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(Outskirts of a Flaxan City)
"I need your help, Draz," said Henry.
He was currently inside a secret cave used by members of the resistance, surrounded by individuals from various alien races.
The resistance's goal was to end the enslavement of their people by the Flaxans.
Henry was sitting across from a resistance member named Draz Kul.
Draz was a K'rath, one of the many species that lived in this dimension. They had gray skin, large ears, and were known for their strength and size.
Draz had been captured and kept as a slave by the Flaxans for years before being rescued by the resistance.
Years after escaping the Flaxans, he heard about a powerful individual challenging their rule. The resistance wanted to bring that person—Henry—to their side in this war. They needed the help of the man sitting in front of them.
When they discovered Henry was human, they looked for someone who could speak his language to communicate with him.
But no one in the resistance spoke Human, so they had to search for someone who did.
They found Draz. He wasn't special, but during his years as a slave, he had met humans and learned their language through living alongside them.
Draz looked at him and said,
"You want help? Well, so do we. How about we help each other?"
Henry was searching for a way to leave this dimension and return to Earth. This place wasn't his home—these people weren't his people.
"I want to go back to Earth. Back to my dimension. Can you help me?"
Draz listened and then nodded toward another resistance member nearby—someone of a higher rank.
The other resistance fighter walked over and whispered something in Draz's ear. Henry didn't understand. He still didn't speak the Flaxan language.
"What did he say?" asked Henry.
"He said they can help get you back. But..."
"But what?" asked Henry.
"They said they can open a portal to send you back to Earth. But they'll only do it if you help us first."
"Help with what?" asked Henry.
"With our fight. Help us bring down the Flaxan Empire. Free our people," said Draz.
"That's a lot to ask..." Henry said, thinking over the offer.
"So what's it going to be? Will you help us free our people?" Draz asked. The other resistance members watched from a distance, arms crossed, eyes locked on Henry—beings of many races, all once slaves.
Henry thought it over—and agreed.
He didn't think it would be that hard to take down an empire...
"We have a deal," Henry said, extending his hand.
Draz shook it firmly.
"What do you want me to do first?" Henry asked.
"The Flaxans are transporting a large number of slaves right now. Go there and stop them. We need those people," said Draz.
Henry stood and began walking toward the exit.
"You're leaving already? No plan?" Draz asked.
Henry turned back and said,
"I don't have time for plans. I've got an empire to crush. I'm starting now."
---
Meanwhile...
Nolan floated above the ground. He had stolen a device from a Flaxan general that allowed him to open portals to their dimension. He didn't know how much time he had—but every second counted.
His plan was to separate the Kryptonian from the rest of the group, making it easier to eliminate the Guardians of the Globe and take over Earth. He had spent years thinking of ways to kill the boy, but had never acted on any of them—until now.
Now, chaos surrounded him—trees snapped, debris everywhere, flames rising.
He looked around and saw a group approaching.
Immortal, War Woman, Red Rush, and the rest of the Guardians of the Globe had come.
Nolan clenched his fists, ready to kill them.
Immortal walked forward, his expression grim but not entirely convinced of Nolan's betrayal.
"Omni-Man, I've heard some nasty rumors about you lately," Immortal said, approaching.
Nolan waited until he was close.
"You shouldn't believe everything you hear..."
"I know, right? Ridiculous..." Immortal replied, with a faint smile.
The rest of the Guardians stood behind Immortal, watching him carefully.
Nolan clenched his fists tighter, making a decision he had made long ago.
He drove his arm straight through Immortal's chest, punching through and out the other side.
Immortal didn't react—he hadn't expected it. He thought it was all a misunderstanding. He was completely caught off guard.
Blood poured from his mouth.
He collapsed, one hand clutching his chest, unable to move.
Nolan's arm was drenched in blood, drops falling to the ground.
All the Guardians looked on in shock and disbelief.
"Immortaaal!" Martian Man shouted.
"You bastard!" yelled Holly.
"How could you do this?!" Darkwing screamed in rage.
The Guardians readied themselves for a fight.
Nolan prepared to kill them all—until he heard a familiar voice.
"Dad?"
It was Mark, looking at him with disbelief and confusion.
Nolan glanced at him from the corner of his eye, a startled expression on his face.
"Mark..."
---
Elsewhere...
Mark was still recovering from the shockwave caused by Henry's takeoff. He had been thrown back and spent a few seconds unable to move.
He stood up, still in pain, and wondered where Henry had gone in such a hurry. What had happened?
He searched for his father, flying around the city.
Eventually, he found him—at a park in the city center.
"There you are..." Mark muttered, holding his side.
He flew toward his dad.
He saw the Guardians approaching Nolan too. That many of them together? Something serious must be going on.
Before he could reach them, he saw it.
His father drove his fist through Immortal's chest. Blood ran down his hands. His father wore a determined expression. The Guardians were stunned, furious.
Mark couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Dad?" he asked, stunned.
Nolan turned to look at him.
"Mark..."
---