And the stars look very different today...

[zunesareawesome]

It was a way out. But it wasn't home.

Truthfully, after Norfinbury, anything would be better than that place, but the cold truth was--there was no way to find his own universe out of the endless multiverse, even if Norfinbury's busted technology had worked properly. He was stuck, here, with a megalomaniac Flynn--granted, a Flynn that managed to open up a portal out of there. Maybe that's what it took to get out of Norfinbury.

Or, Peter thought sometimes on bad days, Norfinbury only released you once you became the twisted version of yourself it wanted you to be. A specially-designed virus inflicted on countless worlds.

Besides, he ought to know something about that.

He didn't stay long on earth, he couldn't. Maybe it had something to do with the mystery of how they were revived in Norfinbury, their bodies recreated or cloned or healed, or maybe it was something that was gonna happen to him anyway, but he could feel the Light burning inside him, inside his head almost as soon as he landed. A desperate need to take to the stars. He'd managed to create a ship and took off.

Time passes, and scientists notice something odd about several exoplanets they're monitoring, especially ones marked as 'earth-like' or other planets in zones that could make them potentially habitable. Bright bursts of light and changes in the composition of the atmosphere or surface, it was inexplicable. Possible evidence of intelligent life? If they didn't know any better, especially with the rocky planets that now somehow boasted extreme changes, it was like something was terraforming them.

There was cause for alarm when Mars suddenly turned blue and green a few months later.

Meanwhile, a small blue-and-orange ship that looked suspiciously like a slightly more organic-looking Milano was racing towards the earth.

Comments

[luckythief]

I'm gonna put giant rollerblades on it.

[bookbrawler]

That's a fantastic way to break the giant statue when it inevitably falls.

[luckythief]

It's made of bronze, it is totally sturdy. I'm gonna roll it down the hill and there'll be a giant net on the bottom to catch it.

[bookbrawler]

That's never going to work! Why would you think that could possibly work!?

[luckythief]

It's totally gonna work, mate. Bonus: Giant bronze you on roller-skates going viral on youtube. The dean will pretend he's all miffed but be secretly overjoyed because it'll fly with the kids. Coolest university ever.

[Except now the statue is totally stolen, but hey.]

[bookbrawler]

...the statue would be broken and probably kill someone!

The university would already be the coolest.

[So there.]

[luckythief]

It's a sturdy statue! Like you! It won't break. Have some faith in Bronzecob.

[That's totally its name now.]

[bookbrawler]

...that's honestly the weirdest compliment I've ever got, and you can't name it Bronzecob!?

[luckythief]

You're welcome. And I just did.

Bronzecob the Bronzen. ... The Bronze? Bronzened...

[bookbrawler]

You can't name it Bronzecob the Bronzen! I'll leave it in my will!

[luckythief]

We'll go with Bronzen Bronzecob then.

[He will find a way, Stone.]

Jonesweek just got 100% more awesome!

[bookbrawler]

Do you want to be haunted? Because this is how you get haunted! Your Jonesweek is gonna get cursed!

[He's not having Bronzen Bronzecob. Not now, not ever!]

[luckythief]

We should have it on Halloween then! I'll make you a giant pumpkin head.

[bookbrawler]

You're not making me a giant pumpkin head!

[luckythief]

[Okay but what did you expect.]

It's a Jake-o'-lantern!

[bookbrawler]

[Do you want Jacob to die already because his blood pressure is this close to breaking records.]

I DON'T WANT A JAKE-O'-LANTERN!

You realize you keep doin' this and in the far future people will actually think this is where it originated from!? I don't want people thinkin' I'm the original Jack-o'-Lantern!

[luckythief]

I know, right? How badass would that be?

[He really doesn't see the issue here.]

Kids would dress up because of you! People would carve your face in their decoration!

[bookbrawler]

That would not... [He's going to take a deep breath and try to remain calm, but it's not working.] ...not be even the tiniest bit badass!?

I don't want to be a halloween costume or have my face carved in people's decorations!

[luckythief]

Why not? You'd be a celebrity!

[The biggest smile.]

I'd totally dress up as you.

[bookbrawler]

[...the longest pause.]

You'd dress up as me...as a Jack-o-Lantern.

[luckythief]

Yeah!

[And he looks genuinely excited about it.]

And I'd go into auditoriums and scare all the professors who dare to give boring lectures to students.

[bookbrawler]

...okay, I can get the scaring the professors who give boring lectures to students because that can be really discouraging to the curious mind, that's not so bad but--

--but seriously!? Why!?

[luckythief]

Because it would be so much fun.

[Because life right now isn't fun. Because nothing is fun anymore. Because this banter with Jake is the most fun he has had in – in so long that he almost forgot what it feels like. Because he's scared that over the coming centuries he will forget what it feels like.]

I'd put some sweet, sweet LEDs into the mask, too, so it'll look like your eyes are glowing and angry light is coming out of your mouth. It would be like "APPRECIATE THE DEAD PAINTERS!" and then you'd shoot lasers out of your mouth.

[bookbrawler]

[...

.........

..............

He's just going to stare for a good, long minute before--]

That would be amazing?!

[That's just the coolest sounding thing ever. See, the future's going to be great, even if he's not there with you, bro!

...right?

Even though right now he doesn't want to think about the future, think about anything, because this is also the most fun he's had in...he's not sure how long.]

[luckythief]

[Hah! He knows you so well, bro.]

I knew you'd like it!

[The biggest grin in return.]

And you know what? When the lasers hit a wall, they'll depict some famous paintings, too!