[58] : A Request from the Watcher!
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This place is a bar, one situated beyond the multiverse.
The decor has an ancient European style, with oil lamps burning overhead instead of electric lights. Roger stands in the middle of the bar, feeling a slight sense of familiarity, he must have seen this place in a movie before.
But that isn't the main point. What truly catches Roger's attention is that, aside from himself, the only other person in the bar is a bartender who looks like Doctor Strange. Or rather, the Dark Doctor Strange.
Aside from him, Roger doesn't see any members of the original "Guardians of the Multiverse" team.
After staring at Doctor Strange for a moment, Roger turns around to face the approaching Watcher and asks, "So... why did you bring me here?"
"I need you to do something," the Watcher replies, walking up and towering over Roger.
It's not that he's deliberately looking down on Roger, he's just that tall. Except for beings like the Hulk or Thanos, who are naturally large, the Watcher looks down on everyone.
Hearing the Watcher's words, Roger raises an eyebrow. "Do... something?"
"Roger, I've been observing you for a long time," the Watcher says, his tone serious. "You don't belong to this world, yet you know countless things about it. You are an observer from a higher dimension, so you should understand what I'm talking about."
"…"
Roger frowns, looking at the Watcher.
The title "observer from a higher dimension" is a bit much for him, but in a way, the Watcher isn't wrong.
And judging by how confident the Watcher seems, Roger knows there's no point in lying.
Especially with Dark Doctor Strange nearby, he'd see right through any deception.
So, Roger doesn't bother pretending. He lays it all out, saying, "Alright, I do know some things. So... what I want to know is, why me?"
As soon as Roger finishes speaking, the Watcher and Doctor Strange exchange a glance. Doctor Strange shrugs and takes out a beer mug, filling it with beer and sliding it over to Roger.
The Watcher continues, "Initially, I did consider forming a team, but after observing you, I changed my mind."
The Watcher moves to stand beside Roger, prompting Doctor Strange to pull out another mug, playing the role of bartender.
The Watcher doesn't touch the mug. Instead, he gazes at the liquid inside and says to Roger, "If events were to proceed as originally intended, Ultron would be defeated by the team I assembled. Hydra's AI, Arnim Zola, would take over Ultron's body, and Erik Killmonger and Zola would be trapped in a micro-universe created by Strange, fighting over the Infinity Stones…"
The Watcher speaks softly, narrating the original plotline.
As Roger listens, he silently confirms that this is indeed the original storyline.
From what happens in the original series, it's clear that while the Watcher may seem powerless against Infinity Ultron, he's been aware of everything all along.
Whether it's Zola eventually taking over Ultron, or Killmonger's sudden betrayal, or the final outcome, the Watcher saw it all.
It's similar to how the main universe's Doctor Strange foresaw countless possible futures, with only one where they win. The original ending was also the best outcome in the Watcher's eyes.
But now, the Watcher has changed his mind.
"But that wasn't the end," the Watcher suddenly says, turning to Roger.
"You should know that even if that outcome is achieved, as long as Zola and Killmonger are alive, they'll eventually break free."
Roger understands what the Watcher means. In the context of this world's story, the longer time goes on, the more unpredictable things become. A mere 'seal' will eventually be broken.
In real-world terms, the original ending of What If...? is just a massive cliffhanger left by the writers.
It's a cliffhanger that will be addressed sooner or later. Perhaps in the second season of What If...?, we'll see Zola, who took over Ultron's body, and Killmonger, who fights against Zola, break free from their 'seal' and escape.
Roger keeps these thoughts to himself.
Dark Doctor Strange, hearing the Watcher's words, suddenly speaks up, "You're making me sound incompetent. After all, I'll be the one keeping an eye on them."
The Watcher turns to Strange and says, "It's not that I don't trust you, but you know as well as I do that over a long enough timeline, anything can happen."
Hearing their conversation, Roger steers the topic back on track and asks, "So, what do you want to do now?"
The Watcher's expression becomes even more serious, though he's been serious from the start. Roger can feel that he's now more earnest and solemn.
"I need your help, Roger," the Watcher says. "You're a warrior who can traverse countless dimensions. I want you to assemble a team to completely destroy Ultron. We need to ensure he has no chance of resurrection."
Ding! Quest received: Form a team of heroes!
If Roger had a quest system in his head, this would be the moment it chimes in.
But Roger can't help but think the Watcher is overestimating him. Traveling through endless dimensions to form a team capable of defeating Ultron? If it were that easy, the Watcher wouldn't have chosen to seal Infinite Zola in the original timeline.
"...Aren't you placing too much faith in me?" Roger asks, exasperated.
The Watcher responds, "I can't see your future, but I know you'll succeed, just as you saved the zombie universe from its original fate."
"I don't even believe in myself, and yet you believe I can save your world. You're something else," Roger says, giving the Watcher a thumbs up.
He admits he's feeling a bit daunted.
Before he crossed over, he was just an ordinary person. Even after becoming Homelander, Roger only wanted to do what he could within his limits.
Most of the time, he prefers to stay at home, watch movies or anime, or explore other worlds to see new things.
Saving an entire universe? That's too much responsibility.
Roger didn't even want to interact with the Avengers when he arrived in the zombie universe. If it weren't for the fact that he had no other choice, if saving the world wasn't necessary to save himself, he wouldn't have gotten involved.
After all, it's a zombie apocalypse, and one where even the slightest scratch could lead to infection!
Only Roger knows the courage it took to fight Thanos.
At the time, it didn't seem like a big deal, but now that things have calmed down, Roger can't help but feel a shiver of fear. If he had been injured, just a small cut, he would have ended up as Zombie Roger.
Thor's fate could easily have been his.
So now, with the Watcher asking him to save the universe, Roger just wants to say, "Find someone else."
He's just a regular guy with superpowers, without the heroic will, without a dream or ideology he feels compelled to fulfill. His desire to be a hero is just a childhood fantasy, a middle school dream.
He can't bear such a heavy burden.
Seeing Roger's reluctance, the Watcher says, "You have plenty of time to think it over. The zombie universe's fate has already changed, you can rest there. I'll accelerate time in the zombie universe.
"Of course, you can leave this world to consider. I can guarantee that no matter how long you stay outside, you'll return at the moment you left. For you, time is infinite."
"You're not worried that if I leave, I won't come back?" Roger asks, puzzled.
The Watcher reiterates, "As I said, no matter how long you stay outside, when you return, it'll be the moment you left. If you don't come back, we'll know quickly."
"Got it."
After the Watcher's explanation, Roger understands what they mean.
If he leaves this world, there will only be two outcomes for the Watcher and Strange.
One is that Roger returns with a team, fulfilling the Watcher's request.
The other is that he never returns, either because he doesn't want to face Ultron or because he died somewhere.
Either way, the Watcher and Dark Doctor Strange will know immediately.
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