Chapter Twenty-Three, Part Two

"When the cat's away…"

Doom smiled to himself as he descended into the bowls of Coruscant. Ultron had converted the depths of this putrid world into something like a paradise. An entirely different city, hidden below the upper layers like a mockery of everything above. Dan-EL was absent, a perfect opportunity to have a sit down.

"What took you so long," Ultron's main body drifted from the darkness of Doom's personal tunnel. Ever since he'd received the All-Spark, the A.I. had spent most of his time below the streets of the Republic's capital. "We'll need to leave soon and complete our part of the Naboo mission…"

"I'm well aware," Doom smirked at the changed machine. The All-Spark had boosted his abilities in every way, but it had tempered the A.I.'s spirit. "I want to go over our plan for Palpitine, he will become chancellor in less than two weeks after all."

"What is there to discuss," Ultron rolled his shoulders and faked a yawn. "He will die, and I'll strip him for genetic materials, nice and easy."

"That fake soul has dulled your mind," Doom tapped the A.I. 's chestplate. "I've met with the man in person, he won't lay down without a fight."

Doom had spent the last five years in a fencing match with the cursed Sith. No action in the senate was free of his enemies clammy hands. It was a miracle that he'd been able to rally support to Garnib's cause, when every other moment was spent on routing Palpitine's meddling.

"His power comes from the Force," Ultron scoffed and pointed to the depths of the planet under their feet. "I've got enough lizards on this world to storm the Jedi temple, let alone deal with a single man."

Doom sighed. Even Dan-EL treated Palpitine like an afterthought, a bump in the road before the real dangers showed themselves. It was a mistake. Doom was skilled in the magical arts, enough that he could see past the Sith's facade. Underneath the wrinkled flesh of his aged body, Darth Sidious was something more.

"Regardless, I will be taking extra steps," Doom pushed on, past the A.I. 's lackadaisical attitude. "Help me, or you can forget about our deal…"

"Fine!" Ultron rolled his eyes and made a short bow. "What does the esteemed representative of Garnib want from me today?"

****************************************************************

"I can't believe we couldn't find Darkwing's base," Dan frowned as he drifted above the Pentagon, the next most advanced network on the Earth. "I wonder how I should get inside this time…"

His brute force effort was fine for the heroes, but the government would make all kinds of noise if he smashed his way into their hidden lairs. Perhaps he could walk in the front door. It would attract attention, but that was a good thing at this point. Every action he took created a small charge for his system, so stirring up the pot was only to his benefit.

"I hope you don't plan on busting your way inside?" A wry voice sounded in his ear. Dan cocked his head, the sound was transmitted by a directional high frequency microphone no normal person would be able to hear. "There are better ways to say hello, you know?"

"I suppose," Dan snorted. He traced the source to a small utility shed, behind the building proper. "I take it you want me to go through that shack down there?"

"You got it," the gruff man laughed. "I'll meet you when you get inside…" The call ended, but the tone still led to the hidden entrance.

"What do you think, Venom… is it a trap?" Dan flew down without concern and knocked on the door.

"There is much communication activity," the symbiote grumbled. "They are afraid of us!"

Dan shrugged as the door creaked open. In a reversed situation, he would be very concerned about an overpowered alien loose on his world. He stepped into the darkened space and smiled. He was surrounded by men in some kind of cloaked armour, each with a bulky weapon in hand.

"Good to finally meet you," A scar-faced man walked forward and held out his hand. Dressed in a well pressed suit, he carried the look of a wolf that presented itself as a sheep. "The name is Cecil Stedman, I run the Global Defence Agency."

"Dan-EL," The two shook, with Dan careful to keep his grip tolerable for the human. He flicked his eyes to the men around them, then back to Cecil. "These soldiers aren't really necessary, I'm here to offer an alliance of sorts between my people and the Earth."

"Old habits…" Cecil laughed and waved to the invisible troops. All but two filtered away, while the remainder flanked Cecil on either side. "If what you're saying is true, it would be a historic day for mankind," the man's tone carried little emotion, more a factual statement than an earnest display of desire. "The first official contact between us and an alien society."

"What about Omniman?" Dan followed as Cecil turned and walked into an elevator. "He's supposed to be from a civilization of protectors or something, isn't he?"

Dan had found very little on the Viltrumites. Only that Omniman claimed them as peaceful, and that his people had sent him to protect the Earth. What concerned him more was the data on the man's strength. He was certainly equal to a movie superman, perhaps stronger in some ways.

"Omniman is very tight lipped about his people," Cecil's eyes betrayed a slight twitch. "So far, he's the only member of his species to come here, and he has no interest in the world's governments."

Dan let silence fall as the elevator descended, far deeper than any lift should go. Omniman hadn't done anything suspicious, but his gut told him that the man was bad news. He would bet that his motivations were less noble than the average Superman.

"Welcome, to the GDA," Cecil waved his arms as the doors opened. Dan had a vision of the Men in Black as a vast space filled with suited workers revealed itself. "The world's first and only real line of defence against extraordinary threats!"