CryptoGoat: "The Multiverse Mirror" Part 1
Part 1: Guardians of the Unknown
A Quiet Few Months
It had been months since the intense battle with Goatzilla. Life had taken a much-needed pause for CryptoGoat and Kelly Softmane, giving them time to recover and regroup. Yet, for two adventurers like them, “normalcy” was anything but traditional.
Their “base,” as CryptoGoat liked to call it, was an unassuming brick building nestled on the outskirts of a quiet, fog-covered town in Kelly’s home universe. The building itself was a relic from a long-forgotten era, its cracked façade blending seamlessly with the other abandoned structures around it. From the outside, it looked like a rundown storage unit, but inside, it was a bustling hub of Kelly’s ingenuity.
The first floor served as their living quarters, outfitted with mismatched furniture Kelly had scavenged during her interdimensional jumps. A massive map of the multiverse, with glowing nodes marking their known destinations, covered one wall. The second floor, Kelly’s pride and joy, was her multiversal lab. Here, glowing artifacts from countless timelines floated in stasis chambers, and dozens of monitors tracked subtle ripples in the multiverse.
“You ever think about decorating?” CryptoGoat joked one evening as he lay in a hammock strung between two beams on the second floor, idly twirling his multiversal staff. Designed by Kelly after the Goatzilla encounter, the staff could transform into a variety of weapons: blades, energy rifles, and even tools for unlocking ancient relics.
“I mean, it screams ‘mad scientist,’ but maybe a potted plant or two wouldn’t hurt.”
Kelly glanced up from her monitors, adjusting her glasses. “You’re welcome to try. But last time you brought a plant into this place, it tried to eat us.”
CryptoGoat grinned. “That’s just proof it had good taste.”
Kelly’s Universe and History
Kelly’s home universe, known as Axis-12, was one of the quieter timelines they had visited. Once thriving with advanced technology, it had fallen into decay after a mysterious event called the “Temporal Shift.” The event had fractured the timeline’s progress, leaving entire cities abandoned and covered in an ever-present mist.
Kelly had grown up in one of the surviving settlements, a close-knit community that valued resourcefulness and adaptability. From a young age, she had shown a natural curiosity for the multiverse, often scavenging old tech to tinker with. Her knack for invention eventually led her to uncover relics connected to multiverse travel, setting her on the path that would lead to meeting CryptoGoat.
“I always wondered why I stuck around here,” Kelly said one evening as they prepared dinner. “Axis-12 isn’t exactly the most welcoming place.”
CryptoGoat shrugged. “Maybe it’s the charm of the fog. Or the fact that your gadgets actually work here.”
“Or,” Kelly retorted with a smirk, “maybe it’s because you like my cooking.”
CryptoGoat held up a slice of bread from Gardenia. “I’ll admit, the produce runs help. Nothing beats a tomato that isn’t also trying to start a revolution.”
The Disturbance
The evening started like any other. CryptoGoat was sprawled in his hammock on the second floor, twirling his multiversal staff lazily. Its sleek, futuristic metal gleamed in the dim light of the monitors, and CryptoGoat admired how it shifted subtly with his motions.
“You know,” he said, breaking the silence, “this thing could use a cup holder. Or a built-in smoothie dispenser.”
Kelly, engrossed in her monitors, didn’t look up. “I’ll add it to the list. Right after I finish stabilizing the multiverse.”
CryptoGoat grinned. “Priorities, Kelly. Priorities.”
Without warning, his horns began to glow erratically. The staff immediately shifted into a defensive configuration, its ends elongating into sharp points. CryptoGoat sat up in the hammock, his grin replaced by a serious expression. “Uh, Kelly? Either I’m picking up a ripple, or your machines are about to throw a party.”
Kelly spun in her chair, her eyes narrowing as her screens flashed with activity. “It’s a ripple,” she confirmed, her voice tense. “Stronger than anything we’ve seen recently.”
The air in the room began to vibrate, a low hum growing louder by the second. CryptoGoat stood, gripping the staff firmly as he stepped toward Kelly. “I don’t like uninvited guests,” he muttered.
Before either of them could react, a swirling portal burst open in the corner of the room. The glow it emitted cast long, distorted shadows across the lab, and the pair instinctively took defensive stances.
Two figures stepped through, silhouetted by the light of the portal. As the glow faded, CryptoGoat and Kelly found themselves staring at what could only be described as… human versions of themselves.
Meeting Their Human Counterparts
CryptoGoat raised his staff slightly, its ends shifting into a glowing, electrified configuration. “Okay,” he said slowly, “either the multiverse is playing tricks on us, or I just met myself without horns. Or fur. Or my general goat-ness.”
The man stepped forward with a smirk. “Christopher Gant,” he said casually. “And yeah, you could say the multiverse works in mysterious ways.”
Kelly, standing next to CryptoGoat, kept her eyes on the human woman. “And I’m guessing she’s me?”
The human woman nodded, adjusting her glasses in a familiar motion. “Katherine Sloan. And yes, I’m you. Minus the fur and horns, obviously.”
Kelly’s ears twitched as she tilted her head. “I’ll admit, it’s unsettling seeing myself without horns. How do you even balance properly?”
Christopher chuckled. “We manage. Anyway, we didn’t exactly plan this visit, but we need your help.”
“Let me guess,” CryptoGoat said, lowering his staff but still keeping it in weapon mode. “You’ve got a big problem that only we can solve.”
Katherine nodded. “We’re guarding a group of high-ranking dignitaries from a neighboring galaxy on a diplomatic trip. Our employer—well, they’ll remain nameless for now—needs this mission to succeed. But let’s just say things have gotten… complicated. We’re short on firepower and expertise. And when it comes to saving the day, who better to call than another version of us?”
CryptoGoat grinned. “You’re not wrong there.”
Kelly adjusted her glasses, her curiosity piqued. “What exactly are we up against?”
Christopher’s smirk faded. “Pirates. Mercenaries. And a whole lot of things that don’t want those dignitaries reaching their destination alive.”
CryptoGoat twirled his staff, his grin widening. “Sounds like fun. Count us in.”