[ All it takes is mentioning the invasion and he sees it in his mind’s eye, so clearly and immediately that it almost feels like it’s happening right in front of him. Specks of silver darting through the sky. Blossoms of fire exploding out from buildings. The brilliant sapphire sky melting into deep, endless darkness.

The breath he takes is sharp and his fingernails bite into his palms as he tightly clenches his hands into fists. It’s that little spark of pain that brings him back to the moment.

Not real. It didn’t happen to you. Don’t freak out over it. It wasn’t you. Deep breath. Listen to what he’s saying. Who the fuck knows why he wants your help, but he does. Try to give it to him. ]

Desperate for what? Help saving their turtle? Why not go to the source? It’s not too much trouble to look through an interdimensional window but taking the actual step through it is? That doesn’t make any sense. They’ve already got to be expending an incredible amount of energy to get their minds and memories. A little more to get them in the flesh wouldn’t be impossible. They’re already…

[ What had the kedan told him when he’d woken up? Between life and death? ]

They can’t do it, can they? This isn’t another dimension. It’s a different plane of existence.