"Okay," Tony breaks the tense silence, "I've seen some weird stuff, but cultists appearing in my lab calling the kid a god? That's new."
"Be silent, mortal," the lead Esoterica speaks without taking his eyes off me. "You stand in the presence of divinity reborn."
Emma's mental presence wraps around mine protectively. 'Their belief is... absolute. I've never felt devotion this intense.'
"HULK SMASH WEIRD ROBE PEOPLE?" Banner's alter ego asks hopefully.
"Not yet," I manage, trying to process this situation. The Ultimatrix continues pulsing, Dagon's power resonating with their presence in ways that make reality itself shiver.
"My lord," the leader continues, still kneeling, "we have waited millennia for your return. The signs were clear - reality itself bends to acknowledge your rebirth."
Thor's grip on Mjolnir tightens. "Be careful how you address my friend, servants of ancient power."
"You dare-" one of the Esoterica starts, but their leader raises a hand for silence.
"The prophecy spoke of this," he says, his voice carrying that particular tone of absolute certainty that makes my skin crawl. "Our lord would walk among lesser beings, wearing mortality like a cloak, gathering powerful allies to his cause."
Loki steps forward, his expression carrying dangerous amusement. "And what cause would that be?"
The leader finally looks up, and his eyes...
The leader's eyes glow with an unnatural light as he responds to Loki. "The great reshaping, of course. Our lord's divine plan to-"
"How did you even get here?" I interrupt, not wanting to hear whatever cosmic destiny they've cooked up. "This isn't even your universe."
"We followed your divine resonance, great one," the leader answers with reverent enthusiasm. "When you wielded your true power in that other reality, we felt it across all existence. Then, moments ago, we sensed the connection fluctuate - a bridge between realities that we could traverse."
Emma's mental voice carries sudden understanding. 'The communicator. When we contacted Ben's universe, it must have created a path they could follow.'
"You used our interdimensional call as a gateway?" Tony asks, his scientific curiosity momentarily overriding the absurdity of the situation.
"The technology merely provided a path," another Esoterica speaks up. "It was our lord's power that called to us, that drew us here across the void."
"Great," I mutter. "So now we have universe-hopping cultists. Because today wasn't complicated enough."
"My lord jests," the leader says with absolute conviction. "Your mortal guise is most convincing, but we know the truth. We have always known."
Thor steps closer to me, lightning crackling subtly around Mjolnir. "And what truth would that be?"
The leader rises slowly, his expression carrying centuries of absolute certainty. "That our lord chose this form, this time, this place - all for a purpose that spans realities themselves."
The Ultimatrix pulses in response to their presence as the leader extends his hand:
"The time has come, great one. Your faithful await your command."
"Look," I say firmly, "I'm not your lord, or your god, or whatever cosmic being you think I am. I just have the Ultimatrix - it lets me transform into different forms, including Dagon."
The leader's expression shifts to something almost pitying. "No mere device could replicate our lord's divine power. Even this remarkable transformation tool we see upon your wrist - it is but a means you chose to understand mortal might."
"He's telling the truth," Emma steps forward. "He's not who you think-"
"How dare you speak for our lord?" One of the Esoterica hisses, stepping forward aggressively. "What right does a mortal have to-"
"She's my girlfriend," I snap, anger flaring at their tone. "So watch how you speak to her."
Emma's mental presence carries both amusement and irritation. 'My hero. Though I could have frozen his mind for that tone.'
The Esoterica freeze, their hostile posture shifting to confusion. The leader studies Emma with newfound interest.
"Our lord has chosen a mortal companion?" he muses, seeming genuinely surprised. "This was not foreseen in the prophecies... Yet if our divine master has selected her..."
'Well, this is awkward,' Emma sends privately. 'Apparently I'm dating someone's god.'
'Not helping,' I return mentally.
"The prophecies speak only of our lord's return," another Esoterica whispers uncertainly. "This choice of companionship..."
"Then clearly," their leader declares with renewed conviction, "this too is part of his design to understand mortality completely. Even in matters of the heart..."
"That's not what's happening here," I protest, while Emma's mental voice carries dry humor: 'At least they're not trying to smite me anymore.'
"Your memories have not yet returned," their leader speaks with absolute certainty. "You wish to experience all aspects of mortal existence before reclaiming your divine awareness. Even this unexpected choice serves your greater purpose."
Thor's grip on Mjolnir tightens. "The boy speaks truth. He is not-"
"Peace, warrior," the leader raises a placating hand. "We understand now. Until our lord's memories return in their own time, we shall serve faithfully. We shall watch, we shall wait, we shall protect."
'Great,' Emma sends. 'Now we have stalker cultists. Your dating profile just gets more interesting by the day.'
"But I'm not-" I try again.
"Your divine wisdom knows best," the leader bows. "We shall withdraw until you have completed this phase of your grand design. But know that your faithful stand ready, whenever you have need of us."
The Esoterica begin to fade from sight, their leader's final words echoing:
"We shall always be watching, always waiting, for the moment you awaken..."
As the Esoterica fade completely, Tony breaks the stunned silence:
"So... that happened. Anyone else need a drink? Because I definitely need a drink."
"HULK CONFUSED. SHIFTER GOD NOW?"
"Not helping," I mutter, feeling Emma's mental presence shift between amusement and concern.
'Well,' she sends privately, 'at least they didn't try to sacrifice anyone to you. Though the day's still young.'
Loki studies the space where the cultists vanished, his expression calculating. "Interesting that they could sense your use of Dagon's power across realities. More interesting that they're so certain of your... divine nature."
"They're wrong," I state firmly. "I just have access to that form. I'm not actually-"
"Of course not," Thor interrupts supportively. "Though perhaps we should discuss the implications of having interdimensional worshippers who think otherwise."
"Already on it," Tony calls from his screens. "JARVIS, start a new file: 'How to Deal with Your Friend's Unexpected Cult.' Subtitle: 'A Superhero's Guide to Unwanted Worship.'"
"Very good, sir. Shall I include cross-references to historical deity manifestations?"
"Not. Helping." I glare at both of them.
"This is fan-fucking-tastic," I begin as I go to the frigde and get myself some soda, "Thought of as a bloody god, when I don't even acknowledge imperfect beings as gods..."
Emma approaches me as a I drink the glass, and set it down, her hand finds mine as her mental presence steadies despite her obvious amusement. 'Look on the bright side - at least we know why the Ultimatrix was so insistent about keeping that form.
Apparently, you can't just delete god powers without some... enthusiastic feedback.'
"The question remains," Loki muses, "what exactly triggered their appearance now? Beyond the obvious interdimensional communication."
Thor nods thoughtfully. "Indeed. Why not appear when you first gained the power? Were they unable to?"
"Maybe because..." I start, then freeze as a horrible thought hits me. "Oh no."
"What?" Several voices ask simultaneously.
"They said they'd be watching," I manage. "Waiting for me to 'awaken.' Which means..."
'They're going to be following our every move,' Emma finishes mentally. 'Waiting for any sign of their lord's "divine awareness" returning.'
"Exactly how many cultists are we talking about?" Tony asks, already pulling up new screens.
"Enough to make dating really awkward," I mutter, earning a mental laugh from Emma.
"HULK SMASH STALKER PEOPLE IF THEY BOTHER FRIENDS!"
"Maybe let's not smash the reality-hopping cultists," I suggest quickly. "At least not until we figure out exactly what we're dealing with."
"Well," Loki grins with that particular expression that usually means trouble, "this should be entertaining."
Just another normal day of dealing with cosmic powers, interdimensional communication, and unexpected religious followers.
I really need to start keeping a diary of this stuff.
Though I suppose my new "faithful" are probably already doing that for me.
Great.