CHAPTER 128: THE TRUTH OF TWO WORLDS

Marcus was exhausted.

He lay on Tyler's couch, staring at the ceiling while his mind raced through impossible problems. How to get back to Valdris. How to save Aldric. How to make money in a world where he had nothing. Each time someone suggested something he was slapped with "we don't know how to do that." But it was exactly like Marcus's way. Not knowing, learning, then mastering it.

When he finally decided to sleep he was face to face with the strangest night of his life.

It was a familiar feeling waking up as Valdrian Marcus going on his day. But it was different. He knew what had happened. Valdris Marcus was two feet away sleeping with their cousin Tom. Marcus somehow was aware of this.

Was this a vision then? Did he never actually do those things?

While his head questioned his every movement he found himself making last touches on the Malachar attack plan. The maps spread before him. The timing calculations. Sara's explosive inventory.

All the things Valdrian Marcus had said happened were happening to him in real time. That second Marcus realized the truth. Even though they shared the same face, the same brain, they weren't really controlling each other's bodies. Rather they were seeing from each other's eyes. And each night their one brain was embedding their experiences together.

It was like watching the most vivid movie ever made. Except you felt everything. Every emotion. Every muscle ache. Every fear.

When Marcus woke he saw other Marcus had also woken. They looked at each other with knowing eyes. They had figured out their lives' biggest mystery. Their tangled life across the stars.

"We," Marcus started.

"We," the other Marcus said at the exact same moment.

"We are just sharing the memories..."

"Yeah it's just syncing.."

Other Marcus picked up the thread. "Like ultra realistic vision."

"Exactly."

A knock on Marcus's door woke Tom as well. The giant cousin was sleeping in the corner on a futon that had seen better days. The frame sagged under his weight. The door creaked and Irene's head appeared in the gap.

Her eyes were darkened with exhaustion. Purple circles had formed underneath them. She wasn't okay.

"Twins are you awake? I am not feeling okay. I need to visit my doctor. Marcus is there any chance you can take me?" She asked, shame coloring her voice.

Marcus was in panic. Not knowing what to do. Getting up or changing? He fell to the ground like a malfunctioned robot, tangled in his blanket. "Sure Irene. I can drive your car."

"Don't worry about here. Irene, I hope you'll get better. I experienced yesterday and I... I.." Other Marcus didn't know how to complete that sentence. I am also onboard in this relationship was what he meant. But he quite didn't know how to say it.

"Thanks other Marcus. Good morning Tom." She waved weakly and turned to Marcus again. "I'll be outside taking fresh air."

"Okay okay I'll be right back," he confirmed. Marcus started throwing on everyday clothes. "Guys you got this if parents come..."

"I am here Marcus I know what to do." Other Marcus smiled. "It is actually really nice being in two places."

"Yeah finally rewards for messing with our lives so many times."

Tyler emerged from his room and made fresh coffee. Tom watched in fascination as the dark liquid dripped into the pot.

"Heavy tea," Tom said in Valdrian, pointing at the coffee.

Tyler looked confused. Marcus translated. "He thinks coffee is just heavy tea."

"It's not tea it's coffee," Tyler explained.

Tom shook his head stubbornly. "If it is hot water and a part of a plant in a pot it is a tea. Turning into mud doesn't make it a new thing."

While they waited for Marcus's parents they were also trying to find suitable things to sell.

"We need to save Aldric. How are we gonna return?" Tom asked. His jovial mood had shifted. His brow was furrowed with genuine worry.

"Tom," Marcus answered genuinely. "I really don't know. Let's put that aside or I am gonna go crazy."

Tyler entered the living room with his coffee. "Streaming in Valdrian! You can teach the language, tell your stories."

"No."

"How about clothes Marcus? We sell so much in Valdris," suggested Tom. Marcus was simultaneously translating Tyler to Tom and Tom to Tyler. His head was starting to hurt from the linguistic gymnastics.

"Clothes seems solid but too much competition at the bottom. And at luxury or designer items we just don't have any edge," Tyler protested.

"How about leather designed hand bags? If you can find good craftsmen hand made stuff can go for thousands of dollars." Another voice suggested from behind them.

"Yeah if you are Hermes or Chanel," Marcus said. But the suggester had a familiar voice and Tyler and Tom were making faces like they were seeing a ghost.

When Marcus turned he saw the impossible.

Some creature made out of millions of blood vessels stood there in the middle of the apartment. Red and pulsing. The capillaries wove together like living lace, forming a vaguely humanoid shape. Words were coming out but the voice belonged to Celestine. The creature was from nightmares.

Tyler made a sound like a dying cat and backed into the wall.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, trying to charm people with her usual flirtatious way. But with that body the horror was only increasing.

Marcus grabbed a spoon from the counter and held it up, showing Celestine her reflection.

Her demeanor changed instantly. In front of their eyes her body started to morph and change. The blood vessels wove together, filling in with flesh. Color spread across the surface. Features emerged. Wrinkles formed. Hair sprouted. In seconds the old woman Celestine stood before them. Even clothes appeared with her change.

"Sorry kids I thought I corrected my form. Kromiron Sector planets are all weird. Don't ever go there. It will make your vessels like that. You can't even survive." She corrected her hair primly. "Well not before I terraform with my seeds of course."

"Now Marcus tell me where is your counterpart in Ephus? Because honestly I couldn't find him."

"Was that magic?" Tyler asked. His voice cracked. He was still pressed against the wall.

"I don't know Tyler. She is not human and she has otherworldly powers." Marcus tried to comfort his roommate but wasn't sure how.

"IS SHE A GOD?" Tyler's shock doubled. His eyes were so wide the whites showed all around.

"No. I mean she kind of wants to be. With creating her own world."

Celestine winked at Tyler. "I will be. Terraforming my planets young man. If you want you can come." She picked up the banana Tom had left on the counter and examined it curiously. "How come your giant cousin is here?" She was coming to a realization. Her eyes narrowed.

"Wait how is he here? Are you... are you Ephus Marcus?" she asked.

"Yes. Stupid dictator Malachar made a portal with the help of other people pulled from other worlds. Now I assume he is planning to take over less developed planets."

Celestine's face went pale. For a being that could reshape her entire body at will, the genuine fear was disturbing. "But.. but this should be impossible. I can't be near here. If your god sees it he thinks I did it. I will be the one punished."

Tom was tapping Marcus's shoulder insistently. "Didn't you say this crazy lady has powers? Can she take us back to our planet?" Tom asked in Valdrian.

"Good idea Tom that was what I was gonna ask." Marcus turned to Celestine. "If you are afraid of our Creator just take us back to Ephus."

"No...no I cannot interfere this much."

"Celestine make up your mind. We copied the seed for you and Malachar's minions pushed us through the portal hoping to kill us in empty space."

Her brow furrowed. "How did you navigate here through empty space?"

"We didn't." Marcus was heating up. His face flushed with frustration. "We fell through and just ended up here."

"Impossible."

Knock knock knock.

"Marcus we know you are in there. Open up and talk with us."

Marcus's heart dropped. "My parents. They arrived." He turned to Tyler frantically. "Quick take Celestine to my room. We can explain Tom but not an old crazy god."

Tyler hesitated for only a second before grabbing Celestine's arm. The old woman allowed herself to be led away, an amused smile playing on her transformed lips.

Marcus took a deep breath and walked toward the door. One crisis at a time.