October 2040- New York, Earth 7-2

Asche stood in the safe house for what he considered a long time. It was in reality only three to four minutes but more than enough time for Davion to have had someone show up, by his calculations. Asche then worked a Great Obscuring in the entire area which would remove and cloak he and his new friends signatures from reality. No one working any kind of scry or augery would see anything more than the here and now. He spared no power in this exercise.

Regarding power Asche was having an existential crisis. How powerful was Davion and would it be possible for the man to overcome Asche should it come to a power play? This was more than just a passive exploratory wandering for Asche now. The moment Davion contacted him he knew True Earth and 14-35 were at risk. There was no room for power plays; Asche had to flex and exercise his right to power even using the 16th Incarnate where suspicion told of need. If he could help it Asche was not going to risk his homes and his people, friends, and company. There was simply too much to lose now.

So it was with a reluctance that Asche reached into the reserves the 16th Incarnate had for him. Mentally, he worded the 15 Truenames of the other Incarnates and then the Name he had given the 16th. His skin tingled with the influx of power but he simply held the power, readied it and reached out with his own Farsense. He felt for the signature of Davion and the dark hole he made in the pattern of probability. Asche knew he was there, somewhere. The 16th had already told him that fact but it did not point to where. All Asche wanted to do was locate the man at this point but he was obviously not hesitant to flex his own power to cloak himself. Since Asche knew he was there somewhere but avoiding passive detections he decided to push it himself.

In his minds eye there was a blip. A point in space that resonated with the signature in question. But now, if he had the power to do so, Davion knew where Asche was too. Without a second thought Asche Folded to Davion. Materializing within Davion's stronghold, Asche's presence defied the intricate barriers designed to thwart intruders. The Fold, a technique borrowed from the Sidhe and refined through his own mastery, had brought him here - a domain where few dared to tread. The air crackled with a charged silence, the kind that precedes a storm, as he adjusted to the new surroundings.

Davion's lair, a fortress of secrets and power, was a marvel of advanced technology and arcane mystique. Walls lined with shimmering energy fields, screens displaying streams of data that seemed to dance with a life of their own, and devices whose purposes were known only to their creator.

Asche stood still, his senses expanding, reaching out to the furthest corners of the stronghold. He knew that Davion, with his keen intellect and formidable abilities, would sense his arrival. This was not a stealth mission; it was a direct challenge, a confrontation long in the making.

The energy barriers, designed to deter teleportation, rippled around Asche, their purpose subverted by his manipulation of the flux energies. He stood there, an uninvited enigma, ready to face whatever Davion had in store. The reserves of power lent to him by the 16th Incarnate hummed within him, reinforcing his resolve. His will, sharpened by eons of existence and countless battles, was unyielding.

Asche's eyes, ageless and wise, scanned the room for Davion. He was prepared for dialogue or combat, whichever the situation necessitated. The atmosphere was heavy with anticipation, the outcome of this encounter poised to ripple across realities.

The silence stretched, a tangible entity in the room, until finally, it was broken by the sound of footsteps. Davion emerged from the shadows, his expression a mix of surprise and intrigue. "Asche Lonn," he said, his voice calm but carrying an undercurrent of respect and caution. "To what do I owe this unexpected visit?"

Asche's response, measured and resolute, echoed in the chamber, "Davion, we have much to discuss. The fate of our realities hangs in the balance." His stance was non-aggressive yet assertive, a reflection of his readiness for a peaceful resolution or a decisive battle.

Davion looked nonplussed at this sudden arrival into his sanctum. The man was not used to something happening in his presence without his consent or request. “I guess it’s easier to ask forgiveness than to ask for permission, aye Asche? After you already undermined one of my teams and done who knows what to our continuity.”

The room was filled with computer what looked like advanced technology servers and drives and Asche could feel the power pulsing through the systems. This was Davions last hold, the place where no one save himself has ever been, and he was concerned. Asche could sense his unease and irritation at this breach of security. Asche remained quiet a moment as Davion digested his thoughts. Then with a slight smile Asche said; “I should apologize perhaps but what is done is done. I am not here to talk about the past, it’s the future that hangs in the balance right now.”

Asche moved with a deceptive ease, each step bridging the gap between him and Davion, a predator closing in on its prey. Meanwhile, Davion's furtive glances towards the equipment scattered around the room betrayed their significance, his thoughts inadvertently revealing more than he intended.

"You seem to have cornered me, Asche," Davion admitted, a rare note of concession in his voice. "Here, in this sanctum, I am at a disadvantage. You've managed to catch me off guard, relying on what appears to be sheer luck. It's almost ironic, isn't it? In a place where I bend the will of chance, it's luck that undermines me."

Davion's composure was beginning to fray, the realization of his mortality dawning on him in the face of this unexpected intrusion. Asche, ever analytical, took a moment to absorb the gravity of the situation. He understood now that Davion seldom frequented this room, and yet, it was the heart of his empire – the hub of a system that gave him the power to twist probability and manipulate global events.

Asche contemplated the improbability of his discovery. Without a struggle, he had stumbled upon the very core of Davion's power. He remembered the 16th Incarnate's ability to alter probabilities, a power he had not consciously considered invoking. Yet, perhaps, the Incarnate orb had sensed his need and acted subconsciously. The dynamics had shifted unexpectedly. Asche had anticipated a clash of titanic forces, but now found himself in an advantageous position he had not foreseen, a twist of fate that altered the course of their confrontation.

Coming to within ten feet of Davion and placing himself on alert for any mental attack the man might try, Asche stopped and began speaking with as much understanding and feeling of sympathy as he could muster. He needed Davion to understand his perspective.

“I know you’ve been trying to control me since I arrived Davion, please stop and focus your concentration on my words. I am not here to destroy anyone’s world, quite the opposite actually. I came to this world out of curiosity only. It was when I noticed works from my world were copied here and had been made simulacra that I took notice. This is not to say however that I did not notice that the Company I formed was being used for domination and not for subtle control. After that I could not help but get involved.”

Asche led the conversation this way on purpose. He wanted to make Davion see that the idea of copying Pax Concordat was ill conceived from it’s birth. “I cannot bear the thought that it was being made and used for something virtually opposite of it’s original form. That is where you went wrong Davion, because I would have simply left you to your own devices in any other matter. “

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Asche took a moment to memorize this locations signature to ensure his return should Davion succeed in trying to teleport him away. Davion was trying everything he could think of and Asche was beginning to think that using the Incarnate was overkill. He became instantly glad he was no longer restricted by the Prantic code of the Paramanders any longer; only using reasonable force often made things drag out in such horrible ways. He even thought it might have saved Davion’s life.

Davion recalled his focus and began reinforcing his own mental defenses. He though better of calling for backup because a confrontation in this room had too much a chance of causing collateral damage. “Your original purpose of coming here has changed has it not? Your plan was not to find this place. Now what, I am at such a disadvantage I can hardly think straight. Make your demands and please, begone.”

“Very well.” Asche replied. “I will not accept anything less than your complete withdrawal from any thought about finding my Earth. Just as you favor this Earth I do mine. I presume that you were able to avert some catastrophe on this Earth and it shouldn’t even be but that’s for you and Paradox to figure out. I applaud your power to save lives but you need to stop doing at the expense of other lives. Find a method to divert the energies to tangent timelines if you must but for your sake, don’t continue as you are.”

Davion interrupted the thought process, Asche could sense his turmoil via his surface thoughts and stopped. “You doom this Earth then and the work you’ve done will be as nothing.”

Asche reflected a moment.

“Let me help you in finding a method then. Together we can survive.” Asche looked around at the servers and their odd link to temporal and spatial energies. “I will leave the equipment alone thus not leaving you powerless. “

“Right now I think you are making a mistake in trusting me; when I have had time to adjust, how am I to accept there is a power I could not undo and channel for my own benefit?” Davion was remarkably cognizant of his plight and forthright in his musings.

“Just be glad were on the same side and acknowledge that there is always something beyond you.” Asche let that sink in, then continued, “Shall we start by reprogramming your systems to stop channeling entropic energy, then we can see what we can do to save your planet.”

Davion hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. The prospect of working alongside Asche, a being of such immense power and mystery, was both daunting and oddly compelling. He nodded slowly, his decision made more out of necessity than choice. "Very well, Asche. I will cooperate. But know this: my commitment to this Earth is unwavering. Any action we take must ensure its survival."

Asche acknowledged Davion's resolve with a nod. "Understood. Our first step is to recalibrate your systems. We need to redirect the entropic energies, minimize the collateral damage to the surrounding timelines. It’s a delicate process, but together, we can achieve it."

Together, they approached the central computer console, a nexus of flickering lights and pulsating energy were projected from various Holo vid displays. Asche's hands hovered over the interface, his fingers tracing patterns in the air, manipulating the streams of data with an almost ethereal grace. Davion watched, a mix of awe and apprehension in his eyes, as Asche began the intricate task of reprogramming the systems.

"Your technology is advanced, Davion, but it lacks a certain... finesse," Asche commented, his focus unwavering. "The power you wield is raw, untamed. It needs to be channeled more precisely, more... judiciously."

Davion bristled slightly at the critique but said nothing. He understood that Asche's expertise was unparalleled, his knowledge spanning realities and eons. If anyone could refine his systems, it was Asche.

As they worked, the air around them thrummed with energy, the very fabric of reality bending to their combined will. Streams of data flowed and intertwined, forming complex patterns that glowed with a strange luminescence. The task was monumental, requiring both of them to tap into reserves of power and knowledge they seldom used.

Hours passed, the two figures engrossed in their task, their minds locked in a dance of quantum mechanics and temporal physics. Slowly, the systems began to respond, the entropic energies redirecting into safer, more controlled channels. The threat to the surrounding timelines diminished, a testament to the combined efforts of two of the most powerful beings on the planet.

As they edged closer to finishing their intricate task, Asche halted, his face etched with contemplation. He turned to Davion, his voice low and resonant. "This is just a patch, Davion. A mere stitch in the fabric of chaos we're dealing with. We're holding back a tide with a dam made of straws. What we need... is a lasting fix. A way to weave the energies of our worlds into a tapestry that doesn't unravel at the slightest pull. We have to find harmony in this madness, a kind of balance that feeds life, not death."

Davion nodded, the weight of Asche's words sinking in. "I agree. But such a task... it's unprecedented. We're charting unknown territories, Asche. The risks are immense."

Asche's eyes met Davion's, a glimmer of resolve shining in them. "Risks, yes. But the rewards, Davion, are greater. We have the opportunity to not just save our worlds but to create a harmony between them. Think of the possibilities, the lives we could save."

Davion looked around his sanctum, at the technology that had been his pride and power. Now, in the presence of Asche, he saw it for what it truly was – a tool, a means to an end. "Let's do it," he said, determination in his voice. "Let's find a way to bring balance to our realities."

As Asche's calculated manipulation and social engineering began to take effect, he noticed Davion's stance softening, the man's resistance crumbling under the weight of necessity. A rare, sardonic smile creased Asche's lips, his voice cold and edged with a hard resolve. "Time to roll up our sleeves, Davion. We're about to carve a new saga into the annals of our realities. You ready to play God alongside me?"

In the dimly lit confines of the chamber, where technology and arcane energies intertwined, Davion's features were etched with the weight of a thousand worlds. His gaze, darting between Asche and the humming machinery, spoke volumes of his internal conflict. "Alright, Asche, we did it. We patched up this mess," he stated, his voice a mixture of relief and underlying tension. "But this... this is a fragile truce between our worlds. We're navigating uncharted waters. I can't shake off the discomfort, but against my better judgment, I'm putting my trust in you."

Asche, a bastion of strength and resolve, stood unflinching, his gaze never leaving Davion. "I know this isn't easy for you," he responded, his voice echoing the gritty reality of their situation. "You're walking a tightrope over a chasm, with everything you've ever known on one side, and the unknown on the other. But remember, I'm not the enemy here. We're in this together now, for better or worse."

Davion, unable to stay still, paced back and forth like a caged animal. His hands ran through his hair, a physical manifestation of his mental unrest. He halted, his eyes locking onto Asche's. "I never imagined I'd be working alongside someone like you," he confessed, his voice tinged with a mix of incredulity and newfound respect. "Our worlds couldn't be more different, and yet, here we are. The balance we've struck today, it's precarious. I just hope we can maintain it without letting everything we've worked for crumble to dust."

Asche's posture was relaxed but his eyes were sharp, like a predator ready to pounce. He leaned casually against the console, yet his presence dominated the room. "We'll hold it together," he assured Davion, his tone steady and reassuring. "Focus on the task at hand. This nexus, it's not just a bandage on a wound. It's a beacon of hope for something greater for both our worlds. But it'll need our constant attention, our unwavering vigilance."

Davion ceased his pacing, turning to face Asche with a newfound determination in his eyes. "I understand," he said, the resolution in his voice belying the uncertainty that lay beneath. "I'll do what's necessary. This is bigger than just my world now. It's about forging a future, however uncertain it may be. I just hope we're up to the challenge."

Asche stood tall, his gaze unwavering as he met Davion's eyes. "We are," he declared firmly. "Today marks the beginning of a new chapter. It's our responsibility to steer this ship through the storm."

In that dimly lit room, where the fate of worlds hung in the balance, Asche and Davion stood as unlikely allies. The road ahead was fraught with peril, a path laden with unseen dangers and untold possibilities. Yet, in that moment, a fragile bond of trust was forged between them. Together, they would navigate the treacherous waters ahead, custodians of a delicate equilibrium that held the destiny of their worlds in its hands. The future was uncertain, the risks immense, but the promise of a harmonious existence between their worlds was a beacon that guided their way forward.