1. The Voice Of God
I woke up with a gasp.
My eyes flew open as my head swivelled left and right. I got up in a crouch.
CLOAK ACTIVATED sounded in my head. I looked down to see that my entire body was invisible.
'What the hell? Where am I now?' I asked myself as I tentatively stepped out of the alley I had woken up in. I wrack my mind for my last memory. I remember fighting in New York as I was sent into orbit.
'So who am I now? Prophet? The Lion? Laurence Barnes? John Shepard? Or Draco Malfoy?' I thought to myself as I looked around. My eyes immediately pick out the most recognisable land mark, the giant copper statue of Libertas, welcoming the masses to her shores.
'Oh, motherfucker' I think in disbelief as I gaze at the Statue Of Liberty, whole and untarnished (barring the patina of copper carbonate on it).
"I am Iron Man" I hear over a loud speaker. My head whipped around to see Robert Downey Jr., on a giant screen. He has his right arm in a sling, while Gwyneth Paltrow was standing beside him, looking on him in an exasperated manner.
But, to my everlasting surprise, the screen doesn't switch to the credits and AC/DC but a pretty news anchor is brought into focus.
"And with today morning's shocking revelation of Tony Stark, the billionaire CEO of Stark Industries as the superhero Iron Man, Stark Industries share prices have skyrocketed by 120 percent, leading to an all-time high in the company's value and massive profits to all share holders. Over to you Scott" she said.
Immediately another news anchor, a man in a blue suit and sky blue tie comes into focus.
"Yes it is a day of wind fall for Stark Industries as a lot of people are putting their money into the company, due to how Tony Stark and Iron Man are perceived by the public as a hero. That sentiment has resulted in a massive buying spree for Stark Industries securities. Sharon, I honestly don't know how long this will last, but the minute prices plateau, I guarantee that a massive sell out will happen, correcting markets" Scott replies.
As it switched back to Sharon, I tuned her out as I realised where I am.
'I'm in the Marvel Universe!'
Then I let out a half-groan, half-sigh.
"Hey there big guy. Having problems?" a scratchy voice asked me from behind. I turn around and see...Stan Lee?
Oooookaaaaay. Things are now officialy weird.
Wait a minute. This is too bloody convenient. I activated one of my abilities.
Mage sight.
And am nearly blinded by the astral projection in front of me.
Blinking my eyes clear I look at the being (for being he definitely was).
And I knew his name.
"The-One-Above-All" I whisper.
He just smirked at me in reply.
-X-
We walk to Central Park after I procured a trench coat and took off my helmet. Unfortunately my weapons, barring my K-Bar were no longer on my person.
Neither of us spoke a word as we entered the Park, strolling so it seemed.
'So, you figured out who and what I am. Be careful as to who use that ability against, some beings would literally melt your mind" The-One-Above-All said in my mind. The sheer oppressive weight in my mind from His presence is almost enough to do that. I have to keep a tight lid on my Occlumency barriers while I replied.
'Noted. Now what's the mission?'
'Who said anything about a mission?' He replied, his voice tinged with amusement. He continued 'I brought you here because you have a choice. I am sure you know what that is'
'To take an active role in the events that occur here or be content to sit on the sidelines?' I ask.
'Exactly' he replied.
Honestly, it was tempting. After surviving three wars against unstoppable forces, I wouldn't mind putting up my feet. But, knowing the dangers to come, I knew that, despite my best attempts, I would end up taking part.
I thought back at what all I had done in all the realities I had experienced. In the Harry Potter universe, I managed to integrate Magical and Mundane societies, laid the foundations of a space faring civilisation and managed to hook up Harry with Hermione, Ginny with Neville and Ron and Luna. Not bad for an aristocratic snob if I do say so myself. Didn't survive a car bomb by a Mundane terrorist group, but last I checked, even my death had it's uses. It cemented the bonds between the societies in admantium.
In the Mass Effect universe, as Commander John David Shepard, I managed to spear-head an initiative for an interspecies Special Ops group under the command of the Citadel forces. Through this I was able to provide conclusive proof in the existence of not only the Reapers, but also helped the galaxy in preparing for their Arrival and also used the gap period to assassinate the Illusive Man and Kai Leng and destroy Cerberus. After two years of bloody fighting, we managed to build the Crucible and Catalyst. In the final battle, I sacrificed myself as I destroyed the Reapers. Thankfully, I got the warning out in time to the AIs. Hopefully, everything managed to get rebuilt after all the chaos. Also I managed to hook up Garrus and Ashley, Jack and Kaidan, Miranda and Vega and Tali and Joker. What? I like playing match-up. It's fun. And honestly? All that UST gave me a head ache. And this way the nincompoops could go about blowing off steam without giving each other the beat down.
Then Crysis. Not much I could do there, just survive. Not that I would complain about that. Honestly speaking, it was a nice vacation. I got to unload all my stress on a bunch of bad guys. Plus managed to keep Psycho's girl alive. What was her name again? Damn, can't remember. Ah, well.
Nothing gets rid of stress better than shooting up bad guys, human or alien.
Amusement washed over me from the being next to me at my thoughts.
'So, have you made your choice?' He asked me. I just give Him a look. He chuckled at that.
'Stay strong true believer. Excelsior!' He said. A car horn startled me, causing my head to jerk towards it. When I looked back, He was gone. He left behind a suitcase for me. I look around then pick it up and walk towards one of the tables. Opening it, I see three sets of clothes, two sets of shoes, a wallet with money and ID papers, a bank account statement saying that Mr. John Shepherd, age 16 was now richer by US$ 100,000. I also had an extensive medical history, showing I had been orphaned at the age of 3 by a home invasion gone wrong. My paternal uncle and aunt won custody of me, with my maternal aunt being a regular visitor. I was originally born in Los Angeles, California, but in a scholarship managed to get a transfer to Bayville High's accelerated engineering program. My grades showed as me being in top percentile of my peer group.
'Holy shit!' I couldn't help panicking a little initially. I managed to calm myself, reminding myself that both as Draco Malfoy and Commander Shepard I had designed some nifty things. So engineering wasn't so surprising.
I also had my own apartment on 2nd and West Street, approximately a half hour walk from where I was.
Then I noticed something odd about my hands.
They were skin.
But I could feel the armour beneath it. Somehow, the nano suit managed to grow a skin layer over itself.
That's right ladies and gentlemen; I'm naked under the coat.
Excuse me for a few moments.
-X-
The landlady, a Mrs. Coggs, was a cheerful, grandmotherly woman who called me dear, asked me how my flight was and worrying if I could manage on my own.
A lovely lady. I should definitely cultivate this relationship and make sure she doesn't overwork herself. There's something about kind hearted women that makes me want to be their Sir Galahad.
After Mrs. Coggs left, I began planning. As the next day was a Saturday, I decided to visit Fury, give him a heads up on Stark, New Mexico, Loki and HYDRA. That way, I get into SHIELD's good graces. After that I would need to make a trip to Westchester County and meet the good Professor and convince him to get the X-Men to stand ready for the Chitauri invasion.
Which will happen in approximately 1 year, 3 months.
Today is 18th July, 2008.
My deadline is 9th October, 2009.
Incidentally my birthdate was, in this timeline, 2nd October 1992.
Lovely.
I decided to take a bath and hit the hay.
-X-
Date: 19th July 2008, Time: 1700hrs.
I crouched about 500 meters away from the Triskelion, SHIELD's main headquarters. I had spent the past 5 hours concealed in the grassy knoll, studying the compound. Armed guards, attack dogs. And the best part.
Clint Barton and Natasha Romanoff.
Yep, SHIELD's top attack dogs were in the building. This just became very complicated.
Oh well. Nothing better to do.
The best part of my armour. We were now one entity. The suit was me and I am the suit.
Meaning my HUD was now in my eyes.
MAXIMUM SPEED
I burst out of the knoll and take a flying leap over the fencing, clearing it by centimeters.
CLOAK ACTIVATED
Immediately, I was invisible to all sensors, including the Human Eyeball, Mark 1.
I make my way quickly and quietly into the building, waiting until one of the agents opened the door. I snuck in behind him and headed towards the janitor's closet. I got inside and deactivated the cloaking, waiting for the meter to fill up. Once it was close to ninety percent, I exited out of it and strode confidently towards the stairs. A quinjet landed on a nearby pad and I saw a medical team with a stretcher rush out. I walked up as close as I could without looking suspicious. I caught a flash of blue, red and white and realised who it was. And what it meant.
'Come, come Watson! The game is afoot!' I think to myself as I use the elevator doors as a means to activate my cloaking. I headed to the highest floor.
On reaching there I wondered how the hell I am going to warn Fury.
Plan A was to get entry into his office by Imperiurising his secretary to let me in. This was potentially fatal for me, but also had the highest benefits.
Plan B was the same as Plan A, assuming that he wasn't there in the office, in which case I leave behind a notebook filled with everything that will happen. This would be charmed to be able to be read by his eye only and no one else.
Plan C was in case I happened to meet him on the way. In that situation, I would slip the notebook into his trench coat.
Minimum risk, medium impact.
Considering as the elevator doors opened, I saw the man I wanted to meet striding down the corridor to me, accompanied by Maria Hill and Natasha Romanoff.
My cloak was still engaged when I walked up to them. A silent Banishing Charm ensured that the notebook would land up in his pockets.
On entering the lift, I saw him pull out the notebook. He looked up in time for me to disengage my cloak and give him a cheery, mock salute. The doors shut and I Apparate away to Westchester county.
Now would be the hard part.
After all, the Professor could easily detect me. And he was someone I definitely wanted on my side.
-X-
Next chapter: The Good Professor