Albedo straightened his jacket, finally feeling clean enough to continue his presentation. The lingering phantom taste of chili fries still haunted him, but he pushed through with professional determination.
"Soon," he announced, waving his hand to project a holographic display, "a new collision crisis will occur."
The image materialized in the center of the conference hall—two universes represented as massive spheres of twisted spacetime, drawing inexorably closer together. One was clearly marked as the Ben Parker universe. The other remained unidentified.
"We are isolated from that sealed universe by the Celestialsapien barrier," Albedo explained, manipulating the projection to highlight the shimmering energy field surrounding Ben Parker's reality. "However, this approaching universe can enter through the barrier. The collision mechanism itself creates a temporary passage."
"So what does that have to do with us?" Mad Ben demanded, his impatience radiating like heat.
"I can't believe I have to explain this," he muttered.
"Idiot!" Albedo shot back immediately, his voice dripping with contempt. "Is your brain entirely composed of muscle tissue? Do you have even a single functioning brain cell?"
Maltruant's mechanical voice cut through the brewing argument.
"You mean we first travel to the universe that's about to collide, then enter the sealed universe through the passage created at the collision point. Correct?"
"Precisely." Albedo nodded with obvious relief at finally having an intelligent question. "And you don't need to worry about creating new timeline branches. As long as we destroy both universes simultaneously during the collision, no divergent timelines will manifest."
He adjusted the holographic display, zooming in on the theoretical breach point.
"However, there's a critical limitation. This method of exploiting the loophole cannot accommodate a large group. Too many people passing through will easily attract attention from the other side."
He paused for emphasis.
"Think of it like a fishing net. You have to be smaller than the holes to slip through undetected."
"What's the maximum number that can pass through safely?" Maltruant asked, leaning forward with interest.
Albedo brought up a complex series of calculations, mathematical formulas scrolling across the holographic display in dizzying arrays.
"Based on my analysis of the barrier's quantum resonance patterns and the collision point's dimensional instability, the maximum number should ideally not exceed three individuals."
Three?
"I'm enough on my own!" Mad Ben declared, his nostrils practically pointing at the ceiling. His voice brimmed with absolute confidence, bordering on arrogance.
And truthfully, he had reason for that confidence.
Among the many Ben Tennyson variants assembled here, Mad Ben ranked among the most powerful. His skill at operating the Omnitrix exceeded most others. Every technique, every transformation, every combat application had been personally trained into him by Maltruant and Vilgax.
He was a weapon honed to perfection.
"Don't let your guard down," Vilgax rumbled, his deep voice carrying the weight of experience. "Overconfidence has destroyed more powerful beings than you can imagine."
For once, Mad Ben showed a genuinely docile demeanor, his rebellious attitude softening in the presence of the two figures who'd raised and trained him.
"Yes, Lord Vilgax," he said quietly.
"So," Albedo interjected with a sneer, "who would want to work with this brainless idiot?"
He made a show considering the assembled variants.
"First, exclude me from consideration. I have no desire to babysit."
"I don't really get along with him either," Bad Ben added, crossing his legs and examining his fingernails with affected disinterest. The displeasure in his voice was obvious.
Nega Ben didn't even bother commenting. He simply kept his head down, radiating apathy.
Eon desperately wanted to volunteer.
Working alongside Mad Ben would provide the perfect opportunity to eliminate both Mad Ben and the Ben from the sealed universe simultaneously. He could absorb their life energy, consume their Omnitrixes, add their power to his deteriorating patchwork of stolen abilities.
But Vilgax and Maltruant maintained a protective watch over their only remaining "child." They'd invested too much in Mad Ben's development to risk him on an uncertain mission with someone as untrustworthy as Eon.
"Benjamin," Maltruant announced, his tone brooking no argument. "You're going."
Bad Ben's expression soured, but he didn't object to a direct order.
"Eon, Vilgax," Maltruant continued, turning to address them directly. "You two have a different assignment. Hunt down Professor Paradox. That irritating temporal manipulator has been interfering with our operations for too long. He needs to be eliminated before he causes more problems."
"Understood." Eon shrugged, his purple trench coat rippling with dimensional energy. The prospect of hunting Paradox actually appealed to him—the time traveler's chronal energy would make an excellent addition to his collection.
"The meeting is adjourned," Maltruant declared, rising from his position at the center of the hall.
"All teams, begin preparations. Operation commences immediately."
The assembled variants began dispersing, each faction moving toward their assigned objectives.
The Library of World
While the evil variants plotted in the compromised TVA, Professor Paradox stood in the quiet sanctuary of the Library of World with a very different agenda.
He'd already sent the unconscious younger Loki back to his own timeline—the one where events had played out according to the Sacred Timeline's script. With careful temporal manipulation, Paradox had even managed to repair that universe's continuity, putting everything back on track.
More importantly, he'd taken a moment to explain to that timeline's Thor exactly what fate awaited them according to the predetermined narrative.
"You're saying Asgard will be destroyed?" Thor's voice cracked with disbelief, his hands clenching into fists. "That Loki will die? That my people, my father, my mother—all of them are destined to perish?"
The weight of it threatened to crush him.
If this was true—if this was the inevitable conclusion of his story—then what would he have left at the end? His family, gone. His lover, gone. Even the friends he'd fought alongside on Earth would eventually pass away, leaving him alone with nothing but memories and grief.
"Yes," Professor Paradox confirmed, his tone gentle but honest. "According to the Sacred Timeline, that is your predetermined fate."
He paused, allowing the information to settle.
"But the existence of Ben Parker changed everything. You know this yourself—none of those tragic events occurred in your universe. Ben altered the course of history back in New Mexico when he intervened during Thor's exile."
Thor nodded vigorously, seizing onto that hope like a lifeline.
"But now someone wants to destroy all of this! They want to tear down everything Ben built, everything we've fought for!"
"Which is precisely why your Loki must become the God of Stories," Paradox explained. "He needs to obtain the power within the Time Variance Authority to rewrite the narrative. To make your salvation permanent rather than temporary."
He turned his full attention to Thor.
"And you—you must find a way to stop the collision crisis from continuing. To confront the beings orchestrating this multiversal catastrophe."
"Then what are we waiting for?!" Thor roared, lightning crackling across his shoulders. "My Mjolnir is already eager to smash those self-proclaimed gods to pieces!"
Professor Paradox studied him for a long moment, then shook his head slowly.
"Your strength is still insufficient for what's coming."
The words hit Thor like a physical blow.
"Don't forget what I told you earlier," Paradox continued. "You have the potential to become the host of the Phoenix Force. Only by mastering that cosmic power will you have any chance of fighting against the Ivory Kings."
He began pacing, his movements carrying him through impossible angles of space.
"To fight beings who exist beyond conventional reality—entities who transcend the fundamental forces themselves—you need the ability to alter reality on their level. Otherwise, there's no point in even attempting combat. They could erase you from existence with a thought."
Thor's jaw tightened, but he forced himself to listen rather than argue.
"For you specifically," Paradox said, "obtaining the Phoenix Force isn't the only path to power. But it is the fastest. And time is something we don't have in abundance."
"So where is this Phoenix you mentioned?" Thor demanded. "Where do I find it?"
"Ledgerdomain," Professor Paradox replied.
Ben Parker's UniverseEarth - Manhattan
Ben had just emerged from the cinema complex—which he technically owned through Primus Technologies—and was preparing to escort Felicia, Mary Jane, Looma, Enara, and Ouyana back home.
He no longer lived in Queens. Ben, Sr. and May were frequently off-world these days, traveling with the Plumbers and May apparently exchanging parenting advice with Ma Vreedle.
Ben had purchased the original Stark Tower and converted the entire building into his personal residence—a palace in the heart of Manhattan where he could monitor the city's activities and respond to threats instantly.
The moment he stepped through the cinema's glass doors onto the street, his spider-sense screamed a warning.
Half a block away, chaos erupted without warning.
Terrifying flames shot skyward, towering more than ten meters high and threatening to engulf an entire low-rise building. The orange-red glow painted the evening sky with hellish light.
"What the hell?" Ben stared, genuinely bewildered. "Are there still supervillains dumb enough to cause trouble right under my nose? Or was that a gas explosion?"
He didn't have the same global surveillance network as S.H.I.E.L.D. had maintained, but his security management of New York exceeded anything the previous organizations had achieved. Azmuth's AI network made catching criminals almost trivially easy.
He'd been merciful enough not to banish every supervillain to the Null Void Realm. The fact that they dared cause trouble in his city was either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid.
Hell, even Daredevil had been unemployed for years now, working as a lawyer at Primus Technologies because crime in New York had dropped to historic lows.
"Primus combat drones have been deployed, sir," Azmuth's voice informed him through his earpiece.
"No need," Ben said, already transforming. "I'll handle this personally."
"Heatblast!"
Flames erupted from his rocky, magma-skinned hands, propelling him into the air like a rocket. The sensation of flight through controlled combustion never got old.
"Give me a situation report," he demanded mid-flight.
"Analyzing," Azmuth replied.
Despite only having a few seconds of data, the AI had already compiled a comprehensive picture. Information flowed directly into Ben's awareness—witness statements, security footage, thermal readings, structural damage assessments.
The incident had begun with a couple arguing on the street. During the heated confrontation, the enraged woman had suddenly burst into flames without warning. The explosion had engulfed her boyfriend, injured several innocent bystanders, and ignited nearby buildings.
"It sounds like a spontaneous superpower awakening," Ben muttered, his flaming brow furrowing with concern.
This had never happened before in his carefully managed city.
In the Marvel Universe, most superpowers had clear origins—technology, magic, genetic engineering, cosmic radiation, divine intervention. There were established pathways to power.
The only groups he knew of who could gain abilities without warning were Inhumans and mutants.
Inhumans existed in this world, he knew that for certain. But they required exposure to Terrigen Mist to trigger their transformations. This didn't fit that pattern.
As for mutants...
"I don't recall any mutants existing in this universe," Ben said slowly, touching down near the burning building. "Unless something has awakened them. Something fundamental has changed."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~