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

[bookbrawler]

Wh...what?

He tries to visualize a brick wall between himself and the other Flynn, hoping that would slow him down. If he can get to this Flynn? The real Flynn? That just might do it.

He kicks harder and harder at it, and then gets an idea. Maybe it'll work again--his memories aren't the greatest but he tries to find something, something good that he remembers of Flynn. Of being his friend. And now that he has a chance to save him--that maybe he's not gone forever--he tries to imagine Flynn's love for the Library--all of their love for the Library, and how he was never gonna leave any of them behind.

Come on!

He kicks the doorknob with all his mental might.

[cahooted]

And then there's Flynn again and he winces back from the door in surprise when it breaks open.

He looks different, younger (a lot younger) but despite everything his lips curl in a surprised huh expression, looking at the 'door'. Well, that works?

[bookbrawler]

...Jacob's not entirely sure what he's expecting, but he's seeing a much younger Flynn?

But hey--whatever works! He did it! He feels strange, being this triumphant--he hasn't had much to celebrate in a long, long time.

Hey--I'm gonna get you outta here and then you and me can go get Jones, okay?

He motions for him to come through the door.

[cahooted]

Jake, you don't have to tell him twice. As soon as that door opens the young Flynn is out of there – which prompts another uproar from the jailer.

Thank you. ... I really think we should go.

[bookbrawler]

Let's go!

There's a pause once they're clear of the door. He turns to Flynn.

This may come as a surprise to you but I don't actually really know what I'm doin'? I'm just flyin' by the seat of my pants here. How are you gonna beat him?

[cahooted]

Flynn looks back at him and there is a bit of an awkward pause.

Still working on that.

[bookbrawler]

Oh, man.

Uh...well, you need any help?

He glances around, hoping they wouldn't be jumped by--his evil self.

[cahooted]

I wouldn't say no. I'm, uh, I'm sorry he's such a jerk, by the way.

He looks back at the prison door behind him.

Maybe we can...

[bookbrawler]

Yeah, he...is...he's a major jerk.

He catches sight of what Flynn's alluding to and a grin escapes him. He claps his metaphorical hands together.

Perfect! Do you mind being the bait? Lure him over here?

[cahooted]

Actually? Very much. He grins lopsidedly in return. Let's do it.

The decision comes just in time because suddenly there's an uproar in the mental sphere and then they can feel the other approach. Flynn pushes forward, trying to keep Jacob out of the way and meet his evil self head on.

Oh, come on, did you really think you could keep me locked up there forever? You're just a glitch! Nothing but the last remnants of Norfinbury! You're gonna fade over time!

I am the one who got us OUT of Norfinbury! I deserve this life!

You deserve to go back there!!

[bookbrawler]

Jacob's immediately on guard and feeling the other Flynn approach fills him with a familiar fear and dread.

Think of Jones. Gotta save Jones.

He moves to the side, ready to pounce the moment there was an opportunity. He's watching in fascination, two halves of the same man battling for control.

[cahooted]

And then the conversation ends when the two minds start clashing. It's clear that this Flynn isn't as experienced a fighter and he stumbles backwards, ducking the sudden onslaught of attacks from the enraged other. But there's a certain attitude to it, a strategy to navigating the room and getting his evil self closer to the door.

I'm gonna get rid of you once and for all. You're pathetic!

That's what Wilde used to say. Remember how THAT ended?

You mean your ridiculous beginner's luck? There's no giant capstone to help you out this time.

Flynn smiles. Oh, I got something better.

[bookbrawler]

Stone's worried, when he feels the minds clashing and the good Flynn stumbling, his heart catches in his chest (figuratively or literally?) and he tries to think of some way, any way he can help him right now, but, he doesn't need to, does he?

--he's heading for the door.

Jake's ready.

Yeah--it's me!

He summons every last ounce of will he has to save Ezekiel--that he's going to save him and attempts to hit the other Flynn with all his mental might.

[cahooted]

The other Flynn gives a suprised yell - rage, incomprehension but most of all fear - and stumbles backwards.

Flynn the younger, on the other hand, anticipates the move and turns, using his momentum to shove him further into the room. Throwing himself against the metaphorical door with all his might he slams and holds it shut with his back.

His eyes are wide and he's panting, staring at Stone.

I... did we do it? I think we did it. Do you still hear him?

[bookbrawler]

It's almost too good to be true. Jacob stares at the metaphorical door, and frantically searches mentally--trying to see if he can hear him, to gather any trace of him. Any rogue feeling, any glimpse, any scrap of the other Flynn.

...I don't think I do. How about you?

[cahooted]

No. I think he's in there.

He exhales, his shoulders suddenly dropping in exhaustion. At the same time his physical self pushes himself up to his feet. His eyes fall on the wingback and he pauses. "Seriously?"

Right, more important things.

I think I have my body back. Where are you?

[bookbrawler]

There's an immense sigh of relief. So bad, that he buckles. He realizes that he's physically sitting down on the staircase in the Annex, halfway sprawled up the stairs, not entirely sure if he'd even consciously tried to sit or if he collapsed sometime in the mix of things. He doesn't even remember getting this far in...he rubs his face, his shoulders shaking with the relief and horror mixing together once he's realizing that yes, this is really happening.

The Annex. The Library.

[cahooted]

The Annex. Flynn doesn't know what the Annex is and Flynn knows everything about the Annex. He walks, in a daze, he knows where to go and at the same time he shouldn't.

But there's one thing he knows for sure, the grandest thought of all. He's at the Library.

And that thought is too much, almost brings him to his knees. Decades of yearning for this place, to get back here, to come home--

"I know you."

When he finds Stone at the Annex he stares at him in confusion, bewilderment, love. He has so much love for this place and the people in it. "I know that I know you."

[bookbrawler]

When Flynn approaches, Jacob stands at the stairs, tense and ready for a fight--he can't help it, it's what he's associated him with. His mind has been messed with for too long, the tattoos have held him under his control for too long--but he knows there's not going to be a fight, he can feel what Flynn's feeling and it's almost too much, the loss he's experienced and the sheer joy at coming back here, to the Library--

"Hey. Welcome home."

The feelings practically radiating off Flynn nearly makes Jacob's own knees buckle--how is the poor guy even standing? But he laughs anyway, because he's free and his friend is back--and it's more than he was allowed to hope for, for so long.

"I'm--we're the Librarians. Me and Jones and Cassie." His brows furrow. "How much do you remember?"

[cahooted]

Welcome home.

That almost makes him break down and Flynn laughs, too, then drops his head into his hand, stifling a sob.

"Yes." Stone and Jones and Cassie. Eve. "The... Librarians, more than one."

He shakes his head, trying to pull himself together and rubbing at his eyes. "I-I remember... the conclave. The... the Apple, I picked up the Apple. But I didn't? Not yet? But I know that I will and--"

And this is very confusing.

[bookbrawler]

"Yeah--yeah, you remember that?" Jake's still smiling, but he kinda knows where this is going. He had the guy in his head for so long--

"...I guess you have both sets of memories. But you..." he points. "What's the last thing that you actually remember? Before all this...?"

[cahooted]

"Before...?"

For a moment he looks terribly lost because it's been so long. But after a moment it comes back to him in form of a song and a smile and words in the wind, I loved you.

"I remember... I was going after Dracula. I had just come back from New Orleans. That was, uh. 2008." He pauses. "I never thought I'd get around to ask this but what year is it?"

[bookbrawler]

Jacob whistles. He's trying to wrap his head around this one, he's still not exactly sure how it's all working, even though he's seen it with his own two eyes--well, his mind's eye, anyway.

"Wow, 2008? That was ten years ago."

[cahooted]

"T-ten years?"

Part of him remembers that, these ten years he never lived and they feel alien and familiar at the same time. "I... right. I remember that, too. I shouldn't, but I do."

He shakes his head. "This... doesn't make any sense."

[bookbrawler]

"I know. It's weird." That's a laugh, a completely weirded-out laugh, because this was terrifying but also amazing, because for the first time in...in forever, he's got hope again.

His fingers reach up to touch the pendant on his neck. But...but what if the other Flynn, the evil Flynn comes back? There's no way he's ever going to allow him access to his mind ever again, voluntarily at least, and while the danger to his own person is...astronomical, if he should potentially lose that future battle, he can't let Flynn remain vulnerable to him, either.