The boss’s health bar was one pixel from zero when the universe exploded in purple glitter.

Coop had just leaned into the couch, thumb mashing the controller, slushie brain freeze stabbing his skull, when the living room lights flickered. The TV glitched. Jamie swore that was cheating. Then the air in front of them ripped open like somebody hit a cosmic pause menu and selected "load weird."

Heat rolled out of the portal, smelling like ozone and something sweet and sharp. An iridescent swirl twisted, bright enough that Coop had to squint. For a second he thought, great, another invasion, and he was not even wearing his boots.

Something heavy dropped straight out of the light and into his lap.

Coop oofed, controller flying, slushie tipping. Cold blue syrup soaked his vest as an entire person sprawled across him. Not human. Skin catching the TV glow in strange colors, unfamiliar clothes, eyes that looked like they belonged in the part of space Kiva yelled about.

Jamie shrieked, clutching his drink to safety. "Dude, your couch is haunted!"

Coop barely heard him. His heart did a weird double tap. The alien in his lap was warm, disoriented, and very, very real. For one wild second he thought about how Kiva was going to murder him if this was some time paradox. Then the alien's gaze latched onto his, wide and blinking.

They looked scared. Or lost. Or both.

Something in his chest tugged hard, right under the grease stains and chili fries.

He swallowed, tried to ignore the slushie dripping down his ribs, and managed a crooked grin.

"Uh. Hey there, Sparkplug. You, uh, fall through interdimensional portals into guys' laps often, or am I just having a really awesome Tuesday?"