Chapter 17: Not Welcome

Alex Greid stood on the edge of a revelation that rocked him to his core. "So my universe was a prison all along?" The words felt foreign on his tongue, a bitter truth that clashed with his memories of isolation and struggle. A storm of emotions raged within him—anger, confusion, and a profound sense of betrayal.

"Indeed, the barriers that confine you were not crafted by nature, but rather by intentional design," Uatu the Watcher replied, his voice smooth and resonant, echoing with the weight of ages. "This artificial confinement was established to prevent the emergence of intelligent life."

"That explains so much," Alex muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I always felt something was off about that place. The walls were way too thick to be natural." He felt a shiver run down his spine as he thought back to the countless nights spent wondering if he was truly alone in the cosmos. "It's like I was trapped in a bubble."

"Your insights are astute," Uatu continued, nodding slightly. "The design of this prison universe was a deliberate act to sterilize the birth of intelligence, ensuring that no other sentient beings would arise."

"But why?" Alex pressed, frustration creeping into his voice. "What's the point of keeping me there? I was just trying to survive, to make sense of everything."

"Survival, though a noble pursuit, has drawn the attention of those beyond comprehension," the Watcher explained, his tone tinged with solemnity. "Your presence is a paradox, existing outside of the established cosmic order. Such anomalies provoke fear among the cosmic entities."

"Great, so I'm an anomaly," Alex said, sarcasm dripping from his words. "What does that even mean for me? I didn't ask for this!" He felt a wave of panic rising, threatening to engulf him. "And what about my immortality? Why can't I just die like a normal person?"

"Your quantum immortality is indeed a most peculiar phenomenon," Uatu observed, his gaze piercing. "It transcends the biological and the technological, existing instead within the realm of the quantum fabric of reality. Your attempts to comprehend or dispel it are admirable but ultimately futile."

Alex took a breath, trying to steady himself. "So, I'm stuck with this immortality that I can't control? That's just fantastic." He ran a hand over his face, feeling the weight of despair pressing down on him. "And now you're telling me I'm being watched? Like I'm some kind of science experiment?"

"Indeed, the implications of being under observation can foster a sense of paranoia," Uatu stated, his voice calm and unyielding. "You must understand, however, that the motivations of those who observe you are complex and multifaceted."

"Great, so I'm not just being watched; I'm being analyzed, too," Alex replied, the anxiety bubbling to the surface. "What do they want from me? Am I just entertainment for some bored cosmic being?"

A flash of alarm cut through the air, drowning out their conversation. The Watcher's expression shifted, urgency creeping into his demeanor. "The time for discussion is at an end. They are coming." He conjured a golden energy hoop, attempting to restrain Alex but failed. Alex dodge the golden energy hoop that The Watcher cast onto him.

The Watcher's gaze softened, and for the first time since their encounter, Alex noticed something unexpected in the ancient being's expression: remorse.

"I owe you the truth, Alex Greid," Uatu spoke, his voice tinged with genuine regret. "I have not been entirely forthcoming."

Alex blinked, a knot tightening in his chest. "What do you mean?"

The Watcher looked away, the cosmic glow around him dimming ever so slightly. "The universe you were trapped in... it was not merely a coincidence. It was a deliberate act, a construct designed to contain you, yes. But… I knew more about it than I first admitted."

A cold wave washed over Alex. "You knew?" His voice was low, dangerous.

"I did." The Watcher's voice grew heavier, his cosmic wisdom for once clouded with guilt. "You were placed there for reasons beyond your control, and I...well, I had knowledge of it, though I did not understand its full intent. I watched you struggle, hoping you might free yourself one day, but I could not intervene. I am bound by my oath." He paused, letting the words settle.

Alex's fists clenched, his heart racing. "And you let me rot in there. You knew something was wrong, and you still did nothing?"

"I had no choice," Uatu replied quietly, his regret palpable. "The forces behind your imprisonment are far older, far more powerful than even I. They instructed me to observe, but never to interfere. I can't intervene."

Alex wanted to scream, but he bit back the rage, swallowing it deep. It wasn't just anger anymore, it was betrayal. The one being who could've done something, anything, had stood by and watched as he wasted years, decades, of his existence.

"You could have warned me," Alex hissed. "At least given me a hint."

"I… could not," Uatu admitted, his gaze finally meeting Alex's. "And for that, I am truly sorry."

The words hung in the air, their weight suffocating. Alex's mind reeled, his paranoia now fully realized. If the Watcher hadn't been truthful, then how much of his life, his entire experience, had been manipulated from the start? The walls of the universe, the failures, his very survival it all felt orchestrated now, like pieces on a cosmic chessboard. How deep does this go?

Before he could probe further, another type of urgent beeping from his sensors rang through the void, signaling him that they were coming near here. Instinctively, Alex reached out, eyes scanning the data.

"They're coming," Uatu said gravely, his voice cutting through the tension. "The Living Tribunal, the One Above All, and the cosmic entities that govern this omniverse. They are aware of your presence, and they intend to act."

Alex's breath caught in his throat. "What do you mean act?"

"They see you as a threat," Uatu explained, sorrow in his tone. "You are not of their creation, and your powers, your abilities, pose too great a risk. They fear what you might do."

The void around them shimmered, rippling with the arrival of cosmic forces. Alex's stomach lurched as he saw the forms of beings he had only read about in comic books and legends powerful entities who shaped entire realities.

As Alex stood amidst the assembly of cosmic entities, the weight of their scrutiny pressing down on him, Uatu the Watcher stepped forward, his presence commanding yet gentle. His gaze swept over the beings surrounding them, each one radiating power and authority. Then, with a voice imbued with the gravity of countless ages, he began to speak.

"In all the years I have lived, across decades that have flowed like rivers through the vast tapestry of existence, I have served my duties, bound by an oath as ancient as the stars themselves. I have witnessed civilizations rise in splendid glory, only to fall into the dust of forgotten memories. I have seen the Earth crack beneath the weight of its own ambitions, the universe collapse under the strain of its own complexities, and new worlds born from the ashes of their predecessors. I have observed all of this, a silent guardian chronicling the ebb and flow of time."

Uatu's voice resonated like the tolling of a distant bell, each word heavy with the experiences of an eternal witness.

"Yet, in all my wanderings through the corridors of time and space, there has always been a profound sense of the omniverse's vastness. Each galaxy, each star, each lifeform, all woven together in an intricate dance of existence. But, Alex Greid, you have introduced a curious anomaly into this grand design. For the first time, I feel the omniverse is small. In your presence, I am reminded that the infinite can feel constricting, that the boundless cosmos can close in around us."

His gaze fixed on Alex, a mixture of reverence and concern in his eyes.

"You, another being from another omniverse, who emerged from the shadows of a prison universe, a realm crafted to stifle the birth of intelligence, have become a harbinger of change. You have ignited a spark that threatens to illuminate the dark corners of existence, revealing truths long hidden from even the most watchful of eyes. I see in you a potential that both fascinates and terrifies the cosmic beings assembled here."

Uatu took a moment, his voice softening, as if he were sharing a secret meant only for Alex.

"In the millennia I have observed, I have never encountered a being like you—one who has traversed the boundaries of existence itself, yet remains unaware of the depths of your own power. It is a disconcerting notion, to witness a force so potent yet so untamed. The very fabric of reality quivers in your wake, and those who inhabit the highest echelons of the omniverse feel threatened by your mere existence."

The Watcher's expression grew solemn, his brow furrowing as he continued.

"I implore you to understand the gravity of your situation, for the decisions made by these cosmic entities are not merely judgments on your character but a response to the uncertainty you represent. You have unwittingly become a focal point in a cosmic discourse, a paradox challenging the very principles that govern the multiverse."

As he concluded, Uatu's voice held a bittersweet resonance, a profound understanding of the weight of destiny.

"I wish for you to find your path, to navigate these tumultuous waters with wisdom and fortitude. Though you stand before them as an anomaly, remember, Alex Greid, that even the smallest of sparks can illuminate the darkest of nights." Uatu said as he backed away into the crowd of cosmic beings.

The Living Tribunal stepped forward, towering and incomprehensible, its three faces all focused on him. "You will be contained once more, Alex Greid. We cannot risk the damage you may cause."

"Wait!" Alex's voice cracked with desperation. "I'm not a threat, I don't want to harm anyone. I just want to understand why I am jailed!"

The Tribunal's faces remained unmoved, as cold and unfeeling as the void itself. "Your intentions do not absolve you. Your mere existence is a danger. You cannot be killed."

"What?" Alex's heart raced. "What do you mean I can't be killed?"

The Living Tribunal's voice was unwavering. "You are an anomaly. Your quantum immortality cannot be undone by any means we possess. Attempts to erase you from existence have failed, even against our might. Thus, containment is the only option."

Alex's mind whirled. Anomaly? He was more than just a survivor. He was a threat they couldn't eliminate.

"Even if your intentions are pure, we must consider the potential threat of the entity behind you," the Tribunal replied, their tone resolute. "Our only course of action is to confine you until a solution can be devised."

A chill washed over Alex as he processed their words. "So I'm just going to be locked up again? Shit! I didn't ask for any of this!" The reality of his situation hit him like a punch to the gut. He had faced countless challenges, but this felt insurmountable.

"It is necessary," Uatu interjected his tone a mix of sympathy and regret. "Your existence challenges the very fabric of the omniverse. To allow you freedom would invite chaos."

Alex's heart raced, adrenaline flooding his system. "There's got to be another way—"

"I'm sorry, Alex," Uatu interrupted, his tone heavy with guilt. "I truly am. I didn't expect it to come to this. I hoped you might find a place here, but the forces at work are beyond my ability to sway."

"So this is it?" Alex spat bitterly. "Fuck you! You'll just throw me in another cage?"

Uatu looked down, unable to meet Alex's eyes. "You were never truly free, Alex. I wish I could have done more."

As the cosmic beings closed in, Alex's mind raced. He wasn't going to go back to a prison, he couldn't. Not again. But the odds were stacked against him. The Living Tribunal, the One Above All, these entities were beyond anything he'd ever faced.

And yet, in the back of his mind, a spark of defiance ignited. He had escaped once before. He could do it again.

As the Tribunal raised its hand, preparing to enact its judgment, Alex locked eyes with Uatu one final time.

"Shit! This isn't over," Alex said softly, his voice filled with a quiet determination. "I'll find a way."

Uatu's expression softened, regret etched into his ancient features. "I hope you do, Alex."

The universe shifted once more, and they inevitably closed in on him, ready to catch him again. One thought crossed through his mind: "I am not welcome in their omniverse."