#the toppats (mostly reg) wanted henry to be part of the plan so they went to paris (where this whole this occurs) to kidnap him

[harper-dearest]

white man jumpscare

[themadauthorshatter]

YO!

Hi! 😊

I don't know about you guys, but I think it's time to catch up with our dear friends in the Toppat!Charles AU.

Part 7 was SOOO long, and I will try to pack in as much as I can without excluding an outro.

LAST TIME ON THE TOPPAT!CHARLES SHOW: (Old timey 1920's reporter voice) Terrence Suave escaped the CCC in order to find Henry and convince him to help break Reginald Copperbottom out of The Wall. Although their attempt was successful, Dmitri attacked and almost killed Henry, who was saved by his father at the last minute. Meanwhile, Charles is getting used to his place as leader, even if the reception is a little frosty.

(Back to normal) Of course, if you want the FULL background, here are the previous parts:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

With all that out of the wag, LET'S GET BACK INTO IT!!!!

CRAZY JUMPCUT WARNING, IT'S ABOUT TO GET CRAZY!!!

We open on the Toppat orbital station as Charles and Right get an emergency call from Burt: there's a broadcast coming from Earth that's just for them.

On Earth, Henry holds Reginald by his arm, tight enough to keep a hold on him yet loose enough to not bruise. So far, all they have is white noise, but a thumbs up from the general in the next room tells them that this is working.

On the orbital station, Charles and Right watch the white noise as well, but do hear a voice, wven though it's extremely garbled.

"-Arles? ...Righ- ...Man? -You hear m-?"

Back in Earth, Henry clears his throat and tries again.

"Charles? Right Hand Man? It's Henry Stickmin. Can you hear me?"

It takes a minute or so that feels like forever, but the feed becomes clear and shows Charles and Right standing side by side, Charles annoyed as all hell and Right being smug. Neither see Reginald yet because Henry is holding him just out of the camera's sight.

"'Ello again. Miss us already?"

Henry glares into the camera and signs with one hand.

Already knowing sign Charles translates, "Barely. I have a present for you, though."

Henry nods and pulls Reg into the fame, and Right's smug face drops INSTANTLY.

Reginald's time in The Wall has inded taken its toll. His hair, despite regular washing, is still insanely greasy and messy. His moustache is messy too from no time being given to care for it. He's thin, too, thinner than Terrence Suave is, thinner than CHARLES. (For context, Terrence has only lost fifteen pounds, though the augmentations make him tremendously heavy, Charles has lost about twenty-seven pounds, and Reginald has lost nearly forty pounds since his imprisonment.)

Reg gasps at seeing Right, especially the augmentations that follow Right's emotions as he leans forward and closer to the screen.

He pulls out of Henry's grip to try to get closer, even though there's a screen and millions of miles between them.

"Reg!"

"Right Hand Man!? You're alive! How!?"

Right's smile of relief turns to a snarl as he turns his attention back to Henry.

"You son of a BITCH, Stickmin!"

Henry pulls Reginald away from the screen and signs again, Charles translating for him.

"'Eye for an eye. If you want him back...'"

Charles is silent as Henry keeps signing for a little bit, giving a location to meet him.

He only glares at Henry, extremely offended.

"He wants to meet in the desert. The one close to the CCC headquarters. Where we arrested the previous leader."

Henry nods.

Right is about to speak, but Charles steps in front of him and pushes him back.

"And if we don't agree?"

Henry points a finger gun at Reginald, though the threat is pretty reluctant in his eyes. 'Execution.'

Right a mini panic and Charles smirks, especially when Right cuts in.

"Fine! Deal! We'll meet you there tomorrow! Just don't hurt him!"

Henry nods and signs, 'Tomorrow.'

With that, and a few moments of tense staring with Charles, the transmission ends.

Henry sighs and signs to the general and Ellie from behind a window, 'Now we wait.'

"What's your plan now?" Galeforce asks. "What're you going to do?"

Henry makes a rectangle with his hands and then a sort of "opening-closing" gesture.

'Box.'

ON THE TOPPAT ORBITAL STATION!!!!

Charles is roaming the halls, examining portraits of past clan leaders. He hasn't gotten his own yet, but neither has Right. He's mostly looking at Randy Radman.

"That one was one of the best leaders," Right muses from Charles's side. "Got it worse, though. 'Ad a fist fight with gold gun right there." He points to Terrence's portrait. "Knocked 'im out where he stood and made 'im fall into a propeller, back when we used the airship. I remember 'ow 'e laughed afterward. Thought 'e lost 'is marbles. Reg and I 'ad to clean 'im out a few days later."

Charles is silent when Right finishes, only coughing a little bit. After about a minute, he speaks up.

"Guess you're done with me?"

Right shrugs. "As much as I like you, I like Reg a little more."

Charles clenches a fist as Right continues.

"I'm getting 'im back and no one's stopping me. Sorry, kid, but I'm givin' you back. You've been 'ere long enough."

Charles fights the rage boiling inside of him and forces a smile. "I thought you'd kill me when I overstayed my welcome."

Right smirks back. "I like Reg even more alive. Thought crossed my mind from time to time, though."

Charles nods and leaves, claiming he's going to say goodbye to the room and cell he was in, finding some closure there.

Right looks over to Reginald's portrait and gets a sorrowful look on his face as he places a non-cybernetic hand on the painting.

"Soon. Sorry it took so long, Reg."

Back with Charles, though, he storms into his room and has an Aaron Burr "Your obedient servant" brooding moment.

He's been kidnapped, starved, beaten, tortured, and forced to join the Toppat Clan, he has pneumonia and needs to use eye drops, and now he's just being tossed around like a hot potato?

You can see why something like this would piss him off.

Unlike Henry's leadership, however, there's no one to back up Charles.

He gets to his room and throws his hat at the window and trashes his room.

After he's done and has worn himself out, he spots a gun on his desk and smiles, the greatest plan forming in his broken mind

If that's how you want to play, let's do this.

BACK ON EARTH!!!!!!

Henry is chilling in a box that can hold him comfortably, thinking out a plan of escape should the meeting go wrong.

The execution threat on Reginald seemed to work wonders, but there could be a chance Right backs out on this deal and holds on to Charles, just one of the possibilities that could happen. Ellie and Terrence will be joining them for the hostage swap, another precaution in case shit hits the fan.

Speaking if Terrence, Henry gets a knock from the outside of the box and he pops out to see his father giving him weird eyes.

"Guess... THIS is your plan?"

'It might be, if all goes wrong.'

Terrence shakes his head. "Knowing that poodle, he's not giving you any trouble, not with his master on the line."

Henry looks away from him and shakily nods.

"How're you feeling, by the way? Your hand getting better?"

Henry checks his hand, which is in a cast, and nods. 'Yeah. Just needs a little bit to heal.'

"Good." Terrence lightly smacks Heney on the head. "Smart thinking, by the way. Taking on the warrant on his own turf."

Henry winces and signs, 'It gave you guys a chance to get away.'

"And almost got YOU killed. Try saving your friend after that."

Henry nods. 'Thanks.'

"Can't let the warrant kill you before me or Bill."

The two share a smile and prepare for the meet at night.

With Reginald, he tries to make himself presentable for when he sees Right and the clan again, pinching color into his cheeks, trying to fix his hair and style his mustache by hand, and trying to dewrinkle his clothes; he has standards.

When Henry and Galeforce walk in, the general saying grouchily, "Once we get Charlie back and get you back to the clan, don't expect us to keep letting you all off the hook."

"I need time to rest myself after being locked up twice. Don't go flattering yourself."

They get some handcuffs on Reginald and get situated in a helicopter or carrier of some kind and fly off to the desert.

TIME JUMP BROUGHT TO YOU BY EIGHT HAND MAN BEING SOFT FOR REGINALD!!!!!

Charles and Right are already waiting when they see the government, Terrence, and Henry arrive with Reginald.

Ellie, Galeforce, Terrence, and Henry approach, Reg trying to hold back a smile when he sees Right in the flesh. Galeforce feels an emotional gut punch when he sees Charles, but business first.

"Evening, gentlemen."

"General." Charles says with a tip of his head; he is not wearing his top hat. "Good to see you're doing well."

Right grimaces at Terrence Suave, who gives a smirk to his fellow cyborg.

"Mr. Suave."

"Right Hand Man, old friend. How've you been? You look good. Get any new updates?"

Henry clears his throat as Ellie chides, "Focus."

Charles's gaze softens on Ellie, apologetic. "Hey, Ellie."

Ellie is quiet for a second before replying, "Um... Hey, Charles. We're here to take you home."

He hardens again, his face a mix of stoicism and anger. "After he wanted me gone, he suddenly wants me back?" He asks as he gestured to Henry.

Henry looks at the ground and shrinks under Charles's gaze, his sign barely seen. 'I'm sorry.'

Charles scoffs. "All you criminals are the same: When things don't go your way, you'll use anything and anyone you can to make it go your way."

Henry shakes his head. 'I never wanted this to happen. I made a deal with the CCC to be here, just please come back.'

Charles's angry dace breaks into shock.

'I'm sorry I didn't take the shot. I'm sorry for everything you went through, and I'm sorry I couldn't save you earlier. Please just come home.'

Right hides a smirk, Reginald gives Right, 'Really? Overboard, much?' eyes, Ellie and Terrence fight tears, and Galeforce clears his throat.

"Come on, Charlie. Let's get you home."

Charles doesn't respond for a second and remains still before gesturing to Reginald. "Let him say 'hi' to his right hand man first, then we can go."

Reg and Right are both surprised by this, but Galeforce complies, taking off Reginald's handcuffs.

Reg and Right run toward each other and meet in a very warm, tearful embrace, one with crying and one running his fingers through the other's hair, one that makes Henry and even Terrence smile; say what you will, these two make a cute couple.

In this moment, Henry notices a slight movement from Charles.

The former pilot smiles widely, teeth bare, eyes bloodshot and wide, and tears streaming down his face as he pulls a gun out from his coat and takes aim.

With a lurch, Galeforce, acting purely on instinct, goes for his own gun in his belt, Ellie backs away(Charles is one hell of a shot and she doesn't want to learn that again), Terrence reaches for Henry, and Henry darts toward Charles.

"NO!"

BANG!

MAN! Don't you just love cliff hangers? Leaves you right on the tips of your toes and gets you askimg the serious question: "WHAT THE FUCK JUST HAPPENED!?"

Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this post and I'm so sorry this took so long to post; I won't get too personal, but where I am right now isn't exactly the best for a creative mind. Hopefully that changes soon, but time will tell.

Any way, I hope you all enjoyed this part. I'm so glad I can do an outro thing for this one!!😂😅

[themadauthorshatter]

Toppat!Charles Part 12

I just realized that this series is literally 12 parts long.

Anyway, quick recap, Charles is recovering, but it's going to be a fairly slow process. He's going to have to try and speed it up because the plan to take out the Toppat Clan hinges on his guidance, or rather memory, of the orbital station. He's surrounded by people he can trust, but that does not stop his mind from turning against him.

For better context, be sure to check out the rest of the story via the links provided:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Part 11

I will be going into more detail of what happened to Charles in Part 5, so if you're sensitive to torure, I wouldn't read this. Reader discretion is advised with this one.

Triple Threat wakes up and gets ready for the day; Charles brought some clothes with him to change into and they're used to getting ready for missions together. Charles changes with his back turned to Henry and Ellie and they see how thin he's gotten while on the orbital station, seeing he barely has any muscle and most of his ribs are showing.

They stare a little too long and Charles tenses up as he's about to put on his shirt.

"You don't have to watch me. How could I have gone to the armory?"

"Charles?" Ellie asks as she taps his shoulder.

Charles quickly turns to her with a gasp and snaps out of his mini stupor.

"You okay?"

"Y-Yeah. I..." Charles gulps and nods. "I'm fine."

They finish getting ready and head out to get some breakfast in a break room.

Like the day before, a lot of soldiers can't help but stare at Charles, who's doing a great job of standing up straight and looking as 'government' as possible, even though there are a few people that whisper about how he shouldn't be back in the government and that the general should've just shot him, while others say that the general can deal with him after they take care of the Toppat Clan.

Regardless, the trio get their breakfast and eat, though Charles is seriously restraining himself from eating like a pig because he has some training to catch up on and just doesn't want to end up throwing up all the food in case he has too much.

Henry notices this and signs, 'You can go back and get more, if you want.'

"I'll... see how I feel after I finish this," Charles replies with a nod to his plate of a bagel, a muffin, some bacon, fruit, and toast- he's very glad to eat normal person food after the more extravagant, posh meals on the orbital station.

Doesn't stop him from hearing a certain someone murmur into his ear, even with the headset on.

"You're really eating food for a rat? You ate better on the orbital station, and you know it." Charles freezes and starts trembling. "Don't expect any sort of warm welcome, when you come crawling back, kid."

A hand claps onto his shoulder and Charles whips around, having the absolute day lights scared out of him.

It's just a soldier that isn't fully in the loop on the young pilot's condition; if Charles is 26 or 27, this soldier is around 35 years old.

It makes him back up a little, but paints a clear picture as to what Charles went through in his captivity.

"Oh, sorry, kid. Shouldn't have snuck up on you like that."

Charles's trembling doesn't really stop, but he does nod at him. "I-It's fine. What'd... What'd you want?"

"Just sayin' it's... really brave of you three, heading to take out the Toppats, I mean. It's about time we arrested the bastards for good."

Charles nods again and turns back to his beeakfast as Ellie replies for him, "Thanks. We kinda have a bone to pick with them, too."

The soldier nods and turns to walk away before noticing something behind Charles's freshly cut hair and headset and inspecting it, which him panic a little bit.

"W-wait! Don't!"

"Good glory, kid. What'd they do to you?"

There is a gash on the side of Charles's face very close to his hairline, going for his temple/eye to his jaw, in a mostly straight line that doesn't curve that much.

Charles covers it with his hand and turns back to his food. "I... It was a... I didn't really-"

The soldier gently places his hand on Charles's shoulder and assures him, "Hey, it's fine. They're not gonna hurt you. They're too scared to leave their little nest."

Charles nods and gives a small smile, silently thanking him.

The soldier pats his shoulder and leaves, letting Triple Threat finish their breakfast.

Time Jump to the shooting range, Henry showing and further improving his aim, something that lets Charles know that Henry plans to make good on his promise in Part 10; Charles is just watching because he and others don't trust him.

Henry and Ellie are both practicing, but Charles is watching Henry before Rupert walks in and escorts him to meet with Galeforce, a conversation he is not excited to have.

He joins him anyway, despite wanting Henry and Ellie with him, and meets up with General Galeforce, who dismisses Rupert so he and Charles can talk.

"So... You wanted to... see me?"

Galeforce is silent as he carefully approaches Charles and hugs him, shaking as he holds what is the closest thing to a son that he has.

It takes Charles absolutely by surprise as his "toppat" instincts tell him to fight and attack, so he freezes again.

"You're alright, son. You're home. I've got you."

Knowing it's the general and not Right talking, Charles returns the embrace, allowing himself to relax and calm down.

They continue to hug for a good few minutes before pulling away, Galeforce holding Charles's face to get a better look at him than before, when he informed that he, Henry, and Ellie would be tasked with taking out the Toppat orbital station.

Up close, and even the good nights' sleep he's been getting, compared to what was in the orbital station, Charles still has some bags under his eyes, courtesy of his nightmares, and his eyes aren't as badly bloodshot, though he does still have some pink where it should be white. He's thin from days of not being provided food and every now and again he coughs in his mouth, hiding it as best as he can because the general is already really worried.

"Charlie, what'd they do to you?"

Charles averts his eyes and bites his tongue.

"I know it's not going to be easy, but we're really going to need your help."

Charles backs away and walks over to the window, thinking to himself that, no, remembering the layout of the orbital station won't be easy, it will be absolutely terrible.

"You're the only one that's been on the station and knows it inside and out. Just give us an easy way go get to the core, and you'll never have to think about it again."

Charles takes a deep breath and nods before turning to Galeforce. "Okay, but promise me... Promise me Henry and Ellie will come with. I won't do it without them."

Galeforce smiles and puts a hand on his shoulder, on his upper arm. "You think I'd send anyone else?"

The two hug again, though it's shorter and when they stop, Galeforce ruffles Charles's hair and ensures him that he's going to help Charles get back into shape.

Charles gives him a chuckle and leaves to find that Ellie and Henry have been waiting in the hallway for him, Ellie standing up while Henry sitting cross-legged on the floor.

"Either, uh... either of you know when we head out?"

Ellie smiles. "As soon as we're ready for you."

Henry also grins, signing, 'We've been talking and really think you're going to like the craft we're using.'

They head to an aircraft carrier base and see their rise, a government destroyer, but coated in a material that makes it appear invisible. The tech is pretty state of the art, and Ellie and Henry can be traced by their earpieces via that same location thing on your phone.

Charles feels his new toy with a shaking hand, aaking, "How? We... We don't..."

Thought I forgot Terrence Suave? THINK AGAIN!!!

The former toppat leader struts on in with a smirk on his face and a peice of paper in his hand. "You're right. These government back washes don't have the mesns for this." He shows off that piece of paper, which is actually a return letter from Bill Bullet, who provided this invisible material. "Thankfully, someone else does."

"The orbital station's going to be really close to us tonight, so we'd better get this right on the first try," Galeforce says.

Charles nods as he takes out that drawing of the orbital station Henry did and begins to make a map for him and Ellie.

"There are vents just about everywhere on the side, but this one's closest to the core." It's a vent on the side of the station, on the bottom half of the station. "This will give you a direct path to the core."

"And this bad boy's what you two need to throw in," Rupert remarks very slyly as he shows them a bomb that's about the size of a grenade, but with a more sophisticated trigger; think a gernade with a pipe bomb detonator and you have our Chekhov's gun. "Throw this in the core and get back to the destroyer before Charles detonates it. You don't want to be anywhere near this when it and the core go off."

Henry's turn to tense up, remembering how Charles died in Valiant Hero, and makes a note to make sure history does not repeat itself.

He shakes out of it when Charles asks, "So what are we waiting for? Let's go."

The reason they haven't left yet is because they need to get to a higher point, one of the form on a hill about two days away from the base.

They saddle up, get some snacks and drinks and weapoms for the road, and head out to the hill, Triple Threat heading out in one of those spacey vans and the destroyer they're using behind them.

Before leaving, though, Terrence stops Henry.

"Make sure you pay Bullet a visit after this. And tell Reg I said, 'hi.'"

Henry nods and looks back at the two vehicles used for the mission before turning back to Terrence.

'Thank you.'

Terrence gives him a light punch on the shoulder. "If anyone's gonna screw you over, better damn well be me."

Henry nods and moves to take his seat in the van.

"Hey, Henry?"

He looks back at Terrence, who takes a breath.

"Good luck."

Henry nods as he smiles and takes his seat in the van.

Charles fidgets with his headset and shakes while Ellie rubs his back.

All three are tense during the long drive, knowing the consequences, if they screw this up, but the plan is extremely simple and they've done a lot more dangerous missions.

That doesn't stop Charles from imagining what Right will do to him, if he's caught.

He hides a cough and watches the landscape out the window of the back doors.

The first day goes by without many problems, though it's into the second night where they have problems.

Triple Threat is huddled together, sleeping for their mission, though Charles is a little fitful, dreaming he's trapped in his cell as the station explodes.

They eventually wake up and start hyping themselves for the mission.

"D'you guys think there'll be a cash reward for arresting the Toppat Clan?" Ellie ponders.

Henry lights up and gives a sort of chopping motion on his palm; 'Let's split it!'

"50-49-1," Ellie snickers. "I'll take 50, Charles gets 49, and you get whatever's left."

Henry's jaw drops as Charles and Ellie laugh.

"No, let's split it 70-25-5," Charles offers.

'Am I getting the 5?'

"No. Ellie is."

The boys do a more hand shake-esque highfive, as in they reach in like a handshake rather than winding back for the highfive, and laugh as Ellie shakes her head at them both.

"Remind me to drive and leave you both on our next mission."

"Don't leave me!" Charles semi-joking shouts as they hit a speed bump, which leads to him and Ellie falling down and Henry laughing his ass off.

They arrive shortly after and board the air craft, Charles is pretty familiar with it because the ins and outs of air crafts are essential a first language for him.

"Remember, just get to the core and get out. We'll be waiting for you back at the base. Good luck."

They give their farewells and launch into space. Ellie does get a little nervous, but she and Henry are entranced by the view of Earth from space.

Although he'll die before going through it all again, Charles has to admit that the view is quite nice.

Admiring will have to wait, because they're nearing the orbital station.

Charles gulps as he gets as close as he can, even though their craft is invisible, he doesn't want to risk anything.

Henry and Ellie suit up and, much like Valiant Hero, are sent on the side of the station by a ball of trash.

Unlike Valiant Hero, when Henry goes for the knife, Ellie catches it and cuts them a way inside and safe to breathe inside the orbital station.

Just want to note here that Henry has the bomb on his person, ready to slap it on the core and GTFO.

"Alright, the core's going to be pretty close to you guys. Just go straight and make a left in the fork."

"Got it."

Ellie and Henry get to crawling, and being lead by Charles.

They pass by the vault, but mission first, and spending time with Charles is more satisfying.

They come to another fork in the vent, but Charles doesn't respond.

"Charles? Which way do we go?"

When there's no response, Ellie tries again. "Charles, are you there?"

Henry tries Morse code to talk to him, but still nothing.

The situation does not get better when the vents get hotter and the two have to split up, Henry going left and Ellie going right.

Ellie continues her way, shuffling on her elbows and knees as to not burn herself before a vent below her is thrown open and she plummets to the floor, four or five Toppats above and surrounding her, including Reginald Copperbottom, who greets her quite warmly.

With Charles, our pilot friend is trying not to panic as he watches Henry and Ellie go further apart.

He can't tell them anything because he can't really hear them and vice versa.

Time for some technical BS that I'm making up because the station has tractor beamed Charles and the destroyer he's in and the connection between him, Ellie, and Henry has been hacked into and severed, so only he can hear who's talking to him.

It's his nightmare come true and he freezes in a cold sweat as he hears a very certain someone talk to him:

"What're you doing back 'ere, kid? Miss me that bad?"

AND THAT IS PART 12!!!!!

Things are not going well for Triple Threat, are they?

Charles is back where he started in the series, Ellie is captured, and now Henry is without a guide as he navigates the hot ass vent system.

I hope you guys enjoyed this part and Thanks for reading!!!!!!