Chapter One - Kemel

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“Oh, the wonders that exist beyond our comprehension!”

I smiled, looking at my nametag that read “Dr. Kemel Carthon” before my eyes went back to the screen in front of me. I was still annoyed that I left my ‘Variant Viewfinder’ tablet at home. I was forced to sit in this uncomfortable ass chair as my fingers swiped past literal alternate Earths like I was trying to find something to watch on television. 

Two years ago, the Future Foundation (Formed by Queen Tiye of Kemet’s Eighteenth dynasty, to come up with solutions to the world’s current problems and plan a better future for humanity.) which I was a member of, discovered the Multiverse. We’d discovered a lot, but honestly we barely were scratching the surface on how vast the Multiverse actually was. I stopped swiping the TV’s touch screen when the sky blue sphere AI that had been circling around the room, its metallic body glinting in the soft light of my laboratory stopped in front of me.

“I’m fine, Gemma.” I told her, knowing she was just checking on me. “I have more fun with you anyway. Thanks for connecting the Variant Viewfinder to the lab. We both know clubbing isn’t my thing.”

I’d always been a bit of a loner, even before I joined the Foundation. Fun for me was spending most of my time in my laboratory. It was a high-tech wonderland that I built with my own two hands. I wasn’t one of the world’s smartest black scientists for nothing. 

The sounds of the last Earth that I had stopped on touched my ears. I stared at the screen. In the corner on screen, a black label read: Earth-98. I sucked my teeth as the Universe seemed to be mocking me. Earth-98 was the Earth of the Absolute Opposite. I watched my variant on that world at the club with her friends. I sneered because I hated that world. It meant what happened to me personally two years ago hadn’t. She received what I had lost. 

“Kemel,” Gemma spoke my name as she started her slow Circling around the room again. “Your friend Nawi is requesting a connection.”

“Patch her through.” I told her and a large holographic image of Nawi materialized in the center of the room.

Nawi frowned at me from inside the club’s bathroom. “Kemel, are you really passing up on coming out to the club to spend another night in your lab alone?”

“I have Gemma with me,” I say, gesturing over my shoulder.

Nawi rolled her eyes and chuckled. “You keep spending time with that thing, and it’s going to fall head over heels in love with you.”

I laughed with her. “Stop playing, Nawi. Earth-9591 exists.”

“Oh, come on, Kemel. You’re enjoying this Multiverse thing a bit too much.”

“It’s even better when you’re high. The Multiverse is a world of infinite possibilities.”

“According to Ilyasah, you reported that Earth-9591 is a ‘death world’. Why are you observing places like that — and I'm quoting you here — ‘It seems that the parallel universe itself is hostile to its inhabitants. The cost of living on Earth-9591 is that one must suffer a terrible fate’.” Nawi’s hologram started to frown again.“What the point of watching something that’ll never get to experience. We can only view the Multiverse. There’s no way any of us could ever experience it. You haven’t really been using our multiversal research as a distraction from dealing with the whole Moru breakup thing, have you?”

“The whole world is matriarchal, and niggas are still out here being grimy.” I said, trying to hide my annoyance and still ended up rolling my eyes. “I’m just done with relationships right now. 

“Kemel, you’ve been celibate for two years now.” Nawi just had to remind me of that fact. 

“I have Gemma for my... needs. Good men don’t just fall out of the sky, you know.”

Nawi said before the image of her disappeared. “Alright, I’ll let you get back to your  escapism.”

I sighed. “Disconnect the Variant Viewfinder, Gemma.” I face-palmed. Way to blow my fuckin’ high, Nawi! 

“She’s actually correct, Kemel.” Gemma spoke up. 

“I’ve got humans and AI trying to push me back into the dating world.”

“I have noticed in the past few months I’ve been used more sexually then normal. Your brain pattern also suggests that you have been using  sexual gratification for a dopamine rush rather than pleasure … which indicates the onset of a cycle of depression for you. Should I pour you a shot as you always command me when this cycle begins?”

“No, Gemma.” 

I turned towards the mirror wall to my left. I walked across the room until I was face to face with my reflection. Was I a gym rat? Yeah. Was I very masculine? Yeah. It didn’t stop me from being slim thick. 

Underneath my lab coat was a six feet three, one hundred and sixty-five caramel goddess with a nice pair of thirty-three B cups and peach shaped booty. Everyone — men and women still wanted a piece of me though. If folks would have not played with my heart then I probably would have been seen more without it on. Sometimes I actually wished that someone who would be right by me would fall out of the sky.

…That’s when my ears heard screaming. Then I heard the sudden, devastating crash. I turned around as the THUD was thunderous. My eyes craned toward the ceiling. The still glowing light, wires, and installation were hanging since there was a hole in the roof. My eyes craned to the middle of the room. I jumped back in surprise, my heart racing as I tried to process what just happened. There was a black man laying there. A black man that had just literally fallen through the ceiling of my lab.

“Should I start the building resurrection process before or after summoning the Agoji Defense Force.”

I knew that I should have told Gemma to call the ADF. I stared at the man on my floor. He fought to catch his breath while checking to make sure nothing inside was broken. Gemma hovered over my shoulder for an answer.

“Start the resurrection process,” I told her as I strided towards my intruder. “It was obvious he wasn’t a criminal. Who are you?” I demanded, my voice shaking slightly.

“Agoji Defense Force on standby,” Gemma let me know as her voice became as low as a whisper.

The man’s heavy breathing was the only sound in the room until he spoke, “Sameer … Sameer Robinson.”

I watched as he sat up. Then he stood up fully. I took every piece of him in a moment. He was wearing a skin tight white and gold neuro-kinetic suit of armor. 

“Agoji Defense Force on standby,” Gemma said a little bit louder in my ear.

“Okay,” My voice still trembled a little bit. 

“What are you doing, Kemel?” Gemma snapped at me.

“Look Sameer, I don’t know who you are, but you’ve made a big mistake. I’m an Avenger! I’ve called the other Avengers!”

For a moment, the man’s face seemed to be stuck between sadness and remorse before turning his head in my direction. “You’re an Avenger?” He asked, his expression never changing. “Have I met you before?” His tone was filled with genuine confusion then he smiled at me, letting me know that he was playing with me. The Avengers World (where the Marvel Universe existed) was Earth-616. I stepped back wondering what I had just gotten myself into. “After all the reboots they all blur together after a while. Yes, I’ve watched all of the MCU movies too. I just hope that the Johnathan Majors of this Earth had a career without the domestic violence in the cab.”

This … Earth? I quizzed inwardly.

“A millennia of travels and I’ve never arrived like this on another Earth before.”

“Did you hear what he just said?” Gemma asked me.

“Yeah,” 

“The Agoji Defense Force is still on standby because this man is obviously not of sound mind.”

Sameer just basically claimed that he was a million years old, but only looked to be at least thirty. The guy smiled, showing off a perfect set of pearly whites. I knew he was possibly insane, but for some reason, I couldn’t help but be attracted either. There was something very sexy and alluring about him. 

His skin was a mesmerizing shade of chocolate that reminded me of a Hershey’s bar. He stood six feet and looked to be at least two hundred pounds of muscle. Low cut, sleepy brown eyes, dimples, kissable lips, mustache and chin hair made up his facial features. A long scar stood out on the right side of his neck while plenty of tattoos decorated his arms. If he wasn’t crazy, this nigga could most definitely get it. I thought as I eyed him up and down. …Then the full gravity of the situation hit me full force.

“Who are you?” I asked him again.

“A traveler and a scientist.” He answered coolly, looking around the room with a smile. “From the looks of things, I’m amongst esteemed colleagues.”

I blushed as his eyes found me again. He stood there seemingly mesmerized by me. His eyelids began to flitter up and down before he fell face first like a tree in the forest.