Chương 14: Why Bother? 1
"Every decision we make is meaningless. Because somewhere, on a parallel Earth, we have already made the opposite choice. We're nothing." This is a quote from a madman, yet it is so true in this case. The universe I find myself in is but one of many, and yet this same quote applies so well.
Before I closed my eyes and then opened them again to find myself in the middle of Times Square in New York, I looked to see The Avengers Tower but not the one from the movies. No, this was the original. Looking higher, I even saw flashes of a reflection that was or used to be the Sentry's main base of operation.
The very thought of the Void or even Knull existing in this place brings me more fear than most would ever know. But do you want to know what made this even worse?
On one of the billboards, a message displayed itself in big red letters that stated superhero registration had gone into effect. All known superheroes are to give themselves up to the government or at least their identities.
After looking at it, a few chuckles passed by my lips as the very idea of masked vigilantes wanting to give up their identities was like asking a rich man to give up their money. Some would do it, but most would not or would need to be coerced.
Looking up again at the Avengers Tower, I can almost see Tony Stark sitting on his expensive couch, hoping things will look up from now on, not knowing the hell he has just unleashed or helped to unleash. This act would have passed regardless, but it was the trio of Reed Richards, Tony Stark, and Hank Pym that made everything possible.
Unlike Elseworld's Stories, the government would have had such a difficult time getting any of the heroes to take this seriously.
Walking to the side of the square and sitting down at one of the benches, I simply looked on to see people going about their day before retreating to their homes for the night. They do not know or remember the fact that their universe has been rebooted tens of times already.
How many lives were lost every time the Multiverse is reset? How many relationships are torn apart or simply never came to exist? Did their choices even really matter? Or did it simply come down to the whims of heroes and villains and cosmic beings? Hundreds of questions passed through my mind all at once, and as I sat on that bench, I noticed three vials on the bench with a note that simply said to drink them.
Seeing that there was nothing I could simply lose, I decided to indulge because what does this choice really matter? All it would take is a retcon or a bullet to the brain for me to be lost or forgotten.
So for one of the few times in my life, I made a leap of faith. Not physically, as no shadowy organization trained me, but metaphorically.
After drinking them, the bottles disappeared as if they were never there, and upon doing so, all I could feel was a sensation of being more solid and an urge to build small statuettes. The latter thought was a bit foreign as I worked as a retail worker at a comic shop before I ended up here.
It's funny that when people asked if I had read certain comic issues and comic runs, I would say I've read a couple. We had a mandate at the store that we had to read certain lines to be up to date and describe them to our customers.
So sometimes I would stay up late before heading into work the next day reading the latest comic, and while I did derive some enjoyment from it, I was no super fan. It may have been a problem for the fact that I was a bit of a pragmatic thinker, as I could never understand the unending hatred for mutants.
Even when later issues tried to retcon it into being some kind of genetic defect or some kind of sentient bacteria, it seemed like the authors were just trying to cover their ass.
The city itself seemed normal on the outside, but only a few would know that there was an entire city of monsters as well as mutants existing right under their feet. But I guess that was on purpose, as most are not simply ready to be burdened with such knowledge. Ignorance was bliss, after all, especially in comic universes where whenever someone discovers something new, it almost always ends terribly.
I'm looking at you Reed Richard's discovering the damn negative universe.
Oh yeah, I also have to deal with the Annihilus now, Galactus, Apocalypse, The Sinister Six, and so many others. So, after contemplating my possible many ways of demise, I decided to check my pockets to see if I had anything left as I did notice I wasn't in my pajamas but was in a regular button-up shirt with some khakis. And after checking them, I found an identity in the form of a small passport and driver's license.
Looking further through the wallet, I found a small note that said, apparently, I have a bank account with 50,000 dollars in it, which would cover a year's rent if I am lucky.
But then that feeling hit again as I felt the urge to build again and stand up. I began to try to find an arts and crafts store in order to get some materials while also trying to lift my spirit, as I could have ended up in Warhammer and become some Dark Eldar's flesh couch if I had been lucky.
Avoiding the alleyways as that is the best way to get mugged, especially now with the registration being a thing, I find a small store called Michaels, and seeing as I apparently had an hour before they closed going in, I grabbed some clay as well as brushes and other paints and trays.
Heading up to the front to cash out, the woman looked at my stuff and asked, "You planning on making some figures?" Wondering how she knew, she said, "I assume what that look you're wondering how I knew. Well, I've had people coming in here grabbing the same stuff to make Miniatures of their favorite Heroes. It's a sad thing with this whole registration. But my little boy at home is happy that his hero Spider-Man isn't getting arrested cuz you see, he got rescued by him when Rhino was robbing a bank."
Nodding, I asked, " Is that the reason you work here? To pay for the little guy's little art projects? "The woman chuckled as she said, "Well, seeing as I only work a couple of minutes from here and I did get a good discount off the materials, it just seemed like a good idea. He's definitely got a future, but I'm not going to rush him into it."
"Sounds like a good idea. By the way, would you happen to know a place where I could stay the night? I just arrived today, and I am a bit lost?" The woman replied as if she had heard this a thousand times. "Yeah, I assumed, based on your form address, the closest motel is a couple minutes's walk from here. You'll find some decent rooms for a decent while. Here's your receipt."
Taking it and putting my stuff into the bag I bought there, I said, "It was nice talking to you. I hope your little kid goes on to be a great little artist." The woman nods as she says, "Yeah, I hope he does too. I was considering leaving New York with all the crime and supers around here. But I need to wait a bit longer. The name is Theresa Kathway, by the way."
"Well, Theresa, my name is Lucas Wright, and it was nice talking to you." The woman nodded, returned to her work as I left, and headed to the motel she was talking about. Walking towards the motel, I looked up again and saw the Baxter Building in the distance and wondered if Frankin had been born yet, as having to deal with a universe-creating child would not be fun.
But considering that the Civil War event had just begun, the House Of M has already happened, so mutants are yet again on the brink of extinction. I may be able to take advantage of that, but having to deal with reality warpers and mind readers would not be fun just yet. So, placing that plan on the back burner, I walked into the motel and asked the woman if any rooms were available for the night.
"Yeah, there is on the second floor. It costs around 350 a night." Nodding, I swiped the card I had in the wallet, and she handed me my key after grabbing some newspapers from the nearby table. In order to avoid mucking up a table or bed, I walked up the stairs to the second floor. After finding my room, I put the key into the door and opened it to find a single bed, a TV, and a side table for meals with a view of the street.
So, taking my bag, which they checked for anything in the lobby and said I was okay, I emptied the contents one by one onto the side table after laying down the newspapers. Taking out a small stand, I get to work a mold of a certain golden king or queen in this instance, as dealing with the male one would be annoying.
So, as I took my brush and began to paint with a skill I had never shown before, I outlined her features, from her golden hair to her red tattoos and golden armor with black highlights, as if I was going to get anything done; I needed money first, and foremost and how best to get money than from a queen who owns all the world's treasure or at least the Nasuverse's treasure.
Honestly, it kind of terrifies me if she were to be created here and gain all the treasures of this universe as the idea of a female Gilgamesh wielding the Infinity Sword is actually quite hot, not going to lie. But hotness aside, I need her for her intellect and vast experience, as well as her Gate Of Babylon.
The process itself is rather time-consuming as it takes me 3 hours to get all of the paint as well as various shades correct as well as the mold, but eventually, with the stars in the sky, I placed the finishing touches on the figurine of female Gilgamesh. Yet, upon doing so, the statue begins to glow quite brightly. Luckily, I had closed the shades, so barely any light escaped them as I did not want to get any attention.
As the light faded, I felt a burning sensation on my right hand as a symbol formed on it that looked similar to a command seal from Fate. She then appeared in her golden radiance, and as she opened her eyes, she revealed a dark shade of red that stared right through me. She walked up to me and asked: "Are you my creator?"
I nodded slowly, and she then began to take in her surroundings, to which she asked, "Why have you summoned me here, as this place is not worthy of you!" Her response flabbergasted me a bit as I expected her to say that this place was unworthy of her, to which I quickly responded by saying, "Apologies, but this was the only place available from where I was teleported to."
Her eyes then returned to me as she said, "Well, that is unacceptable! Come, Master, we shall find new housing worthy of my radiance and your art."
I may have made a mistake as she pulled her flying throne Vimana after tossing me onto the roof. Well, at least I already paid for the room.
Essences Used: Figurines, Involate Self, Blank (All protections from Involate Self apply to figurines as well)
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