After vanishing from the hospital corridor, Jay and Domino appeared on the rooftop. It was secluded, quieter, away from the chaos below. The city stretched out before them as Manhattan was rebuilding itself with cranes and construction. Life going on.

  Jay stood at the edge, staring out. His hands gripped the concrete lip of the roof, replaying Peter's breakdown on loop. The kid's fists hitting his chest, desperation in his voice and questions that had no good answers.

  

  

  Domino watched him from a few feet back and gave him space. But after fifteen minutes of Jay not moving or speaking.

  Finally, she'd had enough. "Jay, you need to stop dwelling on what Peter said. He's just hurting. He doesn't know any better."

  Jay shook his head. "I don't mind his words, Dom. After all, I was the one who gave him the advice and the quarter. But his questions..." He pressed his hand to his heart. "They hit me here, and I can't stop thinking about them."

  Domino knew where this was going. "Jay, you don't..."

  "I know, Dom." Jay cut her off. His voice was quiet but intense in such a way that it made her nervous. "But even with these new powers of ours and Infinity Stones waiting for us, I don't know how to even begin taking the first step toward actually solving this problem."

  Domino was silenced. She considered it, turned it over in her mind, the endless cycle of people needing saving. Heroes burning out trying to save everyone and the weight crushing them. "Fuck." She threw her hands up. "If only there was a lifeguard to save everyone like they have on beaches! This whole damn thing is so frustrating!"

  Jay suddenly stilled, and his head snapped toward her, eyes wide as something clicked in his mind. "Dom, what did you just say?"

  Domino looked confused. "What? Now you have a problem with me cursing too?"

  "Not that! Before that. What you said about lifeguards."

  "Oh, that?" Domino shrugged. "I wish we had lifeguards to save everyone like they have on beaches."

  Jay's eyes lit up like a bulb had just clicked on over his head. His hands went to his mouth as he paced back and forth across the hospital rooftop, muttering to himself, his mind clearly racing.

  Domino could feel Jay's brain firing on all cylinders, even from where she stood. "Jay. What is it? I know I babble stupid shit sometimes, but you don't have to be so embarrassed..."

  Jay spun around, rushed to Domino, and picked her up in the air with a hug, twirling her. His face split into a massive grin.

  "Honey, you're a fucking genius!"

  He kissed her hard like she'd just solved world hunger.

  Domino, surprised and breathless, managed to ask, "Huh?"

  Before she could ask anything else, Jay said, "Let's get changed. We need to meet Master!"

  With a snap of his fingers, both of them were back in semi-formal attire. Jay in a suit, Domino in a jacket and jeans. The transformation was casual yet instant.

  Domino, still reeling from Jay's sudden energy shift, grabbed his arm. "Jay, at least let a girl in on whatever crazy plan you're cooking!"

  Jay paused as the manic energy dimmed slightly, suddenly realizing he was being too impulsive and running ahead without explanation.

  "Alright, Dom. Listen..."

  He explained.

  The rough plan and the audacity of what he was planning to accomplish. How Peter's breakdown had crystallized an idea that had been forming in his mind since the Battle of New York.

  By the time he finished, Domino's mouth was gaping open. Just from the shock and stretch of imagination. The sheer balls of what her boyfriend wanted to accomplish.

  "Jay, I really, really love you, but you are an absolute madman. All this just because Peter cried about it?" She paused, then grinned. "And before you give any explanation, my answer is yes. AND I LOVE YOU MORE FOR IT! This kind of crazy is right up my alley, sweetheart!"

  Jay smiled, nodded. "Okay, then you handle Australia, and I'll go meet with Master."

  Domino looked down at her new clothes in dismissal as scarlet strings emerged from her fingertips, wrapping around her body like living threads. The semi-formal jeans and jacket shimmered, dissolved, reformed. The transformation flowed like water, with fabric reshaping itself at the quantum level. When the strings faded, she stood in a beach getup. Hawaiian shirt with bright flowers, beach cap and shorts. Perfect for Australia's coast.

  "I'll need to be ready if I'm headin' down under."

  Jay smiled, leaned in, and kissed her goodbye. "Don't cause too much trouble."

  "No promises, babe."

  He teleported her to surfers' paradise, then vanished in a flash of blue light.

  Kamar-Taj

  Jay materialized in the meditation hall reserved for the Ancient One at Kamar-Taj. Instead of alarms blaring at unauthorized teleportation, it was just quiet and the smell of incense.

  The Ancient One appeared behind him, nearly surprising him. Only his danger sense kept him from jumping.

  "Welcome back, my dear student."

  Jay turned and greeted her with a bow. "Master, it's good to see you getting used to Selene's powers! By the way, what's with the alarms not working?"

  The Ancient One smiled, serene as always. "Wong grew tired of the constant alerts. Every time you ignored protocol and teleported directly into Kamar-Taj, the alarms would trigger. He'd have to reset them, adjust the wards and explain to nervous students that there were no intruders. The poor man finally surrendered and disabled them entirely."

  Jay sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "Oh. My bad, I guess." He paused, then brightened. "Master, did I tell you Selene's powers worked too well? You look so young now, people will mistake you for my older sister!"

  The Ancient One sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, preparing for the upcoming headache. "You are laying it on too thick. What did you do now, Jay?"

  Jay's confidence returned as he stood straighter. "It's not what I did. It's what I'm gonna do. And I need your help."

  The Ancient One gestured as two cushions appeared. She sat and waited as Jay sat across from her. He took a breath and then began.

  He narrated everything. Meeting Spider-Man on the rooftop. Giving him advice to focus on family and childhood, even gifting him Domino's quarter. Uncle Ben nearly dying because of the lucky quarter he'd given Peter. Peter's words about people always needing help, always needing saving. The breakdown and impossible weight pressing down on a kid who just wanted to do right.

  At the end, the Ancient One took it all in, processing it, but her expression was unreadable. "I know of Peter Parker. The boy grows up to be the best of us. The best of heroes. I have watched his path across the timeline before you arrived and changed things. His fights, losses and perseverance. He is an example of responsibility taken to its highest form. But fate has dealt him a terrible hand. Loss after loss. Pain after pain. And he carries it all with grace that few can possess."

  Jay nodded. "Yeah, well, fate's a bitch, and I'm gonna do something about it."

  He explained what he was planning, and The Ancient One listened. Her expression shifted. From neutral to concerned and from concerned to alarmed.

  And after hearing the makeshift plan Jay had cooked up, she put her head in both hands, praying to the Vishanti. "Oh, Vishanti, what did I do to deserve such a troublesome student? Have you abandoned me to this madness?"

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Jay, seeing this, held her hands, calling her out. "Master, please, you don't have to be so dramatic! It's not that crazy of an idea."

  The Ancient One turned to him, her eyes ancient and weary and full of knowledge he couldn't begin to comprehend.

  "Crazy? Crazy?! If this is not crazy, what is? Jay, you are proposing to fundamentally alter how Earth functions and change the relationship between the planet and its inhabitants. To ask an Elder Goddess, a being who has existed for billions of years, to become an active interventionist rather than a passive observer. Do you understand the implications? The cascading effects? What happens when other cosmic entities notice Earth behaving differently? What happens when Death herself takes issue with our planet that actively prevents deaths?"

  She stood and paced. Her robes flowing behind her.

  "And you want to meet Gaea directly. An Elder Goddess who has no particular reason to grant your request. Who might see your proposal as hubris of the highest order."

  Jay sat calmly, letting her vent and then spoke with a smile, trying to quench her intensity.

  "Well, if you say it like that, it sounds crazy. But yes, that's the plan."

  The Ancient One, after a long moment, sighed deeply. "Jay, you need to know you are under watch from many entities. Not to mention Death herself, since you resurrected those twelve hundred in New York and someone of Jim Jaspers' potential in London. And now this? You really need to pace yourself, my student. One does not defy fundamental cosmic forces without consequences."

  Jay's tone was confident. "I know what I'm planning, and the consequences of my actions are mine to bear. Not to mention, soon Odin himself will gift me access to his Bifrost. And you know what that means."

  The Ancient One nodded slowly. "The Temple to Eternity. Well, I guess you have a good head on your shoulders, even if you use it for the most audacious schemes imaginable. Go and get the necessary things done. I'll prepare for the ritual to open the gateway. But know this, my student: Elder Gods are not like the Asgardians or Olympians. They are older, primal and connected to fundamental forces. Gaea may appear kind and maternal, but she has existed since Earth's formation. She has seen species rise and fall. Civilizations bloom and collapse into dust. She takes the long view, and your mortal perspective may mean nothing to her."

  Jay, excitedly, hugged her. "Thank you so much, Master! I promise I won't let you down!"

  Before she could respond, before she could overcome the shock of sudden affection, he teleported and vanished.

  The Ancient One stood alone in the meditation hall. She calmed herself, then walked toward the ritual chamber. There was work to be done.

  Surfers' Paradise, Australia.

  Domino materialized on the sand, Hawaiian shirt fluttering in the ocean breeze. The sun was bright, and the beach was crowded with tourists and locals. Surfers rode waves. Kids built sandcastles. The smell of salt and sunscreen filled the air. The sound of waves crashing, people laughing, and music from a nearby beach bar reached her ears.

  She scanned the beach, looking for her target.

  It didn't take long.

  Near the lifeguard tower, a man sat in a chair, binoculars around his neck, whistle dangling from his chest. Mid-thirties, tanned skin, lean muscle from years of swimming and rescuing people. His name tag read "Marcus."

  Domino approached casually, her scarlet-touched eyes hidden behind sunglasses. She leaned against the lifeguard tower, looking up at Marcus with a smile.

  "Hey there, mate. You the head lifeguard around here?"

  Marcus looked down, surprised to see a stunning woman in a Hawaiian shirt addressing him. "Uh, yeah. That's me. Can I help you with something?"

  Domino's smile widened, trying her best Australian accent just for shits and giggles. "Actually, I'm lookin' for someone. Say, can you point me towards Heather Cameron?"

  Marcus frowned slightly, his professional instincts kicking in. "You a fan or somethin'? Look, even though she's a hero and all that after New York, she's a lifeguard here first. We've had issues with people hasslin' her since the invasion. Mutant-haters and obsessed fans both. So, if you're gonna cause trouble..."

  "Whoa, calm your tits, mate. Can't you see my skin?" Domino pulled off her sunglasses. Revealed her pale complexion, the black spot around her eye, and the hints of scarlet in her irises. "Pretty damn obvious I'm a mutant too, yeah? As for being a fan, that depends on her answer. But more importantly, I'm here with an offer that could change her life."

  Marcus hesitated but studied her and relaxed slightly. "Right. Sorry, miss. We've had way too many of those cases recently. People trackin' her down like she's some celebrity. Gets tirin' dealin' with it." He reached for his walkie-talkie. "Let me check if she's free."

  "You do that. I'll be right here waiting." Domino leaned against the tower. Patiently watching the waves and feeling the sun.

  Marcus spoke into his radio and, after a quick conversation, turned back to her.

  "You're in luck. She'll be here in a few. Finishin' up her patrol." He climbed down from the tower. Still protective but less hostile. "What exactly are you offering? Because if this is some mutant recruitment thing, she's already turned down a few."

  Before Domiono could respond, another figure approached. A woman in her late twenties in a Lifeguard uniform of red swimsuit with white cross. But the most catching thing about her was her golden skin, matching her impossibly golden hair.

  Heather Cameron. Also known as Lifeguard was a mutant with the power to adapt her body to rescue people in danger.

  She'd been in New York during the invasion when she and her brother answered Jay's summons and saved dozens of people from Chitauri fire. Pulled civilians from collapsing buildings as her powers had manifested in ways she'd never imagined, thanks to Jay's upgrades. And now she was back in Australia, back to being a lifeguard, trying to process what she'd experienced.

  Heather looked at Domino. Then at Marcus. Then back at Domino.

  "Marcus says you've got an offer for me." Her accent was distinctly Australian. Casual but wary. "Because if this is some mutant recruitment thing, she's already turned down a few."

  Domino pushed off the tower. Extended a hand and put her best smile she learned from watching Jay.

  Kamar-Taj: The Ritual Chamber

  The Ancient One stood in the ritual chamber. The room was circular, walls inscribed with runes older than human civilization.

  In the center, a mandala glowed faintly on the floor. Complex geometric patterns. Each line representing a connection and possibility. The mandala pulsed with potential energy and waiting.

  She placed candles at five points around the mandala. Each one representing a different aspect of the ritual. Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Spirit.

  Her hands moved through intricate patterns, weaving spells that would open a gateway to something ancient. Something few mortals ever encountered.

  A direct line to the Vishanti themselves. The trinity of cosmic entities that empowered Earth's Sorcerer Supreme. Hoary Hoggoth. Omnipotent Oshtur. Agamotto the All-Seeing.

  This was not a small request. Opening such a connection required precision that most sorcerers couldn't achieve. One misstep, one miscalculation, and the backlash could level Kamar-Taj.

  But the Ancient One had done this before. Centuries ago, when she'd first taken the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme to get their blessing and now, for her student, she would do it again.

  The candles flared and mandalas pulsed as golden light filled the chamber, growing brighter and brighter until it was blinding as the very air thrummed with power.

  And then, silence.

  Three voices spoke as one. Neither male nor female. Neither young nor old. Just power, ancient and absolute.

  "SORCERER SUPREME. YOU CALL UPON US."

  The Ancient One bowed deeply. "Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth. Omnipotent Oshtur. Agamotto the All-Seeing. I come before you with a request on behalf of my student."

  "THE ONE CALLED JAY." The Vishanti's voices echoed. "WE KNOW OF HIM. WE HAVE WATCHED HIS ACTIONS. HIS DEFIANCE OF DEATH. HIS THEFT OF POWER FROM THE HARBINGER OF NINTH COSMOS. HIS RESURRECTION OF THE TWELVE HUNDRED. HIS ALTERATION OF THOUSANDS OF HUMANS INTO ENHANCED BEINGS. HE IS KNOWN TO US."

  "He seeks to do good," the Ancient One said carefully. "To create something that will protect the innocent. To prevent suffering on a scale we have not seen before."

  "AND YET, HIS METHODS ARE RECKLESS." The Vishanti's tone was neutral, neither condemning nor approving. "HE WALKS A DANGEROUS PATH. ONE THAT COULD LEAD TO SALVATION OR DAMNATION OF THIS ENTIRE PLANET. THIS IS NOT A SMALL THING HE ATTEMPTS."

  "That is why I ask for your guidance," the Ancient One said. "He plans to meet with Gaea, the Elder Goddess. To propose something unprecedented. I ask that you do not interfere. That you allow him to make his case. Whatever the outcome, let it be between Jay and Gaea."

  Silence stretched. The Ancient One waited patiently but also determined. She would not back down when it came to her student.

  Finally, the Vishanti spoke. "WE WILL NOT INTERFERE. BUT NEITHER WILL WE PROTECT HIM FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS ACTIONS. IF GAEA REJECTS HIM, THAT IS HIS BURDEN TO BEAR. IF DEATH COMES FOR HIM FOR HIS RESURRECTIONS, THAT IS HIS FATE TO FACE. WE DO NOT FAVOR THOSE WHO DEFY THE NATURAL ORDER LIGHTLY. BUT WE ACKNOWLEDGE HIS INTENT AND DESIRE TO PROTECT"

  The Ancient One bowed again. Deeper this time, as genuine gratitude mixed with relief, "I understand. Thank you, Hoary Hosts. I will convey your judgment to my student. And I will ensure he understands the weight of what he attempts."

  The golden light faded, candles extinguished, and the chamber returned to its normal state.

  The Ancient One stood alone, her heart heavy with worry for her student.

  She offered a quiet prayer to whatever powers might listen.

  "Please look after Jay. He may be troublesome and attempting something beyond his understanding. But he means well. Protect him from his own ambition and guide him toward wisdom."

  Then she left the chamber. There was nothing more she could do. Jay's path was his own now.

  Savage Land Base

  Meanwhile, Jay appeared in the base. The familiar warmth, the sound of the waterfall, the distant calls of prehistoric creatures.

  He needed to prepare. Meeting Gaea, the Elder Goddess of Earth, wasn't something you did on a whim. It required respect, offerings and most importantly, a damn good argument.

  Jay moved to his workspace, a corner of the base filled with books, artifacts, and stolen tech from a dozen different sources. He pulled out a notebook, started sketching.

  The plan was ambitious. Insane, even. But it was necessary.

  Peter's words echoed in his mind. "Why does everyone always need a hero? Why do people get hurt again and again?"

  "Because the world isn't designed to protect people," Jay muttered to himself. "It's designed to test them. Challenge them. Break them. But what if it didn't have to be that way? What if the world could be kinder without being softer? What if people could live without constant fear that one wrong turn, one bad moment, could destroy everything?"

  Jay's hand moved faster, sketching diagrams, writing notes in the margins. He pulled on his meta-knowledge, memories from his past life, stories of how Earth-616 worked, how magic and science intertwined in the Marvel Universe.

  Gaea was the spirit of the Earth itself. The embodiment of life on the planet. If anyone could approve and make this plan possible, it was her.

  But convincing her? That was another matter entirely.

  Jay leaned back, staring at his notes. The framework was there. The logic sound. But the execution? That would require power beyond what he currently possessed.

  Jay closed the notebook, took a deep breath. "Alright, Parker. You asked why people always need saving. Let's see if I can change the whole damn game."

  He stood, snapped his fingers, and teleported.