CHAPTER 116 — SHADOWS OF AUTHORITY
The room beneath the White House was quiet in a way that felt heavy.
Large screens lined the walls of the Situation Room, each frozen on different images. One showed a giant in gold armor standing among soldiers. Another showed a man in red and gold flying. Another showed blood staining the street, bodies lying motionless, one decapitated, another crushed under something too heavy to recognize at a glance
At the center of the room stood the President of the United States.
His hands were planted on the table. His shoulders were tight. His jaw was clenched so hard it ached.
The briefing had ended moments ago.
The words still echoed in his head.
The Mother Box was handed over.
No resistance.
Lieutenant General Swanwick allowed it.
Then disappeared with those unknown individuals.
The President dragged a slow breath through his nose and let it out sharply, the sound echoing against the walls.
"Does that bastard have any idea how dangerous that Mother Box is?" he snapped, voice tight with barely contained fury.
According to Dr. Silas Stone, the Mother Box was far too unstable to be used with the world's current technology. It was not only dangerous, but also rumored to be the key to unlocking unlimited energy. And yet, despite all that, it had been handed over to unknown individuals.
And he hadn't even been asked, Swanwick had simply handed the Mother Box over without permission.
No one answered.
He turned toward his secretary, his voice rising, anger finally breaking through his usually controlled expression.
"Giving it to unknown individuals," he continued, "and then disappearing?"
His fist came down on the table, not hard enough to damage it, but loud enough to make the screens vibrate. He froze for half a second, the sound of his own heartbeat filling his ears, then pulled his hand back with practiced composure, face a mask of calm. Inside, however, his knuckles were screaming.
The secretary stepped forward cautiously, holding a thick folder and several printed photos. Her hands trembled slightly, betraying her fear and uncertainty.
"Mr. President," she said carefully, "there's something else."
She placed the photos on the table.
Images spread out.
The golden armored giant towering over soldiers.
Iron Man hovering in the air.
Wonder Woman standing firm.
The others beside them.
The secretary swallowed.
"They may not be human," she said. "Especially the giant one in golden armor."
The room went silent.
The President stared at the image.
His anger faded, replaced by memory.
Burning cities.
A sky torn open.
Machines that changed the ground itself.
Kryptonians.
He closed his eyes for a moment.
"Where is Superman?" he asked quietly.
The secretary froze.
She knew what that question meant.
She also knew the answer would not be welcome.
She hesitated, then spoke.
"Superman disappeared after the explosion at the U.S. Capitol."
The President opened his eyes slowly.
His lips pressed into a thin line.
Everyone in the room knew the truth behind that silence.
It had been with his permission that Superman was persecuted.
With his approval that fear had turned into blame.
Now Superman was gone.
"These damn aliens," he muttered, rubbing his face with one hand, fingertips pressing hard against his temples.
Superman was missing.
The Kryptonians were dead.
And now something new had arrived.
Something unknown.
He straightened.
His voice hardened again.
"Find them," he said. "Find those bastards first."
He pointed at the screen.
"And take back the Mother Box."
The secretary nodded quickly.
"Yes, Mr. President."
She turned and moved out, already relaying orders.
Forces were being gathered.
Plans were being made.
Far away, Gaius and the others had no idea.
The farmhouse was quiet.
The land around it stretched wide and empty, broken only by grass and distant trees. The helicopter sat still in the yard, rotors cooling.
Diana stepped forward, her movements fluid, her posture calm yet commanding.
"I will take responsibility for the second Mother Box," she said calmly. "It belongs in my homeland."
No one argued.
It was her homeland, and they had no wish to intrude. They respected her decision, and her.
J'onn watched them for a moment, then stepped forward.
"Now it is my turn to ask questions," he said.
No one stopped him.
This had always been part of the exchange.
He turned toward Gaius.
"Who are you?"
Gaius looked at him steadily.
"I am Gaius Maximor Thassor," he said. "Captain of the Ultramarines."
The name lingered in the air.
J'onn tilted his head slightly. The name had a Roman style to it. He focused on the unfamiliar word.
"Ultramarines?" he asked. "What is that?"
Gaius answered without hesitation.
"I am an Ultramarine," he said. "We are Space Marines. Sons of Guilliman. Defenders of humanity."
J'onn frowned.
"Defenders of humanity?" he repeated, skepticism tinting his words. The image of Gaius before him did not match the title.
Gaius did not explain further.
He turned away.
J'onn turned to Tony, ready to ask questions.
Tony noticed and shook his head once, subtly.
If Gaius would not speak more, neither would he.
J'onn understood.
He said nothing else.
Then Gaius's head snapped upward, fast and sharp, following a movement in the sky. The others' attention followed instinctively.
A black shape cut through the clouds, descending smoothly, controlled. A jet, silent in its glide, its panels shifting seamlessly. Weapons slid outward, guns aimed, calculated.
Diana recognized it at once.
So did J'onn.
"Batman," Diana said quietly.
The jet landed smoothly.
The ramp opened.
Batman stepped out.
His presence was heavy. Still. Watching.
Naruto's eyes lit up.
"That's so cool," he whispered.
Mindy nodded. Saeko did the same.
Gaius did not react.
Tony squinted.
"Uh… who are you supposed to be?" he said. "Bat-guy? Halloween came early this year?"
Batman ignored him.
His eyes stayed on the group.
"Who are you?" Batman asked.
Tony smirked.
"Tony Stark," he said. "Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist. Iron Man."
Batman's focus shifted only slightly.
Still mostly on Gaius.
J'onn stepped forward.
"Do not fight," he said quickly. "This is Batman. A Hero. He keeps order."
Then he turned to Batman.
"Do not fight them," J'onn added. "They are dangerous. And unknown."
Batman turned to him.
"You," he said. "Lieutenant General Swanwick."
His voice was calm, but sharp.
"Who are you really?"
Batman had seen the footage.
He had seen Gaius move faster than human.
He had seen J'onn stand up after a throw that should have killed him.
J'onn met his gaze.
"I am Lieutenant General Swanwick," he said.
Batman did not believe him. Not even a flicker of trust. He turned back to the group.
He turned back to the group.
"I can't find any record of you," he said. "You don't exist in this world."
Silence followed.
Naruto, Mindy, and Saeko stayed quiet.
They looked to Tony.
To Gaius.
The choice was theirs.
Whether to speak.
Or stay silent.
~~~
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