"Hey, mortal, open your eyes." I hear after Max's shout.
"Yeah mortal, talking to beings such as us with your eyes closed is very offensive." I hear another voice.
-Attention Zar'thanox the forsaken and Helios Vaz Sum'ten, you both have been found guilty of causing temporal and dimensional instabilities that lead to multiple fatalities. These fatalities would lead to multiple collapses amongst both timelines and dimensions by the Akashic Records. You both agreed to accept restitution for all individuals who have suffered fatalities due to your actions. The mortal you are addressing is named Marcus Alexander and he is one of those such individuals. Be warned the Akashic Records is observing these restitution proceedings. Any form of discourtesy, force, or other dishonorable behaviors shall be met with severe consequences.-
"Sorry for being impolite mortal. Let me try this again. Please open your eyes so we may facilitate restitution for our actions that lead to your fatality." The first voice sounded again.
As I opened my eyes I noticed I was sitting in what looked like a modern-day courtroom. In front of me was a table top my left were two beings for back of a better term to generalize them. Further ahead and to my right were multiple white and gold figures that looked to be made of light.
"I am Zar'thanox. Pleased to make your acquaintance." One of the beings stood up and addressed me. He or she looked like Godzilla but made of slime and more humanoids shaped.
"And I am Helios Vaz Sum'ten. I am likewise pleased to meet you and ask for your forgiveness for any rude behavior I showed just now." The other being also stood up and faced me. He looked like a lava mudman that had a Dragonball Z glow coming off his body.
"Uh, sure, I can let the way you spoke to me just now slide. I mean it is rude of someone to not look at others when they are supposed to be communicating. But I suggest you not do it again as that would account as rude behavior to me the victim." I replied with a polite smile and a small bowing of my head.
"Thank you for your understanding. I will not let it happen again." Both beings stated at the same time.
"Jinx." I stated under my breath.
"Why are you trying to harm us we are being polite?" Zar'thanox questioned.
"I'm not. It is just something we say on my world when two people say the same thing at the same time." I quickly defended myself. Mentally kicking myself that they of course heard me speak out loud.
"Oh really? Why do that?" Helios asked.
"On my world the first person to call out 'jinx' gets to ask for something from the other person, but that something must be something that would be easy for the caught person or people to do. An example would be if you owned a lot of money I could ask for you to buy me something like a free meal, drink, or other easily obtained item. I couldn't however ask for all your money or some other thing that would not be easily accomplished." I explained so they both understood.
"Do those caught have to do the asked thing?" Zar'thanox inquired.
"They do not have to, but those who are honorable or want to stay in your good graces will normally always do so if it is reasonable." I responded.
- The mortal is telling the truth. On his planet they do have that custom and it is almost globally recognized.-
"Thank you for explaining that. It is a fascinating and intriguing custom. I must assume people actively try to trigger this custom to get ahead." Helios stated.
"Actually, normally no. It is frowned upon to try and force it. The whole custom is to point out the random chance of more than one person saying the exact same words at the exact same time with the exact same speed. While there are those who sometimes try to trigger the custom getting all three things to align exactly would take multiple abilities people on my planet do not usually have more than one of. Abilities such as controlled precognition to see the future. Mind reading to know what the person will say. Mental to physical instant response to actively make yourself speak at the exact point you need to speak. There would hypotheticallybe the option to use illusion based powers but again you would need the other person or persons to be affected while you used those powers and those powers woukd have to be triggered without the use of a verbal component. " I explained further.
-While this custom discussion would be interesting in a different time and place you are currently in a time and space generated by the Akashic Records. Please keep any further discussions in relation to the reason for your being here-
"I apologize."
"Sorry sir."
"I'm sorry sir." All three of us replied which caused me to laugh.
"Why are you laughing?" Helios asked.
"Because in agreeing with the glowing being up there, whom I don't know how to call, meaning no disrespect. It just showed exactly how hard it is to trigger an unplanned 'jinx' as all three of us responded at the exact same time, but while we all meant the same thing we did not say the exact same things nor did we say them at the exact same speed. Thus showing the random chance factor again." I replied as I stopped laughing.
-This occurrence and explanation has been noted Marcus Alexander. Now please let us continue with why we are here.-
"Marcus Alexander, we would like to make restitution for everything that has happened as a result of our actions. Seeing as how our powers are well beyond anything a mortal would know about we would like to know what you would desire." Zar'thanox stated.
"Yes, as Zar'thanox has stated. We would like to know what you would consider acceptable restitution. Aside from revival of your body or returning you to your own time and dimension almost anything else you ask for we should be able to do." Helios stated after Zar'thanox.
"So let me get this straight. You cannot revive me in my body and you cannot put me back as if I didn't die, is my understanding correct?"
"Yes." Zar'thanox replied.
"Then how about rewinding time to the point where you guys don't do those actions?" I asked after thinking to myself for a moment.
-Sorry Marcus Alexander, all actions the mess with the timelines are strictly forbidden and strongly stopped.-
"Well that sucks a lot. I was going to a convention with my best friend to meet our favorite heroes live and in person. I would been able to talk to them and make requests of them. Now I am dead. I died without getting to meet them and make my request. Meeting them took me years to arrange before I got the opportunity. All because you two just had to do something without thought of the possible consequences of your actions. Not sure how you two would take it if that happened to you. So tell me, what can you really offer me to make up for all of this? Can you give me another life with powers so I don't need other heroes to help me? In a world where there are heroes with super powers that I could help or ask for help if I wanted. I mean let's be real here you said aside from revival and making as if I never died you could do almost anything. Now I find out there are other restrictions that may potentially stop stuff I may ask for." I wanted feeling upset because of all the BS that was happening to me. I had saved up money to pay for travel expenses for the week long convention. I had my collectors edition comics I planned on getting autographed. I was going to get a chance to take pictures with Lynda Carter and Gal Gadot was supposed to be in costume as Wonder Woman then this stuff happened.
"I apologize for my actions Marcus Alexander. I can understand how frustrating it would be now that I know your circumstance before passing. Even on my home world it was very hard to meet heroes much less get the chance to make a request of them that they would do." Helios replied with what truly sounded like remorse.
"While I might not like the idea heroes I can sympathize with your circumstances." Zar'thanox replied. "How about this? We may not mess with the timelines or dimensions but we can create a world within those timelines. So how about you describe some worlds to us and we will create one and give you a life on one of those worlds. We can even give you the ability to traverse those worlds if you want to check them out." He continued with certainty.
"Hmm.. in my world we have a thing called a comic book. It is a book that houses stories with pictures to show the scenes of the world the creators of the comic books see in their minds. These creators depict entire universes some even depicting multiple timelines and/or universes calling it a multiverse. To explain them all would take a lot of time which I doubt we have an infinite amount of. I will offer up two choices and you tell me which would work best for your suggestion. The first is I can let you read my memories to see what those comic books were like and you build what you can using those memories. The second is I can give you a summary of those books and you can build what you can in an attempt to meet my expectations. However, if it doesn't meet my expectations then I will decline your offer and we can try something different." I replied after much consideration of the suggestion Zar'thanox made.
- The information Marcus Alexander is giving is truthful to the best of his knowledge. As the representative of the Akashic Records I can divulge that some of the things depicted in the comic books is actually present in reality. It would even be possible to place him in a planet that fits a couple of the things that were in the comics he has read. He could even be placed in a timeline before certain events happened if he wanted to live those events.-
"Holy crap! Then there really was a planet like Krypton or a pantheon of gods like in Greek mythology?" I started geeking out at this revelation.
-Greek mythology actually happened in your world only 200 years before your world started to keep verifiable Records. The only difference is that the various areas of your world had various pantheons at different times. Some of those "gods" are actually the same being. As for Krypton yes it was a planet about 150 years ago and it did explode.-
"Wait so his planet has people that can visualize the past present or future accross the dimensional boundaries and through the timelines?" Zar'thanox questioned with what sounded like worry in his voice.
-Correct. Though they do not have a way to verify this information as a representative of the Akashic Records I can verify this information through the records themselves.-
"Why do you sound so worried?" I asked.
"Because the price for the deaths of beings on a planet that have any form of connection to the actual Akashic Records themselves is extremely high." Zar'thanox replied.
-His planet does share a close relation with the Akashic Records. It actually has many references to the Akashic Records themselves.-
"Great just what I did not want to hear. Records what will we be paying and for how many. You know what we have and can do. Can we even afford to pay this restitution?" Helios asked.
-Yes you can afford reasonable restitution. There was actually only one death that occurred on his planet. He was the only death.-
"Damn. Talk about bad luck. Out of all the people there and in the accident caused by these two I am the only one that died." I stated.
"Sir Marcus Alexander while it is unfortunate for you at the time and is kind of fortunate for us it has a good amount of good luck also." Helios stated to me. "If more than one person had died as a result of our actions. We would probably not be able to afford the required restitution. However, since only you died we can afford the restitution. This means aside from going back to your old life, we can give you almost any life you desire. As to your two suggestions, after finding out they are factual records in the Akashic Records, I say we accept both of your options and we allow you to tell us the type of life you would like to live and where." Helios finished in what seemed to be an excited voice.
"Why are you so excited Helios?" Zar'thanox questioned.
"We get to see his memories. Do you know what that means? We get to see visualizations of the Akashic Records at our level of power without paying and astronomical amount. While it will be second hand knowledge or maybe outdated knowledge just having the knowledge is able to be used to mostly recoup our expenses." Helios happily explained to Zar'thanox.
"Glad to hear you can afford more for my restitution since you can recover most of your cost." I stated with a grin on my face.
*Cough* *cough *
"I forgot that you as a mortal didn't know that information. Now I bet you will ask for a much higher amount of restitution." Helios pouted.
"Nah dude it's cool. I am a fair guy. I don't like taking advantage of others. If I get what I want and you can give it and not really suffer then I call it a win win situation. So relax I promise to be honest and straight up front with you." I quickly replied back so both him and Zar'thanox would know the type of guy I was. You never knew if extras would be given without asking.
-The amount of restitution will be fair as the Akashic Records are observing these negotiations.-
"Let me tell you my requests after you view my memories." I stated being serious.
"Very well, well will observe your memories of these things known as comic books." Zar'thanox stated with a nod of acceptance from Helios. I assumed he was no longer speaking because he had given away that free information earlier. So they started reviewing my memories of all the comics I had read. Mind you I was an avid comic outaku I spent most of my money on comics and had an extensive collection of Marvel and DC (Detective Comics) from Detective Comics Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman to Avergers, Marvel Comics, and X-men. So, after so much time passed that only the Akashic Records knew how long had actually passed they finally finished reviewing my memories.
"Oh my Terra! There is actually references to our ancient king Solderath!" Helios exclaimed in a very happy and excited tone.
"There are references to my ancestor named Shuma-Gorath too." Zar'thanox stated in surprise. "My God, thank you for giving me the good luck to only kill this one human." Zar'thanox got on his kneelike portion of his leg like appendages.
"I totally agree with you. If anyone of my race found out I killed historians of my race I would be hunted down and frozen solid." Helios said with true fear in his voice.
"Relax dudes. I will back you and take your sides saying it was an accident as long as the restitution is acceptable. So let us move along now that you have seen what I am talking about." I said trying to calm down these two celestial beings. "Let me give you my requests and you decide if you can give me what I am requesting." I continued after seeing them no longer looking agitated.
"That sounds wonderful and please do know I am truly sorry for your death even before any restitution is given." Zar'thanox replied.
"Please go ahead with your requests Marcus Alexander. If it is within my power I will go above and beyond after the care and courtesy you have shown me." Helios chimed in with what sounded like true acceptance in his voice.
-Remember Marcus Alexander, your requests of restitution should be fair for them and not excess.-
"Then here are my requests. I want to live on a planet similar to the one in my memories like the one in the comic books under the Marvel logo. I would like to live at a time in which groups like the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, and the X-men all live. If that time is unable to be done I wish to live in a time that has at least 2 of those groups preferably one of the groups being the X-men. If a planet like Marvel is not available I would like to live on a planet like the one under the label DC or Detective Comics which is what the DC stands for. As for the time line I would like to live during a time when Wonder Woman is active a long with the group Teen Titans if it should exist. If multiple worlds meet my asking then I would like the ability to travel between them.
" As for my life. If I have to grow up there I want to be of the age 25 if in DC when Wonder Woman or the Teen Titans are active and 18 if in Marvel when the super powered people start showing up. Then we come to my abilities. I would like a system that would work as a super computer and like a game that will allow me to adjust my powers and physical being as I choose after my conscience is placed there, and I want all my memories intact. As for wealth I would like to be among the top 10,000 people on the planet. Do these sound like an acceptable restitution to you?" I finished with a bow.
"Unfortunately I don't have the power to generate a system that allows you to change your powers and physical being at will." Helios stated.
"A system that powerful is beyond myself also. At best I can create a system that allows you to set your basic physical abilities and power. You could then gain new powers after an achievement or time frame." Helios replied after careful consideration of my requests. "As for the time and world we would need to rely on the Akashic Records for that." He continued.
"I am also stuck on both the time and world." Zar'thanox stated. "However, I could create a system that fits your description from your memories, but the downside is your basic abilities would be based of the standard for the race. The upside you can start with up to 4 powers and could earn better stats and more powers through questing." Zar'thanox finished with what sounded like a worried tone in his voice.
"So Zar'thanox what about my memories and the ability to travel between multiple worlds if they fit my request." I asked
"Unfortunately, once I put all my power into the system and the transpotation to the world I will not have power to give you anything else until my power recovers." He replied.
"How about you cover his system and what you said you could while I handle transportation, his memories, and wealth. However, the location and time is up to the AkashicRecords becauseI do not have enough knowledge for the location of such a world." Helios chimed in. While I was considering his offer he also stated, "If you give up traveling from multiple planets and massive wealth I could create the world to fit your requirements."
-The request for a system power that allows altercation of powers and abilities at your personal control is an ability in the top three of the Omniverse. The only powers higher are Omniscient and Omnipotent. The Akashic Records are the only ones to hold both powers as gifted by the Omniverse itself. Omniscient is only help by the Akashic Records. No other has access to all knowledge at any time. There are several beings that are omnipotent. These being keep each other in balance. Such as the Time Dragon and Void. If there is an omnipotent being there is a counter to their power. As for the location of a world and a timeline meeting your requests there is one that fits your requirements for the label DC. However, the world for the one labeled Marvel there is a problem for the timeline. The listing of the three groups you mentioned are not all active at the same time. The Avengers and the Fantastic Four are both active at the same time. Unfortunately the X-men come about at a future time.-
"So what is the time difference between the Fantastic Four and the X-men?" I asked.
-There is a difference of 10 years. Also from your memories the age of those in your memories is not the same as during that worlds timelines. Some of the beings are either older or younger than what is listed in your memories.-
"Very well I can accept the time difference. However I would like to change my request from having the Fantastic Four active into all of them being alive if that is possible." I stated after some consideration. I knew in my mind that if Sue Storm and Reed Richards were still alive I could get the chance to meet them.
"I agree on my part." Helios stated.
"I also accept. However, I need to know if you choose to be reincarnated in another's body absorbing their knowledge and abilities or if you wish to be reborn as someone's child and where." Zar'thanox replied.
"Reborn but keeping my knowledge and memories and in I want to be born in the Marvel world. Those are my choices." I replied
"Shall your parents be normal or have powers?"
"I hope they could be normal but with latent powers."
"Good"
-The Akashic Records will now summarize the agreement that has been determined based on the death of the being known as Marcus Alexander. First Marcus Alexander shall be reborn with his knowledge and memories intact in the Marvel world. His parents will be normal humans with latent but inactive powers. He will have wealth in the top 10,000 beings on the planet the planet is named Terra. His powers will be decided when he chooses up to 4 starting powers and a system to govern his abilities and powers that is like a super computer and a video game combined. He will also be given the ability to travel between the planet Terra of the Marvel logo and the planet Aqua of the DC logo. He will reach the age of 18 while both the Avengers and the X-men are active and the Fantastic Four are still alive. All of this will ve provided by Zar'thanox the Forsaken and Helios Vaz Sum'ten. Do all three parties agree with this summary?-
"Yes."
"Sounds good to me."
"As long as they deliver, I agree." We all three replied at the same time which again caused me to giggle a little.
"Now I have 2 questions. First to both Zar'thanox and Helios, are you both honorable beings?"
"I am." Helios replied.
"Well now that I know your have a direct connection to the Records I definitely am." Zar'thanox added.
" Good then the second question to the representative of the Akashic Records. Since this is an Earth style courtroom. Does that mean Earth customs apply?"
-Yes-
"Well... since that is the case I have a third question. How do you want to handle the whole jinx situation that happened?" I stated with a smile.
"What?!" Both Zar'thanox and Helios exclaimed.
"Jinx, you owe me a favor." I immediately responded to their confused exclamation.
"Not again." Helios stated
"How did this happen?" Zar'thanox questioned in confusion.
"Easy guys all I ask is first we all be friends and second the ability to ask a single favor from each of you once in the future. Also, remember the favor I ask will be something you will be able to easily handle so there should be no worries. An example might be something like, 'Hey Helios, can you make a beautiful diamond ring for me.' Which we both know after your power recovers should be super simple for you."
"Oh if it something simple like that sure I have no problem with it." Helios replied.
"What would be an example for me?" Zar'thanox inquired.
"Maybe something easy like can slime and certain person."
"As long as it is something simple and easy like that I accept. Now let us design your system."