Chapter 35 - The Odyssey - Part 2

Earth - Wayne Manor - Orach's Room

As the formidable DAUNTLESS class warship carved its path towards an unknown destination in the cosmos, Orach was greeted by the dawn of a new day back on Earth.

Orach had always harbored a deep fondness for the nocturnal serenity and the celestial bodies dotting the night sky. Thus, he often chose to keep his window shades open, welcoming the moonlight's gentle glow into his room. As the first light of the day made its way through the open window, it painted his room with a soft luminosity. The sunbeams gradually warmed Orach's face, a sensation too potent to be ignored. His face scrunched up involuntarily, and soon, his eyes fluttered open. A somewhat groggy Orach stirred from his peaceful slumber, his senses gradually registering the ambiance of the new day. His awakening was accompanied by a melodious voice, one that was deeply ingrained in his heart.

"Good morning, young master!" the AI, Mother Empress, greeted him cheerfully, her voice echoing around the room with a maternal warmth.

Returning her greeting, Orach responded, "Good morning, Mother Empress." After exchanging pleasantries with his AI, he rose from his bed, stretching his limbs and preparing to freshen up in his en-suite bathroom.

While Orach was in the midst of his morning routine, a knock echoed from his bedroom door. He paused, toothbrush in mouth, and extended his Ki outwards, sensing the familiar presence of Alfred. After quickly rinsing his mouth, Orach grabbed a hand towel and made his way to the door, unlocking it to reveal the ever-dutiful butler.

"Good morning, Master Orach. I trust the morning is treating you well," Alfred greeted, a warm smile gracing his semi-aged features.

Returning the greeting, Orach responded, "Good morning, Alfred. So far, so good. What brings you to my room this early?"

"Just thought of dropping these clothes off for you to wear today. I'll be heading to the tailors with your measurements we took yesterday. I plan to have both casual and professional clothes made for you. Additionally, do not worry about the hole for your tail in the clothes I've brought here, sir. I've personally made the adjustments to all of them to accommodate your tail," Alfred replied, his voice laced with pride.

"...Thank you, Alfred. I appreciate your efforts. These would indeed be handy since I believe Bruce intends to introduce his R&D director to me this evening to discuss work," Orach responded, his voice filled with respect for the man standing before him.

"It's the least I could do, Sir. You've granted me a new lease on life by rejuvenating this old man's body. Also, Miss Diana explicitly requested before her departure that I take exceptional care of you until her return," Alfred replied, his voice filled with heartfelt sincerity.

"…I see, I understand," Orach responded, his words carrying a hint of gratitude and respect.

"Very well, Master Orach," Alfred continued, "Once you're ready, please make your way to the dining hall for breakfast. I'll soon prepare the table. Do you recall the way, or shall I guide you?"

"There's no need, Alfred," Orach interjected gently, "If I remember correctly, it's adjacent to the living room where we all gathered yesterday, right?"

"Yes, Master Orach, you're absolutely correct," Alfred confirmed, nodding in affirmation.

"Then, I'll meet you there. After breakfast, I intend to do some training outside in the garden," Orach outlined his plan.

"Understood, Master Orach. I'll go rouse Master Bruce now. Unlike you, he isn't inclined towards rising early," Alfred chuckled lightly.

"Given his nocturnal pursuits, that's not surprising. But, Alfred, you've got one aspect wrong. I may be an early riser, but that's not by choice. It's a result of being conditioned under a stringent regimen by my division's Vice Captain. She was unwaveringly strict when it came to training," Orach recounted, his voice tinged with a blend of annoyance and fond remembrance.

"…I see," Alfred replied, his tone reflecting his understanding. With that, he took his leave, heading towards Bruce's room.

After Orach watched Alfred leave, he shut the door to his room and proceeded to continue his routine, immersing himself in the warmth of a hot shower. He took pleasure in the cascading water, allowing it to wash away his physical fatigue. Emerging from the bathroom with a long towel wrapped around his waist and a smaller one on his head to dry his hair, he presented an imposing figure. Rivulets of water trickled down his muscular abs, glimmering under the room's light.

Once dry, he approached a glass table next to the room's sofa, where an assortment of clothes was laid out. He selected his attire for the day, pleased that this set included a hole for his tail. Despite feeling slightly restricted, he consoled himself with the thought that this discomfort would be temporary, as Alfred had promised to procure custom clothing. Once dressed, he reattached his scouter on his ear, a device he had removed before his shower.

Dressed and ready for the day, Orach descended to the ground floor and made his way towards the Dining Hall. As he neared, he noticed Bruce, Victor, and Hal already seated, engrossed in what looked like some reading material. As he took his seat, he saw Bruce and Victor's expression turn sour momentarily, before quickly returning to normal upon noticing his presence. Hal, on the other hand, seemed to be doing his best to quietly consume his breakfast and remain unnoticed by Orach.

"Good morning, gentlemen. What has you so engrossed in those…tablets? You didn't even notice me entering the hall. What's happening?" Orach inquired, his tone tinged with curiosity.

"We were just reading a news article, penned by a renowned reporter. We're trying to figure out where she sourced her information. And yes, this is a tablet—a piece of technology that lets us consume content or analyze data on the go," Victor replied, aiming for a casual tone.

"Interesting. We had similar devices, but they were thinner, more durable, and transparent, made of glass, and equipped with holographic technology. But this is stylish too. So, what's this article that's got you both so captivated?" Orach pressed, not ready to drop the topic.

"Well... it's an article describing what happened on the battlefield. It talks about the bravery of our team of heroes and the soldiers who stood by us, the events before and after your arrival, your interactions with Diana, and... Superman," Bruce said, deciding to reveal the truth about the article authored by Lois Lane.

"Oh! So, what are the highlights? Also, why did you emphasize Clark's alias at the end?" Orach asked, his interest piqued.

"Well... Lois Lane is a world-renowned reporter known for her professionalism and courage. She never shies away from exposing criminals, even when it puts her in danger. However, for the past year, she has been dating Clark. So, the article is a little... biased towards Clark's favor and exhibits her anger towards you for what happened with Hal and Clark," Bruce explained, being as honest as he could.

"Thank you for your honesty, Bruce. I appreciate it. As a sign of respect for you, I won't take any action against this Lois Lane. However, I would like her to attend the event where you're announcing the formation of the Justice League. I am curious to have a chat with her. If there are other reporters, invite them as well. I'll answer some questions and make it clear that they can write whatever they want about me, even portray me as a monster. But if they write anything about my people... my world... they will be crossing a line," Orach said, his tone stern, his face showing no emotion.

His words sent a chill down the spine of everyone present in the hall. It was clear to them that whatever came next, things were about to get even more complicated and dangerous.

CLAP

A sudden, resounding clap echoed throughout the room, momentarily suspending the intense atmosphere that had been building up. The source of the sound was none other than Alfred, who, with a calm voice, stated, "Now, now, gentlemen. Enough with the serious talk. You are all here to enjoy a pleasant meal and start your day on a positive note. Please, just enjoy your breakfast."

Orach wholeheartedly agreed with Alfred's statement. "Well said, Alfred. This looks good," he affirmed, his eyes twinkling with anticipation. Without any further hesitation, he began to tuck into his meal, his casual demeanor a stark contrast to the tense mood that had prevailed moments ago. Observing Orach's carefree attitude, a sigh of relief escaped from Bruce, Victor, and Hal. They decided to follow suit, temporarily pushing the worries about the article to the back of their minds and focusing on the delicious breakfast spread in front of them.

Once the meal was over, about 30 minutes later, they moved to the living room and settled themselves on the plush sofas.

"So, Orach, about your request. I'll arrange a press conference when we go public with the Justice League. Hal has been briefed about the idea and he has agreed to join in as well," Bruce stated, his gaze shifting between Orach and Hal as he spoke.

"Indeed," Hal confirmed, "He informed me while we were waiting for you. I hate to admit it, since Earth falls under my jurisdiction, but sadly, I alone am not enough if threats like those from Apokolips arrive."

"Apokolips? Is that the home world of the enemies you were facing during the war?" Orach inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"Yes," Hal nodded before continuing, "Apokolips is where the Mad New God Darkseid lives. It was his army that attacked Earth. Steppenwolf is actually one of his apostles and his general, one of his elites. When Victor, Diana, and Arthur told me about this supposed war that was hard-won against Darkseid in the past, I honestly didn't believe it at first. To my knowledge, Darkseid losing isn't something that has happened yet. But, Steppenwolf's arrival here is proof enough, and it's clear that those boxes are necessary for Darkseid."

Orach pondered for a moment, "Another god that I have never heard of... Darkseid, huh? Interesting. But, why do you call this Darkseid person a mad man, Space Cop?" Orach asked, using the nickname he had just coined for Hal.

Hal grimaced slightly at the moniker, "Please don't call me 'Space Cop', even though I get the fact that I am essentially a space cop. I and others who wear the ring are proudly known as Green Lanterns," he said, his voice filled with pride. However, noticing Orach's blank stare, the alarm bells in Hal's mind started ringing, and he quickly adopted a more humble demeanor.

Bruce, who had been observing the interaction, couldn't help but massage his forehead, foreseeing the impending headache. Victor simply sat still, not wanting to face a blank-faced Orach.

"SPACE COP," Orach repeated firmly, his voice ringing with finality, "That is the name I'll be calling you from now on until you get into my good graces. Also, let me give you a final warning. Never show that pride in front of me," Orach warned, his tone serious.

Hal opened his mouth to argue but thought better of it and simply nodded. He was honestly scared of Orach. He could bravely face an army of parademons or even Darkseid himself, risking his life, because he knew he could fight and hurt the enemy. His will was strong. But Orach was like a force of nature, something he just couldn't face. A force as unpredictable as the universe itself.

"Now kindly tell me, why do you call this supposed god a mad man?" asked Orach. Hal replied, "Darkseid is the tyrannical ruler of Apokolips, a sadistic, aggressive, and merciless tyrant who has invaded and conquered countless worlds throughout the universe. As the God of Tyranny, Darkseid seeks to enslave all things to his will."

"I see. So, if he is a conqueror, why haven't you and your forces done anything about him?" asked Orach. "Believe me, we have. The Green Lantern Corps are one of the reasons he hasn't expanded his forces in a long time. But, our best is only good enough to maintain a stalemate with him for now," replied Hal.

Orach's voice resonated through the room with an air of authority, "Good. As you must have heard from Bruce about me training everyone, that will also include you. From what I have observed, imagination is the key to utilizing the green light of the emotional spectrum. However, right now, you seem less like a master and more like a child who was just given a new toy."

These words stirred a flurry of emotions among the individuals present. Hal, with his ego slightly bruised, wanted to retort and argue against the statement, but he held back, realizing the truth in Orach's words. Victor was on the verge of laughter, finding the situation humorous, but he held it in out of respect. Meanwhile, Bruce was still massaging his forehead, trying to process the peculiar interaction unfolding before him.