Chapter Text
"Donald, I can see your point, but we're still not hitting the numbers I want," said Cecil, tapping the screen in front of him for emphasis. "I think we need them to take it back to formula..."
"Jesus fuck, what the hell is that?" Cecil covered his eyes reflexively, as a blinding light suddenly filled the room."
"Clear the area. Donald, can you see what's causing it?" He yelled.
"Sorry sir, I can't see anything at all - it's too bright."
The light started to dim after only a few seconds, but it took a while longer for his eyes to be able to see what was left behind.
It was a young woman in jeans and a t-shirt, lying on the floor, unconscious. What the hell?
Sure. This might as well happen, he thought to himself, wryly. It's not like I already have enough shit going on today or anything.
The woman was starting to stir. He motioned for the troops against the wall to take up positions around her.
Let's see who this is, and what she's up to.
Sarah couldn't help moaning in pain a little as she woke up.
Her head was killing her.
Why was she on the floor?
And why was the floor so hard?
And oh god, why are there soldiers pointing guns at me?
What the fuck is going on?
She shrank away from the soldiers, cowering against the wall in confusion.
The old man standing in front of her, with his hands in his pockets, looked surprised.
"You can see them?" he asked.
"Of course I can see them," she snapped. "Why the hell wouldn't I be able to see a bunch of jackbooted thugs?"
"It's illegal to kidnap people, you know. As soon as I get out of here, I'm going straight to the press. Now where the fuck am I?"
"I didn't kidnap you," the old man said, shaking his head. "You got yourself here. Somehow. Into the middle of a very secret, very secure government facility."
"And you can somehow see these soldiers, even though the only thing you should be able to see in the white room, right now, is me."
"So I'm going to be the one asking the questions here. If you ever want to leave this place, you're going to need to give me some answers."
"White room..." She whispered, looking around, clearly able to see all of the scientists in the large room, who had already returned to work after the commotion.
She looked back at him, studying his face carefully. Then at Donald, slowly looking him up and down.
She opened her mouth, paused, and then started again. "Are you? I'm probably wrong. But are you...Cecil Stedman? And is that Donald Ferguson?"
Well that was interesting. "You know us? How?"
"This might sound...a little crazy, depending on whether you've had dealings with the multiverse yet. But...I don't think I'm from this world."
"Oh?" He asked, coolly. "What makes you say that?"
"Because you don't exist in my world. Not as a real person. You're a comic book character. You're...the director of the GDA, right? You got that scar on your mouth when you were younger...from... I can't remember everything that happened. But you were trying to catch two criminals? And you found them in a building, but then...you got in over your head, and there was a green gas of some kind that caused the damage. The doctors offered to fix your face all the way, but you said 'no', because you wanted the scar as a reminder. You found out later that the two criminals were working for the GDA, and so you killed them. You got sent to jail for a while, but then the old director...Radcliffe...asked you to take over the GDA. Does that...sound about right?"
Cecil stood in silence, blank faced. He was genuinely unsure what to think.
Was this some kind of action against him? Someone from his past? Possible. Who was still alive who could know any of those details?
Even then, how the hell did they get her inside the GDA, and to what end?
Regardless, she needed to be questioned, and this wasn't the place to do it. He was far too busy for this shit.
"Donald," he said, turning to face him. "Get her set up in interview room one. Have Perkins take lead. Send me the report when he's done."
"Wait," the woman said. "Before you go. Can you tell me when I am in the timeline? Is there an Omni-Man in this universe?"
Cecil decided to humor her. "Yes, there is. Omni-Man is one of the strongest heroes in the world. He's very well-known."
She nodded, looked him right in the eyes and then proceeded to make his blood run cold. "When Nolan first arrived on Earth, he told you he was from Viltrum's "Planetary Betterment Committee", or something like that. That he was here to help. He was lying. Viltrum isn't just a planet. It's a military empire run by a dictator. He was sent here to evaluate humans as possible breeding stock to help increase their population, then to conquer the planet and add it to the empire. As soon as his son, Mark, gets his powers, Nolan will make his move. He'll murder the Guardians of the Globe, and then end up destroying Chicago, trying to convince his son to join him."
Jesus. Fuck. Whatever Cecil thought might have been going on before, this wasn't that.
This was something else entirely.
She knew Nolan's identity. His son's name, even, for Christ's sake. That was highly protected information.
She even knew about the conversation he'd had with Nolan when he first arrived on Earth. That bullshit story he'd given them.
And the other things she'd said... Christ...
He needed to find out what the fuck was going on here.
Donald looked at him, concerned.
Even with the weird shit they dealt with on a daily basis, this was managing to be something new.
"Go ahead and get interview room one set up, Donald. I'll be handling this myself."
Several hours later, Cecil was even less sure of what to think.
"Okay, look, Sarah. You've given us a lot of information. Some of it potentially very useful. IF, that is, any of it's true at all. Our people are already looking into what we can independently verify."
"But. At this point, based on some of the things that you've said, I'm willing to take you at face value...for now."
"The GDA will, going forwards, operate on the assumption that you ARE, in fact, a dimensional traveller, in possession of some information that might be valuable, and might not."
"If we find out later that you're screwing with us, you'll be dealt with. If you're on the up-and-up, then things might be a little different."
"So. What are you, personally, wanting in return for all of this?"
Sarah looked surprised. "Me? What do I want? I mean, I could use a lot of things."
"I'm stranded in another universe. An incredibly dangerous one - we don't have superpowered people where I come from."
"I have no job, no money. Nothing except the clothes on my back."
"Any help you can give me would be very much appreciated. Identity documents, cash, help finding a job and a place to live...anything."
"Finding me a way back home would be amazing, but I don't have any realistic hope of that. Putting money and time into developing dimensional travel for one random woman seems like a big ask."
"But...I'd still help you, even if I got nothing for it."
"Why," Cecil asked.
"Mostly because it feels like the right thing to do. I try to help people where I can."
"But also...do you have the Lord of the Rings here?" She asked.
Cecil nodded. "We do."
"Then you should know how it feels. If you were suddenly in that world, even if it was weird, even if it was hard and a bit terrifying - you'd still try to help Frodo, right?"
"Well, you're my Frodo. Everyone in this world is. I'd like to help them if I can."
"Just...if I could help out AND also avoid getting eaten by a giant spider, that would be ideal."
Cecil gave her a wry grin. "I'm your Frodo, huh. That's a new one on me."
"Okay kid, get up and follow me. Donald's going to get you set up with dinner, a bed and some supplies for the night. Get some rest. You've got a big day tomorrow."
"Oh? She asked.
"Oh yes. The same as today, but even more of it. You're going to be answering questions until your head explodes."
"Oh...okay. I can't wait," she said, wincing a little.
Cecil left her with Donald and started walking over to his office, the gears in his brain spinning wildly.
If this was true...if it was all true...then Earth was in for a shitfest. Even moreso than usual.
But if they could get out ahead of some of it...
He shook his head. There was no point in getting ahead of himself.
First comes verification.
Then...Omni-Man. Everything starts with him.
He allowed himself a small smile. If it all worked out, Nolan wasn't going to know what hit him.