"Well, that was fun," Raven spoke in a dry tone as I ended the broadcast, Match nodding in agreement. I just sagged back in my throne, M'gann running her fingers through my scalp.
"Are human interactions usually this intense?" Koriand'r asked with a confused look, to which I chuckled when Match shook his head.
"Normally, no, but we're not regular humans. Chris, were you serious about the whole relocation thing?"
"Not at first, but then I realized that if we don't, the eyes of all Earth's leaders would be fixed on trying to take the Sphere for themselves," I replied with a frown as I stood up. "At the same time, how do we take it from this point forward?"
"Well, with the Martians being the only ones aboard other than us and the Genomorphs, my father wanted to talk to you if that's okay?" M'gann asked, my eyes moving to hers as everyone else paused.
"I'll help Dubbilex with making sure that the Genomorphs and the Martians don't try to kill each other," Match replied and I nodded before we turned to Koriand'r.
"Mind if I come with?" she asked and Match turned to me as I shrugged.
"That's your decision. Rae, could we talk after this about Klarion?"
"Sure, I'll be waiting in the living area," she replied, walking out and through the doors to the cockpit.
Dubbilex, Match and Koriand'r followed closely behind, leaving M'gann and I alone. She rubbed my shoulders with a hum as I leaned forward, turning my head as she wrapped her arms around my neck.
"What did your parents want to talk about?"
"Something about either thanking you for what you did or thanking you for helping our family repair," she replied and I raised an eyebrow before giving a shrug.
"Got it. How is things with them by the way? Did your siblings come along?"
"Other than M'comm and M'ree, everyone else decided to stay on Mars since they're not A'ashenn."
"Really?" I asked, shaking my head as she nodded. "That's strange. I thought they would have wanted to live happily with their parents after everything that happened."
"Well, they did tell our parents that they didn't want to restart the lives they worked hard for somewhere else. They also don't want to follow someone that spoke against beliefs that they have been taught to follow for years," she replied, making me hum.
Well, that was to be expected given how M'gann was a bit over eighty and she was the second youngest of her siblings. If anything, the fact that all the A'ashenn and some G'arrunn came with was an achievement in itself.
At the same time, though, I wondered what would have happened had it been M'gann or perhaps another Martian that had presented the option to them.
Would they have agreed to it immediately or would everyone have said no as well?
'This thought process is just causing me a headache,' I thought with a sigh, smiling as M'gann pulled back and rubbed my temples.
"You know, I really need to take you on a proper date."
"Haven't we already done those?"
"Movie nights and late night shows are good substitutes, but I'm talking about just you, me and a well-cooked dinner."
"Well, I wouldn't mind," she replied, making me chuckle as I stood up from my throne. Turning around, I held out an arm and she giggled as she took it.
"So, where is this date going to take place?"
"Depends. Do you like being underwater?" I asked, and she smirked before nodding.
"Go on."
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"Ah, my in-laws. How have you all been?" I greeted the M'orzz family with a grin as M'gann and I entered their home, which was also the biggest of the Martian residences I had built in the core of the Unity Sphere.
A perk of having their daughter be my girlfriend, of course.
M'gann just rolled her eyes at my greeting as she sat down next to her sister, M'ree giggling at her exasperated expression.
"While I would like nothing more than for the king of this machine to be my son-in-law, I am afraid that I do not see any ring on my daughter's finger as you Terrans like to say," M'aatt replied, having taken a more human form with short brown hair and green eyes.
J'ann was doing the same, her brown hair tied up into a bun with shimmering brown eyes.
"I appreciate that you fought for A'ashenn rights, but just because you did so does not mean that I like you," M'comm on the other hand was still in his A'ashenn Martian form, most likely too cautious to relax for a moment.
"Come on, M'comm. You were just singing his praises yesterday when we left."
"Yes, and that was when I was drunk. Now, I am sober," he replied before I winced as J'ann smacked the back of his neck.
"M'comm M'orzz, you are way too young to be drinking!"
"It was just a sip of Martian Fantasy and I stopped immediately."
"No, it usually takes five of those before you get drunk," M'gann replied nonchalantly before both she and M'comm freeze when they processed her words.
"M'gann, have you been giving your brother alcohol?"
"...Chris? Sweetie?"
"Nope, I wanna stay in your mom's good books," I replied, M'aatt giving a slow nod as M'gann and M'comm were dragged away by their mother to another room.
"So, how is it going from a regular Kryptonian struggling with mind problems to the ruler of an entire artificial satellite/ moon?" M'ree asked, to which I paused for a moment before shrugging.
"Honestly, it's the exact same. The only thing that's different is that I have to be careful not to show off too much or I risk fighting an inter-planetary war with Earth."
"Wouldn't that be one you would win, especially if we factor in the strength of all the Martians aboard?"
"You would think so, but Earth has a fair bit of heroes that can go toe to toe with me as well as some that could beat me," I replied with a shrug. "Besides, it's not like I actively want to destroy Earth. Many of the people I know and are fond of live on it."
"I see. Well, as long as you understand the power you have at your hands," she responded and I nodded.
"What of your time with M'gann? What are you going to do with her now that your mind is healed?" M'aatt asked and I turned to lookat him.
"To be absolutely honest, I just want to strengthen our relationship. We are officially together, but it doesn't feel like it. So, I'd like to take her on more dates, maybe hang out with her more."
"That's good. If you had thought about sleeping with her or even marrying her, I would have found a way to kill you," The nonchalant way M'aatt said that worried me for a moment, but thankfully, M'gann and the others returned just in time.
"Well, how was the talk?" I asked, chuckling at M'gann's pout as she flopped down beside me. M'comm didn't reply as he sat down next to M'aatt, who patted his son's shoulder.
"Sorry you had to see that side of me, Chris," J'ann spoke with a sheepish smile and I shook my head.
"If it helps, I'm used to doing the same for my team."
"That does help indeed."
"Well, if the fun and games are gone, may I begin with why we actually called you here?" M'aatt asked and I nodded, M'gann letting me sit up as the man crossed his arms.
"Firstly, let me start by saying that what you did to free all A'ashenn and their loved ones from the caste system cannot be easily repaid."
"Thank you, but there is no need to repay it."
"That was what we expected you to say," he nodded with a chuckle. "However, some of the A'ashenn and G'arrunn wished to know what your plan was for the Sphere and its inhabitants."
"That...I'm still figuring out," I replied honestly with a sigh. "However, it is no longer going to be used as a weapon to destroy and conquer other planets. Instead, I want it to be a guardian and a safe haven for those who need somewhere to live."
"As in you're going to open it to others?"
"Slowly and after a careful process, yes," I answered to M'ree's question, "but, yeah. The universe is full of people looking for a place where they can live in peace and I have just the place for that to be.
Of course, I know that I can't save everyone given that the Unity Sphere has a finite space, but what I do know is that I will do everything in my power to provide a peaceful life to as many people as I can."
"...That is admirable," M'aatt replied after a long pause with a smile. "Now, for our final question. Will you ask of the Martians to help fight in the wars you start or are challenged to?"
"No," I replied immediately. "If you or any other resident of the Unity Sphere wishes to defend it during an assault, I will not stop you. However, I will also not force any of you to fight in a battle where I alone am enough."
"Understandable," he spoke with a nod before I turned to M'ree when she raised a hand.
"Question. Some of us Martians are former members of Mars' Science Center. Would it be possible for us to get such a centre on the Warworld?"
"Of course, as long as you don't try to plan out ways to take over the Unity Sphere," I replied with a joking shrug, making M'ree roll her eyes with a giggle.
"You need not fear such a thing. After all, M'gann would tear my mind apart should I try such a thing."
"I would," M'gann nodded, making me smile as I turned back to J'ann and M'aatt.
"Well, are those the only concerns you all had?"
"Yeah, those are the only ones. Thank you for listening to them."
"As ruler of the Unity Sphere, it's my job to. Anyway, I'm going to be talking to Rae for a bit, but I'll give you more details later for our date?" I asked, looking to M'gann. She blushed at the teasing looks from her family, but I smiled as she gave a nod.
"Right. Goodbye, my in-laws!"
"Would you stop that?" I chuckled at M'gann's whines, waving to the laughing family as well as giving M'comm a nod before I left the M'orzz family to their own devices.
Now, time to go figure out what a certain chaos lord is up to.
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"Hello, Mr. Chris!"
"Heyo!" I greeted back, smiling at the sight of pale-skinned humans of all sizes and ages playing around in the ideal environment created by the Warworld.
In all honesty, I'm very sure that the Warwold shouldn't be able to become like this given that it was supposed to be a moon-sized arsenal, but I figured that this was different from the Warworld shown in the universe.
After all, there have been so many different changes already. This one would fit perfectly.
Anyway, my gaze moved through the crowd of A'ashenn disguised as humans, taking only a moment to find the one I've been looking for.
Not surprisingly, her pale visage fitted in perfectly with them, and the only way I could make her out was through her dark violet cloak and the ruby red gem embedded in her forehead.
Raven noticed me too as she looked up from the book she was reading, moving a bit to let me sit down in the shade of the tree beside her.
"How was the meeting with the family-in-law?"
"Somewhat okay," I replied as I leaned against the tree. "How are you, by the way? Considering that you sealed away Klarion in that...whatever it is."
I glanced to the gem and she raised an eyebrow at me. "Oh, I didn't seal him into the gem perse. I did, but the gem is actually a gateway only I can activate that leads to my father's dimension."
"Who is your father, exactly? From the way you describe him, he sounds horrifyingly important?" I asked, wanting to make sure it was the same Trigon I was thinking of.
As I expected, Raven looked a bit hesitant before she sighed and replied. "Fine. My father is known as Trigon the Conqueror, an interdimensional demonic entity that impregnanted my mother, a priestess of the world Azareth, after she was offered as a sacrifice to appease."
'...Does that fit with any of the stories I know of Trigon?' The only other stories I know of Trigon were the one from the Teen Titans series and then the one from the DCAU movies.
Both had similar stories, but at the same time, it was very confusing for me as a new DC fan in my past life to figure out which one was the actual plot.
"I see. Was it consensual or...? Right stupid question," I muttered at her flat stare, scratching the back of my head.
"Indeed. Anyway, he kidnapped me when I was...ten or eleven, I believe, in order to turn me into his weapon and it worked for a time."
"But?"
"But then I met my motorcycle as well as the New God side of my mother's family, which is how I was able to escape to their dimension and run away," she explained with a shrug. "However, since this marking is a testament of the fact that he is constantly in contact with me, I'll never be able to get rid of his presence.
At least, not unless I either kill him myself and absorb his power to become the new ruler of his Dimension."
"...Well, if it comes to that, know that I can distract the cannon fodder for you."
"Not help me defeat my father?" she asked and I scoffed.
"I know my limitations, Rae," I replied with a shrug. "I'm pretty strong to resist some mental warfare, but not against a demon lord or demon-like entity or anything on that level, really."
"Eh, then I suppose you are good enough for cannon fodder," she replied and I chuckled at her words, the two of us looking at the crowd in front of us.
"Who would have thought that you would go from trying to fix your mind to being a ruler of a planet?"
"Not me, though I'd say that it's not that bad. Other than me trying to make sure the Earth doesn't declare war upon us, I suppose," I replied with a shrug, making her hum before I stood up.
"Well, I got a date to plan and nothing else to do so I'll leave you to your reading."
"Thanks, and Chris?"
"What's up?" I asked with a smile before I raised an eyebrow at her subtle smirk.
"Thanks for the talk."
"Hey, as leader of our cute little planet, it's my pleasure. Anyway, see ya."
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"So, you got a job for Lobo?" A pale, muscular male asked with a wide grin, his eyes hidden by a pair of sunglasses. Seated in front of him was an elderly dark-skinned woman, a younger, well-built woman standing beside her with a frown.
"Indeed. My father has a problem and he asks of you to terminate it."
"Savage wants me to take out someone? Oh, that's a rare one," Lobo spoke with a hum. "Sure, Lobo ain't got nothing else to do. Who do I gotta kill?"
"He calls himself Paragon, but he's more commonly known as a clone of Superman."
"Supes? The dead Supes? He's related to that guy?" Lobo asked with a raised eyebrow. "Huh, I thought all Kryptonians were dead."
"No, he and one other are clones that were made by my father's organization."
"Which means you probably mixed in other DNA to help stabilize their Kryptonian side. Urgh, they're gonna be so weak~" Lobo whined, but the older woman waited until he stopped grumbling before speaking.
"He defeated Mongul and took his Warworld as the spoils," she said and for a moment, there was silence.
Then, she felt it, a bloodthirsty hunger that pressed against her very soul as the hunter grinned.
"...Lobo is in. Where is he?"
A/N: And we end it off here!! Sorry about taking this long with the chapter. Trying to figure out exactly how I wanted to continue took a whole lot longer.
Anyway, we're finally into either what is going to be the third-to-last or the second-to-last arc for the story. As always, Darkseid is gonna be the big bad main, but in this one, no Flashpoint shenanigans.
We fuck up. We stay with it...or there will be. Yeah, I think I've figured out a way.
As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one...
Ba-Bye~!!