Note: the universe code is the first letters of a fic title followed by the date it was published. That way its infinite tpom universes created by the fandom. So their universe being the Park Avenue series was PA-07132015 with 07/13/2015 being the date I published Welcome to Park Avenue basically establishing that universe. And the second universe is a reference to one of the first humanized tpom fics, I read and it was quite popular once upon a time when the fandom was booming, The Lives of Sixth Grade Military Boys by pinwheelwhirl. I did shorten the title for the universe code because TLoSGMB-06202010 looked a little too long.


Day 4 - Operation: Invention

"Okay Kowalski, how is this invention going to destroy the world this time?" Skipper asked as Kowalski began to connect a heavily modified laptop up to the television.

"Ha ha, Skipper somehow that joke gets less funny every time you tell it which is truly a feat since it was never funny to begin with." Kowalski rolled his eyes and changed the input on the television causing the screen to show their living room exactly as it was in that moment.

Private tilted his head in confusion as he looked at the screen while his reflection did the same. "So what exactly are we looking at Kowalski? Did you upgrade the security cameras?"

Kowalski chuckled and shook his head at the idea all the hours he'd spent in the lab this week resulting in only a security upgrade. "This is far from a simple camera upgrade, Private. In fact, this little invention just proved the multiverse theory to be correct."

Rico raised an eyebrow at the term multiverse while Private voiced almost exactly what he was thinking.

"Do you mean a multiverse like in comics?"

"Exactly like in comics. It seemed rather obvious after taking into consideration that a universe isn't necessarily one of the types that have been described by scientists who have studied the theory, but rather a unique combination of several. More specifically that there exists an infinite universe in which every possible event will occur an infinite number of times and that these universes while infinite are also consequently quantum meaning that a new universe when is created when a diversion in events occurs."

"Ugh, skip to the point in English." Skipper groused deciding he did not have enough coffee to deal with Kowalski after an inventing breakthrough.

Kowalski huffed but complied. "Basically, this device will allow us to see every infinite version of ourselves from every infinite version of our infinite universes."

"What universe are we looking at now?" Skipper asked eyeing the screen doubtfully and wondering exactly how this invention was going to blow up in their faces.

"Universe PA-07132015 or our current universe," Kowalski waved and his double on the screen did the same. "But if I just alter the code and give it a few minutes and there," the screen changed to show four pre-teen boys with backpacks chatting as they walked along the crowded sidewalk, "this is Universe SGMB-06202010."

Skipper frowned at the screen. "We're kids?"

"Yes, this was one the first universes I stumbled across last night," Kowalski's voice rose a few octaves in excitement. "It's quite interesting apparently here we're all the same age and actually grew up together although Skipper's father is planning on sending him to military school."

"This is brilliant Kowalski! Can you look for specific universes like one where I didn't leave MI6?" Private asked eyes wide with wonder. He was already thinking about a universe where he had never taken that shot, had never let Kidd get under his skin.

Kowalski frowned at the question even though he had fully anticipated it, "yes and no. I haven't quite gotten the algorithms right to do a specific search, but once a universe is located and tagged with a code I can enter the code manually to revisit that universe. Such as TPoM-11292008," Kowalski entered the code and the screen changed once more to show four penguins that bared a striking resemblance to them waving to a crowd of people, "where we are penguins operating out of the Central Park Zoo."

"Cute," Skipper remarked flatly although he had to admit he was even impressed with Kowalski's creation. And much like Private he was curious if there was a universe where Hans hadn't betrayed him or Frankie hadn't decided to go rogue. "I have to say that this multiverse contraption you've slapped together seems pretty harmless, Kowalski. Which is not something I ever thought I'd say of one of your inventions."

"It is harmless, at least physically, but mentally? Some of the universes I found were hard to swallow to say the least, I saw the universe where Frankie took that shot and you weren't fast enough, one where Private had joined North Wind -"

Private looked scandalized by the mere thought and horrified that his uncle had been able to convince him to transfer to North Wind instead off CENTRAAL in any universe.

"-and," Kowalski found himself hesitating as he looked over at Rico, "one were we didn't make it in time when we raided the warehouse in Chile." That one had been one of the hardest to stumble across and even bringing it up caused a heavy weight to settled over the team. It was certainly a good decision on his part to leave out some of the other universes he had come across. From Dr. David Octavius Brine succeeding in his revenge to Dr. Blowhole forcing Skipper to watch as each one of them was killed. Kowalski cleared his throat, "I wouldn't recommend trying to look into too many universes that pertain to the choices we did or did not make."

"Well," Private started as the somber mood continued to hang over them, "I suppose there's a reason they say that curiosity killed the cat."