History:
(Untold Tales of the New Universe#1 (fb) - BTS) - A native to Earth-66280, Arden underwent a number of qualifications to become a Lateral Shifter, using the vessel Tangentia to travel to various alternate realities and research various patterns in order to better predict how forces manifested on worlds, particularly her own. As part of her career, she took a vow of non-interference.

    As the position was easy to abuse, Tangentia strictly monitored Arden's actions, as was typically of the vessels of other Lateral Shifters.

    In the year prior to the main story, Tangentia and Arden documented the Star Brand holders of Earth-886, who fought evil powers that plagued her planet and was the idol of billions; Earth-723, who used the power to make music that unified the people of his world; and Earth-541, who made himself global monarch.

(Untold Tales of the New Universe#1) - Tangentia and Arden traveled to Earth-148611 where they encountered Randy Kellog, floating through space. She had Tangentia extend an environmental protection pocket about 10 meters so she could question him, and she learned from him about Ken Connell being this world's Star Brand wielder. Although Kellog believed he was being rescued by NASA, Arden instead left him to continue drifting through space while she and Tan traveled down to Pittsburgh, remaining slightly out of sync with universe-616 to avoid detection. 

    They observed Connell interacting with Myron Feldman and "Duck" (Maddie Felix, aka Debbie Fix).

(Untold Tales of the New Universe#1 (fb) - BTS) - While Connell was occupied with Duck, Arden and Tan "shifted over to the next reality" to look for a comic book based on Star Brand, which she found at the comic book store Phantom of the Attic.

(Untold Tales of the New Universe#1) - Arden and Tangentia followed as Connell traveled across the world, including Greenland and the Alps, as well as an unidentified volcanic island. There, the Star Brand allowed Connell to sense them, and he grabbed and damaged Tangentia, leading Arden to try to confront him but to instead fall to the ground below. Connell caught her, and Tangentia settled to the ground and went off-line and entered a self-repair mode; Arden acknowledged that this was beyond the inhabitant engagement level they were authorized for, but she also appreciated that they had no choice in the matter.

    Arden further discussed how different worlds had variable dynamics and different possibilities, how some worlds with more variability -- like Earth-616 -- were often represented on other Earths in the form of comic books; she shared how they had even found a comic book about his adventures. She further noted that it was odd the low-level of threats that someone with his power levels was facing.

    Arden discussed Connell's friends, notably Duck and Myron and how they were not good fits for him. She further noted her theory that no one on his world should have his power levels and that nature was throwing mundane situations and relationships at him as some sort of self-correcting mechanism.

    Additionally, she suggested that he could use his power to gain wealth so that he would not have to work as a mechanic, and she specifically guided him to find some large diamonds. She then suggested that they sell one and go to the French Riviera to celebrate, during which time she enjoyed a topless beach.

    They returned to his place and apparently had some romance, and Arden continued to share her theories, such as how the Starbrands channeled a looping energy source that ran directly through the whole Multiverse (see comments). Impressed with her ideas and knowledge, Ken asked if her if she could stay with him and help him do something productive with his power, and she replied that she was not supposed to do that sort of thing, at which point, her superior, Dr. Lester, then appeared via what appeared to be a dimensional portal, noting, "Oh, so you finally remembered your oath, Arden?"

    Arden tried to explain that Tangentia had been damaged, and he acknowledged that this was done by the same man she had "bedded," and he commented with disappointment how quickly all of the training went away. One of his assistants noted that this sort of thing always happened when the vessel was not functioning. Arden tried to argue that the Starbrand had amplified his pheromones, and Connell argued that she had been a big help, but Dr. Lester interrupted, noting that they had many lateral transgressions to cover up. First they had to convince several tribesmen that Tangentia was not a deity, and he then put the diamonds Connell had acquired back where he had found them. Dr. Lester instructed that they go through the stratosphere first and make it look like a UFO siting so that it would be ignored.

    As she took Dr. Lester's hand and became immaterial, she bade Ken farewell, and wished him good luck with his power. As Connell futilely tried to hold on to her and begged her to wait as there was so much he needed to know, Arden asked Dr. Lester if she would face charges, and he told her that she would not but that she would work at the base from now one. She would even be allowed to monitor this Earth closely for awhile, as he wished her to watch what she had set in motion:

"You've raised his awareness of the possibilities that his powers afforded. Yet he doesn't live in a universe that affords such possibility. By current calculations, it is 94.879% likely that he will become frustrated by his reality and set off some sort of cataclysm. I wouldn't want to live in the same city as him in the coming year. As always, we'll learn something from it. It may be part of a natural cycle. Then we;ll be able to watch it start up again. See the next wave of what's possible here. Still, you'll be under intense supervision, Arden."

    Arden acknowledged her fate, noting that she did not mind and that she deserved no batter. "I just hope they find someone good to draw me in the comic."

    Connell futilely tried to follow Tangentia out into space, yelling "Come back!"