It's not like science fiction shows and movies depict teleporting. There was no vortex or travel across space and time. One moment I was in the steel room and the next moment everything changed to a different setting.

The scientists had programmed the Can Opener to teleport me to somewhere inconspicuous for whenever I arrived at a new Earth so it had taken me to a grimy New York alley.

I felt something rising in my chest and I quickly took my helmet off and ran behind a dumpster. I threw up. It was an effect of my first time "universe-hopping", the scientists had told me this would probably happen. I looked around. It didn't look any different than Earth-616. I brought my wrist up.

"Echo, what… what universe is this?"

Echo beeped as she talked, "This is Earth-26."

"Earth-26." I repeated slowly, then I chuckled, then I laughed.

"What is it, Smith?" she asked. I kept laughing.

"It just hit me… we're in a different universe… Wow…" I held my arms out and looked around in wonder. Echo said nothing.

"I believe it's time to explore this world." I said. I was about to step out of the alley when Echo reminded me of something.

"You're still wearing the suit, Smith."

I looked at myself. "Oh, right."

It might have looked a bit suspicious if I went out there wearing a black armored suit but the scientists had prepared for that too. I pressed a button on the wrist pad and the suit disguised itself holographic-ally into regular civilian clothes. Echo was disguised into a regular smart phone.

"Alright well, here we go," I said. I walked out of the alley, ready for any horrors or wonder only to be disappointed. It looked just like regular New York: traffic, people walking around minding their own business, tall skyscrapers, nothing was out of the ordinary.

"Well the scientists did say that some of the alternate worlds would have very little different… but what's different here?" I muttered. I followed the direction of the crowd, thinking of ways of finding out what was different about this world. After a few minutes I found myself sitting in a café, with Echo in front of me (still disguised as a phone).

"What do you think Echo?" I asked. The café was full of chatter so there was no way anyone would find me strange, just a guy talking to his phone.

"It doesn't appear any different from our world. I'm scanning historical events from this world via the Internet and it all matches Earth-616's history." Said Echo. I was feeling even more disappointed. There was no excitement here, I really couldn't tell the difference between this world and the regular one.

Then I saw a newspaper stand in the corner of the café that was virtually ignored. Just like in my universe, newspaper seemed to be neglected in this one too. I walked over to it and grabbed the newspaper on top. It was the New York Times and the headline read:

Reed Richards subject of controversy following latest invention

Reed Richards… why did that name sound so familiar? I walked back to the table with the newspaper.

"Echo?" I asked.

"Yes, Smith?"

"Who is Reed Richards?"

"Give me a moment… Reed Richards is a world famous astronomer, inventor, father and husband. He is also known as Mr. Fantastic, a member of the superhero team the Fantastic Four."

"Mr. Fantastic!" I said. As far as I knew, Mr. Fantastic hadn't built anything new back in my regular universe. This must be the divergence of Earth-26, in other words the way that it was different from Earth-616.

"Echo, search the Internet for Reed Richards and invention." I ordered.

"As you wish."

I tossed the newspaper aside, I preferred Echo telling me straight what was different rather than me reading about it, maybe it's because I liked the dramatic effect of her telling me.

"I've found it, Smith." She said.

"Read it to me."

"Well it's a bit complicated. Do you remember the Superhero Civil War?"

"Yes. I believe I do." I said frowning. I remembered the Civil War, it had happened a few years ago. A team of inexperienced superheroes had been responsible for the accidental deaths of over 600 people, including children, in a town in Connecticut. I remember having been shocked at the news… the result had sparked a "Superhuman Registration Act" where superheroes had to register themselves with the government and reveal their secret identities. Eventually it led to Captain America and Iron Man leading teams of superheroes to fight each other over the issue. The event was referred to now as the "Civil War".

"In this universe, Mr. Fantastic created a device that strips superheroes of their abilities." She said.

"Strips?" I asked dumbfounded.

"I suppose the more accurate term would be takes. He created a device that takes away superhuman abilities. Thus the Superhuman Registration Act was not passed into law and the Civil War was prevented."

"Wait, then doesn't that mean?"

"Yes. There are no superheroes at all in this world." She said in her calm voice.

I sat back in my chair and took it all in. No superheroes. I had never thought of that. Ever since I was born, I was accustomed to seeing superheroes. It was a way of life and you took them for granted, like the sun or water. But a world without heroes…

I walked out of the café and observed the skyline. I now started to notice small changes from my world. The Baxter Building, home of the Fantastic Four, did not have a large 4 on the tower. It was being removed by cranes. A few minutes later I passed the Avengers Mansion. It was abandoned and a single news van was filming a reporter speaking into a microphone.

"The Avengers Mansion has been abandoned by its inhabitants and a decision has been taken to convert it into a museum," he reported, "In 2 years the Mansion will re-open to the public and feature a collection of Avengers items and information, it will tell the founding of the Avengers, describe their battles…"

He droned on and I looked at the Mansion. It held no glory anymore. It was just sad.

"I have found out more information about this Earth." Said Echo in my pocket.

"What is it?" I asked sadly.

"Since there are no superheroes, crime in this world is at an all-time high. The murder, theft, arson, rape, assault and other crime rates are significantly higher than the ones in Earth-616."

"How-how is the crime handled?"

"Police try their best but they are largely corrupt due to the higher presence of bribery. Non-super powered vigilantes fight back against crime but they are largely ineffective."

I kept walking. "No powers, no protectors, no hope," I said. I had had enough of this world.

"Echo, have you documented everything you've found?"

"Yes."

I walked into an alley and checked to see that I was alone.

"Disguise off."

The clothes went out revealing my black suit. This world was terrible, I decided privately. I never wanted to see it again.

I brought the watch up and pressed the blue button, saying goodbye to Earth-26 forever.