The private meeting room deep within the Global Defense Agency headquarters was filled with tension.
The Guardians of the Globe sat around a circular table, their expressions ranging from thoughtful to troubled as they processed the implications of Thragg's imminent departure.
War Woman's battle axe lay across her lap, her fingers drumming restlessly against its handle. The rhythmic tapping was the only sound in the room until she finally broke the heavy silence.
"Why did you stop me?" she demanded, her fierce gaze fixed on The Immortal. "When I started to step forward, you grabbed my arm. Held me back. We could have-"
"Could have what?" The Immortal interrupted, his ancient eyes carrying millennia of wisdom. "Gotten ourselves killed? Or worse, revealed your potential disloyalty for nothing?"
"Nothing?" War Woman's voice rose with indignation. "This might be our only chance! He said himself his powers will be limited in this other world.
If we could just convince him to let us come along, we could plan, we could-"
"Could what?" The Immortal's tone carried equal measures of patience and exasperation.
"Could try to kill a being who, even at a fraction of his current power, would still be able to crush us like insects? Are you truly that eager for death?"
Red Rush vibrated nervously in his seat. "Maybe she has a point though? I mean, if he's really going to be weakened..."
"You're all fools," The Immortal declared, "Do none of you realize this could have been a test? A way to identify who might harbor thoughts of rebellion?"
The other Guardians fell silent, exchanging uncertain glances as they considered this possibility.
"Think," The Immortal continued. "Why announce his weakness? Why gather us all to witness his departure? He's many things, but stupid isn't one of them."
Darkwing leaned forward, his cape rustling softly. "So what are you suggesting?" His gravelly voice carried a note of challenge. "That we simply accept this? Accept Earth being part of the Viltrum Empire forever?
You've lived longer than any of us, fought longer than any of us. Are you truly content with this situation?"
"Yes," The Immortal replied without hesitation, surprising everyone present. "I am."
"What?" War Woman's grip tightened on her axe. "How can you say that? After everything we've fought for?"
The Immortal's expression softened slightly. "What have we fought for, truly? Look at what we've achieved in the past seven months under Viltrum's rule.
Global peace. Disease rates plummeting. Poverty being systematically eliminated. Technologies advancing at unprecedented rates."
He gestured toward the window, where the sun was setting over a peaceful city. "I've lived for thousands of years. I've seen empires rise and fall, seen countless attempts at creating utopia.
All of them failed because they lacked the power to enforce their ideals, the strength to maintain order across vast territories."
"But this isn't freedom," Green Ghost protested, her translucent form shifting with agitation. "It's control, no matter how benevolent it seems."
"Freedom?" The Immortal's laugh held no humor. "What freedom did the world have before? Freedom to starve? Freedom to die of preventable diseases? Freedom to be exploited by the wealthy and powerful?"
He stood, pacing the length of the conference room. "I've watched humanity struggle for millennia. Watched them make the same mistakes over and over again. Wars, genocide, environmental destruction - all in the name of 'freedom.'"
Martian Man spoke up, "But surely self-determination has value? The right to choose one's own path, even if that path leads to mistakes?"
"And who truly had that right before?" The Immortal challenged. "The poor? The sick? The oppressed?
No. 'Freedom' was always an illusion for most of humanity. At least under Thragg's rule, there's genuine progress. Real improvement in people's lives."
Aquarus shifted uncomfortably in his specially designed chair. "You sound like you admire him."
"I do," The Immortal admitted. "Not for his power alone, but for how he uses it. He doesn't just conquer - he elevates. He doesn't just rule - he improves. Everything he promised, he's delivered."
War Woman slammed her fist on the table. "Listen to yourself! You're talking about a tyrant who's taken over our world!"
"I'm talking about someone who's done more to improve human life in seven months than we managed in decades of heroics," The Immortal countered.
"Yes, he's a tyrant. Yes, he's a conqueror. But he's also exactly what this world needed - someone with both the power and the wisdom to enforce positive change."
The door to the conference room opened with a soft hiss, revealing Cecil Stedman. His ever-present sunglasses reflected the room's lighting as he stepped inside, his timing almost too perfect to be coincidental.
"He's right, you know," Cecil said, moving to stand beside The Immortal. "Every word."
War Woman's eyes narrowed. "You too, Cecil? I thought if anyone would fight against this, it would be you."
"Fight against what?" Cecil asked, removing his sunglasses to reveal his scarred eyes. "Against actual, measurable improvement? Against genuine progress? Against a system that's actually working?"
Red Rush leaned forward, his form vibrating with nervous energy. "So what are you both saying? That we should help him? Help Thragg conquer other worlds, other realities?"
The Immortal and Cecil exchanged a long look, years of understanding passing between them in that silent moment. Finally, they turned back to face the group.
"Yes," they said in unison, their conviction evident in their voices.
"If that's what's necessary," Cecil continued. "If that's what it takes to spread this improvement for other innocent people."
"You can't be serious," Green Ghost whispered.
"Dead serious," The Immortal confirmed. "Because as I've said now a million times, I've seen what happens when worlds are left to their own devices. When they're allowed to make the same mistakes over and over again."
Darkwing's eyes narrowed beneath his cowl. "So that's why you two have been so close lately. Having private meetings, sharing long conversations.
Who convinced who? Was it you, Cecil? Did you turn our leader into a willing collaborator?"
A small, knowing smile touched The Immortal's lips. "Actually," he said, "it was the other way around."
"You?" War Woman's voice carried disbelief. "You convinced Cecil?"
"It wasn't easy," Cecil admitted, replacing his sunglasses. "I'm naturally suspicious, naturally resistant to authority. But..." he gestured toward the window, toward the peaceful city beyond, "results are hard to argue with. And The Immortal... he helped me see the bigger picture."
"The bigger picture?" Martian Man questioned.
"Again, Think about it," The Immortal said. "Really think. We've spent our lives fighting symptoms - crime, disasters, invasions. But Thragg? He addresses causes.
He doesn't just stop wars; he creates a system where war becomes impossible. He doesn't just fight poverty; he restructures society to eliminate it entirely."
"And that's worth giving up our freedom?" Aquarus demanded.
"Seriously, you all preach about freedom, but what freedom?" Cecil countered.
"The freedom to watch people suffer? The freedom to fail over and over again? The freedom to know we could never really fix anything permanently?"
He moved to the window, his reflection overlaying the cityscape beyond. "I've spent my entire career trying to protect humanity.
Making hard choices, crossing lines when necessary. And you know what? Just like with all of you, Thragg has accomplished more in seven months than I managed in my entire life."
"So yes," The Immortal concluded, his ancient eyes carrying absolute certainty. "If he needs our help to spread this to other worlds, other realities? We'll help. Because it's the right thing to do. Because it's necessary."
War Woman suddenly slammed her hands on the table, rising with such force that her chair clattered to the floor behind her. Her face was contorted with rage and disgust.
"I can't listen to any more of this!" she snarled. "You're traitors, both of you! Traitors to everything we've ever stood for!"
She stormed toward the door, her battle axe gripped tightly in her white-knuckled hand.
Red Rush started to rise, preparing to follow her, but Darkwing's gravelly voice cut through the tension.
"Let her go," he said quietly. "She needs time to cool off. We all do."
As the door slammed behind War Woman, Darkwing leaned forward, his cowl casting deep shadows across his face.
"But there's something we need to address. You both clearly support Thragg, I won't argue against that anymore. And yes, even I can't deny the improvements he's brought."
His voice dropped lower, more serious. "But we all know what he's capable of. His ruthlessness. His capacity for destruction. If necessary, he would obliterate entire worlds.
So what's your plan to keep our Emperor's empathy present? To prevent him from losing the very qualities that make his rule beneficial?"
The Immortal and Cecil exchanged glances, a heavy silence falling over the room. Finally, Cecil approached the table, placing his hands flat on its surface.
"First," he said, his voice carrying deadly seriousness, "we need to protect certain people. At all costs. Even with our lives if necessary. Because they're the key to everything. They're the ones who-"
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The crimson portal pulsed with otherworldly energy as nine figures stood before it, ready for departure.
Thragg's Battle Beast coat rippled in the energy winds, while War-torn Eve sat in her wheelchair, gripping its arms nervously.
Roberta adjusted a small bag at her hip, the weight of gold bars within providing reassurance. "A contingency," she explained to Amanda's questioning look. "In case our powers prove insufficient for creating resources in this new world."
Thragg stepped forward, his massive frame commanding attention. "Remember," his deep voice carried across the chamber, "we enter this world not merely as conquerors, but as guides. As elevators of potential. What we do here will set the pattern for all worlds to come."
He surveyed the group - the Marks standing tall and determined, the Eves united, Amanda and Roberta ready to support his vision, Nolan prepared to help shape a new world like he prepared for this one.
"Together," Thragg declared, "we will show this world - and all worlds - what true elevation means. Are you ready?"
Eight heads nodded in unified response.
"Then let us begin."
With those words, they stepped through the portal, crossing the threshold into another reality entirely.
The crimson energy swirled around them, and then they were gone, leaving their world behind as they ventured forth to reshape another.
The games had begun.
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(Author note: Finally! We're leaving to the first world that isn't invincible.
Well, do tell me how you found the conversation between the Guardians - do know, Cecil has done his best to trick all monitoring devices to give them privacy, whether that worked, well, we'll know in the future.
So, tell me, how did you actually find the Immortal and Cecil? I personally like the idea of the immortal as a character but hate how they executed it in the show and comics.
And as I've said many times, Cecil is one of my favorite characters in the whole show.
Well, I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)