The soft light of the floating medical table filled the farmhouse med bay, an eerie contrast to the quiet tension in the room. Edwin lay unconscious; his body still as the faint Galiexian glow healer pulsed.
Grandma Shay hovered by the console, her fingers moving quickly across the interface. The readouts showed complex alien symbols and shifting energy readings. Her sharp eyes darted between the display and Edwin's still form.
"His vital signs aren't adding up," said Grandma Shay, extremely concerned.
Shay stood at the foot of the table, her notebook, filled with observations and abstract diagrams, tucked under one arm. She tapped her pen against the edge of the page, deep in thought.
"Inconsistent?" asked Shay.
Dr. Broke, standing beside Dr. Rolls, exchanged a grim look. "Yes. Not just physically. There's something else beneath the surface, something we don't fully understand."
Alena stood in the doorway. "What's he muttering?"
The room turned its attention to Edwin. His lips moved faintly, barely forming words, as Grandma Shay leaned closer.
"…shadows… Milly… John…" His voice was barely audible, but the names sent a chill through the room.
Shay's notebook hit the counter with a decisive thud. "He's talking about Force and Milly."
"Or reliving what they did to him," Grandma Shay countered. "Either way, we can't leave him like this."
The room fell silent, each person grappling with the implications of Edwin's fractured state. Finally, Grandma Shay met Shay's gaze. "It's time."
Shay looked at Edwin, her mind turning over the fractured puzzle he represented. The man who had once been their steady ally now seemed a fragile thread connecting them to something larger.
"The Galiexians?" asked Alena, though she already knew the answer. She wanted to cry, but she dared not to in front of the others. Alena loved her brother; he was her only sibling.
"Yes," said Grandma Shay, her fingers moving back to the console. "They're our best chance. The long-range teleportation upgrade can stabilize him, but it will take him 219 galaxies away, but it's the only way."
Shay turned back to Edwin, trying to piece together what they were losing and hoping he could recover.
"How long will he be gone?" Shay's voice was quiet, but the weight of the question hung in the air.
"As long as it takes," said Grandma Shay.
The family gathered in the teleportation room, the faint glow of Galiexian machinery illuminating their expressions. Edwin's floating stretcher glided into place within the glowing portal. Its energy resonated softly, the light shifting in waves of calm blues and greens.
Grandma Shay's hand hovered over the final sequence input. She looked at Shay, her gaze both firm and compassionate. "Say your goodbyes."
Shay hesitated, brushing her hand against the edge of the table. "I hope you find what you need out there, Edwin," she said softly. "And I hope it's enough to bring you back."
Alena stood nearby, with her usual sharpness softened. "We'll figure this out. All of it. Edwin, you must come back to me, to everyone."
Grandma Shay began the sequence, her movements efficient but heavy with unspoken emotion. The portal flared brighter, with its light enveloping Edwin's still form. For a brief moment, the entire room seemed to hold its breath.
Then, in a flash of a brilliant light, he was gone.
The silence that followed was deafening. Shay stared at the empty space where Edwin had been. The weight of his absence settled over the room, a stark reminder of the stakes they faced.
Grandma Shay broke the silence. "He's in their hands now. We have to trust them."
Shay's mind was already spinning with questions and connections. "Trust isn't the problem," she murmured. "It's the waiting."
The team filed out of the room, leaving Shay alone for a moment. She placed her hand on the console, her thoughts running wild while looking at the space Edwin had laid.
Somewhere in the galaxies far away, Edwin was beginning a journey they could only hope would bring him back whole.
As the remaining team gathered, Shay stood at the head of the table, her notebook open, filled with hastily scrawled thoughts. The atmosphere was different now, lighter, but still heavy with the gravity of their next mission.
Grandma Shay leaned against the console, displaying a projection of Htrae. The hologram flickered briefly before stabilizing into a clear map of the mirrored dimension. "Alright," she began, "we've made it through one crisis, but this next mission is unlike anything we've faced before."
Shay exchanged a glance with Drake. He walked to the table and sat down next to Shay. Alena and Marcus sat on the other side of the table, focused on their next call of duty.
"Htrae," Grandma Shay continued, gesturing to the projection, "isn't just another galaxy. It's a mirrored dimension—an alternate version of Earth, where things have gone… differently. They've abandoned digital advancements in favor of analog systems, and that decision has left them vulnerable."
"To the Slenvexials," said Alena, her voice cutting through the tension.
"Exactly. The Slenvexials have infiltrated their digital systems, creating chaos so they turned back to using analog technology. It solved one problem but also created a new problem. The Galiexians believe this instability is starting to ripple through dimensions, affecting our own Earth. If Htrae collapses completely, it could destabilize more than just one galaxy," said Grandma Shay firmly.
"So, what's the plan? Go in, fix their systems, and get out?" asked Marcus.
"It's not that simple," Shay replied, her voice carrying the weight of her thoughts. "This isn't just about fixing systems. It's about understanding their world—how they think, how they've adapted—and figuring out how to make solutions stick. Throwing Galiexian tech at the problem won't help if their entire culture rejects it."
"And let me guess—there's a catch?" asked Drake.
"There always is," said Grandma Shay. "The catch is that Htrae's people don't trust outsiders. They've been manipulated by the Slenvexials into thinking their problems are self-contained. You'll need to tread carefully, and…"
"Let me guess," Drake interjected. "They've got counterparts of us running around making things even harder?"
"Not just counterparts, Drake. Versions of us that might not be so… cooperative."
Alena straightened in her chair. "Wait… are you saying we're going to run into ourselves?"
"Possibly," said Grandma Shay. "And if you do, don't assume they'll share your priorities. From what we know, their Shay, Drake, Alena, and Marcus are… different."
"Define 'different,'" said Marcus.
Grandma Shay's gaze softened, but her words were deliberate. "Their Shay is a strategist, yes, but one who prioritizes her own survival above all else. Their Drake is a lone wolf… disillusioned and untrusting. Alena is a pacifist, unwilling to take risks. And Marcus… Marcus is driven by vengeance, hardened by loss."
The room fell silent, the weight of those revelations causing great concern.
"So, we're going to meet the worst versions of ourselves?" asked Drake, breaking the silence.
"Not the worst," Shay replied, her voice thoughtful. "Just… different. But maybe that's what we need to understand what went wrong there, and how to fix it."
"The mission is clear: gather intel, stabilize their systems, and help their resistance push back against the Slenvexials. But remember, this isn't just about them. What happens on Htrae will echo here."
"That's a great pep talk," said Drake.
Shay closed her notebook, the gesture decisive. "We've got what we need. Let's get ready."
As the team dispersed to prepare, Grandma Shay called after them. "And remember, this mission will test you—not just your skills, but your resolve. Be ready for anything."
Shay lingered by the console, staring at the projection of Htrae. Her mind raced, piecing together fragments of strategy, uncertainty, and anticipation.
"You sure about this, Shay?" said Drake.
"No," Shay admitted, her voice low. "But that's why we have to go. If we don't, who will?"
Drake gave a half-smile. "Guess we'll find out just how different we are from them."
"We'll do more than that," said Shay. "We'll show them what we're capable of and maybe remind ourselves in the process."
The farmhouse's teleportation room was bathed in a soft, pulsating glow as the team gathered for their departure. Each step reverberated with the weight of the unknown mission ahead. Shay stood at the center console, her hand hovering over the activation button.
All four of them had dressed in early 1980s attire so they would blend into their surroundings.
"Shay, do you know how long this mission will last?" asked Drake.
"We estimate anywhere from two to six weeks, maybe shorter or longer," said Shay with a mischievous smile.
"It's always the time for humor," Drake countered, with his own mischievous smile right back at her.
"Don't forget to take our precious equalizer equipment, just in case we need it," said Alena. "And where did they find these clothes?" said Alena.
"Your mothers raided their own closets to find everyone an appropriate outfit for the early 1980s, and the Galiexians did research as well and said these outfits were appropriate for the time period and your ages, ladies 28, and gentlemen 30. Try to blend in; it will be easier to accomplish your mission and return safely," said Grandma Shay.
"It could be worse," said Shay. "Remember some of the pictures our parents wore back then and in their teens?"
"Yes, we laughed. Remember?" asked Alena.
"If I remember correctly, it was so surprising, I noted it in my notebook," said Shay, laughing.
"So did I," Alena laughed along with Shay.
"Ok, ladies, back to business," said Grandma Shay, while shaking her head.
"Shay, you look adorable," said Drake.
"You too," said Marcus, smiling at Alena.
"It's always humor before a serious and unknown mission," said Drake with a mischievous grin.
Shay glanced at all three of them, amusement that quickly turned to commitment and determination.
Alena, standing beside Shay, added, "It's time to get serious. We've prepared for this. Together."
"Remember, you're not just going to fix their problems. You're going to prove what's possible. Trust each other, and trust yourselves," said Grandma Shay.
Shay looked at her grandmother with deep love and admiration. "We'll make it back. All of us."
"Grandma Shay, we will all return," said Drake in a serious tone.
"Guaranteed," said Marcus.
Grandma Shay nodded, stepping back to allow them the space they needed. The hum of the teleportation console grew louder, the light intensifying around them.
Shay placed her hand on the activation button. "Alright," she said, her voice carrying across the room. "Let's go."
She pressed the button, and the world around them dissolved into a brilliant light. In an instant, they were gone, leaving the farmhouse empty except for the faint hum of the dormant console.
The four of them had just departed, Grandpa Mitch exclaimed, "We have intruders, and they are coming… "