PART 1:
Since the attempts at getting a cure for Wendy failed, Dipper has since turned to studying what magic is, trying to undo the curse at its source. Practicing in his alone time at night, he has been able to make good progress at casting spells and crating objects, though he is far from finding a cure. In addition to this has been training, and the lack of sleep he has experienced is taking its toll.
Not doing so well at the day's training, he collapses to the ground, Mabel and Arline telling him how tired he looks. Arline tells him to get some sleep as he moves out of the way, Mabel taking his place. Arline lights her arms on fire as they get into fighting positions, but Zander shows up before either can make a move.
Arline asks Zander what he wants, keeping the flames on her arms until Mabel gives her a look. Zander asks Mabel if he said something to make Arline mad at him, Mabel saying her Master is tired as they all move to the porch. Yuki comes out, also looking exhausted, but he brushes it off as bad dreams. Dipper asks if Bill ever showed up, telling Yuki to let them know if he ever does.
Stan comes out and tells Yuki he can have a five minute break before noticing Zander. Soos comes outside and gets between Stan and Zander, offering the latter a free tour. Stan yells at him and he raises the price to twenty bucks, Zander offering a hundred. Before they can organize a tour, Mabel decides they need to do a big group picture, running inside to get a camera and tell Wendy to come out.
They all start getting themselves positioned at the edge of the woods, Mabel directing everyone to the best spot. Planning for her and Dipper to switch out to get pics of everyone, a car pulls up, a dark-skinned, older man in an expensive suit with a bow-tie climbing out. He offers to take the photo for Mabel, who joins everyone else, Zander staring at the man in shock, most of the others suspicious about who the guy is.
The photo is taken, Mabel saying it's perfect as Dipper introduces everyone to Omir Steindorf. As Stan makes choking sounds, Zander hugs Omir, refusing the handshake, acting even happier than normal. Recovering, Stan offers the two of them a tour, or subscriptions to a fake magazine that they will run at 100K a year. Omir stares at him for several second before asking to speak to the twins alone.
They tell him to say it in front of everyone, saying they don't keep secrets or lie, though Yuki blushes. Omir tells them he wants them to help him capture Graupner Kinley. He says that he sees potential in the town, but with Kinley causing havoc and the police being useless, and the twins & company being the only ones who have been able to get in the way, he has come to them to help him capture Kinley and get the town on the map.
Dipper agrees for himself and Mabel, Wendy and Soos offering their services as well. Omir turns them, and everyone except Zander down, saying he doesn't know anything about anyone else and doesn't want wildcards getting in the way, looking at Yuki on this. Zander agrees to go, Stan giving the twins permission, though Arline an dthe twins try to get Omir to let her come. Omir continues to turn her down, a furious Arline telling Zander to protect the twins. The four of them get into Omir's car, Zander still slightly uncomfortable around Omir as he drives them to the middle of town.
Dipper suggests starting at the library, the group heading in as he and Mabel tell Omir what they know about Kinley. Omir reacts on hearing Kinley calls himself Warlock, and both he and Zander react upon hearing that there might be someone helping him. Opening the bookcase passage, Dipper tells Omir that they know Kinley is looking for something before turning right and getting a face full of dirt wall.
The twins explain about Montana Jeffreys and the cave in they caused, but the new wall is too smooth to be caused by a cave-in. Frustrated at the road block, Dipper leads the group down the unexplored left passage, arriving in a small chamber with fresh boxes. Opening the boxes quickly, they are met with the sight of hundred of glass beakers, no different than the ones seen in science labs.
On top of one crate is a vial with a strand in it. Mabel identifies the strand as werewolf hair as Dipper opens the box, revealing small pieces of machinery. Under the crate is a pile of papers, which Dipper pulls out. The top paper is a cryptogram, Zander identifying everything else as bulk orders. Pocketing the cryptogram, Dipper notices the logo on all of the boxes- Omir's company logo.
Omir realizes that in the past decade his company has made a lot of money off of construction equipment. Mabel realizes where the Warlock could have taken everything- his hideout by the dump where he captured Dipper the first time they met. Running out of the tunnels and through the library, they get back into Omir's car, Dipper directing him to the Junkyard.
Passing McGucket, Mabel uses the banana-peel button to open the entrance to the hideout, Zander commenting to Omir that Kinley must have one heck of a budget as they all walk down the tunnel. As Mabel gives Zander and Omir a tour, Dipper stares at the place the Warlock cut into his arm almost two months ago, not entirely comfortable being back. On the rock is a note, Dipper picking it up before Mabel yells at him.
Mabel asks him what happened with the detection spell the Warlock failed, Omir wandering from the group. Dipper remembers that he had said something about interference from other power signatures, he and Mabel putting two and two together quicker than Zander can keep up with. They realize that Yuki and the Animus were probably the interference mentioned, and the only other thing in town they know about with as much power as the Animus is the Portal. And with Bill having asked them to leave town, they come to the conclusion that the Warlock is after the Portal, but as he hasn't attacked the Manor yet, he doesn't know where it is.
From a distance, Omir asks them what they figured out, but Zander mentions the note in Dipper's hand. Unfolding it, Dipper begins reading the note addresses to them, stopping on the words I want to say an official farewell. Spinning around in horror, Dipper notices something letting off a red flashing light, wire leading from the device to a dozen sticks of dynamite. He has just enough time to say his sisters name before the dynamite explodes, the Warlock having beaten them to the punch.
PART 2:
Dazed and with ears ringing, Dipper notices an unconscious Mabel beside him, the explosions still happening around the cave. Remembering everything in a heartbeat, Dipper crawls over the unsteady ground to his sister, a cut on her forehead. Calling for help, Dipper sees Omir standing up, unable to put weight on one leg. He attempts to help Dipper, but his bad leg and the ground splitting below him causes him to fall again.
Someone grabs Dipper from behind and starts leading him out of the collapsing cave. Zander runs past Dipper and McGucket and picks up Mabel, carrying her out of the tunnels. The four of them get outside, Zander dropping Mabel into Dipper's arms before turning back to the still exploding tunnel to help Omir. Before he can enter, the tunnel collapses, half of the junkyard following shortly after.
Zander tells McGucket to leave so he doesn't get blamed before taking Mabel away from Dipper again, the two of them running into the woods. His rage at Graupner messing with his breathing, Zander calls a halt in a small clearing, Dipper yelling about the Warlock trying to kill them and more than likely killing Omir in the process. Determined to kill the Warlock the next time they meet, a weak voice tells him to calm down.
Mabel opens her eyes, feeling like she came back from Hell again, but alive. Realizing Zander is carrying her, Mabel refuses to walk, but Zander puts her down anyway. Realizing they are outside, she looks down into town at what is left of the junkyard, Dipper telling her they walked into an ambush. He says that Graupner rigged explosives to go off, Zander saying he saw a Steindorf Company sensor when he ran to get McGucket to help them.
Dipper realizes he still has the note in his hand, forgotten after everything exploded. Reading it, Kinley says that he's tired of being in the shadows and has moved on to a new location. He then tells the twins that if they stay out of his way, he won't hurt them. But if they interfere again, what just happened is a warning compared to what real magic power can do.
Telling Mabel and Zander about the 'warning,' Zander tells them to go home, the twins refusing. Zander tells them that Kinley is a genuine murderer now, shocked they still want to go after him, but the twins insist. Realizing he won't be able to stop them, he can at least make sure they are okay. Mabel then realizes that Omir isn't with them, all three taking a moment of silence.
Dipper mention the note saying Kinley is no longer hiding in the shadows, the twins guessing that means he's somewhere high up. Zander points to the top of the hill, the twins recognizing the building as Gideon's old Warehouse. After a half hour of climbing, they open the surprisingly unrusty doors to find the building unoccupied except for a few Gideon plush dolls and old boxes.
Zander and Mabel start examining the boxes as Dipper eyes the catwalk near the ceiling. Seeing another blinking red light, Dipper sees that it is a functioning security camera. Climbing the spiral staircase, he enters the security office, the system still up and running effectively. Deciding to go through the tapes and them inform Mabel and Zander, he begins rewinding the footage.
Downstairs, Zander tells Mabel the building is probably not booby-trapped, not having seen any motion sensors like in the cave. Mabel comments that he knows everything, but Zander says he can't cook. Mabel offers to teach him, but he coldly turns her down, the first time he has ever used that tone with anyone.
Zander apologizes, sitting on a crate, saying he wasn't expecting this today. Mabel agrees with his statement, getting a weird reaction from him. Zander says the cave-in caused bad memories to be brought back up, solidly telling Mabel that he doesn't want to talk about it. Apologizing again, he asks for a moment alone, Mabel walking away but eyeing him with concern. His pained appearance reminds her of Grunkle Stan's back when he was hiding the Portal, but she is confident he isn't hiding anything. Turning away, she calls him over when she sees a bag full of papers hidden between two crates.
Back upstairs, Dipper is unable to focus on the footage, debating how long it will take for Omir's body to be found and the junkyard to get cleaned up. Deciding that the latter will probably never happen, Dipper looks back at the footage to see someone walking out backwards. Playing it forwards at normal speed, Dipper watches as Yuki enters the building,a newspaper in hand, the time stamp from right around the time the Djinn showed up.
The Warlock comes out of the shadows of the building, Dipper cursing the lack of audio on the tapes. Fast forwarding through the conversation, Dipper realizes how jumpy Yuki has been lately. He pauses the footage when Yuki and the Warlock shake hands, staring at the image in shock. Fast-forwarding through the rest of the footage, Dipper watches as every night, Yuki and the Warlock meet, slowly becoming comfortable around each other.
The door opens behind him, Mabel and Zander walking in, the former holding a bag from the Manor. She says she thinks Yuki has been here before noticing the video, Yuki and the Warlock on screen. Dipper looks in the bag and sees job advertisements, his brain making the connection between their attempts to capture the Warlock and hitting roadblocks every time.
Mabel tells Dipper Yuki wouldn't do that, but Dipper reminds her they've only known him two months. Zander clears his throat, but Dipper says he's okay before yelling that people are liars, angrily watching as Yuki and the Warlock meet yet again, just last night. Zander says that they should talk to Yuki before jumping to the conclusions that Yuki is a mole, the twins agreeing. Dipper angry and Mabel nervous and doubtful, the three of them begin walking back to the Manor.
The building in sight, Dipper gets ahead of Mabel and Zander, walking in several paces before them. Seeing the damage, Wendy calls Stan in as she pulls out her first aid stuff. dipper asks her where Yuki is, Wendy muttering that he's probably inside somewhere. Dipper walks out as Stan comes in, both turning to Mabel to get answers. Mabel says there was an ambush before Stan notices that Omir isn't present, awkward silence presenting itself.
From deeper in the building, Dipper screams and comes back into the gift shop, his notes on curing Wendy having disappeared. Dipper demands to know where Yuki is, Stan taking a step back as he says Yuki went out a while ago. Wendy tries to get him cleaned up, but Dipper refuses as the door to the Gift Shop opens. Holding a bag identical to the one Mabel found, Yuki enters the room, a terrified look on his face as he sees everyone staring at him.
Dipper shoves Yuki into the wall, pinning him in place as he attempts to punch him in the gut. Everyone else, Soos now included, pull Dipper away, shouting about betrayal and making deals. Stan jumps to Yuki's defense, but when Yuki doesn't refuse the statements, Stan wavers, asking Yuki to deny the claims. Mabel asks Yuki if he made a deal with the Warlock, Soos, Wendy and Stan staring at him in shock. Dipper and Stan practically beg Yuki to tell them it was a misunderstanding, but Yuki stays silent, confirming that it was real.
Stuttering, Mabel explains about the cave being booby-trapped and loosing Omir and discovering the warehouse security tapes, Yuki shaking his head and putting it in his hands with every bit of bad news. Mabel drops the bag with job advertisements before asking Yuki what's in the bag he has. Guilty, he opens the bag, revealing Dipper's notes. Dipper demands to know why, but Yuki says he can't say, that he made a promise.
Five of the people present begin yelling at him, demanding answers. Stan however has become deadly calm, and cuts through the noise, telling Yuki that he will be kicked out if he doesn't start talking, getting as close as humanly possible to the Alien. Arline enters the gift shop, staring at the scene. She begins to ask what happened, Stan hollering that they'll explain later before telling Yuki it's his last chance to talk. Yuki refuses, Stan chuckling darkly, saying that that makes things easier.
Stan grabs Yuki and lifts him up, carries him to the door and literally kicks him out of the Manor, furious that after taking him into his and his brother's home, he made a deal with the bad guy. Yuki says what he did wasn't meant to hurt them, asking Dipper to see sense. Dipper mentions Yuki taking his notes and how Warlock knew where they would be. Tearfully, Yuki says that latter wasn't him before turning to Mabel, begging her to help him. As much as Mabel wants to comfort him, she just walks back inside, sealing his fate. Stan tells Yuki to forget about ever coming back to the Manor. He goes inside for a few seconds then tosses the bags and Yuki's spacesuit on the ground in front of him, telling him he doesn't know what it means to be human before slamming the door on his way inside. Dipper tells Yuki he lied to them, but Yuki says it's not what he thinks. Dipper tells him to just leave, Yuki picking up the things on the ground and complying.
Dipper goes back inside, Stan moving his guns around, everyone else openly crying or staring in sombre silence. Zander awkwardly says he's gonna leave as Dipper walks through the Gift Shop, wondering why Yuki did what he did. Entering the attic, he sees Mabel deep in Sweater Town, crying her eyes out, Dipper realizing that despite everything, they lost a friend. Fighting back tears of his own, Dipper sits on his bed, feeling a piece of paper in his pocket.
Pulling out the forgotten cryptogram, he pulls out a Vigenere chart and begins the process of decoding the message. His first guess- Warlock- turns up nothing. The second guess- portal- is not much better, but it is closer. Mabel asks him what he is doing, and he tells her he's trying to figure out what everything is about. She mentions that they thought it was about the Portal, but Dipper is doubtful as portal didn't fit the code.
He then remembers what Kinley told him Warlock's wanted the first time they met- POWER. Putting it in the chart, the message gets decoded. July 28th is the final date. The supplies are gathered, and subject Alpha is ready. We will undergo operation 'Search and Destroy' at noon that day. Have all operation members in their positions. The twins stare at each other in horror, the 28th being tomorrow.
Later that night, Zander walks into his house, on the phone with Pacifica, catching her up on what happened. Walking into his kitchen, he stops short when he sees Arline staring at him, ready for a fight. Hanging up on Pacifica, he asks Arline what she wants. She asks why he decided to retire in Gravity Falls, Zander saying it reminded him of home. Arline scoffs and says that it's because he's more busy than he says. She then mentions that his fridge is full of nothing but water bottles and there is not a trace of food anywhere in the house.
Zander starts to say that he just throws everything out, but Arline punches his forehead, and he goes to the ground. Lifting him up by his scarf, she pins him to the wall, demanding to know why he retired in Gravity Falls, became friends with the twin- who are the only ones fighting the Warlock- and why he's never around when the Warlock makes a move. Zander asks to be let go, Arline yelling that while she can't defend Yuki, she has more reason to trust him over Zander.
Zander pushes Arline away from him, temporarily surprising her with his strength. She lights her arms on fire as Zander asks for a solid reason why she doesn't trust him. She says public records, telling him that, as her Master taught her. she did some background checks when he first came around. She discovered that his 'parents' came out of nowhere and his actual birth records don't exist, just enough holes in the story that she can't trust him.
Zander gives her a look that can only be described as proud before leading her upstairs, where he promises to give her answers. Leading her to his room, he bends under his bed and pulls out a manila folder, offering it to her. Extinguishing her arms, Arline takes the folder, opening it to see 30-year-old newspaper clippings, ID's from Europe, and witness protection forms. As she looks over the info, Zander says that he's out of touch with his family because of the program, but lives on stage in the spotlight because no one looks there, but the town really does remind him of home.
Closing the folder, Arline says everything seems coincidental, telling a shocked Zander that her Master told her to only trust information she gathers herself. Taking the folder with her, she says she can hack through pretty much any security program out there, and it'll only be a matter of time until she sees if the forms are official or not. She tells him that if everything checks out, she'll leave him alone, but she wants him to stay away from the twins until then.
With the threat of finishing what she started downstairs, Arline leaves Zander alone in his house. Zander glances to the contact case on the nightstand, commenting that Arline still has a thing or two to learn before walking out of his room, heading towards the secret room at the end of the hall. Entering the room, he pulls down the red curtain and reveals the map of town, hundred of new notes having been added to the pictures pinned up. Taking the picture of Uki-Dohth off of the wall, he shakes his head, commenting that that wasn't what he was expecting.
Cryptogram:
Gslhv dsl wdvoo rm wzipmvhh uli zmhdvih droo urmw lmob nliv wzipmvhh.
Those who dwell in darkness for answers will find only more darkness.
