The Think Tank

Choices

A creature sat alone in a tiny room with only one mirror by his left. For the first time in his life, he was in the dark and for the first time he found an obstacle in the form of a collar around a neck that was supposed to be superfluous.

Then the only lame door opened and he was joined by two lesser creatures, carrying themselves with the highest pride only because they managed to beat him out of sheer luck.

"How are you doing, E.T.?" said the paler one and although he didn't get the joke, he sensed the mocking tone.

"You shouldn't speak like that to someone from Beyond."

The other one, much more down to Earth and serious, caught onto that and enquired: "Let's talk about that: what do you mean you're 'from beyond'?"

The human with facial hair chuckled and added: "I'm curious, too. Do you mean 'to infinity and beyond' or–"

"Oh, enough already! Take this seriously, Tony!" said his friend, for once pleasing the one from beyond... the table.

"There's really no better way to explain where I'm from, then the simplest of all: Beyond." the whole time he was looking at the one that took him most seriously until then.

But the other one rolled his eyes and retorted: "We've travelled to other universes in the past, just get it over with this mysterious charade."

"I didn't say I was from another universe." He seemed to smirk and specified: "Or any universe for that matter."

A moment of silence passed, both humans glaring coldly at him, then they simultaneously sat by the opposite side of the same table.

"Explain." one simply uttered.

"Now." added the other.

He gladly began to clear things up, like a broken tablet from ancient times, that is. "The confusion is completely understandable. I think it's all because of the lacking terms we use. Take universe, for example: it's supposed to mean 'whole', as in 'everything in one'. But you know that's not the case, there are many universes, a multiverse. Think about it, many 'everythings', whatever the plural means. That's just absurd, to think there's something even Beyond that..."

"How can you be from beyond the multiverse? How can there be anything beyond that?" said the more rational human while his partner tried to tuck all his emotions away.

"You must have wondered the same thing when discovering there were other versions of you, some living worse lives... and some being much happier, with friends." he replied as smug as before, only this time he looked at the paler one.

He quickly sat up, propelled by his arms hitting the table and shouted: "I've had enough of these stupid games! Enough of these absurd mysteries and sass every time we discover something that just doesn't make any fucking sense!"

"Tony, calm down and get back here." his friend affirmed, though it was far from an order.

"No, Sam! I'm tired of this! I'm sick of the fucking multiverse! It was cool three years ago but now I just want to be left alone. Call Kitty Pryde for all I care. She leads those hip new Ultimates now, doesn't she? She'll find this fun, the first time."

"I think she already had her own multiverse adventure..." Sam replied, though by his hesitation he seemed to know it wasn't wise.

Tony just turned around and after a moment of disbelief spent staring at Sam he just begged: "Tell me you're joking, Sam..."

But Sam's expression didn't falter and his sincerity just made Tony feel even older.

"Since you hate the thing so much, you should be glad we're getting rid of it."