The Multiverse.
A vast, Near infinite collection of Universes.
Each one different, in both small and large ways.
You can go to the one next to your own and things would be almost the same. Go ten to the side? Could be completely different. Each Universe split into near infinite timelines each leading to their own fate.
Throughout the Multiverse there are beings. Guardians, Gods, Demons, all sorts of beings, created by the all-encompassing belief of mortal minds.
Amongst those beings, there are those who have taken it upon themselves to guide a collection of universes. These beings, Known as Guardians, make sure that their charges prosper and flourish. This is because from these collection of Universes, new Multidimensional beings appear.
Floating in the Void between universes, a formless being pondered upon what to do about the situation forming in one of the universes under their care.
"what to do" the being mused. "if nothing changes, an entire universe will end" the being let out what could only be a sigh. It wasn't as if it was unknown for universes to end. But it was usually those that weren't under the purview of a guardian. Those universes, known as "Wild 'verses" usually collapsed due to the inherent greed of mortals. Or in some cases, they were used by some of the darker multidimensional beings for their more sinister proclivities.
"hmm, now there's an idea" the being murmured to themselves. Looking out towards another universe the being hummed as they saw various beings that they could possibly help. Five of them in particular.
You see their world was coming to an end. The war with the extra-terrestrial beings that had invaded earth had cost the world so much that it had become tidally locked to the sun. this caused many areas of the world to become inhospitable to human life. But by that time all humans had already perished. Leaving only the robots, created to fight the aliens, and androids, who took the form of humanity in humanities last ditch effort to gain a form of immortality.
However, the AI behind both, in an attempt to ensure it continued to have a purpose, turned the two forces against each other, wiping the knowledge of their creation from the databanks of each respective creation.
Over time as the androids became more and more advanced, the robots of earth had to advance to keep up. The atrocities caused by both sides were beyond anything any mortal could hope to dream of. Still as the being watched the final moments. Five beings shone out as potentials to aid them.
The commander, strict and knowledgeable.
A2, a cunning warrior that had a soft spot for cute animals.
2b, the assassin with a heart.
Devola and Popola, twins who had been forced to experience a cycle of death by the AI.
They would do.
The being waited till each Android met their end and grabbed their cores, what could be described as a soul to a mortal. Creating a temporary realm for the five to awaken in, a simple room with five beds and a common area off to the side. If one were to compare it to anything, it would be most like the common rooms of Hogwarts castle. And considering where the five would find themselves if they accepted the deal it was fitting.
As the five appeared, each were left without clothing, though considering that they were androids they lacked any genitals. Though to fit in with their possible destination, that would change.
Finally, the being took on a temporary form, ebony hair atop a chiselled face with no blemishes. A well-formed athletic body standing at around six feet in height. Dressed in a simple black suit and tie. Hie eyes however, for his form was male, were as if you were looking at the centre of a galaxy.
"now I wait" he hummed to himself.
The commander awoke, groggy and confused. The last she remembered was sending 2b and 9s off to what was certainly their doom as she began to fall to corruption. Her last act was to activate the self-destruct on the orbital station that YorHa used as its HQ.
"what happened?" she muttered as her optics came back online, granting her the first view of her surroundings. The old and archaic, yet comfortable feel of the rather expansive room seemed to bring a sense of homely comfort to the android as she looked around.
Spotting the four others on the beds nearby caused her to freeze momentarily. The two twins she did not recognise. But the other two? She most certainly recognised them. 2b especially. A2, while she held a little contempt for the android, she did not fault her. For she had seen the truth far sooner than herself.
"your awake" a voice to her side brought her attention to the being sat in front of a burning fireplace. "please come, take a seat" the male called out. Frowning, she rose from her bed and stepped forward before sitting down across from the man. No, he was no man. Now she was clser, she could tell he was far from human or android.
"Who are you?" she asked. Her golden eyes unblinking as she unconsciously tensed.
"I have no name. or at least, I have forgotten it, for it has been eons since it was last used or spoken. However, you may call me the Guardian. For that it what I am" he began. A gentle smile on his face. "you are probably wondering what is going on. It is not surprising. You, and your companions over there, died. When you did so, I brought what could be considered your soul here, and inserted it into fresh bodies for I have a deal for you five" he explained.
While he was speaking, the commander took note of the man's posture, his manner of speaking, trying to gauge if he was being truthful. Though since she had not dealt with non-android or robotic beings, she didn't have much experience with which to do so.
"what do you mean?" she asked after he finished. It was after all rather odd, in her opinion not to mention impossible, for such a thing to happen. "there exists no technology that can do what you are suggesting."
"True, but as it is not so much technology, as me flexing my not inconsiderable metaphysical energy to affect your reality, no it is not as you say, impossible" he continued to smile. He had forgotten what it was like to speak to the younger races. "I brought you here as I have need of beings to help me fix one of the universes under my care. While normally such a thing would be unnecessary as what is happening would not usually occur in a watched universe.
"what is happening, is that one of the universes in my care is under threat of universal collapse. Something that only happens in what is known as 'wild-verses', universes that are not governed by beings like me" as his explanation continued, the Commander became more and more intrigued as to where it was all going. "In fact, to my knowledge, something like this has not happened for seven Triacontillion earth years. The problem with that, is that a universal collapse usually takes out the surrounding universes with it. Creating what is known as a Universal void. It takes eons to fill them back up again."
The commander could not fathom the sheer scope of what she was being told, as he continued, she began to understand just why it was so important to avoid the fate she was being informed of. Countless infinite lives would be lost. All because a fate nexus was damaged.
"We guardians watch over about three million universes each. But unlike universes there's only a finite number of us. As such, universes outside out influence are usually left unattended. However, if we are lucky, we can bring into being a new guardian, who would slowly take up unattended universes, and more of creation would be kept going. These beings, chosen by the fates of their respective universes, are critical to the ongoing survival of creation, we call them 'Fate nexus's'.
"what I require from you and your companions is to guide the fate nexus on his path. To help him grow and survive his world, and to achieve his fate. It's a long process but rewarding." He finished. He could tell that the Commander could only grasp the vague concept of what was going on, but that was simply because mortals simply could not comprehend it without going insane.
The commander however, being an android and therefore not really mortal, could comprehend it better.
"I see" she replied. Looking back over to her companions, she thought about what it would take before making her decision. "very well. I will accept this task. What now?"
"now you wait till the others wake, please explain to them the task, meanwhile I must continue watching the other universes. When you are ready, I will send you on."
Two days later, the five androids, now all awake and up to date waited for the guardian to send them on their way. He appeared from a glowing ball or light that phased through the wall and smiled at the five. "Good. You are ready. When you arrive you will have to be quick. I cannot stall the universe for too long before things begin to happen regardless. I will grant you memories and data on the world, and your charge. Please raise him well. And enjoy your new lives" he did not wait for them to acknowledge him; he simply snapped his fingers causing them to once again black out causing them to disappear in motes of light. Moments later he too disappeared along with the realm he had created for them. It was now up to them to see things through.