The Catalyst

Chapter 25 - The Catalyst

Just before the blank period where the timeline remained intact, the timeline pulsed with temporal energy, a chaotic dance of possibilities. "The Paradox siphon this temporal energy," Devon explained, his voice grim. "It's like…they're not just stealing time, they're stealing potential. Each stolen quantum is a future unwritten, a possibility snuffed out before it can even breathe." He gestured to the projected timeline, which flickered with images of battles, triumphs, and everyday moments.

"This doesn't erase time entirely, but it destabilizes the timeline, making it vulnerable. The 'blank periods' represent areas where all temporal energy has been drained. Nothing can happen there; they're dead zones."

Shuri, fingers flying across a holographic interface, displayed complex energy readings. "So, you want to learn how to restore time?"

"No," Devon corrected. "To restore, we'd have to find where the Paradox are taking the energy. We're blind on that front."

"I sense a 'but' coming," Shuri said, a flicker of a smile playing on her lips.

"But…" Devon sighed, running a hand through his hair. "There has to be another way. A way to rebuild it, or at least…jumpstart it. Because if there isn't…" He trailed off, the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air. We're done for.

"Let's analyze this from the Mastermind's perspective," Devon said, projecting a series of images onto the Keep's main screen. Scenes from Universe 616 flashed by: the Avengers in battle, Ultron's menacing form, Spider-Man striking a goofy pose. "This is a functioning timeline. Shuri, how would you go about stealing time?"

"Maybe…attack nexus points," Shuri suggested, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"Bingo. There are various ways. Physical theft, like what happened in your timeline. Or…altering a nexus point. Even destroying one has similar effect." Devon's projection shifted, focusing on a scene of Tony Stark moments before the Ten Rings attack. "For example, Tony Stark should have been attacked. That was a nexus event. But if nothing happens…" The projection flickered, showing a scenario where the convoy never gets attacked and Tony is safely escorted. "No Iron Man. The world starts collapsing. Not literally, at first. But things…stack. Every life he would have touched, the events he would be part of, start deteriorating. This is where the Paradox steals energy from till time halts."

"It's anti-time, right?" Shuri asked, the energy readings on her display fluctuating wildly.

"Yes," Devon confirmed. "Absence of time's forward progression within a specific segment of reality. No new possibilities are generated. Existing possibilities are erased. Even entropy…halts. The air in those areas feels thick, stagnant. Colors are muted, like looking through a fog. The silence…it's oppressive. Not peaceful, but an absence of sound." He paused, letting the implications sink in. "Think of it: the Chitauri invasion should have happened. It was a nexus event, a pivotal moment. But the outcome…that was never guaranteed, that leads to multiple timelines. If the events leading up to it were changed, the invasion might have been repelled with minimal damage. Or it could have been far worse. But by stealing the temporal energy, the Paradox aren't just preventing the invasion from happening that way, they're preventing any outcome from happening. They're erasing the potential for the future."

"So, like if they win, every universe will only have a single timeline, no free will. Everything proceeds according to the Creator's will." Shuri said, her tone carrying a hint of pity.

"To fix this anti-time," Devon said, a spark of determination in his eyes, "I had been searching for a way since I understood what happened. But the answer lied in front of me. Since they took away possibilities, I will make the remaining possibilities shine so bright. It would act as a temporal anchor. We will rebuild the future." He looked at Shuri, a challenge in his gaze.

"Let's try it with this one," Devon said, his gaze fixed on the projected timeline. The image showed a world irrevocably altered by the absence of Iron Man. The Chitauri invasion had been far more devastating, leaving New York a scarred ruin and the world in a state of perpetual fear.

Shuri studied the projection, her brow furrowed. "So, we need to create a new nexus point…in a timeline where a crucial one is missing."

"Precisely," Devon confirmed. "We can't just bring Tony back – that would create a paradox. But we can…redirect the flow of potential. Create a new catalyst." He tapped the screen, highlighting a figure in the background of one of the projected images: Dr. Helen Cho. "She's a brilliant geneticist. In the original timeline, her work with the Cradle was instrumental in creating Vision. She has the possibility to break through the shackle placed on her."

"So rather than solving their problem yourself, you want to make them able to save themself," Shuri realized, her eyes widening. "She's a pioneer in her field. Perhaps…we can focus on her research. Amplify it. Create a new technological leap, a new moment of innovation that can serve as a temporal anchor."

"It's a long shot," Devon admitted. "But it's the best we have. We just need to find a way to…inspire her. Give her the impetus to pursue a specific line of research that could have far-reaching consequences."

Shuri began rapidly accessing data, pulling up information on Dr. Cho's known research areas. "Her work on cellular regeneration…if we could accelerate that, combine it with advanced robotics…we could potentially create synthetic bodies capable of rapid healing, even regeneration."

"Like Vision?" Devon asked, a hopeful note in his voice.

"In a way," Shuri replied. "But…different. This wouldn't be an AI born from an Infinity Stone. This would be…humanity taking its next evolutionary step, driven by necessity. A response to the devastation caused by the Chitauri, a testament to human resilience."

"And that could be our nexus point?" Devon asked.

"It could be a catalyst," Shuri corrected. "A new branch point. A moment where the timeline can diverge from this bleak path and create new possibilities. It won't erase the past, but it will create a new future."

"How do we inspire her?" Devon asked.

Shuri tapped the screen again, bringing up a series of news articles and research papers from the altered timeline. "We can subtly influence events. Plant seeds. Provide her with resources, anonymously. Guide her research in the right direction without directly interfering."

"It's a good idea, there won't even be a backlash for changing time if done this subtly," Devon mused.

"Precisely," Shuri said with a grin. "We're not rewriting history. We're giving it a gentle push."

Devon nodded, a renewed sense of purpose filling him. This wasn't a perfect solution. It wasn't undoing the damage but rebuilding over it.

It was a chance, a glimmer of hope in a world that had almost lost it all. They would nurture this new potential, this new possibility, and pray that it was enough to anchor the timeline and prevent it from unraveling completely.

"Let us meet Dr. Cho, then," Devon declared, leaning back in his chair. "While subtlety is needed for you to act, some of us have…less conventional methods." He offered Shuri a wry smile."

Shuri rolled her eyes. "Right. Because subtlety is for mere mortals, not Demon Kings."

"Yes," Devon said with a grin. "You have seen yourself, the status of the multiverse. I cannot help in restoration while also fighting the paradox. Also there are multiple Major anomalies that need my intervention."

Shuri looked baffled, her eyes widening. "Even for you, that's a…bold move."

"It's efficient," Devon countered. "And we're short on time, literally. Let's find Dr. Cho."

Using the Keep's advanced tracking systems, they quickly located Dr. Cho's current location: a small, privately funded research lab in Seoul.

Within hours, they were standing outside the unassuming building.

"Ready to play venture capitalists?" Devon asked, a glint of amusement in his eyes.

Shuri rolled her eyes but nodded. They entered the building, presenting themselves as representatives of a newly formed philanthropic organization focused on funding cutting-edge scientific research. They were quickly ushered into a meeting room, where Dr. Cho greeted them with a polite but cautious smile.

"Dr. Cho," Devon began, extending a hand. "I am Dr. Devon, and this is my colleague, Shuri. We've been…following your work with great interest."

Dr. Cho's smile tightened slightly. "I appreciate your interest. But I'm afraid our funding is quite limited. We're not currently seeking new investors."

"That's exactly why we're here," Shuri interjected, her voice warm and engaging.

"We're not interested in investing in your current projects. We're interested in investing in your potential."

Devon projected a holographic display onto the table, showcasing complex diagrams of cellular regeneration and advanced robotics. "We believe your research could be the key to unlocking a new era of human advancement. We're talking about the ability to regenerate damaged tissues, create synthetic organs, even…enhance human capabilities beyond what we thought possible."

Dr. Cho's eyes widened as she studied the diagrams. "This…this is theoretical. We're nowhere near achieving anything like this."

"Not yet," Devon said. "But with the right resources, the right direction, we believe you can be the one to bridge that gap." He paused, letting his words sink in. "We're prepared to offer you unlimited funding, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and the collaboration of some of the brightest minds in the world."

"This is all very impressive," Dr. Cho said, her voice laced with suspicion. "But forgive me if I'm skeptical. This sounds too good to be true. Who are you really, and what do you want?"

Devon exchanged a quick glance with Shuri, then met Dr. Cho's gaze directly. "We understand your skepticism, Dr. Cho. We're not asking you to trust us blindly. We're simply offering you an opportunity—an opportunity to achieve something truly extraordinary. As for who we are…let's just say we're interested in investing in the future of humanity." He gestured to the holographic diagrams. "And we believe you're the key to unlocking that future."

Months passed, each marked by steady progress in Dr. Cho's lab. The initial influx of resources had transformed the small facility into a cutting-edge research center, buzzing with activity day and night. One evening, Dr. Cho stared intently at a complex holographic projection of a synthetic limb, her brow furrowed in concentration. "The neural interface…it's not responding as it should," she muttered, running a hand through her hair. A junior researcher hesitantly suggested a new algorithm based on biomimicry. Dr. Cho's eyes widened. "That's it!" she exclaimed, quickly implementing the change. The prototype limb twitched, then moved smoothly in response to simulated neural impulses. A small but significant breakthrough.

News of Dr. Cho's advancements spread quickly, generating a wave of cautious optimism. News reports spoke of "miraculous advancements in regenerative medicine" and "new hope for a world scarred by tragedy." The world began to heal, not through superpowered intervention, but through human ingenuity.

Devon and Shuri observed from the Keep, monitoring the energy fluctuations in the timeline. The blank areas were still present, but they were…shrinking. The temporal energy, though not fully restored, was beginning to flow again, albeit in a different pattern.

One evening, as Dr. Cho and her team were working late into the night, a breakthrough occurred. A prototype synthetic limb, designed with advanced regenerative capabilities, successfully responded to neural impulses. It wasn't a perfect replica of organic tissue, but it was a significant leap forward – a testament to human ingenuity and resilience.

As the news of Dr. Cho's breakthrough spread, a ripple effect began to manifest in the timeline. New possibilities began to emerge, branching out from this new nexus point. The world, scarred by the Chitauri invasion, began to heal, not through superpowered intervention, but through human innovation.

Devon and Shuri watched as the timeline stabilized, the blank areas receding like a tide going out. The energy fluctuations calmed, settling into a more natural rhythm. Multiple branches appeared, resembling a newly born tree.

"It worked," Shuri breathed, a mixture of relief and awe in her voice. "We created a new anchor."

"It wasn't about replacing Iron Man," Devon said, a thoughtful expression on his face. "It was about finding a new source of potential. A new path forward."

But as the timeline stabilized, a subtle shift occurred. The new reality wasn't a perfect copy of the original. There were differences, subtle but noticeable. Some events played out differently, some people made different choices. The world was healing itself, but it was a different world, shaped by the absence of Iron Man and the emergence of Dr. Cho's revolutionary technology.

"It's…different," Shuri observed, studying the newly stabilized timeline. "Not bad, just…different."

"That's the nature of time," Devon said with a shrug. "Besides, if everything went exactly as planned, what would be the fun in that?"

And hopefully, this time, nobody tries to build an evil AI from her research.