. “And I thought the rectangle look was bad.” She spat, charging forward with a sneer.

Mettaton rushed forward, his boosters roaring with a brilliant flare of fire- only to cut off a second later with a spluttering whine.

His face fell in surprise, the light from the boosters becoming a pulsing strobe. The heat warmed his back and tried to push him forward but the effort was feeble.

He had been flying around all day.

Out of fuel. He realized, taking a step back just in time to avoid a frenzied swipe from the human.

He stumbled away, body clanking against itself in his surprised fumble. He lowered his right arm, his hand cannon humming with energy that began to collect deep within the barrel. Alright, if speed wouldn't be on his side he would have to rely on firepower alone!

The human spun around, keeping low to the ground and charging him.

The gun stuttered and shook, the light it had gathered beginning to fade and scatter once more.

He looked down at his weapon in surprise. “Oh dear.”

It had been a long time since he had done any maintenance on the old thing.

In the brief moment that he had spared to look down at his failing features, Chara slammed her shoulder into his chest. She drew back her free arm and plunged her sharpened spear tip deep into a soft spot in his waist.

A sharp burst of pain ran through him. His mouth opening in a gasp of surprise. It felt like someone had just tossed him into icy cold water.

“Oh.” He quavered, falling forward over her shoulder. His body felt so incredibly heavy all of a sudden. He tried to recover but his movements were sluggish, his grasp of control over his synthetics rapidly becoming sloppy and muddled.

She tilted to one side and pushed him away; shrugging off his weight and coming in for another jab before realizing she had already won. The blow stopped short, a brief moment of conflict screwing up her face as she looked down at him. Something sad and desperate flashed over her eyes and her hand trembled before the darkness retook possession of her features.

The human lowered her arm and closed her eyes for a moment to compose herself. “What?” She laughed, “That’s it? That’s was your final stand? This is the killing machine the great Dr. Alphys has unleashed on me? I was hoping for something better but I guess your nothing more than a pathetic show-bot, aren’t you, darling?”

Mettaton fell to one knee, struggling to prop himself up with his faulty cannon arm. His good hand went up to his waist to try and stop the white light and deep black oil from seeping out of his body. He laughed sheepishly, forcing a smile. “G… guess she should have worked more on my defenses, huh?” He fell forward onto all fours, still trying to stop the white glow from leaking away into the darkness. His soul was slipping out.

It was hard to believe that it was going to end like this after having come so far. “You may have defeated me, b…but… I know. I know your secret now. I saw it. There is still…something good in you. You held back.” He collapsed, his body making a loud clatter as it hit the floor.

She was looming over him now, face cloaked in shadow, spear tip brushing against the floor beside him. He looked over the arc of her boots and cast one last look at the computer screen off in the corner. The program was still running. She still hadn’t noticed.

Words were becoming difficult now. Slow and painful. “Yes, Asgore will fall to you. But you won’t harm humanity…will you?” That last part came out sounding more like a feeble plea than a confirmation.

She was laughing over the top of his words but he didn’t care. The pain was numbing now. He felt tired and at peace. “You aren’t…absolutely evil. Even if you’re trying to be, you messed up. And so late in the show too…” He chuckled; the light was fading from his eyes.

The human tilted her head. “Ah, yes, sorry about that. She tends to get a little uppity at times. But don’t worry,” she crouched down next to him so that he could see her toothy grin and tired eyes. They were bloodshot and red. That internal conflicted continued to rage on inside of her, hidden from view to all but him.

She leaned in and whispered, “I will have that annoying little spark of good snuffed out by the time I get outside. I promise.”

Sparks were beginning to shoot out from his joints, the deterioration of his soul causing his mechanical body to fall apart. The darkness was seeping in from the corners of his vision now.

What happened to a ghost that managed to get itself killed, anyway?

Ah well, it couldn’t be that bad, could it?

He looked past her; it was getting hard to see the computer screen. The diagnostic was almost done. He couldn’t help but smile at that. Surely someone would come and find it? Someone would be able to stop her, thanks to him?

He smiled. “Hah…hah… At least…. I can rest easy now. Knowing Alphys and the humans will…live on.”

***

The light faded from his eyes. Like dying stars. Chara mused. His body began to fall apart, several mechanical parts spitting fire and sparks as they fell away now that there was no longer a soul there to keep them unified.

She patted his detached head, eyes dark and smoking. “Look Rain,” she cooed, “a fallen star.”

Rain’s screaming presence fought against the tendrils of shadows that held her in place, causing Chara to giggle all the more.

She gave Mettaton the once over in hopes she might find something useful, or at the very least a trophy. She wanted his gun but it needed power to operate so it was useless to her.

With a grimace of disappointment she got up and left him. His shell did not turn to dust like the others did but what he had left behind was useless and smoldering. How disappointing.

Ever since she had entered Hotland things had become quite easy. Annoying and sluggish, yes, but easy. She had gotten a few scrapes and bruises here and there but no one had managed to give her a challenge since Undyne fell.

What a shame. How anticlimactic. Oh well. With no one left in her way she could look forward to seeing the look on her father’s face when she finally came home now.

As Chara pushed her way past another poorly locked door with Rain in tow, she turned her back on the room, its underwhelming guardian, and its single flickering computer screen.

She did not hear the ping that notified the empty room that the diagnostic was complete.

It continued to ping every few minutes after she left. Calling out, letting the world know that it had found the problem and had a solution ready to be implemented.

But nobody came.