Mouse (to Poppy): Huh? Percy? Who? Where am I? What's going on?
Poppy (to Mouse): It's okay, honey, disorientation is normal. Trust me, I know. Eep's waiting for you onboard.
Mouse (to Poppy): Eep? Oh, right... Eep.
A few minutes later:
Eep (to Poppy): Is everything OK? Did you find her? I can't believe you made me sit on this ship like some fucking kid in time out.
Poppy (to Eep): I'm sorry, honey, I didn't want you to get hurt. Percy's bringing her onboard, now.
Percy (to Poppy & Eep): Here you go! One little female DJ safe & sound. (to Mouse) I'm going to set you down in the bunk. Watch your head.
Mouse (to Percy): That's fine. Thank you.
Percy (to Mouse): Honey, sit still for a minute while I run some tests.
Eep (to Mouse): Hey. Are you OK? Are you hurt, I mean... You're OK, aren't you?
Mouse (to Eep): I'm fine. Where's Hiiri? She said she wasn't going to be gone long.
Eep (to Mouse): ¡Gracias a Dios! C'mere for a second. Christ I was scared... Wait. Did you... Did you just ask about Hiiri?
Mouse (to Eep): Yes, she said she wasn't going to be long when she left to meet up with Mister Von Clegg... Wait. How long was I in there?
Poppy (to Mouse): What's the last thing you remember?
Mouse (to Eep & Poppy): Hiiri was visiting like she does every Tuesday to check up on me & make sure I don't need anything. She told me that she needed to put me into the stasis chamber, but that it would only be for a little while. She needed to go collect Carver from CLANNG. She was really annoyed. And, then you were there looking down on me.
Eep (to Mouse): When, um, when did she grab you?
Mouse (to Eep): She didn't grab me, she saved me. I had escaped Smythe's henchmen & was hiding out in the Tombs when she found me. Is Otto okay?
Eep (to Mouse): She... she WHAT?
Mouse (to Eep & Poppy): Look, can I please just go back to the house now?
Poppy (to Percy): Can you please get us to the monastery, honey?(to Mouse) Mouse honey, I'm going to give you a sedative. You need to rest & gather your strength. Okay? (to Eep) Eep, come with me.
Percy (to Poppy): I'm on it!
Eep (to Poppy): Um, yeah. Sure. (to Mouse) Hey. Take it easy. I'll see you soon, OK? I love you.
Mouse (to Poppy): Oh okay. (to Eep) Oh… uh... love you too.
Poppy (to Eep): How are you holding up, honey? Do you want the good news or the bad news?
Eep (to Poppy): I'm... I don't... What the fuck is going on?
Poppy (to Eep): Well, the good news is that is indeed Mouse, the bad news is that it looks like she may have never left this side. She's got an inhibitor device implanted in her shoulder which prevented her from being pulled through the portal. I don't know how or why Hiiri did it, but I think the double has been with us, at least, since Delia got grabbed if not before that. I am so sorry, honey... None of us knew that this was even a possibility or we would have kept looking for her.
Eep (to Poppy): But I... I mean, we... Jesus Christ. But if she's been here... We got married! We fucking got married! Who the fuck...
Poppy (to Eep): C'mere, honey. I know this is a lot to absorb.
Eep (to Poppy): I... I don't... even know what to fucking think.
Poppy (to Eep): I know, honey. But, can you keep it together or should we take you home?
Eep (to Poppy): No. No. I am not fucking leaving. I'll.... I'll be OK.
Poppy (to Eep): Look honey, I know this is really rough for you, but I need you to be calm for Mouse. She's been on her own with Hiiri for I don't know how long. Oh goodness. Nevermind.
Eep (to Poppy): Look, I can be calm, OK? I can be calm as fuck, but don't do that "never you mind" shit. What were you about to say?
Poppy (to Eep): Well, time is different over here & Mouse isn't a portal jumper like Vincent & I, so that means she can't control what point she leaves or enters from, which means that she has been here for over a year, at least.
Eep (to Poppy): And she's been with Hiiri, wondering why the fuck we didn't come and find her all that time...
Poppy (to Eep): Honey, it might be worse than that. I don't think she was Hiiri's prisoner, but her guest. The house we found her in was not a prison, there were no alarms, no guards, no cells. Just a house. She was free to leave. Other than being in the stasis chamber when we found her, I think Mouse was being treated nicely. I could be wrong, of course. The guards may have left when they realized Hiiri wasn't coming back, but I don't know.
Eep (to Poppy): But how is that... What? But how is that... I mean, we found her. We FOUND her with Smythe! How could...
Poppy (to Eep): I don't know, honey. But, I think the only reason why Mouse was still in the chamber was because CLANNG destroyed Hiiri.
Eep (to Poppy): Madre de Dios... OK. OK, OK. It's OK. We'll figure it out. We'll figure it all out. I... I think I need to sit down.
Poppy (to Eep): Let me get you some water. Or would you like something stronger?
Percy (to Eep & Poppy): Just to let you know, sweeties, we're about to land at the monastery. Oh look, I can see Vincent's mohawk from here... Ooo. He looks rough.
Eep (to Poppy): No. I'm alright. I don't want anything right now. I don't think my stomach can handle it. Thanks.
Poppy (to Percy): Thanks, Percy. (to Eep) Okay, honey... I'm going to go greet my husband.
A few minutes later:
Poppy (to Vincent): Hi there, lover. You look awful. Rough night, huh?
Vincent (to Poppy): You could say that. Come here.
Poppy (to Vincent): Awww, honey, you poor thing.
Vincent (to Poppy): How did your search go? Any luck?
Poppy (to Vincent): We had the best of luck. We found her in the third house, honey. But, I need you to prepare yourself. Don't worry, she's healthy & unharmed, but I-- You'll see.
Vincent (to Poppy): What's going on, hun?
Poppy (to Vincent): She was in a stasis chamber when we found her & she mentioned that Hiiri rescued her from Smythe's henchmen. I think she's been in the chamber since Thaddeus destroyed Hiiri's chassis. She also mentioned a few things that make me think she's been here since Delia got grabbed, if not longer. Eep is pretty broken up. I wish I knew what to say to him.
Vincent (to Poppy): Oh, good God. This is... This is something and a half, isn't it?
Poppy (to Vincent): You could say that. How are you holding up, lover?
Vincent (to Poppy): I sat with the construct Mouse last night. She... Poppy, she wasn't a bit like my sister, she was EXACTLY like my sister.
Poppy (to Vincent): Oh honey, I'm sorry. I should have stayed so you didn't have to go through that on your own.
Vincent (to Poppy): I'm... I'll be alright. You're here with me now. Besides, I wanted you to stay with Eep and find Mouse.
Poppy (to Vincent): Well, Percy has probably gotten them both to the infirmary by now. Do you want to head up to see them? Or can I steal you for a few moments?
Vincent (to Poppy): I'm all yours, lover.
Poppy (to Vincent): Good... Come with me, honey.
A few hours later:
Mouse (to Eep): Huh? Where the hell am I?
Eep (to Mouse): Oh. Hey. You're up. Um, you don't recognize... Oh. Um, maybe you've never been here before. Right. Sorry. This is the Monastery. Um, the scientist Poppy used to work for Tesla has a lab here. There's some kinda, um, dampening device in your shoulder... It's the thing that's been keeping you from being pulled back home. Um, to West Piedmont, I mean.
Mouse (to Eep): Oh... So, it wasn't a dream. I was kind of hoping.
Eep (to Mouse): You were hoping... Um, hoping what was a dream?
Mouse (to Eep): Everything... You certainly took your sweet ass time to rescue me. It's really you, isn't it? It better be you, because I swear if this is another one of Hiiri's games I'm going to scream.
Eep (to Mouse): I know. I'm sorry. We... We didn't know you were missing.
Mouse (to Eep): You didn't know I was missing? But, I've been here... Oh, the doppelganger.
Eep (to Mouse): I... You knew about the doppelganger? Jesus Christ, I... Right. Of course you knew. Um, OK. So, yeah. Doppelganger. We thought we HAD rescued you. I mean, there was a-a... There was a gunfight and a giant fucking koala, and you and Otto blew up the fucking ship... I mean, that was you? Wasn't it?
Mouse (to Eep): Yeah, that was me... But, Hiiri crossed over and snagged me a short time after we went home. She rescued me from Smythe & his henchmen... She killed them all. She told me we were going to be best friends forever. So, I was playing along until I could figure out way to get home, but she implanted that device in my arm & I discovered that I was stuck here. She's batshit insane. On several occasions, I thought that you had come to get me, but it was a trick.
Eep (to Mouse): I'm... Jesus Christ... Mouse, I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say.
Mouse (to Eep): Please, tell me this is real...
Eep (to Mouse): No, no. This is real. Um, Hiiri's dead, or, destroyed, or whatever. She got a safe dropped on her.
Mouse (to Eep): Really? But, what about the other 2 doppelgangers? Did you destroy them?
Eep (to Mouse): She has... Besides the one with us? Shit. Oh, OH SHIT! Shit. We should let Poppy and Vincent know. She was gunning for them before she got, um, squashed.
Mouse (to Eep): She had Maladori make her 3 copies as part of her backup plan. She never told me where she hid them. I'm not sure she ever completely trusted me. That's why I was in the stasis chamber. I was hoping that she'd leave me on my own when she left. Oh... You look a bit different since I last saw you... How long have I been gone on that side?
Eep (to Mouse): I look what? Different? Oh. Um, we're not sure. Poppy said the doppelganger was 8 months old or so, but we're not sure.
Mouse (to Eep): Oh. Is Vincent here?
Eep (to Mouse): Um, yeah. Poppy's checking on him. He, uh, he sat with your doppel-whatsit last night.
Mouse (to Eep): And, that's how you finally realized that I was missing? That's just fantastic... So, how do I know that this isn't some crazy elaborate game of Hiiri's? This would be just like something she would do...
Eep (to Mouse): Yeah. It fucking is. Um, Percy ran a blood test, but I guess that doesn't prove anything to you, does it? I don't know. I don't know what to say to make you feel better, Killer. I really... Oh! Oh shit! I'm sorry! I said, I wouldn't... I mean, I don't know if you want me calling you that. You might not. I mean...
Mouse (to Eep): Heh. It's okay. No one has called me that in quite awhile... So, um, were we-- I mean, were you &-- Damn. Nevermind. Do you think I could maybe get a change of clothes? I've been wearing these pajamas for I don't know how long.
Eep (to Mouse): Oh. Yeah. Sure. Uh, I think Vincent or Poppy might have something in here somewhere. This might... Oh fat Christ! What is this? Don't these two have any normal goddamn clothes? What the fucking hell?
Mouse (to Eep): Heh... I missed you, grumpy man.
Eep (to Mouse): You--you did? Oh... Oh God. I was, um, I thought that because it took so long... I swear to fucking God, Mouse, if we had known. If I had known Hiiri had you... Shit. Sorry. I'm supposed to be staying calm. I'm sorry. Here. This dress shouldn't be too bad. It's from when Poppy was pregnant, so it might be too big.
Mouse (to Eep): Oh, thanks... Wait. What? Poppy was pregnant? I clearly missed quite a bit while I was gone. I have a feeling I'm going to be out of the loop for a bit. Anything else I should know about?
Eep (to Mouse): Oh. Um, yeah. You've got a nephew you have to meet now: Victor Harrison. And... um, yeah... there was, uh, something else...
Mouse (to Eep): Wait, I have a nephew? So, Poppy isn't a robot? Vincent has a son? With Poppy? Who the hell is Percy? ... Oh god, what else? I think I'm going to just curl up in my bed for a month...
Eep (to Mouse): Um, yeah. Poppy is the human that, uh, RoboPoppy was based on. Hiiri shot, um, her original body. It was too damaged to fix, so she was put in a male chassis. That, uh, that would be Percy. And yeah. Poppy and Vincent have a kid. It's been, um, eventful And there's been some, um, changes. To the apartment... Jesus. I don't know how to say this.
Mouse (to Eep): Oh merde, the double didn't do anything with my apartment, did she?
Eep (to Mouse): Um, you and I... I mean, I thought it was you, the double and I, uh... we kinda moved in together, and... shit.
Mouse (to Eep): Oh... What is it? Then, we broke up? You can say it. It's okay. I mean, I wouldn't blame you, I was pretty messed up after the stuff with Smythe.
Eep (to Mouse): No. No, not even... Shit. You're gonna find out anyway. We got married, OK? You and I. I mean, not you and I... Me and the fucking double, I guess. Jesus. I-I swear to fucking God, I never even suspected... I-I don't... I don't know... I'm sorry.
Mouse (to Eep): Oh... Wow... I did not see that one coming... I need to sit down.
Eep (to Mouse): Oh. Yeah. Course. Um, do you want some water or something?
Mouse (to Eep): No, thank you... HAHAHA... That's just typical. My double manages to get over my crippling fear of marriage & to get a complete commitment-phobe like you to the altar. Heehee. My brother has a kid... with Poppy. HA! This is so insane, it must be my life. Hiiri doesn't have that much of an imagination. Heehee.
Eep (to Mouse): Oh. I... You're not... you're not mad? At me, I mean? I thought...
Mouse (to Eep): That I'd be mad because you thought I was with you? I mean, yeah I'm a little upset that I missed out on a bunch of stuff, but I was worried that you had just continued on with your life... without me. I had no idea the double was with you until you mentioned not realizing I was missing. This is all a little much for me.
Eep (to Mouse): Mouse, if I had known, if I had EVER known you were still with Hiiri, there is NO way, no way in fucking hell... I would have ever stopped looking for you. There wouldn't have been any "getting on" with anything! Not for me! Not for your stupid brother! Not for...
Percy (to Eep): Seriously honey, you have a very weird way of showing your affection for people. I'm sorry for interrupting, but there's a couple of folks that would like to see Mouse. (to Mouse) If you're up for it, that is.
Mouse (to Percy): Boy, you have absolutely shit timing, Percy, right? Yep, shit timing.
Eep (to Mouse & Percy): Yeah. There are some things that haven't changed.
Percy (to Mouse): I think my timing is impeccable, honey, but I know what you mean. And yes, it's Percy.
Mouse (to Eep): Raincheck?
Eep (to Mouse): Yes! Um, I mean...
Vincent (to Mouse & Eep): He means yes. He ALWAYS means yes.
Percy (to Vincent, Mouse, Poppy & Eep): I'll just get out of the way. I certainly don't want to be in the way of this reunion.
Mouse (to Vincent): Oh god, get over here, you little jerk, so I can pummel you... Well, hug you first & then pummel you.
Vincent (to Mouse): How are you feeling, sweetie? Ouch! Not that weakened, I see. Come here!
Mouse (to Vincent): I missed you, little brother. (to Poppy) And, Poppy It's nice to meet you, again for the first time? Forgive me, if I'm little confused.
Vincent (to Mouse): Oh, oh God, I said I wasn't going to cry, but I'm totes crying.
Poppy (to Mouse): Honey, it's okay. I understand, more than you can imagine. Just give me a hug, if you can detach my husband from you that is.
Mouse (to Vincent): Heehee, you big girl. (to Poppy) I think he maybe permanently attached to me... It's like a very well-dressed tumor.
Vincent (to Mouse & Poppy): I'm detached! I'm detached! Yeesh. Y'all are ruthless.
Poppy (to Vincent, Mouse & Eep): Hush you... Now, that we've gotten all the hugs out of the way. Should we go home and get our son?
Vincent (to Poppy): Yes, please. I'll get us get us to the crossover point in half a shake.
Mouse (to Vincent, Eep & Poppy): I would really love to go home.
Eep (to Poppy & Vincent): Wait. Um, Mouse said that there are two other, um, doppelganger things Hiiri made running around out there.
Poppy (to Eep) Oh? Well, that's not good, honey. (to Mouse) Do you know where they are? Are they actually running around?
Mouse (to Poppy, Vincent & Eep): No. The only reason I even know about them at all is because I overheard her talking to Maladori about them. I think one of them is up north somewhere, but I have no idea where exactly.
Vincent (to Mouse, Poppy & Eep): I'll let Percy know. I'm sure we'll find out what Hiiri had planned sooner than we like.
Eep (to Vincent): You OK? You look...
Vincent (to Eep): I'm fine, Slim. Could you join me on the bridge in a tick?
Eep (to Vincent): Oh. Um, yeah. Sure. (to Mouse) Be right back.
Mouse (to Eep): Oh, okay.
Poppy (to Mouse): How you holding up, Mouse honey?
Mouse (to Poppy): Are you trying to distract me, so that I'm not concerned about what the boys are talking about?
Poppy (to Mouse): Perhaps, just a bit.
Mouse (to Poppy): You don't have to. I already thought about the possibility that I'm one of the doubles.
Poppy (to Mouse): Honey, I'm sure that's not what they're talking about at all. Percy tested your blood before we brought you on board. You match with all of the samples we had from West Piedmont. You are very much you.
Mouse (to Poppy): Well, that's good to know.
A couple minutes later:
Eep (to Vincent): Um, hey. What's up?
Vincent (to Eep): Here you go. I didn't want to give these to you in front of Mouse just in case. It's, um, it's her wedding and engagement rings. The other Mouse, I mean, the doppelganger wanted to make sure you got them back.
Eep (to Vincent): ... Oh.
Vincent (to Eep): She wanted me to tell you that she was sorry. She had no idea what she was. She... Ahem... She also wanted me to thank you. She stayed Mouse until the end, you know. She never stopped behaving in exactly the same manner my sister would behave. It was exactly like watching Mouse die. I... I'd rather never have to relive that.
Eep (to Vincent): Thanks. And, um, thanks for staying with her last night. I...
Vincent (to Eep): I'm sorry, Slim. I'm rambling. Get back to Mouse. I'll get us home.
Eep (to Mouse): Hey. Vincent said we should be home shortly.
Mouse (to Eep): Okay... This is just so weird. I never thought I'd be going home again. Um, what about the device in my shoulder? Is that going to be a problem?I mean, I tried to take it out myself, but I almost passed out. That was not pleasant.
Eep (to Mouse): Christ... Um, I don't know. (to Poppy) That's not gonna, I dunno, pull her back here or something will it?
Poppy (to Mouse & Eep): It's alright, honey. Percy deactivated it. We decided that was a better option then removing it. We can remove it later, if it's necessary. We just thought she was going through enough that she didn't need to add recover from a surgery to the list.
Mouse (to Poppy): Oh well, thank you for that… (to Eep) Poppy being nice is going to take some getting used to.
Eep (to Poppy): Oh yeah. That makes sense. Thanks. (to Mouse) You think that's weird? Wait 'til you see your brother holding a baby. 'Sides, if you ever get a hankering for the old Poppy-brand snark, you can visit Percy.
Mouse (to Eep): Heehee, that's very true.
Vincent (to Eep, Mouse & Poppy): We're almost home, Scooby Gang.
An hour later:
Vincent (to Mouse): If you and Eep want to skip work tonight, sweetie, I can get your shifts covered.
Mouse (to Vincent): Oh yeah, work... I'm sure Ripper and Leon can cover me.
Vincent (to Mouse): Don't fret about it, hun. Work should be the last of your worries right now. Hee hee. I'll bet Lulu will be more than happy to get behind the decks.
Mouse (to Vincent): Lulu? As in Lulu who used to work at Pandora's? God, I have missed out on a lot.
Vincent (to Mouse): Come here and give me a hug, big sister. (to Eep) You take the night off too, Slim. I'm sure my sister has a million questions.
Mouse (to Vincent): Thank you, little brother. I'll see you later.
Vincent (to Mouse): Later, tater. I'll see you whenever I regain consciousness. And stop by the apartment sometime soon, and meet your nephew.
Mouse (to Vincent): You won't be able to get rid of me. :-P (to Eep) So, uh, what do you want to do?
Eep (to Mouse): I dunno. I figured you'd just wanna kinda take it easy tonight.
Mouse (to Eep): Oh yeah, that's probably a good idea... I guess, I'll just pour myself a drink & take a bath, then.
Eep (to Mouse): Oh. Um, we don't have to do that if you don't want to. I, um...Heh. I'm kinda at loss here.
Mouse (to Eep): Yeah, me too. I'm sorry I seem so awkward, it's just been awhile since I've seen you.
Eep (to Mouse): It's alright. Heh. I'm always kinda awkward, so, you know, now we're even. We can just watch a movie if you want. Or you can take a bath. Oh. Yeah. We redid the bathroom.
Mouse (to Eep): We did? Oh wow... I've been wanting to do that forever. I think a movie would be fine. You can pick. Do you want a beer?
Eep (to Mouse): Um, yeah. That'd be good. Thank you.
Mouse (to Eep): Here you go... Can I admit something to you & you won't be weirded out by it?
Eep (to Mouse): Oh. Um, yeah. Of course. What's up?
Mouse (to Eep): I'm having a hard time trying not to leap on you & rip your clothes off. But, I understand this has to be weird for you, I mean you're a married man... Even, though you're married to me, but I haven't seen you in months.
Eep (to Mouse): I... I don't even know what to say to that.
Mouse (to Eep): Sorry... I'm just going to sit quietly & watch the movie.
Eep (to Mouse): Oh. Um, you and I got married too, though, right? By Vincent? In Bizarro Land? Or... was that not, um...
Mouse (to Eep): No, that was me.
Eep (to Mouse): God, this is... this is just so fucking confusing. I mean... I kinda feel like I cheated on you. I mean, I know I didn't realize it wasn't you, and it was kinda with you... Christ.
Mouse (to Eep): I know... Can we just, I don't know, start over?
Eep (to Mouse): Yeah. I'd like that. Um, it's not gonna be too weird having me here for you, is it?
Mouse (to Eep): Heehee, it depends on what you mean by here for me... ;-P
Eep (to Mouse): Oh. What? I didn't... Heh. You know what I meant! I, uh, I don't really wanna leave, but if it's too weird, I can crash with Vincent and Poppy or my former roommates or something.
Mouse (to Eep): I don't want you to leave. C'mere...
Several hours later:
Vincent: Dear God... I don't remember the last time I was this exhausted.
