SIDE D | CHAPTER 1

???

Waking up as the progenitor is a lot less...important than I would have imagined. I felt the energies pooling around me of the dozens of worlds—millions of times. And yet...I still can imagine the irritation of those little bugs that would infest the area around the school I went to after the crash of 2013. How much I felt I needed a drink back then, when all I really needed was the reassurance that I was needed. Now, on a cosmic scale I guess I'm the most needed person alive. What an arc, right?

Now that I had control over the dimension between dimensions I found myself wanting more. I wanted to return to the world I had come from. To the family I had made. I didn't know if there was an HR department out here large enough to accept the resignation form if I tried if it meant I could go back. Maybe I could create one of those...

I'm sure if I got the hang of it I could learn to subdivide my own attention to allow myself access to the worlds below like I used to—but as a citizen, not as a god or angel. That kind of suit didn't fit me, personally.

I looked back toward The Pit. Inside I could feel...a tear. Almost like some of the insides were pulling themselves to...wait. They're headed to that universe over there. Let me see that real quick...

Finding myself face to face with the outlook of the universe, I recognize it. It is the same one Friedrich led me away from when Micah and I first arrived here—I remember the desire in my very core essence to return. And this stream of consciousness leading to it...

It was John. I recognize his essence. I saw it close by my own when I retrieved my memories. If John's consciousness is being...connected to this universe...wait a second...Sarah met up with John in her dreams. Is it possible she's connecting with him still? I've never seen The Pit act this way.

I peeked my head in closer to the bubble, I could feel a wave of tense energy rush up my skin. Danger, someone's in danger. Scared. Sarah...she's scared. She's...she's with Andy.

I stared up in a heartbroken gaze as the years flashed in front of my face. I...I want to go back. I don't know...if I can.

But, they're in danger. But what if I cause a bigger danger—a multiversal danger? Am I no better than Friedrich? Or am I no better by staying out...?

I saw the images on the face of the bubble shift as John's consciousness returned back to The Pit. I saw the Earth Exploding and a single ship floating out toward the desolate reaches of space. At the sight of this I threw myself inside and hurtled toward the timeline with only one thought on my mind.

I need to save them.