Chapter Text
Does intelligent life exist outside of earth? That’s one of the big questions astronomy seeks to discover. It’s an idea scientists have been doing thought exercises on for years. Even before we knew we were asking the question, humans have associated their gods with the stars. Have attributed the stars to worship and stories, to the very workings of the universe itself. Some of the gods have been kind and benevolent, an aid to humanity. Others have been told will erase humans at their whim, for reasons we can’t comprehend.
Quackity wondered which sort of god, if that was even the right word (he suspected it wasn't) they were dealing with. What entity was trying to use his brother? He still didn’t understand what Karl meant by it needing something, and yet it had already gotten what it wanted from Karl.
There wasn’t any sense to it, did that mean it wanted more? Or were there multiple things it needed for some bigger plan? Quackity tried his best not to dwell on it too much, otherwise, he knew he’d just be thinking in circles or would maybe figure out the answer to things he didn’t want to know.
He and Tubbo were returning back to Sapnap’s house the next morning, Quackity having packed all their things into the car. He wondered how long they’d have to stay, how long they could put off whatever it was for Tubbo.
“How are you doing…?” Quackity asked Tubbo gently, who was looking out the window in the shotgun seat.
“A bit better,” Tubbo mumbled.
“You haven’t had any more hallucinations today right?” Quackity asked, he had to make sure.
Tubbo shook his head. “They don’t happen as much during the day.” He admits.
“Alright. Good.” Quackity took a breath.
Tubbo rubbed his neck. “You don’t need to ask, I’ll… let you know.”
Quackity didn’t meet his gaze as he stared forward. “It’s fine, I don’t mind checking.”
The woods hummed with the sounds of various bugs and birds as Quackity and Tubbo stepped out. Quackity dragged their suitcases over to a small house just off of the main one, barely a few feet away. The inside was small, just a couple of twin beds and a dresser, as if someone had just cut off a chunk of the main house and set it next door. It was the same room they’d used last night, though Quackity and Tubbo had made up the beds in the day since.
Quackity wondered for a moment if he should just leave the clothes in the suitcase. Based on how Karl had sounded they could be there any amount of time between a few days or a few weeks. He paused, standing in the middle of the room for a moment before glancing back to the house.
“Why don’t we head inside for a minute?” Quackity suggested.
Tubbo nodded quietly. They trekked over to the door, Quackity knocking before Sapnap greeted them.
“Hey!” Sapnap smiled. “Come on in, we just had breakfast and my dad left for work, but he said he was more than happy if you and Tubbo needed to stay over for a bit.
Quackity’s body relaxed, which felt odd as he hadn’t realized just how tensed up he’d been all morning. That was one less thing to worry about.
Karl popped up behind Sapnap’s shoulder. “So you did decide to stay?”
“Yeah.” Quackity said, his voice still somewhat guarded. “Just until we figure this thing out with Tubbo.”
"I convinced him." Tubbo announced to Karl.
Sapnap led them inside. “There’s still food on the stove if you want some.”
Tubbo perked up with an excited nod. Sapnap laughed before the two headed into the kitchen together. Quackity couldn’t help but smile, Tubbo would definitely be alright with these two.
Karl stayed behind, glancing over at Quackity. “How are you doing?”
“Huh?” Quackity was startled slightly by the question. “Me?”
“I mean you’re the only other person in here, right?”
Quackity raised an eyebrow somewhat cautiously. “Yeah, I guess.”
Why was Karl asking if he was alright? He was obviously fine, he wasn’t the one who’d been told he’d basically be having some sort of majorly traumatizing event happen to him without any sort of warning.
“You’re a good person, Q.” Karl said with a half-hearted smile. “With me, and now Tubbo? You’ve helped us both, sure you weren’t right at my side when I…” His expression fell for a fraction of a second. “When I disappeared. But even before that, you did so much to help me. You and Sapnap.”
Quackity blinked, taking in what Karl was saying before he waved his hand dismissively. “Nah it’s nothing, I mean you’re my friend.” And Quackity paused when he realized what he’d said, his face flushing just slightly.
Karl chuckled, and Quackity suddenly felt a wave of some sort of emotion. Awe? Pride? Something in between? But he’d just realized that Karl had been so composed since he’d gotten back, so calm about everything he’d been through and Quackity had the realization of how impressive it was. If it had been him, Quackity wasn’t sure if he would have been anything close to sane.
“I wanted to mention something, I remembered it last night.” Karl broke through Quackity’s thoughts.
Quackity perked up at the words. “What did you remember?”
“The day we went camping-”
“Yeah, the one you disappeared.” Quackity nodded. “Did you remember what happened, when we went stargazing?”
“Actually beforehand. It’s why I woke you and Sapnap up.” Karl shook his head. “I didn’t realize it last night, because I was thinking about the moment it happened, but that day I just had this sense of… something bad, like the end of the world, was about to happen.”
He paused, thinking it over. “You knew it would happen?”
“Not exactly.” Karl clarified. “More like, just this overall sense of dread. I didn’t know what it meant, it wasn’t even bad enough to notice that’s why I’d woken up.”
“But you did.” Quackity placed a finger on his chin, biting his lip. “There’s a possibility Tubbo could feel something like it as well before it happens to him.”
“Exactly.” Karl nodded. “I figured I’d bring it up to you first. I’ll tell Tubbo too since he’s the one who’s going to need to keep an eye on it.”
“I’ll tell him, don’t worry.” Quackity assured. “I figured we can just let him relax for right now though, last night was… hard on him.”
“Okay. I won’t mention anything just yet.”
Quackity then spoke after just a second. “Good. Then, we’re on the same page.”
Karl moved to the kitchen entryway.
Quackity followed in, where Tubbo had a plate of eggs and toast as he sat at the kitchen table, lit by the massive window looking out onto the forest outside. Quackity did have to hand it to Sapnap’s dad, their house had always been impressive to Quackity even as a kid.
The smell of the grease and eggs was strong, a few pans still set out on the stove with the last remnants of their breakfast. It made Quackity’s stomach grumble as he grabbed his own plate and sat next to Tubbo.
“So it seems like we really don’t know shit huh?” Sapnap frowned. “With this whole entity thing? We can’t fight it, we don’t know what it wants, and even Karl who… I guess, became part of it at one point and still doesn’t know anything about it.”
“It’s just how it is.” Karl admitted. “It’s not something that’s easy to get rid of or fight.”
Quackity grumbled silently. Even if they couldn’t fight it directly, he hated feeling at the thing’s whim. It felt like admitting his weakness, that there was one thing he couldn’t handle. That there was something out there that, no matter how hard he tried, he wouldn’t be able to defend Tubbo from.
“Right.” Quackity let out an exasperated breath. “What are we supposed to do now, just sit around and wait?”
“There’s not much else we can do.”
Quackity closed his eyes, if not being able to do anything was bad enough, essentially being sitting ducks felt almost worse.
“I guess I’ll go chop some firewood for you guys then.” Quackity stood up. “Help clean outside.”
He felt bad for intruding on them, even if he was a guest. It didn’t feel right to take their help without giving anything back. So he’d try to at least do something useful for them, no matter how tedious.
“Thanks, Q. I think Bad will appreciate it.” Karl smiled. “Tubbo, why don’t you help me clean the dishes?”
Tubbo swallowed a piece of sausage before nodding and sliding out his seat and picking up his plate. “Okay!”
“Well, I’ve got some other chores in here to do.” Sapnap sighed. “Since I don’t have work.”
Quackity stood up, setting his plate by the sink and moving to head outside. He kept the main door open, but closed the screen one to let in fresh air to the house as he stepped outside into the warm day.
-
A few hours later, Quackity felt exhausted from the heavy work. His brow was dripping with sweat and he’d been chopping wood and other chores (cleaning around their deck, fixing up the mess of tools in their shed, and anything else Sapnap pointed out for him). Sweat had been dripping down his brow and he’d been forced to put his beanie away.
He’d even gotten a shower and was sitting with Tubbo in the living room, both of them having sodas and relaxing on the cozy plaid couch. Quackity felt just a touch sore from all the work, but it was worth it.
“Quackity?” Tubbo finally asked after a moment.
Quackity looked over, pulling his gaze away from the tv. “Yeah? Everything okay?”
“I’m fine.” Tubbo assured.
"Are you sure…?"
"Q, I'm okay." Tubbo gave him a somewhat reproachful look.
Quackity backed off, scooting slightly to the side. "Right. Sorry" He sipped his drink for a moment and then looked at Tubbo again. "You're sure you don't mind hanging around here for a few days?"
"I mean… it's not like we’re staying at mom and dad's." Tubbo pointed out. "So I think it’s fine. Besides, I like Sapnap and Karl."
"Then alright." Quackity's shoulders relaxed as he leaned back on the couch.
It was starting to get late, the sun hanging low in the sky a bit above the tree line outside. Quackity already felt tired enough to head to bed with the dying light.
"I just wanted to say-” Tubbo returned to the question he’d started when he’d first begun talking. “I.. I’m sorry for hiding this from you for so long.” He muttered. “I didn’t mean it, I just, I didn’t want it to be happening. I knew you’d freak out. I knew it would be just one more thing for you to try and deal with.”
Quackity’s gaze softened, melting with how quietly Tubbo spoke. “Tubbo, you didn’t have to worry. Really. I’d put everything to the side to help you.”
He meant every word. Tubbo didn’t need to deal with this alone, shouldn’t have to. Tubbo hadn’t done anything to deserve it, to deserve anything the world had thrown at him between their parents and these hallucinations.
“Exactly-” Tubbo sat up straight as if Quackity had made his point for him. “That’s it. You’d do so much for me Q. I can’t even do anything to help in return!” Tubbo explained. “And I don’t want to have to rely on you my whole life- you tell me everything I shouldn’t have to put up with, well you shouldn’t have to put up with me. I wish our parents were better, but they’re not. I wish I wasn’t chosen by some- space god, but I was. It’s my problem to handle.”
Quackity frowned. “So that’s why you didn’t say anything…?”
“That’s why.” Tubbo breathed out a sigh. “Because even if this isn’t one of them, there… are things I can handle on my own.”
“I know that.” Quackity folded his arms.
“Then don’t worry about me,” Tubbo explained. “You helped as much as you could, and now Sapnap and Karl are also here. You did the best you could.”
Quackity went silent, unsure how to respond. It didn’t feel like he’d done his best, he’d practically failed Tubbo in every way possible. It had been his fault he hadn’t noticed everything sooner. No matter what Tubbo said, Quackity’s mind wouldn’t let him forget that basic fact.
He however tried to meet Tubbo with some semblance of a grateful expression, though it fell as Quackity noticed Tubbo’s face turn pale.
“Tubbo?”
“I um…” Tubbo paused, and ice was already starting to flood Quackity’s veins. The last time he’d seen that look on Tubbo had been when he’d been talking him down from the hallucination the previous night. “Can you check on Karl and Sapnap I just-”
“Feel like something… bad is about to happen?” Quackity’s stomach dropped, as Tubbo nodded in response. Immediately Quackity stood up, keeping his gaze fixed on Tubbo as he called for the two.
Soon they’d come down, standing at Quackity’s side. Quackity’s nails nearly cut into his palms as he curled his hand, it was all he could do to keep himself from panicking as he waited. It was going to be okay, just because Tubbo had gotten the sense of dread Karl had mentioned didn’t mean it would happen at that second. They still had time, at least Quackity hoped.
Sapnap paced slightly, continuing to look at Tubbo who stood in front of them as Karl stood next to Quackity. Again, Quackity was frozen in fear as someone else took the reins. Karl briefly explained to Tubbo the same thing he had to Quackity just earlier, Tubbo’s fists balling nervously where he sat.
“So where do we go?” Sapnap asked. “Stay here?”
“Maybe…” Karl muttered. “But then he might just wander off to wherever it wants him. Or something, I don’t know how it works.”
Tubbo was quiet but spoke after a second. “Can we go to the campsite? The one Quackity mentioned you used to go to?”
Sapnap blinked. “Why do you want to go there?”
“I… don’t know.”
Karl closed his eyes thoughtfully, opening them again. “We’ll just have to stay close. I don’t know why we couldn’t be out there though.” He shrugged. “It’s not a bad option.”
“I mean other than it would be in the middle of the woods at dark by the time we got there?” Sapnap pointed out.
“And we’ve been camping there in the dark plenty of times.” Karl corrected. “We’ll just start a fire to keep any animals away and hopefully if we’re there things will go as… well as smooth as they can.”
Sapnap looked over to Quackity. “And what do you think?”
It took Quackity a moment to realize the question was directed at him, his mind still focused on the worst outcomes. He’d really been hoping it wouldn’t be so soon… “I mean, Karl is right. We’ve been camping there at night plenty. If Tubbo wants to go, it probably means that thing wants him there.”
Quackity’s body tensed. In the end, they’d just been giving the thing what it wanted the entire time. Quackity wondered when he’d be able to finally protect Tubbo without having to give in to anyone, without having to just accept the best option was to let things happen. When he’d be able to do more to help than just supporting him.
It made him uncomfortable, to give in because he had to. Knowing that no matter what they did, they’d be giving the thing what it wanted.
“I guess...” Sapnap folded his arms. “Alright, but I’m bringing a first aid kit.”
They quickly got prepared, Sapnap grabbing supplies while Karl and Quackity kept an eye on Tubbo in the car. Quackity’s hands felt sweaty as he held onto the wheel, he didn’t even take his eyes off Tubbo when Sapnap slipped into the passenger seat barely a few moments later.
“Q?”
Quackity blinked. “Oh- uh, yeah.” He turned on the car, and pulled down the flap to block the sunlight in his eyes from the low sunset.
They drove a few minutes to the campsite, in the middle of a nearby ranch area just behind Quackity’s house. For a moment, Quackity glanced in the direction of the path that would’ve taken them back, the one that led just over the nearby hill. A faint thought crossed his mind wondering what his parents were doing that night, whether they were already cheering the loss of responsibilities.
It didn’t take long for them to get set up, Sapnap starting the small fire in the pit while Quackity helped find a handful of logs to burn. Eventually, it was burning, the strong scent of smoke filling the air. If Quackity didn’t know better, he’d say the feeling was similar to getting ready to tell a scary story. Except stories had clear endings, stories made sense, and stories weren’t real.
After a minute, Quackity stood up. “Alright, I guess this is it?” He glanced at Karl.
“Pretty much.” Karl sighed, he looked at Tubbo, “This is probably going to be confusing and I don’t know how you’ll react but we’ll be here.” Sapnap nodded in agreement with Karl, giving a smile to Tubbo.
Quackity looked determinately at Tubbo as he squeezed his hand tightly. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”
“No…” Tubbo admitted. “But it’s going to happen anyway right? No point in trying to fight it.”
Quackity hated that Tubbo’s life had been full of decisions made for him, that so little in his life had been decided by himself. Perhaps after it was all over, Quackity would try to do one big thing that Tubbo wanted, just so that he got to decide something in his life for once.
Karl sat on the other side of the log bench as Sapnap stood, folding his arms and his gaze pensive.
The trees rustled in the distance, the evening light filtering through the leaves causing faint rays of the sun to dance across the ground. The stars were already flickering to life above, starting to dot the indigo sky.
“Whatever happens we’re here,” Karl assured. “It’s going to be a lot and you’re not going to come out of it the same, but it hopefully won’t last long.”
Tubbo nodded, and Quackity noticed his palm start to get slightly sweaty. He frowned. “Estoy aqui, Cabrito.”
Tubbo nodded. “I just wish it would get over with, it’s more nerve-wracking waiting for it you know?”
Karl glanced over. “If you can, try to pull him out of it. I don’t know if it’ll work but if it does, it’ll make it worth it.”
“Alright.”
It reminded Quackity of the visits he’d make to the doctors with Tubbo. His parents would get them both appointments around the same time, and whenever Tubbo didn’t want to do something he’d always ask Quackity to hold his hand. They’d sit there while the doctor gave Tubbo his shot, or whatever else they needed, and Quackity would just squeeze tightly so that Tubbo didn’t feel alone.
That had been when they’d both barely been in elementary school, and yet the memory was burned on Quackity’s mind. Of how sweet his parents had thought he’d been to be there for his brother.
He didn’t think he’d ever held Tubbo’s hand in years.
“Is there anything we can do before?” Quackity asked Karl, brow furrowing.
“No.” Karl shook his head. “This is it.”
There was no turning back, no preparing.
A silence fell on the clearing, the light dimming and casting dark shadows over the group. The three kept to themselves as they each stayed by Tubbo. Thoughts raced in Quackity’s head and he knew it wasn’t helping, worst-case scenarios where something even worse than what Karl went through happened to Tubbo, that at one point he’d look over and Tubbo would just be gone.
“Tubbo?” Sapnap asked, squinting in confusion.
Quackity’s head snapped to look at Tubbo whose breathing had slowed, yet his eyes were glossed over and unfocused.
“Tubbo!” Quackity said quickly, trying to get him to break out of it.
Tubbo’s eyes were suddenly alight with galaxies, an array of stars in his glassy unfocused gaze. Quackity’s breathing sharpened as he kept a hold on Tubbo’s hand, unsure of what to do.
All of a sudden a strange feeling jolted down Quackity’s spine, like a shock to his system. For a second he caught a glimpse of the sky above and had the feeling of a thousand eyes suddenly turning on him. As if everything in the universe for a split second was focused on him.
And despite there being no sound in the clearing, Quackity swore his ears were picking up some sort of noise echoing through his mind, like voices. Though he couldn't pinpoint what it was, what sound he wasn't hearing.
As quickly as it had started, it stopped. It all ended in the blink of an eye, and once again there was true silence.
"What was that?" Sapnap muttered, his pupils small in the dying light.
After his mind stopped buzzing, Quackity immediately turned to Tubbo. "Cabrito?"
He needed to make sure Tubbo was okay, that Tubbo still knew he was there. Tubbo was still sitting there on the log with a glassy gaze, his chest rising and falling steadily.
Then, without warning, he let out an ear-piercing scream that shattered through the calm clearing. It was a raw, guttural noise that punctured Quackity’s heart. Tubbo slammed his hand to his ears, his voice having given out as his body trembled.
Panic seized Quackity, causing him to freeze where he was. What could he do? Other than just trying to keep a hold of Tubbo’s hand.
“Hey, Tubbo- just relax alright?” Quackity explains quickly, Tubbo’s breathing was short and shallow. “Everything’s fine- you’re here…”
“What just happened…?” Sapnap asked, his voice tinged with worry.
Karl muttered in response, “That was it. I think.”
Quackity tuned them both out, instead focusing on his brother still shaking and glassy-eyed in front of him. “Hey. Tubbo. Can you hear me? Breathe, okay? You’re here. I’m here.” Tubbo was still here. Still here. Quackity shifted his hands, both arms wrapping ever-so-gently around his brother, holding him as tightly as he dared. He was still here. They both were, and Quackity wasn’t going to lose him too. “I’ve got you, Tubbo.”
And there was still no response from Tubbo, no sign he could even hear Quackity’s voice, but he didn’t stop speaking anyway. Tubbo was here, and the words spilled out of him like relief and a desperate plea.
Eventually, a hand on Quackity’s shoulders brought him back to reality. “We should head back. If it’s over.”
“Agreed.” Sapnap nodded. “I really don’t think we should be out here longer than we have to.”
Karl paused but agreed before they all eventually got into the car. Quackity glanced at Tubbo, who was still shaking slightly. He then looked at Sapnap and Karl.
“I’ll sit in the back.” He tossed Sapnap the car keys. “Can you drive?” He was going to keep a hold on Tubbo the whole ride back if he had to.
Sapnap gave a short nod and slipped into the front seat, Karl moving to the shotgun seat. Even in the dark of the car, Quackity kept hold of Tubbo’s arm, keeping a reassuring expression on his face as he kept an eye on Tubbo.
A sense of relief flooded Quackity. Sure, he was still worried about how Tubbo was feeling but also… Tubbo was there. Tubbo hadn’t disappeared, whatever had happened hadn’t taken him away. Quackity could already tell that whatever the future had in store, it was going to be a long road for both of them, but at the very least they were together.
It was a small victory.
Quackity glanced out the window at the dark road for a split second before feeling something falling on his shoulder. Glancing over, he saw that Tubbo had fallen over, his eyes closed. Quackity took a few deep breaths as he continued to hold onto him. Quackity was only surprised he hadn’t passed out sooner.
They reached Sapnap’s house, Quackity enlisting Sapnap’s help in carrying Tubbo to the sofa of the basement family room.
“What do we do now?” Quackity muttered, glancing over to Karl and Sapnap.
“Wait for him to wake up I guess?” Karl suggested.
“I’ll get tea and blankets.” Sapnap offered, already leaving out the door.
When Sapnap returned, handing over the mugs, they all sat quietly for a long while. Quackity was grateful for the silence. It gave him a moment to process what had happened, everything they’d just experienced in the last few hours.
If Quackity had been told even three days ago what he’d be doing that night, he would’ve called the person crazy. The idea that not only was he sitting with Karl, Sapnap maybe wasn’t completely upset with him, and everything that he knew about Karl’s hallucinations would change would have seemed like a fever dream.
He’d had a few truths to his universe, a few constants. And within the course of a few days, that had all changed, his world hadn’t just been flipped upside down but if there were identifiable directions in space then his entire universe had quite literally been flipped as well.
“W… what happened?” Quackity’s heart jumped, hearing Tubbo’s voice as Tubbo blinked awake and sat up cautiously on the sofa.
“It’s over.” Quackity smiled, moving closer to him. “It’s done.”
Tubbo’s eyes suddenly looked watery as he clutched Quackity. Quackity inhaled sharply from the unfamiliar feeling until he gently wrapped an arm around him. Quackity’s own eyes stung, threatening to release waterworks as the two held onto each other.
They sat like that for a moment, until Tubbo released Quackity with an awkward rub to his eyes. “Sorry…”
“Don’t be, Cabrito.” Quackity shook his head barely before he glanced at the others, who had thankfully not said anything during the moment.
“So… what did you see?” Sapnap asked Tubbo for a second. “Was it like Karl’s?”
Tubbo shook his head, voice strained. “I- don’t think I’m ready to say. It was…” He shuddered slightly before swallowing. “Maybe someday, but definitely not right now.”
“It’s alright.” Quackity said quickly. If Tubbo never told him, he wouldn’t care. If Tubbo never breathed a word about what he saw, Quackity would never ask. What mattered was that Tubbo was safe. He definitely wasn’t doing well, but he was safe. And to Quackity that’s all that mattered.
“I’m going to bed then,” Karl muttered. “It’s starting to get late. If you want to talk, Tubbo… I’m here.”
“I know.” Tubbo forced a small smile as Karl left, Sapnap pausing to glance at Quackity before following suit.
Quackity looked at Tubbo. The singular question on his mind. “Are you-”
“Am I fine?” Tubbo finished. “No…”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Quackity leaned back on the couch, backing up just slightly to open himself up.
Tubbo paused, and Quackity still noticed how his eyes seemed to have a strange look to them, which told Quackity that whatever the thing had shown him and whatever it had gotten from him… it had been more than Quackity could ever understand. It was the new look he’d grown used to seeing in Karl’s eyes, but seeing it in Tubbo’s… Quackity barely held himself back from crying and clutching Tubbo.
It should have been him, he should’ve been the one. Not Tubbo. Never his brother.
“Karl’s right…” Tubbo mumbled quietly. “There’s no way to explain it honestly. I wish…” And Quackity could hear how hard Tubbo was trying to keep his voice calm. “I wish I hadn’t seen it. I wish it hadn’t been me-” He looked at Quackity, “...don’t push yourself away from them Q. Promise me.”
“Wh-” Quackity blinked. “What does that have to do with it?”
“Promise.”
“I… I promise. “ Quackity nodded, still not sure what Tubbo had meant--What did him pushing away the others have to do with what Tubbo saw? With how Tubbo was feeling?
“I know it probably sounds weird,” Tubbo mumbled. “But just, trust me.”
“I do.” Quackity assured. “I don’t get it, but I’ll listen. Okay?”
“Thanks, Q.”
And the two just sat there on the couch together for a long moment, eventually, after a while Quackity drifted off to sleep, once again feeling Tubbo’s head on his shoulder before hearing the soft snores that Quackity had grown familiar with.
-
The next day, Quackity packed the car once again. It felt like the trunk had become a revolving door with his and Tubbo’s bags, they’d packed so little though it could barely be called hard moving them around. They both were used to traveling light.
After packing, they all decided to go to the cafe in town before Quackity and Tubbo left. (It was so different from Quackity’s plan of just picking up and leaving when it had come to staying with their parents).
It was a nice morning and Quackity had to wonder why. To anyone else, it probably was as if the previous two nights hadn’t even happened. As if the entire past couple of days had been like any others. It was like each person was an individual galaxy and while the four of them had been colliding and forming the past few days, everyone else had remained unscathed and none the wiser.
When Tubbo finished his drink, he excused himself to go to the bathroom. Quackity watched him go, before glancing back at Karl and Sapnap. Don’t push yourself away.
“If you two wanted to come visit some time…” Quackity muttered. “I only live a few blocks away from the university, so I'll send Sapnap my address.”
“Wait-” Sapnap stared. “Are you inviting us?”
Quackity flushed red. “Look, you’re both my friends. I’ve been a dick. I know, I know things can’t be the same as they were but,” He frowned, he’d had what he was going to say planned out in his head but saying, he was at a loss for words. “I… miss you guys.”
Sapnap’s expression softened as he smiled. “Of course Q, any time.” He shook his head. “And you’re not the only one to blame.”
Karl nodded in agreement, which gave Quackity a faint sense of relief. He then remembered something, pulling out a composition notebook from the backpack he’d set next to his chair. He handed it to Karl.
“Why are you giving me this?” Karl raised an eyebrow.
“It’s yours,” Quackity muttered. “I think you should have it back. I mean you’re not gone anymore, I don’t need it.”
Karl gingerly took it, before Sapnap leaned back in his chair. “Honestly? I’m just glad this shit is all over. I think we all need to see a therapist after this.”
Quackity snorted, finishing his coffee. “Yeah, I already have Tubbo set up to see one. They might not help with exactly what he needs? But it’ll be better than nothing.”
“Right.” Karl looked down at his own mug. “You do realize it’s… still out there.” He muttered.
Quackity tensed, fixing his gaze on Karl. “What do you mean?”
“It got what it wanted from Tubbo, but-” Karl shrugged. “I have no idea if that’s all it needs…”
“Oh.” The coffee taste in Quackity’s mouth soured slightly.
“Well that’s alright,” Sapnap assured, giving a half-smile to Quackity. “We’ll deal with it then. We did our best for now.”
“Yeah.” Quackity nodded, Sapnap was hopefully right. But even if he wasn't, something bigger was going to happen… at least he had this moment with them.
When Tubbo returned from the restroom, Quackity and him said their goodbyes, heading for the car. Though Quackity didn’t miss the glances he and Karl exchanged.
There are many theories as to why we haven’t yet made contact with intelligent life outside of our earth. One states that our methods of communication would be vastly different depending on our levels of technology and they may have ways of communicating that humanity cannot yet use. Another theory is that we simply haven’t reached a level that some distant galactic council has decided is worth engaging with. A third theory states that we’re newcomers to the cosmos, that even at 10 billion years old the universe is still only just beginning. Yet another theory is that life is just so rare and impossible to create that humans are truly alone in the universe.
The final theory and most relevant to this story is that there was intelligent life at some point, even within the milky way. Yet because of earth’s distance from even the furthest reaches of our galaxy, it would take years for the light to reach us. Civilization is fragile and short-lived. It would have to be by the best of margins for us to even make contact. By the time we learn that other life exists–when they reach out to us–they’re already dead.