Matere squeezed the capsule, which crackled. He tossed it towards the center of the alley way. It landed on the ground, then bounced once, twice. It popped open. From inside its shell, an electric arc reached to the ceiling of the Perispike barrier. A moment later, a thin, black line appeared and then spread apart, opening a hole so black that Fredrick had a difficult time focusing his eyes upon it.

“Don’t bother to look at it,” said Matere. His voice sounded different, muffled, crackling, distorted. “The Slipshot warps light and sound. Outside, the world has come to a standstill. Or to put it more precisely, our perception of time has temporarily aligned with that of Griddish.”

Fredrick grimaced as he struggled to decipher Matere’s words. He almost wished he had said them before he opened the Slipshot. He sniffed. The air smelled of burning metal. He glanced towards the sky, past the dome of azure that covered them. He saw a bird, frozen in the heavens, still, unmoving. He glanced towards the street, empty, silent.

Except for one thing.

A figure. Fredrick squinted. He looked up at the bird, which barely moved, and then again at the street, beyond the Perispike barrier. Past the azure barrier, it advanced towards them, sluggishly. Its form was human. It stepped closer until it stood just outside the barrier, its head down, leaning forward as if struggling against a powerful wind. It lifted its hand and pressed it against the outside of the barrier.

And then, a flash. The azure Perispike barrier fizzled and crackled. Arcs of plasma licked the ground, streams of light spluttering like rainfall. A wind rushed past Fredrick. He lifted his arms, crossing them in front of his face, as he stumbled backwards.

The figure was a man. His legs stretched forward as he dug his heels into the cobbled surface. Leaning backwards, his hands clawed against the streets as he slid forward and then dragged himself to a stop.

He stood up and brushed his hands against his shirt and then his trousers. He glanced at Matere and Betel. He looked at Fredrick, then Jillian. A wide smile crossed his face.

“Dr. Onu?” said Fredrick, his eyes wide.

“Now, what did I say about you calling me that?” said the man, his voice crisp and pleasant. “I thought we agreed that when we weren’t in class, you would call me Jeremiah.”

Fredrick glanced at Jillian, who also looked at the man with wide eyes. “I….”

Jeremiah turned towards Jillian. “It’s certainly nice to see you here as well,” he said. “Quite the pleasant surprise. I was worried about you two since you hadn’t shown up for class. When one’s best students are absent, absent, one begins to wonder and ask questions.” He paused. “I suppose my concern was misplaced.” He glanced at Matere and Betel, and then bowed slightly. “Or perhaps not.” He paused. “Nevertheless, I am quite excited to see my dear old friends Matere and Betel again. Um, is that what you are called in this particular incarnation?”

“Uh…,” mumbled Fredrick. “What the heck is going on?” He glanced at Jillian, who shrugged her shoulders.

“Alright, well that’s all good and well,” said Matere, “But I’m afraid I don’t know you.”

“You’ve been away for a while, Matere,” replied Jeremiah. “It’s understandable. In that respect, we are much alike. But I have to say I’m disappointed that you would forget me so easily.”

“What’s he talking about?” Fredrick whispered towards Jillian. Jillian shook her head.

Matere turned his eyes as if searching for some distant memory.