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

[lonebrarian]

[There is a pause on Flynn's end as well.]

Really. You gonna build him a little Home, Petey? Gonna make him Run the Gauntlet a little, hmm?

[His voice is snide, sneering.]

That's not gonna work. He's not like Flynny. He'd be out before you know it and he'd probably even enjoy your stupid gauntlet game.

[Why does he say that? Why does he care?]

[zunesareawesome]

Contrary to popular belief, I didn't actually like making any of those things! They were necessary!

[And were they going to have this argument until the universe ended? Probably.]

...okay, so...wanna tell me what will get to him?

[He thinks Flynn is just being contrary, so...whatever? It still hurts to hear him refer to...his old self like that, though.]

[lonebrarian]

Yesyesyes, it was all oh so very necessary. [He waves an impatient hand.] Whatever makes you sleep better at night I guess.

[He thinks about that for a moment. Does he want to tell Peter how to get to Jones? There's some resistance to the idea, almost a reluctance.

Which of course is unacceptable, so he doubles down. That will reinforce the lock that holds back his old pathetic self and these stupid memories.]

So here's the thing. The two things Ezekiel Jones loves most in the world are Ezekiel Jones and his freedom. He's the world's greatest thief and you might be able to keep him on your planet but you won't be able to lock him up. So, spare yourself the headache.

You wanna go for a challenge, try his confidence. I don't actually think you can break through his self-assuredness but if you do, send me some proof and I will actually admit out loud I'm impressed.

But in general... Change your angle. Don't try to make him stop caring about the mortals, that's a Flynny approach. Instead, make him start caring what you care about. Maybe some good old conditioning, that might do the trick. Make him want to do something he hates. Until he forgets he hates it.

[zunesareawesome]

[There's a whistle.]

Man, you are good at being bad. That's downright malicious.

[Yeah, he misses the old Flynn but this guy was just something else sometimes.]

I like it.

[lonebrarian]

[He shrugs as if to say genius, what can you do.]

Let me know how it goes. I want to keep his friend posted.

[zunesareawesome]

[W o w, bro.]

That's even more downright malicious. Cruel, even.

[lonebrarian]

[Now that just gets you a look, Peter.]

You make it sound like such a bad thing. ... Well. I guess it is a bad thing. [He grins.]

And don't underestimate yourself. I know you. When you really get into things? I have nothing on you.

[Worst pep talk ever?]

[zunesareawesome]

...no way, man. [Denial!]

You've done pretty well for yourself lately. And by well I mean terrible. And by terrible, I mean great?

[Best pep talk ever?]