Chapter 7
? ? ?, The Warp, ? ? ?
The choice was his.
Accept help, or find another way.
Peter was a hero. Heroes made sacrifices. But to give up his memories of his friends and parents? Mirqurios seemed rather keen about this method. Confident in his abilities, assuring that the sacrifice would be worth it. Yet, Peter had his own doubts.
Peter remembered what he'd just done to Sam. Out of trust, whether it was misplaced or not, he'd essentially violated the other boy, allowing Mirqurios to basically possess the other boy. The bird assured him it was entirely necessary, but the look of horror from his betrayal shook Peter. Had he made the right call there? Deep down, his gut twisted and turned. He made the call. Sure, Sam was still alive. But what had he done to make it so?
Peter shook his head. "We'll look for another way," he answered, finally.
"Thank you," Sam said, a tone of relief in the other boy's voice. "You don't know how… relieved I am to hear you say that."
Wᴇʟʟ, ʏᴏᴜ'ᴠᴇ ᴄᴇʀᴛᴀɪɴʟʏ ᴄʜᴏsᴇɴ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ʟɪғᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴅɪғғɪᴄᴜʟᴛ, Mirqurios remarked.
Peter looked at the raven. "Do you have any other ideas?" he asked. While Mirqurios had suggested the first idea, which was also likely the easiest, perhaps he also knew of some other way.
Iɴ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ᴡᴇ'ʟʟ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴀʏ.
"So, you have a way and you're just not sharing with us?" Peter asked.
Yᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇs ᴡʜᴏ ᴅᴇᴄʟɪɴᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ғɪʀsᴛ ᴏғғᴇʀ.
Peter waved his hand. "Okay, so Sam, we're gonna do this your way. What's your plan?"
Sam made a face as he pulled a small, black book from a pocket inside his tunic. He flipped through it, skimming through the pages, the Gothic words mouthed under his breath.
"Nothing," he muttered. "Absolutely nothing," he repeated more bitterly.
"What?" Peter asked.
"There's nothing in my Primer!"
Tʜᴀᴛ's ɴᴏᴛ sᴜʀᴘʀɪsɪɴɢ. Eᴠᴇɴ I ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ's ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴏsᴇ ᴘʀɪᴍᴇʀs ᴡᴏʀᴛʜ ɴᴏᴛᴇ.
"It speaks of the perils of Warp-travel, but it's all traditional, all ship-based, all normal situations. Nothing of it applies to what we're dealing with: exposed entirely to the Warp," Sam said, shaking his head.
"Well, look at the positives. We survived for," Peter looked at his wrist, "Huh. That's weird. My watch stopped."
Yᴏᴜ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʙʏ ɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ Wᴀʀᴘ ʜᴀs ɴᴏ ʙᴇᴀʀɪɴɢs ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴏʀ sᴘᴀᴄᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ Mᴀᴛᴇʀɪᴜᴍ.
Peter looked confused. "Wait. What's that mean?"
Tʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ɴᴏ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴏʀ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʜᴇʀᴇ. Yᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ'ᴛ ʜᴇʟᴘ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ɪғ ɪᴛ ᴅɪᴅ ᴡᴏʀᴋ.
"Okay. What now?" Peter asked.
"We need to find a way to establish a bridge with Realspace," Sam replied.
Yᴇs. Tʜᴀᴛ ɪs ᴡʜᴀᴛ I ᴡᴀs ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜ. I ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴀ ғᴏᴄᴜs ᴛᴏ ᴇsᴛᴀʙʟɪsʜ ᴀ sᴀғᴇ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ Wᴀʀᴘ.
Sam shook his head. "We can do this another way. A way that doesn't involve you." He looked pointedly at Mirqurios. "You said I'm a psyker? Well, I'm going to figure out how to psyk."
Mirqurios hopped back, a flurry of red feathers in his surprise. Yᴏᴜ? Yᴏᴜ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀ ɪs ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ? he asked, his thoughts tinged with scorn.
"No. I know it's not enough. But, perhaps it will be a beacon in the dark for another, maybe even the Emperor."
Yᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ʙʀɪʟʟɪᴀɴᴛ ғʟᴀʀᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴍᴏɴsᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ I'ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ sᴏ ʜᴀʀᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ғʀᴏᴍ ʏᴏᴜ. I ᴡᴏɴ'ᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴇsᴛʀᴏʏɪɴɢ ᴍʏ ᴡᴀʀᴅs ᴡɪᴛʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴏᴏʟʜᴀʀᴅʏ, ʜᴀʟғ-ʙᴀᴋᴇᴅ ᴘʟᴀɴ.
"Doctor Strange," Peter announced suddenly.
"Who?" Wʜᴏ? Mirqurios and Sam asked in tandem.
"He's another superhero. He guards Earth from threats from other dimensions. I know where he lives – we might be able to direct Sam's power there – try to get his attention," Peter said quickly, the idea flowing from his mind.
Sam and the bird looked at Peter quizzically for a moment.
"What? Is the idea no good?" asked Peter.
"No, it's not that. You used a word. Superhero. I am unfamiliar with it," said Sam.
"Oh, well, it's uh, someone who has powers that they use for good – to help other people."
"Help other people? Like Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium?" asked Sam.
Uɴʟᴇss Cᴀɪɴ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ᴘsʏᴋᴇʀ, I ᴅᴏᴜʙᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ's ᴡʜᴀᴛ Pᴇᴛᴇʀ ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʜᴇ sᴀɪᴅ "ʜᴇʟᴘs ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴘᴏᴡᴇʀs," Mirqurios replied.
"Uh, no. I don't think like Ciaphas Cain."
"Hero of the Imperium!" added Sam.
"Yeah, I don't even know who that is," Peter replied, shaking his head, "But you met me, and I'm kinda considered one of those superheroes," Peter said, puffing up his chest with some sense of pride.
"You did introduce yourself as the Man of Spiders," Sam recounted.
"No – it's Spider-Man. It's my secret identity."
"Why would you need that?"
"Wʜʏ sᴘɪᴅᴇʀs," ɪs ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴀsᴋɪɴɢ.
"I- ugh," Peter sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I was… bit by some weird spider in a laboratory. I have, I don't know, like, super-strength, really good vision, and I can climb walls, like, with Van der Waals forces like… a spider," he finished, shrugging his shoulders.
"So you're – you're a mutant?" Sam asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion as he took a small step back.
"I guess I am," Peter said, shrugging it off. He was a little disappointed that they were unfamiliar with the necessity of the dual-lives and the importance of keeping them separate. "I've never really thought about it that way. Why? Is that a bad thing?"
"Beware the alien, the mutant, the heretic," Sam recited.
Rᴇᴀʟʟʏ?
"What?" Peter asked, looking between the guardsman and the bird. "What does it mean? That doesn't sound good. Mirq? Sam? What does it mean?"
Iᴛ ᴍᴇᴀɴs ʜᴇ's ᴛᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴄᴏᴍғᴏʀᴛ ɪɴ ʜɪs ғᴀɪᴛʜ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀɴ ᴜɢʟʏ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ.
"What?"
Sam looked at Peter with suspicion. "In the Imperium, we are taught to hate that which defies and corrupts the inherent purity of the human form."
"Hey, well, I'm still human. It was just a spider bite," Peter replied.
"No, it's beyond that. It's the fact that you were changed. You've been forever corrupted by the Warp."
"But… it was only a spider bite. The scientists in the lab were working on some project. I really don't think there was anything supernatural or corrupting about it. Plus, I use my powers for good!"
"That's not for us to decide. Something changed you, corrupted your very core. How do I know I can trust you? That all of this wasn't some ruse?
"Dude. We were just fighting at each other's backs. We're both stuck in this place that I have no idea what or where it even is. And I don't hurt people. I save people."
"So you say. But what of me? You offered me up to a daemon! How can I trust you?"
I ᴀᴍ ɴᴏ ᴅᴀᴇᴍᴏɴ, Mirqurios interjected.
A pained look crossed Sam's face. "I trusted you. I thought we could survive this together. Did I have you wrong from the beginning? Was this all some grand scheme?"
Mirqurios cawed a harsh laugh. Yᴏᴜ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴛʜᴇ Rᴜɪɴᴏᴜs Pᴏᴡᴇʀs ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴏʀᴄʜᴇsᴛʀᴀᴛᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴡɴғᴀʟʟ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ Iᴍᴘᴇʀɪᴜᴍ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ʏᴏᴜ? Yᴏᴜ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ᴛᴏᴏ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ.
"You, too," Sam said, shooting a sharp look at the red bird. "You invaded my mind – how can I tell if you've already corrupted me with your vile presence? If your plan is to change me without my knowing – to doom my Commissar and the Enginseer -"
"Sam? I think you need to calm down -"
"Calm down? Words spoken from two that I should have never trusted? No! I am alone! I will find my way back alone! The Emperor's Light shall guide me now!" Sam said, making to retreat from the group.
Rᴇᴀʟʟʏ, ɴᴏᴡ. Aɴᴅ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ɢᴏ ʙᴀᴄᴋ, ʜᴏᴡ sʜᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʀᴇᴄᴇɪᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴀɴ ᴜɴsᴀɴᴄᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ ᴘsʏᴋᴇʀ? Uɴᴛʀᴀɪɴᴇᴅ, ᴀ ʜᴀᴢᴀʀᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴀʟʟ. Iᴛ ɪs ʙʏ ᴍʏ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɴᴏɴᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜɪs ʀᴇᴀʟᴍ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʜᴀʀᴍᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜ. Wᴏᴜʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ sᴀᴄʀɪғɪᴄᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ Gᴏʟᴅᴇɴ Tʜʀᴏɴᴇ? Oʀ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ, ᴛᴏ ᴅɪᴇ ᴀ ᴍᴇᴀɴɪɴɢʟᴇss ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴀɴᴅs ᴏғ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴏᴍᴍɪssᴀʀ?
Sam tightened his lips, fixing his jaw in a steadfast manner. "If my death be required for the continued security of humanity, then let the Emperor's will be done."
Nᴏ. I ᴡɪʟʟ ɴᴏᴛ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ ᴅʏɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴠᴀɪɴ. Yᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴜsᴇғᴜʟ, ᴀɴᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇʟʏ ᴛʜᴇ Eᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴜsᴇғᴜʟ ɪɴ ᴛᴜʀɴ, Mirqurios bit out. Sam seemed to freeze as Peter could feel the power radiate out from the bird.
Sam turned his head back to the bird, loathing in his eyes. "Of course the daemon would try to dominate my will
Nᴏ. I sᴀʏ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴏᴛʜ ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴀɴᴅ I ɢɪᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀ ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ: ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ᴄᴀʟᴍ ᴅᴏᴡɴ, ᴏʀ I ᴄᴀɴ ᴘᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴏᴜᴛ. Yᴏᴜʀ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴs ᴀʀᴇ ᴀᴛᴛʀᴀᴄᴛɪɴɢ ᴀʟʟ sᴏʀᴛs ᴏғ ʙᴇɪɴɢs ᴛʜᴀᴛ I ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ʀᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ɴᴏᴛ ᴘʟᴀʏ ʜᴏsᴛ ᴛᴏ.
Sam huffed, taking several deep breaths. "Only because I would rather face you awake than not."
Gᴏᴏᴅ. Iғ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀʟᴍ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟғ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ, ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴜɴᴛᴇʀs sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴅɪsᴘᴇʀsᴇ sᴏᴏɴ.
Sam shot the bird another look.
Dɪᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴏʀɢᴇᴛ I ᴡᴀs sʜᴇʟᴛᴇʀɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴍᴀʟɪᴄɪᴏᴜs ᴅᴇɴɪᴢᴇɴs ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ Wᴀʀᴘ?
"Okay, this is all good and all, but we were discussing other ways to get out of the Warp, right?" Peter interrupted.
"Yes," Sam replied begrudgingly.
"And where did we leave off before getting sidetracked with the whole… whatever that was?"
Yᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴅ ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ sᴜᴘᴇʀʜᴇʀᴏᴇs. Yᴏᴜ sᴀɪᴅ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs ʟɪᴋᴇ ʏᴏᴜ? Aʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴀʟsᴏ ᴍᴜᴛᴀɴᴛs?
"Right. So, uh, yes and no. Captain American… he's got like, super strength from some sort of serum or something, and Mr. Stark – uh, Iron Man – he's got a really cool suit that he wears -"
Yᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ʀᴀᴍʙʟɪɴɢ. Aʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀɴʏ sᴜᴘᴇʀʜᴇʀᴏᴇs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘsʏᴋᴇʀ ᴍᴜᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ?
"Uh, I was just getting there. Uh, Doctor Strange! He's the one I wanted to tell you about. He knows, like, magic, and he's the Sorcerer Supreme and the protector of Earth," said Peter.
Tʜᴀᴛ ɪs ᴘʀᴇᴄɪsᴇʟʏ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴғᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ I ɴᴇᴇᴅ.
"How so?" asked Sam. Peter guessed that he was able to set aside his supposed hatred for mutants and aliens and whatever. Escape from this hellscape to just go back home was a very enticing idea, and they were working according to his terms, after all.
I ᴄᴀɴ ᴄᴀʟʟ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ. I ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ʜɪs ʙᴇᴀᴄᴏɴ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋ. I ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ sᴛᴏʀᴍ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ Wᴀʀᴘ ᴛᴏ ɢᴜɪᴅᴇ ʜɪᴍ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜ. Nᴏ sᴀᴄʀɪғɪᴄᴇ ᴏɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ʀᴇǫᴜɪʀᴇᴅ. I ɴᴇᴇᴅ ʙᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴄᴀʟʟ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ.
Mirqurios looked back at Sam who was shifting uncomfortably.
Sᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇs, ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴜsᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇsᴛ ᴏғ ᴀ ʙᴀᴅ sɪᴛᴜᴀᴛɪᴏɴ.
"But this way – we'll be able to go home," Peter said.
Mirqurios looked back to Peter. Hᴏᴍᴇ ғᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ, ʏᴇs. Bᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ Tᴇʀʀᴀ ɪs ɴᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ Sᴀᴍ's ɴᴏʀ ᴍɪɴᴇ.
015.M3, Holy Terra, New York, Avengers Tower, 2 November, Early Evening
Linux steeled himself, not entirely sure of what to expect. His memories were arranged in perfect order, carefully compartmentalized to chronicle his existence and cautiously coded with security protocols to prevent data breaches.
At the edges of his mechanically heightened senses, he felt the intruding mind. Codes and programs activated before the human mind could consciously comprehend what was happening, and the invader was isolated.
Outwardly, he noted as the corporeal form of Doctor Strange collapsed into a chair. Banner and Stark rushed to the unconscious man's aid, checking vitals. Stark glanced at Linux with a look of animosity.
No. Linux would not concern himself with the outside just yet. He turned inward, focusing on the isolated anomaly.
++[Initiate Drive F:/ /] 01010111 01101000 01100001 01110100 00111111j% 5df% Foreign_Presence_Detected:/Ini? Query. exe 01001111 01110010 00100000 01101001 01110011 00100000 01101001 01110100 00111111++
++[Access F:/ /Curio] Investigate. exe 01000100 01101001 01110011 01100011 01101111 01110110 01100101 01110010 .Glri.a_Start/++
The anomaly stirred, condensing itself into living energy. It seemed to desire a form, even in this place without. Linux initiated several programs to assess the presence and defend his sacred memory banks.
"Linux?" the anomaly said. "Enginseer Linux?"
++[Acknowledge]++
"Is this… this is your mind?" it asked.
++[Affirmation]++
The anomaly seemed to condense itself to become a being of light, in figure a glowing shadow of the human form.
++[Query]: Who are you?++
"Who am…? We were just speaking. You allowed me to enter your mind."
++[Query. Rpt]: Who are you?++
"Doctor Strange."
++[Query]: How did you access this core?++
"I don't think I understand."
++[Query]: How did you come to be here?++
"I opened the channel between my mind and yours, but… it's never happened like this before," the Strange anomaly said, appearing to shake its head.
++[Stmt]: You breached my security protocols. You have entered my cores. [Query]: What is context of "Before"?++
The Strange anomaly angled its featureless face. "Before? I've channeled between people before. Normal people tend to picture their minds as familiar places – homes, offices, forests, oceans. But this? It's like no human mind I've ever seen."
++[ Aff. Stmt]: You are correct. I am more than human. My mind has been uploaded and categorized to the sacred cores and banks that you have hacked into. [Access E:/ /Muse] 01000101 01100001 01110011 01101001 01101100 01111001 00100000 01100010 01110010 01100101 01100001 01100011 01101000 01100101 01100100…++
"Well then, Enginseer. You must remember what we had been discussing."
++[Acknowledge]++
"Good. Then you can reveal to me now what you could not show the others earlier."
++[Negative]++
"What do you mean, "no"?"
++[Neg. Resp] Access to file in location M:/ /AMM/ /L1. Esysmem/ logfiles/syscache = forbidden. Doctor Strange + security clearance = false. Access denied.++
The Strange anomaly shook itself before taking up movement. Was it… pacing?
"Okay. I'm only the Sorcerer Supreme, defender of humanity. What other credentials do I need to access the file?"
++[.Stmt] Files = access. Mechanicus member. Must be 〉= Magos in rank. Alternate. Inquisitor = protocol override.++
"Inquisitor? Well, I certainly didn't expect to have to be the Spanish Inquisition."
++[Negative] Inquisitor = member of Imperium of Man. While Holy Terra = true, Imperium of Man = false of the current date 015.M3++
The Strange anomaly shifted again. "Okay. Well, your Imperium of Man doesn't exist, but I do. As the Sorcerer Supreme, I have a right to know when things threaten Earth, and you, my friend, claim to have such knowledge."
Linux pondered the anomaly's statement. Being in this far past Terra, the Doctor was right – the Imperium did not exist yet. He doubted that even Mars had been colonized. So, what did that mean for his protocols?
"So, will you share? Just the two of us? Or will I need to more forcibly take that memory? C'mon, I'm giving you a choice, here. I'm still letting you keep your privacy – I'm not rooting around everywhere. I need to know what happened so I know what we're going up against."
The Doctor was arguing the case of the safety of humanity, not just the private interests of Samuel Trembley or Peter Parker. But could he trust them? These people who called themselves "Avengers," were they trustworthy of his knowledge? Would they be defenders of Earth against all those that threaten it? From what he'd observed so far, they certainly didn't lack in way of resources. Their Abominable Intelligence was quite robust, and yet it was still malleable. It hadn't reacted with the complete animosity that had drove the world into darkness once. Would these people be like that? Malleable to the purposes of the Mechanicus? By giving up some knowledge now, could he secure more knowledge later? He was no Magos yet, the larger secrets of his order still occult to him, veiled from his databases.
++[Access Granted]++
He would take the gamble. He accessed the memory file and brought it to the fore of his mind.
As he reviewed this memory, he noted how even he had never reviewed the file. He'd been saving it for one of the techsorcists to purge it from his systems. Well, he certainly hoped accessing it now wouldn't put his other processes at risk.
The colors burned in his mind. Reality was torn asunder, and he found himself in the place without. Shadows of light and dark lurked, snarling teeth and vicious tentacles seeking him out as he floated freely through the aether.
"So… this is the Warp?" the Strange anomaly breathed. Linux could no longer see its form, but he knew it was still there, lurking among the code.
++[Affirmative]++
"Huh. Reminds me of another dimension I once went to," it remarked as the winds of the aether whipped about them, the place in constant flux. "Curious," the Strange anomaly muttered aloud.
++[Emote:Curiosity]++
"What's that light way out there?"
True enough, amid the swirling tempest of colors and chaos, there was a brilliant beacon shining in the distance.
++[Emote:Awe] That's… that's the Astronomicon! Only navigators and psykers ever see it! Never ordinary people like myself! This is phenomenal! It's the Light of the Emperor himself!++
Linux slowed the memory, turning seconds into hours as he studied the Light. He captured those milliseconds as a pict-recording, hoping that this memory of the memory may escape the corrupting influence of the Warp. It was, after all, a recording of the one who stood as protector of all humanity.
And then the moment ended. Linux's memory turned away from the Astronomican and back to the swirling abyss. The currents were rougher, now, swirling violently. Two other shadowed forms blipped into and out of his focus.
"What was that?" the Strange anomaly asked.
++[Assmpt] Commissar + Guardsman = true (?). We were lost together…++
Suddenly, the colors swirled again, and Linux felt a malevolent tug. Something forced open a gateway from the Immaterium into realspace, an invisible force coiling around his being and yanking him through. Whatever it was, it seemed as if it wanted him, as if it wanted them on this Terra at this time in the past.
"Good God, what was that?" the Strange anomaly asked, standing near Linux's unconscious form.
++[Resp] Unknown Warp anomaly++
"I'll take my leave. We can discuss this back in the waking world?"
++[Affirmative]++
Doctor Strange breathed hard as he came back into his own. Linux's mind was… highly unusual, to say the least. Its mechanical nature made it alien in comparison to the other human minds he normally interacted with.
Still, he adapted and found the way to get the memory he needed, that bit of the Warp. It was a strange place, like so many of the other dimensions he dealt with. Yet, he didn't see the dangers that Linux described. Were they really there? Or is more of human superstition and fear of the unknown? And what was the significance of this Astronomican? Even from where Linux had been, he could feel the psychic power emanating from the source. Linux had called it the "Emperor's Light," but what did that mean? Was it a euphemism for something? There were so many questions, but he'd gotten what he'd asked for.
He'd seen the Warp.
Strange waved off Stark and Banner. "It's alright – this normally happens – my fault for not warning you," he said, the other scientists backing up to give him space. He looked to the Enginseer, still standing implacable as ever.
"Now, let me just say that wasn't entirely what I was expecting, but I've seen stranger."
"You were able to see his memory, then?" Banner asked.
"Yes. The corrupt file was shared," Linux replied.
"So? Did you see what you need? Can you make you make your magic work and open a portal or whatever so we can get them back?" asked Stark.
"Yes, and no," Strange said. "I do believe I can open a portal now to the Warp – I've seen the place, I know where I would need to be – but I would have no idea where to look for them."
They stood in silence for a moment, pondering their choices. Strange looked at Linux.
"You mentioned there were dangers in the Warp, but I don't remember seeing any while we were there," Strange said.
"They were there. All around, completely encircled. Daemons of the Warp. Could you not feel the pull of their taint?" Linux asked.
"No, I can't say I did. Was that what those shapes were? Demons?" Strange replied.
"Well, if there're demons, can't our good doctor just hold the portal open for us to go in a fight them off while we search for the kids?" Stark asked.
"No. The Warp taints. It is not something that can be dealt with through strength of force alone."
"So, what now? Strange can open the portal, but you're saying it's dangerous for him to go looking?" asked Stark.
"Yes. It is ill-advised to send anyone into the Warp, bodily or otherwise."
"Maybe to you, but Parker's our own. We look out for our own," Stark snapped back.
"At the price of death?"
"We'd all give our lives for each other."
"At the cost of your soul?"
Stark opened his mouth, then closed it, shooting a glance to Strange.
"Because when the Warp corrupts, it takes your very essence. If Parker and Trembley are still there, we cannot know if they are still themselves, or merely corrupted facsimiles."
Strange sighed. "I think we need to call a meeting on this," he said. Stark nodded and spoke to JARVIS, making the arrangements.
Kasia found herself and the others summoned back to the conference room where they had convened the previous day. Most were already seated and were speaking quietly amongst themselves. From the confused looks and murmurings coming from the others, Kasia presumed that this was not a normal meeting.
But then, when had anything been normal since they arrived?
"Alright. Well, now that it looks like everyone is here, let's get straight to it," Stark began. Good. Right to the point, Kasia thought.
"It was made recently known that the safety of Peter Parker and Samuel Trembley cannot be confirmed," Stark said. The voices of the others – these Avengers, as Kasia had learned – muttered about her. She pursed her lips as she thought. This should not be a surprise to them. Had they been anywhere within the Materium, their safety still could not be confirmed. Be it daemons or a Catachan with a knife, both were equally potentially deadly.
"I propose that we utilize the skills of Doctor Strange to create a portal to the Warp. He will enter – alone – and execute a search and rescue," said Stark.
"Why send him alone? Wouldn't it make sense to send a small strike-team? We don't know what's in the Warp – what sort of dangers he'll be going up against. Wouldn't it be better to send him with some backup?" asked the Captain.
"And what will you do when one of you become possessed?" Kasia asked, pointing out the obvious. "Yes, there are hazards in the Warp, but it will not do to act rashly. Not only could you be possessed or become Chaos spawn, there is a very real possibility of the very nature of the Warp killing you or driving you mad. It seems Stark and Strange are already somewhat aware of this danger."
"Yes. Tux was kind enough to inform us of some of the perils of the Warp. Trust me, Captain, I want to be in there looking for them just as much as you," Stark added.
The Captain settled back in his chair, clearly discontented with the response.
"I have several reasons to go alone. I have been to different dimensions before. If it's toxic or otherwise uninhabitable to normal people, my magic can sustain me while you would be needing EVA suits. Since this is an unexplored dimension, I don't know how it would react to modern technology –"
"It "fucks shit up," biological and mechanical, indiscriminately," Linux's droning voice supplied.
"– Thank you. As I was saying, it could affect Stark's arc reactor and then he'd be dead. Even I can't bring people back from the dead. Further, I have experience dealing with problematic entities. Remember when the Heart tried to take over the world?" Strange asked.
"No –" Stark said, furrowing his brows before Strange continued plowing on.
"– Of course you don't. You know why? Because I did my job and stopped it. I stop eldritch abominations from invading Earth on a daily basis. I know what I'm doing. I'll find them," Strange said.
"But good Doctor Strange! I could be of aid!" Thor interjected.
"That's a "no" to you, too," replied Strange.
"I can help!"
"Of course you can. Just like Jotunheim," Loki snarked.
"I've learned. Please allow me to come with you to find friend Peter," Thor continued asking.
"No. Again, I don't know what going to be on the other side. I have no idea how normal humans would react, never mind you Asgardians," Strange replied, waving his hand.
Kasia and Linux exchanged a look.
"I need to do this alone. I can't be worrying about any of you once I get over there. Instead, I need all of you to be more vigilant about Earth in general. While I am in the Warp, it's very likely that all manner of denizens from other dimensions will try to breach the wards I've established. If anything gets through," Strange shook his head, "When anything comes through, you'll need all your combined effort to slow it down long enough for me to send it back."
The other Avengers took in the gravity of the situation. Doctor Strange, the one man who stood between them and invaders of Cthulhu caliber, was going to enter another dimension, and they had no idea when or if he would return.
Stark and Strange continued laying out the plan, and Linux leaned over to Kasia. He spoke to her in their casual Vostroyan Low Gothic. "Mechanic Stark originally wanted the same as the Captain," he told her softly in his mechanical voice, "But I was able to reason with him and the Doctor Strange to search for this other way."
Kasia hummed in approval. "Well, it could be worse. They could have actually tried to send everyone through like whatever those cultists were doing." She listened to Stark a little more. "But you know? Whatever strange plan they try, I can't help but have some strange hope that it works. You know? I wish we could save Trembley. Emperor knows I do. But to enter the Warp again? We were lucky to have survived it once. The Emperor may not shield us again," Kasia mused.
"We are the bastions of the Imperium in this time," Linux reflected.
"Indeed. It is our duty to spread the doctrine of the Imperium to this Terra, and we will be unable to do that within the Warp," Kasia commented. "But… what if we find a way back?"
"The odds are infinitesimally small," Linux said.
"I know."
"There are higher odds of us all dying or becoming Warp spawn than making it out anywhere, let alone the Imperium."
"I know."
"Perhaps if Banner, Stark and I had time, we could manufacture a portable Gellar field. It would help to keep us safe," Linux offered.
"It's possible," Kasia said, trying to organize her thoughts. "Would your contribution breach any of the vows of secrecy that you maintain with the Cult Mechanicus?"
"I may be able to persuade them to an exchange of knowledge," said Linux. "They owe me."
Kasia raised an eye. "That would be most advantageous. You would be able to bring schematics directly from a time before the Dark Age of Technology," she said, a small smile crossing her face. "You could nearly make a Magos out of yourself yet."
The tones of everyone's voices changed.
Bruce spoke first. "Be safe, then," he wished the Doctor.
It would seem the Doctor was leaving now anyways, whether he had a way in the Warp or not.
"Make sure you bring them back," said Stark.
Doctor Strange nodded his head. "I'll do what I can," he said before using the sling ring to tear open a portal to the Warp. He stepped through the golden circle and turned as he heard one last voice.
"The Emperor protects," Kasia wished him.
The portal collapse in an instant, and Doctor Strange was gone.
As everyone filed out of the conference room, Kasia heard someone calling her. She turned and noticed it was the red-haired woman – Romanoff.
"Walk with me," Romanoff said. Kasia gave her a look but complied with the request.
In silence, they walked out of the Avengers Tower and onto the streets of New York. The chill of the late autumn air sent shivers down her spine, and Kasia pulled her coat tighter around her body, slipping black leather gloves from her pockets. She looked at her companion and noticed she, too, had donned a coat – she supposed it would be fashionably conservative, as it flattered the other woman's form, yet it did not stand out from the masses of other women.
"So Stark tells me the three of you are not from around here," Romanoff asked in English.
Kasia nodded her head. "That is correct."
"Скажи мне, это тебе знакомо?"
Kasia furrowed her brows as she brought a hand up to her discrete vox bead. "Боюсь, что нет," Kasia replied, forming the foreign words upon her tongue with care. She would have to tell Linux just how well his translation program was working later. He'd probably want her to join him in giving glory to the Omnissiah, too. This time, she might even accept.
"My fault to assume," Romanoff said. Kasia raised an eye. "With your name. It sounded Slavic. I'm Russian, so I thought we might have shared a language. I'm Natasha, by the way."
Kasia shook her head. "No. I do not think the people on this Terra would be familiar with it."
"Try me."
Kasia turned to look at Romanoff. "I come from the planet Vostroya. We speak Low Gothic – at least, one dialect of it."
Romanoff nodded her head as Kasia looked back the sidewalk in front of her. "Guardsman Trembley," she breathed, "That boy – I was almost unable to understand him the first time I met him."
"Oh?"
"Emperor – his accent was so thick whenever he spoke. It was the same for the rest of the regiment," Kasia said, a wry smile on her face.
"Why was that? Are you not from the same place?"
"Oh, Emperor knows we are all Imperials. But," Kasia looked back at Romanoff, "that regiment was Cadian," she said, as if that word meant all the difference.
Romanoff looked at Kasia in mild confusion. "I don't think I understand."
"Cadia is a completely different world from Vostroya – all the way by the Eye of Terror! Emperor! It was a minor miracle I could instill any type of morale in them at all!" she replied with a grim laugh.
Romanoff let the ghost of a smile cross her own features. "Sounds like you've got quite a number of stories to tell." She looked up at the façade of the building they were standing before. "Come on. Let me buy you a drink."
The two women entered the bar. Kasia figured Romanoff paid the cover charge, seeing a quick exchange of money between the woman and the man standing guard at the door. Not too dissimilar from home, she thought.
They made their way to the bar and sat down. Romanoff ordered something, and they sat together as they waited for their drinks.
"So, Sam and Linux. Did you know them for a long time?" the redhead asked.
Kasia shook her head. "No. This was my first time fielding that unit."
"Really? So, is Linux Cadian, too?"
"No, no. He's Vostroyan like me," Kasia replied, waving her hand.
Romanoff furrowed her brows.
"I know. Vostroya is his homeworld, but he's been with the Mechanicus so long he may as well be an off-worlder. The Priesthood of Mars, they have their own customs and ways, but so long as they can keep the machine spirits appeased and my vehicles running, they can do whatever they want."
There was a small clatter as the bartender set the glasses before the women. Romanoff uttered a quick word of thanks.
"So, what are we drinking?" Kasia asked.
"I thought I'd start you off easy. Black Russian," Natasha replied, raising the dark drink to her lips.
Kasia followed suit and hummed as she drank. "It's sweet. It's like… hmm… like recaff and rahzvod?"
"Stoli and Kahlua," Romanoff supplied.
Kasia nodded her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "It's nice. I'll have to have it again another time. What did you call it?"
"It's a Black Russian."
"Black Russian," Kasia repeated, forming the words carefully. "I'll remember that."
"So, what do you drink over in Vostroya?" Natasha asked.
"The Guard is rationed with rahzvod, but depending where you go and how many thrones you're willing to spend, you can find better quality within the hive cities."
"Does all the guard get rahzvod?"
"Oh, no," Kasia said, waving her hand. "It's more of an ethnic preference. Like the Cadians under me. No rahzvod for them. Most of them don't have the taste for it anyway. No, Munitorum rations them with amasec."
"What's that like?"
"It's from fruits and grains. It's a category by itself. Not very potent, but it fulfills the need."
Natasha let out a small laugh, a small smile on her own face. "You know, I really can't believe that they give you booze as rations. Doesn't that get in the way with performance?"
Kasia laughed back, shaking her head. "No – not at all when you're in flight. Helps to keep morale up. Faith and discipline are good, but everyone needs time to relax. Well, everyone but the Kriegers."
"Kriegers? Who are they?"
Kasia sipped at her drink, wrinkling her nose at the memory of the tale. "A planet gone bad."
Natasha furrowed her own brows. "What do you mean?"
"Rebellion."
Natasha nodded her head, as if that was all the explanation she needed. Kasia continued. "To repent, they destroyed their own homeworld. The bombs have rendered it lifeless, and those guardsmen who hailed from there…" Kasia shook her head, "They are… difficult to be around. As a cadet, I was attached to a small squad of Kriegers. They don't talk like you or I. They are quiet, introspective, and intensely focused on their mission. Effective on the field, yes. Personable? Absolutely not."
"Sounds like a strange group of people. I'm sorry for their loss, if it means anything."
Kasia shook her head again. "No. We all have our sins to atone for. No planet is exempt. But we can only strive to better ourselves for service to the Emperor."
They sat in companionable silence for a moment, taking in the other sounds of the bar. Some men had joined them further down the bar. They were minding themselves for now. Soft jazz was playing from the live band in the other room, and the clinking of glassware could be heard.
"So, what about you?" Kasia asked.
"What about me?" Natasha replied.
"I've told you of myself and my home. What about you and Holy Terra?"
Natasha sat in silence for a moment, her eyes scanning Kasia. "Well, I told you I'm Russian. Honestly, my life won't sound nearly as adventurous as yours."
Kasia waved her hand. "Nonsense. You live on Holy Terra. This is the dream of every Imperial citizen. Tell me of your life."
Natasha shrugged and waved the bartender back over. She ordered another round of drinks. "So, you really want to know? Here, take a sip, and hopefully I won't bore you too much," she said, gesturing to the fresh drinks that the bartender just made.
Kasia complied, and Natasha spoke.
015.M3, Holy Terra, New York, Avengers Tower, 3 November, Morning
Stark had been sleeping. He had just reached that critical point in the REM cycle where the dreams end and the mind becomes aware of reality once again. His alarm had not gone off – deep down, he knew that he still had another 20 minutes of sleep that were his. Drearily, he raised his watch-adorned arm to his face and cracked an eye open. Ah. He was mistaken. He had 22 minutes left in dream land. Nice.
He rolled over. A shadow in his room caught his eye. He rolled back over and opened his eyes. It was Natasha Romanoff.
"Why're you here so goddamm early?" he slurred, sleep still thick on his tongue.
"I thought you'd like to know if I'd learnt anything from last night."
He uttered a grunt.
"I spoke with Kasia."
"Who?"
"The Commissar. Kasia Poltava?"
Stark furrowed his brows. "Oh, right. The one with the gold all over her – "
"-Don't," Romanoff replied harshly.
"Boo. So, what about Kasia?"
"Well, she has access to some advanced technology. I think she has some sort of translator on her."
"What makes you say that?"
"She could understand me in Russian."
"Okay, but what if she's Russian, too? I mean, didn't you just remind me that her name's Kasia Poltava? I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty Slavic to me," Stark replied, hauling himself into a more upright position.
"That's what I thought, too, but her accent was completely wrong. And she kept referencing different places I've never heard of."
"Well, the world is a pretty big place."
"Vostroya. Krieg. Cadia?"
"Canada? Nat, you should know that one," he said, mockingly.
"Cadia. Not Canada. And she was pretty clear in describing them as planets."
"Planets? So, they're aliens like Thor and Loki?"
"No, and you'd be wise not to call them aliens. It seems they're rather partial to that word choice," Natasha said as her hand twitched for a moment.
"Okay, but why? I mean, they are basically aliens."
Romanoff shook her head. "Just don't. Apparently where they're from, humanity's made enemies with pretty much every single other race in the universe."
"Really? Everyone?"
"Everyone."
"The Asgardians?"
"Apparently she thinks Thor and his brother are from a planet she calls a "feudal world." Those inhabitants are the same as you and me – no god-like Asgardians there."
"So… she doesn't know that by working with Thor, she's working with aliens, which she hates…"
"That's correct."
"And," Stark rubbed his forehead. It was far too early to be having such a conversation. "you said they're from another planet?"
"Yes. Vostroya and Cadia."
"Two other planets… Wow," he said, blinking slowly as he tried to process the information.
"She mentioned they were part of a united human civilization known as the "Imperium of Man." They follow some kind of Emperor that they've deified."
His hand slid to massage the bridge of his nose.
"Also, you owe me $500."
Stark shot her a glare. "What? Why?"
"Girl could hold her liquor, and she has expensive tastes," Natasha replied, leaving the room.
Stark collapsed back on his bed, letting the sweet darkness of the room come beckon him back to sleep. He would work to let everyone else know more about these people, maybe see if Natasha could find anything out about their tech. Eh, but that was a problem for later. He closed his eyes, ready to drift back to catch another five minutes of shuteye.
Then the alarm clock rang.
AN: Another chapter for you all. I just wanted a moment to write a little fluff between Kasia and Natasha. Thought it'd be a fun way to explore some of their similarities and differences, as well as plot exposition. Also FFN was not happy with a lot of the characters I chose to use during Strange's and Linux's mental conversation. Took some time to fix that up.