| Metropolis - December 26
Sounds of joyous laughter mixed with quiet sobs echoed throughout the Warworld's control room. The massive hole from the battle hours earlier still hadn't been repaired. Joseph would have to send the repair drones later.
Jason, Conner, and Match had beaten Mongul into a pulp.
The tyrant was powerful and would have posed a serious challenge for an average Kryptonian, but against two of them—and a third opponent bombarding him with energy and gravity attacks—his defeat had been inevitable.
Now Mongul sat imprisoned within a stasis cell deep inside Warworld. Joseph would dispose of him later. Maybe he would even let the people of Warworld decide the tyrant's fate themselves.
Joseph had broadcast the announcement of Mongul's defeat across the entire station. Afterward, he ordered the red battle drones to move throughout Warworld and destroy the chains of every enslaved being aboard.
Well… almost every being.
The ones even Mongul had labeled as irredeemably deranged remained imprisoned, alongside the tyrant's loyal allies within Warworld.
For those individuals, Joseph had Conner and Match apprehend them and place them into the stasis chambers until it could be determined whether they were fit to return to society. He'd even had Thao-La—the little girl who had called him the Son of the Sun—guide the two Kryptonians and explain to her people that they were there to help.
Freeing everyone from their chains would take time.
There were approximately fifty-two million beings held captive aboard Warworld.
Returning them to their home planets would take even longer, considering Mongul had spent centuries conquering hundreds of worlds.
For some groups, returning home wasn't even feasible anymore. Their worlds had been destroyed in their absence, or their civilizations had changed so drastically that returning them would only spark conflict and bloodshed.
Joseph would have to alter his original goal.
Instead of returning everyone, he would prioritize those who had been captured more recently—like the Omega Men currently present in the control room.
The Omega Men were a team of extraterrestrial superheroes active within the Vega planetary system, where they rebelled against the tyrannical rule of the Citadel.
Well… they had been active.
That changed after the Czar launched a coup within the Citadel and introduced Gordanites—beings each as strong as an average Kryptonian beneath a yellow sun—to wage war and conquer worlds in his name.
The Omega Men used to have far more members.
Now only a handful remained.
Jason was currently animatedly talking with them while Nova sifted through intergalactic bounty records and communication networks to identify each survivor.
Pren NuParr—better known as Primus—was a Euphorian nobleman and the leader of the Omega Men. He possessed both telepathy and telekinesis.
His wife, also present, was another Euphorian named Kalista, the deposed queen of Euphorix after the Citadel conquered her world. She wielded magic.
Then there was Toghurrhu, known as Tigorr, a Karnan. In his natural state, Tigorr resembled a massive Earth tiger. Through force of will, he could assume a humanoid form while still retaining many animalistic traits.
There was also Broot, a Changralynian who resembled a towering humanoid with gray, rock-like skin.
Then came Harpis, the genetically altered Aellan. Aellans originally resembled humanoids with yellow-green scaled skin, but Harpis had once been a prostitute before the Psions altered her under Komand'r's orders to make her more "appealing" to her troops. Now she resembled a winged, bat-like creature with purple skin, claws, and a tail.
Finally, there was Ferrin Colos of the Zambaii—a humanoid with coral-colored skin and bluish-white eyes. He had not originally been a member of the Omega Men, but joined them after fifty Gordanites devastated his planet for refusing to submit to the Citadel.
And then there was the Tamaranean.
"I thought you were dead," Kori said in Tamaranean through choked sobs as she embraced her younger brother, Ryand'r.
He looked older than she remembered—somewhere in his mid-twenties now.
Probably time dilation.
Joseph stood off to the side, allowing the siblings to reunite in peace while simultaneously designing improved versions of the battle drones—ones capable of constructing better residences and facilities for the millions living aboard Warworld.
"I thought you were dead too," Ryand'r replied. "I was preparing to attack Takron's arena to rescue you when you suddenly disappeared."
When the Gordanians attacked Tamaran, Kori's parents had launched Ryand'r into space in an escape pod to protect him from Komand'r.
No one ever discovered what became of him.
The Gordanians claimed they had never found him, which only meant one thing:
He was still out there somewhere.
Kori had long since given up hope of finding him…
…but some part of her had never truly stopped believing.
And now, against all odds, that hope had become reality.
Even if he wasn't entirely whole.
"Where were you? Who did this to you?" Kori asked after pulling back and noticing the absence of his right forearm.
"After mother and father launched me away in the escape pod, I was captured and enslaved by pirates," Ryand'r explained. "Eventually, the Omega Men freed me, and I joined them. For years, I fought alongside them against the Citadel's tyranny. We were attempting to unite the scattered rebel factions of the Vega system when Hokum ambushed us. We escaped… but only because several of our comrades sacrificed themselves."
His gaze dropped briefly to his missing arm.
"Hokum took this from me."
Kori broke down again, clutching him tightly before eventually wiping away her tears and forcing determination back into her expression.
"We'll get you a new arm," she said firmly. "And a new home. Come to Earth with me."
Ryand'r's expression turned conflicted.
"I can't," he admitted quietly. "I can't allow my comrades' sacrifices to be in vain." He looked directly at her. "Why don't you join us instead? With you among our ranks, more Tamaraneans would defect to the rightful heir to the throne."
"If I join you, only bloodshed awaits the people of Tamaran over a pointless war," Kori said softly. "Komand'r is already queen, and if only for the sake of her pride, she won't allow anything to happen to our people. I can't endanger innocent lives—or potentially implicate my new home if a connection is made. I'm sorry."
"Then—" Ryand'r began before lowering his gaze. "I'm sorry too."
Joseph could tell what the younger Tamaranean had wanted to ask.
Help.
The Warworld. Joseph's power. His armies.
But Ryand'r stopped himself before the words could leave his mouth. He loved his sister too much to ask for something that could strain her relationship with Joseph—or endanger the home she had found on Earth.
Kori's expression cracked with heartbreak, but she steadied herself.
"Come to Earth," she said firmly. "Even if it's only for a little while."
Ryand'r opened his mouth to object, but Kori immediately cut him off.
"I know you're not my baby brother anymore," she said. "You're grown now, and you can make your own decisions. But you still need rest. As your big sister, I'm not letting you jump straight back into battle."
Her eyes narrowed stubbornly.
"So you're coming to Earth even if I have to drag you there myself."
Ryand'r stared at her for a moment before chuckling and shaking his head in surrender.
"You're still as stubborn as you were when we were children," he admitted. "Fine. But I'll need to ask the rest of the crew."
The moment he agreed, Kori brightened and immediately hugged him again.
"You're crushing me here," Ryand'r wheezed out.
"Sorry," Kori laughed.
Then she smiled warmly. "Come with me. I'll have Sebas prepare some hot food for you. I'm sure you'll enjoy it more than dried Spudlings and Zorkaberries."
As she opened a Boom Tube, the thunderous boom startled Kalista, Tigorr, Broot, and Harpis.
"You all should come too," Kori offered.
After exchanging a few quick words with Ryand'r, the four followed her through the yellow portal before it snapped shut behind them.
Meanwhile, Primus and Colos remained behind and approached Joseph.
"Nova Knight has regaled us with tales of your exploits on Earth, Nova-Prime," Primus said respectfully in Interlac. "My name is Primus."
Joseph raised an eyebrow and glanced toward Jason, who enthusiastically waved back at him.
Nova Knight?
Just what kind of stories had this kid been telling people?
Normally, a spell prevented Jason from revealing sensitive information to outsiders, but the moment he put on the Nova helmet, every spell on him had shattered due to the Nth metal negating magic.
"And I am Ferrin Colos," the Zambaii said. "Foiling the schemes of the Thanagarians and protecting your planet from global supernatural threats… Earth is fortunate to have a protector like you."
There was bitterness beneath his words.
Joseph couldn't blame him.
The sheer number of absurdly powerful beings residing on Earth was ridiculous by galactic standards. Most worlds had nothing comparable and were forced to rely on the occasional Green Lantern patrol—assuming the Corps was even permitted to enter their sectors.
"I know who you are," Joseph replied. "You've accumulated rather sizeable bounties throughout Vega."
Primus and Colos immediately tensed, but Joseph waved a dismissive hand.
"Relax. I already had more wealth than I knew what to do with on Earth long before I acquired Warworld. I'm not interested in collecting bounty money." His expression darkened slightly. "And I despise the Citadel. They had the Gordanians and Psions abduct and experiment on people from Earth—including children. Kori and I were among their test subjects."
Primus lowered his head slightly. "My apologies."
"No need," Joseph said. "I made sure the Gordanians paid for it."
Colos' eyes widened.
"Wait… don't tell me…" His voice almost trembled. "You're the Protector of Polaris?"
Joseph was genuinely surprised the man had managed to connect the dots.
Taking Joseph's surprise as confirmation, Colos continued eagerly.
"A man in golden armor is currently the highest bounty posted by the Citadel," he explained. "He displayed powers similar to Nova Knight's, though his energy was golden instead of blue. His exploits are still being spoken about throughout the galaxy."
Colos' voice grew more animated.
"He slaughtered tens of thousands of Gordanians while defending and liberating Thanagar. Entire cities occupied by Citadel forces were purged within minutes."
Primus picked up where he left off.
"He defeated Despero—the undefeated champion of ninety-two star systems—in single combat," Primus said with visible respect. "Something believed impossible because most assumed Despero was immortal. He destroyed five Class-9 Bloodstars—motherships nearly the size of small moons—and captured another intact for the Thanagarians."
Primus' eyes shone with admiration.
"That single victory halted the Citadel's campaign against Thanagar and forced them into signing a twenty-year non-aggression treaty. You have inspired millions of freedom fighters across Vega to resist the Citadel's tyranny, Sir Nova-Prime."
Colos looked at Joseph with a gaze bordering on fanaticism.
Nearby, Jason floated closer, clearly stunned by the feats being listed. Admiration spread openly across his face—along with surprise that Joseph had never mentioned any of this before.
Joseph rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"I appreciate the flattery," he began, "but I'd rather you not go around revealing—"
"You have my word, sir," Colos interrupted immediately. "On my life, I will never reveal your identity or whereabouts."
Then he pointedly looked toward Primus.
"Yes," Primus agreed solemnly. "Your secret is safe with me. You have my honor as a noble of Euphorix."
Then his expression turned serious.
"But please… lend us your aid."
Colos stepped forward.
"My homeworld, Zamba, was once peaceful and prosperous," he said quietly. "Then the Citadel sent fifty Gordanites to subjugate it. When we rebelled… they destroyed it."
Pain flickered behind his pale eyes.
"I want to ensure no one else experiences what I did." His fists clenched tightly. "No one else should have to feel what I feel."