Everyone thought that Viz was dead, even Phil - he was in his private shuttle! He saw it get completely coated in ice and obliterated by that huge asteroid!
But, was that really what happened? Nobody actually saw him being destroyed.
~☆~
In the midst of the icy rubble that used to be his ship, Viz laid unconscious while the asteroid continued flying through space. It was one of many that would soar by Planet Earth every now and then, but this time it went straight for its surface. Being an alien came in clutch for situations like plummeting down onto a planet's surface while riding an asteroid with how well Viz managed to tank the impact. He wasn't unscathed though; covered in bruises and scratches, his legs still partially frozen from the blast, one of his arms were broken too.
He was unconscious for an unknown amount of time, only waking up when he heard humans in hazmat suits carefully approaching the scene. The pain from the impact suddenly hit Viz like a bullet train and he shrieked, writhing in agony on the ground which caused the personnel to quickly step back. Despite the suffering he endured, Viz was appalled when a human reached out to touch him with a gloved hand.
He flew an unbroken arm at them to stir it away. "Get your hands off of me, cretin!" His gravelly voice tore the back of his throat as he yelled. Eventually, someone managed to grab him. "We're trying to help you! It's okay!" It took about four people to hold Viz down and drag him into an armoured truck. His immense pride didn't stop him from flailing and screaming like a crying toddler, needing to be sedated after nearly escaping the vehicle. The only thing that stopped him was falling face first into the ground while crawling out the side door.
~☆~
It's been many years since Phil helped wipe Project Vizion from existence. However, that came with a cost; his mental health. No matter how much he tried, who he told outside of his friends and family who experienced it with him, no one believed him. He ran his hands over his face while sitting on his porch, exasperated. It was the evening; the orange sky laid a blanket over the neighbourhood, the gentle Autumn breeze caressing his skin. Inside the home, his wife Smiley and their friends Zack and Phred were spending time with their child, Ruben.
Phred decided to step out and check up on him. "Hey dude, you doing okay?" The question fell on deaf ears, so he sat down in the chair beside Phil. "C'mon Egghead, what's cracking?" He nudged him with his elbow. He stared out into the street before replying "How.. can you guys just, move on? From everything?" That caught Phred off guard, his joking demeanour put on pause. "What?"
"How do you not feel like you're going crazy - everyone calls me that! I'm not crazy, you know I'm not. You were there!"
His eyes searched Phred's, looking for any sign of validation. The memories of his childhood, his learning, everything.. being stunted by some alien organization that thought they could play God by kidnapping children and experimenting on them. The tests themselves were just meant to completely fabricate their lives growing up. Even now, he still sometimes thinks he's in a dream... "Phil listen," Phred put his hand on his shoulder. "We were all there, but you were the one that dealt with them the most. We're not dreaming anymore, everything's okay now."
While it did help ease his nerves, some paranoia still lingered despite his best efforts to fully believe his best friend's words. Zack was helping Smiley cook dinner before the two came back inside. Ruben - being 3 years old - was busying himself with his colourful toy blocks in the living room, in view of the kitchen nearby. It only took Smiley a glance at Phil to know that something was wrong and quickly wiped her hands on her apron, before moving over to him. "Is everything okay?" Seeing the concerned look on his wife's face made it difficult for Phil to open his mouth.
Zack noticed the hushed conversation at the doorway and tried to eavesdrop out of curiosity, but the food spitting oil at him veered his attention away from the trio. Phred looked over at him struggling to control the stove, so he gave Smiley a "I'll take over, just get him to bed" before rushing over into the kitchen. The couple walked down the dimly lit hallway to their bedroom, none taking notice of the TV - which had been playing the whole time - switching to breaking news about an alien and asteroid being discovered down the block...
