Chapter 309: Strange — "Why Should We Help Some Other Universe"
"With respect... this isn't how scientific theory is supposed to work." Banner practically leapt in front of the Ancient One, eyes burning with conviction, determined to win her over with his own scientific reasoning.
The Ancient One's brow furrowed slightly, watching the fervent certainty on Banner's face. She understood well enough that this scientist had complete faith in his own logic.
She decided a more visual demonstration would serve better than argument — something to show him directly just how complex the flow of time truly was, and exactly what the Stones meant to it.
She raised a hand and gave it a gentle sweep. A bright orange thread of light bloomed into being in the air, seemingly without beginning or end — a living representation of time's flow and the universe's own endless cycle. She gestured toward it and spoke, slow and deliberate.
"The Infinity Stones are what create the timeline you experience." As she spoke, six brilliant, radiant stones began materializing along the orange thread, each glowing with its own distinct light, like stars scattered across the cosmos.
Banner wasn't the only one listening closely — Strange had quietly drifted up behind him, clearly just as curious about this whole explanation of the timeline's mechanics.
The Ancient One then plucked one Stone away from the thread. "Remove a single Stone, and you create a branch."
At once, the orange thread rippled, and a black fracture spread rapidly outward, splitting off into an entirely new branch.
"This might well help your own reality. But mine is a different story entirely. In this new branch, we lose our primary weapon against the forces of darkness. Our world would be plunged into peril. Its people would suffer utter devastation. So tell me, Doctor — can your science prevent that?"
The Ancient One's question rang with unshakable conviction.
Behind her, Strange found himself nodding along without meaning to. Sacrifice our own world to save someone else's?
What idiot came up with this plan in the first place? Whatever poor souls are stuck in that other world clearly got played.
Strange genuinely wanted to know exactly which "genius" had sent Banner and the others off to go begging Stones from another universe. He'd have loved to give the man a standing ovation.
Banner, though, wasn't ready to give up. "No — you're right, we can't do that. But we can undo it entirely. Once we've finished using the Stones, we'll return every single one to its exact point of origin, the very instant we took it."
Banner reached for the Stone the Ancient One had just removed, pressing on. "So from a spacetime perspective — in the original world, these Stones never actually left at all."
The Ancient One turned at that. "You're overlooking two crucial problems. First — in order to actually return them, you all need to survive."
Banner didn't flinch under the challenge. He'd come from the future; he understood exactly what was riding on this mission. He answered with total conviction. "We will. I will. I promise you that."
"Fine. Let's say I believe you'll survive to keep that promise. But here's the more pressing issue — as I suspect you've already realized — you didn't actually travel back to your own past at all. You've crossed over into an entirely different parallel universe. How exactly do you intend to guarantee you'll land back in THIS particular universe next time? What happens if you end up somewhere else entirely?" the Ancient One pressed.
Before future-Banner could answer, she continued. "I'm not willing to gamble everything on nothing more than your word. Protecting the Time Stone is the Sorcerer Supreme's fundamental duty and responsibility."
The instant she finished, future-Banner shot back, visibly frustrated. "Then why did Strange hand over the Time Stone in the first place?"
At that, the Ancient One turned to look directly at Strange — who hadn't expected to become the subject of this conversation himself.
"Wait — who's Thanos? Why would I ever hand over the Time Stone to him? I don't even want to BE the Sorcerer Supreme," Strange blurted out on reflex.
The Ancient One ignored Strange's outburst entirely, her expression turning grave as she pressed future-Banner. "What did you just say?"
Banner repeated himself, impatience creeping into his voice. "Strange. He handed over the Time Stone. Gave it straight to Thanos."
His tone grew heavier with every word — as though laying blame squarely on that other-universe Strange for the fact that Thanos had gone on to collect all six Infinity Stones and wipe out half the population of the entire universe.
"He gave it up willingly?"
"That's right. Yes," future-Banner said flatly, without a shred of doubt.
His answer left the Ancient One momentarily, uncharacteristically silent.
Strange, listening to all of this, was completely floored. There was no way he'd ever hand over something that important — not with how careful he'd become. Given how cautious he now was, nobody should even be able to find his actual body, let alone force him to surrender an Infinity Stone.
If anything, the only circumstance under which he'd ever give up the Time Stone was if he were already dead — otherwise, absolutely nobody was getting their hands on it.
That other-universe version of me died carelessly enough to let that happen? This world must be even more dangerous than I thought.
Who even is this Thanos person? And even if I did have to hand the Stone over eventually — I'd only ever give it to Ethan.
Wait. Unless — did that other-universe me already see this coming, somehow? Did HE arrange for Banner and the others to come here and borrow the Stone from us in the first place?
So THAT'S who the "genius" was. It was me. Myself.
Damn it. My own other-universe self set me up. Strange had already put the pieces together — some version of himself, in some other universe, had schemed all this up and dragged this Strange into it too.
Which meant even other-universe versions of himself couldn't be trusted. This world really was too dangerous for words.
And on top of everything, the Time Stone itself was clearly a poisoned chalice best passed straight to Ethan.
As for himself — he needed to be careful. More careful than careful. Endlessly, relentlessly careful.
My current arsenal is nowhere near enough. I need to seriously strengthen myself, and soon.
"Why would he do that?" the Ancient One asked future-Banner.
"How should I know? Maybe he just made a mistake." Banner was thoroughly frustrated by this point too.
If it were up to him, he wouldn't have wanted to come back and beg a Stone off another universe either.
The Ancient One kept her gaze fixed on Banner, then glanced once more at Strange, brow still furrowed.
Then, seemingly having made up her mind about something, she gave a wave of her hand, and Banner's soul snapped back into his physical body.
She addressed future-Banner directly. "I'll lend you the Time Stone. But I don't trust that you'll be able to find your way back to this exact universe a second time." She turned to Strange. "So — I'll be handing the Time Stone to Strange instead, and he'll accompany you the rest of the way."
At that, both Strange and future-Banner frowned in perfect, unhappy unison.
"I don't think our equipment can accommodate bringing Strange along," future-Banner said, clearly torn. Honestly, having this universe's Strange come along WITH the Time Stone would be a genuine bonus — one more ally against Thanos. But their gear simply didn't have a spare Quantum suit to bring anyone else through.
"No matter. Strange has his own way of getting there," the Ancient One answered.
Strange stared at her, baffled. She's giving me way too much credit here. I don't have anywhere near the power to cross universes on my own.
And besides — I really, genuinely do not want to go.
"I refuse. Why should WE be the ones helping some other universe?!"
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