Mortal Wills, Mortal Hearts

Recent developments in cosmology and particle physics, such as the string landscape picture, have led to the remarkable realization that our universe - rather than being unique - could be just one of many universes. The multiverse proposal helps to explain the origin of the universe and some of its observational features. Since the physical constants can be different in other universes, the fine-tunings which appear necessary for the emergence of life may also be explained. Nevertheless, many physicists remain uncomfortable with the multiverse proposal, since it is highly speculative and perhaps untestable.

- Excerpt of the Journal "Universe or Multiverse?", edited by Ben Carr of the University of London

The multiverse. First coined by American American philosopher and psychologist William James, it comprise everything that exists: the entirety of space, time, matter, and energy as well as the physical laws and constants that describe them. We are not alone in our own world as other worlds are out there. Some may find the idea to be strange, while others believe that the multiverse's theories cannot be tested out to justify its existence. Whatever people will believe, the multiverse is out there.

Secretly policed by an elite unit, the multiverse has been safely protected from rogue gods to megalomaniacs. But that was until a being known as The One surfaced. No one knows who he is or where he came from. But to those who are familiar with the name, he is one not to be taken lightly.

As a last resort, beings from various multiverses are recruited into a secret location unknown to The One in order to bring the fight to him. Heroes, villains and those with a neutral stance will come together. Ideas, beliefs, visions and egos will clash. Unless they place them aside, all is doomed.

"Aigoo... What now?"

Kim Gi-Soo, former secret agent of North Korea's Section 35 wondered as he waited alongside Mason. So far, he had gotten this gold coin and wondered what it was. He decided to take it out and look at it.

"Maybe this can be my lucky charm."

When he flipped the coin by using his right thumb after placing it over his clenched fist, a portal opened up beneath his feet.

"SHIBAL!" Gi-Soo yelled as he went through the portal.

"Omph!"

Gi-Soo landed on what appears to be a small courtyard, body first. Small, but it had enough room for him to move around.

"Where am I?" He was confused by what had happened, but he then saw an open path up ahead.

Duke Nukem rose to his feet with a grumble. What the Hell did I do last night? Having to ask this question in the first place annoyed Duke, as he usually remembered the events of previous nights with perfect clarity and they were usually awesome. Duke dusted himself off and looked around. "Alright, where the hell am I? This some kinda' joke?"

The compound was quiet, with only the sounds of the cicadas piercing the stillness of the Afghan night. That, and the pair of Polaris ATVs gunning it through the wadi.

But it's the trailer of the pair that we'll be focusing on here. Particularly as the quad vanished through a strange portal, leaving no trace behind.

The ATV appeared in a courtyard, and came to a stop almost instantly; the sudden deceleration almost pitching the rider over the handlebars and into the .50 caliber rifle strapped over the front wheels.

OK, where the hell am I?

He swung himself off the quad, another rifle slung over his back and a sub-machine gun bouncing in front of his chest. Both weapons were suppressed.

edited 12th Aug '11 1:49:09 PM by Deadbeatloser22

Gi-Soo saw two other people who were with him.

One of them was a muscular Caucasian with shades. Typical American.

The other one... Well he can't 'cept that he's got uniform that doesn't tell him that he's from the US Army.

"Are you... two alright?" Gi-Soo asked the Duke Nukem and the "unknown man" in his best English with a bit of a Pyongyang accent.

edited 12th Aug '11 2:00:40 PM by Ominae

A teenage boy with a black mask, spiked black hair, black cape, red shirt with a black circle on it containing a yellow R with green tights, gloves and black boots is hiding in the shadows.

Hmm a couple military men... and no Titans. Experiments? No we're world known they wouldn't kidnap us. Slade got some mercenaries... Probable.

Duke scowled at Kim. That was a stupid question to ask. Duke was always more than alright. He was Duke. "And just who the fuck are you?" He asked, putting unneeded emphasis on the curse.

The ATV's rider turned to face the pair, his MP7 shouldered.

"I could ask you both the same question."

Robin grabs a Batarang from his pocket. Hmm can't be Slade. Slade would have let the mercs know of each other's existence. Curiouser and curiouser.

"Please! Please don't hurt me!"

Gi-Soo insisted, raising his hands up to prove that he was not hostile. Well, that was despite the fact that the CAR-15 Mason gave him was slinged on his chest.

"I don't know how I go here. I was suppose to be in a subway somewhere in Seoul when I got to another world before I got to this place."

"OK, you're making less and less sense with every word." Whilst the rider's gear might not have been obviously American, his Midwest accent certainly was.

Only go to action if a fight begins. Must not assume the worst. But this other world thing... Space man?

Duke broke out in laughter as Kim flipped out and stated that he meant no harm for no appearent reason. "Pussy." He muttered as he turned to the other man. "What've you been livin' under a rock? I'm Duke fucking Nukem!" He exclaimed.

"Duke Nukem..."

Gi-Soo whispered.

What a weird Caucasian name.

Green Arrow had been having a normal night of crime fighting. He and his lover, Black Canary, had stopped crime after crime. But in the middle of a brawl with two gangsters in an alley, a portal had opened on the brick wall at the end of the alley.

The Emerald Archer's martial arts had served him well so far. He blocked and countered every punch the thug he was fighting tried to send his way. The archer delivered a powerful kick, and the gangster stumbled back. Green Arrow was confident that he could finish this easily. He slowly withdrew his broadsword.

But the gangster was faster to slip on some brass knuckles. Just as Green Arrow got his sword out of its sheath, his enemy dealt a hard punch to the gut. It left the archer vulnerable for long enough that his foe could grab him. Green Arrow struggled, but it was no use. The gangster threw him into the portal.

As Green Arrow went flying into the portal, he only had time to say "Dinah!" before he disappeared into the portal. Black Canary turned and saw her lover vanish into the portal. The portal disappeared a couple of seconds later.

Black Canary turned around in a Tranquil Fury. The gangsters stepped back. She cracked her knuckles and unleashed her Canary Cry. The gangsters went flying out of the alley and slammed into a building on the other side of the street. She didn't know it, but her cry had also been at the right frequency to stop the gangsters' hearts. Even if she did, she might not have cared at the moment. She looked at where the portal had just been. What had happened to Green Arrow? Was he still alive?

Green Arrow came to his senses. He was still holding his broadsword, but he was in an entirely different area. This clearly wasn't Star City. He sheathed his sword and looked around him.

What just happened? thought Green Arrow. Is Dinah all right?

He appeared to be in a courtyard. He saw a path out of this area. He stood up, gripped his longbow in his right hand, and walked out into the courtyard where the others were.

"Excuse me," said Green Arrow. "Do any of you know where we are?"

"Duke Nukem?" echoed a voice from behind the men, each syllable almost dripping with venom. "Puh-lease! That Planet dork's never in Townsville, so you're just wasting your time here! Besides, we have much higher supervillain standards here than, um... Uh..."

Princess Morbucks took a quick look around. She was sure she'd entered Pokey Oaks only a few moments ago. She was going to challenge those accursed Powerpuff Girls and finally get them to admit that they need her on the team. She even had her supersuit all ready and everything. But this didn't look like the kindergarten at all. This was... Different.

"...I'm not in Townsville anymore, am I?"

edited 12th Aug '11 2:46:22 PM by Moerin

"I dunno where that is, but no. Chances are, you're not."

Green Arrow approached the group.

"Who are all of you?" said Green Arrow.

"Everyone seems to be asking that same question."

Duke turned to face Princess, who would find that he didn't share the rocky skin, red hair, or predilection for nuclear waste as the supervillain who shared his name. "Must be thinkin' of the wrong Duke, kid." He said with a sneer before turning to Green Arrow. "What, you deaf or something? I just said I'm Duke Nukem." He looked the superhero over. "And who're you? You look like you just stepped out of one a' those 'ren fair' things."

edited 12th Aug '11 2:57:22 PM by Bindlestick

"My name is Oliver Queen," said Green Arrow. "I have a dual life. In my civilian life, I'm the mayor of Star City, California, one of the West Coast's great cultural landmarks. But by night, I take up this costume and fight crime under the name Green Arrow. Some say I'm the best archer of the Modern Age." He looked over Duke Nukem. "You, Duke, look like you're fulla juice."

edited 12th Aug '11 3:05:34 PM by TestYourMight

Duke smirked. "Damn right."

As the people continued to gather, they can see above the following words.

HEAD DOWN THE PATH AHEAD.

The words flashed on the black sky above before it appeared on the floor ahead, moving slowly towards the path that led to another area.

"We better follow it." Gi-Soo pointed to the words that were now on the ground. He began to walk down the path, porting the CAR-15.

edited 12th Aug '11 3:20:20 PM by Ominae

"Wow," said Green Arrow. "I didn't think you'd be stupid enough to admit you abuse steroids. What, do you get three injections of HGH a day?"

The rider climbed back on his ATV, and fired up the engine.

He shook his head. "Nope. Just chug the whole bottle." He looked at the message. "Pretty staightforward." With that, the action hero ran along the path at full tilt.