Act 1 - First Steps into the Unknown

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Ethan moved through the city streets with a sense of quiet purpose. The energy of New York pulsed around him—honking taxis, the chatter of pedestrians, the distant rumble of the subway beneath his feet. It was overwhelming, yet strangely grounding. He needed to focus.

His first priority: securing a place to stay.

He wasn't naive enough to think he could operate without resources. Shelter, money, information—without those, he was just another lost soul in a city that didn't care. He needed a foothold.

As he walked, he let his senses expand—not actively using magic, but rather… feeling. Testing. The presence of the Tome within him was constant now, a silent weight that existed beyond the physical. His awareness of it was growing, like a limb he hadn't known he possessed.

For the first time, he actively reached for it.

A strange, subtle shift occurred in his perception. The city felt… different. The wind carried more than just the scent of asphalt and exhaust—it held whispers of something older, deeper. The pulse of life surrounded him, from the stray dog sniffing at a food cart to the towering trees struggling to grow amidst concrete.

He could feel them. Not in words or thoughts, but in essence.

His connection to the world was real.

And it was only the beginning.

Shaking himself from his thoughts, Ethan turned his attention back to the task at hand. He needed somewhere discreet—somewhere he could gather information without drawing too much attention. A hotel was too expensive, and even cheap motels required ID.

An internet café.

The idea clicked into place. A good one would have private booths, decent security, and—most importantly—access to the web. He could start looking into the world properly, verifying the differences between this universe and the one he knew.

After asking a few locals for directions, he found a small, tucked-away café with dim lighting and rows of computers. A faded sign read: Cyber Haven – Open 24/7.

Perfect.

Ethan paid for a few hours in a private booth and sat down, letting out a slow breath. He had a lot of work to do. But first—

"Hey," a voice interrupted. "You new here?"

Ethan glanced up.

A woman stood in the doorway of his booth—mid-twenties, dark brown hair, sharp eyes that held an inquisitive spark. She leaned casually against the frame, arms crossed.

Something about her seemed familiar.

Then it clicked.

Skye.

Daisy Johnson.

Ethan masked his reaction, keeping his face neutral. This was a potential ally—one he hadn't expected to meet so soon.

"Yeah," he replied smoothly. "First time in New York. Just trying to get my bearings."

Skye smirked. "This city eats people alive. You sure you can handle it?"

Ethan met her gaze, a small smile playing at his lips. "I guess we'll see."

She studied him for a moment before nodding. "Fair enough. Just don't get scammed out of all your money. Welcome to the jungle, newbie."

With that, she disappeared back into the café, leaving Ethan with a racing mind.

This world was full of surprises.

And it was only the beginning.

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Fate, Date, and Facts

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Ethan watched as Skye disappeared into the café, her words lingering in his mind. He hesitated only for a moment before making a decision.

No harm in establishing a connection early.

Rising from his seat, he stepped out of the booth and spotted her near the counter, ordering a drink. Weaving through the small crowd, he approached casually, making sure his presence didn't feel abrupt.

She noticed him just as he reached her side, one eyebrow raising in mild curiosity.

"Couldn't resist my charm already?" she teased.

Ethan smirked. "Something like that. Figured I should take your advice and get my bearings properly. Maybe over coffee later?"

Skye tilted her head slightly, studying him. For a second, he wondered if she'd say no—if she'd brush him off as just another random guy in the city. But then, a small, amused smile tugged at her lips.

"Alright," she said, her tone light but intrigued. "There's a place called Benny's Café a few blocks from here. Quiet, good coffee, and the muffins are decent."

Ethan nodded. "Sounds good. When?"

"Tomorrow, 10 AM," she replied. "Try not to be late, newbie."

With that, she took her drink and walked away, disappearing into the streets.

Ethan exhaled, a quiet chuckle escaping him.

That went well.

Shaking off the momentary distraction, he returned to his booth and settled back in. The encounter had been unexpected, but not unwelcome. She was someone worth keeping an eye on.

For now, though, he had work to do.

Turning to the computer, he cracked his knuckles and began his search—not for SHIELD, not for Hydra, but for the history that surrounded them.

His fingers hovered over the keyboard for a second before he started typing.

"World War II Nazi scientists."

A flood of results appeared. Declassified documents, conspiracy theories, verified historical accounts. As expected, buried among them were references to a secretive Nazi division focused on advanced weaponry and experimentation.

Hydra.

Of course, the official narrative remained the same—Hydra was destroyed by the Allied forces, primarily by a covert group known as the Strategic Scientific Reserve.

Ethan's eyes sharpened.

The SSR.

That was all the confirmation he needed. The SSR had been the foundation of something much bigger. If it existed in this timeline, then so did SHIELD.

He continued his research with caution, skimming through records on post-war intelligence agencies, secret military projects, and unexplained technological advancements. Patterns emerged—whispers of "anomalous technology," "recovered artifacts decades ahead of their time," and "classified operations hidden behind Cold War paranoia."

SHIELD existed.

And if SHIELD was here, so was Hydra.

Ethan leaned back, his mind racing. This world had already been playing its game long before he arrived. If SHIELD or another group had noticed him, they wouldn't leave any traces online. Any real information would be locked away, buried beneath layers of secrecy.

If they knew he was here, he wouldn't see them coming.

He exhaled slowly. This was just the first step. The real work was only beginning.

Powering down the computer, he erased his search history and stood up.

Outside, the city pulsed with energy—cars, conversations, the hum of a world moving forward. He pulled up his hood and stepped into the night.

Tomorrow, Benny's Café at 10 AM.

And beyond that?

He had an entire world to uncover.

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