Demon King of Time in Marvel

Chapter 20: Temporal Testimony

"Right then," Devon said, surveying the vast space. "Let's see what secrets this place is hiding." He turned to Shuri. "While I look for…specific information, I need you to do something for me. Find their system for classifying timelines and realities. It'll be invaluable for our future travels." And for other… projects.

While Devon could go anywhere through the Keep, there was no classification or system. He just went wherever it took him, so he needed a better method. The Keep with all its knowledge had its own limitations and since he was here, he might as well borrow from them. I ain't telling her that I couldn't be bothered to come up with one.

Shuri nodded, her eyes already scanning the room, taking in the organization of the shelves and the various data storage devices. She quickly located a section labeled "Temporal Cartography and Designation," and began discreetly downloading the relevant data onto a small, innocuous TVA data pad she found on a nearby desk.

Meanwhile, Devon activated his powers. He couldn't risk revealing his personal search, so he focused on scanning for anomalies and inconsistencies within the TVA's records. He closed his eyes, activating [Stasis]. Then, using [Flash Forward], he rapidly skimmed through vast quantities of data, searching for any sign of temporal tampering.

As he sifted through the data, he stumbled upon the thing he was here for: a faint, almost imperceptible echo of a timeline signature that resonated deep within him. It was a fragment of his own timeline, confirming its existence within the TVA's records. Due to jumping from his timeline to the deviant ground and then to the Keep, he never knew his original spacetime coordinate. The Keep couldn't take him somewhere it hadn't gone, so who might know the place other than him?, obviously the TVA. This was the reason for him playing along with TVA, and that he just wanted to have fun.

During his search he found a specific anomaly, a section of time that was completely missing from the records, covering several timelines.

"I think I found something," Devon said to Shuri. "There are several timelines with missing sections. Almost as if they were cut out of the timeline."

Shuri, who had finished downloading the data, walked over to Devon. "That's not good," she said. "If someone is able to do that, it could have serious consequences for the entire multiverse."

They quickly discussed their strategy for the hearing, huddling together in a quiet corner of the Archives, away from the prying eyes of the TVA workers.

"Okay," Devon began, lowering his voice, "here's the plan. We focus on the anomalies. We hammer home the point that the TVA is missing something big. We don't mention the 'Demon King,' Kang, or anything about our origins. Understood?"

Shuri nodded. "Understood. But what about my actions on Aethel? They're going to grill me about that."

"You tell the truth," Devon said. "You acted to save lives. You rerouted power to the shield grid. You prevented a catastrophe. But you avoid any details that could raise further questions. Stick to the facts. Don't speculate. Don't offer explanations beyond what's absolutely necessary."

"And what about you?" Shuri asked, narrowing her eyes. "You're the one who's going to be doing most of the talking. What's your angle?"

Devon gave her a wry smile. "My angle is to be a thorn in their side. I'm going to question everything. I'm going to challenge their authority. I'm going to make them doubt themselves. And most importantly, I'm going to divert their attention away from us and onto the real problem."

"And what's the real problem?" Shuri asked.

"Someone out there has played with time," Devon said, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "And they've done a damn good job of covering their tracks. But I intend to expose them." He paused, his gaze meeting Shuri's. "Just remember, Shuri. No matter what they ask, no matter what they say, we stick to the plan. We don't reveal anything about where we came from, or who we've encountered. Our origins are our secret, for now."

Shuri nodded again, a determined look on her face. She trusted Devon's judgment, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking a very dangerous line.

The vast, circular chamber hummed with barely contained energy. Monitors displaying countless branching timelines flickered on the walls. Judge Renslayer sat behind her imposing desk, her expression as unreadable as ever. B-11 stood beside her, stiff and formal. Shuri stood beside Devon, a knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach.

"Ms. Udaku," Judge Renslayer's amplified voice echoed, "you are accused of creating a Class-7 Nexus Event on Aethel. Do you deny these charges?"

Shuri took a breath. "I do not deny acting on Aethel, Your Honor," she said clearly. "But I acted to prevent a catastrophe. Thousands of lives were at stake."

"The outcome is irrelevant," Renslayer stated flatly. "Any deviation from the Sacred Timeline is a violation. It is the decree of the Time-Keepers."

Devon stepped forward, adjusting his coat. "With respect, Your Honor," he began smoothly, "the prosecution is focusing on a single tree while ignoring the burning forest. My client's actions are a mere ripple in a much larger temporal storm. A storm the TVA seems determined to ignore."

Renslayer raised an eyebrow. "And what storm is that, Mr…?"

"Devon," he supplied. "A storm of temporal anomalies. Look closely, Your Honor." He pressed a button on a small device, and several timeline displays zoomed in, revealing distorted sections, blank areas, and flickering glitches. "What do you see?"

Renslayer and B-11 exchanged a glance. "We see the Sacred Timeline," Renslayer stated.

"Do you?" Devon countered, a subtle smile playing on his lips. "Or do you see a timeline slowly unraveling?" A murmur rippled through the chamber.

B-11 stepped forward, his expression hardening. "These are…irregularities. Within acceptable parameters."

"Are they?" Devon challenged. "Or are they evidence of something far more sinister? I've examined your records, Your Honor. And what I've found is…disturbing. There are gaps, blank spaces where timelines should be. Entire sections of reality simply…missing." He pointed to a large blank area. "This represents the erasure of countless possibilities. And the TVA has no explanation."

"These are pruned timelines," B-11 interjected. "Necessary sacrifices."

"Pruned?" Devon echoed skeptically. "Or erased? There's a difference, Agent B-11. Pruning implies control. This…" He gestured to the distorted timelines. "…this looks like a massacre."

He paced, his gaze sweeping the chamber. "My client acted to save lives. You're prepared to erase her for that, while ignoring these gaping wounds in time."

"The Time-Keepers—" B-11 began.

"Hold it!" Devon interrupted smoothly, raising a hand. "Before we invoke the Time-Keepers, perhaps we should consider whether they're even aware of what's happening here."

Renslayer bristled. "What are you implying?"

"I'm implying," Devon said, lowering his voice, "that someone is manipulating the timeline from behind the scenes. Using the TVA as their pawns. And perhaps," he paused for dramatic effect, "even deceiving the Time-Keepers themselves."

"Objection!" B-11 shouted, his face flushed. "That is an outrageous accusation!"

"I'm merely presenting the evidence," Devon replied calmly. "The anomalies speak for themselves. And the TVA's inability to explain them raises serious questions. Questions that deserve answers." He then projected a highly detailed image of a temporal distortion. "This, Your Honor, is a recent anomaly in Sector Lambda-9. It shows clear signs of deliberate manipulation. And yet, there is no record of any TVA intervention. No explanation. Nothing."

B-11: "Objection! This evidence is…irrelevant!"

Devon: "Irrelevant, Your Honor? Or inconvenient? This evidence directly contradicts the TVA's narrative of maintaining the Sacred Timeline. It proves that something is rotten at the core of this organization."

While Devon argued, Shuri began to understand. The patterns in the anomalies…they weren't random. They suggested a systematic manipulation, a deliberate reshaping of time. It was as if someone was carefully editing the timeline, removing unwanted sections, creating a narrative of their own. She whispered to Devon, "It's not chaos they're preventing. It's control. Someone is controlling the timeline."

Devon gave her a subtle nod, his eyes gleaming. He knew she understood.

"Furthermore," Devon continued, projecting another image, this time of a file with clear signs of tampering, "this file, detailing a previous Nexus Event, has been…altered. Sections have been redacted, key information removed. Who had the authority to do this? And why?"

Renslayer looked increasingly troubled. The murmurs among the TVA workers grew louder.

"The prosecution has presented no concrete evidence linking my client to these anomalies," Devon concluded, his voice ringing through the chamber. "They have focused on a single, isolated incident while ignoring the larger, more pressing issue. They have failed to prove that Ms. Udaku's actions caused any significant disruption to the timeline. In fact, they have failed to prove that the timeline isn't being disrupted by something—or someone—else entirely."

After a tense deliberation, Renslayer addressed the chamber. "The court has considered the evidence. While Ms. Udaku's actions constitute a violation of TVA protocol, the prosecution has failed to establish a direct causal link to the temporal anomalies presented by the defense. Therefore, Ms. Udaku is provisionally cleared. However," she added, her gaze fixed on Devon, "the TVA will launch a full investigation into these anomalies."

Devon offered a polite nod. "Of course, Your Honor. I'm eager to see justice served." He then whispered to Shuri, "Let's get out of this place."

B-11 escorted them back to the portal chamber. Devon subtly activated [Stasis]. Time around him froze. He moved with deliberate speed, lingering near a storage area, seemingly examining some of the strange devices. He casually picked up a small, handheld temporal scanner, a few data pads, and a couple of other small pieces of tech, slipping them into his coat pockets. He then subtly reactivated time, the [Stasis] field dissipating without a trace.

"Find anything interesting?" Shuri asked, noticing he'd been looking at the equipment.

Devon shrugged. "Just some…reference materials," he said with a wry smile. "One never knows when they might come in handy."

As they waited for the portal to open, Devon leaned towards Shuri, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You know," he said, "I was looking through their records earlier. Quite the collection. They even have a file on the Kree-Skrull War. Apparently, it's happened in almost every timeline, with varying outcomes. Some where the Kree won, some where the Skrulls won, some where both were destroyed. But in every single instance, the TVA pruned the timelines where one side or another gained a decisive advantage."

Shuri raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Devon shrugged. "Who knows? Perhaps the TVA are just control freaks. Or maybe they're afraid of what might happen if one side actually won. Perhaps they fear change itself."

The portal shimmered into existence. As they stepped through, Devon added, "By the way, I found something else interesting in there. A record of a timeline that…well, let's just say it looked a lot like where I used to be." He didn't elaborate further, a hint of melancholy in his voice.

They emerged back onto Aethel's docking bay, the vibrant colors and organic forms a welcome contrast to the sterile white of the TVA. Devon turned to Shuri, a determined look on his face. "I have some unfinished business here," he said. "I'll be staying for a while. Feel free to roam around or return to the Keep."

Shuri nodded, understanding the unspoken message. After what she had experienced she needed to build something for her own protection, especially if she decided to stick with the time traveller Devon, who had a strange penchant for causing chaos wherever he went. Is this really what I want? she wondered, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind. Is this the life I want? Constantly running from time cops, uncovering dangerous secrets? But what other choice do I have?

_________________________________________

AETHEL BIOSOLUTIONS UNDERGROUND LAB

Devon entered the lab, a vast space filled with humming machinery, tubes, and various sealed containers.

DEVON: I assume my project was completed?

LYRA: Yes, Lord Devon. The box you gave had enough of a sample to recreate, There are minor alterations—, primarily cosmetic—but the reconstruction is complete.

DEVON: May I take it now?

LYRA: Certainly. Would you require transport?

DEVON: No, thank you.

A shimmering gate opened. Devon took the container through it. Time to see if this… gamble… pays off.

DEVON: Thank you, Director. You've been most helpful. More than you know.

_________________________________________