Prologue: Ascension

[A lone wolf]

He didn't want this for them, if he had just given up on his ambition this wouldn't have happened. They wouldn't have had to end up stuck with him. He risked it all on some fools hope that maybe he could improve life for everyone. Cut that deal and now they had no universe, no home. Sure, they said it wasn't his fault but it was. It really was. All for some bullshit power.

Now here he sat a glass of whiskey in his hand and nothing but ash around him. They had gone off somewhere, well most of them, she was still nearby. But them…they were looking for traces of life, maybe someone to fix it all. Lots of good that'll do, there was nothing, he could sense it. Odd thing that was, his new abilities. His senses had been supercharged and expanded upon. He could detect a wide spectrum of things; from emotions, to life signs, to whether someone was lying or not. It would prove useful, you know if there was anyone besides him and his friends here. But no this universe was lost, eaten alive. If there was more life it certainly wasn't here.

He took a sip of his whiskey.

Hmm…

He'd wonder, he never did test out the limit of his range, maybe…

Suddenly it was like a million lights turned on and filled his vision. A vastness previously lost to him and that he never knew.

[A worried assistant]

She didn't go far, she couldn't just leave him there alone, she knew that's what he wanted. It's what he always craved in these moments to wallow in privacy. She'd normally come by and leave him some food, back when things were…normal. It wasn't anymore and she was okay with that. She didn't care about any of this shit, so long as the ones she cared about still lived, what use did she have for anyone else. But of course he would beat himself up over it, he always did. She just wished there was something she could do, if he'd only let her in when these moments occurred.

Taking a seat she curled up into herself and stared where he sat. She could see his smiling face now; before all this happened, when he was gung ho about this project. She still felt the warmth of his hand on top of her head, hear his words of praise for her, the weight of his head on her thighs, when she forced him to rest. It was a simple life, it wasn't easy but they were all happy with it, now…

She looked up at the dark fractured sky, soot falling from it and covering the ashen land around her. She raised her hand towards it, in an attempt to grab onto something that wasn't there. She could feel the soft hum of new power coursing through her. It felt like it belonged there, like an old friend.

Maybe they could start over. Go somewhere new. But where? Everything here was lost, maybe there was more? There had to be more.

She lowered her head and looked back towards him. She'd consider it more later; right now, they needed her. He needed her. She'd keep watch. She wouldn't let his despair take him from them.

"I got you, boss."

[A chill monkey]

He had a new sense of balance, it was a weird addition having a tail. At least he could use it to pick things up though. He decided it was time to explore, his presence wouldn't do well when his friend was in that mood. Some distance and privacy usually helped, then eventually he, his friend, would be up on his feet again. Just needed some time.

Meanwhile he decided he'd put on some music, roll up and see just how far this little extinction went. Maybe test out these new abilities beyond his new extra appendage.

His first impression on how it all looked was that it was very muted, there was no color anymore. The universe used to be so vibrant and there were a myriad of colors and sounds. It was all so beautiful. Were. That's a funny word. A past tense of what once was and is now no more. He looked around and found the remnants of a wall, with a leap he landed on top, taking a seat and looking out over the landscape. He finally took the joint to his mouth and with a snap of the fingers a flame alit on the tip of his index. He put the fire to the end of the joint and took a puff.

[A straight man]

She had been against it from the start but of course they went off and did it anyway. Now their universe was lost, and there was no getting it back. This is what they get, sticking their nose where it didn't belong. No amount of foreign powers were ever gonna fix this.

Oh well. She got up from where she was sitting and began to stretch and work out some knots.

She had left him alone long enough it was time for them all to gather and figure out a plan of action. She'd slap him out of it if she had to.

[The lone wolf]

He stood up from where he rested; polishing off his whiskey, he looked back to where he knew she was.

"Gather the others. I have…an idea." he spoke to her, despite the distance between them, he was sure she'd hear it.

He smirked when he was proven right, feeling that she had disappeared. He let go of the glass and it just floated there next to him.

"Now.. how best to explain everything. I'll have to be quick and concise, get them on board before they could change their mind."

[Assistant & Chill monkey]

She had left it up to a flip of the coin, now here she was looking around for a certain monkey man. You'd think when there was nothing but ruin around every corner it wouldn't be that hard to find a person walking around with a monkey tail. That was wrong though, somehow it made it infinitely harder.

"Hello Fae, what brings you to my neck of the woods?" Said monkey man hopped down from his perch and landed behind her. "How might your local circus monkey be of assistance?"

"Ty said to gather you all up. He has an idea." The now named Fae answered, turning to face him.

"Oh, that's good. I'm glad he is doing better. What's the idea?" He asked her. There was no mistaking his genuine curiosity and slight worry for the implications of such a thing.

"Don't know, but I'm gonna go collect the other one. Have any idea where she is?" Fae said then asked.

"Don't have to worry about me, I'm already here." The straight man had arrived, coming up upon the two. She had a hand on her hips as she stared at the two. "So he finally got himself together. Hopefully this doesn't end as bad as his previous idea. Like I love the dude and I won't put this mess all on him. But not his best call."

"Watch it Cherri! Boss was trying to help people." Fae was quick to snap, she knew Ty was still in a low state. She'd have no negativity around him.

"I'm just saying, there are plenty other ways to help people, and they don't end up leading the universe into a total cataclysm." Cherri responded in defense of her words.

"Hey, let's not fight, we all chose this. Let's just head back to Ty." The monkey quickly cut in.

"Fine Tsu. I guess." Fae let out a frustrated sigh and started to head off ahead of everyone back from where she came from.

"Whatever." Cherri trailed behind her at a sedated pace.

"Good." Tsu began to follow them both.

They had made it back to Ty's location easily enough. Now Tsu was ready to hear this idea of his. Hopefully it got them away from this wasteland. That is assuming he ever stopped drinking his whiskey.

That glass of his was filled and he was just casually sipping away at the alcoholic drink. He'd seen them arrive, with the only acknowledgement given being a raised finger.

"Ty! We're here. What's up?" Cherri, of course, wanted to get to the point of the matter.

Ty set down the drink in the air, giving a quick cough he cleared his throat.

"So! As you all know, things are royally fucked around here." That got him a round of nods from the group. "So now I raise you. What if we could get away from all this? Start over somewhere else or well multiple elsewhere. What I ask, would you say to that?"

"Are you talking about Multiverse Theory?" Tsu definitely was more curious now. The idea of leaving this dull wasteland was priority one on his list.

"That I am, our universe isn't the only one. Made apparent due to recent events." Everyone felt the powers that dwelled within them flare.

"Yeah and…Not like we know how to get out of here and to there." Cherri shot at him.

"Ah but that my dear Cherri is where you are wrong, I can feel them. The other universes and those who inhabit them. We could go to them, live amongst them. Have whole new lives. What do you say?" Ty had a look in his eyes, it wasn't hope, nor was it deranged. If anything it was desperation. The type of desperation of someone who lost it all and has the need for a win.

"I'm with you boss, if you think it's a good call. Then I'll back you up." Fae walked over and stood beside Ty.

"So we live amongst them and then what? Are you gonna try and improve upon their lives as well?" Cherri asked.

"No. I've learned my lesson. I promise I won't try anything like I did here. However if I see suffering I can't promise I'll stand idly by and watch it happen." Ty had his ideals and he was one to stick to them.

"Shit, I'm down. Anything that isn't here." Tsu joined, making them a trio.

All that left was Cherri, they looked at her, waiting on her choice.

Cherri sighed and joined the others, "The minute things look bad for whatever universe we end up in. I'm getting the hell out of there and going somewhere else."

"Wouldn't have it any other way." Ty said, and with a quick flare of his power. He extended his senses to the vast multiverse and locked on to whatever signature he could find. "Found ya."

Then with a flash, they disappeared.