As the group trekked through the sweltering heat of Hotland, the atmosphere grew heavier, with steam vents occasionally hissing and erupting around them. The path curved sharply upward, leading to a massive, ominous-looking building embedded into the rocky terrain. Strange wires dangled from its exterior, and a faint hum of machinery echoed from within. A glowing neon sign above the entrance flickered, reading "Laboratory" in bold letters.
Kaeltherion, squinting up at the structure: "A lab? In a place like this? Who'd even work here?"
Elyssara, looking uneasy: "It feels... off. Why is it so quiet?"
Velthara, smirking: "It could be abandoned. Or... someone could be watching us right now."
The group shared a tense look before cautiously stepping toward the entrance. The automatic doors slid open with a mechanical hiss, revealing a dimly lit interior. A faint flickering of fluorescent lights illuminated the area, and the smell of oil and metal filled the air. The walls were lined with monitors displaying distorted static and occasional flashes of data.
Inside the Laboratory
As they entered, the group noticed a large central screen on the far wall, casting an eerie green glow across the room. The silhouette of a short, hunched figure appeared on one of the monitors. The figure fumbled with something before the screen suddenly switched to a live feed of the group standing in the lab.
???: "Oh! Visitors! Uh... h-hi! I wasn't expecting anyone today!"
The voice was nervous yet eager, cracking slightly as if the speaker wasn't used to addressing others. After a moment, the hunched figure emerged from a side door, revealing a yellow, reptilian monster in a white lab coat and thick glasses. She clutched a clipboard tightly to her chest, her tail swaying nervously behind her.
???: "I-I'm Dr. Alphys. The Royal Scientist. W-what brings you to... uh, my lab?"
Kaeltherion, narrowing his eyes: "We're just passing through. What kind of lab is this?"
Dr. Alphys, stammering: "Oh! Uh, it's... it's where I do research for the Underground. Y-you know, helping monsters and stuff. Heh... nothing dangerous! Definitely not dangerous!" She laughed nervously, avoiding eye contact.
Lymtherion, glancing at the cluttered tables filled with strange devices: "It doesn't look very... safe."
Velthara, smirking: "Safe or not, it's interesting. What kind of experiments are you running?"
Dr. Alphys froze for a moment, her glasses slipping slightly down her snout as she adjusted them hurriedly.
Dr. Alphys, muttering: "Oh, you know... j-just science stuff! T-trying to find ways to help monsters, um, live better lives. Yeah, that's it!"
Her eyes darted to one of the monitors, which briefly displayed what looked like a schematic of a soul before flickering back to static. The group caught the glimpse but decided not to press her... yet.
Exploring the Lab
Kaeltherion, folding his arms: "We're looking for a way out of here. Can you help us or not?"
Dr. Alphys, flinching: "O-oh! Uh, y-yeah, sure! I mean, the way out is through Hotland, a-and then the CORE. But, uh... it's not gonna be easy. The CORE is... well, it's guarded."
Elyssara, frowning: "Guarded? By who?"
Dr. Alphys, hesitating: "By... Mettaton. He's, uh... he's a robot I built. A TV star, actually! B-but he, uh... he might try to stop you. N-not because I told him to! Just, uh... because of his programming! Heh..."
Velthara, raising an eyebrow: "A killer robot TV star? Sounds ridiculous."
Dr. Alphys, muttering: "Y-you're not wrong..."
Before anyone could respond, one of the monitors blared to life, and a loud, bombastic voice filled the lab.
Mettaton: "OH YES~! A SHOWDOWN WITH NEW STARS~! FINALLY, SOMETHING WORTHY OF PRIME TIME~!"
The screen displayed a sleek, humanoid robot with a square head and a dazzling smile. Mettaton struck a dramatic pose, his metallic body gleaming under imaginary stage lights.
Mettaton: "DEAR DOCTOR, YOUR GUESTS HAVE ARRIVED~! BUT DON'T WORRY, I'LL TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM. AFTER ALL, THE SPOTLIGHT BELONGS TO ME~!"
Kaeltherion, glaring: "What the hell is this?"
Dr. Alphys, panicking: "Oh no, oh no, oh no! H-he knows you're here! I-I didn't mean for this to happen! You have to be careful!"
The screen flickered off, leaving the group in tense silence. Dr. Alphys wrung her hands nervously, avoiding their gazes.
Preparing for the Next Challenge
Kaeltherion, stepping forward: "If this robot gets in our way, we'll deal with it. Just tell us how to get to this CORE."
Dr. Alphys, nodding quickly: "O-okay! Just... follow the path through Hotland. It'll lead you straight to the CORE. But, um... be ready for anything."
As the group turned to leave, Dr. Alphys called after them.
Dr. Alphys: "W-wait! I can help you! I'll keep an eye on you through the monitors a-and give you tips! J-just, uh... don't get killed, okay?"
The group exchanged skeptical looks but nodded before stepping out of the lab and continuing their journey through the blistering heat of Hotland. The faint sound of Mettaton's laughter echoed behind them, promising that their encounter with the eccentric robot was only just beginning.