(Aden's P.O.V)

The Watcher had kept time.

We met on a hill, watching as the sun dawned on the horizon, lighting up the red Martian landscape.

"You seem troubled, Aden Strong."

He commented, both of us sat in meditative poses.

I looked at him from the corner of my eye.

"Observant." I said.

"Then again, I'm not really surprised. With a name like the Watcher, you have to be."

There was a brief silence between us.

"You told me that your goal in life is to pursue knowledge and reach the pinnacle."

He broke the silence.

"But you also said you're dedicated to your family more than anything."

"Yes I did." I sighed.

"Where are you going with this?"

Uatu blinked.

"I...wanted to comfort you. 90% of times when a human is feeling... negative, it has to do with their families."

I barked out a surprised laugh.

"Wow. You're not wrong but that was unexpected."

As much as I hated to admit it though, Uatu was right.

"So I am correct in my assumption?"

He wondered to which I nodded.

"Yeah, you hit the mark. It's...my sister. I hadn't seen her in so long and then out of the blue she appears. It's left me with many unanswered questions and given the fact that she seems to be in a coma, I can't even ask her myself."

"Mm, that is quite a conundrum."

Uatu commented.

"Yeah tell me about it." I breathed out and clapped my hands.

"In any case, I need a distraction and learning how to travel the Multiverse is the best distraction I can think of."

Uatu nodded.

"As per our bet, I shall teach you what you need to know. The rest will depend on you."

I nodded, getting pumped up at the prospect of seeing Kori, the kids and everyone again.

Uatu then did something.

He waved a hand and reality seemed to fracture around us. One second we were on the surface of Mars, the next we were in a space that was above the third dimension but not quite on the Fourth. It was somewhere in between. Somewhere that defied the laws of time and space.

"This is..."

"The Nexus of all realities."

I interrupted, floating in the middle of mirrors. Mirrors that went up, down and sideways infinitely. They showed different worlds and universes, each separate and unique yet so... similar.

"Spacetime shares a pattern in multiple universes."

I muttered in realization, my connection with space allowing me to see further in and spot the strings connecting each universe with the other.

"Correct."

The Watcher stated, hovering in front of me, his vast form shimmering in the infinite expanse of the Nexus. Here, his strength was incalculable.

"You're subject to the laws of any universe you enter."

I concluded.

"That's why in the mortal plane your strength is barely galactic buster level."

He didn't confirm nor deny.

"The art of traversing the Multiverse is not to be taken lightly." Uatu intoned, his entire mood changing into a serious one. Okaaaay, guess we're getting right into the heart of the matter.

"It requires immense knowledge and skill, and even then, it is fraught with danger. One false step, and you could unleash a wave of destruction that would ripple through time and space."

I swallowed hard, feeling a tingle of worry run down my spine. Flashpoint was an example of this.

I steeled myself and nodded, taking the warning but determined to learn what he had to teach me. Anything to get back.

"Very well," he continued. "There are three methods to cross the dimensional barriers."

"The first is through the principles of quantum physics. You must understand the nature of particles and their interactions, and be able to manipulate them on a subatomic level. By altering the spin and position of electrons, you can open a rift in the fabric of reality and slip through it to another universe."

I furrowed my brow, trying to wrap my head around the concept. It wasn't hard exactly, just too unreliable. "What if I don't end up where I want?"

"That is it's biggest shortcoming," the Watcher acknowledged. "But it is also the most direct route. With the proper calculations, coordinates and adjustments, you can travel to a specific universe and time without disrupting the flow of events. However, it requires a great deal of energy, and if you make even the slightest mistake, the consequences could be catastrophic."

I nodded slowly, already feeling a sense of unease at the thought of tinkering with subatomic particles.

"What's the second method?" I asked.

"The second method is through the manipulation of vibration frequency," the Watcher said.

"Everything in the Multiverse vibrates at a certain frequency, and by attuning yourself to that frequency, you can move between worlds. It is less precise than the first method, but it is also less energy-intensive. However, it can be dangerous if you enter a universe where your frequency is incompatible with the environment."

I frowned, trying to imagine what that would be like. "What would happen?"

"You would experience a sudden shift in your physical state, as your molecules are torn apart by the vibrational dissonance," the Watcher explained matter-of-factly.

I swallowed hard again, feeling a surge of adrenaline at the thought of such a horrific fate, for anyone else that is. With my control over space, that was easily resolvable. Still, if I wanted to travel with Geb or Lindy then that method was out.

"And the third method?" I asked, moving on.

"The third method is the most elusive, and the most difficult to master. It is a different application of the second method," the Watcher explained.

"It involves tapping into an innate connection with the Multiverse, a kind of sixth sense that allows you to sense the subtle vibrations of the dimensions around you. With practice, you can learn to move between them effortlessly, without the need for complex calculations or precise tuning."

I felt a spark of curiosity at this. "That sounds...intriguing. like you said, a step above the second method. Where I'm not exactly changing my vibrational frequency to slip through to another world, but instead using it to sense each world's unique frequency and basing it off that to tell them apart."

"Naturally." The Watcher confirmed.

"The next step would be to use your control over space to tug on reality..."

"And slingshot my way through."

I completed his statement.

The Watcher blinked.

"Not how I would have worded it, but yes."

I smiled, crossing my legs together in preparation.

"Okay, how do I develop this connection?"

The Watcher floated closer.

"It is a process of introspection and meditation," he said. "You must learn to attune yourself to the natural rhythms of the Multiverse, and open yourself up to its infinite possibilities. It is not something that can be taught, but only discovered through personal experience."

He waved a hand to gesture at our surroundings.

"I was hoping that meditation in the Nexus will allow you to develop that sense."

I nodded in gratitude, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. Trepidation because this was a completely new avenue for me.

The Watcher's brief teachings had opened up a whole new world of possibilities. If I mastered this then leave alone, getting back to Gaea or even finding Order and giving him a necessary ass kicking, I could make it back home. My original home. I could find out what happened to Mom and Dad and my universe.

And so I begun, by taking in a deep breath.

In the space above the 3rd dimension where all possibilities and alternate universes intersected.

I focused my mind, preparing to attune myself to the unique vibrational frequencies of each world.

As I closed my eyes, I felt a surge of energy flowing through my body, expanding my consciousness beyond the boundaries of my physical form. I could sense the multiverse surrounding us, each reality distinct in its own way.

I concentrated on the closest universe, feeling for its unique frequency. It was like tuning an instrument, adjusting my own frequency until I could feel the resonance of the universe I was searching for. A process where I was the negative to their positives. You could only share the Vibrational frequency of one universe after all.

Then as my mind opened up, my innate energy control took the wheel, enabling me to sense the different energies that made up the universe, the people, the animals, and the very fabric of space and time. It was unlike anything. A brand of energy that was on par with spirit energy. The foundation of all my powers.

Once I had identified the frequency of that particular universe, I moved on to the next step and began to manipulate the fabric of space through my space divinity. I used every shred of control over space to create a rift, something akin to my boom tubes that would allow me to return to the universe we had just left.

Sparks of blue appeared before me.

I scrunched up my eyebrows. This was actually not as easy as I had initially thought. No matter how hard I tried, I could not manipulate the energy in the Nexus by pushing it with Spirit energy. I could see the rift, a hole before me that seemed to blink in and out.

"Come on."

I muttered, holding out both hands to stabilize the stubborn thing.

The portal sizzled with power, looking ready to explode. Dimly, through my passive divine sense, I could feel the walls of reality on both sides tremble a little.

The portal begun to stabilize.

"Come on just a bit."

And then I felt a hand land on my shoulder.

"Stop."

The word was a command. The portal fell apart into nothing.

I blinked my eyes, only now noticing the heavy atmosphere.

Spirit energy covered us in a blue mist of power.

"What happened?"

I wondered.

"Cosmic energy is outside your influence I'm afraid."

Uatu answered.

"And what does that mean?"

"It means you will have to find another way."

He sighed.

"To connect with reality, you need the fuel it runs on."