"Some questions about the timeline."
Kevin leaned against the counter, looking at OB, who was sitting on the floor fiddling with parts, and voiced the questions in his mind.
OB asked in surprise:
"Timeline? What problems could the Sacred Timeline possibly have?"
"Not the Sacred Timeline, but time branches. If there was such a world, where its timeline began to become chaotic, giving birth to various different parallel universes, but these parallel universes then began to disintegrate due to mutual collision… What should I do to save these parallel universes that are about to disintegrate?"
"Wow…"
OB exclaimed in surprise upon hearing this:
"Parallel universes disintegrating, that sounds like a terrible thing, but you don't have to worry, the Sacred Timeline won't have the problems you mentioned."
"I know, I know, that's why I said it's a hypothesis, a hypothesis… If there's no Sacred Timeline, and the problem of time disintegration appears, what should I do?"
The Sacred Timeline, constrained by the Temporal Incremental Device, can prevent too many time branches from appearing and thus colliding.
And the Time Variance Authority can also restore the stability of the Sacred Timeline by pruning time variants.
This is certainly one way to handle it.
But unfortunately, Kevin's world has no Time Variance Authority or Sacred Timeline.
They are like rivers flowing in the void, unrestrainable, and there's no way to restrain them.
Moreover, the method of forcibly leaving only one timeline and eliminating all other timelines does not suit Kevin's wishes, which is why he is here looking for a solution.
Facing Kevin's question, OB answered very decisively:
"Then create a Sacred Timeline, just like the Time Keepers did!"
"But… What if it can't be done?"
"Can't be done… Oh, you've stumped me with that question."
OB pondered for a moment, put down his work, and began to think:
"If, as you say, timelines are colliding and disintegrating, and there's no Sacred Timeline, then the best way to stop them from continuing to disintegrate is to prevent them from colliding."
"How?"
"Create a Restraint Device, a device that can constrain the direction of timelines and restore them from ordered to disordered."
"Yes! That's it!!"
Seeing that OB quickly came up with a solution, Kevin was overjoyed and quickly said:
"Can you make this Restraint Device? Even if it's just a miniaturized prototype?"
Kevin also knew that it would probably be impossible for OB to create a Restraint Device capable of constraining several timelines.
After all, Kevin had personally witnessed how vast a timeline is.
The materials and time required to create a device that can constrain timelines would be incalculable.
But it doesn't matter, Kevin doesn't need OB to actually complete an entire timeline Restraint Device; he only needs him to make a prototype, a complete prototype including all details.
Kevin can then figure out how to copy it, enlarge it, and then constrain the timelines!
Thinking of this, Kevin couldn't help but sigh, the Time Variance Authority is indeed the Time Variance Authority, he didn't come to the wrong place; in less than a day, he had gotten a solution from OB.
However, Kevin soon realized that he was celebrating a bit too early.
Because OB answered very simply and decisively: "Sorry, I can't make it."
"?"
The smile on Kevin's face froze, and he looked at OB in astonishment.
OB said naturally:
"I haven't seen a timeline collapse, and even if I had, because timelines are different, it would take me a very long time to create the relevant device…"
"Time is not the problem! The most crucial point is that you haven't seen it, right? Good, give me your hand!"
Kevin extended his hand to OB.
OB, not quite understanding, took his hand and asked in confusion:
"What are you going to do?"
"Take you to see a timeline collapse."
Kevin spoke frankly.
Since the current problem is that OB hasn't seen a timeline collapse, why doesn't Kevin just take him to see one?
Kevin is already able to use magic in The Boys world, and with his experience of traveling between worlds with Hughie, he can enter that void filled with different timelines even without Hughie's help.
So Kevin can completely take OB to his universe for a tour and witness the disintegration of timelines.
Perhaps that will inspire OB to create the corresponding Restraint Device.
"Although I am indeed curious what time disintegration looks like… but in the Time Variance Authority, your rash time-traveling behavior would violate regulations."
Seeing Kevin about to take him, OB reminded him with concern.
The Time Variance Authority cannot tolerate actions that disrupt the timeline, especially since Kevin is an agent; if he does this, it would be a case of knowingly breaking the law, making the offense even worse.
He would then face very severe penalties.
But upon hearing OB's reminder, Kevin just smiled at him:
"It's okay, the Time Variance Authority can't control me. Get ready, we're leaving."
Could the Time Variance Authority, no matter how capable, really control another completely different universe?
Joking, if the Time Variance Authority really had such great power, it wouldn't have been so overwhelmed by the time stealth force in the end, needing Loki to save the day.
Getting ready, grabbing OB, Kevin closed his eyes, preparing to return to The Boys Universe.
Only…
One second, two seconds… A full dozen seconds passed, and the surrounding scenery remained unchanged.
Kevin opened his eyes blankly, looking at the scene in the repair department, stunned for a long time before muttering:
"No… this isn't right, this shouldn't be…"
"I think you probably don't know that the Time Variance Authority has magic and superpower inhibitors?"
OB cautiously leaned over and asked.
Kevin said irritably:
"I know, of course I know, but…"
The ability to travel to other universes shouldn't be prohibited by the Time Variance Authority.
After all, this doesn't even belong to the same system!
But then again, if the Time Variance Authority can prohibit Kevin's magic, perhaps it really does have a way to prohibit Kevin's travel… No, no, no, that's not right!
Kevin, unable to return to his world, was almost led astray by OB.
It wasn't the Time Variance Authority that made Kevin's magic and superpowers ineffective.
It was Loki!
And the person who is now preventing Kevin from returning is also Loki!!
Aside from Loki, who is already sitting on the Story God's throne, Kevin couldn't think of anyone else with such great power to isolate a power system that doesn't belong to the Marvel Universe!
Loki wants Kevin to stay here.
Understanding this crucial point, Kevin silently released OB's hand and said to him:
"…Alright, it looks like I can't take you to see it, but I'll draw it for you then. You just help me figure out what to do, this is very important… Thank you!"
Kevin originally wanted to tell OB that he would be handsomely rewarded once the task was done.
But after thinking about it, he didn't know what OB wanted, and besides, Kevin was currently trapped in the Time Variance Authority, unable to return to The Boys, and his magical abilities were sealed, leaving only his physical fitness and combat skills.
With only these remaining, saying he would be handsomely rewarded after the task was done… was a bit unreliable.
So he simply didn't make any promises, just kept it in his heart, and when OB really completed it later and Kevin regained his original strength, he would then help OB accomplish something Kevin could do.
Although OB was asked by Kevin, and it was an unpaid request, he wasn't angry at all; instead, he smiled and said:
"Sure, it'll be good for passing the time when I'm bored, but you'll come over often in the future, right?"
"Of course!"
"That's great, finally someone will come down to chat with me."
OB said happily.
It's just that Kevin felt a bit strange hearing that.
What does 'come down to chat with me' mean? It sounds like we're all dead…
Muttering to himself, Kevin didn't say it out loud. After returning a smile to OB, he left the repair department.
…
Asking OB to create a Time Restraint Device is not something that can be completed overnight, and during this time, Kevin will have to stay and work at the Time Variance Authority.
Originally, Kevin should have been wandering around the universe at this time, but now he was trapped here.
As an employee of the Time Variance Authority, he couldn't leave the Time Variance Authority casually without a mission.
Even with a mission, he couldn't stay on a timeline for too long, otherwise it would cause time branches.
So Kevin found himself idle for a while, spending his days reading the agent handbook given by Mobius to learn how to become a successful Time Variance Authority agent.
Then he fell into a state of idleness.
Don't let the Time Variance Authority's daily work fool you, even without proper holidays, they actually don't have much work.
Taking Kevin himself as an example, if a day is calculated as twenty-four hours, Kevin, when not on a mission, barely has to do anything.
You just need to stay at your workstation.
Aside from no salary and limited entertainment options, a job at the Time Variance Authority is truly a dream job for many.
However, even the most leisurely times come to an end.
Just as Kevin was idly making paper airplanes from documents on his desk, a round, orange clock jumped out of the TemPad next to him.
The clock was entirely orange, cartoonish in style, with two adorable large eyes and two black line arms with small white gloves.
It… or rather, she, was Miss Minutes, the Time Variance Authority's artificial intelligence, possessing self-awareness and wisdom, managing all of the Time Variance Authority's electronic files and archives, as well as the operation of some important equipment.
It sounds quite normal.
However, this individual is actually a yandere obsessed with Kang.
Yes, you heard that right; this cute, mascot-like artificial intelligence is a yandere madly in love with Kang!
Don't let her normal appearance now fool you; Kevin can never forget Miss Minutes's behavior when she confessed her love to the inventor, Kang, in the second season of "Loki."
But thankfully, as long as Kang isn't involved, Miss Minutes is a very normal Time Variance Authority assistant, helping agents and Hunters search for time variants.
"Kevin, you have a job."
As soon as the adorable Miss Minutes jumped out, she spoke to Kevin.
Then, a cartoon-like folder appeared to her right, and that folder unfolded right in front of Kevin:
"Hunter Squad F-13 lost track of a time variant; he has now entered a special time node, causing a time branch.
You now need to search for his whereabouts and apprehend him before he causes more time branches.
"Oh, and by the way, if necessary, you can directly prune him. You know what to do, Kevin."
"Yes, I understand.
So, this is the information on this time variant?"
Kevin pointed at the folder nearby and asked.
Miss Minutes smiled:
"That's right.
I'll send the complete file to your TemPad later.
Good luck with your first mission, Kevin."
As Miss Minutes spoke, she transformed the file into an orange sphere and 'threw' it into Kevin's TemPad.
Immediately afterward, she transformed into a yellow comet again and disappeared from Kevin's sight.
"Going on a mission? Congratulations."
After Miss Minutes left, Mobius walked over with juice and congratulated Kevin.
Kevin reviewed the file and simultaneously asked Mobius:
"As a veteran of the Authority, do you have any advice?"
Kevin just asked casually, mainly to bond with Mobius, hoping that when Loki arrived at the Time Variance Authority, Mobius could take him along to investigate the 'Loki' time variant.
Mobius sat on Kevin's desk, thought for a moment, and then said:
"My advice is, don't be soft-hearted."
"Only that?"
"Yes, only that.
Don't think this advice seems useless, but in reality, many Hunters have let time variants escape due to soft-heartedness, causing greater disasters."
As Mobius said this, his voice became a bit heavier.
This was no joke; issues involving time variants were extremely serious.
Any soft-heartedness or hesitation would cause a greater disaster on the Sacred Timeline.
What Kevin was about to do was lead an entire squad to capture a time variant.
If he hesitated at a crucial moment, then the time-hunting squad he led would be harmed.
Even himself.
Nodding slightly, Kevin indicated that he had listened to Mobius's words, then took out the file Miss Minutes had given him and began to read it.
Fortunately, the time variant Kevin needed to deal with this time was not someone he was familiar with from the Marvel Universe.
This person was just a corporate executive who would have a very good life in the future, marrying his childhood sweetheart after many years of love, and finally dying surrounded by his children and grandchildren.
According to the normal trajectory, it was supposed to be like this.
But this time variant, for some unknown reason, didn't go to work when he should have, causing the timeline to change.
Not only was his future altered, but a series of chain reactions would also lead to many casualties.
Anyway, that's what the file said; as for whether it was true, Kevin didn't know.
And the important part was what happened afterward.
The Hunters had originally sent people to apprehend him, but for some unknown reason, that squad had an accident, allowing the person to escape.
Now, that time variant was still wandering around on that mutated timeline; if not controlled, this time branch would grow longer and longer.
It could even affect the Sacred Timeline.
For this reason, the Time Variance Authority had to dispatch agents to pursue him.
Understanding the person's file, Kevin picked up his TemPad and led the hunting squad to the year 2011, where the person was located.
The year 2011 on the Sacred Timeline.
At this point, there was still one year left until the Avengers were established.
"The place where that person disappeared is right here."
The Hunter who came with Kevin, named D-16, was a bearded white male.
These Hunters had no names; they were designated by code names, with experienced Hunters serving as captains.
D-16 was the captain of this squad.
Now, he was under Kevin's command.
"He can't have gone too far.
Check for traces of time residue nearby, and also prepare the Time Trimmer.
Don't let too many people see us."
Kevin issued commands very skillfully.
With the Time Variance Authority's manual, as long as one thoroughly read its contents, even an ordinary person could become a qualified Time Variance Authority agent.
To put it simply… this agent manual was too foolproof, or rather, Time Variance Authority agents had too few responsibilities.
He didn't even have an exam!
It seemed as if anyone created by the Time Keepers and assigned to this position could become a qualified agent!
Anyway, that's how Kevin felt right now.
There was no technical skill involved at all; it was almost like playing a game.
Regardless of what Kevin was thinking, the Hunters who came with him were diligently carrying out the tasks he assigned.
The four Hunters, including D-19, quickly analyzed the nearby time traces to pinpoint the escaping variant.
With the support of the Time Variance Authority's technology, everyone quickly found the place where the variant had escaped and hidden.
An unfinished, abandoned building.
It was nighttime now, and the unfinished building was pitch black inside, making it impossible to see clearly.
Kevin tentatively used his perception ability to sense everything inside the building but received only a hazy sensation.
After leaving the Time Variance Authority, most of Kevin's magical abilities had been unlocked; aside from being unable to return to his original world, his other abilities were unaffected.
This proved that Kevin's previous inability to use magic was indeed the Time Variance Authority's fault.
It also proved that his inability to travel through dimensions was indeed Loki's fault.
But now was not the time to talk about these things.
With Kevin's perception ability, let alone an unfinished building, even a small town, if he wanted to, he could perceive everything within it in meticulous detail.
But now, he felt a hazy sensation from this unfinished building.
This indicated that something was wrong here.
"Be careful; I feel something strange."
Because he didn't want Kang to know about his special existence, Kevin couldn't display his special abilities in front of the Time Variance Authority personnel and could only subtly warn them.
Fortunately, Kevin's current status was relatively high; although the Hunters didn't understand why Kevin said this, they still agreed and began to cautiously approach the unfinished building.
The unfinished building was pitch black inside, like the wide-open maw of a monster, as if it would swallow everything that entered.
Kevin watched as two Hunters walked inside, vigilantly scanning his surroundings, preventing any sneak attacks.
And it was at this moment—
"Ahhh!!!"
A shrill scream came from inside the unfinished building, and the two Hunters who were originally within Kevin's sight instantly vanished!
And in the instant those two Hunters disappeared, Kevin keenly caught a glimpse of light.
A trace… of green light, which he now found quite annoying.