33. Martian talk
The journey from Earth to Mars had been short yet wonderful. Traversing the cosmic void was calming, but it gave them time to be themselves, not tied to a planet and its inhabitants. Zion had always been fascinated with the cosmic wonders—the ever-expanding ocean of reality, the sea of nebulae, and the lights of stars. These were wonders that humans could never comprehend fully. No man can ever match the wonders of the Creator.
The red planet was one of such wonders; this barren planet had once given birth to one of the strongest creatures of this universe. The burning Martians were anything but burning hatred, fury, and sorrow. Beings that thrived in suffering, of their own and others, ever chasing destruction and chaos. They might have become the second powerhouse if not for the Oan Guardians.
Yet that lost power was within his grasp; he only needed to enter their city to obtain it. "What are you thinking?" Kara punched Zion's shoulder. Zion snapped out of his thoughts and looked at Kara dazedly. "What?" "Nothing much, just thinking about the gains of this alliance," Zion answered, half-truthfully. Kara frowned; she had seen the evil smile on Zion's face, his eyes greedy for power. She had seen it in many humans, ones that were always up to no good. She would keep an eye on him; Zion might be a Kryptonian now, but she was still stronger.
As Zion and Kara descended from the sky, the Martian atmosphere enveloped them. The thin atmosphere of the delicate planet brushed past in ghostly whispers. The gravity lightly tugged at their bodies; it was gentler than that of Earth. The vast expanse of reddish-brown shades, the landscape extending like a surreal painting, with mesas and craters weaving a story of cosmic forces at play. A gentle breeze stirs the fine particles, creating a dance of red dust that shimmers in the thin atmosphere.
The surface, coarse yet strangely captivating, cradles their boots, marking their arrival at Mars. Zion and Kara strode forward, their steps light, keeping to the ground, their footprints marking the beginning of their journey. "Kara, come near," Zion, in his joy, decided to take a picture. "Let's take a picture." He took out the smartphone he had built for his personal use. The black square looked unlike any smartphone, but its 360-degree image rendering would capture this moment perfectly. Kara just stood still, causing Zion to move near. He lifted the black square, and the object did a light show as it scanned their surroundings and recorded it into its memories. With the picture taken, he lightly kicked off the surface and flew in a certain direction, with Kara following behind.
Zion had scanned Mars's surface with his X-ray vision before entry. He knew where the capital city, Ma'aleca'andra, was. Zion didn't want to delay any longer and flew towards the nearest opening to the cavern underneath. He followed the tunnels and descended deep until he arrived at a vast expanse inside the earth. The Martian city greeted them with a blend of towering structures and intricate networks, reflecting a society that had flourished over eons. The air crackled with an energy unfamiliar to Earth, hinting at the unique nature of Martian technology and culture.
Landing smoothly among the crowd, Zion and Kara observed the many Martians going about their daily activities. Some in their natural Martian form, while some resembling humans with green or white skin. The Martian citizens curiously observed the arrival of these extraterrestrial visitors, their eyes reflecting a mix of intrigue and caution.
Zion and Kara continued their journey uninterrupted, their presence already causing a stir in Martian society. News in the psychic society spread very, very fast. Zion, knowing that their arrival would have already reached their King and Queen, decided to take his time to tour his future neighborhood. He, followed by Kara, strolled the city streets. Many Martians pointed fingers at them, some cautious, the older ones, while some tried to approach only to be stopped by the spear-pointing Martians, the Manhunters. It was a platoon of Martian police that arrived to deal with their presence. The Green Martians with a red X and tight uniform pointed their spears at Zion and Kara. Zion just stopped and smiled at them; he could feel that they were trying to form a psychic link with their minds only to be blocked by the wall of Bio-field. This natural electric field was protecting their brain waves; normally, this was not possible for humans as they have zero control over their bio-electric fields.
"I am Zion, this is Kara," Zion introduced, his voice deepened by the mask. "We come in peace, seeking to collaborate for the benefits of both worlds." "Extraterrestrial visitors are not a common sight. State your purpose for the unannounced visit, Zion of?" The Martian officer inquired, halting the psychic infiltration. "Zion of Earth and Kara Zor-El of Krypton, we are here to propose an alliance. We believe that it will brighten up the future of both worlds," Zion elaborated undeterred by the show of force. The Martian officer, unmoved, signaled to his troops to hold their ground. They would not let the visitor in without confirmation. Zion, realizing the need to bridge the gap, continued to address the Martian officer. "To assure you of our sincerity, I offer access to my mind. You can see for yourselves the truth behind our mission." The Martian officer hesitated, exchanging a glance with his fellow soldiers. After a moment of silent deliberation, he nodded, indicating his acceptance of Zion's proposal. "Very well, Zion of Earth. Let the truth be revealed."
The atmosphere shifted as the Martian officer stepped forward. Zion, with a composed demeanor, welcomed the mental probing. Kara stood firm to the side, her thoughts still shielded from the Martian telepaths. In the mindscape, memories unfolded like a cosmic tapestry—images of Zion's childhood, the journey after he received his power, and the genuine desire to make Mars a shared home. The telepath, immersed in Zion's thoughts, discovered the authenticity of Zion's request. The Martian officer, having witnessed the truth, lowered his guard. "Their intentions are genuine. They seek unity, not conquest." The pointed weapons were lowered, and a sense of understanding permeated the air. The Martian officer, with a nod of approval, declared, "You may proceed. We will escort you to the royal palace. The king and queen will decide the fate of your proposal." Zion sighed in relief; he was expecting the Martians to be more hardheaded with all their racial differences. His plan B not coming to fruition was a pleasant thing. Zion and Kara, standing amidst the Martian force, continued their journey towards the palace. Escorted through the bustling Martian capital, Zion and Kara followed the Martian officer towards the regal spires of the royal palace. The Martian citizens, once skeptical, now observed the Kryptonians with a mix of curiosity and something similar to acceptance.
As the grand doors of the palace swung open, revealing the opulent interior, Zion and Kara found themselves standing before the Martian King and Queen. The royal couple, adorned in resplendent attire, regarded the visitors with a combination of regal poise and genuine interest. The queen, her eyes reflecting Martianwisdom, spoke, "Your arrival has stirred the winds of change, Zion of Earth. Speak your purpose!" Zion bowed respectfully, acknowledging the Martian monarchy. "We come to extend an invitation to an alliance." The king, a figure of stoic presence, inquired, "Between Humans and Martians?" "No," Zion's words stunned the monarchs. "Humans are not yet ready to meet another intelligent race; they are still divided."
Zion, with conviction in his voice, began to articulate his plan, "I came here to extend a helping hand to Mars. I have the technology and powers to make this barren planet more habitable. I believe that you desire to see the night sky than the dark cavern you are imprisoning yourselves in. So, form an alliance with me, and together we shall make a brighter future for M'arzz."
"Bold words, Human," The king's commanding presence accompanied his intent. "What guarantees do you offer that this alliance will not disturb the delicate balance of our world?" Zion stepped forward, his gaze meeting the King's. "My guarantee lies in the fact that I really don't like the barren scenery of this planet to be my lab. I also offer my knowledge, technology, and strength as long as the Martians need it."
The Martian King, after a thoughtful pause, spoke, "Your proposal is audacious, yet intriguing. The prospect of transforming M'arzz into a haven for Martians is a vision worthy of consideration." The queen, her gaze piercing yet contemplative, added, "But words alone cannot forge an alliance. Actions will speak louder. How do you propose to embark on such a monumental endeavor?" Zion responded, "I am not here to offer flowery words but to show my sincerity." Zion pulled the sunstone from his pocket. "This is a Kryptonian data crystal. It has the ability to self-replicate and create crystalline structures in a matter of minutes. This will be the dawn of the bright days of M'arzz. With this crystal and my powers, the terraformation of M'arzz will begin, and in a decade M'arzz would be unrecognizable from its past barrenness. And to guarantee that this process is successful, me and my friend will remain on M'arzz."
Zion pocketed the sunstone, "For more context." He slapped the Omnitrix on his waist. The golden flash filled the hall, and Zion's Kryptonian form vanished, replaced by a white 8-foot tall humanoid with lengthy arms and long fingers, a diamond-shaped face. Zion looked down and checked his body, the weird white bipedal creature. "Hey, I am white now," Zion quipped as he turned to Kara, who didn't understand his joke. Zion just shrugged off Kara's unsportsmanship and turned to the King and the Queen. He crossed his arms on his chest and performed the Martian greeting. "I hope for our continuous collaboration."
The king and the queen, snapped out of the shock, their minds filled with questions, 'How did you turn into a Martian?' The queen spoke through the psychic link, naturally like how she would to any other Martian. She knew that the Martian before was not a shape-shifter because she could sense the familiar mind touch of Martians. "My powers, my queen. I showed it to you to prove my sincerity about this alliance. As I am of the Martian race now, albeit a bit white," Zion responded. Naturally, the Queen didn't understand the human quip. He didn't know why the Omnitrix chose an A'ashenn, but he shall preach these creatures about love and equality.
The king quietly observed the A'ashenn, his mind lost in thought. "But why an A'ashenn?" The king asked, snapping out of his pondering. Zion scratched his chin as he thought about how to preach. "Well, my powers allow me to transform into the peak of the respective species that I transform into, but I doubt my skin color got to do anything with it. G'arrunn and A'ashenn only differ by the pigment of their skin; they are like humans and how we have different skin color."
The king nodded, "Yes, the strife due to the color of the skin was not unique to Martians. You, humans, have a similar history, and we too are trying to end this division." The king breathed a heavy sigh. Zion, fully knowing their predicament, quipped, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for all is one in Jesus Christ." The king not understanding the quote asked, "What are you saying, human?" "Everyone is equal before GOD. Division and oppression will only bring forth destruction and chaos," Zion responded.
"Wise words," The kings agreed, "I have been trying to end the disparity between the G'arrunn and A'ashenn, but it is harder than I imagined." "We cannot change the past, but we can strive to make a brighter future. And I am here to help," Zion assured. The king nodded, "Right, then we shall form an alliance. For the betterment of The Martians as a whole, and you desire for?" The king noticed that they never learned what Zion wanted for this alliance. "A piece of land for my lab and a bioship?" Zion stated his price; after all, he was here for it.
The king, confused, "Is that all you need?" He wasn't expecting his future ally to only demand a piece of land and a bioship. They could afford these conditions. Zion gave an affirming nod, "Yes, but the lands should be big enough to accommodate my lab." "We can afford those conditions," The queen agreed. "So, we shall officially form an alliance with Zion from Earth," The king announced through his psychic link. Zion turned and gave Kara a thumbs up.