In the Research Center
The atmosphere of the place was dense, charged with the almost imperceptible hum of machines at work and the intermittent flickering of bluish lights on control panels.
The walls, clad in steel and fiber optic cables, reflected artificial light in elongated shadows that seemed to move with a life of their own.
Sitting in front of several monitors, Dr. Richards worked in silence, his eyes rapidly scanning lines of code. He was reprogramming all the systems of the central computer while accessing, one by one, the classified operations reports.
He had already accessed the reconnaissance drones of the facility and the blueprints of the entire base. He had made so much progress because he created a program that translated data in real-time to expedite the work.
Superman, on the other hand, was reviewing the security videos, searching for any visual information that could help him uncover what had happened. While doing so, he discovered a time distortion in the footage, of at least one minute, when the base was relocated here.
In the videos, he could see staff members acting normally before they disappeared from the place, but there was something that was imperceptible at first glance. It happened too quickly, almost undetectable to the human eye. But not for Superman.
He rewound the footage in slow motion, frame by frame, and that's when he saw it. The people didn't just fade away; they vanished in a purple glow, as if an invisible hand disassembled them molecule by molecule.
—Did you find anything?— asked Reed, observing the worried expression on Clark's face.
He couldn't help but notice the look of concern on Clark's face; he thought something was wrong with all of this.
Superman turned and shared what he had discovered.
—It seems that this place was an advanced reconnaissance and research base— he spoke in a serious tone—. Within the staff, there were high-ranking militants in charge of asset recovery. Apparently, they were interested in finding extraterrestrial species.
—I see. That explains the military wording in the reports— commented Reed, now understanding what the data indicated.
The reports Dr. Richards was investigating explained a series of conflicts and findings regarding beings described as "the perfect organisms."
Reed could find nothing about these beings other than descriptions and mappings of their genetic structure, which were very lacking in information. Everything indicated that they had not yet come into contact with them.
—But what worries me the most is this— Clark said, not changing his tone, as he showed the security camera frame on the screen.
Reed showed a serious expression as he examined the images.
—Does this look familiar to you?— he asked, maintaining his impassive expression.
—It's very similar to something I faced before, and it was nothing good— Clark replied, recalling a serious adversity from the past, where something similar happened in his world and thousands died.
Reed also had that thought as he looked at the image. The memory of a maniacal genocidal who made half of the life in the universe disappear crossed his mind, leading him to deep reflection.
The atmosphere became silent as both delved into their thoughts.
Dr. Richards decided to break the silence.
—Tell me something, Kal. You mentioned that you also come from a world full of heroes like me, right?— Reed asked.
As they exchanged information about their worlds, they realized that both were very similar in many aspects, although they also presented great differences.
Clark nodded at the question.
—How are things there?— Reed insisted, showing interest.
Clark hesitated for a moment, unsure of exactly what he wanted to hear.
—Well, in my world, things usually go well most of the time. There are many heroes who do everything possible to maintain peace, including me. But a new conflict always arises. Peace is never eternal, no matter how much we wish for it...
He spoke sincerely, feeling down. He had stopped many problems and defeated villains threatening the world, but the reality was that conflicts seemed endless.
Reed closed his eyes in understanding.
—You said that in your world, super people are called metahumans, right? How are they viewed by ordinary people?
Clark took some time to reflect on the question.
—That's a difficult question to answer. Many metahumans are seen as dangerous due to the damage some have caused. However, others are considered heroes who protect the world without expecting anything in return. But still, there are those who hate them no matter what they do...— Clark offered his perspective.
Most metahumans used their abilities to satisfy their own desires, which generated damage and conflicts. But there were those who used their powers to protect others and were admired as saviors.
Reed couldn't help but notice the similarities between their worlds. In his own world, there were also people who used their abilities to protect others, as well as those who took advantage of the weak. Public opinion was diverse; there were those who were hated despite their efforts.
—Do you have family, Dr. Richards?— Clark asked curiously, seeing how thoughtful he was.
Reed paid attention to the question and softened his gestures before responding.
—Yes, I have family. A beautiful wife and two children, a boy and a girl. I also have two colleagues whom I consider part of that family— he replied in a slightly more cheerful tone—. And you, Kal? Do you have someone special waiting for your return?
—Yes, my mom and my wife. We are expecting our first child, so I have to return for that moment— Clark said, smiling with determination.
—Congratulations on that. It may be difficult at first, but you'll know how to handle it— he congratulated Reed, giving advice.
—Thanks, I'll keep that in mind...
At that moment, a sharp beep cut through the silence...
"Blip, blip, blip," the sound of an alarm echoed throughout the place.
In the midst of their conversation, one of the monitors emitted a warning signal. One of the reconnaissance probes he had sent to map the planet had encountered one of the creatures that had arrived on the planet.
—It seems this place is no longer as lonely as before— Reed commented sarcastically, watching as a large bear-like animal moved across the screen.
—Looks like Goku noticed first— Clark commented, after using his superhuman senses and not finding him in the facility. He thought he had gone to investigate them.
Reed also deduced this upon hearing Clark; he recognized that the man was quite curious. He began typing, giving new orders to the probes to search for unusual things. He was pleasantly surprised, smiling as he looked at one of the screens.
---
In the Middle of a Forest
Goku, who was investigating the presences that had appeared all over the planet, came across a young girl named Elizabeth. He felt very curious upon sensing her ki, which was very particular.
After introducing himself, he explained the situation as best as he could.
At first, he thought it would be the same as with the red-haired girl the first time they spoke, but fortunately, he was able to communicate perfectly. This was due to the communication spell that Rías had placed on him; although that spell should have lost its effect after a while, Goku had assimilated it perfectly.
He explained as best he could that he was no longer in the world he knew and that both had been sent there for no reason.
—So… you mean there's no way to go back?— the girl asked, distressed as she understood Goku's explanation.
—In short, yes... but you don't have to make that face!— Goku replied, nervous at seeing Elizabeth's complicated expression, as if her will was about to break—. There are some people working right now to return to our worlds, so calm down!
He spoke quickly while waving his hands, trying to prevent the girl from falling into despair over the situation she found herself in.
Elizabeth, with trembling hands over her chest, tried to calm down.
She had been through a lot in the last few hours: her kingdom had entered into conflict with a race of demons seeking to cause disaster and death. Moreover, she had witnessed the death of a very close and dear person at the hands of those same demons.
She was not in a good emotional state, and although she tried to be strong, now she found herself in this place for no reason and without knowing if she could return to the people she loved.
—Listen to me! Elizabeth, right?... I don't know if this is a good time for you, but don't let this depress you, okay?— Goku said, trying to comfort her with an upbeat tone and a trustworthy smile.
Elizabeth lowered her head a bit upon hearing him. That phrase and that attitude were something that surely that "person" would say in moments like this.
Goku, seeing that the girl was beginning to calm down, heard her wanting to say something.
—E-excuse me, a-are you Goku? Can I ask you a question?— she asked nervously, not lifting her gaze.
—If I can answer it, sure.
—Do you really think we can find a way to return to our homes?— her voice reflected doubt.
Goku crossed his arms, thinking about how to respond.
—I don't know. But if there's a way, I'm sure we'll find it— he replied sincerely, maintaining his carefree attitude while looking at the sky.
Elizabeth blinked, surprised by the answer, and didn't say anything more.
—Wow, it seems it's about to get dark. We'd better go with the others before the animals that just arrived attack us— Goku commented as he observed the sunset of the planet.
—Animals that just arrived?— Elizabeth asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
Goku realized he hadn't mentioned that part.
—Oh! That's right, since you just arrived, you don't know anything about what's happening on the planet, haha.— he laughed nervously, bringing a hand to his head.
Elizabeth looked at Goku strangely. His change of attitude was so rapid that it was almost impossible to decipher what kind of person he was.
—There will be time to tell you everything in detail. Take my hand, so I can teleport us with the others— he said, extending his hand to use his technique.
Elizabeth hesitated a bit, unsure of what he was going to do, but finally responded with a "yes" and took his hand. Goku placed his other hand on his forehead and focused on searching for the others' presences.
He felt that Superman's ki was very distant from Reed's and Rías's. He wondered what they could be doing.
He set that aside for later and used his technique to teleport.
The figures of the two vanished, leaving behind a sound of "shuiin." In less than a blink, they appeared in a room of the facilities, in front of the red-haired girl.
—W-what, what are you doing?!— Rías exclaimed, startled to see them appear out of nowhere.
She was a bit scared by the impression. Although she prided herself on how she could handle situations, since she arrived here, she hadn't known how to act.
—I'm sorry for scaring you, but I needed to sense a presence to return, and yours seemed the most convenient— Goku apologized.
Rías narrowed her eyes, not understanding what he meant by that. She had already explained how this teleportation technique worked, but she didn't understand why he needed it. Until she noticed the person accompanying him.
At first glance, she seemed like a young and shy girl, but upon sensing her presence, she fell silent.
She could also perceive presences, just like Goku, but her perception was somewhat limited. Upon observing Elizabeth, she felt a chill run down her spine; it was as if she radiated light, a light that was the natural enemy for a demon like her.
—W-who is she?— she asked, very nervous about Elizabeth's presence.
The girl next to Goku remained silent, somewhat confused, not understanding what Rías had commented.
—Ah, she's Elizabeth and was also brought here like us. We just met, actually— Goku replied casually.
Rías nodded slowly, with a look that asked for more answers. Goku, without paying attention, continued.
—There will be time to talk, but we have to gather with the others first. A lot has happened. Do you know where Kal went...?— he set the explanations aside and asked the red-haired girl.
Rías gave a confused look. She didn't know that he had left the place.
---
Outside the Base
Night had fallen over the place, and four figures stood in the darkness. Goku, accompanied by the two girls, had gone out to search for Dr. Richards. Reed was surprised to notice that another girl was joining them.
Goku explained how he had sensed the presence of the animals that had appeared, something Reed had already imagined. He also shared how he found Elizabeth when he was about to return.
—I've discovered some things along the way and want to discuss them with everyone— Goku commented.
Reed, for his part, also had news to share.
—We'll talk when Clark returns from his mission. He'll be back soon, so let's wait— Reed said, and everyone nodded.
After a few minutes of waiting...
—Hey! Something is approaching from the sky— Elizabeth exclaimed, raising her voice a bit upon seeing a flying figure.
She could already communicate clearly, thanks to Rías's spell, which had granted her that power.
Everyone paid attention to her warning. Goku and Reed immediately recognized that it was Superman, unlike the two girls.
A large shadow was cast on the ground, and what caused it floated in the sky. Superman descended, carrying a large object.
—Is that a ship?— Goku asked, impressed as he recognized the shape of the object.
—Yes. The drones I sent to investigate the area found it. It seems to have crashed when it was transported to the planet. I asked Kal to bring it— Reed explained.
Superman began to descend, placing the ship in front of them. The ship was large and robust, about thirty meters long, and airplane-shaped. It was green.
The girls watched the object in amazement. Rías was fascinated and incredulous; she had never imagined that something like this could exist outside of science fiction stories. Elizabeth, on the other hand, didn't know what a ship was, and her curiosity grew just by looking at the object.
Superman approached after leaving the ship in front of them.
—I checked the log and the flight computer. Everything indicates it's a human warship— Clark informed Reed.
—And what are its conditions? Did the impact damage the systems?— Reed asked, observing the ship.
—All functions seem to be fine, but the impact damaged one of the engines on the left wing. It may take time, but it can be repaired according to the computer— Clark replied, analyzing the problem.
Reed nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation.
—Well, we'll leave that for now, we need to clarify things.
Goku nodded at his words.
---
Minutes Later
Everyone moved to a strategy room. The room had a large table in the center and several chairs around.
Goku was sitting, eating some snacks that were there. Rías occupied a seat to the right of Goku, watching the others attentively. Elizabeth sat to the left of Goku, nervous and feeling out of place.
Superman and Reed sat across from them, two seats apart from each other. Once everyone was present, Reed decided to start the conversation.
—Well, Goku, what did you discover?— Reed asked in a serious tone.
Goku listened to the question and swallowed what he was eating before beginning to speak.
—When I arrived here, I thought I had been transported to another planet without realizing it. I tried to use my teleportation to leave the planet...
Goku recounted his experience while the others listened attentively.
—The thing is, to use it, I need to sense the presence of others. When I tried to feel something, I couldn't perceive anything...
—Yes, you mentioned that when you arrived, there was no one until Miss Rías appeared, right?— Reed interrupted, not knowing where Goku was headed.
—It's just that… I wasn't only looking for the presences of the planet. I was trying to perceive the energy of the entire universe.
The revelation surprised some of those present and confused others.
—Wait, can you perceive the presences of others at that level?— Clark asked, intrigued.
Goku nodded and continued.
—It was very strange; it had never happened to me before. It was distressing not to find anyone until I sensed Rías— he looked at the girl mentioned—. After talking to her, I searched everywhere again, but nothing. Until I sensed you.
He said, addressing Reed, who narrowed his eyes, understanding where Goku wanted to go.
—I understand. You mean that more people have appeared on all nearby planets, right?— Reed commented, grasping the idea.
Goku nodded, and everyone else understood the situation.
—But that's not all. I tried to go towards those presences with my teleportation, but something prevented me— his tone became serious as he pronounced those words.
He had never experienced anything like that; his technique had never failed in that way.
The curiosity of the others increased.
—Wait, you said that technique can take you anywhere without any restrictions. Why doesn't it work now?— Rías asked, confused.
Goku closed his eyes as he responded.
—This technique is complex. The only limitation it has is the perception of the person performing it. If I can't detect a presence in the place I want to go, I won't be able to teleport. But this is different; it's as if a barrier prevented me from accessing those places even though I could sense them...
After hearing this, more questions arose. Reed began to share what he and Clark had discovered.
They spoke about how the people in the facility seemed to have been disintegrated when this place appeared, and how there was a possibility that an incomprehensible being had brought them here from their respective worlds.
They also suggested, based on Goku's comments, that soon more beings from different realities could appear just like them.
Goku had already considered something related, but he had never imagined that an entity could be responsible for their arrival.
Rías felt shocked by the situation; this exceeded her wildest imagination. She couldn't help but wonder: "Why me?" Elizabeth, on the other hand, was distraught, unable to comprehend the terms they were using, and remained silent, trying to process everything.
The atmosphere became tense after the revelations. Reed gave them time to absorb the information, as did Clark.
—What do you have in mind?— Goku asked, breaking the silence.
He understood that they had experience in such situations and believed they had a plan in mind.
Reed began to formulate a course of action.
—There's a lot we need to do. But the first thing will be to fix the ship so we can go look for answers.
Reed's plan was to investigate as thoroughly as possible to find the reason for being there. But for that, they would have to leave the planet to begin.
Who knows what lies ahead for this diverse group, but it is certain that they will have to face many adversities.
To be continued