The Ruler

Utah Desert.

General Simon Hilsen had not exaggerated when he told Jay where to find a hidden base — it was remarkably camouflaged. Nestled amongst the barren valleys of the desert, draped in sheets of whirling sand, its natural geography provided excellent cover, making it easy to miss even for the most advanced surveillance.

But not for Jay's super senses.

Helena, with her skillset, might have infiltrated the base silently, undetected. Jay, lacking such finesse, opted for simplicity. He plummeted from the sky, touching down in the heart of the base with an impact that sent a tsunami of sand billowing outward and triggered a minor earthquake in the valley.

His grand entrance inevitably drew attention. Camouflaged soldiers opened fire on the mysterious intruder, their bullets futile against his steel-like flesh. The constant gunfire grated on Jay's nerves, so with a brisk exhale, his frost breath raised a wall of sand, scattering the soldiers like rag dolls.

The base was large, with many high-tech structures, but Jay honed in on his target without hesitation. As he landed, an instinctive pull drew him forward, as if a path had been etched into his mind, beckoning him.

He strode toward a half-dome building at the core of the base, weathering more gunfire. Bullets deformed against his body as he flipped over a tank firing at him — sparing the soldiers inside from his heat vision.

The dome appeared to house the most advanced technology in the facility. Triple-layered composite doors required a combination of codes, fingerprints, and keycards. Even Jay had to admit, after his fist merely dented the formidable barrier, that it was perhaps the sturdiest he'd ever encountered. The second punch, however, brought it down, shaking the entire structure.

Inside, a sleek, small spacecraft commanded his attention. Its grey hull was adorned with deep black lines and symbols that were alien yet somehow familiar. It was calling to him.

Upon his entry, the ship powered up, its cockpit aglow with a soft blue hue. The engine hummed, emitting a green light. A hologram materialized before him, shaping into a blue-faced female figure.

"Welcome, Starborn, son of the magnificent star and the pale moonlight," she chimed melodically.

Pointing to himself, Jay asked, "Me? Who are you?"

"I am H'Elion, the AI of the spacecraft that brought you to this planet," she replied in a calm, soothing voice. "I've interfaced with the human's data networks; I can answer any questions you have."

The unexpected encounter left Jay awestruck. He rapidly sorted through countless questions, prioritizing the most urgent. He couldn't forget his mission's original purpose.

"The project code-named 'sdeproject'," Jay inquired tentatively, "can you access it?"

"Of course," H'Elion responded promptly without hesitation. "Originally a human initiative to explore extraterrestrial life, it drew us to Earth, later commandeered by General Sam Lane, repurposing the Kryptonian child as a secret weapon. The project was discontinued six years ago after the invasion of the Apokoliptian forces."

It echoed General Hilsen's story, but gaps remained. Jay pressed on, "Is that everything? There's nothing more?"

"That is all the data on sdeproject," H'Elion added after a brief pause, "but a spin-off, sde-neoproject, was developed two years later. Shall I continue?"

"Yes," Jay's expression shifted.

"Years ago, humans sent rockets and signals inviting extraterrestrial visitation, intercepted by another alien—arriving a year post-Apokolips invasion. This being's name was Mongul."

Jay's heart skipped, anticipating the daunting revelations to follow.

"Mongul, a tyrant ruler of the mobile fortress 'Warworld'—"

"Skip this part, I know who Mongul is," Jay interrupted hastily. "Continue with what happened next."

"As you wish," H'Elion complied. "Mongul arrived to find Earth in chaos. The planet was weakened, its economy regressed decades due to the Apokoliptian assault. Heroes vanished into darkness, governance in turmoil, and humanity's morale at an unprecedented low—perfect for Mongul's exploitation.

He orchestrated the formation of a world federal government, puppeteering the high ranks. An invisible overseer, Mongul wielded supreme power over humanity. He turned Earth into an annex of 'Warworld,' siphoning resources and enslaving humans for labor or transforming them into gladiators for his arena."

"Hold on, stop," Jay interjected, needing to ensure this wasn't some surreal dream. "You're saying a cosmic tyrant has ruled our world for years, and we've all been oblivious?"

"Yes," H'Elion confirmed, unflinchingly.

Jay felt dizzy, and who could blame him? The information was overwhelming, even disheartening. He was now fearful; though he had braced for a formidable enemy, this exceeded all exaggeration. If true, he faced not just Mongul, but an entire world under his dominion.

Maybe this was beyond his scope. As a rookie—hardly considering himself a hero—the idea of opposing an alien with such resources seemed insurmountable. This was a job for the heavy hitters...

But then he realized, there were no heavy hitters left.

Superman was gone, the Justice League was gone; the world had lost its protectors.

Perhaps Batman would help, but Helena said he'd changed, indifferent to anything beyond Gotham. There was no guarantee he'd make an exception for this.

If not Jay, then who?

Just then, a resounding blast hit the building. The floor shook, and dust trickled from above. Amplified by a loudspeaker, a voice commanded, "To anyone inside! Drop your weapons and come out with your hands on your head! We will not hesitate to take action!"