The CircleLas Vegas, Nevada, USA – 2024
Ben had indulged a bit longer than a couple of days. He watched the MCU movies through to Spider-Man Homecoming. It reminded him that Quentin Beck needed to die. The changes he has made shouldn't cause too much of an impact yet. Abomination wasn't important to the grand scheme of things. The Red Room was an independent organization. There wouldn't be much of a difference if Black Widow took care of them earlier than in the original timeline.
As expected, the internet had a detailed timeline for the movies. He had left Asgard one day before the start of the events of the Thor movie. That entire plotline took a total of four days. The Duel of Harlem took place two days after Thor returned to Asgard. There were a few events that happened in the attached comics, but he wasn't sure if those would take place. The next important part that actually appeared in the movies was Captain American being found and thawed out. That wouldn't happen until August of 2011.
The Avengers movie didn't start until May of 2012 with the Battle of New York taking place on the 4th. Things went quiet movie-wise until 2013 when the events of Iron Man 3 when Extremis subjects started to explode and were disguised as terrorist attacks. Oddly enough, the plot of that movie stretched the entire year with the first Extremis explosion happening in February with the events of the movie starting in December.
One important thing that did happen in 2013 was Jessica Jones being captured by Killgrave. September 29th according to the timeline. Ben was going to stop that. He had completely forgotten about Thor: The Dark World. It started in October and there was no way he was going to sit that one out. He wasn't going to let Frigga die if he could stop it.
He wasn't going to bother with The Agents of SHIELD show. It had never caught his interest. The Guardians of the Galaxy was fun, but he wasn't sure if he would interfere with it beyond destroying Ego's seed. He could do that at any time. Ant-Man was another that he wasn't sure about. Meeting Scott Lang would be interesting, but he didn't know how to change the plot to the movie.
Winter Soldier didn't start until March of 2014. He would happily help knock around Hydra. Age of Ultron wasn't until April of 2015. Once again, he would help with that one. He hoped to have changed things enough to avoid Civil War. If not, he wasn't sure what he would do. Black Panter wasn't something he could help with. He was going to avoid Doctor Strange.
Ben printed everything out and put it in his Cube to have close. He also added a desk and a free-standing corkboard to help plot things out visually. His plans would adjust as time moved on. One thing was clear; he wasn't going to wait around for years for everything to happen. The TemPad worked in the MCU dimension, and he was going to use it. Things should be changed quite a bit by the time he was finished.
He had watched the movies a few times after getting the timeline to refresh things. Ben enjoyed the MCU, but there were other places he wanted to go.
The next movie he watched again was My Super Ex-Girlfriend. It helped him catalogue the powers better and reminded him of something important. There wasn't a failsafe during sex. She had nearly broken her boyfriend's dick. It was played off as a joke, but the reality of the situation wasn't funny. He couldn't have sex with a baseline human unless he wanted to risk hurting them. That left superpowered ladies as his main option.
The other option being animated universes. There were plenty of explicit versions he could visit. Or just skip directly to hentai. Possibly. He still got the feeling that he wasn't ready for an animated dimension.
MCU did have that planet where Thor ended up on during Ragnarök. Not to mention the Asgardians themselves. The DCEU had the Amazons, but they weren't exactly welcoming to the males.
This was going to take some more research.
He had become aware about another part of his traveling abilities. Variations of dimensions were viable options as well. The Andrew Garfield Spider-Man and Toby Macquire were different two different destinations. The same with the X-Men movies with Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy. DC had enough variations to keep him busy for quite some time.
Marvel Cinematic UniverseNew York City, New York, USA – 2010
Ben appeared in the sky above New York. He floated along the city, searching for Killgrave. Telescopic vision was one of his abilities that he didn't use often. It gave him a headache after extended use. He extended his hearing as well. David Tennant had a voice that he could recognize.
"Hey, Flyboy, what are you're making people nervous," a modulated voice spoke up.
Ben turned to find Iron Man floating nearby. He reined in his abilities to focus on Stark.
"Traveler," he corrected. "You can call me Traveler."
Iron Man chuckled, "sure, Flyboy."
"I'm searching for someone," Ben replied. "There are a lot of people here."
Stark crossed his arms and he stayed aloft, "yeah, that won't make people relax."
"Fury isn't on my list," Ben chuckled. "This guy is a monster. Not physically, in ability."
Iron Man made a 'continue' motion, "which is?"
"He commands, people can't resist," Ben replied easily. "You would step out of your armor and hand it over to him if he told you. You would choke the life out of Pepper with a smile if he commanded. You would still be you but wouldn't be able to stop yourself. I don't know if his power works on me so I'm keeping my distance."
Stark tensed, "you certainly know a lot."
"She's awesome," Ben chuckled. "You've got some good people around you. I don't say this to try to intimidate or threaten. I'm not planning on fighting you."
He could hear the string of information Jarvis was giving Stark. It was a scan of his equipment, comparing his previous actions to assess his potential, and giving the odds if it did come down to a fight.
"What's your plan once you find this guy?" Stark asked.
Ben sighed, "I'm going to kill him."
"Rather casual about death, huh?" Stark asked.
"You should understand that there are people out there who are better dead," Ben tapped the center of his chest.
Stark stared at him for a long moment, "fair enough."
"He has ruined countless lives," Ben said. "A person under his control is a prisoner in their own body. Watching everything they do without a choice."
Stark drifted closer, "what are his capabilities?"
"His power works in close proximity," Ben explained. "Phones, radios, and transmissions aren't as effective, I'm not sure if it works to a lesser degree. There might be a pheromone element to his powers, but that's just a guess. Other than his ability to command people, he doesn't have any other powers."
Ben paused. He cocked his head to the side as he heard a familiar voice, the one he had been searching for. Ben held up a finger to pause the conversation. He scanned the area with his telescopic vision. There in a penthouse stood Killgrave currently ordering some poor soul around. He didn't let the man finish his sentence. A burst of concentrated laser burned a hole the size of a baseball through Killgrave's skull. The body collapsed to the floor.
"All done," Ben said to Stark. "Do you want to get a burger? My treat."
Stark paused, "you killed him? Just now?"
"Yes," Ben nodded. "Any command he gave will fade by tomorrow."
Stark chuckled, "damn, that was fast."
"I try," Ben shrugged. "Like I said, I didn't know if his powers worked on me. There is a chance that I could have moved fast enough to punch him or something before he told me to stop. I didn't want to risk it."
"And we have to take your word that he was a bad guy?" Stark asked.
Ben sighed, "fine, come with me."
He led them over to the penthouse where the body cooled. A couple of nude women were posing seductively while a chef held a cleaver over their extended hand. The nearby table was set for one while an older couple were sitting in chairs facing the corner. Judging by their state, they had been there for quite a while.
"Excuse me," Ben said as he landed on the attached balcony and entered the penthouse. "Did he tell you to shut up?"
"No," the chef replied. "He told them to be quiet and look pretty."
The women continued to move through poses fit for an adult website.
"He's dead now," Ben stated.
"I can see that," the chef replied. "I can't move. Can you help us?"
Ben turned to look at Stark.
"I don't know how to stop it," Ben shook his head. "I'm sorry. Killing him was my best idea."
The chef nodded, "thank fuck for that."
Stark sent a request for assistance while Jarvis scanned their vitals.
"Are there any other bad guys on your list?" Stark asked.
Ben thought for a moment. Going after Hydra right now would cause too much chaos. SHIELD wouldn't be in any condition for the upcoming invasion. He would need to take care of General Ross in a different way. Sterns shouldn't be exposed to more gamma radiation and grow in power. Honestly, Ben wasn't sure what to do with him. The Vulture and his crew could probably be prevented from going criminal.
Wilson Fisk was someone he had forgotten about in the shuffle. He needed to die.
"Do crime lords count?" Ben asked.
"How old are you?" Stark chuckled.
That made his train of thought grind to a halt. How old was he? He had been in his thirties before he died. Did that still count? Did time move differently in Asgard? He had been there for about a week.
"Don't strain yourself, kid," Stark joked, but there was actual concern in his voice.
"It's complicated," Ben sighed. "I'm not going on a murder-spree. Taking down a crime lord isn't as easy as killing the guy at the top. Power abhors a vacuum and all that. It would be the big guy, his righthand man, then the lieutenants, and maybe a few street-level mooks that are too smart for their own good."
The door to the penthouse opened. A group of SHIELD operatives and medics spread throughout the place. Five of which circles Ben with various weapons that were basically recycled Hydra tech. A familiar flash of red hair caught his attention.
"Agent Romanoff," Ben greeted her. "Any luck?"
She nodded, "we're looking. Any hints?"
"Sorry," Ben shook his head. "It's a flying base that can move and Russia is a big place."
He paused. It would not be a good idea to let Hydra find out how Widows were made.
"Could we speak outside?" Ben asked.
Widow strolled out to the balcony with the other five agents escorting him.
He turned to address the troops and Stark, "relax, we'll be right back."
"What is this about?" Widow crossed her arms, studying him as he closed the door.
Ben assessed his traveler abilities. His awareness of his growth was instinctive. Knowledge and techniques just clicked. Could he travel with a person now? Yes, his instincts told him he could.
"I need you to trust me for a moment," Ben held out his hand to her. "Tell your people to stand down. Like I said, we'll be right back."
Widow narrowed her eyes at him, "what are you talking about?"
"There is a reason I call myself Traveler," Ben said. "You've seen me disappear before. I can take you with me so we can speak privately."
"Why would we need to do that?" She asked.
"I will tell you once we're there," Ben replied. "Your comms won't work. It will be me and you. I don't want your people or you to freak out."
Widow smirked, "I don't freak out."
"We'll see," Ben held out his hand.
Widow took it.
CUBE
They appeared briefly before vanishing again. Her eyes widened as she tried to take note of everything before they were gone.
Lifetime Christmas Romance Movie #144Small Town America, USA – 2005
They appeared outside a small, family run restaurant. The street was covered in snow. People strolled along laughing. There were even carolers. No less than four Santa's dotted the street ringing bells in perfect harmony.
"Where are we?" Widow scanned the area.
Her hand was on her weapon, but she didn't draw it.
"I'm hungry," Ben said as he opened the door for her. "My treat, come on."
Widow grabbed his arm, "what was that place before here? Don't lie to me. I saw it. We were somewhere else."
"My cube," Ben replied. "It's a place outside of space and time that I have. Nothing fancy, just a cube with some stuff I've set aside. Cash, clothing, and some notes. I'm not sure if I'm going to get a bed for it."
Widow followed him into the restaurant. The people stopped as they entered.
"Table for two," Ben told the stunned waitress.
That seemed to get the waitress moving due to endlessly repeating the task. An armed woman in a black bodysuit and a guy dressed like a Space Viking weren't part of the regular visitors.
"I'll have a soda," he paused, expectantly looking at Widow.
"Water, no lemon," she said after a moment.
"We'll need a moment with the menu," Ben smiled at the waitress.
She nodded and wondered into the kitchen.
"I'm telling you this because I trust your intelligence," Ben said. "Ignore all of this, this isn't your world. Superpowers, spies, and global clandestine agencies don't exist here."
"And why should I believe you?" Widow asked.
Ben flagged down another waitress. They were easy to find as everyone was still staring at them.
"Excuse me, miss," Ben said. "Do you the paper?"
"We have the local," she replied.
"That's fine," Ben said with a smile.
She brought over the newspaper and put it on the table. The waitress stood there, waiting for something more.
"I hate to be a bother," Ben spoke up to the entire dining area. "Does anyone have a cellphone?"
A few people replied in the positive.
"Could you hold them up?" Ben asked. "Just show them to my friend here."
Widow looked around as a few people lifted flip-phones for her to see. She turned back to him as he slid the newspaper over to her. His finger tapped the date.
December 5th, 2005
"That's not possible," Widow whispered.
"Miss," Ben said.
The waitress jumped at his voice, "yes?"
"Who is the president?" Ben asked.
"George Bush," she said. "The younger one."
"Thank you," Ben smiled. "That's all."
The waitress seemed to grow more confident as she returned to work.
"How is this possible?" Widow asked.
"I travel between worlds," Ben replied. "In this world, it's 2005. I don't exist and neither do you. Try your comms."
"I have," Widow said. "I've seen men turn into monsters. I've read the reports from New Mexico. The world is getting stranger every day."
"In the next year, maybe less, the titan will send his forces to invade Earth," Ben moved the conversation back to the point. "Sheild is already putting together possible members for a team of superpowered individuals. They need to be working at full capacity when that happens."
"And you know this how?" She asked.
"I know a lot about the places I travel," Ben replied. "The Red Room is a flying base in Russia. I couldn't tell you this in your world because I didn't want the information to fall into the wrong hands."
"I work for Shield," Widow said. "We're the best option you're going to get."
The waitress returned with their drinks. They ordered then continued the conversation once she was out of range. He would be sure to leave a big tip.
It was best to just get the hard part over with.
"Hydra has infiltrated Shield," Ben said. "They have members in every level of the organization. Can you imagine the damage they could do with access to the Red Room?"
"Hydra is gone," Widow countered.
"No, it isn't," Ben sighed. "The next time you see Jasper Sitwell, whisper Hail Hydra into his ear. If he's hard to find, look for Agent Rumlow. I'd avoid Senator Stern, that guy is sleezy. You should probably skip Alexander Pierce too. He's too high in the organization and would be able to call the bluff."
Widow stared at him for a long moment, "you're serious."
"The world won't be ready if they are exposed now," Ben said with a shrug. "There should already be little things that don't add up. If they got control of the Red Room they would have control highly trained assassins all over the world." He paused. "I'll look for more information about the Red Room once Thanos is dead."
Their food arrived and the two ate in silence. What was it about Small Town America that made their hamburgers taste so damn good?
Marvel Cinematic UniverseNew York City, New York, USA – 2010
The two of them reappeared on the balcony a few minutes later. Medics had sedated the victims, and they were being loaded onto stretchers. Stark had left at some point. The Shield agents that had been following him instantly snapped to fire positions. Ben chuckled. He held Widow's wrist with one hand while the other had a bag of leftovers.
"Nice to see you again, Agent," Ben let go of her then vanished.
~
A quick trip to the cube for a change of clothes later Ben appeared in the lobby to Stark Tower. He scanned the area until he found an obvious camera then held up the to-go bag. It took about five minutes before he was approached by Happy.
"Mister Stark would like to see you," the big man said. Happy's gaze locked on the bag. "What's in the bag?"
Ben held it out for inspection, "a burger and fries. I didn't know what he liked so it's bare. He should have an oven or something to warm it up. Right?"
"You brought Mister Stark leftovers?" Happy asked.
Ben wiggled a finger at him, "takeout. I offered to buy burgers earlier. Do you want one? It wouldn't take long to get another. They are worth it."
Happy opened the bag. A puff of wonderfully scented air hit him right in the face.
"Damn," he muttered.
Ben smiled, "beef, medium, on a toasted roll. Hand-cut fries with the perfect amount of salt. They make their own special dipping sauce too."
"Maybe later," Happy rolled the bag closed again. "I just ate."
Happy led him over to an elevator. He scanned an ID card and the doors opened. The scent of the food filled the elevator with each passing second. Happy's stomach audibly growled. They both ignored it.
"Flyboy," Stark called as the doors opened. "I didn't expect to see you so soon."
Ben motioned to the bag, "I offered to buy burgers."
"That you did," Stark nodded. "What's your name?"
Ben put the bag on the counter, "Traveler."
"The one on your birth certificate, smart ass," Stark said.
Ben smiled, "Ben. Benjamen Andersson. Anyone that comes up in a search isn't me. I haven't existed in any world I've visited yet. Not sure if that was part of the deal, but it is what it is."
"The deal?" Stark asked. "Do you tell everyone your life story?"
Ben shrugged, "there's no harm in telling you or whoever is listening."
"No one is listening," Stark smirked. "Well, no one other than my people."
Ben raised an eyebrow.
"Moving on," Stark said. "You didn't come here just to deliver food."
"Call it professional courtesy," he replied. "We'll be fighting on the same side one day soon. I'd rather you not have to worry about my intentions when that happens."
Stark poured himself a drink, "do you want one?"
"No thanks, I don't drink," Ben replied.
Stark nodded, took a drink, and set it down, "you're certain about fighting together."
"I came here hunting a titan," Ben explained. "Thanos. I tracked an energy signature to this world. If I can do it, so can he and he's not the type to let his prize sit for long."
Stark took another drink, "where is it?"
"Earth," he replied. "I would be guarding it right now if I knew where it was."
"You've got some holes in your knowledge," Stark said.
"I'm not a god," he replied with a shrug.
The silence settled in the room. Ben looked around the space. It was an open concept with little in the way of cover. The Iron Man suit had some serious fire-power and Stark would be able to repair any damage to the area.
Ben sighed, "I'll see you around."
He vanished.
The CircleLas Vegas, Nevada, USA – 2024
Las Vegas was a great place for hotels. Cash wasn't an issue since gambling could create a surplus after a sudden win. He could get a good room with plenty of amenities without causing too many questions. A big smile and naming a random game would cover it. Reloadable pre-paid debit cards were a gamechanger. He was able to use one when cash raised too many questions.
Ben watched Black Widow a couple of times and made notes to make sure he got all the details correct. He also watched Avengers to figure out when he should arrive. Showing up at the big battle could work. That or Thor's arrival. He could say that the energy from that had caught his attention. It would be too busy to ask many questions.
He spent a couple of days relaxing. What was the point of being able to travel between worlds if he couldn't laze around sometimes.