Chapter XLIII: Mirror Planet

Chapter XLIII: Mirror Planet 

“So, can you guys see the Mirror Planet?” Serge asks over the monitor. 

“Yeah, it’s all shiny, like, well, a mirror.” Ballester says. 

“What do the scans say?” 

“The terrain won’t register, but the atmosphere is the same as home.” Oigres says. 

“Hmm, weird. Check it out, let me know what you find.” They enter the planet and land. 

“Oigres, Manboutu, Chimmy, Gorgax. Let’s check it out” Ballester says. They leave the ship, but notice something familiar about it. 

“It looks like Earth, dad.” Oigres says. 

“What? You’re crazy, it’s clearly Galaxia!” Gorgax says. 

“I’m gonna hafta go with the lady on this one.” Manboutu says. 

“I see Earth too.” Chimmy says. 

“It certainly does appear that way.” Ballester says. 

“Look, see? There’s the lab!” Oigres says. 

“All I see is a swamp.” Gorgax says. Oigres looks, and indeed there’s a swamp. 

What the-?” 

“You guys are crazy, all I see is the lab.” Ballester says. Oigres looks again, and it’s definitely the lab. 

“What’s happening?” 

“I think because you’re a hybrid of two species, you can see both planets simultaneously.” Gorgax tells him. 

“Intriguing.” Ballester and Chimmy head toward the lab, while Oigres, Gorgax, and Manboutu head towards the swamp. 

“Hi, Ballester!” Serge says. 

“What’s up, boss?” 

“Come on now, we’re coworkers, I’m not your boss. What happened to your hair and glasses?” Serge smiles. 

“What happened to your eye? It’s normal.” 

“Nothing happened to my eye. Are you feeling ok?” 

“Yeah, I’m fine.” 

“Did you get those samples I asked for?” 

“What samples?” 

“From the lake.” 

“No, not, not yet.” Ballester looks at him suspiciously and heads towards the lake. There he sees another Ballester with hair and glasses collecting samples from the lake. “Who the f**k are you?” 

“Oh, I’m sorry sir, you startled me. The name is professor Ward Burns, at your service, although my friends call me Ballester.” Ward says. 

“Why?” 

“I don’t really know, they think it’s funny I suppose.” 

“So, what do you do here?” 

“I’m one of many scientists here working on cures and finding ways to better humanity.” 

“A scientist?” 

“Of course, ever since I was a child, I’ve always dreamed about helping humanity, my parents were very encouraging. My older brother Hal, may he rest in peace, became a cop. Unfortunately, he was killed in the line of duty.” 

“Hal has a criminal record a mile long, what are you talking about?” 

“Let’s continue this conversation in the lab, I have a theory.” 

“Ok, this is just weird.” Chimmy says. 

“Who is your friend?” Ward asks. 

“This is Chimmy, our security guard.” 

“Heh, he reminds me of our own security guard, Jimmy.” They head towards the lab. 

“Uh, Ward, who are these guys?” Jimmy, the security guard asks. His dog starts barking. “Calm down, Chimdog. Here, have a hot dog.” He feeds the dog a hot dog. 

“I believe they’re alternate versions of ourselves.” 

“Oh, more of that science-y mumbo jumbo. Go ahead, go in. But I’m keeping an eye on you.” 

“Don’t forget to turn the fence on before you go to bed, I forget sometimes too.” Chimmy says. 

“How the hell did you know-” 

“Cause I’m you, janky boy.” 

“I say janks. Ok, this is creeping me out.” The group heads back to the lab. 

“Ah, Ballester! And...Ballester?” Serge asks, shocked. 

“Meet my alternate self, Ballester and his security guard...uh...?” 

“Chimmy.” Ballester says. 

“Chimmy. Jimmy’s alternate.” 

“You think they’re mirror versions of, well, actually that explains the conversation we just had. Welcome to our planet? Universe? Dimension? How did you get here?” Serge asks. 

“We landed on your planet, it’s called Mirror Planet.” Ballester says. 

“Mirror Planet?” 

“Yeah, when we landed, me and Chimmy here saw Earth, but the Galaxians saw Galaxia.” 

“What are Galaxians?” 

“They haven’t landed here yet?” 

“There’s alien life out there? I knew it! I should call the president and let him know!” Serge rushes into his office while Ballester looks around. He comes across a small cage with a  lizard in it. The name says ‘Alfredo’. 

Meanwhile, Gorgax, Oigres, and Manboutu are exploring the swamps, which are full of Galaxians. “Wow, so this is what the planet was supposed to look like.” Gorgax says. 

“We should take some pictures and video to take home.” Manboutu says. 

“Good idea, we can update our files with accurate footage!” 

“So, this is the planet you guys came from?” Oigres asks. 

“Sort of. Our ancestors lived here, we lived on the ship our whole lives.” They wander around for awhile until someone calls them. They turn around and see a woman running toward them. When she reaches them, she’s out of breath. 

“I’m so out of shape.” The female Galaxian says. 

“Who are you?” Gorgax asks. 

“My name is Gorgax. You look just like me, are you a long lost sibling?” 

“No, this is my first time on this planet.” 

“You mean, you weren’t born here with the rest of us?” 

“No, the Galaxia I come from was destroyed by our ancestors, thousands of years ago.” 

“Tell me about it.” 

“They soiled the waters and contaminated the planet.” 

“That almost happened here, but we figured it out before it was too late. What did you say your name was?” 

“Gorgax. I believe we are alternate versions of each other.” 

“Interesting. Who’s your muscular friend?” 

“His name is Manboutu.” 

“My life partner’s name is Manboutu. Hold on, I’ll go get him!” She comes back with an unaltered version of Manboutu. 

“Sup dudes, I’m Manboutu.” Alternate Manboutu says. 

“Let me see the back of your head.” Manboutu says. AM turns around and the eyes are on the back of his head, but smaller. 

“How did you know about my extra eyes?” Manboutu turns around. “Oh, s**t! So wait, who are you guys?” 

“We’re alternate versions of you.” 

“Woah, trippy.” 

“This is my son Oigres.” Prime Gorgax says, gesturing towards Oigres. 

“There isn’t anyone there.” AG says. 

“What are you talking about? He’s waving at you.” 

“Mom, what’s going on?” Oigres asks. 

“I don’t know.” 

“Who are you talking to? AG asks. 

“My son.” 

“You’re insane.” 

“No I’m not, he’s right here!” 

“I guess alternate me must be crazy. Buff, but crazy.” 

“I’m not crazy!” 

“Whatever you say, come on babe, let’s get out of here.” AG says to AM. They turn around and start walking. 

“You b***h!” They just continue walking away. The group heads back towards the ship, and Oigres’ view changes to that of Earth. He sees the lab, and runs towards it. 

“Dad!” Oigres says as he heads inside and runs into Ballester. 

“Wassup son?” Ballester asks. 

“I’m invisible to the Galaxians on this planet.” 

“That’s weird, maybe there’s no alternate Galaxian version of you.” 

“Who are you talking to?” Serge asks. 

“My son.” 

“If you say so.” 

“Humans can’t see me either?” Oigres asks. “Damn! What the f**k?” He angrily leaves the lab and heads back to the ship. 

“Well, it was nice meeting you, but I’d better get back to my ship.” 

“Ship?” Serge asks. 

“Yeah, we gotta report to- well, you.” 

“That’s why you thought I was your boss.” 

“Yeah.” 

“Alright, well it was nice meeting you!” 

“You, uh, too.” Ballester and Chimmy leave the lab and head back to the ship. “Hey hon, how was your adventure?” 

“The other me thinks I’m crazy for thinking my own son exists.” Gorgax says. 

“You know, the Serge on this planet couldn’t see him either.” 

“Really?” 

“Yeah.” 

“Weird.” They contact Serge. 

“Waddup guys? How was the Mirror Planet?” Serge asks. They give their respective reports and explain Oigres’ problem. “I think because he’s neither species and both at the same time, the Planet couldn’t correctly place him. Also explains why he was able to see both simultaneously.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“Well, according to your reports, the planet changed to accommodate both species, but only each species could see and interact with their own planet. Because Oigres is a hybrid, he was able to participate in both, but was invisible to the inhabitants because he didn’t belong on either, even though he was born on Earth. Sorry, Oigres, but at least you got to see your ancestral home.” 

“...yeah, I guess..” Oigres says disappointedly.