NO LINE ON THE HORIZON
I know a girl who's like the sea, I watch her changing every day for me
Yui used the Evangelion's advanced cameras to zoom in and focus on the situation both within and without Boldhold's thick stone walls. Clearly the city was under heavy attack from some unknown foe. They were heavily armed with weapons that were not contemporaneous with the medieval level of technology she remembered the people here having. There were rockets and machine guns, and the soldiers using them wore fully enclosed helmets and armour. Whoever was attacking he access to much more advanced technology than anything available to the defenders.
It's no wonder Sergevague was so happy to know she had an Evangelion that could help.
"Some bad people are attacking my friends, Ichi," Yui replied. Magical fireballs and ice shards were being hurled back at the attackers, while rockets and bullets answered in turn. Luckily there was some kind of shield over the city keeping it safe. For the moment. Despite the technological disadvantage, the city was holding quite well. It seemed to Yui that the power Boldhold's mages yielded counted for a lot.
However, this wasn't a fight Boldhold could hope to win. In this battle of attrition, the city's shield was propped up by people; mages. The mages would get tired eventually and gaps would appear. And if the shield broke, even in one or two small places, then the defenders would be overrun in short order.
Yui decided the best course of action was to take action. Still high up in the air riding on electric orange wings, she had enough time to decide where to attack first. And it seemed like dropping right in the middle of the attackers yielding long range weapons was a good start.
She urged Ichi forward, and energy surged through the Evangelion as it plunged headlong into the fray. Lightning arced out from Ichi's extremities, scything across the battlefield like she was the goddess of thunder and lightning. Anyone on the ground witnessing a 70-metre tall fluorescent purple and green giant plunging towards them with lightning caging them in would have needed new underwear. If they survived to tell the tale.
And in an instant, Ichi was on the ground, snarling and growling and howling as Lightning Engulfed ploughed its way through the attacking army. Orange octagons flashed momentarily each time a bullet or rocket impacted Unit One's unfurled AT Field, deflecting the energy harmlessly away. Yui and Unit One systematically deleted an entire section of the attacking army within a few seconds.
The immediate threat to Boldhold's protective shield now neutralised, Yui and Ichi turned their attention to the remaining attackers who were swarming around the heavy siege machines. They were waiting for their turn to climb directly on to the city ramparts using the massive internal ladders. The defenders were desperately trying to set them on fire, or something. But magic fireballs were totally ineffective against hardened steel and ceramic structures. At best, the soldiers inside were probably more comfortable with the free heating said fireballs were providing to them.
The landscape flitted past as Ichi sprinted to one side of the sheer rocky mountain enclosing the main approach to Boldhold and turned to follow the curve of the city's stone wall. She paid no mind to whatever happened to be in the way, muscling her way through whatever obstacle was in front of her like a tornado. Eventually she and Yui reached the first siege machine. Without a second thought, she kicked it like a child would an ant nest, sending debris and parts and weapons and soldiers flying like ragdolls through the air and on to the cold hard ground below them.
This was repeated systematically for every single siege engine, every unit and every formation, until all that was left was Yui and Ichi standing on the field of battle.
fun!
"Was it? I…was afraid you'd be scared," Yui replied, not sure how to handle the revelation that the AI she created in a laboratory and installed in a giant war machine apparently enjoyed mass murder. If only she could be a more positive influence on her newest child.
"Uh…well, they were some bad things trying to kill our friends and we had to stop them," she replied. Was there ever a right way to teach a child about protecting the sanctity of life? Was it too late to hard code more ethics into the system?
"Of course Ichi, we can fly again some day. Now, Mama needs to rest a while. I'll talk to you soon."
I'm glad Ichi is still innocent. The last thing I need is to be responsible for a homicidal artificial intelligence inside a giant alien cyborg. I'd better get my good parenting skills out.
I'm hatching some plot, scheming some scheme
"I've been ordered to take you to see the Mayor of Grandton," said Kaji to Gendo and Fuyutsuki on the third day of their incarceration. "When they said 'see', I assumed they meant interrogate."
It was an abrupt morning update to their circumstances given there had been nothing but water and stale bread – served at inconsistent frequencies – since they arrived.
"Finally, some answers," Fuyutsuki said sarcastically. Gendo was glad the old professor had suffered no ill effects since their arrest at the local tavern. He had indeed slowed down in the last few years, in no small part due to living a largely sedentary lifestyle. But his mind remained razor sharp.
"Whatever the case, we will need to be careful how we approach this," Gendo said as his mind churned. "We might get answers, or we might just get the guillotine, though I'd very much like to keep my head for now…"
"Just to add to that," Kaji interjected. "I think something doesn't add up about this place."
"What do you mean?" asked Fuyutsuki.
"I can't put my finger on it. Call it a spy's intuition. But there seems to be layers and layers of things being hidden here and I just don't know what it is. The people don't seem to be…quite there."
"Hmm," mused Gendo. That was interesting but completely useless information. "Then we need to figure what it is we're facing quickly. I hope this interview with the mayor is illuminating."
"I've never met the man," Kaji said, knowing how unhelpful that was. "I've been trying to get information in and around the barracks but all I have is that he's a good man and made life fantastic for everyone."
Fuyutsuki raised an eyebrow. "Doesn't seem realistic, does it?"
"That's part of the reason this place feels off somehow," Kaji replied. "Everyone is so…satisfied with everything. I've never once been in a place this big where everybody was satisfied. There's always a gripe, an angle that I can use to get to people. But here? Nothing."
Gendo shrugged. "There's nothing we can do until we understand who we're dealing with. It would be better to get on the good side of whoever holds power here. We need information about how we got here too. And we won't be able to do that stuck in this cell."
"Ikari…this seems just like…"
"…that time we helped SEELE nearly end the world?"
Fuyutsuki nodded slowly and seriously. He was obviously disapproving of the half-baked plan.
"Come on, we managed to sabotage their plans and stop the end of the world."
"We were right sons of bitches about it though."
Gendo knew that. He didn't need to be reminded of it. He slays justified it as having no real choice. It was his way or the SEEELE way. The world was ending either way, but traumatising his son was his greatest personal sin. Participating in the wholesale murder of three billion people by detonating a giant alien creature had long become just a statistic. "A mistake for which I'll never be able to atone, especially if we're stuck here. Have you got any better ideas?"
Gendo knew Fuyutsuki didn't have any better ideas. As much as he trusted the elderly professor, he was not the imaginative type in his twilight years. And being in goal had dulled his appetite for risk further.
"I guess we'll go with your idea," said Kaji cheerfully. "If nothing else, it'll be interesting to see just how you talk your way out of this."
/
The main hall of Grandton was, despite the name of the town, not grand at all. It was, like the rest of the town, a wood and stone building with windows made of thin glass panes. Inside, wooden benches and tables dominated the décor. People milled around or lined up at various places, looking like they were there to get help with their problems. It was kind of like a medieval social security office.
Kaji led the two captives around the lines and through the crowds without any drama. The people seemed to just part ways as a uniformed member of the town guard arrived on the scene. It was so orderly, Gendo felt like everyone was behaving like they were in a Japanese train station.
After climbing some creaky wooden stairs to the upper level of the hall, they reached a set of double doors, the most impressive thing about the place so far. The doors were prominently inscribed with the word 'MAYOR'. But aside from that there was no other fancy decoration. Inside sat a distinguished middle-aged man with grey and black hair brushed back impeccably. His long, lined face belied his wisdom and his shiny eyes suggested a great deal of intellect. Though Gendo bet the man wasn't nearly as smart as himself or Fuyutsuki.
"Oh, good. The new arrivals," said the man to Kaji neutrally. "Thanks for bringing them here. You may wait outside."
Kaji nodded his acknowledgment and marched outside in his best impression of a common guard, closing the doors behind him.
The Mayor regarded Gendo and Fuyutsuki. "So, which one of you is named Ikari?"
"I am," replied Gendo. There was no point in playing games in negotiations such as these.
"Well, someone with your name has an outstanding bounty worth a lot of coin in Grandton," said the Mayor. "But, alas, you are not him."
Gendo figured that was the case. There was no way anyone here could know one Ikari from a bar of soap. At least Yui wasn't tangled up in this.
"But excuse my manners," continued the Mayor. "I am Mayor Sommers. I trust the hospitality of my town has been adequate despite the circumstances."
Neither Gendo nor Fuyutsuki reacted. Intermittent servings of cold gruel and water wasn't exactly the kind of thing either defined as hospitality.
"You see, we in Grandton are full of people who once fought for something, a beautiful world. A…grand design. We all believed in it. An orderly world. It would have been a golden age that brought wonder and joy to life itself. But it was lost to us. All because a young man named Ikari helped our foes defeat us in a final and dramatic battle. He stole our power from us, and now, he is hunted. He and his purple colossus alike." Sommers had an increasingly wild look to his eyes as the monologue went on and his voice got ever more shrill.
Unit One. And Shinji. So, we are in that alternate reality. But that means…this man we're talking to is a bad guy. Right? Mayor Sommers sounds like a lunatic.
Gendo had been a bad guy for so long that he'd forgotten which was which. Though Shinji's regular visits had started to restore some of his innate humanity.
"I digress," Sommers continued, having now calmed down. "Since you're not the fugitive we are looking for, I will release you on the condition that you are monitored at all times during your stay. And your stay will be…a long one. We are operating on a timetable here and you will be put to work."
Gendo nodded. It wasn't like he could make it far without any local help. And if he stayed, he could glean more information about just what was happening here. He could help or hinder the plans of this crazy person. Definitely hinder if he was going after Shinji.
"In that case, we thank you for your leniency," said Gendo emotionless as usual.
"Hmm," Sommers smiled. "Guard, you may return these two to their cells. They will be released once the paperwork is completed."
They were dismissed with a wave of Sommers' hand, his attention returning to papers strewn across his desk, plans and documents showing areas of a town – presumably Grandton – but in various locations. There were fortifications and big long buildings with room upon room upon room. They seemed overly large for a dusty merchant town.
Maybe they're looking to expand into tourism. Or they're preparing for war.
/
The walk back to the dungeon was pretty quiet. Partly because they didn't want any curious bystanders eavesdropping on their conversation, and also because Gendo was working through the situation in his head, trying to find a way out. He didn't realise that he was back in his cell until Kaji locked it shut with a dull metallic clank.
Gendo's former triple agent spy gave him a sympathetic look. "I'll find a way to get you out of here, though it might take a while. In the meantime, don't draw attention to yourselves. Please?"
"Fear not," Gendo replied. "We will be sure to lay low as much as possible."
"That Sommers guy is crazy," Kaji said matter of factly. "But we have to do this the smart and quiet way. I'll do what I can do help you get out, smuggling or otherwise. Be patient."
Gendo nodded. That was how he'd always operated with SEELE. It wasn't until right at the end that he diverged from their scenario. He could work with this.
"We can be patient," Gendo said to Kaji. "I trust you to find a way to get us out of here."
It wasn't like he had much of a choice in the matter. Kaji was the person on the other side of those cell bars.
I know a girl, hole in her heart, she said infinity's a great place to start
With some of Asuka's basic needs on Maslow's pyramid fulfilled, she found herself back in the garden where she'd stormed off earlier. It was empty now, but the ghosts of conversations past remained. She was annoyed that she was here. Annoyed that idiot was here. Annoyed that she'd had such a strong reaction to his presence. Annoyed her mouth had betrayed her brain and those latent feelings she had harboured for five years. Annoyed that she'd broken both their hearts five years ago.
All grown up, but my heart is still not in one piece.
The boy whose hand once held her own in mutual comfort and despair. Who cooked and cleaned for her. And whose brightest smiles he reserved only for her. But all she did was run away from all of that into an impenetrable wall of regret.
Asuka walked up to the stone balustrade and stared at the vista outside. Speckled clouds peppered the azure sky. The city below teemed with activity, though from her vantage point it looked a lot like a busy nest of ants scurrying about. Further away, it was just…green. Green like she'd never seen in a long time since being immersed in the big city life, mired in academia and ensconced in her father's mansion. It was only now that she realised the last time she was in or near the countryside and close to nature was when her plane was on approach to Berlin-Brandenburg five years ago.
How time flies.
She heard footsteps approaching from behind. She turned to see Misato – her Misato- approaching from behind in a somewhat cat-like manner. Or at least trying to. Her military issue shoes weren't the quietest on bare stone.
"Forty-two," Asuka said sarcastically.
"Huh?" enquired Misato.
"I knew you were going to ask me if I was here pondering the answer to the meaning of life, the universe and everything on your way here," replied Asuka. When that still drew a blank look from the UN Marine Colonel, she knew this was not exactly a battle of wits.
"Douglas Adams? The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy? Do you read anything?!"
Misato grinned her disarming apologetic grin. "Sorry, no time. Paperwork, you know…"
Asuka waved her hand dismissively in response. Misato still sidled up and leant against the balustrade next to her.
"So, in all the excitement of being transported to another universe, I forgot to ask; how are you, Asuka?"
Asuka considered her answer for a while. She simply said: "Better. You?"
"Funny, I think my answer's the same as yours."
Asuka nodded in understanding and gave her former guardian a wan smile. The two women knew enough about each other's pasts to both understand and say nothing more. She had lost her purpose in life after the Battle of Tokyo-3, thought she'd found a replacement, only to realise she was running from her pain. So, she did the only logical thing she could think of and ran even further in what appeared to be a futile attempt to find herself. At least Misato stayed to help look after Shinji.
"You know, Asuka," Misato said. "He misses you a lot. He even writes to you occasionally. I think you should write back."
"What makes you think I don't?"
"If he did, he wouldn't mope around so much."
The truth was, Asuka wanted to write back. And she had started so many times but couldn't ever start it properly. She usually got as far as Dear Shinji, I'm sorry I ran away before scrunching up the piece of paper as close to the Schwarzchild Radius as she could and tossing it in the bin.
Misato broke the silence yet again. "You know, Shinji and that queen…Anna. They remind me of you two together. So cute and…"
"Shut up, Misato. The last thing I want to think about is those two together. And don't you try to divert my attention by suggesting we could have a cute kid together like Anna's got."
"Well, now that you mention it, from some angles, Amelie does look a bit like Shinji…"
"Pfft, all kids look alike at that age."
Misato shrugged, apparently satisfied that she was not a prematurely young adoptive-grandmother to a kid in another universe. The two of them stared out in companionable silence.
"The other Misato went back on to her ship and they've flown off to try to find some fuel. They said they would help maintain the fleet, which is a relief. There's only so much fuel and ammunition we have."
Asuka nodded. That was important. Couldn't let the United Nations' naval pride and joy fall apart out here.
A loud ping from Misato's pants interrupted the tranquillity. Evidently, the UN Pacific Fleet was close enough that local communications were possible. Misato brought the offending device to her face and immediately gasped.
Asuka glanced at Misato's face, which was at full surprise mode.
"Evangelion Unit One's IFF was detected fifteen minutes ago somewhere north of here…" Misato muttered. "But…who could possibly have activated it?"
Asuka asked an even more fundamental question: "why is it here?"
/
The Osprey landed noisily in the main square of Summerise's market while two F35Bs from Wasp flew cover in case anything happened. The market square was one of the few places open enough to land one in the city, and the wash from its vertical propellers sprayed sand and detritus everywhere. The general populace gawked at the sight, and Asuka laughed that they didn't have any smartphones with which to take photos of the occasion like those back in her home universe.
Misato, Shinji and Asuka hurried aboard and one of the marines assigned to the mission to find the potential Evangelion strapped them in. It was cramped and loud and smelled of sweaty, grunty men and copious amounts of weapons oil.
The take-off was immediate once their straps were confirmed to be secure, and they climbed into the blue in short order with the two fighter jets providing air cover. Not that there was much chance of being intercepted in a place like this.
There wasn't much to say. Misato sat between Shinji and Asuka, smartly, in order to avoid any arguments breaking out between the two young adults. Not that there was much opportunity to talk given the noise inside the cargo hold. The marines had brought their usually assortment of guns and ammunition.
If someone think they'll be able to dent an Evangelion…they're going to have some really brown pants, really quickly. They might as well hit it with wet lettuce.
The scenery flew by through the single small porthole Asuka was sitting near, green plains slowly giving way to hills and then snow peaked mountains. Misato turned to Asuka and Shinji in succession, giving them a thumbs up. She took that to mean they had found something and would be landing soon. Given the relaxed demeanour from the military men on board, there was no immediate threat.
Though the pilot landed smoothly, the Osprey was tilted nose up. The marines filed out, weapons at the ready, but cleared the area within seconds of disembarking. That allowed Misato, Shinji and Asuka to get out as well. Even though the flight had only taken half an hour, she felt like she'd been sitting in the seat for hours.
They walked out to a frozen mountain-scape. Sharp mountains speared into the sky with white tips. And a cold wind ripped through her now completely inadequate jacket. What surprised her was the sight of Evangelion Unit One kneeling on the ground as if it was casually examining something. Then she noticed there were soldiers and equipment strewn all over the frozen ground. They were quite clearly dead.
Asuka shook the memories of the aftermath of the Battle of Tokyo-3 from from her mind. It wouldn't help to relive that now. She looked at Shinji and Misato, who were not staring at the statuesque Unit One, but rather at the two people walking from underneath it; the familiar figure of Ritsuko Akagi, and a woman who, for all intents and purposes, looked like a brown-haired version of Wondergirl.
"Mother!?" she heard Shinji ask nobody in particular.
The siren's wailing but it's me who wants to get away
Toji didn't remember falling asleep in such an uncomfortable place. In fact, he didn't remember falling asleep at all.
It wasn't supposed to be this hot in his university dormitory either. Not since winter had returned to the world. And he didn't live anywhere near sand. He didn't like the feeling of it being rough, coarse and how it was getting everywhere in his underwear.
Toji's eyes shot open. He was supposed to be in Tokyo-2 University's dormitory studying. And he had a date with Hikari tonight too.
Where he was, he had no idea. He was outside and on sandy ground surrounded by squat sand-coloured buildings. The sun beat down on him from a cloudless sky. He sat up and leaned back on his arms trying to get a good view of his surroundings.
Hikari is going to kill me when she finds out I'm going to be late for our date.
He fumbled in his pants for his phone and unlocked it. No signal, not even the emergency SOS was registering. He sighed in resignation. The day couldn't possibly get any worse, could it?
And then it did. He turned his head to the other side in the vain hope that there might be a landmark he could recognise. The only thing he could recognise was the macabre mask of…
Evangelion Unit Three was huge, black and menacing. It looked like a demon who was about to come alive and pounce on him at any time. And despite having been inside an entry plug before, this was different. This time, it was his Evangelion and not Shinji's, and he had willingly, but reluctantly, gotten inside.
Toji stepped inside and took a deep breath as he settled into the spartan pilot's seat. The plug suit squeaked uncomfortably as he tried to find the most comfortable position for his lower body.
Meanwhile the radio droned with callouts about connections and mundane things happening around him. Toji hadn't paid much attention to the interior of the entry plug when Shinji was piloting. He was too busy hanging on and trying to block out the noise – including his eventual friend's haunting and desperate screams – as Shinji set about destroying the Angel with one hell of a Hail Mary.
It worked, but Toji could see the toll piloting took on his friend. His inner guilt reared its head, and rightly so, after that experience. He hoped that by agreeing to be a pilot, he could fully atone for how he treated Shinji initially. Even if Shinji had forgiven him, he himself had not.
"Toji, are you comfortable in there?" the professionally emotionless voice of Major Katsuragi. It was so strange to see her in her work setting where she was all business compared to her home persona.
"Yes," he replied simply. He wasn't really comfortable. How could anybody be, knowing the perils and the experience of being inside an Evangelion. But he couldn't complain. After all, Shinji, Rei and Asuka had been shouldering the burden of defending Tokyo-3 all by themselves. When Toji joined them, it would make for a far more capable team.
At least, that was the hope. This was only the first step on that process, as Dr Akagi had briefed him.
Toji's thoughts returned to what was in front of him as the entry plug began to fill with that strange copper tasting liquid in which he'd been immersed previously. Things also started to light up, screens and buttons and finally, the entire innards of the entry plug itself became a giant immersive screen.
He had to admit it was pretty cool from an outsider's perspective. But he was still sitting in a colossal weapon of interstellar warfare.
But that was when things started going wrong. It began with a twitch in his right hand and then his left eye and then his left pinky toe and then somewhere in his neck and then somewhere in his mind. It reached out, it reached out, it reached out, 113 times per second it reached out. It reached out by asking "who are you?" It reached out by asking "what do you want?" 113 times a second it reached out. Toji could not answer. It reached out by asking "why are you here?" It reached out by asking "where are you going?" It reached out with a familiar feminine voice, 113 times a second it asked Toji Suzuhara those questions without end, it asked them without respite.
But it did not wait for an answer. In 113th of a second it stole those answers from his mind.
/
Toji woke up slowly to the sounds of beeps and hissing and the sense that he'd missed something vitally important. He felt fatigue and emptiness and…fear? He looked around. Clearly he was in a hospital room. Something must have happened inside that black demon. There was simply a hold in his mind between him sitting in the initial test and this moment.
It was not long before he heard the room door open quietly followed by polite yet eager footsteps. Several sets of footsteps, in fact.
First to appear from behind the off-white curtain surrounding his bed was a nurse, who methodically checked him over before giving a nod to someone he couldn't see. Then the familiar face of Hikari Horaki appeared overhead, tears in her eyes, who sobbed as she held him tightly. Quite why the girl he had a crush on was doing that, he couldn't fathom.
Next was Shinji, his friend, who he now understood more than ever. There was fear and guilt and shame on his face. Just what in the world had happened?
It was quite a shock to try to get up and realise that he couldn't stand properly because he'd lost his left leg from the knee down. There was a clinically staid and depressing debriefing held by Captain Katsuragi and Dr Akagi by his bedside. They said a lot of words, but all he could hear was; Angel contamination, prognosis good, physiotherapy and "sorry".
That and it was Unit One – Shinji – who stopped the berserk Angel contaminated Unit Three. Shinji did his best to save his friend, but it was still Toji who paid the price. He still wasn't sure how to feel about it all, five years later. He could tell Shinji didn't either. They went to the same university and still met and talked and ate, but they both knew there was a gap that couldn't easily be bridged again. Even if Toji had forgiven Shinji, both in word and in deed, Shinji looked like he would never let his heart be rid of the burden.
Perhaps worst of all, Unit Three, the bane of his basketball career was staring at him in this scorching desert. Its black visage gave away no emotion, no guilt, suffered no pain. It was just there, a monument to when his dreams and reality diverged.
At least his left prosthetic leg was still with him. Toji would be lost without it. He stood up, making sure that he was properly balanced. Though his gait was a bit different now, he'd regained most of his mobility and usually paid it no mind.
What the hell is going on here?!
Toji was so deep in thought, he didn't notice some people approach him from behind. Two men dressed in armour and carrying big pikes flanked a very handsome, young man with wild hair and an arrogant smirk. He was wearing not enough clothes to leave anything to the imagination.
"You there!" said one of the armed men gruffly. "Identify yourself!"
"Huh? I'm Toji," he replied, surprised he wasn't alone. "Who are you and where am I?"
The half naked man waved at the two flanking him and they backed off immediately. "It's fine, sergeant. I'll take care of this."
Toji received a warm and gentle smile from the beautiful man. "I am Kade Kosta, the king of Sapphirica. It is a pleasure to meet you, Toji."
Toji could only nod in response. "Uh, nice to meet you, King Kosta. I'm still not sure where I am?"
Kosta seemed to understand Toji's problem immediately, as he turned his attention to the dark mass of Evangelion Unit Three. "If I may ask, are you familiar with Shinji Ikari of Tokyo-3? Your machine seems…similar in nature."
"He's my…" Toji wasn't sure why he stumbled on the word 'friend'. He supposed Shinji was still his friend after a fashion. Even if there was a lot of compartmentalised things still unsaid, there remained a friendship between the two young men. Toji supposed it was common experience. "He's my friend. And, yes this is…well, was, my Evangelion."
"I see. I had expected that other colossi would have a similar colour to Shinji's. But that is immaterial. You must be hungry and thirsty after your long journey."
Toji was indeed hungry and thirsty, though it wasn't from any appreciable physical activity. Studying took a lot out of him, unusual amounts of energy, and he knew that he had to study harder than everyone else in his class to keep up. If only he had the natural talent of Hikari. It probably didn't help that he surprised himself – and practically everyone else - by getting accepted into a medical degree.
"Um, yes, that's… very kind of you," replied Toji. "Wait…how did I get here and how do you know Shinji?"
Kosta smirked. It would be annoying if he wasn't so handsome. "Oh, that's quite a long story. I'll tell you about it over lunch."
Toji got up gingerly, making sure not to fall over in the soft sandy ground. Once he was sure he was on no danger of making a fool of himself, he extended his hand to King Kosta, who took it in his own soft and fine hands. "Welcome, Toji, friend of Sir Shinji Ikari. Let us see how we can help each other."
A/N
Hey folks, another chapter! This one has been in the works for a while, and includes more plotting and planning for future development. Hope y'all enjoy.
Guest - discomfort in characters is exactly how they develop. Sometimes the problems are mundane, sometimes, they're multiversal. I don't think multiverse collapse is limited to Spiderman, and I'll leave it to my audience to speculate as to the whys and the hows.