Chapter 18: Nice try, Cecil

Hey guys, I know the chapter name is hella lame and sorry for a late-ish update, but I have been swamped with airline tickets and hotel reservations and packing and itineraries. This is yet another short chapter. Sorry again. But enjoy the chapter. Maybe if I finish my bookings and shit, I'll grind out another chapter. I'm almost done with the next chapter for my DC story, so hope you guys look forward to it.

"To exist in this vast universe for a speck of time is the great gift of life. Our tiny sliver of time is our gift of life. It is our only life. The universe will go on, indifferent to our brief existence, but while we are here, we touch not just part of that vastness, but also the lives around us." -Terry Goodkind

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In a secluded area of a lush park, where the sounds of the city seemed to fade into the distance, Atom Eve waited. Her vibrant red hair and pink costume stood out against the backdrop of trees. She had been thinking a lot about her last conversation with Beerus, the enigmatic alien who had recently arrived on Earth. His perspective was harsh, yet there was a kernel of truth in his words that she couldn't dismiss. She hoped this meeting would be more productive, more illuminating.

A sudden gust of wind announced Beerus's arrival. He landed with a grace that belied his imposing presence, his eyes immediately locking onto Eve's. Despite his detached demeanor, there was a spark of curiosity in his gaze.

"Atom Eve," Beerus said, his voice a deep, resonant baritone. "I must admit, I was intrigued by your proposal to improve this planet. Not many would dare approach a Viltrumite with such an idea."

Eve nodded, her expression earnest. "I believe in humanity's potential. But I also recognize that we have a lot to learn and a lot of room for improvement. With the right guidance, we can change for the better. That's why I wanted to talk to you again."

Beerus crossed his arms, his expression skeptical but attentive. "And you think Viltrumites can be the ones to guide humanity?"

Eve took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "No. I'm not asking for domination. I'm asking for collaboration. You have strength, intelligence, and experience that we can learn from. But it has to be a partnership, not a dictatorship."

Beerus raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "A partnership? With humans? You do realize how flawed your species is, don't you? Constantly at war, destroying your own environment, divided by trivial differences."

Eve didn't flinch. She had expected this reaction. "I know we're flawed. But I also know we have the capacity for change. Look at what we've achieved despite our differences. Imagine what we could do with guidance and support from beings like you."

Beerus considered her words, his gaze drifting to the horizon. "Guidance and support. You speak as if humanity deserves it. Convince me, Eve. Why should we, the Viltrumites, bother with a species so bent on its own destruction?"

Eve stepped closer, her eyes filled with determination. "Because we're worth it. Despite our flaws, we have empathy, creativity, and a drive to improve. We've made incredible advancements in science, art, and society. We've overcome great challenges and have the potential to overcome even more with the right help."

Beerus's gaze returned to her, the intensity of his scrutiny almost palpable. "And what would you have us do? How would you envision this collaboration?"

Eve's mind raced, but she had been thinking about this for a while. "We start with education and technology. Share your knowledge with us. Help us develop sustainable technologies that can heal our planet. Guide us in ways to improve our society, to be more united and efficient. But most importantly, show us by example. Be leaders, not conquerors."

Beerus was silent for a moment, contemplating her words. "Leaders, not conquerors. It's a novel idea, but it goes against the very nature of what Viltrumites are. We thrive on strength, on proving ourselves superior."

Eve nodded. "I understand that. But true strength isn't just about dominance. It's about making others stronger, lifting them up. Isn't that a challenge worth taking? Proving that even the mightiest can show compassion and wisdom?"

For the first time, Beerus seemed to genuinely consider her point. "You are an ideal-"

Beerus narrowed his eyes as he noticed something out of his peripheral vision. A dart shot towards Eve. His Viltrumite mind raced faster than lightning as he considered the possibilities. He looked around at super speed and noticed the shot came out of nowhere but quickly noticed multiple shimmering figures approaching methodically. 'Cecil,' he thought menacingly. 

An idea formed in his mind, a cold, calculating plan. He decided to let things play out, his expression remaining neutral as he watched the dart in slow motion. It pierced the back of the teenager in front of him, her body jerking slightly as the tranquilizer took effect.

Eve gasped, her eyes widening in shock and pain. "Beerus... help..." she managed to whisper before her legs gave out, and she crumpled to the ground.

Beerus watched her fall, a carefully controlled mask of indifference on his face. He knew this was a perfect opportunity to exploit the situation, to turn Eve's faith in her government into doubt. He glanced around, noticing the operatives closing in, their stealth suits flickering in and out of visibility.

"Pathetic," Beerus muttered under his breath, loud enough for the approaching figures to hear. He knelt beside Eve, gently lifting her limp body into his arms. His expression turned from cold indifference to a calculated concern as he looked down at her, making sure the operatives saw his next move.

"Look at what your precious government has done, Eve," he said softly, his voice carrying a mix of glee and disappointment. "They've attacked you, their own protector, without hesitation."

The operatives hesitated, unsure of their next move. One of them, the leader, stepped forward, his weapon still trained on Beerus. "Stand down, Atlas. This doesn't have to get any worse."

Beerus slowly rose to his feet, cradling Eve. "You dare demand I stand down? You humans are truly remarkable in your hypocrisy."

"Orders from the top," the leader said, though there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice now. "We were told to contain the situation."

"Contain?" Beerus scoffed, his eyes blazing with a dangerous light. "You mean to say you were ordered to neutralize a potential threat. Is this how you treat your heroes? Your protectors?"

The other operatives exchanged uneasy glances, the seeds of doubt already beginning to take root. Beerus could see it in their faces, the realization that they might have overstepped their bounds.

"You want to contain me?" Beerus said, his voice dropping to a lethal whisper. "Very well. Let me show you what true containment looks like."

With a sudden, explosive burst of speed, Beerus moved. His hand blurred as he snatched the weapon from the nearest operative, his grip crushing the metal with ease. In one fluid motion, he swung the operative around like a ragdoll and flung him into his comrades with such force that bones snapped and the air filled with the sickening sound of bodies colliding. The remaining operatives were thrown back, their stealth suits flickering as they struggled to regain their footing amidst the wreckage of their comrades.

The operatives, battered and dazed, could only watch in horror as Beerus's eyes glowed with a dangerous light. Without warning, he fired two crimson beams from his eyes, the searing heat instantly vaporizing the air around them. The beams sliced through the air with a high-pitched whine, narrowly missing their heads and leaving smoldering trails in the asphalt behind them. The heat was so intense that the operatives could feel their skin blistering, and the asphalt beneath them bubbled and cracked from the residual energy.

One operative, closest to the beams, screamed as the heat singed his hair and the edges of his suit melted into his flesh. Another staggered back, clutching at his face where the heat had seared his skin, his screams of agony filling the air. The acrid smell of burnt flesh and melted fabric mingled with the stench of fear.

"Tell Cecil," he snarled, "that if he wants to play games, he's chosen the wrong opponent. And tell him this: Human blood will be on his hands, not mine."

As Beerus shot into the sky, a sonic boom echoed through the desolate street, leaving the operatives to deal with the aftermath of the brutal encounter. The ground was scarred, the air heavy with the scent of burnt asphalt and flesh, and the operatives, some unconscious, some barely alive, were left as a testament to the Viltrumite's overwhelming power and merciless intent.

"Stay with me, Eve," he murmured, his voice surprisingly gentle. "You have much to learn about the true nature of those you trust."

Eve's eyes met his, filled with confusion and fear. "Why... why did they...?"

"Because they fear what they don't understand," Beerus replied. "And they would rather destroy it than take the time to learn. But you, Eve, you can be different. You can see beyond their narrow-mindedness."

As they flew away from the city, the ground below becoming a blur, Eve clung to the fading edges of consciousness, her mind a whirl of questions and doubts. Beerus's words echoed in her mind, planting the seeds of distrust and skepticism. Her vision blurred, and the last thing she saw before succumbing to darkness was Beerus's cold, calculating eyes.

Satisfied with his manipulation, Beerus allowed a small, knowing smile to cross his lips. This was just the beginning.

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Cecil Stedman stood in the command center of the Global Defense Agency, his eyes fixed on the myriad of screens displaying live footage from the failed operation. His jaw clenched as he watched the brutal aftermath of Beerus's attack on his operatives. The sight of scorched ground, shattered bodies, and the eerie glow of lingering heat vision beams filled the room with a grim silence.

"Goddamn it," Cecil muttered under his breath, slamming his fist onto the control panel. The room's ambient hum seemed to intensify, matching the rising tension within him. He turned to Donald Ferguson, who was monitoring the feeds with a furrowed brow. "This was supposed to be a simple extraction. Get Eve, distract Beerus, and get the hell out. What went wrong?"

Donald shook his head, his fingers tapping furiously on the keyboard to bring up detailed reports. "Beerus reacted faster than we anticipated. He turned our own operatives into cannon fodder within seconds."

Cecil's frustration was palpable. "And now Eve is in his hands. He's using her as a pawn to undermine us. This is worse than we thought."

The screen showed a close-up of the operatives, some crawling away from the scene, others lying motionless. Medical teams were already en route, but the damage was done. Cecil's eyes were drawn to one operative in particular, whose face was half-melted by the heat vision, a grim reminder of Beerus's raw power.

"We underestimated him," Cecil admitted, a rare concession from a man who prided himself on being prepared for any contingency. "Beerus isn't just a brute. He's calculating. He knew exactly how to make a statement."

Donald looked up from his console, his face pale. "Cecil, what's our next move? If we can't outmuscle him, how do we outthink him?"

Cecil's mind raced. "We need to regroup. First, get our operatives out of there and stabilize them. I want full medical support on the ground. No one gets left behind."

Donald nodded and relayed the orders through his earpiece. Cecil continued, his voice steely with determination. "We also need to track Beerus. I want eyes on him at all times. Use every satellite, every drone, every asset we have. If he so much as blinks, I want to know about it."

"And Eve?" Donald asked cautiously.

Cecil's face hardened. "We need to ensure her safety. She's crucial, not just for her powers, but for what she represents. Beerus thinks he can use her against us, to shake our trust in the system. We can't let that happen."

The screens shifted to show live satellite feeds tracking Beerus's flight path, his image a red dot flying across the screen moving rapidly across the globe. Cecil leaned forward, his gaze intense. "We need a new strategy. Something he won't see coming. And we need to find a way to get through to him, to make him see that he doesn't have to be our enemy."

Donald hesitated. "You think he can be reasoned with?"

Cecil sighed, rubbing his temples. "I don't know. But right now, we don't have a choice. We need every advantage we can get. Prepare a team for a negotiation attempt. And make sure they're ready for anything."

The command center buzzed with renewed activity as Cecil's orders were executed. He stood, watching the screens, his mind working through countless scenarios. The stakes had never been higher, and the margin for error had never been smaller. But he was a man who thrived under pressure, and he was determined to find a way to turn the tide.

As he watched the screens, he silently vowed, "Beerus, you've made your move. Now it's my turn."