Chapter ten:
"For example, how many universe's do you know where Peter Parker is Spider-Man or was Spider-Man in the past? Contrast that with the other non Peter Parker versions of Spider-Man. Very, few right? That's me influencing fate to go down different paths and influence different people. It takes a lot of experimentation, heck having Miles Morales take up the mantle was a change, although Gwen Stacy was the most difficult.
Surpringly, it was easier to have a radioactive pig bite a spider and become Spider-Ham than to have Gwen Stacy become Spider-Woman. Lately, instead of creating new universes I've been having fun sending souls from the stable earth back into different Marvel Universe's, it's been so much fun seeing what changes that make to fate. So many new histories and new variations of fate to study. Anyway, perpetuating our own existence, that is just a happy side effect of what we do. Not that we ever die, which makes propagation unnecessary, but it's nice to have others to spend time with. As long as they don't fall to the Klyntar, that is.
So much information crashed down on Travis all at once. One thing he definitely felt should be clarified first though. "Klyntar?"
"Yes, they are the reason we must study life in addition to fate. The Klyntar that are those black slimly things that occur when you create life without intending to and leave things to their natural progression. They are what they are and we need to find out why. Why are they the natural progression of life? I've seen life be amazing and wonderful, also just as dark as those things, but if that's the natural progression of things then it begs the question."
"I'm sorry, but you said something about falling to them?" Travis asked, trying to get the old man back on topic. It seemed as though Jack was a bit of a scatterbrain.
"Oh, right. It's a terrible thing, really;. Seen several of ours fall to them. In order for it to happen, you do nothing until they completely overwhelm your entire being or you get attacked and absorbed by one that's already fallen. Thankfully, you stopped them in time, so at least you won't be falling the natural way." Jack bends down to Travis's ear, as if he's telling him a secret. "Between you and me, I suspect" The Presence, as he calls himself, has been on the verge of falling several times now. It would explain why DC is so much darker than Marvel."
He stands up straight again. Clears his throat and continues. "Moving on, those who fall completely become something like the Anti-Origin at that point, I suppose you could just call them the Enders. It's one of the other reasons we increase our numbers, besides company, because they're the only way we die, or rather consumed by them. It's not really death per'se, it's really just becoming a part of them. We could also consume them, helps us grow stronger and quicker, but it's an unstable way and makes it easier for the Klyntar to propagate in each universe you create. No, I always say, the only way to become stronger is to steadily create more universe's. Each universe you create is an increase in your strength out here."
"Wait, aren't I strong already?"
"Well, not out you're not. Why do you think I'm with you? Other than you technically being my actual son, your original soul from earth I created after all, I have to say with you until I'm confident that you can survive. Don't get me wrong, you're perfectly omnipotent in your own universe's and chaos of creation, but out here, you're just one of many. In fact, if you were to visit one of my universe's as you are, you'd be as weak as, say, the Incredible Hulk. Sure, you're able to survive most things, but you're not going to be snuffling out galaxies with a sneeze or anything either, much less able to destabilize any of my universe's."
"What?"