If one wished to travel freely across dimensions and space, there were certain rules at least according to Garfield.
First, create a quantum tunnel.
Second, produce enough Pym Particles to stabilize your body between worlds.
Third… well, thousands of other steps, but who was counting?
"Oh, right," Garfield muttered, scratching his head. "All of that is pointless until I get the Cosmic Rubik's Cube."
The Space Stone would break the barrier between universes. The Time Stone would pinpoint the exact timeline.
The Reality Stone… well, Garfield wasn't actually sure where that one was anymore. Somewhere deep underground? Outer space? No way to tell.
"Forget it." He sighed. "Cube first."
Before leaving, Garfield mentally reviewed every instruction he needed to give for the store while he was gone… how to keep the place running, what customers to avoid, and most importantly…
If you ever meet a demon or an angel you can't punch, call for backup. His master, the Ancient One, was his biggest supporter, Mephisto, his biggest problem.
With a flick of his paw, Garfield opened a portal and stepped straight into the Stark Industries laboratory.
Howard Stark was hunched over his drafting table, intensely scribbling blueprints of something that looked… at least to Garfield like a very tall, metallic tree.
Garfield stared for a long moment, trying to make sense of the design. Eventually he gave up.
"Howard, what exactly are you drawing?" He asked.
Howard didn't look up. "Tank transmission."
"The combustion in the engine's internal chamber is inefficient. Too much fuel wasted. Transmission eats energy. Whole thing's a mess."
Garfield blinked. Boredom hit him like a tranquilizer dart.
Howard must've noticed, because he finally set down his pencil and glanced up at the cat sprawled on the high shelf above him.
"My Boss." He asked, "What brings you here this time?"
"First of all, don't call me that," Garfield grumbled. "Second, I'm going on a long trip, so I need to explain some things."
"Long trip?" Howard repeated.
"Eh, not a big deal," Garfield said casually. "Just traveling through time and space to another world."
"But when I come back, I might miss the time anchor by a year or two, so I'm giving you instructions in advance."
Sweat gathered on Howard's temples. His mind filled with a stampede of chaotic thoughts… time travel? time anchors? other worlds?
Humanity was still a few centuries away from even dreaming of that, and here Garfield was speaking as if he were going to the grocery store and reminding Howard not to forget the house keys.
Suddenly, Howard leaped up and grabbed Garfield with sparkling excitement.
"Can I go with you?!"
Garfield stared at him flatly. "Howard… you can't even beat the guard dogs outside the building."
"That's not true! I have technology!"
"Yes," Garfield said dryly, "And Rin has judo. She tossed you like doll last time. You're cannon-fodder."
The memory of being shoulder-thrown by tiny, terrifying Rin made Howard visibly shiver. He slowly sank back into his chair.
"…On second thought," He muttered, "I should stay. There's still a lot of work to finish here."
"Good choice."
"Now this is important, Howard, so listen carefully." Garfield sat upright, tail flicking with authority.
Howard leaned in automatically, when Garfield used that tone, even a genius had to pay attention.
Garfield continued, "So before I leave, there are rules."
"First, you are not allowed to sell weapons to the island nation of Japan. Not even a screw. If Congress pressures you, fine… sell them something at ten times the price, and never in bulk."
"A few planes at most."
Howard blinked. "No production lines either, right?"
"Exactly," Garfield said. "Don't sell them any blueprints. Aircraft parts and rare materials get absurd markups."
"And remember, the aircraft model you give them must have design flaws. Invisible to the naked eye. Perfectly fine for normal use… but completely unreliable in a prolonged, high-intensity war."
Howard's eyes widened. "You want a built-in countermeasure."
Garfield tapped the table approvingly. "Yes. And our aircraft… America's aircraft must have a next-generation model ready to crush them if they decide to wage war on the world."
"Keep the design in your mind and don't write it down."
"And if I need to store it somewhere?"
"Put it in my gold shop," Garfield said with a dismissive wave. "Even if Mephisto himself comes dragging God along, they aren't taking anything from there."
Howard stared at Garfield long and hard. "…You keep mentioning God and Mephisto. What's the story with them?"
Garfield rubbed his chin. After a moment, he sighed, better to explain now than let Howard's curiosity build into a disaster later.
"Fine. A crash course." He raised a paw like a professor.
"'God' the ones people pray to, are basically an extremely advanced group of cosmic beings. Think Odin and Zeus."
"Not humans, just incredibly powerful extraterrestrials who've taken responsibility for protecting Earth. To them, Earth is like a nest of cubs they're sworn to guard."
Howard nodded slowly.
"As for demons," Garfield continued, "They're a race from an entirely different dimension. Their war with angels doesn't happen on Earth, it happens out there, in their own realms."
"Sure, a few angels and demons wander here, but they stick to their own laws and their own order."
Garfield leaned closer. "The important part… humans destroy humans. Not angels and not demons."
"The old treaties between higher beings keep them from interfering directly. So you don't have to worry. It's humanity's own choices."
Howard took all of that in, gears turning rapidly. Garfield could practically see the calculations forming behind his eyes… just like Tony.
Definitely father and son.
"Alright," Garfield said, "Here's your reward."
"When I come back, I'll bring some advanced technology from my travels. Stuff far beyond anything you've seen."
"But only if you follow the plan you made and only if you report to me afterward."
Howard hesitated for a moment, but the promise of future tech tipped the scales. He nodded hard. "Yes."
Garfield lifted his paw. "Then we seal it. You will swear the oath."
"Break it, and the laws of the contract will punish your soul. Possibly hell."
Howard gulped. The magical ring-shaped wand appeared on Garfield's paw, humming with golden light.
With trembling hands, Howard placed his fingers on it and said, "I swear… that I will follow the agreement I made with Garfield. If I break it, I accept the consequences."
"Contract made," Garfield declared.
Two beams of light burst forth… one sinking into Howard's chest, the other into Garfield.
Garfield nodded, tail flicking with satisfaction. "Alright, deal's done. I'm heading out."
He paused mid-step, remembering something important. "Oh, right, Howard. The U.S. won't be in any real wars for the next ten years."
"So rifle orders will stay around ten thousand a year, give or take. Don't bother stressing over it."
"Only ten thousand… a year?" Howard blinked.
Garfield shrugged. "Relax. That's already enough to keep your books neat. What you should focus on are the big projects… aircraft, tanks, cannons, engines. World-changing machines."
He pointed at Howard's chest with one paw. "Real geniuses build the future."
"…That makes sense." Howard let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding.
Garfield continued. "If you're short on money, go to the vault and take whatever you need. It's literally overflowing at this point."
Howard stared at him. "…You're joking, right?"
"Nope." Garfield yawned.
"Before I leave, I'll assign two mages to guard you. They'll keep any supernatural weirdos from interrupting your work."
"When I come back, I'll bring you… something useful."
Howard smiled, the corner of his mouth twitching with relief and confusion. "Goodbye, Garfield."
Garfield gave him a lazy salute with his paw. "Goodbye, Howard. Don't blow up the city while I'm gone."
He stepped out of the Stark Industries laboratory and opened a glowing golden portal.
…
On the other side was Kamar-Taj.
Within minutes he found the Ancient One, sipping tea as if she already knew why he came.
"I need two people," Garfield said. "Preferably ones who don't faint when Howard gets experimental."
The Ancient One smiled. "Consider it arranged."
Two perfectly competent mages approached after being informed.
Garfield explained the mission, poked open a swirling portal in the air, and gestured for them to go through.
"Next stop," Garfield said, stepping through the portal,
"Norway."
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
Phantom your way through a treasure trove of chapters waiting on P@treon!
PhantomDream