Marvel: Rebirth Roulette

"What do you think?" I asked, turning around to give her the full view.

Lyra's eyes widened, taking in the transformation. "Earth has some... interesting fashion," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"It's not just about the look," I said, striking a heroic pose. "It's about the function. And the... the... the panache."

Her smile grew, and she stepped closer. "I suppose that's one way to put it."

As we stood there, the energy between us shifted again. The tension was still there, but it was different—less about survival and more about connection. I could feel the heat of her body, the warmth of her breath. It was intoxicating.

And then, as if my subconscious had decided to throw a wrench into the works, I found myself accidentally squeezing her boob. It was a clumsy move, the kind of thing that would normally make a girl slap me across the face. But Lyra... she just blushed. Deep purple spread across her cheeks, and she bit her bottom lip, looking at me with a mix of surprise and something else—desire.

"Well," she murmured, her voice a little shakier than before, "that's a new move."

I blinked, realizing what I'd done. "Sorry," I said, trying to pull away. "I didn't mean—"

But she stopped me with a gentle hand on my chest. "It's fine," she said, her voice low and sultry. "It's been a while since I've been with anyone."

A grin spread across my face. "I didn't know Kree had a thing for humans."

"I don't," she said, her eyes locked on mine. "But I might make an exception."

The air was charged, and the room felt smaller, the walls closing in around us. I could feel the pulse of the city outside, the thrum of life and danger and the promise of adventure. And here I was, in the middle of it all, with a beautiful, powerful alien woman who seemed to see right through me—and liked what she saw.

Lyra took my hand, her grip firm and reassuring. "Come on," she said, her voice low. "I know a place."

And with that, she led me through the winding streets of Knowhere, the neon lights casting her in a rainbow of colors. We arrived at a nondescript door, hidden in the shadows of a building that looked like it was held together by hope and duct tape. She knocked twice, paused, then once more. The door swung open, revealing a dimly lit hallway lined with metal stairs that led down into the bowels of the city.

At the bottom, we found ourselves in a room that looked like a cross between a mechanic's garage and a mad scientist's lab. In the center of it all was a woman—or at least, mostly a woman. Illyana Rasputina was a sight to behold, with cybernetic enhancements that gleamed under the flickering lights. Her eyes were a piercing green, and she had a smile that could melt the coldest of hearts—or freeze them solid, depending on her mood.

"Lyra," she said, her Russian accent thick and alluring. "It's been too long. Who's this?"

"This," Lyra said, pushing me forward, "is Cody."

Illyana looked me up and down, her gaze lingering on my makeshift costume. "Hmm. New blood."

"He's got potential," Lyra said, her voice a low purr. "And he's got a way of... escaping trouble."

Illyana's smile grew. "Ah, I like that. Tell me, Cody, what can you do?"

I swallowed hard, my heart racing. "Well," I said, trying to sound casual, "I can shapeshift and mess with probabilities."

Her eyes lit up. "Interesting. I could use someone with... let's say, flexible talents."

The deal was simple: I'd help her smuggle some tech that was hotter than a supernova, and in return, she'd help us find out more about the bounty on my head. It was risky, sure, but the thrill of it all was too tempting to resist. And with Lyra by my side, I felt like I could take on the galaxy.

The three of us sat around a cluttered table, holographic screens displaying maps and intel. Illyana spoke quickly, her fingers dancing over the screens as she outlined the plan. It was a dizzying array of coordinates and ship specs, but I nodded along, trying to look like I knew what she was talking about.

"So, let me get this straight," I said, my mind racing. "I'm not in the 616?"

"616?" VIX scoffed. "That's the most boring timeline. No, you're in something way more... extra. Welcome to the wild side of the multiverse, Cody."

"But what happened to the X-Men?" I asked, my mind reeling. "What happened to Earth?"

Illyana leaned back in her chair, a smirk playing on her lips. "Oh, the X-Men are still around," she said. "But I had my own... let's call it 'differences of opinion' with Professor X and the gang. And as for Earth, it's still there. Just not my problem anymore."

"But where are we?" I asked again, my voice echoing in the cluttered room. "What universe is this?"

"You're asking the wrong person," VIX said, popping up in a puff of blue light. She took a drag on a nonexistent cigarette, blowing out a plume of digital smoke. "I'm just the system keeping your sorry ass alive, not a cosmic GPS."

"Well, that's just great," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "So I've got no idea where I am, a bounty on my head, and a shapeshifting AI that thinks she's a stand-up comedian."

VIX's smile was infectious, even as it grated on my nerves. "Welcome to the multiverse, darling. It's a wild ride, but you've got the VIP pass. And hey, if you get lost, just remember: you're the guy who can't die."

"Thanks," I said, trying to keep the sarcasm from my voice. "That's super helpful."

Lyra looked at me with narrowed eyes. "Who are you talking to?" she asked, her hand moving to the blaster at her side.

I laughed, trying to play it off. "What blue lady?" I said, feigning ignorance. "You guys are seeing things."

Lyra's gaze narrowed, her hand still hovering over her blaster. "Don't play games with me, Cody," she warned.