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Felicia Furke knew something was not as usual. Yet standing in front of her mirror, frowning at her black bob cut and brown eyes, at the crow's feet that affirmed her fourty years despite her smart makeup, revealed nothing beyond that vague feeling. She brushed a hand against her jaw. Was it a bit swollen? Was it her brow, or a shadow on her cheeks? Did her teeth look different or was it just the light? A reaction to some food maybe. Her dinner could have been spoiled… Felicia quickly dismissed the idea, she would have noticed if her dinner had not been the same as usual. For Felicia Furke was a creature of habit. She woke a minute before her alarm rang, throwing the covers back and tapping the screen at the end of the first shrill tone. It took her fourteen minutes to shower and get dressed, six to eat, four to finish her preparation and exit the house. After a short drive to the ministry, she waited exactly ten minutes for her shift to begin. Everything was organized, and

Ty tossed and turned in his sleep. For the past two weeks, he’d been plagued with a series of recurring nightmares. They began around the same time as the one year anniversary of when the Grossologists set off into space to stop a gas asteroid from hurtling towards Earth drew nearer. His night terrors didn’t so much deal with that specific mission, but more so the villain he dreaded. Ty found himself standing in the Gag Lab, but he didn’t remember how he arrived there. He noticed something wasn’t quite right about it as the scenery around him constantly shifted, as if it were founded on nothing more than subconscious memories. What bothered him the most though, was that the lab was vacant. He could somehow tell without actually making sure, he just had this deep, unsettling feeling of knowing. While Ty and Abby didn’t spend all their time there, Lab Rat and Hermes certainly did. So, where were they? They wouldn’t have gone anywhere, at least not without saying something. “Hello?” The ravenette finally called. His voice didn’t reverberate around the lab just as it had always done. It was the silence, Ty thought to himself. There was a distinct lack of noise, not so much as an ambient buzz or hum. It left him on edge, and after nobody answered him, it became clear that the only trace of life inside the Gag Lab was some stray bacteria samples. “I knew it.” A new voice growled from behind. Ty flinched upon the grave quiet being shattered, and whirled around. He confronted the owner of the snappish tone, and for a second relief fluttered in his heart. Standing in the doorway, was his sister and teammate. Except, her face was twisted in contempt, and her stance remained wide as she drew her goop blaster. “What is it, Abby?” Ty looked around worriedly for whatever danger Abby was so upset about. “Where is everyone?” Abby didn’t acknowledge him, at least not in the way he’d wanted. She stalked further into the room, her grip tightening around her blaster. Her fierce glare didn’t leave her brother as she approached. “I knew you couldn’t be trusted.” It took Ty a moment to actually process her words, and once they’d sunk in, they pierced his heart with alarm. It finally registered that Abby was pointing her blaster at him, and that he was the alleged threat in the room. “What?” Ty tensed in growing confusion, and tried backing away. His back collided with the table, and he winced. “Figured it was only a matter of time before you went crawling back to Fartor.” “Fartor?” Why had she said that so matter of factly? “You aren’t making any-” Ty’s breath caught in his throat when Abby pointed her slime blaster directly at him. Ty raised his hands defensively, staring in disbelief at his own family turning against him. “You won’t trick me, or anyone else again!” The older Archer readied her aim on Ty. “I always had a feeling there was still something evil inside of you, that you wouldn’t resist going back to the fart side. Not a day’s gone by where I haven’t felt safe around you since you turned into Far-Ty.” Ty felt his heart plummet into the pit of his stomach. Abby had confirmed that after all this time, she was still afraid of her own kin even though they had reconciled on that fateful day. He knew that Abby would never admit such a thing aloud, but he’d always speculated that she hadn’t truly forgiven him over what he’d done as Far-Ty. It was his worst possible fear, and now it was unfolding into a reality before his very eyes. And the worst part was, he didn’t even blame Abby. Ty tried to plead with his sister that this was a misunderstanding, that he hadn’t gone back to the farmer’s side and was still good. “Abby, I didn’t…I didn’t know you felt-” “Save it.” Abby kept her finger curled tight around the trigger, and Ty didn’t dare try to move again. “I should’ve never bothered trying to save you. You were a lost cause from the get go.” Too shocked to respond, Ty let her continue. “You think everything’s all “sunshine and rainbows” between us even after you tried to waste me? I swear, if we weren’t related, I’d avoid being anywhere near you.” “I…” The words formed on his lips, but his voice did not leave his mouth. Ty attempted to speak again, croakily repeating over himself. “From that day on, I realized what you were capable of.” The redhead seethed. “I kept a close eye on you, waiting for the day when you’d snap again and lunge at me. But, I’ve been preparing for it, and I am not going to let you destroy the city. “Abby, please-” Ty wanted to reach out his arm to her, but it only moved so far before he felt a forceful tug. He looked down, and attached to his wrists were a set of handcuffs that had not been there previously. His eyes went wide, and he staggered to the side. He struggled to free his bound hands in a panic. He didn’t notice the smoky tendrils starting to cover the ground, and a foul odor permeated the air. Ty stopped what he was doing. His face contorted into disgust as the dirty wisps of fog grew thicker around them, except this was unlike any “fog” he had encountered. It was natural gas, there was no mistaking it. Where was it coming from, though? Ty coughed as the room filled with the grotesque vapor, and he had to shut his watering eyes. He stumbled around, searching for any fresh air that was no longer present. Despite everything going on, Abby didn’t react at all, her blaster still trained on Ty. It was as if the noxious fog wafting around them didn’t even exist to her. It fully surrounded the two of them, and the Gag Lab disappeared from sight. There was nothing left but an endless wall of thick, shapeless clouds that tainted the air. Abby spoke to her brother one last time before she lowered her weapon, her voice echoing. “You know you deserve this, Ty.” A cold shiver ran down Ty’s spine, but not from what Abby had said. All around him, from every direction at once, laughter spouted from within the gaseous clouds. It didn’t belong to Abby, nor any friendly face that Ty knew. Still, he immediately recognized it, the distinct cackling forever burned into his memory. It was boisterous, insane, and distorted. Mortified as he was, Ty still brought himself to lock eyes with his big sister. Unaware to him, however, a large, mechanical claw loomed over him from behind like a foreboding shadow. Ty had gotten the last word, but there was no triumph to be held, only hollow acceptance. “I know.” As soon as those words left his mouth, the metal appendage snatched Ty by the waist and sent him sprawling to the ground. He only had a few seconds to register the pain from hitting the floor before he started to be pulled away. Abby’s form faded into the endless haze the further he went. Ty continued to cough and wheeze, rasping out for his sister to come back and save him. The nefarious laughter grew louder and louder until it overwhelmed Ty, mocking him as he was dragged back to a cruel fate. Ty shot up in bed, his blanket dropping onto his lap. His pupils were shrunken, and his body was coated in sweat. He sucked in short, rapid breaths of thankfully clean air, and clutched his unevenly thudding chest. He swallowed, and shakily scanned the dark perimeters of his bedroom. It was the same as it had been before he’d fallen asleep. It was just another dream. Fartor hadn’t come back to rip him from his family again, and Abby didn’t actually hate him. Even as reality returned to his senses, Ty remained rattled to the core. There was no way he’d be able to rest now, thus adding another tally to a night’s sleep completely ruined. Now, he’d be up all night thinking about Fartor again, even though the villain had been long gone for almost a year. Fartor had “assisted” in taking out the gas asteroid, but not without an act of self sacrifice. Ty had actually felt bad about the whole ordeal, all things considered. Ty rubbed the tiredness from his eyes and lugged himself out of bed, his footsteps lazily shuffling against the carpet. He stopped at the window next to his bedside, moonlight cascading through the glass pane and down onto his form. He squinted, and as his eyes adjusted, he was met with the same tranquil yard that he had known since childhood. He cast his gaze up, and saw an ebony sky dotted with stars just like the previous nights. Ty slowly sat down and crossed his legs, staring out into space. All he could do, was sit there and stare until the sun came up. ——— Abby was roused from her slumber with an itch in her throat. She was thirsty, and unless she wanted to wake up feeling groggy, it couldn’t wait until morning. As she clambered out of bed, she made a mental note to bring a glass of water with her next time before she went to bed, that way she wouldn’t have to pester herself with these witching hour errands. She stretched a little before exiting into the hallway. In the darkness, Abby directed her attention towards the top of the stairs before making her way over to them. A quiet yawn escaped her as she walked down the hall, but she did a double take when she passed by Ty’s bedroom door. She looked over her shoulder, and saw that his door was cracked open just an inch or two. She wouldn’t have given it a second thought, but why was it open to begin with? Was Ty awake at this hour? He hadn’t gone to the bathroom, otherwise she would’ve seen light filtering through the bottom of the door. Maybe he had gone to the kitchen just like she planned to do? She couldn’t detect any sounds of rummaging from downstairs, the Archer household standing silent. Abby mentally groaned at the idea of her brother staying up later than he should. There were several instances where Ty insisted he could pull an all nighter, whether it be to beat the final stage of a video game or cram for a test the following morning. Abby had warned him that it wouldn’t do him any good, and to nobody’s surprise, he would never listen. And when his exhausted body finally crashed, she practically had to carry him back to his bed with a snarky “I told you so”. She was in no mood to deal with another all nighter, so she straightened herself out, and marched towards the door. She pushed it open without hesitation, a lecture ready on her lips. Abby was correct, her little brother was indeed wide awake, but what she saw confused her. Ty had his back to her, and sat cross legged on the carpeted floor. He stared out his window forlornly, up at the starry sky. She crept in quietly, and slowed her walk. What was Ty doing? She expected him to have a handheld console or notebook and pen in his hands, but he was just sitting there, staring. The light of the moon shone on him, revealing the distant look in his blue eyes. He was so entranced, that he hadn’t sensed Abby’s presence emerging from behind. Curious, and a touch concerned, Abby slouched over and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Ty?” She shook him a little. “Ty, are you okay?” Ty jolted upon being shaken, his wandering mind abruptly yanked back into his body. He blinked and peered over his shoulder, relieved to see that the figure standing over him was only his sister. “Oh, hey, Bee.” He greeted her with a tired waver in his voice. “What are you doing up so late?” She doubted he was just stargazing. Ty paused and chewed at the inside of his cheek as he thought of a non-answer. “What are you doing up so late?” “I wanted some water.” Abby replied, placing a hand on her hip. “Now, what’s your deal?” “Oh, I was just uh…” His gaze shifted around the room awkwardly. Coming up with an excuse on the spot was a lot harder with a foggy head. “Looking at the stars. You know, charting them.” “You haven’t written anything down.” Ty shrugged and smirked. “What can I say? I have a golden memory.” “Your ADHD says otherwise, little brother.” Abby teased, playfully nudging him with the side of her leg. “Maybe that’s why I’m up,” He retorted, hoping that would satisfy her. “I’m totally restless.” “Nice try,” Abby sat down beside him and folded her arms. “Something’s bothering you. Spill it.” Ty glanced away from his sister, and focused on the carpet instead. He traced his index finger along the material, the rough fabric breaching his skin. “I'm fine, honestly.” He replied vaguely. “I was just thinking.” “Thinking?” The redhead pried. “About what?” Ty’s expression turned gloomy. “I dunno, just…all the missions we’ve been on. We’ve had a lot of crazy stuff happen, huh?” “Don’t remind me,” She huffed jokingly and leaned back. Abby watched her brother intently, specifically the way he kept his eyes on either the floor or the sky. What had fascinated him about the stars all of a sudden? She wondered if he’d developed an affinity for space, and that it was another “phase” he was having. She parroted her brother, searching for a meaning in the twinkling starlight. She finally pieced it together when she remembered their other missions, and why he had spontaneously mentioned them. “You’re thinking about Fartor, aren’t you?” She too was aware that the anniversary of their mission into space was coming up in a few days. And while she hadn’t given it much thought, Ty certainly had. Ty was surprised at how quickly Abby had picked up on that, but he supposed there was no hiding anything from her. Did she remember that day just as vividly as he did? “Yeah,” He spoke quietly, still avoiding Abby’s gaze. Without really thinking, he added. “I miss him.” Abby gawked at him. “What?” Ty wrenched his head towards Abby, realizing what he’d just said. “No, sorry.” He shook his head. “I-I didn’t mean it like that. I guess I just meant that I…feel bad for him?” “He made his choice, Ty.” Abby did her best to ease him while remaining realistic. “Whether or not he actually wanted his sacrifice to benefit humanity…I’m not sure.” “I just can’t help but wonder if there was even a chance for him to turn his life around.” Ty shouldn’t be thinking so childishly, but it was a hope that wouldn’t go away, just the same as his sorrow. Abby snorted. Ty couldn’t be serious. “Honestly?” She was about to be blunt and tell him that people like Fartor aren’t even remotely capable of redemption. But, when she saw just how pitiful Ty’s eyes were, that her answer would either lift his spirits or completely crush them, she paused. “Who’s to say?” She looked away awkwardly. “But, I think you and I both know it’s pretty rare for a villain to willingly change.” Ty nodded, but didn’t face her. He hugged his knees to his chest then looked back up at the sky. “I just, can’t stop thinking about it. I dunno, do you think I need closure, or something?” “Closure from what?” “You know,” Ty shrugged and fully turned his head away from Abby. He bit at his bottom lip, contemplating if he should elaborate. He nervously ran his fingers up and down the length of his leg, trying to soothe himself. “When Fartor…” Abby wasn’t sure what Ty was getting at, not right away. Fartor had bothered them too many times to count, and even with him gone, it was difficult to pinpoint a specific incident. Except, it wasn’t really that difficult at all. They'd dealt with him so many times that he became one of their routine “villains of the week”, always managing to break out of jail and cook up some devious scheme to poison the Earth’s atmosphere. But, there was one time where his evil nature had truly disturbed the Archer siblings, and had pushed them both to their breaking points. They hadn’t really been the same since that day, even if things worked out in the end. “Oh.” Abby glanced at the floor this time, a myriad of awful memories floating back up to the surface. She didn’t like to think about what happened to her brother that day, or how she failed to save him before the worst could occur. She especially didn’t like to think about how said brother made an attempt on her life after he’d been transformed into an unhinged supervillain. “Ty, can you really find it in yourself to forgive Fartor after doing something like that to you? To us? I mean, how do you know what you’re feeling isn’t…” Ty noticed that Abby didn’t finish. “Isn’t what?” Abby hesitated. It was too late in the night to be having such a heavy conversation. “It’s just, Fartor brainwashed you. He used you as his pawn while trying to convince you that he was like a “brother” to you. I know you’re back to normal, you’ve been normal, but I can’t help but think Fartor’s left a mark on you that can’t be scrubbed out.” Ty frowned and narrowed his eyes at her. “So, you think I only feel the way I do is because it’s some side effect of when I was evil?” He sounded offended. Sensing that this might turn into an argument, Abby sighed. “Look, I know you’re someone who wants to see the best in people, but come on, Fartor? He was horrible, Ty.” Ty’s frown diminished into a pout. “I know. I can’t explain this feeling I have, it’s just there. Maybe you’re right. Maybe there’s still a part of Far-Ty that I can’t get rid of.” “It’s not because of when you were Far-Ty,” She put a comforting hand on Ty’s shoulder, and spoke softly. “I already told you not to blame yourself for any of that, okay?” Ty thought about it. How could anyone not blame him for almost destroying the city? Sure, it was Fartor’s plan to begin with, but Ty had contributed in drilling into the earth, as well as attacking his loved ones. But, he didn’t want to keep Abby worrying all night, and she probably wouldn’t leave until she was sure he’d actually fall asleep. “Maybe you have a point.” He finally agreed, albeit forced. He added a smile for good measure. Abby rose back up before tousling Ty’s spiky hair. “You know, if you stare at the moon for too long, you’ll go blind.” Ty smirked, genuinely this time, and felt a pinch better. “Psh, moon blindness isn’t real.” “You wanna test that theory?” Ty got up with a hum and shook his head. “I’m going to bed, don’t worry. And, you should get some water.” Smiling, Abby made her way back towards the door. “Night, Ty.” She said before fully closing the door to his room. “G’night, Bee.” He called back, just inches from his bed. Maybe he really should go back to sleep. Now that his mood was lifted, maybe he wouldn’t have another nightmare. Then again, why take the risk?