Vol III | Chapter XXI

Author's Announcement

The grammars or anything else that needs checking were not checked, so apologies in advance :)

P.S - I have created an account and extended my stories to Penana (penana.com) although, I will still operate my Wattpad and Webnovel account. I am just testing out other websites and I am liking Penana and might move there... not certain yet though!

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While the guardsmen and the Red Hood had some time to bond, after meeting with an unsuspecting villain in the sewers, meanwhile in the Watchtower that orbited around the Earth - a squad of grenadiers with their watchmaster - there were some conversations to be had.

As he took the initiative, Oliver Queen approached the leader of the squad - as prior knowledge with the other Watchmaster and Grenadier went - he made it obvious that he was not an abhuman or a xeno.

"Welcome to Earth."

Almost as if disappointed, nearly everyone in the room frowned and disapproved of Oliver's approach - especially as a first impression - when he received no response at all from the guardsmen that were detained. Their poses were impeccable, their stance and their backs straight and proud as they lined up standing as if undertaking a court hearing - awaiting - for their sentences.

With a heavy sigh, Oliver took a deep breath before he reminded them what they were earlier subjected to, yet the guardsmen did not even flinch at the mention of being subject again under such torture and interogation.

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The guardsmen were forcibly woken up, and each of them were kept in a sizable cell - imprisoned in a glass box - before one at a time they were separately directed to the interrogation room and the process had been conducted by none other than Wonder Woman and Aquaman.

Despite threatening them with cruel torture, and even the possibility of death, each of the guardsmen were indifferent and did not spoke, although only did react and moved when they had an opportunity to strike at either of them, possibly to kill their captor: either through strangulation, or a beating until dead, or anything else really that would result in the outcome of their captors being dead.

Although, it always ended with a heavily and painfully subduing of a guardsman right after, and so if not all of the guardsmen were either bruised or heavily bruised.

When intimidation seemed to fail, they had considered truly torturing them but there were many among them that also protested even the thought of it. So, they all have looked to the man that has searched and entered their minds before: The Martian.

"I know what you all are thinking that I must do, but let us not forget that it might only serve to aggravate them further, and if they are much worse than the last; it would be difficult to gain their cooperation."

The Martian said his piece, before Aquaman spoke after him, and with Diana - Wonder Woman's support - that backed him up.

"If they are anything but worse than the last, I doubt that they would have a loose mouth. I mean, even the last ones were quite the stubborn ones before they eventually decided to speak to make a bargain with us." Aquaman said.

"I agree, and with Green Lantern still away to do research and hold counsel with the Nova Corps and other Green Lanterns from all the galaxy about anything on the Imperium of Man, it is concerning. So, if there is no other way - you have to do it, Martian." Wonder Woman added her piece as everyone became quiet as they considered their options.

"How about I have a word with them?"

They all turned and looked to the voice that spoke up, and their eyes landed on Oliver Queen - the Green Arrow - as he took a step forward and presented his reason and ways to get them to open their tightly shut lips.

"The previous conversation, well the first and only conversation that we all heard from the guardsmen - Masha and Hylric - was that they were incredibly xenophobes. Now, I don't mean to entertain those ideals but I think it would be best if they talked to someone that wouldn't irk them."

It was reasonable and logical, and because of that Oliver Queen took the mantle and the initiative on their next approach to garner at least a sense of being trustworthy with the guardsmen that were retrieved from the Soviets.

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"The threats of torture was a lie. We are not your enemies, I just need you and your subordinates to cooperate."

Oliver started, hopeful that he could get through to them, although it seemed he would have to put in the effort when they remained silent still. With their uniform slightly dirtied and overall appearance a mess, he wondered if they would appreciate a warm bath - until he figured that it probably barely even bothered them - before he returned back to the conversation to be had after being continued to be treated with silence.

"I am a human, a simple man without any power, and as you can tell I am not a xeno."

There was not a single reaction from that, but among the guardsmen he can say that the watchmaster was at least interested - although subtle he noticed that she tilted her head slightly - as he celebrated at the tiny progress that has been in a stalemate for nearly four days.

"I don't work for them, and I am not forced or a servant to them, but I do work alongside them if the Earth ever becomes threatened with danger. So, I want to ask if you would cooperate with me to sort things out."

Truly, he really took note and remembered the things that had Masha acting out on their first encounter, therefore he was almost certain that they would consider them as some sort of PDF - the Planetary Defense Force - that Masha had mentioned once before.

But what Oliver was not expecting is that he was entirely wrong, instead the grenadiers and the watchmaster have already concluded him and other humans as cunning and deceiving traitors.

Because truly, a world that had abhumans and xenos with possible powers from the warp as their Planetary Defense Force, they were committing heresy by allowing these fiends to be the master of them.

Although, they - the Justice League - did not need to know that was concluded in their thoughts. 'Let a fool run his mouth rampant, and watch it reveal everything.'

So as the watchmaster and her grenadiers continued to just stand still - listening to the man's words - eventually her interest was piqued once again when something was mentioned.

"A good friend of ours in the League has been wandering around and asking, but unfortunately it would seem that your Imperium is lost to everyone's knowledge. It is almost to the point that the furthest that the Nova Corp could even extend through the cosmos are unaware of such a thing."

As Oliver feared an outburst may erupt, he was quick to add. "So I want you and your subordinates to cooperate, so that we can send a distress signal to them that their guardsmen are here and pick you up."

Oliver lies through his teeth, in truth everyone was still uncertain about approaching an Imperium that had doctrines and attitudes that could ignite a war - especially with its views that were xenophobic and being militaristics.

Those that were present at this moment were earlier deliberating, and discussing the very prisoners that they have detained, starting with the Kid Flash.

'While I don't have a problem with contacting a civilization from outer space, I don't think we should be in a hurry to reach out to this Imperium, for now.' Wally, the person responsible for discovering them and bringing them back here, though his minds slightly shift to the Red Trinity that made it possible, he wonders what they are up to with Doctor Orloff in his attempt to save Doctor McGee.

They must be acting as the doctor's bodyguards, he concluded before he hears a voice agreeing with what he had to say.

'Surely, most of you don't think that it would be wise to invite an unknown and fresh player from out of space just like that?' Black Canary spoke up with her hands resting on her hips, abruptly bothered by the notion that the thought was being considered.

'With how they react and their attitude towards us, it would only be reasonable to think that the Imperium is like that to a degree, if not just like that. In short, my concern is quite simple - how would we know that the Imperium would not just obliterate us upon first contact - if we don't know if they are either neutral or hostile against us.'

'So how about we take a step back before we call any strangers to our solar system, is that agreeable? Black Canary added and ended.'

'Yes, it would be irresponsible on our part if we do manage to find the Imperium and then just give them the Earth's coordinates, I agree with Black Canary.' Zatanna jumps in as the others begin to murmur and converse with each other regarding their stance once and if they finally contact the Imperium.

As he scratches his head, Green Arrow - Oliver Queens - took it to heart and decided that they would have to tell a 'delayed' truth - which was a lie waiting to become true - until they get a better understanding and news from the Green Lantern - Alan Scott - when he returns.

With the short span of recollecting what has been discussed about, what to say and their approach, Oliver waited for their response and it came with a quick and hard solid punch.

Although they had the guardsmen stand with restraints on their hands, they have let the watchmaster spared from being restrained as a show of goodwill, and with that as an opportunity - the Watchmaster did not waste it.

Despite being agile and others could say flexible, Oliver was distracted with all that was happening in his mind, that honestly he allowed it even though he saw it.

With a good 'greeting' from the Watchmaster, Oliver receives it without complaint until he decides that was enough for a greeting as he sees the watchmaster charge for another swing, and so with an efficient and effective subduing technique he gets her under control. But not before he was smacked by the back of her helmet as he was behind her - so his jaw and lips were painfully bruised - until he had her on the ground.

As Oliver looked to the others, they were watching the guardsmen for any attempts, but there wasn't, and it puzzled them considering they seemed to be the type to just charge out all at once - live or die the sort of type - but they remained in their spot.

'They must have been ordered not to act rashly.' He snorted, amused as he looked at the person that ordered her subordinates but she couldn't follow them.

"Alright, I think you all had enough for the day. So, back to your cells."

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