Within the Apple 13E

*****

Herbert Home, Brockton Bay

Danny and Taylor stared at the TV as the announcer had tears welling in his eyes as he confirmed that the Simurgh had been driven from Canberra early enough that the city would not have to be sealed away for fear of allowing Mastered Victims out into the general population of the world.

It was the first time in many Simurgh battles that the city had been saved, most of the time the best that could be done was containment.

For the two Herberts, however, the bigger surprise came when the cameras shifted to a live feed and they recognized one of the figures on the screen.

“Magus!”

“Why is Legend talking to him?” Danny wondered.

“I don’t know, maybe he was able to do something?”

Danny shrugged, but couldn’t really imagine it. Against one of the Endbringers, especially the Hopekiller herself, there wasn’t much anyone could do as best he could tell. If Magus was that powerful…

Well, it horrified him, but also gave him hope, Danny supposed, uncertain which emotion was stronger.

Hope that Taylor would be strong enough to protect herself… but absolute gut wrenching horror that she might be called on to use that power against monsters like the Hopekiller.

*****

Xander smiled as he looked over to the man in the blue costume, “I’m not from around here, you might say.”

“Around here meaning… Australia?” Legend asked, clearly not believing that was the answer as he sighed when Xander shook his head. “Earth Bet then. Aleph?”

“No, different direction, best I can tell,” Xander said. “Aleph would be ‘sideways’ from here, but I’m originally from… call it downwards, though I was heading home when I dropped in, so I suppose I came from ‘up’ the dimensional gradient.”

Legend stared for a time before speaking again, “You’re from outside our reference frame… from outside their reference frame…”

“Possibly,” Xander said cautiously, “however that thing? It’s definitely multidimensional, the construction of it alone requires access to multiple dimensional axis.”

“Construction?” Legend jumped onto the word. “Someone built it? You’re certain?”

“As I can be,” Xander confirmed. “It’s a big multiverse, so there’s no guarantee that somewhere out there, things like that can evolve… but I’d bet the other way.”

“I suppose that’s not a surprise,” Legend said carefully as he looked Xander over with equal care, “How long are you planning on staying in our… dimension, then? I presume you have a way to leave?”

Xander shrugged, “You guys have a problem…”

“We somewhat realized that, yes.”

“I don’t think you do,” Xander said. “Legend, someone isolated an entire branchof creation. I was able to get it, but I can’t leave. Someone here, doesn’t want the outside multiverse to know what’s going on in here.”

Legend paled to an almost ashen grey.

“You’re…. sure?”

Xander just nodded, “This shit? Sending unbeatable monsters to wipe out cities on a schedule?That doesn’t fly. The Pantheons that oversee sections of the multiverse are all about testing people, sure, but a test is something you can pass. I don’t know what is going on here yet, but I promise you that if the outer dimensions knew what was going on, you’d have had visitors already.”

Legend slumped, “Somehow that makes too much sense.”

“Since I’m here, I figure I’ll do a little scouting. See if I can figure out what’s going on, pass on the word once I know,” Xander said. “I’m not on the power level needed to go toe to toe with something like that thing, but I know people.”

“You know people who could take on an Endbringer?” Legend asked skeptically.

“I know a man who could play pool with the planets, if he could find a stick big enough,” Xander chuckled. “the power levels being thrown around here are mostly fairly modest. Some dimensions are completely off their rocker, trust me.”

“That is not making me feel any better.”

“Welcome to the universe of the real,” Xander grinned as he looked around. “Look, I’ll see you later. Look for me in Brockton Bay.”

“Strider won’t be ready to leave for a while…”

“I don’t need a lift, thanks.”

Legend expression was one of surprise, quickly turning to shock, when Xander vanished in a puff of collapsing black mist.

*****

The Library of Alexandria watched as Legend returned from speaking with the new hero who’d had some ability to affect the Simurgh’s song, her eyes and Parahuman enhanced brain easily reading his body language as the man who was one of her oldest friends landed next to her.

“You look like you were just struck by a metaphorical two by four,” She said simply.

“More like someone threw a planet at me, I’d say,” Legend confirmed. “He knows.”

That caused her to stiffen sharply, “Knows?”

“Damn near everything of import,” Legend said. “He doesn’t know the names of things, yet, but just a glance at the Simurgh was enough for him to extrapolate the existence of Scion and Eve.”

“That’s impossible, even for a thinker,” Eidolon interjected into the conversation while looking around to ensure that they were isolated enough for this conversation.

“I don’t think he’s a thinker,” Legend said.

“Magus, PRT ENE have been trying to create a threat profile for him, but apparently he’s hard to get a bead on,” Alexandria said, bringing up the man’s file in her eidetic memory. “He’s got ratings all across the field, is on the record calling himself a Shaker/Blaster primary with subratings down the scale as a result of manipulating his primary power.”

“Impressive.” Legend said, “Here’s something that’s not in his file, I’ll bet. He claims to be extra-dimensional.”

“Earth Aleph?” Eidolon asked sharply.

“Different direction, according to him. I’m going to visit Brockton, have a chat with Armsmaster,” Legend said. “Then see if I can get more information from him. Some of what he told me…”

The head of the New York Protectorate shook his head, “I’ll write it up, but I’m going to have a lot more questions for him before we even want to think about filing it… even at top security clearances.”

*****

Brockton Bay

Xander reappeared with a soft crack, floating over the abandoned supertanker where he’d made his temporary home. Landing quickly, he walked into the control room, leaving the door open behind him as he didn’t slow his pace, merely walking calmly and confidently right into the blank wall… and then through it.

Stepping out into the room he’d expanded beyond, Xander cast off his combat gear and slumped into a chair.

“Myx.”

“Heya McGurk,” The Imp said, popping into place beside him. “Have a ball?”

“Got scans of one of the endbringers,” Xander said. “I’m assuming you know what I found?”

“Got an idea, but haven’t gone looking myself yet. Don’t want to alert them.”

“Multidimensional construction, definitely based in Magic… but again, stripped of emotion.” Xander frowned. “I’m half leaning to Clarketech instead of pure magic, but it’s doesn’t quite fit.”

“Six of one, half dozen of the other, McGurk,” Myxlptlk said with a shrug. “Located one of the sources.”

Xander looked over sharply, “What happened to not wanting to alert them?”

“Not a problem, this one was dead. Locals managed it, somehow,” The Imp seemed actually impressed. “No idea how. Killing something that doesn’t even technically exist in your reality is always a trick and half for three dimensional creatures like yourself.”

Xander nodded, “What is it?”

“Not a clue, McGurk,” Myx admitted. “but it’s trouble. We need to bring in help.”

“Can we get out?”

The Imp winced, “Working on it.”

“Keep on that.”

“You’ve got it, McGurk. Meanwhile, look after that little firecracker you’ve taken on,” Myx advised. “Trust me, that girl has a future.”

Xander turned sharply, but the Imp was already gone.

What the hell does that mean?

*****