"Following the original timeline," Professor Paradox began, his voice carrying the weight of someone who'd witnessed far too many futures, "this version of you would naturally be recruited by the Time Variance Authority. Eventually, you'd ascend to become the God of Stories, the living embodiment of narrative itself across all timelines. You'd sit on a throne at the end of time, weaving and maintaining the threads of every possible reality for all eternity."
He paused, studying Loki unconscious form.
"But things are different now."
"That Time Variance Authority has been compromised," he continues explaining. "Taken over by another. And they are systematically dismantling the protective barriers surrounding your universe."
Thor, who'd been standing guard over his unconscious brother, suddenly plopped down directly on top of the Mjolnir—which he'd casually placed across Loki's back like a paperweight.
The God of Thunder's considerable weight pressed down through the hammer, driving a grunt of protest from the supposedly unconscious trickster.
"Are you using another me as furniture?" Loki wheezed, his eyes still closed.
"Yes," Thor replied cheerfully, shifting his weight to get more comfortable. "Move your butt over a bit, would you?"
Instead of complying, Thor ground down harder.
Loki cracked one eye open, glaring up at his brother with pure annoyance. "What exactly do you mean by 'dismantling the barriers of our universe'? That sounds... concerning."
Professor Paradox tapped his cane against the sand with a sharp crack that seemed far too loud.
"Literal meaning," he said. "Within Ben Parker's Omnitrix exists a powerful consciousness. Omnipotent, or near enough. However, certain conditions must be met before this entity can act directly in our reality."
He began pacing, his cane leaving perfectly straight lines in the sand.
"To prevent your timeline from being severed by Ben's very existence—and to protect your universe from various external threats that his presence attracts—this consciousness unanimously agreed to establish a barrier outside your entire universal cluster. A metaphysical wall preventing certain entities from approaching."
The gentleman paused, turning to face them with a small, self-deprecating smile.
"Unfortunately for me, I was among those deemed threatening enough to warrant exclusion."
"Moreover," he continued, "it's a forced blockade across all timelines branching from your universe's nexus point. Even if I travel to your future or your past, the barrier remains in effect. This makes it impossible for me to contact Ben Parker directly, or to exist within billions of light-years of his operational range."
Thor's expression shifted from amusement to concern. He stood up from his Loki-seat, allowing his brother to finally roll over and breathe properly.
"Wait," the God of Thunder said slowly, his tactical mind engaging. "If there are barriers outside our universe that can prevent it from being destroyed by external threats... then why are we experiencing collision crises? How are entire alternate Earths manifesting inside the barrier?"
The gentleman's smile turned grim.
"Because the architect behind the collision crisis possesses abilities no less formidable than those entities in Ben's watch."
"Oh, wonderful," Loki muttered. "Because who isn't a god these days? It's getting positively crowded in the omnipotence department. Didn't I mention earlier that I am the God of Mischief? And that at one time God of Thunder and almost King of Asgard?"
Professor Paradox laughed—a genuine sound of amusement.
"Even your father Odin," he said, "the All-Father, the King of Asgard, the wielder of the Odin-Force itself... he is nothing compared to these beings."
"That's alarmist rhetoric," Loki countered, though his voice had lost some of its confidence.
"I appreciate you taking us here," he continued, "but that doesn't mean we trust you implicitly. You could be leading us into a trap. You could be the actual threat."
Paradox sighed, his expression shifting to one of weary patience.
"Suspicious minds are so exhausting to work with," he murmured. "Very well. I'm telling you the objective truth, but if you don't believe me, you'll understand soon enough. Once we reach the Time Variance Authority headquarters, the evidence will be undeniable."
Loki studied him for a long moment, then gave the smallest of nods.
Thor cleared his throat. "You still haven't explained what you expect us to do."
"Loki—you will infiltrate the Time Variance Authority by assuming this variant's identity and place." Paradox pointed to the down Loki and explain.
"Before Maltruant eliminates the remaining resistance within the organization, he won't make any overt moves. You must prevent him from obtaining temporal manipulation powers from the TVA's core systems. If he gains control over the Root of Time itself, the multiverse is finished."
The certainty in his voice brooked no argument. He spoke as though Loki's agreement was already assured, already written into fate.
"And what about me?" Thor asked, hefting Mjolnir. "What's my role in this cosmic drama?"
Professor Paradox's eyes gleamed.
"Thor Odinson," he said softly, "didn't you want to know who's truly manipulating the collision crisis? Who's orchestrating the destruction of infinite realities? I can tell you the answer directly."
He stepped closer, his presence suddenly more imposing despite his refined appearance.
"Those beings are called the Beyonders. They exist beyond the normal hierarchy of cosmic entities. Your so-called gods—even the five fundamental forces of your universe, even the Living Tribunal itself—they are not even remotely on the same level."
Thor frowned. "I've never heard of these 'Beyonders.'"
"Few have. They were created during the Second Cosmos by the First Firmament as servants, tools to maintain reality. But they evolved. They transcended their original purpose and developed power that surpasses their creator."
Paradox let that sink in for a moment.
"Have you ever encountered a Cosmic Cube?" he asked.
Loki held up the Tesseract. "This?"
"No. Well, yes, but I'm speaking more broadly." Paradox gestured dismissively. "A true Cosmic Cube can freely alter everything within a single universe. Its power is roughly equivalent to the combined might of all six Infinity Stones working in concert."
He paused for effect.
"The Beyonders created countless Cosmic Cubes using an infinitesimal fraction of their total power. An amount of energy so small it's barely measurable. Which means they possess enough raw power to casually rewrite entire multiverses on a whim."
"Their capabilities even surpass Alien X," he added quietly. "That terrifying consciousness within Ben's watch."
Thor rubbed his temples, a headache forming.
The scale of power being described was so vast, so incomprehensible, that his mind struggled to find proper context. It was like trying to visualize the difference between a million and a trillion—intellectually he understood the numbers, but emotionally, experientially, they meant nothing.
Just endless zeros stretching into abstraction.
Professor Paradox seemed to recognize this cognitive limitation, because he crouched down and extended one finger toward the sand.
"Imagine," he said, "a child playing with marbles. Two entire universes can be destroyed with just..." He flicked his finger, creating a small divot in the sand. "...a simple motion. No effort. No malice. Just curiosity."
Sand grains tumbled into the depression from all sides, drawn by gravity.
"When you poke a hole in this desert," he continued, "countless grains of sand flow toward the center point, yes? Well, the multiverse is like those grains of sand to the Beyonders. And they've poked a hole."
He made a crushing motion with his fist.
"Boom."
Loki's eyes widened with sudden understanding.
"So Earth is the 'hole' they created," he said slowly. "And because of this hole, multiple universes collapse toward it like sand flowing downward. That's why Earth specifically serves as the anchor point for all these collisions."
"Precisely." Paradox stood, brushing sand from his expensive trousers. "However, they are not without weaknesses. Another associate and I—someone I've only recently befriended—have decided to cooperate in averting this catastrophic crisis."
As he spoke, he stepped aside with a theatrical flourish.
Green magical energy erupted from empty air, coalescing into a swirling portal. The temperature dropped noticeably as reality bent around the tear in space.
A figure stepped through.
He stood perhaps six feet tall, clad in armor that seemed forged from silver starlight and reinforced with arcane symbols that pulsed with power. A green cloak, rich as forest canopy, billowed behind him despite the absence of wind. His face remained hidden behind a metal mask—cold, impassive, designed to intimidate.
But the presence emanating from him...
Thor's hand tightened on Mjolnir instinctively. Every divine instinct he possessed screamed threat. The amount of magical energy radiating from this newcomer rivaled the Ancient One herself. Perhaps exceeded it.
"And who are you?" Thor demanded, positioning himself defensively.
The armored figure didn't even glance at him. Those eye-slits remained fixed on Paradox, and when he spoke, his voice dripped with contempt.
"Paradox," he said, the name sounding like an accusation, "you know perfectly well how formidable our enemies are. So why have you brought these two useless helpers into our operation?"
"Who are you calling useless?!" Loki snarled.
Thor's grip on Mjolnir shifted to a combat stance. "I am Thor, God of Thunder—"
The armored figure made a dismissive gesture with one hand.
Reality lurched.
Both Asgardians were slammed into the sand with crushing force, as though gravity had suddenly increased tenfold directly above them. Thor's face pressed into the desert floor, Mjolnir suddenly too heavy to lift. Loki gasped for air, completely immobilized.
"Weaklings," the armored man stated flatly.
"Now, now, Doctor Doom," Professor Paradox said with forced cheer. "There's no need for such hostility. If our plan proceeds smoothly, Loki will master the power of the Root of Time. And temporal manipulation is one of the very few weaknesses the Beyonders possess."
He began pacing again, warming to his lecture.
"Their time is linear, you see. They experience causality sequentially, unlike certain other cosmic entities. If they didn't, I would never have been able to lead you away from their hunters so many times. We've exploited this limitation repeatedly."
"As for Thor..." Paradox smiled. "He possesses something far more valuable than mere godly strength."
Doctor Doom's posture shifted slightly. "What?"
"The Phoenix Force dwells within him."
The temperature dropped another few degrees.
Even Doctor Doom—arrogant, supremely confident Doctor Doom—went very still.
"The Phoenix Force," he repeated slowly. "You're certain?"
"Completely. The Phoenix is the psionic nexus of all realities across the omniverse. It links the psychic energy of every living thing in every universe simultaneously. If any power can challenge the Beyonders directly, it's that primordial force."
Doom considered this, his masked face unreadable.
"If we cannot access that power," he said finally, "if this Thunder God cannot summon the Phoenix when needed, then all your planning is empty speculation."
"You always have to try first," Paradox replied mildly.
He released whatever force had been pinning the Asgardians. Thor and Loki gasped, rolling onto their backs and sucking in desperate breaths.
"Thor Odinson," Paradox said, extending a hand to help him up, "you will accompany us to confront the Beyonders themselves. We may even face their elite warriors directly—beings who've destroyed entire pantheons as casually as you'd swat a fly. I hope you won't be afraid when that moment comes."
Thor grabbed the offered hand and hauled himself upright, pride stinging worse than his bruised ribs.
"I will not yield," he declared, his voice rough but determined. "I am not afraid of any challenge."
"Good." Paradox checked an elaborate pocket watch, his expression tightening slightly. "Then we'd best begin immediately. The investigation team should arrive any moment now."
He snapped his fingers.
The world shifted.
Loki blinked, suddenly alone in the desert. Thor, Doom, Paradox, even his variant—all of them had vanished as though they'd never existed. The only evidence of their presence was the disturbed sand where they'd stood.
"Wait—" Loki started to rise. "What—"
Orange light bloomed in the air before him.
Rectangular portals appeared—dozens of them, their edges crackling with energy. The visual effect looked almost cheap, like someone had run out of budget for proper special effects and just slapped glowing rectangles onto reality.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Writing takes time, coffee, and a lot of love.If you'd like to support my work, join me at [email protected]/GoldenGaruda
You'll get early access to ALL CHAPTER, selection on new series, and the satisfaction of knowing your support directly fuels more stories.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~