AFTERWORD

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The aim of "H O M E C O M I N G" was to handle the situation going on with the Dark Celestials and Safe Havens while simultaneously going back to the roots of the original ZooPhobia—meaning less focus on big fights against big villains and more focus on the characters and their intertwining stories. You probably noticed that, at the beginning of the story, we see how each member of Retrieval Team 1 (minus Taxi and Savvira) personally feels about the Addison/Vision conflict. These short character blurbs are also recaps of each character's storyline with a focus on their respective relationships with Addison. It actually required some research on my end (since I had to go back and read my own stories), but it was one of the most fun parts of the story to write.

There are a few more character conflicts spread throughout the story. We have Gustav and Camilla butting heads over what their daughter should believe about the Addison/Vision debate. We see Annie and Kipzie hopelessly pleading their case to everyone they've hurt. And, of course, we see Koko and MacKenzie's relationship nearly torn apart by MacKenzie's unquenchable love for Addison (and Addison's unwillingness to rebuff her). These heroes are far from perfect and still have a ways to go before their synced enough to truly keep the Safe Havens safe, but they'll need to get their act together if they want to set their homes free from the Dark Celestials' iron grip.

There are plenty of Easter Eggs scattered throughout this story. For instance:

1. Savvira tells her parents that she'll "save everyone from giant monsters that eat planets" one day. This is a reference to her future in some other stories I've written, which take place in a universe outside of this one. She serves as the "High Auxiliary" (second-in-command) of the "New Story", an organization that polices all worlds in all stories everywhere while staving off the "Titan's Eye", a rival group that aims to feed planets to a massive entity known as "Titan" (who then produces more galaxies using the material it consumes). Neither side is good or evil, but rather both walk the line between the two concepts.

2. Addison is seen smoking a cigarette—a callback to his days as "Vision" when he chain-smoked multiple packs per day.

3. The Battle of Point Nemo ("P R O T E C T O R S") is referenced heavily by Specialist Tawny Sayers, and Markus Thorpe—a petty officer aboard the Wilmarth during said battle—is present at the firing range on the Bregman-Reiss.

4. A new Greek god is introduced into the Safe Haven Saga canon: Athena Pallas, Chief Strategist of Xirxine International. She is obviously Athena/Minerva, the goddess of wisdom and warfare, and no, she is not my original character.

Athena and many other Greek gods (including Aphrodite and Eros) will return in "P O W E R : P A N T H E O N"

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Athena and many other Greek gods (including Aphrodite and Eros) will return in "P O W E R : P A N T H E O N". Her new protocol, Code "Soteria", will also be revisited in the future.

5. This is the first time we get to meet another Protector-Conqueror pair besides Safiya el Nar and Petrus Draconis: Ziz and Nengyuan, the Gryphon and the Dragon. Ziz is a very calm, mellowed-out, comforting presence with powerful aerokinesis, while Nengyuan is an egotistical, loudmouthed braggart who wields immense illusion-based abilities and unbreakable scales.

6. This isn't really an Easter Egg, but in Chapter IV, we get a replay of the endings of "Prodigal" and "Allies", where Addison reunites with his friends from the Northwest Safe Haven. This nicely ties up those cliffhangers and keeps the ball rolling.

7. When Damian, Sahara, and Addison have their first conversation in almost five years, Damian recalls the time he tricked his cousin into dating a pyromaniac. This is a direct reference to the same story mentioned in the original ZooPhobia comic.

8. Bari refers to Snake as "Mrs. Snake", meaning she is no longer single. And by the way, neither is Bari...

9. Addison and Koko's "interaction" at the stream was hilarious to write. They both obviously felt rather strongly about their respective relationships with MacKenzie, and thankfully for them, those feelings were strong enough to break down their own friendship. At least, not yet...

(This fight—ahem, uh, "interaction" also features Addison's tentacled "Vision" form, first seen in "Prodigal".)

10. ...and speaking of Addison and MacKenzie, it's no secret that things took a turn for the "WHOOPS" when they finally talked with each other again—especially since they did a little more than "talk". The sudden way in which MacKenzie kisses Addison is a reference to the first time she does so in "Peacekeepers".

11. The opening lines for the scene with D'kala and Kia in the plane is copy-pasted from the very first lines of "Peacekeepers". Kia mentions this plainly a few lines later.

12. Sahara uses the phone magic trick from "Peacekeepers" on Kia again during their reunion.

13. The weapon ceremony Tián performs with Addison is the same performed by Xiliu Kuangfeng with the dragon brothers in Chapter V of "Legends". Tián also mentions how the phoenix and dragon represent the yin and yang in Chinese mythology, which is an actual fact. Look it up; it's pretty interesting.

14. Addison wears his "Vision" outfit to prove a point: though he is indeed the monster who brought the Inner Gods to Safe Haven, he still plans to attempt the impossible deed of atoning for his misdeeds as that same monster.

15. The ending scene in the City District has multiple Easter Eggs. Addison overhears pieces of the epilogue of "Dreamers". Kia yells "Let's RUMBA!" before charging into battle (see "Peacekeepers"). Bog from "Legends" and "Dreamers" appears again, as this epilogue is a continuation of that story's own epilogue.

16. "Project WARfare" (first seen in "Brokenheart" and then in "Exorcism") makes a reappearance, along with an Exorcist weapon—01—in the hands of—*le GASP!*—Petrus Draconis?!

Yes, that's right. Everyone's favourite rocky reptile is back on the big stage! How and why will be explained in the next "P O W E R" story. However, before we take that step, we must witness Annie and Kipzie's encounter with the former director of Xirxine... the current bearer of the mask itself... the father of Annie's Celestial son... Mwindaji Namungu, "Mr. Barakoa".

Next up: "B A R A K O A : S T A R C H I L D". (Coming 4/27/22)

P.S. For anyone wondering why the word "nigga" went uncensored in Chapter VII, it's because 1) I'm black and 2) we use that specific spelling as a term of endearment, not as a slur.

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("P O W E R : H O M E C O M I N G" was written from February 7, 2022 to March 12, 2022.)

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