The Guardians of the Globe headquarters had never felt so tense.
Three weeks into Earth's integration with the Viltrum Empire, the team was still adjusting to their new reality – and their new supervisor.
Anissa stood at the center of the briefing room, her imposing Viltrumite presence making the spacious chamber feel cramped.
The female Viltrumite's cold eyes surveyed the assembled heroes with an expression that mixed disdain and professional assessment.
"Your response times remain inadequate," she stated bluntly, reviewing data on a holographic display.
"Three minutes and forty-two seconds from alert to arrival at the bank robbery in Chicago yesterday. Unacceptable."
War Woman, still bearing faint scars from her encounter with Thragg, crossed her arms defensively. "We can't all fly at supersonic speeds."
"No," Anissa agreed coldly. "You cannot. Which is why proper deployment strategies must be implemented.
The Immortal and Martian Man should have been dispatched immediately, with the rest of you following in the transport."
The Immortal, standing near the back of the room, remained expressionless. His hand had healed from the confrontation with Thragg, but his pride had not.
"We've been handling Earth's threats for years," he said evenly. "Our methods work."
"Your methods are inefficient," Anissa countered. "And inefficiency costs lives."
Nolan Grayson – Omni-Man – stood to the side, his position as liaison between the Viltrumites and Earth's heroes making him both part of the team and separate from it.
The Guardians had accepted his continued presence with reluctant professionalism, though suspicion lingered in their interactions.
"Perhaps a compromise," Nolan suggested diplomatically. "The Guardians have valuable experience with Earth's criminal elements. Their methods may appear inefficient to Viltrumite standards, but they're adapted to the specific challenges of this world."
Anissa regarded him with a calculating look. "Your point has merit, Nolan. However, adaptation goes both ways. The Guardians must evolve to meet the new standards expected of them."
Cecil Stedman, who had been quietly observing from a corner, finally spoke up. "Evolution takes time. Even for superheroes."
"Time is precisely what we don't have," Anissa replied sharply. "Every minute wasted is another opportunity for criminals to cause harm.
The Grand Regent has promised Earth's people safety and stability. We will deliver on that promise."
The tension in the room thickened. Darkwing's hand drifted toward one of his gadgets, a nervous habit he'd developed since the Viltrumite takeover.
Green Ghost flickered slightly, her molecular structure still not fully stable after her encounter with Thragg.
"We have a situation," a technician announced from the communications station, breaking the standoff.
"Armed robbery in progress at First National Bank downtown. Four perpetrators, heavily armed, hostages reported."
"Perfect timing for a demonstration," Anissa declared. "Omni-Man and I will take point. Immortal, Martian Man, you'll follow as secondary response. The rest of you, standby for cleanup and civilian assistance."
War Woman bristled. "That's not how we operate. We work as a team."
"You work as I direct," Anissa stated firmly. "Or you don't work at all."
Cecil stepped forward. "The Guardians are still Earth's primary defense force, Anissa. They have protocols-"
"Which are now superseded by Viltrumite authority," she cut him off. "This isn't a debate, Director Stedman. It's an instruction."
Before further argument could erupt, Nolan intervened. "Let's compromise. Anissa and I will go in first, but the Guardians will deploy in their standard formation, thirty seconds behind us.
That gives us the advantage of Viltrumite speed while maintaining the team's established protocols."
Anissa considered this for a moment, then gave a curt nod. "Acceptable. For now."
Red Rush, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up. "We should go. People are in danger while we stand here arguing."
"At least one of you understands priorities," Anissa remarked. "Move out."
---------------------------
The First National Bank's grand marble lobby had been transformed into a hostage situation.
Four men in tactical gear and clown masks held automatic weapons on a group of terrified civilians huddled against the far wall.
The leader was barking orders at a trembling bank manager to open the vault.
"Hurry up! We know you've got the override code!" he shouted, pressing his rifle against the manager's temple.
"I-I'm trying," the manager stammered, fingers shaking as he punched numbers into the vault's keypad. "The system has a time delay-"
The front doors exploded inward with such force that marble chunks flew across the lobby. Anissa stood in the shattered doorway, her expression cold.
"Surrender now," she commanded. "You will not be given a second chance."
The robbers reacted with panic, swinging their weapons toward the Viltrumite.
Before they could fire a single shot, Omni-Man appeared behind two of them, disarming them with such speed that their weapons seemed to simply vanish from their hands.
The leader grabbed the bank manager, using him as a shield while pressing his gun to the man's head. "Stay back! I'll kill him!"
Anissa's eyes narrowed. "No. You won't."
She moved so quickly that human eyes couldn't track her.
One moment she was at the entrance; the next, she was directly in front of the leader, her hand crushing his wrist that held the gun.
The weapon clattered to the floor as the man screamed in agony.
"You threaten innocent lives for money," she said, her voice eerily calm as she lifted him by his throat, the bank manager forgotten and stumbling away. "You are the worst kind of parasite."
The fourth robber, seeing his companions neutralized, made a desperate break for the rear exit.
He made it three steps before Red Rush appeared in his path, having arrived with the rest of the Guardians.
"Going somewhere?" the speedster quipped before delivering a rapid series of punches that left the criminal unconscious on the floor.
War Woman and Darkwing moved to secure the other criminals while Green Ghost and Aquarus began helping the hostages.
The Immortal hovered near the ceiling, surveying the scene with a critical eye.
Anissa still held the leader aloft, his face turning purple as he gasped for air. His feet kicked uselessly as he dangled in her grip.
"Anissa," Nolan said quietly. "That's enough."
"Is it?" she asked, not loosening her grip. "This vermin was prepared to execute an innocent man for paper currency. He deserves worse than a prison cell."
The Immortal descended, positioning himself beside her. "That's not how justice works on Earth."
"Perhaps that's why your crime rates are so high," she retorted. "No real consequences."
"The consequence is losing his freedom," The Immortal countered. "He'll stand trial and be sentenced according to our laws."
"Inefficient," Anissa muttered, but finally released her grip. The robber collapsed to the floor, gasping and clutching his throat. "Your human justice system is too lenient."
War Woman approached, her battle-axe still in hand. "Maybe so, but it's our system. And it's built on principles worth protecting."
"Principles that allow criminals like this to terrorize innocent people?" Anissa gestured dismissively at the groaning robber. "Where is the protection in that?"
Cecil Stedman entered the bank, having arrived in teleportation. "The protection is in the process, Anissa. In ensuring that power isn't abused, that everyone - even criminals - has rights."
"Rights they didn't extend to their victims," she pointed out.
"That's what separates us from them," The Immortal said firmly.
Anissa looked around at the assembled heroes, then at the criminals being secured by police who had just arrived. "Separation is precisely the problem. You see yourselves as fundamentally different from those you protect.
Viltrumites understand that we are all part of the same system. Actions have consequences, regardless of who performs them."
She turned to the police officers who were now taking custody of the robbers. "These men threatened to kill innocents for financial gain. What punishment will they receive?"
One of the officers, startled at being directly addressed by the Viltrumite, stammered, "Uh, armed robbery with hostages... probably looking at 15 to 20 years, ma'am."
"And they'll likely be released earlier for good behavior," Anissa noted with distaste. "Then they can return to threatening more innocent lives."
"That's not for us to decide," Nolan interjected. "Our job is to stop the immediate threat. The justice system handles the rest."
Anissa's expression made it clear she found this arrangement lacking, but she didn't press the issue further. "The threat has been neutralized. No casualties. Mission accomplished."
As they exited the bank, reporters had already gathered outside, cameras flashing as they captured images of the Guardians working alongside the Viltrumites.
"Omni-Man! Is this a permanent arrangement? Are you back with the Guardians?" one reporter called out.
"Anissa! What is your role with Earth's heroes?" shouted another.
Cecil stepped forward, ever the professional liaison. "The Guardians of the Globe continue to serve as Earth's primary superhero team, now with additional support from our Viltrumite allies.
Today's successful operation demonstrates the effectiveness of this new partnership."
Anissa stood impassively behind him, clearly uninterested in human media relations. Nolan, however, moved to Cecil's side.
"The safety of Earth's people remains our highest priority," he added smoothly. "This collaboration allows us to respond more effectively to threats."
"Is it true that global crime rates have dropped since the Viltrumite arrival?" a reporter asked.
Cecil hesitated just long enough for Anissa to step forward. "They have decreased by twenty-seven percent," she stated.
"And they will continue to fall as criminals learn that the consequences of their actions are now more... immediate."
The subtle threat in her words wasn't lost on anyone present.
Cecil quickly wrapped up the impromptu press conference, directing the Guardians back to their transport while Nolan and Anissa took to the skies.
------------------------
Back at headquarters, the team gathered for debriefing. The atmosphere was tense but less hostile than before the mission.
"Response time: forty-seven seconds from alert to neutralization," Anissa announced, reviewing the data. "A significant improvement."
"Because you and Omni-Man went in without waiting for proper assessment," War Woman pointed out. "That's risky protocol."
"The risk was minimal," Anissa countered. "Four humans with primitive firearms pose no threat to Viltrumites."
"It's not about the threat to us," The Immortal said. "It's about the threat to the hostages. Rushing in could have escalated the situation."
"In this case, it didn't," Nolan observed. "But War Woman's point is valid. Even Viltrumites should follow tactical protocols when civilian lives are at stake."
Anissa seemed about to argue but instead gave a slight nod. "A fair assessment. Tactical refinements can be implemented."
Cecil, who had been silently observing the exchange, finally spoke. "The integration of Viltrumite methods with Guardian protocols will take time. Today was another not completely succeful attempt, but there's room for improvement on both sides."
"Agreed," Anissa said, surprising everyone with her concession. "The Guardians' knowledge of Earth's criminal elements is valuable.
And your concern for procedural justice, while inefficient, has merit within your cultural context."
Coming from a Viltrumite, this was practically effusive praise. The Guardians exchanged glances, unsure how to respond.
"However," Anissa continued, "the results speak for themselves. Global crime rates are declining. Response times are improving.
Civilian casualties are down. By any objective measure, Viltrumite involvement has enhanced Earth's security."
The data she displayed was difficult to argue with. In just three weeks, violent crime had dropped significantly worldwide.
Superhuman threats had all but disappeared, most choosing to lay low rather than risk Viltrumite attention.
"I don't like how we got here," Red Rush said suddenly. "But I can't deny that fewer people are getting hurt."
"That's what matters, isn't it?" Nolan asked quietly. "In the end, our job is to protect people. If we're doing that more effectively now, isn't that a positive development?"
The Immortal's expression remained stoic. "At what cost, Nolan? Safety purchased with freedom is rarely a bargain."
"What freedom has been lost?" Anissa challenged. "The freedom to commit crimes? To harm others? To exploit the weak? These are not freedoms worth preserving."
"It starts there," The Immortal replied. "But where does it end? Who decides what constitutes harm? What behaviors are acceptable? Today it's armed robbers. Tomorrow?"
Cecil intervened before the philosophical debate could escalate. "The parameters of Viltrumite authority on Earth were clearly established in the integration agreement.
Criminal justice remains primarily under human jurisdiction, with Viltrumite assistance in apprehension and containment of threats."
"An arrangement the Grand Regent has honored scrupulously," Nolan pointed out. "Thragg has been true to his word on every promise made."
This was undeniably true. Viltrumite medical technology was already being implemented in hospitals worldwide, with miraculous results.
Previously incurable diseases were being eradicated.
Agricultural innovations were increasing crop yields in famine-stricken regions.
Energy solutions were reducing pollution and resource scarcity.
For all the concerns about Viltrumite rule, the benefits were real and substantial.
"The alert system is registering another incident," the communications technician announced. "Seismic disturbance downtown. Readings match Doc Seismic's signature."
"Doc Seismic?" Anissa inquired. "Brief me."
"Human criminal with technology that can manipulate tectonic forces," Cecil explained. "Creates earthquakes, fissures, occasionally summons magma creatures. Mid-tier threat, but dangerous in urban environments."
Anissa nodded. "Immortal, Red Rush, War Woman - you'll accompany me. Omni-Man, remain here with the others as secondary response if needed."
The Immortal raised an eyebrow at being included in the primary team but made no objection. Perhaps Anissa was learning to value their experience after all.
"Move out," she commanded, already heading for the exit. "Let's show this 'Doc Seismic' how the new order responds to threats."
------------------------
Downtown, chaos reigned as the pavement buckled and cracked. Doc Seismic stood atop a partially collapsed building, his signature gauntlets glowing with energy as he directed tremors through the ground.
"Feel that?" he shouted to the fleeing civilians below. "That's the foundation of your society crumbling! The old power structures falling! Make way for the new order!"
A blur of motion caught his attention just before Red Rush slammed into him at high speed, sending him tumbling across the rooftop.
"Sorry, Doc," the speedster quipped. "The new order already arrived, and they didn't send an invitation."
Seismic scrambled to his feet, adjusting his cracked goggles. "The puppet heroes, rushing to defend their oppressors. Some things never change."
"Some things do," Anissa said, landing on the rooftop with enough force to crack the concrete. The Immortal and War Woman arrived moments later, flanking her.
Doc Seismic looked momentarily taken aback by the Viltrumite's presence but quickly recovered his bravado. "Ah, the alien overlords and their human collaborators. How fitting."
"Surrender now," Anissa commanded. "Your primitive technology poses no threat to me, but it endangers innocent lives."
"Innocent?" Seismic laughed. "They support a system built on exploitation and inequality. There are no innocents, only the complicit and the ignorant."
He slammed his gauntlets together, sending a shockwave through the building that caused the entire structure to start collapsing.
"Civilians inside!" War Woman shouted, leaping toward the building's entrance.
Red Rush disappeared in a blur, racing through the structure to evacuate anyone trapped inside.
The Immortal took to the air, using his strength to stabilize the most precarious sections of the collapsing building.
Anissa, however, focused solely on Seismic. In a flash, she was upon him, gripping his gauntlets and crushing the mechanisms within them.
"Your revolution ends here," she stated coldly as the devices sparked and failed.
"You think technology is my only weapon?" Seismic snarled, headbutting her in a futile gesture of defiance that likely hurt him more than her. "Ideas can't be crushed so easily. The system will fall, with or without me."
Anissa lifted him by his throat, much as she had done with the bank robber. "Your ideas are as flawed as your technology. You claim to fight oppression while endangering the very people you pretend to champion."
Seismic struggled in her grip. "What would you know about oppression? You're just another tyrant, replacing the old bosses with new ones."
"I know that true change comes from building, not destroying," Anissa replied. "The Viltrum Empire brings advancement, stability, protection. What do you bring except chaos and rubble?"
For once, the verbose villain seemed at a loss for words.
"The building's clear," Red Rush reported, reappearing beside them. "Everyone's out."
"Structure's stabilized for now," The Immortal added, landing on the roof. "But it'll need major repairs."
War Woman approached, her axe at the ready. "What about him?"
Anissa looked at Seismic with contempt. "Another criminal who endangers lives for his own agenda. He'll face justice like the others."
"Justice?" Seismic laughed bitterly. "Your 'justice' is just maintaining the status quo with alien muscle."
"The status quo is changing," Anissa informed him. "Disease, hunger, energy scarcity - the problems you rail against are being solved. Not through destruction, but through superior technology and knowledge."
"Pretty words from a conqueror," Seismic spat.
Anissa's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You mistake pragmatism for conquest - though I do not deny we do conquer when necessary.
Earth simply was intelligent enough and chose integration because it was the rational choice. The benefits are already evident."
She turned to The Immortal. "Take him into custody. Ensure those devices are completely neutralized."
As The Immortal took charge of the prisoner, Anissa surveyed the damage to the surrounding area. Several buildings had suffered structural damage from the tremors.
Roads were cracked and buckled. Thankfully, there appeared to be no serious injuries among the civilians, thanks to the quick response.
"Efficient work," she acknowledged to the Guardians. "Your familiarity with this criminal and his methods was valuable."
Again, such words oming from a Viltrumite were high praise indeed.
War Woman studied Anissa with a mixture of lingering suspicion and reluctant respect. "You handled him well. Most newcomers underestimate Seismic's shockwaves."
"His technology is primitive but not without ingenuity," Anissa conceded. "Had he directed his intelligence toward constructive ends rather than destruction, he might have contributed something worthwhile to your society."
"Some people are more interested in tearing down than building up," The Immortal observed, returning after handing Seismic over to authorities.
"A universal constant, it seems," Anissa agreed. "Even on Viltrum, we had our share of destructive revolutionaries."
This casual mention of Viltrumite internal politics piqued the Guardians' interest, but before they could inquire further, Cecil's voice came through their communications.
"Good work, team. Preliminary reports show no serious casualties. Return to headquarters for debriefing."
-------------------------
The mood at the post-mission debriefing was noticeably different. The tension hadn't disappeared entirely, but there was a new undercurrent of professional respect.
"Two major threats neutralized in one day, with zero civilian casualties," Cecil noted, reviewing the data. "Response times significantly improved over pre-integration averages."
"The Viltrumite approach has merits," The Immortal acknowledged reluctantly. "Particularly for immediate threat response."
"And the Guardian protocols for civilian evacuation and structural stabilization were exemplary," Anissa added, surprising everyone with her praise. "There are aspects of your methods worth preserving."
Nolan, who had remained at headquarters during the Seismic incident, looked pleased at this exchange. "Integration works best when both sides recognize the value the other brings."
"Speaking of integration," Cecil said, pulling up a global crime statistics report, "the numbers continue to improve. Violent crime down thirty-two percent globally since the Viltrumite arrival. Superhuman threats down sixty-seven percent."
"Fear is a powerful deterrent," The Immortal observed.
"As is certainty," Anissa countered. "Criminals now as I stated before know that their actions will have swift and definitive consequences."
War Woman studied the statistics with a frown. "I can't argue with the numbers. People are safer. But something still feels... off about all this."
"Change often does," Nolan said gently. "Especially change imposed from outside. But judge by results, not just process."
"The results are certainly impressive," Cecil admitted, scrolling through additional data. "Hospital admissions for violent injuries down. Property damage from criminal activity reduced. Even traffic fatalities have decreased since Viltrumite patrols began."
"A safer world," Anissa stated. "As the Grand Regent promised."
The Immortal, who had lived through countless regimes and revolutions over his long existence, remained pensive. "Safety isn't everything. But," he added, seeing Anissa about to object, "it is something. And something worth acknowledging."
"Progress," Nolan observed. "On both sides."
As the meeting concluded and the team dispersed, Cecil held Nolan back. "A word, if you don't mind."
When they were alone, Cecil removed his ever-present sunglasses, revealing tired eyes. "The integration is proceeding more smoothly than I anticipated. Thragg has kept his word on every promise made."
"He's a man of his word," Nolan confirmed. "Always has been."
"That's what concerns me," Cecil admitted. "If his word includes eventually breeding every Viltrumite with compatible humans, establishing complete control over Earth's governance,
and potentially expanding to other worlds... well, keeping those promises isn't necessarily in humanity's best interest."
Nolan's expression remained neutral. "The benefits so far have been substantial. Medical advancements alone have saved thousands of lives already."
"I'm not denying the benefits," Cecil said. "I'm questioning the cost. The Guardians are starting to accept Anissa's authority.
The public sees crime rates dropping and diseases being cured. Everyone's settling into this new normal remarkably quickly."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"It's convenient," Cecil replied. "Perhaps too convenient. Thragg gets everything he wants - a compliant population, genetic material for his breeding program,
a power base from which to operate - and we get enough benefits to keep us from questioning the arrangement too deeply."
Nolan studied his old friend carefully. "What are you suggesting, Cecil?" his tone hardening slightly, for despite being friends, he is still loyal to Viltrum.
"Nothing, for now," the GDA director said, replacing his sunglasses. "Just making observations.
The Guardians may be warming to Anissa, but I haven't forgotten what Thragg did to them. What he could do to all of us if we ever truly displeased him."
"He's not here to conquer," Nolan insisted. "If he were, he wouldn't bother with integration, medical technology transfers, or crime reduction. He'd simply take what he wanted."
"Perhaps," Cecil conceded. "Or perhaps this is simply a more efficient form of conquest. One that doesn't require rebuilding infrastructure or pacifying a resistant population."
He headed for the door, then paused. "Just something to consider, Nolan. As we all adjust to our brave new world."
After Cecil left, Nolan remained in the briefing room, contemplating his words. There was truth in what Cecil said - Thragg was getting everything he wanted.
But was that necessarily sinister if Earth benefited as well?
The statistics, again, didn't lie. People were safer. Diseases were being cured. Food production was increasing.
Energy problems were being solved. For all the philosophical concerns about freedom and autonomy, the practical reality was that human life was improving under Viltrumite rule.
And yet, Cecil's wariness resonated with Nolan's own lingering doubts. Thragg had been surprisingly accommodating, surprisingly willing to adapt Viltrumite methods to human sensibilities.
It wasn't the approach Nolan would have expected from the Grand Regent he had known for centuries.
Something had changed in Thragg. Whether that change boded well or ill for Earth remained to be seen.
As Nolan finally left the room, he couldn't help wondering if they were witnessing the birth of a genuinely beneficial new order - or simply the most sophisticated conquest in human history.
Either way, he had no intention of going against it no matter what Cecil's plans may be to convince him of such subtly.
The world was transforming. And there was no going back.
-------------------------
(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all liked the chapter.
I hope you didn't find the mention of the benefits too repetitive, but I found it logical, because whenever doubted, that is the best evidence Viltrum has.
Say some philosophical counter, Anissa will just point to the statistics and shut them up.
It's that simple.
Also, I chose Anissa as the new head of the justice thing, because of her speech to Mark in the show, about crime and all that, found it fitting.
Also, question, if this it were possible, would you want to live under this Thragg and Viltrum's rule?
So yeah, do tell me how you found the chapter and I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)