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

[cahooted]

There's an amused ripple coming back in response at Jake's enthusiasm, coupled with affection and happiness.

I couldn't agree more. Sit tight, we're on our way! We're getting the hell out of here.

Ezekiel's eyes are wide in response, like he still can't believe it. "He did? It's... it's over? Are you sure?"

[bookbrawler]

Okay! Okay, we're gonna get it started and ready for you! Please accept all his happiness right back at you, Flynn. After what he's been through, he doesn't think he can contain it.

It's suddenly too much, and he has to pause, holding the wall for a second. He pinches the bridge of his nose, and it's a little embarrassing because he's pretty sure Flynn can probably sense him getting overwhelmed with sheer relief, but this is just a lot.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Jacob sounds thoroughly choked up. "It's over. They're coming here, gotta...gotta start this thing..."

[cahooted]

Flynn exhales, looking over at Peter. "Alright, come on. They're waiting for us at the hangar."

It's over.

"It's over," Ezekiel repeats and he shakes his head like in a daze. The thought is overwhelming, too much and he can see it mirrored in Stone because Stone looks like he's about to just... drop. "Hey... hey. Come on, why don't you sit down?" He pushes Jake on one of the chairs. "I'm gonna jumpstart this thing. I'm the UFO expert anyway."

Besides, it will give him something to do and distract him from the fact that he does not want to see Peter, like at all, ever.

[zunesareawesome]

"...yeah." Peter says shakily, with a smile. Except he's not looking forward to seeing Jones either, because that was...really, really bad and he feels terrible. But he's done as much to Flynn, and Flynn's here, so...he takes a deep breath and walks with him.

Jacob half-collapses in the chair, like he was a puppet with the strings cut. He's astonished at how tired he feels, even though it's a happy sort of tired. He had his autonomy back. He has his life back.

They have Flynn back.

"Okay...just...don't break anything. Please."

[cahooted]

Flynn pats his back amiably and walks with him, dragging his feet. God, he's exhausted. Now that it's really over the fatigue comes crashing down on him and once they're back at the Library he might just sleep for a moth.

"You know what, let's just order in. Chinese and pizza and Indian food, too, and a big box of candy and not move ever again."

Ezekiel takes off a panel and climbs into it, looking at ways to jumpstart the thing. "I think I can manage that. I'm not the one who crashed the UFO..."

[bookbrawler]

"Dude, that would be amazing!? I haven't had takeout in forever?" Well, literally forever in Peter's case, but still. "And earth candy? Oh man, you think we can get peanut M&M's? And Skittles?" Because this is what's important right now. But never moving again sounds like a plan.

Jacob glares from the chair, because-- "It wasn't a crash! It was a hard landing, I swear Jones, we ain't goin' over this again..."

[cahooted]

"Whatever you want. It's all gonna be there." Flynn smiles, leaning maybe a bit too much on Peter there but he knows he can't rest yet. Not until they're at the Library and Jenkins is around to pick up the pieces, until then he just has to keep going. "Reese's pieces too. You know about those? They're so good?"

There's just a silent coming from the vent because-- "A hard landing that sort of crashed the UFO..."

[zunesareawesome]

Peter wraps an arm around Flynn's shoulders in an attempt to help him up just in case he is too tired to go on. He knows it's possible that he could just conjure up a jet-powered chair or something but the thought of using...his powers, using the light frightens him. It's still there, it's all still there and he remembers how easy it was to succumb to thinking like a Celestial, how easy it would be to become him again.

"Uh--yeah, I love Reese's. Like from ET? They're awesome!"

And yet another indignant growl that can be heard even outside the UFO--

"It wasn't a crash! That was not in any way, shape, or form a crash of any kind!"

[cahooted]

"Yeah exactly." He stifles a yawn and slows, when the bickering voices trickle out into the hangar.

"I mean, I could always pull up the damage report from the computer when we're back..."

Flynn's lip twitches with faint amusement. "Well, some things never change, I guess."

[bookbrawler]

"Yeah?" Peter's voice betrays his nervousness as he pauses right outside the UFO, before stepping onto the ramp. It's weird because he knows them but he doesn't know them, not really, he knows Jones but he doesn't know Jones, and his head hurts because this is a lot.

"And it'd show you nothin' because I didn't crash it--"

Jacob freezes in his argument because he can sense Flynn approaching, and with that meant Quill. Even though he (now) trusts Flynn, there's still that apprehension, that maybe this was a trick somehow... "Hey--they're here."

[cahooted]

Knowing those feelings and confusions all too well, Flynn recognizes them quickly for what they are and briefly pauses to squeeze Peter's shoulder. It's alright, they can do this. Together.

"I'm pretty sure that it would come back all red, because--" They're here.

There's a pause on Ezekiel's end as well, then, "I'll get the UFO ready."

You know. Staying in here. Which has nothing to do with Peter. It's just, this UFO and its innards are pretty big and he has to move around in here a lot...

[zunesareawesome]

Peter nods when Flynn squeezes his shoulder reassuringly. They can do this. Especially after what they just went through, after all those years? Yeah, this is like, nothing?

Jacob glances back towards Ezekiel but he gets it, and his face softens. "Yeah, I'll go...and get 'em." He stands up a bit shakily, but his footing is sturdy and he goes towards the back where he's already sensed Flynn.

And there they are, Peter and Flynn. Jacob pauses, staring with wide eyes. Even though Jacob knows that it's over, it's like his body hasn't caught up yet, and suddenly he's throwing a fist at Peter's face.

It connects, and Peter staggers back--he takes the hit pretty well, but that's probably because he was...whatever he actually was.

"Seriously?" Peter rubs his jaw.

[cahooted]

Flynn can feel the intent a split second before it happens but he's too late to step in. He winces in sympathy when the hit connects. Yeah, probably should have seen that coming... He exhales, putting a hand on Jake's shoulder and gently pulling him back.

"Stone, hey, come on. Take a deep breath, it's okay, we're--"

There's a flash of light shooting out from the UFO's entrance, zapping Peter when Ezekiel snipes him with the raygun. Even if he knows the effect is only temporary, better safe than sorry.

"Whoa, whoa!" Flynn holds up his hands, stepping in front of Peter. "Guys! Come on! Can we slow it down here!"

[bookbrawler]

Jacob wasn't entirely expecting Jones to take a shot too, but now that he has, he's pretty sure that he feels the same way as he just did when he punched him. Hopefully much better, considering what he's been through.

He glances at Flynn, holding up his hands. "I'm fine, I'm calm, I'm calm--"

Peter wasn't expecting to get shot at either, and the raygun scrambles the light in his form and he flickers in and out of existence, bits of light sparking out where the raygun hit him, which hurt--

"Ow, what the hell!? Come on, man, I'm not tryin' anything here!" Look, he's been through a lot too, okay?

[cahooted]

"Alright, everybody, just-- it's been a long day! Days. Weeks. ... Existences."

Flynn puts a sympathetic hand on Peter's shoulder, holding out the other towards the UFO. "I know we're all tired and exhausted and angry and there's a lot of trauma 101 ahead of us. Let's just go home, grab a drink and a lot of rest. Enough fighting for today, please."

There's no response from the UFO but there's also no second salve of raygun attacks. "Thank you. Come on, guys, let's just... let's get out of here."

[zunesareawesome]

Peter looks worriedly at Flynn, but hey, at least he's not getting shot at anymore. Or punched. He carefully keeps his distance from Jacob, who's expression hasn't seemed to change at all and really does all this guy do is glare?

"There's some passenger seats in the back," Jake grunts as he pushes on ahead, going back to his original seat in the UFO. "Jones? Jones, come on, let's get this thing started." He makes a mock-loud whisper. "Nice shot, by the way."

[cahooted]

Flynn squeezes his shoulder comfortingly. "Give it a little time. It's gonna be fine."

Probably not for a while but eventually. It had to be. They've been through too much at this point and some point all this hurt just had to stop.

Ezekiel hesitates but eventually emerges from his hiding place, keeping a distance from the back part of the UFO. "Thanks." He looks a bit sullen but gets to work almost immediately, tinkering with some wires to start up the UFO's engine.

[bookbrawler]

Peter doesn't think that they're gonna give him much slack or time on this one, so he sticks close to Flynn.

"...yeah." He tries to offer a smile, at least. He looks over at where Jacob's sliding into the pilot's seat and starting pre-flight checks, and back over to Flynn.

"You know I'm...actually really good at flying alien spaceships, what if maybe I--"

"No." Jacob whirls around, if Flynn's picking up on his emotional state it's a big ol' N O. "I'm flyin' us back home."

Sorry, Jones, his UFO licence is still in effect.

[cahooted]

Flynn winces at the capital N O here and rubs the back of his neck. Yeah, they have some painfully awkward weeks ahead of them.

"Just... get us out of here, Stone."

Meanwhile Ezekiel isn't going to argue because he actually prefers having Jake steer the UFO than having Peter do it. Or having Peter do anything. The raygun is staying at his side and probably will for a long time to come.

Except.

He looks over at Stone. "Just remember to easy it down the hatch at a 45° angle and retract the..."