Chapter 15: The Unforeseen Variable and a New Ally
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: CURRENT TP: 925. SKILL: ENHANCED SUPER-SPEED (50-100 MPH), ADVANCED MARKSMANSHIP, ENHANCED COMBAT PROWESS (UNARMED), TACTICAL ADAPTABILITY (URBAN COMBAT), COVERT OPERATIONS (INFILTRATION/ESPIONAGE). INVENTORY: MARK II BOOT REPULSOR (PROTOTYPE), STEVE ROGERS' WWII DOG TAG, OLIVER QUEEN'S SPECIALTY ARROW, NATASHA ROMANOFF'S DISTINCTIVE HAIR CLIP.]
Having made my audacious reveal to the core Avengers team and securing a tentative agreement for interdimensional dialogue, my mind immediately shifted to the practicalities. A "hotline" between universes wasn't just a matter of opening a portal and shouting across the void. It required advanced, secure, and stable communication tech. My thoughts immediately went to Felicity Smoak in the Arrowverse. She was a tech genius, a master hacker, and possessed an innate ability to make sense of the most convoluted digital landscapes. She was the perfect person to help build this bridge.
But the multiverse, as I was rapidly learning, was less like a carefully written script and more like a chaotic, improvisational play. My interventions, however subtle, had consequences. The "unforeseen variable" often crept in, a ripple from a stone dropped into the cosmic pond.
"Alright, Adam, time to put that 'Technological Integration' skill to use, assuming I can get it. But first, the unexpected curveball. The universe loves throwing those. Hopefully, it's not a literal curveball thrown by an angry giant robot. Because my 'Enhanced Combat Prowess' is good, but it's not 'deflect a tank' good. Yet."
The unforeseen variable arrived in the form of a minor temporal anomaly in Central City, Earth-1. It wasn't a Flashpoint-level event, but a localized distortion, affecting a small area of the city. Everyday objects would momentarily glitch, phasing in and out of existence, or rapidly aging before reverting. It was creating panic, but the STAR Labs team, while brilliant, was struggling to contain it. My Multiversal Threat Assessment Data Package contained faint warnings about localized temporal incursions, but this one felt… different. More organic, less like a malicious attack.
I decided to intervene directly. This was a low-stakes event, manageable enough for me to test my accumulated skills without revealing too much, too soon, to the public eye. I portaled to a deserted alleyway near the epicenter of the anomaly. The air shimmered, and a faint hum vibrated through the ground.
My Enhanced Super-Speed allowed me to move through the affected zone, observing the distortions with my Minor Time Perception Shift, seeing the fleeting moments of temporal instability in slow motion. Using my Tactical Adaptability (Urban Combat), I navigated the shifting environment, identifying safe zones and unstable pockets.
The source, I quickly discovered, wasn't a metahuman or an alien device. It was a young, unassuming researcher from a small, independent tech lab, working on experimental temporal energy fields. He'd accidentally created a resonance feedback loop, and it was escalating. He was terrified, trapped in his lab as equipment phased in and out.
This was my moment. I burst into the lab, a blur of motion. The researcher screamed, half in shock, half in terror. Using my Enhanced Combat Prowess (Unarmed), I quickly disarmed a malfunctioning piece of equipment that was spewing unstable energy, striking precise points to neutralize it without destroying it. Then, I used my Advanced Marksmanship to accurately reroute two overloaded power conduits, stabilizing the temporal field before it could collapse. It was a controlled, precise intervention, showcasing a blend of all my physical skills.
The temporal anomaly immediately began to recede, the shimmering air settling, the phasing objects becoming solid again. The researcher stared at me, wide-eyed, utterly speechless.
"You're welcome," I said, a slight, breathless grin. "Next time, maybe read the safety manual. Or at least, install a bigger circuit breaker."
Just as I was about to portal out, a familiar voice echoed from the doorway. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! What just happened here?! And who are you?"
It was Felicity Smoak, having tracked the massive energy spike from STAR Labs. She stood there, holding her tablet, her eyes wide, scanning the deactivated temporal equipment, then me, then the bewildered researcher. She had probably bypassed every security measure to get here faster than anyone else.
"Ah, Felicity. My favorite tech wizard. Right on cue. This is perfect. She's seen me in action, up close and personal. Now to make her an offer she can't refuse. One that involves less fighting and more coding. She'll love it."
"Adam," I said, introducing myself directly, putting on my most charming, trustworthy broker smile. "And you, I assume, are the legendary Felicity Smoak. I've heard a lot about you. All good things, mostly. Especially about your unparalleled ability to bypass secure networks and arrive precisely when the chaos is winding down."
Felicity blinked, trying to process the casual confidence, my impossible appearance, and the de-escalated crisis. "How do you know my name? And how did you just… do all that? Are you a metahuman? A new speedster? Because Barry would kill for those moves! Also, who's the 'legendary' part for? Did you Google me? I'm going to check my search history when I get back."
"I know a lot of things, Felicity," I replied, a conspiratorial whisper. "And let's just say my skill set is… broad. And unique. I'm the one Oliver calls the 'Broker.' And the one who occasionally sends Cisco cryptic but incredibly useful dreams about alien tech."
Her eyes widened further. "Wait, you're the one who knew about Darhk's magic? And the Chitauri armor? You're that 'consultant' Adam that Kara talks about? The one with the weird tech she showed me?" She connected the dots with astonishing speed, her brilliant mind racing.
"Guilty as charged on all counts," I admitted, a genuine smile. "And I'm here because I need your help, Felicity. Your particular brand of genius. I'm setting up a communication line. Not just city-wide, or even world-wide. I'm talking about interdimensional. A secure, stable, encrypted channel that can link heroes across different realities. Because the threats coming are bigger than any one world can handle. Threats like the Dominators, who are currently targeting a parallel Earth. We need a way to talk. To coordinate. To unite. And you, Felicity, are the only one I trust to build that bridge. You're the best."
I brought up my holographic interface, showcasing the "Blueprint: Quantum-Encrypted Multiversal Comms Hub" I had purchased earlier (for 175 TP). It was a complex, beautiful schematic of a communication system far beyond anything currently available, designed to transmit data across dimensional barriers with unparalleled security and stability.
"This is a blueprint for the hub. It's based on theoretical principles from a highly advanced reality. It needs your touch, your intuition, your coding brilliance to make it a practical reality. It's the key to uniting the Justice League and the Avengers." I let that bombshell drop, watching her reaction.
Felicity stared at the blueprint, her eyes gleaming with the pure, unadulterated joy of a true techie presented with an impossible puzzle. "The… Justice League? And the Avengers? Are you saying… they're real? And you can connect us to them? And this… this blueprint is insane! The quantum encryption protocols are revolutionary! The multi-dimensional frequency stabilization… it's beautiful!" She was completely absorbed, her usual bubbly excitement now mixed with profound awe.
"All real. All connectable. With your help," I affirmed. "This isn't just about building a device, Felicity. It's about forging the ultimate alliance. It's about saving more than one world. And for your genius, for your crucial assistance in making this hub a reality, I'd like a trade. A token of your unique contribution. Something that symbolizes your unparalleled ability to solve the impossible. Perhaps… one of your signature, slightly-too-large, but always functional, glasses?"
Felicity looked up from the blueprint, a wide grin spreading across her face. Her glasses, slightly askew, were indeed a signature part of her. "My glasses? You want my glasses? Out of everything, you want my glasses? Not a piece of technology? Not a prototype? Just my glasses?"
"They're iconic, Felicity," I said, shrugging. "And they symbolize the brilliant mind behind them. What do you say? Deal? Help me build this multiversal comms hub, and I give you the ultimate project. And you give me a souvenir."
She laughed, a genuine, joyful sound. "You, Adam, are utterly insane. But in the most fascinating way possible. And this… this is the most exciting thing I've ever seen. You've got yourself a deal, Broker! Get ready for some serious coding!" She quickly took off her glasses, handing them to me. They were surprisingly sturdy, with a faint lingering scent of her perfume and a touch of that "tech-lab" smell.
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: FIRST TRADE INITIATED! CHARACTER: FELICITY SMOAK. ITEM OFFERED: BLUEPRINT: QUANTUM-ENCRYPTED MULTIVERSAL COMMS HUB. ITEM REQUESTED: FELICITY SMOAK'S SIGNATURE GLASSES.]
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: TRADE ACCEPTED! TP EARNED: 225.]
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: SKILL ACQUIRED: TECHNOLOGICAL INTEGRATION (MULTIVERSAL). ENHANCED INTUITIVE UNDERSTANDING OF DIVERSE TECHNOLOGIES, RAPID ANALYSIS, AND ABILITY TO ADAPT/INTEGRATE FOREIGN TECH WITH EXISTING SYSTEMS. CAN BE UPGRADED WITH TP OR THROUGH FURTHER TRADES.]
A final surge of energy, this time settling in my mind, expanding my understanding of complex systems. I felt an immediate, intuitive grasp of the holographic blueprint, seeing not just the components but the underlying principles, the potential pitfalls, and the optimal ways to integrate it with disparate technologies. I could now literally speak the language of machines across universes. This was exactly what I needed.
My TP was now 925 + 225 = 1150. This was a substantial amount, allowing for more significant future purchases.
"Excellent, Felicity," I said, pocketing her glasses. "I'll transmit the full, non-simplified schematics to a secure channel only you can access. Get to work. And prepare for some very interesting conference calls."
I gave a final nod, then opened a portal and vanished, leaving Felicity alone in the temporarily repaired lab, already furiously tapping on her tablet, her mind completely consumed by the impossible, thrilling challenge she had just accepted.
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