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]

"Stone! What are-! Stop--!"

Ezekiel manages to roll out of the way and evade the first two punches but then Stone is all over him, giving him one hell of a beating. At first he's desperately trying to fend him off, but Jake hits him again and again and eventually all he can do is curl up and bring his arms up in an attempt to protect his head, muffling his surprised cries. He's too stunned by the turn of events to even feel the hurt at this point.

He doesn't understand.

"Okay! Okay alright, I'll tell you, I'll tell you!" he eventually cries out.

"Wait." Flynn's voice breaks through the haze of pain. "Stone, give him a break, I want to hear this."

And then the punches stop and Ezekiel crawls backwards, trying to get some distance between himself and Jake. He's panting, eyes wide and panicked and this time when he brings his hand up to his face it comes back red. "I-I used the video game to distract him! To get to the flowers! I destroyed at least a dozen of them!"

There's a moment of silence and a flash of rare surprise on Flynn's face before his eyes narrow. "Why didn't you tell me right away?"

Right, the tattoos. Suddenly terror washes over Ezekiel because with what is happening right now (what is happening right now?!) Flynn can't-- Stone can't-- they can't know they're not working on him. "I-I just wanted to brag, you know, make a big reveal." He points at Stone. His hand is shaking. "What did you do to him!?"

"Me?" Flynn's eyebrows shoot up. "I didn't do anything. Maybe you should take some responsibility for your actions? Really now, Jones." He tsks, sounding almost disappointed. "Did you ditch Stone to go hang out with your Celestial friend? Did you think working for him is maybe more rewarding? Or... maybe that's not it? Maybe you wanted to wait until Stone is gone to tell me how you destroyed more flowers than him?"

"I would never!" Ezekiel yells back, real anger making its way through the pretense. His eyes drift back to Stone, his voice turning softer, more pleading. "I-I would never."

"And yet you just lied to us again. Ezekiel Jones, always lying, always looking out for himself." Flynn's eyes dart over to Jacob. "You know, maybe it's no surprise he got along so well with the egomanic being that's trying to destroy our planet."

Okay, that actually hurts. "I was distracting him!"

Flynn ignores him. "Maybe we should teach him a little lesson. Show him that we don't take kindly to people who try to hurt Earth."

"I wasn't trying to hurt Earth!!"

[bookbrawler]

When Flynn gives the command to stop, Jacob pants, looking down at his fists. He's used to fighting, but his knuckles ache, fighting bare-handed like this, he should grabbed his gloves or a wrap. Stupid Ezekiel, now he's gonna have to tend to that later.

He's getting more and more agitated as Flynn suggests that maybe Jones became actual friends with that megalomaniac--it made sense, didn't it? So much sense.

"You probably liked him better than us. You would be friends with him, wouldn't you? Since he gave you pizza and all. Is that what it takes to get your loyalty? Pizza?!" Jacob's so infuriated he can hardly stand it. He hates Jones so much. It shows on his face, and the way he's clenching his fists tightly still, his stiff body language. "That's your price? After everything we've been through?!"

"Now I see what a lying traitor you are," he growls. "I never saw it before, but now it's so obvious, isn't it?"

He nods at Flynn. Who actually cares about protecting the damn planet!

"I think we should. It's the least he deserves"

[lonebrarian]

He doesn't know what's more exciting - the unrestrained hatred Stone is radiating or the effect it is having on Jones; the way his usual obnoxious mask of self-importance crumbles. His smug attitude has been bothering Flynn for a while now and it's about time he did something about it.

He can read Ezekiel like a book, the way his eyes dart back and forth between him and Stone, so confused and afraid. 'No, he doesn't mean that? He can't mean that! It's Flynn, somehow it's Flynn, it's the tattoos. But the tattoos are dark and inactive.'

Flynn smiles. Jones has no idea what's coming for him.

He isn't stupid. He knows these two have been plotting and planning against him. Would keep doing so and he has no interest in letting them go on with their notions of a mutiny. No, no, today is going to mark the end of their dumb little friendship, once and for all. Flynn is going to shatter it into a billion little pieces.

"I think you're right." And because he can't wait to see what that will do to Jones' face, "What do you think we should do to him? What's appropriate for a traitor like him?"

[bookbrawler]

What do you think we should do to him? What's appropriate for a traitor like him?

"Well, treason usually results in execution." Stone says this a-matter-of-factly. "Thing is, it'd be a waste. We want him to know exactly what he's done, and regret it."

He fixes his gaze on Jones, his face revealing all too well exactly how furious he is with him.

How could you do this to me? To us? To the earth?

"It needs to be somethin' bad. Somethin' that'll make him regret every single decision he made leading up to this."

He scratches his chin.

"I think we should break his hands. Break 'em so bad he can't ever pick a lock or pickpocket ever again."

[luckythief]

"What!?" Ezekiel's voice hitches in horror and agitation. "Are you insane?! You can't!!"

"Break his hands!" Flynn's expression, on the other hand, brightens at the suggestion and he pats Stone's back amiably. "That's amazing! Who knew you had it in you?"

Ezekiel watches them, heart pounding in his chest, face pounding from the beating and Flynn is smiling at Stone like a proud parent and Stone is staring at him with so much hatred and suddenly he realizes they're serious about this. This isn't a joke. They are actually serious about this. "Y-you can't!" he stammers, trying to keep the hysteria from his voice. "You need me! And my hands! I've been to his planet and I've managed to break through his locks and-- you need me!"

"Ah, how predictable," Flynn muses with a little sing-sang. "Now comes the self-serving."

"Uh, you are literally planning to break my hands here, it's more than warranted," Ezekiel interjects. There has to be a way he can get out of this. To talk his way out of this. Think, think, think... "And I'm pretty sure at least you hate the guy up there?" He looks at Flynn as he points upwards to the ceiling. "More than the guy down here." Pointing at himself.

At least that's what he hopes.

"You need me to get the UFO back up and running. And to implement a stealth mode. And to get to the flowers. This is a space battle and it's technology and you need me!"

Please don't break my hands. Please don't break my hands.

[bookbrawler]

"Maybe you shoulda thought about how much we needed you when you decided to join team Take-Over-The-Universe!" There's no sympathy there, there's nothing but the feeling of raw betrayal and how much it hurt.

He glances over at Flynn. Honestly, as much as he's hated the guy for so long, he really doesn't seem so bad at all right now--even though there's something disconcerting about being praised by him.

Well, it didn't matter.

Jones deserved this.

"You were my friend, Jones," he growls. "We don't need you."

Even if they probably did.

[lonebrarian]

This is so much better than he anticipated. Stone coming up with the hand breaking idea himself is going to crush that big, big heart of his completely. And Jones being so... Jones-y about the entire thing and keeping it together - but Flynn can see just how much, how deeply this affects him.

It's in the details. Like the little wince when Stone says We don't need you. Really, he's on a roll! Flynn should have put that pendant on him a lot sooner.

"Hear that?" He points at Jake. "He's right. Can't let you do that again. You know in the Middle Ages they used to cut off a stealing hand? And all the things you did to us, to Stone - we really can't let this go unpunished."

But the thing is, Jones has a point. Flynn hates Peter a lot more than he hates him and they might end up needing him eventually.

"But you're right. An Ezekiel Jones without his hands is worth nothing." Another wince on Jones' face. Ah yes. He figured Ezekiel Jones thinks that about Ezekiel Jones, too. "Besides, you have a lot to make up for, don't you?"

He starts pacing up and down, musing, half to the room, half to Stone.

"Now what does Ezekiel Jones love even more than his hands? It's his freedom, isn't it?" He clasps his hands together and turns back to the two. "I know. I'll heal your hands when we need you. And only when and if we need you. And only for how long and for what we need you. And then Stone can break them again. Until you learn your lesson." He looks over at Stone, smiling. "After all we should make sure he can't go steal for anyone else. And we should really make sure that he never betrays us again."

That he never betrays and hurts you again.

[bookbrawler]

That he never betrays and hurts you again.

Good. He relaxes a little, shifting his feet, and nods at Flynn.

"I think that's a good plan." He glances back over at Jones. "It'll keep him in line, and it'll guarantee his loyalty. Which is the problem here."

Maybe...maybe this way they could be friends again.

Nah, what was he thinking? He hated Jones. They could never truly be friends again. Not after that betrayal.

But working together? He could do that. And this guarantees their safety, too.

And Jones will never hurt him again.

"Freedom and his hands. That's the price of what he's done."

[luckythief]

Ezekiel listens, mouth agape with growing horror as they're discussing something so unspeakably terrible in such an unfeeling way.

Freedom and his hands. That's the price of what he's done.

No! They can't!

"S-stop it! I didn't betray you! Stone, don't... don't listen to him, this isn't you!" He points at Flynn. "It's him! He's done something to you! We're friends, don't you remember?"

Flynn shakes his head. "And he won't even say sorry. Honestly, Jones, not even that?" He looks over at Jacob. "I think we should make him apologize."

[bookbrawler]

It's him! He's done something to you! We're friends, don't you remember?

...Flynn has done something to him. The pendant? But that didn't count. Cause he loved that thing, he wanted to put it on, even if it did do...things. He didn't mind, though, even if it did affect him. He loved it so much. He liked having a connection with Flynn, since this pendant was so great and all.

Something in Jacob's gaze falters, there's a nervous, flitting look towards Flynn before he focuses on how much he loathes Jones once again.

"How can I believe a liar like you? You'd say anything to save yourself! You think any of us can ever trust you again? And yeah, we used to be friends, but not anymore. Not after this. Not after everything I've done for you and how you've betrayed us all."

He glances back over at Flynn again, nodding. "Agreed." He punches the palm of one hand with his other fist. "What did y'have in mind? Round two?"

[lonebrarian]

Flynn smiles, watching Stone's thoughts and feelings closely, and he gives him a happy little mental nudge. He likes having a connection with you, too, buddy! Isn't it great and unique, being so close?

There's the most wonderful upset look in Jones' eyes when Stone tells him they're not friends and Flynn wonders if he's going to cry. Jones has never cried in front of them and his eyes do look overly bright for a second.

But then he presses his lips to a defiant, firm line and stumbles to his feet, backing off. Good. If it were easy it would be boring.

"Yes. I'll leave it to you. You're the one he really hurt, you're the one he should be apologizing to. And it looks like he'll need to learn a little respect before he can take his punishment."

Ezekiel grits his teeth but Flynn can see the growing despair and panic he's trying to keep under control. "Oh my God, will you guys stop talking like complete psychopaths! Who are you, the Bates brothers?"

[bookbrawler]

It is great and unique being so close! He's downright happy about it too, man. It's a weird sort of connection being this close, but Jacob wonders why he hasn't thought about doing it sooner. It's super effective, too. Look how well they were working off of each other! Such great teamwork.

"Got it. One apology coming right up." There's a pause, though, cause seriously, Jones? "You'd know all about psychopaths, wouldn't you, Jones? Since you're best friends with one and all?"

He takes a few steps forward, gaining speed and reaching out to see if he can grab him by the shirt and give him another round of punches.

[luckythief]

"I was doing my job!"

The beating left a mark and he's panting but he's still quick enough to dance out of the way. He can't let Jake get to him, he just... can't.

"You want an apology? Fine! I'm sorry the crazy space megalomaniac didn't horrifically torture me like you two are apparently super into! I'm sorry I did the whole Librarian thing of actually using my head to stop him from destroying more planets because Flynn here--" Angry finger pointing? Angry finger pointing. "--is a jerk and can't get his head out of his own crazy!"

He tries to keep on his feet and out of reach, keeping an eye on Jake's movements. If only he knew what Flynn did to him! Maybe if he can knock Flynn out...

[bookbrawler]

Jones is infuriatingly fast and agile, but he tries to lunge for him again. Stone is telegraphing his body language quite obviously, his lack of calm making his movements obvious, his training falling to the wayside. He's keeps trying to lunge for and grab Jones's shirt if he can get close enough.

"There is no way you woulda gotten out of there unscathed if you didn't promise him something, if you didn't betray us! At least that jerk--" he points to Flynn. "Actually cares about protecting this place! Something you apparently don't know a thing about!"

[luckythief]

"What? Are you even listening to yourself!?" He's getting tired. Ezekiel knows his own body inside out and he knows that he can't keep this up for long. He needs to do something NOW.

With every sidestep he tries to position himself closer to Flynn and then, suddenly, lunges at him. Flynn laughs, clearly having anticipated the move, and the tattoos glow -- but this time Ezekiel ignores them and throws a punch. There are two seconds of utter satisfaction when a baffled expression crosses Flynn's stupid smug face and he stumbles back, clutching his nose with a surprised yelp.

But Ezekiel is tired and there's not enough power behind the punch. It didn't hit quite right, too, and then cold fury explodes on Flynn's face and no, Ezekiel has to hurry, he has to knock him out before Stone gets to him and--

"Excalibur!"

--and then suddenly there's Cal, with a sad whine and trembling unhappily but obeying Flynn's command, his blade at Ezekiel's chin. He freezes. Oh no.

Oh no, oh no, no.

For a moment, everything is dead silent.

"Well, well, well," Flynn then says with a voice that makes Ezekiel's blood turn to ice. He wipes at his bleeding nose and steps in close, staring Ezekiel down, his eyes burning, an unspoken promise passing between them. I'll make you pay for this.

Then the corner of his mouth lifts, and Ezekiel would never, ever have thought he could look so cruel. Flynn moves away from him, leaving an opening for Jake. "Isn't that interesting. Looks like there's another thing Jones forgot to mention to you, Stone."

With Cal at his neck, all Ezekiel can do is clench his fists in helpless rage. "It's not... like that."

[bookbrawler]

Stone freezes when Ezekiel suddenly punches Flynn. It's a moment of sheer confusion, it shouldn't be possible with the tattoos, much less with them glowing. He takes a step forward but suddenly Cal is there, at Jones' throat.

There's a look of dawning realization on Jacob's face as Flynn wipes his nose and speaks.

"...y...you...they don't work on you?"

His voice is tinged with the hurt of betrayal. "They don't work on you?!"

And you never told him.

Well, if there were any doubts before, there aren't any now. His betrayal is so all-encompassing, so complete...

Careful to mind Excalibur at his neck, Jacob reaches over to try to grab at Ezekiel's collar.

His face is nothing but boiling rage.

[luckythief]

"It's not like that!"

Ezekiel's eyes widen when Stone grabs him. He tries to evade him but with Cal so close it's impossible and then his shirt crumples in Stone's fist and his hands come up to push at his arm.

"I didn't want him to know! I was just playing along to find a way to get them off of you!" A part of him already fears it's pointless, that Stone won't listen now but for some reason Ezekiel needs him to know anyway. Needs to at least try.

"I was trying to save you!"

[bookbrawler]

I was trying to save you!

Jacob falters. He almost lets go of the shirt when Ezekiel pushes, but he doesn't. Instead, that one half second bloom of hope is replaced by even more hurt.

"You'd say anything to save yourself!"

He tries to shake him violently. "YOU WERE MY FRIEND!"

He looks over to Flynn. "I need a hammer."

[lonebrarian]

Flynn is more than happy to oblige because Ezekiel has crossed a line here and now it's personal because how dare he. That impudent little street rat, how dare he lay his hands on him?! Flynn is above them, so above them all and this defiance is unacceptable! The only thing that placates him a little is the utter betrayal in Stone's voice and the way Flynn can now use this against Ezekiel.

"One hammer coming right up."

He conjures it up dramatically, handing it over in a grand gesture, and finally Jones' strained control slips away. The way Stone doesn't say what he's going to do to him but just asks for the tool causes panic take over and he struggles wildly in his grip, trying to get away. "No! Nonono, don't, you can't, Stone, you can't!"

[bookbrawler]

Jacob takes the hammer, setting his jaw as he gets a good grip on it with his other hand.

"Oh, I can."

He tries to shove Ezekiel up against the nearest wall, still minding Cal, and lets go of his shirt, attempting to grab one wrist and slam it against the wall.

[luckythief]

And that's where Ezekiel loses it, really loses it, because no, he can't. He doesn't even pay attention to Cal anymore, his free hand lashing out wildly at Stone's face, trying to poke at an eye, and he's kicking his shin hard, rationality going out the window, fairness going out the window.

"No! Let me go!!"

His mind is reeling with break 'em so bad he can't ever pick a lock or pickpocket ever again and he needs to get away from them, needs to get away NOW, everything in him is screaming to get away.

He's turning, trying to create momentum and throw his friend off-balance, break free from his grasp, he's trying to stomp on toes, and even bite at the arm pinning his wrist. They're his hands and there's no trick too dirty here. He'll fight with all the little strength he has left.

[bookbrawler]

Jacob growls in frustration when he gets something hitting his eye, he tries to block the hit as his shin, but he tries harder to shove Ezekiel against the wall. And there's stomping on his toes and--

"You're bitin' me?! What the hell man?!" Stone is even more pissed now and he jerks his hammer-wielding hand instinctively, but then he does his best to throw all his weight at Jones, attempting to shove his elbow up into his solar plexus to knock the wind out of him.

[luckythief]

There's not much he can do against Jake's advantage of weight and muscle. He's thrown back and then Stone's elbow connects with his mid-section and suddenly all the air just goes OUT of him.

Ezekiel's eyes widen, his knees buckle and then he goes down, sliding down the wall into a sitting positiong while struggling to get a breath in, the fight leaving him.

No, no, no, no, no...

[bookbrawler]

He's down--

Jacob doesn't wait another second.

He crouches down, ignoring the various protests of pain his body is giving; and attempts to shove one of Ezekiel's wrists up against the wall. With the precision of someone who knew his way around manual labor, he aims the hammer for the middle of his hand, towards his knuckles.

cw broken bones

[luckythief]

He tries to move, to do something, anything, but all he can do is wheeze helplessly, his body refusing to obey as Jake grabs his wrist and pins it above his head. Ezekiel manages one last pleading look

no please don't

and then the hammer hits with a horrific breaking sound and Ezekiel screams, raw and soul-churning and pure pain. Tears spring to his eyes and he gasps for air, the shock like a stab to his face and Stone is doing this to him.

Stone is really doing this to him.