Bonus Chapter: Redoing my Life, The Adler Hypothesis pt.3

“This is not how I imagined my night going,” Penny muttered, arms folded tight as they approached Wil Wheaton’s house.

“I wouldn’t expect you to do anything productive,” Sheldon quipped, his eyes fixed ahead, not even glancing at her.

Penny glared. “Say that again, and I’ll imagine leaving all of you stranded here.”

Sheldon spun around immediately, his tone shifting. “Apologies, Penny. That would be… highly inconvenient.”

Howard, giddy with excitement, leaned toward the side window. “Come on! Let’s peek inside. I still can’t believe William Shatner is going to be here.”

“I don’t believe it,” Raj added, adjusting his jacket. “Shatner plays D & D? He’s way too cool for that.”

The group cautiously approached the window, crouching slightly. Sheldon pressed his face against the glass, scanning.

“Where are you, Leonard…?” he muttered.

“Maybe Penny was wrong,” Howard said, squinting in. “I don’t see Leonard anywhere.”

“I think so as well,” Sheldon nodded smugly. “Once again, a baseless accusation from—”

“Finish that sentence, and I swear I’ll leave you here,” Penny cut in sharply.

Sheldon wisely turned back to the window. Just then, his eyes lit up.

“There he is!” he whispered. “Daniel Adler.”

“Do you see his girlfriend?” Howard asked, eagerly nudging Raj. “You know—Margot Robbie?”

Raj leaned in, eyes wide. “Yeah, yeah—​is she there?”

“No,” Sheldon answered, still scanning. “But I do see… oh my… it’s him. It’s William Shatner. It’s really him!”

“Told you!” Howard said triumphantly, turning to Raj.

“There’s Wil Wheaton, Joe Manganiello… I don’t see anyone else,” Raj muttered.

Sheldon kept watching, muttering with increasing paranoia, “Still no Leonard… unless—wait… wait… there!”

“That backstabbin’ yellow-bellied traitor!”

“Aha, so I was right,” said Penny.

Sheldon turned slowly, face dark with betrayal. “He’s in there—Leonard. Laughin’, drinkin’, rollin’ dice with my enemies.”

“Told you,” Penny said smugly. “Now can we go?”

“No. We’re not going anywhere,” Sheldon said, steel in his voice. “I’m going in.”

“Sheldon—wait!” Penny tried to grab his sleeve, but he was already marching toward the door, determined.

Howard held Penny back. “Let’s see where this goes.”

“Yeah,” Raj agreed. “And this might be our chance to meet William Shatner—just saying.”

Penny groaned and followed.

=====

Daniel leaned back in his chair, a half-empty glass of soda in his hand. The game had ended hours ago, and now only Daniel, Joe, Leonard, and William Shatner were still hanging around Wil’s house.

“So, we get to the party,” Daniel began, stretching his legs out as he talked. “At first, it looked like your standard industry thing—big house… lots of fake laughing—you know how it is.”

Joe nodded knowingly, swirling his drink. “One of those.”

Shatner, slouched back on the couch, looked half-asleep, nursing the remnants of his scotch.

“But then,” Daniel continued, leaning forward a little, “something felt… off. People were too friendly. You know what I mean?”

That got Shatner’s attention. He sat up straighter, his brow lifting just a notch. “Go on.”

“We start noticing people giving us these weird smiles. Long looks. Then this woman walks by in straight-up lingerie, heels and everything, and offers us ‘a tour of the bedrooms.’”

Joe burst out laughing, nearly choking on his drink. “No way.”

“Oh yeah. It was that kind of party,” Daniel said.

Shatner grinned wide, suddenly more awake than he’d been in an hour. “Oh yeah, baby. I know those parties.”

Daniel and Joe both cracked up.

“You stayed, I hope,” Shatner said with a wolfish smirk, leaning forward. “C’mon. Give me the details. Who hosted it? Maybe I know them. Back in the day, I ran in all the circles.”

Daniel shook his head with a laugh. “No, Bill. Margot clocked what was happening in about five minutes. She dragged me out of there before I knew what was going on.”

“Ha! You’re no fun,” Shatner said with mock disappointment, wagging a finger at Joe.

Joe leaned back, chuckling. “Let’s be real, Bill. You’re too old for that kind of fun now.”

“Too old?” Shatner raised an eyebrow. “Listen here, you shaved gorilla—I’m a young stallion in spirit. In my day, everyone was having sex. With everyone. In closets, on balconies, in the god-damn kitchen—on the Hollywood sign, even. And don’t even get me started on the drugs.”

He leaned back with a nostalgic sigh. “Damn, I miss cocaine.”

Daniel and Joe lost it, laughing so hard Joe had to brace himself on the table.

At that moment Wil and Leonard walked back into the room.

 “Alright,” Wil said, “why are you guys still here?”

Shatner turned, glass in hand. “Yes, yes—we’re leaving. Eventually.”

He paused, then added, “Maybe after one more drink.”

“No, no,” Wil said, heading for the minibar. “You’ve already drunk almost everything I have. You’re gonna bleed me dry.”

Shatner looked offended. “You’re a terrible host, Wheaton.”

He glanced at Daniel. “Next time, we’re going to Danny’s place.”

Daniel looked at Leonard, half-laughing. “You wanna grab something to eat?”

Leonard was about to answer when a sharp knock echoed through the house—three raps, a pause, three more. Precise. Measured. Ominous.

Leonard froze. “Oh no.”

Wil sighed from across the room. “If he’s hiding in a bush again, I swear to God…”

Daniel raised an eyebrow. “What? Who is it?”

Leonard, already scanning for an exit, muttered, “It’s Sheldon.”

Daniel smirked, assuming it was a joke. “Ha. Good one.”

Leonard didn’t laugh. Daniel’s smile faded.

Wil, resigned, walked toward the door. “I’m going to get rid of him.”

Shatner, suddenly intrigued, perked up. “No, no—let him in. I want to meet this Sheldon.”

He turned to Daniel. “Okay, who is that guy again?”

Before Daniel could answer, the front door opened.

Wil reappeared with a grimace, followed by Penny, who looked like she’d rather be anywhere else on Earth. Behind her, marching in with far too much confidence, came Sheldon, Howard, and Raj.

Daniel blinked, pointing at Penny as recognition dawned. “Wait. You?”

Penny let out a tight, embarrassed laugh. “Yeah. It’s me.”

“Serial Ape-ist,” Daniel muttered under his breath, eyes wide.

“Please stop saying that out loud,” Penny snapped, arms crossed.

Sheldon wasted no time. “Hello, Leonard,” he said, his voice frosty with barely restrained judgment. “Is there something you’d like to tell me?”

Leonard groaned. “There’s nothing to tell, Sheldon.”

“Oh really?” Sheldon said. “Because according to Section 15, Subsection C of the roommate agreement, in the event that either of us encounters a cast member of Star Trek, we are required—required, Leonard—to notify the other within twelve hours.”

Leonard sighed.

“That’s me, right?” Shatner whispered to Daniel.

“You’re drunk, Bill,” Joe replied.

“And Section 7, Subsection D explicitly prohibits associating with an individual deemed an ‘official nemesis.’” Sheldon turned and gestured toward Daniel and Wil. “Which you have clearly violated.”

Daniel raised a hand, mock-offended. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, don’t take it personally,” Sheldon said without looking at him. “You’re just on my list—along with Wil Wheaton, Brent Spiner, and the waiter from The Cheesecake Factory who once forgot my ranch dressing.”

Howard leaned toward Raj and whispered, “It was worth coming here.”

Raj whispered back, “I hope he picks a fight with Shatner.”

Daniel raised his eyebrows, half-amused. “Oh, you really have a list?”

Sheldon, without hesitation: “Yes. And you are on it.”

Daniel looked down, chuckling to himself and shaking his head. “I’m honored.”

“It’s not a laughing matter,” Sheldon snapped, indignant.

Then, with a sudden shift in tone and posture, Sheldon turned toward Shatner and held out his hand stiffly. “Captain, it is an honor to meet you. I’m Dr. Sheldon Cooper.”

Shatner studied him. “I heard you like Picard more.”

The room fell into stunned silence.

Sheldon’s jaw dropped in horror. “That’s… that’s a misrepresentation!” He turned sharply to Leonard.

Shatner shrugged coolly, clearly enjoying himself.

Trying to redirect, Sheldon asked, “Would you be willing to introduce me to Leonard Nimoy?”

Shatner blinked; his usual bravado dimmed, replaced by a hint of real emotion. “We don’t talk much anymore,” he said, quieter than expected, looking off for just a moment.

Breaking the silence, Daniel spoke. “Look, Sheldon, I get it—you feel betrayed or something. But Leonard’s a grown man; he can make his own choices.

 Sheldon opened his mouth to protest, but Daniel raised a hand.

“And listen,” he added, voice a bit softer, “I just wanted to say I’m sorry for what happened at the convention.”

Sheldon folded his arms, lips tight. “Apology not accepted.”

Daniel leaned back with a theatrical sigh. “Well, I tried.”

Joe raised his drink. “You did.”

Turning back to Sheldon with a more pointed look, Daniel added, “And just so we’re clear—I was always going to use Barry Allen. Wally West? He’s not showing up for a long time, if ever.”

A faint flicker of vindication crossed Sheldon’s face—until Daniel continued, “And, while I appreciate the research folder, I think I know more about comics than you do.”

Gasps echoed from the others.

Penny let her head fall into her hands. “Why did you have to say that?”

Daniel looked genuinely confused. “What? I was just—”

“I definitely know more than you,” Sheldon declared, straightening to emphasize his height. “I hold two doctorates. How many do you hold, Mr. Adler?”

Daniel squinted at him, silent.

“Exactly,” Sheldon said in triumph.

“Hey, Daniel’s like the creative director at DC, so I think he knows more, man,” Joe cut in.

Before Daniel could respond, Wil intervened.

Wil clapped his hands together. “You know what? I have an idea.”

Joe groaned, already slumping in his chair. “Please don’t make this a trivia thing…”

“Of course it’s a trivia thing!” Wil said, grinning like a man who lived for this moment. “A quiz. A competition. Daniel versus Sheldon.”

“I’m in,” Daniel said instantly, leaning forward, a smirk already forming. “Been a while since I flexed my knowledge of comics.”

“I never back down from intellectual competition,” Sheldon replied, practically vibrating with anticipation. “Especially when the alternative is allowing misinformation to go unchallenged.”

Shatner, who had until now been quietly sipping his drink, perked up. “You know what? I’m in at this point. If I see this, I’ll have officially seen everything.”

As Sheldon and Daniel squared up at the table, the others moved into position.

Leonard grabbed a whiteboard and marker, ready to tally points.

Raj and Howard huddled next to Sheldon, offering last-minute pep talks he clearly didn’t need.

Across the room, Penny settled beside them, but not before giving Shatner a wary glance.

To her surprise, Shatner leaned over with his trademark smirk. “You know, you remind me of a young Marilyn Monroe.”

Penny blinked. “Um… thanks.” Somehow, it worked. She looked mildly flattered.

=====

On Daniel’s side of the table, Joe cracked his knuckles and leaned in behind him. “Let’s go, Adler. Show him why they put you in charge of a whole cinematic universe.”

Shatner, now half-asleep, muttered from the couch, “Wake me if someone gets punched.”

Wil stepped between them like a referee. “All right!” he said, holding a flashcard aloft. “Ten questions. One point each. First to raise a hand gets to answer. Let’s begin.”

Sheldon and Daniel locked eyes across the table.

“First question: What body-altering drug does Bane take?”

Daniel didn’t even blink. “Easy—Venom.”

Leonard, by the whiteboard, marked the point with a satisfying squeak.

The quiz moved fast.

Wil flipped the next card. “Kirk Langstrom is also known as—?”

“Man-Bat,” Daniel answered confidently.

“Correct.”

“What is Manchester Black’s super-power?” Wil asked.

“Telekinesis—and telepathy,” Sheldon added almost lazily.

“Who did the original artwork for Harley Quinn?”

“Bruce Timm,” Sheldon snapped before Wil could finish.

“Correct.”

Wil’s grin grew; he was enjoying this way too much.

“When was ’Mazing Man created?”

Daniel squinted. “Mid-’80s… 1986?”

Wil tilted his head. “Close enough—1986 debut. Point to Adler.”

Sheldon sat up straighter, ready for the next.

“Marvel’s Deadpool is a parody of which DC villain?”

“Deathstroke,” Sheldon replied, crisp and clean.

“Gorilla Grodd gained his intelligence from exposure to what?”

“Meteor radiation,” Sheldon shot back.

“Correct.”

“Who was Renée Montoya’s GCPD partner?”

“Harvey Bullock,” Daniel said confidently.

“Where was Sinestro exiled to?”

“The Antimatter Universe,” Daniel answered.

“In Flash: Rebirth, who caused Barry’s lightning accident?”

“Eobard Thawne—the Reverse-Flash,” Sheldon said, his tone nearly reverent.

Leonard scratched the final mark on the board. “That’s a tie—five to five.”

Daniel leaned back with a grin. “You know, the Flash movie might have a similar story.”

Sheldon’s head whipped around. “You… you’re spoiling it for me!”

Daniel raised both hands. “I said might. Might.”

Wil chuckled, clearly entertained. “All right, since you’ve tied—let’s call it a night.”

From the couch, Shatner’s snoring punctuated the silence like a dramatic drumbeat.

“No!” Joe shot upright. “No ties. Sudden death—let’s go.”

“I agree with the Magic Mike over here,” Sheldon said, turning to Joe. “There must be a winner.”

Howard stared. “Wait—when did you watch Magic Mike?”

Sheldon replied matter-of-factly, “Penny made me watch it.”

Penny turned red. “Yeah, I did.” She caught Joe’s grin and blushed.

Seeing this, Leonard quickly raised his voice. “Let’s just do sudden death.”

Wil raised a hand dramatically. “Fine. Last question—winner takes all. And if you both get it wrong, we’ll let the rest of us go back to our lives.”

Everyone leaned in.

Wil cleared his throat, savoring the moment. “Which film features Stan Lee’s first superhero-content cameo?”

Sheldon’s hand shot up. “Hulk—2003, directed by Ang Lee. I win! Ha-ha!”

He sprang from his seat, arms raised like a victorious athlete. “Victory is mine!”

But Daniel didn’t move. He sat still, calm, with a sly smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“You’re wrong,” he said quietly.

The room froze.

Joe turned to him. “Wait, what?”

Daniel looked at Wil. “Sheldon’s thinking too modern. Yes, Stan was in Hulk. But not that one.”

Wil frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Daniel leaned forward. “Stan Lee’s actual first superhero cameo was in the 1989 TV movie The Trial of the Incredible Hulk. Courtroom scene—he plays a juror. Look it up.”

Silence.

Then Wil’s jaw dropped. “Oh my God… he’s right.”

Sheldon blinked. “What?! No—no, that doesn’t count. That was a television film!”

Wil held up his hands. “The question was first superhero-content cameo. Not theatrical, not MCU. He’s right.”

Joe threw both arms up. “Daniel wins!”

The room erupted in cheers.

Sheldon stood frozen, jaw slack, his face a portrait of utter disbelief.

Penny patted him on the shoulder with mock sympathy. “You’ll always be number two in our hearts.”

Shatner, now wide-awake and blinking, muttered, “Damn. This was not a good week to quit cocaine.”

Daniel leaned back, grinning and soaking in the applause. “Well,” he said, “good game, Dr. Cooper.”

Sheldon, still stunned, adjusted his posture stiffly. “I… demand a rematch. Best of three.”

Wil shook his head. “Nope. We’re done. I want my living room back.”

Joe raised his drink. “To Daniel—the defeater of Sheldon… oh, wait, I mean Dr. Sheldon!”

.

.

.

Sheldon sat hunched on the couch in their dimly lit apartment, swaddled in his favorite blanket. The TV cast flickering green light across his face, illuminating an unusually somber expression. The remote lay limp in his hand, untouched for twenty minutes.

On the screen, The Trial of the Incredible Hulk played in all its grainy late-’80s glory. Sheldon watched intently, eyes unblinking, as the camera panned to the courtroom scene—that scene.

And there he was.

Stan Lee.

A juror.

Sheldon froze. His jaw twitched. “Oh, dang it,” he muttered, sinking deeper into the couch.

Leonard’s voice startled him from behind. “What are you doing up?” he asked, rubbing his eyes as he shuffled in from the hallway.

Sheldon clutched the blanket tighter. “Verification.”

Leonard looked at the TV, incredulous. “Wait… is that the old Hulk movie? Sheldon, come on. I thought this whole thing was over.”

“I had to know. Adler was right.” He exhaled as though confessing a terrible truth. “And worse… I was wrong.”

Leonard tried not to smile. “You know, Daniel invited us to consult on The Flash, right? Just drop it, Sheldon.”

“I don’t need his pity,” Sheldon replied quickly.

Leonard rolled his eyes and headed back to his room. “You’re impossible.”

.

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I am not satisfied with this.
Iam sure i can do the next one better than this.