Chapter 76: Starcourt Mall Construction Continues
Steve
The hospital window faced east. From my bed, I could see the mall construction site in the distance—cranes moving, foundations being poured, the future battlefield taking shape.
309 days until Season 3. Until Russians activated their drill. Until the Mind Flayer returned. Until Billy got possessed in the original timeline.
But this isn't original timeline anymore. Billy's different now. We're all different.
Robin found me staring out the window.
"You're thinking about next time," she said. Not question. Statement.
"Always."
"Can you not? For like five minutes? Just rest?"
"I am resting. But I'm also thinking. They're not mutually exclusive." I gestured at the distant construction. "Russians are going to drill under that mall. Open another gate. Bring the Mind Flayer back."
"But not yet."
"Not for almost a year. Which means we have time to prepare properly." I looked at her. "This time, I do it right. No rushing, no reactive fighting. Strategic preparation."
Billy
Rolled my wheelchair into Steve's room. Physical therapy said I'd walk again in two weeks, but for now, wheels.
"Russians are back," I reported. "Saw them photographing the mall site from that ridge you showed me. Taking measurements."
Steve nodded like he'd expected it. "They're planning infrastructure. Tunnel depth, drilling locations, power requirements. Long-term operation."
"Should we stop them now?"
"No. Let them commit resources, start drilling, get invested. Then we sabotage. Hit them when they're too far along to abandon but not finished enough to be dangerous."
"That's cold."
"That's strategic." Steve's corruption scars caught the light. "We beat the Mind Flayer once. Cost us everything. Next time, we're smarter. We use their timeline against them, strike at maximum vulnerability."
I studied him—this scarred, exhausted boy planning battles a year in advance. "How do you do it? Carry all this knowledge, all this responsibility?"
"Poorly. But I keep doing it anyway."
Hopper
Found Steve and Billy discussing Russian tactics like military strategists.
"You two realize you're teenagers, right?" I interrupted. "Not Special Forces."
"Tell that to the dimensional monsters," Steve replied.
"Fair point." I sat in the visitor chair. "Billy's right. Russians are back, more careful this time. Using civilian cover, better equipment. They learned from being spotted before."
"Expected. They know Hawkins has supernatural activity now. Makes us valuable target." Steve's tactical mind was frightening sometimes. "But we don't act yet. We monitor, gather intelligence, let them build until sabotage causes maximum damage with minimum risk."
"You're planning to let them open a gate?"
"No. I'm planning to stop them right before they open it. When they're committed but not operational. When destroying their work hurts most." His scarred hands clenched. "But I need time to heal first. Can't fight if I'm broken."
Steve
Hopper left to coordinate with his law enforcement contacts. Billy returned to physical therapy. I sat alone, watching the mall construction continue.
Strategic patience. That's what this requires.
For four years, I'd been reactive. Responding to threats as they emerged, desperately trying to prevent tragedies. It had worked—mostly. But it had also nearly killed me.
This time would be different.
I'd heal properly. Train the team better. Position resources strategically. Monitor Russian operations. And strike when it hurt them most while risking us least.
One apocalypse at a time. But this time, I'm ahead of the apocalypse instead of chasing it.
The Dimensional Backpack sat at 4%, slowly recharging. I had seven items total—enough to make a difference. Fight Master Phase 3 made me superhuman. Pain Heal saved lives. My corruption scars gave me residual dimensional sensitivity without active connection.
I was more prepared for Season 3 than I'd ever been for Season 2.
If I survive that long. If the corruption doesn't kill me. If some new threat doesn't emerge.
But dwelling on maybes accomplished nothing. I'd survive or I wouldn't. The Party would face Season 3 prepared or unprepared. All I could do was maximize our chances.
Robin
Brought Steve dinner that evening—hospital food plus contraband burger from the diner.
"You need to stop planning," I said. "Doctor's orders. Well, my orders. I'm doctoring you."
"That's not a word."
"It is now. Eat your burger and think about literally anything except Russian bases and dimensional gates."
Steve took the burger automatically. "I own property adjacent to the mall. $50,000 investment giving us underground access when they start drilling."
"Steve—"
"I'm just saying, when the time comes—"
"No. No 'when the time comes.' Right now, you're eating a burger and recovering and being a normal teenager for five minutes." I sat beside his bed. "Tell me something non-apocalyptic. What's your favorite color?"
He blinked. "What?"
"Favorite color. Normal people thing. Answer it."
"I... blue? Maybe?"
"See? That wasn't hard. Favorite movie?"
"The Outsiders. But that's strategic—"
"NO. Not strategic. Just because you like it. You're allowed to like things without tactical reasons."
Steve smiled slightly. "You're annoying."
"I'm your best friend. It's my job."
Steve
Sleep came easier that night. No Mind Flayer nightmares, no corruption whispers, no dimensional pressure.
Just dreams. Normal dreams. About the Party, about Chrissy, about Bob's wedding to Joyce that would happen next week.
The scars on my chest ached—permanent reminders of the cost. But they weren't spreading, weren't pulsing, weren't consuming me.
I'd survived. Changed. Been marked permanently by the experience.
But survived.
Through the window, the mall construction continued. Russians watched from their safe distance. Season 3 approached with geometric certainty.
But not yet. Not tonight. Tonight I rest.
The photo on my nightstand showed everyone smiling. Safe. Together. Alive.
That's what mattered. Not preventing every threat, not changing every timeline, not becoming perfect hero.
Just keeping them alive. Keeping us together. Facing each crisis as it came instead of drowning under the weight of infinite futures.
One apocalypse at a time, I reminded myself. Just beat this one. Worry about the next one later.
My eyes closed. The scars pulsed once, then settled.
Tomorrow I'd start planning Season 3 preparations. Tomorrow I'd coordinate with Hopper on Russian surveillance. Tomorrow I'd resume being Steve Harrington, paranoid protector and dimensional warrior.
But tonight?
Tonight I was just Steve. Scarred, exhausted, surrounded by found family.
And that was enough.
Worth every sacrifice.
Every single one.
Note:
Please give good reviews and power stones itrings more people and more people means more chapters?
My Patreon is all about exploring 'What If' timelines, and you can get instant access to chapters far ahead of the public release.
Choose your journey:
Timeline Viewer ($6): Get 10 chapters of early access + 5 new chapters weekly.
Timeline Explorer ($9): Jump 15-20 chapters ahead of everyone.
Timeline Keeper ($15): Get Instant Access to chapters the moment I finish writing them. No more waiting.
Read the raw, unfiltered story as it unfolds. Your support makes this possible!
👉 Find it all at patreon.com/Whatif0