Axel landed in a familiar setting crowded with laughter drowned out by music and friendly people moving about. He walked through the crowd looking for Connor to ask him where the Lucid Passage would send them. He didn't think Connor would risk it.

A projection turned on above, and the crowd shifted to watch a wide receiver catch a hail-mary touchdown pass. He recognized the number, and he realized the play. It was the last decent football season they had at Blue Ashe High School. They even made it to the playoffs but lost before state. He watched his junior-year self make plays and was happy to see the seniors on the field. Friends who were there for him when his dad died, the same friends he hadn't seen since they graduated. Half of his friend group, poof, gone. If only he had made an effort to befriend his juniors. He gave them shit because they weren't good at weightlifting or football, unlike his seniors. He found it odd. Usually, he's fishing with his dad during the lucid—

"I'm nothing! Nothing!"

Axel threw his phone across the living room, startling his parents at the collision with the wall.

Connor calmed Tabitha down. "We all fail at one point or another."

"Are you giving me advice?" Axel yelled at his brother.

Michael responded in Connor's place. The two were identical as if Connor had landed at the base of the tree. "There's community college."

"My friends don't go there, and it's for losers," Axel responded instinctively.

"I started there," Michael said.

"You're a loser, then." Axel fought back.

The projection shattered into a million fragments and sprinkled onto the crowd. A colossal monster lurched forward. Bared fangs arose, followed by a thunderous growl. Axel stepped back and splashed into a pool of—

*~[]

Freezing air—no, it was something else because there was no air—engulfed them as they stumbled on each other. They scrambled erratically as it was pitch black aside from the night sky. And the struggle grew as Axel quickly discovered he couldn't inhale, just exhale, and they both felt their skin boil, wanting to burst. Options overlaid the starry sky. Axel was faster at using the switch, mostly because he panicked and chose the first option. Mars.

[]~*

Warm water welcomed Axel. Compared to where they just were, It was a relief until he floated towards two large red eyes that towered in the dark sky. He swam for it but discovered there was nothing to swim to. It was an ocean. Axel sank into the abyss. Darker and quieter it became. The giant wolf rose from underneath him as large as a mountain and violently pushed him back to the surface. Lightning struck as the wolf breached and grew into the sky. Her ribs and teeth dripped waterfalls, and her tail reached beyond the clouds and stirred the storm into a powerful frenzy of rain and hail. A violent display flickered the waves and clouds in and out of view. Jaws grew closer. The wolf's slight motion brewed a tremendous surge and sent him up and in.

He reached as he spun out of control back into the abyss. He grabbed something solid, concrete. He pulled himself out of a swimming pool but stopped midway as a new terrifying creature—no, something worse, shocked him frozen. His younger brother stared down at him.

*~[]

They landed in a room of aluminum walls and floor, tumbling back over each other from their last position on the dark starry landscape. Axel easily grabbed the mask off Connor and put it on himself. Connor tried to get it back, wrapping his hands around the straps, but Axel pushed him to the cold floor. There was some oxygen, thanks to Connor installing the electrolysis instrument, but he grew tired, even sleepy. He reached over to grab a mask and oxygen tank that Stephanie had him install for these situations. But he'd wait to use the oxygen until he needed to.

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With the Aeon Switch in hand, Axel began browsing the GUI's brain interface and found what he believed he was looking for. Lab. Connor leaned against the wall to catch his breath, knowing Axel would leave him.

Connor lifted a hand. "Wait."

And Axel flinched a reaction to him, which gave Connor enough time to throw the small oxygen tank. Axel wasn't ready for the lighter gravity, and the amount of thrust Connor could give as the tank knocked the switch out of his hand. It clinked against the ground. They both bolted for it, and Connor managed to tackle Axel. He had to remind himself that the fight wasn't to hurt Axel but for the switch and control. The switch fumbled off Connor's hand and rolled closer to the door.

"Get Off!" Axel yelled as he elbowed him.

Connor managed to reach the same oxygen tank again and hit him across Axel's mask, cracking the glass. Axel had enough and tossed him into the air, and Connor about hit the ceiling. It was easy to launch someone into the air on Mars, but it didn't hurt to fall back down either, not as much anyway. On his way, falling to the floor, he panicked-pressed all the buttons on the panel by the pressurization room.

It was desperation to haphazardly run his hands across the panel like a kid in an elevator. Still, he'd do anything to stop Axel from getting the switch. He didn't care where he was. He didn't want Axel near the switch, even if it meant abandoning his older brother.

Both doors opened, and Axel got distracted by the punch of cold air roaring in. Connor threw an elbow at Axel's masked face and twisted the switch out of Axel's hand. He bolted to get outside, but a hand grabbed his ankle, dropping him partially onto the surface of Mars, and the switch broke free, rolling on its side down the red sand.

Axel picked Connor up. "You fuck," and pushed him against the wall.

Mars. An atmosphere, unlike Earth's, was waiting for them. Like the Kentucky Derby, the gates had opened, and the prize was ahead. Axel was quick to move through the pressurization room and outside. Connor grabbed an emergency tank of oxygen and made chase after Axel. He'd have a minute at best in the open landscape as nothing could survive the cold, but they didn't know that.

And then the two fell backward as if something pushed or pulled them back to the surface. And that invisible force kept pulling. The two brothers righted themselves but postured as if they were walking up a hill instead of flat sand. But even the red sand was rolling, all in unison.

They both saw it as they turned to look. Beyond the Mars landing station and further, than the red horizon was the source of their pull.

Connor was in disbelief. Holy...

Earth.

Their home planet was in full view as if they were a few thousand miles above the satellites orbiting it. A weird blue of distortion and light wrapped around the edges, and two different night skies competed to take over.

Connor had no words, and Axel's fixation broke when he felt something hit his arm. The Aeon Switch rolled back.

Axel waved the switch with a smirk.

As he was about to activate the Aeon Switch, he glimpsed at Connor. The look Connor gave back had reminded Axel of his solo Lucid Passage trips. Not the look of defeat, failure, or depression Connor usually donned. But Connor's physical features, his face had matured, and a week without shaving left him with a full beard just past a five o'clock shadow. Axel's dad had a similar look as they were fishing during his Lucid Passage trips. Their dad.

"No wonder why mom hates you." Axel left him behind.

[]~*

Axel felt the relief of a clean getaway. The good times of fishing with his father, feeling the pole in his hands, sounds of splashing water against the boat. He loved the Lucid Passage. So much so that he cried. He felt Connor had influenced him before, with that wolf and his history in high school. And he was glad he was going back alone, for that beautiful feeling he misses.

But Earth was on Mars's horizon, the horizon past Connor, and Axel slipped through him. Connor's scream rattled his inner being.

Why am I—

Not.

Good.

Enough?

This is my life. Job—you took it—trampled it.

Of course, I'd be doing Stephanie's work. You're weak. Stephanie would have me doing this work instead.

Stay away from my friends.

Olivya wanted someone experienced. Your friends found no value in you—no importance—insignificance. No worth. Nothing—you are nothing.

Why do this to me?

Do what? Make. Construct. Assemble. Friends? Travel. Journey. To Mars? Get a girlfriend?

You went nowhere and took everything. Stole it from me—stealing what I earned—achieved—worked for. You took her—killed her—extinguished—in front of me. Joules. You were supposed to protect. Guard. Shield. Me.

I'm not our father.