After a long journey, the Ark finally landed in a reinforced hangar deep within GDA headquarters.
When the hatch opened, what rushed in was not the cheers of triumph, but air mixed with disinfectant, ozone, and the cold, metallic scent unique to underground bases.
The exhaustion of surviving a catastrophe washed over everyone like a tide, but deeper than the fatigue was the ingrained sense of crisis from witnessing Earth's wounds, the annihilation of Vitrum Prime, and the might of the Titan race.
After a brief period of rest and recuperation, the massive war machine that was the GDA began to operate.
Director Cecil seemed to have aged ten years overnight, with heavy bags under his eyes, yet his hawk-like gaze burned with an even sharper light.
He personally greeted Mark and his companions; his nature allowed no pleasantries, only a direct approach to the matter at hand.
"Friends, please tell me everything you saw, everything you experienced, and everything you brought back, without missing a single word," his voice was hoarse yet carried an undeniable authority.
The next dozen hours became a period of information bombardment for the GDA's core leadership and top scientific teams.
Mark, Eve, Rudy, and Allen took turns presenting.
Holographic star maps unfolded on the massive tactical table.
The chilling images of Vitrum Prime's destruction, the incomprehensible spatial interference ripples from the Titan giant ship, fragments of Viltrum technology from Trigg's third planetary base… the terrifying properties of the Great Old Ones' annihilation energy…
A massive influx of information, far beyond Earth's current understanding, assaulted the nerves of every participant.
The core data storage provided by the Robot was connected to the GDA's central electronic brain.
Unprecedented computing power was brought to bear, analyzing, simulating, and deducing day and night; concurrently, the GDA's operations commenced with unprecedented intensity and ruthless efficiency.
The superhuman containment program was put on the agenda.
Cecil's methods became even more aggressive.
Utilizing Viltrum energy suppression technology and bio-force field containment devices adapted from Trigg's base, the GDA secretly contained, assessed, and even recruited or coerced a large number of newly emerging superhumans globally, or those whose powers ran wild due to crisis stimulation.
These abilities were diverse; some were useless, others extremely dangerous, and even a few superhumans slightly infected by Great Old Ones energy but not yet mutated became living samples.
In the cold containment zones, whispers, roars, and the hum of energy suppressors intertwined; this was no longer a sanctuary, but more like a talent reserve prepared for the apocalypse.
And Allen, with his advanced knowledge from the Planetary Alliance, became a crucial consultant for the GDA in deciphering other Viltrum technologies.
The scattered technological fragments brought back by the Ark and Trigg's base were being frantically dismantled and analyzed, attempting to extract even a sliver of power that could enhance Earth's defenses.
Before the GDA's tactical simulation results were complete, Mark chose to stay with his mother, Debbie, finding brief moments of warmth to soothe their mutual wounds.
During this time, Eve also visited frequently; after long periods of fighting side-by-side, the unspoken emotions between them deepened through the fires of war and mutual support, where a knowing glance or a helping hand in a critical moment spoke louder than a thousand words.
However, this warmth and unspoken understanding could not dispel the increasingly heavy shadow in Mark's heart.
He sat in the GDA's highest-level tactical simulation room, watching the simulated results on the holographic sandbox.
Scenario One: A medium-sized remnant Viltrum fleet attacks Earth.
Result: Earth's defensive forces, after sacrificing 70% of major cities globally and losing more than half its population, had a 37% chance of a Pyrrhic victory, or a 63% chance of mutual annihilation.
Scenario Two: A Titan giant ship descends to carry out purification.
Result: Unsolvable.
Simulation ended as the giant ship entered the Solar System's orbit.
Note: Resistance probability less than 0.01%.
Scenario Three: Great Old Ones' power completely infiltrates Earth.
Result: Global ecological collapse, human civilization annihilated, Earth becomes a living hell.
Time: Estimated 3-7 Earth days.
…
The cold numbers, the glaring red lights, struck Mark's heart like a heavy hammer.
His proudly held strength still seemed naive before the Viltrum Conqueror; his nascent light of purification was like a drop in the ocean against a global outbreak of contamination.
And facing the Titan… that was an existence on an entirely different dimension!
Earth's power, whether technology, superhumans, or Mark Grayson himself, seemed so insignificant, so… powerless, in the face of this star-sweeping crisis.
His belief in protection never wavered, but he saw the cruel reality clearly.
Earth alone could not survive this storm.
Two days later, Allen suddenly sought out Mark; it turned out Allen's Planetary Alliance communicator had signaled a recall.
His burly green body stood before Mark, with a hint of reluctance at parting and urgency to return home on his face.
"Mark, the Alliance High Council has issued an emergency summons," Allen's voice was deep and serious.
"News of Vitrum Prime's destruction and the reappearance of the Titan race has caused a huge shock within the Alliance; the Council needs me to report all details personally."
"More importantly, the destruction of Vitrum Prime has led to a power vacuum in its controlled star systems and the scattering of Viltrum remnants, intensifying unrest in the border regions."
"The Alliance needs strength to stabilize the situation, and it also needs… to prepare for a potentially greater storm."
He looked at Mark, his green eyes filled with complex emotions.
"I know Earth needs me now, but…"
Mark understood, waving his hand to interrupt Allen, but Allen's words did give him some inspiration.
"I'll go with you," Mark's voice was calm and firm.
Everyone was stunned.
Eve looked up sharply, her eyes filled with shock and worry.
Cecil's keen gaze instantly locked onto Mark.
"Mark?!" Eve couldn't help but exclaim.
Mark stood up and walked to the huge viewport, looking out at Earth shrouded in a grey haze.
His back was tall, yet it conveyed a heavy, resolute determination.
"We've all seen the simulation results, Cecil," Mark didn't turn around, his voice clearly reaching everyone's ears.
"Earth alone won't make it."
He turned, his molten-gold eyes sweeping over everyone, finally resting on Allen.
"Allen, I remember you saying that the Planetary Alliance is currently the only political entity in the universe capable and motivated to gather sufficient strength."
"Allen is an important member of the Alliance, and he is our friend."
He took a deep breath, as if making a final decision.
"I will go myself, as Earth's representative! I want to see the Alliance's strength with my own eyes; I want to convince them that Earth is also a part of resisting the threat of the Great Old Ones and the Titan Clan!"
"We need their technology, their fleets, their vast knowledge of the universe!"
"And even more… a powerful ally!"
He looked at Eve, his eyes filled with apology and unwavering resolve.
"Eve, you are needed here; if the Great Old Ones awaken again, your abilities will be crucial."
He then looked at Cecil.
"Director Cecil, until I return, Earth… I entrust it to you."
"Make good use of that data, and… those contained individuals; in extraordinary times, I understand your choices, but please… uphold the bottom line."
Cecil looked at Mark in shock.
"You!… You always knew?"
Mark was silent for a long time, then slowly nodded.
Cecil sighed heavily, saying, "I will use every means to buy Earth time, but remember, Mark, not everyone within the Alliance is monolithic; your safety is equally important to Earth."
His words carried a hidden meaning, hinting at the complexity of cosmic politics.
Allen clapped Mark heavily on the shoulder, a sincere smile on his face.
"Welcome aboard, brother; the Alliance's sea of stars is much livelier than Earth, and… much more dangerous; if you go personally, those old stubborn folks will be easier to convince!"
The farewell was hasty and heavy.
Debbie held back tears, straightening her son's collar, a thousand words turning into choked instructions.
Eve embraced Mark, pressing a pink crystal, formed by her atomic restructuring and containing pure life energy, into his hand.
"Take this; it might come in handy at a critical moment."
Rudy silently handed over a data chip.
"Inside is all my analysis of Viltrum energy characteristics and Titan data, and… all the star maps the GDA can provide. Be careful on your journey, Mark."
There was no grand farewell ceremony.
Mark and Allen silently ascended into Earth's hazy sky, broke through the atmosphere, and flew into the dark depths of space.
Mark took one last look back at the planet, which gradually shrank in his view, scarred yet still vibrantly blue.
The silhouette of his home appeared so small, so fragile, against the backdrop of the star sea.
Allen floated beside him, his voice slightly serious.
"Do you regret it? Leaving the cradle, stepping into the true cosmic jungle?"
Mark clutched the warm pink crystal in his hand, his molten-gold eyes reflecting the boundless stars, where there was worry, longing for his family, but more so, the resolute determination of burning his bridges.
"I would only regret staying and watching it be destroyed, powerless."
Mark's voice rang clear in the silent Earth orbit.
"Beyond the greenhouse, there is hope."
"Let's go, Allen, take me to see… our allies, and our battlefield."
The two instantly accelerated, transforming into a streak of light, plunging headlong into the deep, unknown sea of stars.
Meanwhile, in the GDA's cold containment zone, Cecil watched Mark's disappearing signal, then turned and walked towards the deepest laboratory, where under the lights, samples of Great Old Ones' contamination in specialized containers shimmered with an ominous, tempting glow.
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