*C09 - Memories of a life once lived.

'Inner dialogue/thoughts'

"Normal dialogue"

[System]

[Diary entries]

(Word Count: 1,243)

~ With Luke, at his apartment in New York ~

"NOOO!" Screamed Luke as he shot up from his bed. Gasping for breath, Luke's eyes snapped open, his body drenched in a cold sweat. The dim light filtering through his bedroom window offered little solace as he struggled to shake off the lingering remnants of what he had just gone through. Slowly realizing where he was, Luke could only comfort himself, 'It was only a simulation. It was only a simulation. It was only a simulation.' He repeated like a mantra.

~ Flashback to a moment ago ~

"Clint, get inside and-" turning around to face Clint, Luke was further put into a tough spot as he saw that Clint was on his knees, trying his best to keep awake. 'Shit, Clint's still only a normal human. His body won't be able to withstand the pressure the Celestials are putting out.' Luke surmised.

As he moved to support Clint, a voice emerged from the blood red sky, a chilling resonance that seemed to crawl up from the depths of the abyss. It was low, almost a whisper, yet it carried a weight that sent shivers down the spine of any who dared to listen.

"Human." It spoke, each syllable dripping with malice, as if laden with venom of a thousand curses.

As the voice echoed in his mind, Luke's steps faltered, his heart pounding with absolute fear. Slowly, he turned around, his gaze locking onto the source of the voice. 'Oh f*cking God. Of all the celestials that could have showed up, why did it have to be this one.' There, bathed in a faint ethereal, yet sinister glow, stood an entity without its head – The Headless Celestial. A being of cosmic power and the source of ancient and primal terror. Its' ethereal form pulsated with otherworldly energy, the absence of a head replaced by a swirling vortex of cosmic forces. Despite its lack of a traditional visage, Luke could feel the weight of its gaze bearing down upon him, piercing through his very essence with a chill that reached into the depths of his soul.

'NO! Wanda's still here. I can't stop fighting, not yet!' Despite his trembling limbs and racing heart, Luke attempted to gather his courage, mustering every ounce of strength he could muster against the Celestial. Yet, as he stood there, facing the overbearing presence of The Headless Celestial, he soon realized the futility of his efforts. No amount of resolve could withstand the sheer power emanating from the Cosmic Being standing before him. Luke felt that with each step he took, an invisible force pushed him back further, a stark reminder of his insignificance in the face of overwhelming power. Luke soon found himself sinking to his knees, his spirit wavering under the piercing gaze of The Headless Celestial.

In that moment of devastating and humiliating defeat, Luke could only watch helplessly as the darkness closed in around him, enveloping him in its suffocating embrace.

~ Flashback end ~

Slowly, he reached a trembling hand to his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Though he knew deep down that it was merely a simulation, the memory of standing before The Headless Celestial felt all too vivid, too real to dismiss entirely. As he sat on his bed, grappling with the remnants of the terrors that still clung to his consciousness, Luke couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that lingered in the recess of his mind. 'This simulation feature, I can't take this lightly. It was all fun and game for me until I stood before that f*cking undead Celestial. How the hell did the system even simulate such feelings and assimilate them into me. Even now the hairs on my arms and the back of my neck are still standing. At the very least, I'll have the necessary experience to fool anyone who would doubt the diary. But still, was it really just a simulation?'

After concluding his experience in the simulation, Luke decided that it was time to return back to his café in LA to prepare for the start of the plot of the MCU. The Apogee Awards would be happening a day after, and following soon, the events of Iron Man 1.

In the days that followed, Luke still couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over him since his simulation. Something within him had shifted, changing him in ways that he couldn't fully comprehend. It was as if his time in the simulation had unlocked a hidden door within his psyche, revealing the depths of knowledge, wisdom, and experiences that he had never before accessed. As he went about his daily routines, Luke found himself noticing the world around him with newfound clarity. As if he were seeing through the eyes of countless souls that had come before him. Memories that were not his own flooded his mind, fragments of a life he lived and distant experiences intertwining with his own consciousness.

With each passing day, Luke felt himself growing older, not in body, but in spirit. The weight of decades of existence bore down upon him, shaping his thoughts and perceptions in ways he could scarcely comprehend. Unbeknownst to Luke, the ordeal he had endured had irrevocably altered the very fabric of his being, though he may never fully understand the consequences of living through the simulation.

~ With Fury ~

A day has passed since the second entry of the diary. Natasha had already left for her new mission, while Fury sat in silence within the confines of his office. 'According to what we could determine, this Tony mentioned as part of the Avengers should be Tony Stark. As he is now, I definitely can't see him being a part of this team. However, Mr Sullivan had hinted a change in Tony's personality and behaviour due to his kidnapping. Then the question now is, should I let Tony go through the kidnapping, or do I honour Howard's legacy and prevent it from happening.'

Fury was currently facing a dilemma, decisions that would undoubtedly shape the coming future of his world. After taking a moment, Fury decided on the approach of wait and see. He concluded that while Tony would be kidnapped, he should not be under any threat of death as he had come out alive in this parallel world. Should he believe in the contents of the diary fully? He knew better than to do so, however, Natasha would be making first contact with Luke today. With her report on the matter, Fury would then set in motion his next plan of action.

- End of Chapter 09 - 

E/d note: I had a lot of fun describing the events that took place in the simulation as well as the changes that ensued for Luke! This was a relatively short chapter compared to the recent ones, but the MTL was just a bunch of repeating idioms that made no sense to the story whatsoever xD So I had to improvise. Next chapter should be out within the next 16hrs or so as I am about to head off to jalan raya! Until the update, thanks for reading, and if you've enjoyed this series so far, maybe i dont know, send me some cookies(power stones)??? It keeps me motivated and would help with my book's exposure :D This Takodachi does need his daily dose of WAH!