'Inner dialogue/thoughts'
"Normal dialogue"
[System]
[Diary Entry]
(Word count: 1,553)
~ With Luke ~
Luke and Stan were locked in a staring contest, neither willing to break eye contact.
"The reason why I've brought you here, Luke, is because your existence is contradicting the very fabric of this Marvel reality." Stan revealed.
To his credit, outwardly, Luke showed no reactions. But as was the case much of the day, inwardly, he was going through another crisis.
"What?" He whispered.
"It is as I've stated. Your existence has been causing. . . unintended consequences on our reality.
As you are well aware, within your system there exist a function called simulation. However, what you are unaware of is that this simulated world is not just a simulation, but a completely separate timeline that exists with you acting as it's nexus point.
In doing so, it has turned you into a Nexus Being. Tell me, Luke Sullivan, do you know what such beings are?" Stan asked.
Luke's mind raced through every piece of information he could remember about Marvel. His eyes widened when he remembered reading about Nexi once. "Queen of Nevers. . ."
Stan nodded his head. "Indeed. Normally, Nexus Beings are agents of the Queen of Nevers. But you, Luke, are not thanks to the interference of the higher entity. And that's where the contradiction happens.
Whenever a new timeline is created due to your simulations, your essence as a Nexus Being grows along with it. But as you are not connected to the Queen of Nevers, your powers as a Nexi will not develop. Without this connection, your existence remains unknown to all other Nexi, even to the Queen of Nevers."
Luke took a moment to absorb what was being said, before asking aloud. "So, what does that mean for me?"
"I'm getting to that, but first it should also be stated that the universe that you have found yourself in was not created through the forces of the Marvel-multiverse, but through the will of the higher entity.
But it seems that when it had created this universe, it had created a Prime universe. And that is where another problem arises. Being a Prime universe means to be the focal universe of millions of parallel universes.
However, the only parallel universe attached to this universe, are the ones you create in your simulations." Stan stated.
"Wait, wait, wait! You said the simulations creates new timelines, not universes. So, what you just said should be impossible, right?" Luke questioned.
Stan shook his head. "Tell me Luke, what do you know of space-time?"
"Not much apparently, considering how the one thing I thought I knew is evidently wrong." Luke shrugged.
"Well, time is not linear. Whenever a new timeline is created, a whole new universe forms as well to accommodate whatever changes the timeline makes, whether small or large. These new universes normally do not run parallel with the universe it was created from.
But with the assistance of your system, this is not an issue for you. You dictate it's past, and since most of it was written in a similar way to your own universe, your system has made it so that these new universes run almost parallel to your own, minus the changes that you make yourself.
It is the reason why your identity as a Nexi matters most. You see, every universe requires a Nexi. It is just the natural law of the Marvel-multiverse. Without a Nexi, those universes begin to destabilize." Stan revealed, which elicited another look of realization in Luke.
"It seems you have realized it as well. You, Luke Sullivan, are the Nexi of these universes. Yet you only exist in one. That means that every other universe that was created will cease to exist in time without you anchoring their existence.
And this leads to a third problem. The formation of a new universe will undoubtedly alert some entities. These entities are what's known as Abstract Entities.
Eternity. Infinity. Death. Oblivion. Phoenix Force. First Firmament. Even my own chosen champion, The Living Tribunal.
Some of them will not bother with the creation of new universes, while others will. Some of them have even already come to check on the situation, and as you had figured out from your encounter with that Wanda, your system was not well-equipped to deal with extra-dimensional entities."
Panic began to rise within Luke when he realized this. If his system could not shelter him from these Abstract Entities, wouldn't that mean that his existence is now known to them? What would they do with him?
'What would the Queen of Nevers to do me?! I'm a Nexi and I'm not connected to her! Would she let me get away with that?!'
"To make matters worse, your encounter with that Wanda has alerted an elder god thanks to the connection she has with said elder god."
'An elder god? CHTHON?! YOU MEAN CHTHON IS NOW AWARE OF ME?!'
"None are aware just yet of your existence." Stan reassured. "Your system may not have been able to shelter you, but the agreement I have with the higher entity is still in place. I have made it so that none of them would know of you until you are well-prepared to face them."
Luke released a held breath that he never knew he took. He had honestly thought his life was actually over. But somehow, someway, he had struck gold with lady luck and his life seemed to still be relatively in-tact.
"For all these entities are aware of, it is just the whims of the powers that be. But in time, when my protection is no longer necessary, they will come." Stan warned.
"Wait, so that's why you've brought me here?" Luke asked.
"Correct. Now you what your presence means to this universe and to the Marvel-multiverse as a whole. You are a Nexus Being of a Prime Universe, which creates parallel universes that cease to exist in time, garnering the attention of Abstract Entities and other parties, but remaining unseen from them.
Your very existence, Luke Sullivan, is contradictory to the natural law of the Marvel-multiverse. Whether it is for the better or for worse remains to be seen.
Now then, I have told you what you need to know, and it is about time that you return." Stan said as he stood up.
"Wai-"
[Ding! System upgrade completed. Additional features have been added.]
"I should inform you as well, time flows differently in my domain. In here, it has been exactly 23 hours and 50 minutes since you've arrived. While on your universe, only a few seconds has since passed.
I wish you all the best, Luke. Remember, you are just a man, Luke Sullivan. Your life is yours. I am merely a spectator."
With that, a bright light enveloped Luke's sight which caused him to shut his eyes reactively. When he opened them again, he found himself back at the park. As if nothing ever happened.
But the flood of information that he had gotten since meeting with Stan still remained. Many questions began getting answers.
That Dark Wanda had probably found him thanks to the connection of powers with his Wanda. This was probably something he should look into in order to avoid a similar thing from happening again.
It also explains why some questions he had for his system were locked, as it seemed the powers that be deemed him unworthy at the time to learn of the answers. It also explains why the simulation felt real, because it was.
Did he feel bad that he was basically condemning entire universes to cease existence at the conclusion of his simulations? He wasn't quite sure yet. To Luke, everything that just happened still felt surreal.
Maybe in time he would be wary of using his simulations, but as for the current moment, too many things were going on his mind which took precedence.
"Now then, we are going to have a very long, and very informative discussion about your purpose when I get back home, system." Luke spoke aloud, before he was interrupted by a tremor.
'Hmm? That's right! Iron Man vs Iron Monger!' Luke realized.
Without wasting time, he took off from the park into the direction of the Stark Industries Headquarters building, knowing that that location was where the final battle would be held. It took him awhile, but as he followed the trails of destruction, he realized that something was wrong.
The closer he got to the building, the quieter it got.
'HAS IT ENDED?!'
However, when he finally arrived, for the umpteenth time that day, Luke had been caught surprised once again when he saw that there was no clear damage to the premises, meaning that the battle was not fought here.
'I. Fucking. HATE BEING THE NEXI! MY PRESENCE HERE CHANGED THE LOCATION AND NOW I DON'T GET TO SEE THE FIGHT!'
Was his priorities upside down? Definitely, but Luke didn't care. It's not everyday one got to see Iron Man fight against Iron Monger in person. And he had a funny feeling in his gut that something special was also happening.
Something that he would miss entirely and regret not having seen for a long, long time.
- End of Chapter 97 -