"Citizens of the Underground!" Asgore's voice calls across the large crowd, all of monster kind were either present or watching the broadcast. Alphys had called in a favour for the announcement to be shown on Metatons channel, with the offer and promise Alphys made, the robot couldn't say no. "I come to you all today to inform you that we have made a massive breakthrough in our escape."
Sans was sat to the side of the stage, hidden behind curtains. He honestly just wanted to sit in the crowd or, even better, at home. But the King had made his intentions very clear, he wanted everyone to know what he'd done to save them all.
He'd worked around it, convincing him to make his role in the event smaller than it actually was, but judging by the way both Alphys and Asgore kept looking back at him, that wasn't going to happen.
"Throughout the generations we have been locked away one thing amount many that we have worked toward is breaking us free of our magical prison, and now that has been made possible. The credit goes to two brilliant people, the royal scientist, Dr.Alphys and a previous royal scientist, Sans." He shouts, the crowd erupts into loud cheers of excitement and shock as both scientists are ushered to stand with the King.
Alphys was a mess of nerves, her head tucked in like she wanted to retreat back into her shell. 

"Just remember, Al', you're a hero now." Sans smiles at the anxious yellow lizard, she nods back.

"You both are." Asgore's grin stretches from ear to ear with pure joy, hope.

"Within the next few days, we will have broken free, we will rise up to the surface together as one! There may have been conflict with the humans in the past, but I want to build a peaceful life on the surface. Making peace with the humans is the best way to move forward, sharing the world above together and making up for the mistakes of the past! That is our way forward!" The crowd below was buzzing with energy, the hope that returned in the eyes of the citizens, in the eyes of the Underground, burned brighter than ever before.
"I thank you all for listening, now, start packing, we shall break free within the next few days!" Asgore shouted, bowing before exiting the stage. Both scientists trailed after him, two speedy steps per one of his.

"It's been a while since I've been able to deliver such a hopeful message to my people." The King smiles sadly.

"Well, hopefully, it'll be the only kind of speech you'll be giving from now on." Sans hums, pausing midstride as he feels his phone vibrate in his pocket. "Just as I guessed." Sans pulls the phone out. "'Gotta take this, you guys go on and prepare." 

"A-alright, we'll be- be waiting." Alphys nods before both her and the King continue on their way. Sans steps into a separate hall, decorated in large yellow flowers. Sans leans against one of the posts before tapping the answer button.

"OH MY GOD, SANS! YOU WERE ON TV!" Papyrus's voice screeches through the phone, sounding more like a dying bird than words, Sans understood the words through practised ease.

"yep." He answers nonchalantly.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME YOU WERE WORKING WITH DOCTOR ALPHYS!? WHEN DID YOU GET BACK INTO SCIENCE!?" Papyrus was losing his marbles, and Sans couldn't help but laugh.

"YEAH SQUIRT! SINCE WHEN WERE YOU SUCH A BRAINIAC!?" Undyne jumps into the conversation.

"since forever." He answers, this only causes more havoc along with a barrage of other questions. The conversation flowed, Sans did his best to respond in short, vague answers which annoyed every bone in his brother's body.
Undyne's relentless shouting and growing annoyance led to the phone call cutting out, Sans guessed that she'd crushed the phone.
Sans didn't have time to wait, before the speech, Asgore, Alphys and Sans had planned the course of action.
The only worry was the unknown length of time Sans would be able to hold the portal open, either way, they made sure to move everyone as fast as possible.
Papyrus had already begun to pack, but one room Sans would have to do himself.

He quickly checked up with Alphys and Asgore before heading back to Snowdin, walking through the town wasn't an option. Sans knew he'd probably be swarmed if anyone saw him, so he did what he does best, he took a shortcut.
He landed just at the door of his lab, using his silver key to unlock the well-hidden door before stepping in.

The fresh smell of cleaning products and burnt metal floats pungently in the air, a familiar smell and a welcome one. Sans goes through his draws, rolling up blueprints securing papers and shoving them into bags.
He holds the photo album in his hands, smiling at the old photos. Friends he'd made while working at the lab.
They weren't themselves anymore, Sans had seen them in only a few resets, but their dialogue was set. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get more than what he already knew. Fragments, they were fragments of who they used to be, the lives they were taken away from and the people they cared for.
To anyone else, they didn't exist. No one remembered them, no one besides Sans and Gaster.

Sans turned to the machine, lifting the tarp hiding the mechanism. He'd never gotten the chance to finish it, once the resets began, all the progress he'd made was gone. But once he went back, if he went back, he'd be able to finish it. 
Sans had started on the project shortly after the accident, it was only about a year after that the resets interfered with his work. At that time, he'd fallen into doubt, if he should even bother? Why make it work?
But now, he came to terms with it. He was going to finish the machine.

"How the hell am I gonna move this." Sans muttered to himself. "Eh, I'll just come back for it." He nodded to himself. Sans placed the bag down before lying on the cool, tiled floor. He stared up at the ceiling, eyes wandering over the patterns, indents, smoke and burns painting the white paint.
The quiet buzzing of the lights, the subtle flicker. The stillness brought on a quietness that Sans had missed.

The rise and fall of his chest.

The slow breaths in and out.

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

Relief.

He was almost finished.

He'd almost done everything he'd set out to do.

All he needed to do now was get everyone back safely, then he'll be free.

A/N:
Helloooo peoplezz! Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Now, do you think this is the calm before the storm, or do you think luck is on our side? Guess you'll have to wait.