Willful Thinking (Invincible/DC | Green Lantern OC-Insert) - Chapter 18 (Patreon)

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Oscar Ward

“...Okay, that answers that question.”

I stare at the empty space where our space station used to be. Now it’s sitting inside my ring’s subspace, without any hint of strain or charge drainage on my part.

Zoe slowly turns her helmet towards me, her voice coming through our own private channel. “Holy shit. You just put a space station in your ring! How much can that thing hold?!”

“That’s the thing, Zoe, I don’t think there is a limit. It concerns me a little!”

I hold my hand up, turning the ring over in serious thought. Now that I’ve actually contained something bigger than, y’know, food I think… yeah. ...I’m going to steal a moon someday. I’m not sure how or when, but I have to.

Preferably Viltrum’s moon, if anything.

“Why are you staring at it like that?” Zoe asks.

“No reason.”

I start flying before she can interrogate me any further. Zoe catches up almost immediately as we head towards Talescria in the dark distance. The planet’s clearly busy, even from this far out. Ships move in and out of orbit in every direction, ranging from things barely bigger than cars to vessels that could probably flatten a city just by parking badly. My HUD’s already picking up thousands of signals, and that’s before we get anywhere near the atmosphere.

My HUD flashes.

Incoming transmission.

“Hey, someone’s calling.”

Zoe shoots a few metres past me before noticing. “...What? Oh, yeah. I’m getting it, too.”

Three ships peel away from the traffic ahead of us. They spread apart, with one settling directly ahead of us and the other two slipping to either side. I accept the transmission a little tentatively, since they don’t have weapons out yet, and a voice crackles through my helmet.

“Unidentified units, cease your approach and identify yourselves.”

I open the channel. “Greetings!”

Zoe’s helmet snaps towards me.

“What?” I whisper, switching over to our private channel again.

“Why did you say it like that?”

“I’m being diplomatic.”

“You sound like you’ve got a shiny metal rod rammed up your ass.”

“Shut up.”

“I repeat, identify yourselves.”

“Right!” I turn back to the sleek vehicles staring us down. “Sorry. We’re representatives of Gelderia. We’ve been sent by His Majesty to establish formal contact with the Coalition of Planets following the resounding defeat of the Kresh-Viltrumite army some months ago.”

There’s a short silence. “...Gelderia?”

“That’s us.”

“Transmit your identification and hold position.”

I switch channels and glance at Zoe. “You have the identification, right?”

“I have the identification?”

“The king gave you the documents!”

“The documents aren’t identification!”

“What did he give us?!”

“Documents!”

“One moment!” I say to the people in the ships while attempting to pull up the files His Majesty gave us. Thankfully, the ring finds what I’m looking for before I have to admit to the Coalition patrol that Gelderia’s first diplomatic mission in however many generations has been stalled because its ambassadors forgot their fucking ID.

Relevant diplomatic credentials located.

Thank you, Ring. Sighing in relief, I transmit them and wait a few nervewracking seconds.

“Credentials received for verification. Before entering the Talescrian atmosphere, both individuals will be required to submit to biometric identification.”

Zoe looks at me again. …Biometric identification probably involves faces, right? Our very human faces. If the Viltrumites know humans as Terrans… well, I’d hazard a guess that the Coalition knows, too, and I’d rather not run any risk of the mole letting that intel slip. Judging by the simple fact that the goggles-wearing Viltrumite wanted to question me, I’m guessing they don’t know yet.

…Then again, it’s been months since then, so this could all be for nothing. But you know what they say: better safe than sorry!

“Is there a problem?”

“No,” I say. “It’s just… Gelderian custom prohibits us from removing our helmets in the presence of non-Gelderians.”

‘What the fuck are you doing?’ appears across my HUD because I’m still tapped into the Talescrian channel.

…Ring, please text back ‘diplomacy.’

“Please repeat,” the patrol finally says.

‘THAT IS NOT A GELDERIAN CUSTOM,’ is Zoe’s reply.

“We do not remove our helmets among non-Gelderians.” I keep my eyes firmly ahead.

“That is not a known Gelderian custom.”

“You may have encountered members of a different Gelderian tradition,” I say carefully.

Zoe’s hands fold around her waist and judging by everything I see when I glance back, she’s losing it. Her mic thankfully stays private.

“Regardless, our… um, particular vows prohibit the removal of our armour in the presence of outsiders.”

Another tense eternity passes, then:

“Understood. Remain where you are while the credentials are verified as alternative identification.”

I nod. “Of course.”

The transmission cuts, though the three ships continue to surround us as Zoe grabs my shoulder. I tap back into our private channel just in time to catch the tail end of her mindblown outrage.

“...our particular vows?!”

“I panicked! You know why,” I say, having filled her in on the need-to-know stuff right before I pocketed our space station.

“And what, invented a goddamn religion?!”

She laughs. “Our vows?”

“...Could be a marriage thing.”

She stares at me.

“Yes, wife. We do not remove our helmets among non-Gelderians who are not our spouses or immediate family members!” I nod firmly.

“One of these days, your shenanigans are gonna fuck you up.”

I grin inside my helmet as the Coalition ships hold position around us.

…Eeyup! First contact is going great.

【—〄—】

“—and allow me to offer the Coalition’s congratulations on your victory. Gelderia’s resistance has been a subject of considerable discussion among the High Council.”

I stand a little straighter in the little pit within the circular hall. Upon the raised bit of the chamber are a bunch of seats arranged in a circular fashion. Though in place of the people meant to be on there are holographic blue screens as the High Council’s members beam in from their home planets. Given the impromptu visit outside of their scheduled monthly meeting day, there’s a lack of physical presence.

One of the council members is the same race as Battle Beast, which definitely threw me for a loop initially. The only person physically here besides Zoe and me is… well, Thaedus, in all his bearded glory. I drag my attention back to the hologram speaking.

“The collapse of the Kresh government has only further demonstrated the significance of your victory. Our reports suggest several factions now contest control of their homeworld.”

“Yeah.” Zoe shuffles her feet as she looks up at the super-zoom calling councillors. “They kinda fell apart.”

“The Coalition has attempted to establish formal relations with Gelderia before,” another councillor says. “Your people’s decision to reconsider their neutrality will be welcomed.”

“Well, that’s why we’re here. His Majesty wants to open formal negotiations for Gelderia to join the Coalition. We’re just making the introduction. Actual diplomats are coming once things calm down back home,” I say.

“Understandable.” The hammerhead guy leans forward. “Gelderia has spent generations at war and even killed a Viltrumite. Recovery must take precedence.”

Okay. ...This is going down really easily. I don’t know what I expected but I’m not sure it was this. But from their perspective, acquiring Gelderia as an ally is a miracle considering the planet’s hardline neutrality. Then, after a very sudden and unforeseen battle, Gelderia  told the Viltrumite Empire to go fuck itself and actually won. As far as buying goodwill with the Coalition, I think we smashed it out the park.

“The High Council cannot formally consider an application without the presence of Gelderia’s appointed delegation,” Thaedus says. “However, I see no reason why preliminary negotiations cannot begin before their arrival.”

I grin. “Great! Gelderia appreciates the Coalition’s consideration.”

“Unfortunately, Great Thaedus, many of us won’t return to Talescria for several rotations.”

Similar answers come from around the table.

“Then we will reconvene when circumstances permit,” Thaedus says. “In the meantime, I believe our diplomatic corps can begin coordinating with Gelderia.”

The councillors agree one after another, bidding their farewells. I stand there, sort of just stunned, as the blue screens wink out of existence one after the other. Am I… secretly just good at this? My burgeoning diplomatic ego deflates a little as Thaedus rises from his chair in the centre of the circular formation.

…Now comes the other, more uncomfortable, part of this discussion.

“Just a moment, Great Thaedus!”

I walk forwards, trying not to shit bricks as the old Viltrumite looks back at me in curiosity. He’s wearing the flowing goldish robes I remember him for, but beneath it, I know he’s built like a goddamn castle wall. Not that he needs his physique to intimidate me per se; just the look in those dull gold eyes is enough to turn my legs to jelly.

…No, get a hold of yourself damn it. I’m meant to be a Green Lantern!

“Could we have a word in a more private setting?”

Thaedus frowns, sweeping an arm over the mostly-empty hall. “Is this not empty enough?”

I shake my head.

“Hm. Well, to my office, then.”

He leads us through a doorway behind the council seats. Zoe falls into step beside me, and the door closes behind us before we follow him down a long corridor.

‘You good?’

Her concern comes in the form of another text flashing across my HUD.

‘Yeah,’ I answer.

‘You look nervous.’

‘...Well, he is a Viltrumite.’

Zoe stops walking for long enough that Thaedus looks back and she promptly decides to continue.

‘WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN?’

I smile under my helmet. ‘Don’t worry. He’s one of the good ones.’

‘Like Omni-Man? The dude who killed like a thousand people?! You neglected to tell me that but not everything else like the super-secret alliance the Illuminati has got going on?’

‘...First, fuck you for that example. Cecil isn’t evil! Second, I forgot okay? I’m dealing with a lot these days! Also, he’s probably better than Nolan, considering the fact that he’s been fighting against his people for centuries. But he’s like a billion years old, so he’s probably killed more people than he’s saved, so…’

‘Omni-Man’s called Nolan?!’

Thaedus eventually stops outside another door. It slides open to reveal an office that’s surprisingly normal considering it belongs to the leader of an interstellar alliance. There’s a big desk sandwiched between a couple of chairs, shelves lined with objects I don’t recognise, and a huge window overlooking the bustling alien city outside.

“Will this suffice?” he asks.

“Uh…” I step inside and wait for Zoe to follow and raise my hand. Green light washes briefly over the office.

No active surveillance devices detected.

…Cool. Anything capable of recording us at all?

Several systems possess audiovisual recording capability. None are presently active.

Can you make sure they stay that way without being obvious?

Affirmative.

…

Jamming field active.

Thaedus watches all of this without interrupting. “You are exceptionally concerned with privacy.”

“Yeah. There’s a reason for that.” I ease out a breath while glancing at Zoe. “Ready?”

She gives me a thumbs-up and our helmets retract.

Thaedus’s expression changes slightly. His eyebrows lift slightly as his eyes move from Zoe to me, lingering lastly on my face. “...You are Terrans. Or, rather, humans, as Allen told me you call yourselves.”

I smile. “My name’s Oscar Ward. That’s Zoe Thompson. We actually are representing Gelderia, for the record. The credentials are real. The king sent us personally in fact, but I decided to stretch the truth a little.”

“Hi.” Zoe lifts a hand.

“...How did two humans come into the possession of tech jackets, a technology the Viltrumite Empire has coveted for centuries?”

“Long story.”

“A very long story,” Zoe adds.

“Short version, she ended up with one first, Gelderia arrested her for it, I followed them back, there was a trial, the Kresh attacked, we spent a few months helping out, Viltrum invaded, Gelderia gave me one so I could help fight them and now apparently we’re both Gelderian heroes.”

Thaedus stares at me as if he’s waiting for more, so I think really hard about it.

“...Okay, that’s still kind of a long story,” I say in the end, watching him circle the table and sit down. I gesture to Zoe to take the other seat and create myself a hard light replica.

Current Charge: 96%

“I was not aware Gelderia possessed such technology,” Thaedus says, looking at me. “Is your armour one of its kind?”

“Oh, this isn’t Gelderian, and it’s not human either,” I say, seeing the look on his face. “I’ve no clue what this is, only that I woke up with it on the moon.”

Thaedus eases into his seat. “And the Viltrumite Gelderia killed?”

“Mostly us.” 

“Mostly him,” Zoe lies. “He landed the killing blow.”

I shrug. “Okay, well, teamwork up until the murder.”

“The two of you alone?” Thaedus’s gaze sharpens slightly. “It seems we have gained an unforeseen but helpful ally in the battles to come.”

“Anyway.” I clear my throat. “That’s actually part of why I wanted this conversation kept completely private. I’m assuming you know why Earth can’t be publicly connected to the Coalition.”

“I am aware of the danger.” Thaedus folds his hands on the desk. “How much do you know?”

“Enough to know there’s probably a mole somewhere in the Coalition feeding information back to Viltrum. That’s sort of just how war works. I’m sure you have your mole in the Viltrumite Empire, right? Which is why I’d really appreciate it if the fact that two humans just walked into Coalition headquarters wearing Gelderian armour didn’t leave this room.”

“It will not.”

“Awesome. Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask…” I trail off. “Nolan and Allen made it here?”

“They did. Nolan has spent months assisting Allen in locating the few weaknesses we Viltrumites possess.” He reaches for his beard at our silences, but pauses in hesitation. “...You do not seem surprised that the leader of the Coalition of Planets is a Viltrumite.”

Zoe shakes her head. “He told me.”

“...And I scanned you, determining your biology was identical to Mark and Nolan’s. Ergo, Viltrumite. Speaking of, did he and Allen bring Mark?”

Thaedus frowns. “No.”

“Huh.”

I’d basically assumed Mark would get dragged into my spot once I disappeared since Allen was talking about making this a three-person excursion. Probably the single most obvious person on Earth to bring along if the Coalition wanted another heavy hitter for this mission. But I guess Cecil—and probably Mark himself—would say no to that considering that’d leave Earth with only the Immortal as their hard-hitter. Who’s not weak by any means, but well… 

The Earth would be fucked if he went down.

“So what have they been doing?”

“They began their mission by freeing Space Racer, after which they were waylaid for a time as Allen was grievously injured by the Rognarrs. Nolan set off alone to acquire the Sinlak beetle shells while Allen recovered. His injuries resulted in him growing considerably stronger once more, and following his recovery two months ago, they set off to challenge the Rognarrs again. We are currently processing the Sinlak beetle shells into… darts, I believe.”

A grin slowly spreads across my face. “Fuck yes.”

Thaedus blinks.

“Sorry. That’s—really good to hear.”

So Nolan actually did it. I mean, hearing he’d do it and then hearing he’s done it aren’t exactly the same. Part of me still believed he’d book it to Viltrum the minute he left Earth. After all, he hasn’t had the time to let his mind really torture him, but I guess I underestimated just how much Debbie means to him. He’s seriously out there helping Allen collect every horrible thing in the universe capable of killing his own species.

“Do you know when they’ll be back?”

“A month, or so. They set off to acquire Rognarrs, the last known Viltrumite weakness.” Thaedus lets go of his beard, having no need to rip it off to flex that moustache, and strokes it idly.

“And Earth?” I lean forward, smiling. “The technology?”

“The second shipment has long since been dispatched. Your world has been provided with several technologies deemed suitable for transfer without compromising its secrecy. Energy storage, medical technology, advanced materials and agricultural applications among them.”

My smile widens into a grin so wide my cheeks hurt. Between the Coalition goodies and the Gelderian tech, Earth will at least be able to rebuild whatever horrors Viltrum decides to visit upon it. Ideally, they don’t hear about anything until it’s too late, but just in case, you know? On Gelderia, I’d been sitting around worrying whether Cecil and Thaedus would actually manage to make the whole technological-uplift thing happen without accidentally putting a giant PLEASE INVADE US sign over Earth.

It wasn’t as if I could leave Gelderia to go check either, but it’s been long enough for the second shipments to arrive, huh? Wait a second…

“Nothing military?”

Thaedus shakes his head. “Nothing that would substantially alter Earth’s ability to wage war beyond its current technological level.”

“Fair.”

Though if I know Cecil, he’s probably asking his scientists to figure out ways to weaponise that shit. I can practically see him staring at an alien battery and asking somebody how big an explosion they can make with it if I close my eyes.

I shake my head free of the mental image. “Have you heard anything from Earth itself?”

“Only through Nolan and Allen.”

I nod slowly. “What about Mark? Did Nolan say how he’s doing?”

…It’s easy to compartmentalise and focus on the moment, what with a war to win. But now that I’m away from Gelderia and in front of someone so human looking, it’s another story. I miss everyone, if I’m being honest. Do I regret zooming off into space without a second thought? Not one bit, but that doesn’t change how I feel in the slightest.

Zoe shifts beside me. “So, just to make sure I’ve got this straight. Earth is secretly working with the Coalition to destroy the Viltrumite Empire, the Coalition secretly has a traitor, and because of that, we’ve got to pretend to be Gelderians while openly representing Gelderia.”

I think about it while tapping my chin. “...Yeah.”

Thaedus leans back in his chair. I could swear there’s the faintest hint of amusement underneath that beard.

“Say, hoping all things go to plan, how long do you think it’ll take for Nolan and Allen to return?” I ask.

“Two months at the most. One month is more likely, however.”

I prop my hands onto the table with all the aura of a mob boss.

“...Well, here’s an offer for you. How would you like your mole problem dealt with in the meantime?”

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