The Global Defense Agency headquarters loomed ahead, its sleek, modern architecture a stark contrast to the natural beauty of the surrounding parkland.
Mark led the way, his expression a mixture of determination and anxiety as they approached the heavily secured facility.
"This is where Cecil Stedman operates from," Mark explained to the others. "He's the director of the GDA, basically the guy in charge of superhero oversight in this world. If anyone knows where my mom is right now, it's him."
Goku nodded, his senses already scanning the building and its surroundings.
He had returned to his base form after their dimensional crossing, but remained alert, aware of the potential threats this new world might present to his children. "There are severalenergy signatures inside. Security systems, weapons..." And something else. Something not entirely human.
Though that last part he kept to himself.
Lelouch activated his Geass briefly, his enhanced perception confirming Goku's assessment. "Heavy surveillance as well. We're being watched from multiple angles."
"That's normal for the GDA," Mark assured them. "Cecil's paranoid by nature. It's kind of his job."
Mikasa remained silent, her eyes cataloging potential entry and exit points, assessing the situation with the precision of a trained soldier. She moved slightly closer to Mark, her protective instincts already engaged.
As they approached the main entrance, the massive doors slid open automatically. A squad of armed agents in tactical gear formed a perimeter around them, weapons not quite aimed but clearly ready.
"They were expecting us," Lelouch observed quietly.
Mark nodded. "Cecil has satellites that monitor everything. He probably saw my fight with Nolan."
A tall, thin man with a prominent facial scar stepped forward from between the agents.
He wore an impeccably tailored suit and carried himself with the confidence of someone accustomed to dealing with extraordinary situations.
Despite his calm demeanor, his eyes betrayed his shock as they fixed on Mark.
"Mark," Cecil Stedman said, his voice carefully controlled. "You're supposed to be dead. I watched you die."
Mark stepped forward. "It's complicated, Cecil. But it's really me. I need to see my mom. Where is she?"
Cecil studied him for a long moment, then shifted his gaze to the three strangers accompanying him. His eyes lingered on Goku, narrowing slightly as if sensing something unusual about him.
"Your mother is here," Cecil finally said. "She witnessed your fight with your father via our satellite feed. She's... not in good shape, Mark."
Mark's expression tightened with concern. "Take me to her. Now."
Cecil nodded, then turned to address the others. "And your companions?"
"They're with me," Mark said firmly. "They helped me get back. I trust them with my life."
Cecil seemed to weigh this for a moment before nodding. "Very well. Follow me."
As they walked through the facility's sterile corridors, Goku suddenly paused, his head tilting slightly as if listening to something only he could hear. His eyes narrowed, focusing on a seemingly empty corner of the hallway.
Goku's eyes fixed on the empty space, seeing what the others couldn't – a demonic presence, invisible to normal perception but crystal clear to his senses.
The demon detective, Damien Darkblood, hovering unseen, observing them with intense focus and fear.
Goku smiled, a gentle expression that somehow carried more menace than any snarl could have.
He raised one finger to his lips in the universal gesture for silence, his eyes never leaving the exact spot where the demon hid.
Damien Darkblood, invisible to all but Goku, from the moment Goku arrived felt a chill run through his being.
In Goku's eyes, he saw something that terrified him to his core – reflections of countless deaths, the cries of entire civilizations as they burned, the mad laughter of a self-proclaimed god as universes crumbled to ash.
The demon recognized a predator far beyond his comprehension.
With a subtle nod that only Goku could see, Darkblood materialized, becoming visible to everyone in the hallway. The GDA agents immediately raised their weapons, but Cecil held up a hand to stop them.
"Darkblood," Cecil said, his voice tight with irritation. "I thought I sent you back to Hell."
"You did," the demon replied in his gravelly voice, his eyes never leaving Goku. "I found my way back. Hell isn't exactly a maximum-security prison for those who know its workings."
He turned his attention to Mark, studying him with professional interest. "This boy... he carries the same soul as the one who died.
I can sense it. A rebirth, perhaps, or something more complex. Interdimensional travel, souls crossing between realities... fascinating."
Mark looked surprised. "You can tell that?"
"I'm a demon detective, kid. Souls are my specialty." Darkblood adjusted his trenchcoat, still keeping a wary distance from Goku. "Your soul is the same one that left this body when Omni-Man killed you. No doubt about it."
Cecil's eyes narrowed. "That's impossible. Mark died. We have his body."
"And yet here he stands," Darkblood countered. "The mystery isn't whether this is Mark Grayson – it is – but how he's returned."
Goku stepped forward, "The 'how' isn't important right now. Mark needs to see his mother."
Darkblood nodded, backing away slightly. "Of course. Family reunions take precedence over metaphysical investigations."
He tipped his hat to Goku, a gesture of respect born from primal fear rather than courtesy. "We can discuss the... implications... later."
Cecil studied this exchange with sharp interest, noting the unusual deference the normally abrasive demon showed to the stranger.
Something about this man – Goku – clearly disturbed Darkblood, and very little disturbed a demon from Hell.
"This way," Cecil said, resuming their journey through the facility.
They arrived at a comfortable but clearly secure room.
Through a large observation window, they could see a woman sitting alone, her posture slumped in grief, her face buried in her hands.
Debbie Grayson, still wearing the clothes she had on when she learned of her son's death, looked utterly broken.
Mark's breath caught in his throat. "Mom," he whispered, his voice cracking with emotion.
Cecil pressed a button, unlocking the door. "She's been like this since we showed her the footage of your fight with Omni-Man. She hasn't eaten. Barely moving. Just sits there, crying or staring at nothing."
Mark didn't wait for further explanation. He pushed past Cecil and entered the room, moving slowly toward his mother.
"Mom?" he called softly.
Debbie looked up, her eyes red and swollen from hours of crying. For a moment, she simply stared, disbelief written across her features. Then, slowly, she rose to her feet.
"Mark?" Her voice was barely audible, fragile with hope and fear. "Is that... is that really you?"
Mark nodded, tears welling in his eyes. "It's me, Mom. I'm here. I'm alive."
Debbie crossed the distance between them in an instant, throwing her arms around her son with such force that even his Viltrumite physiology felt the impact. She clutched him desperately, her body shaking with sobs.
"My boy," she cried, her fingers digging into his back as if afraid he might disappear. "My beautiful boy. They told me you were dead. I saw you die, how are you here?"
Mark held her tightly, his own tears flowing freely now. "It's complicated, Mom. Really complicated. But I'm here. I came back for you."
From the observation window, Goku, Lelouch, and Mikasa watched the reunion with varying degrees of emotion.
Mikasa's expression remained stoic, but her eyes softened at the display of maternal love.
Lelouch observed with interest, though a slight tension in his jaw betrayed deeper feelings.
Goku watched with genuine warmth, pleased to see Mark reunited with his mother.
Cecil stepped up beside them. "I don't know who you people are or how you've done this, but I have questions that need answering."
"In due time," Goku replied calmly. "For now, let them have this moment."
Inside the room, Debbie had pulled back just enough to cup Mark's face in her hands, examining him through tear-filled eyes. "You look different somehow. Younger maybe? But it's you. It's really you."
"I've been through a lot, Mom," Mark said softly. "But I had to come back. I had to defeat him - and I did. I couldn't leave you alone, not after what he did."
At the mention of Nolan, Debbie's expression hardened slightly. "Your father... he killed you, Mark. I saw it. The satellite footage showed everything. How he beat you, what he said about Earth, about us..."
"I know," Mark said, his voice steady despite the pain in his eyes. "I remember all of it. But I'm back now, and I'm not going anywhere. I promise."
Debbie pulled him close again, burying her face against his shoulder. "I thought I'd lost everything," she whispered. "First Nolan turned out to be... and then you... I couldn't bear it, Mark. I just couldn't."
"You don't have to," Mark assured her, stroking her hair gently. "I'm here now. We'll figure this out together."
Outside the room, Cecil turned to address the three strangers more directly. "While this reunion is touching, I need to understand what we're dealing with here.
You three appear out of nowhere with a boy who was clinically dead, whose body is still in our morgue, and expect me to just accept this without explanation?"
Lelouch stepped forward, his diplomatic skills coming to the fore. "Director Stedman, I understand your concerns. But as Goku said, the explanations can wait.
What matters now is that Mark has returned to his mother, and neither of them poses any threat to your organization or this world."
Cecil's eyes narrowed. "And what about you three? Do you pose a threat?"
"Only to those who threaten what we care about," Mikasa stated flatly, her tone making it clear this was not a boast but a simple fact.
Goku placed a calming hand on Mikasa's shoulder. "What she means is that we're here to support Mark, nothing more. We have no hostile intentions toward your world or its inhabitants."
Cecil studied them for a long moment. "I've been in this business long enough to recognize power when I see it. And you," he said, looking directly at Goku, "have Darkblood practically cowering.
That demon doesn't fear anything, not even me, and I've literally sent him to Hell."
Goku smiled slightly. "Demons are often more perceptive than humans. They recognize certain... energies."
"And what 'energies' might those be?" Cecil pressed.
Before Goku could respond, the door to Debbie's room opened, and Mark emerged with his arm around his mother's shoulders. She looked exhausted but transformed by hope, clinging to her son as if afraid he might vanish.
"Mom," Mark said, "these are the people who helped me come back. This is Goku, Lelouch, and Mikasa."
Debbie looked at the three strangers, her expression a mixture of gratitude and confusion. "Thank you," she said simply. "For bringing my son back to me."
Goku bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment. "Your son is very special, Mrs. Grayson. He was determined to return to you, to make things right."
"Where will you go now?" Cecil asked, his tone softening slightly as he addressed Debbie.
She looked uncertain. "I... I don't know. Our house... I can't go back there. Not after knowing what Nolan was, what he did."
"You both can stay here for now," Cecil offered. "The GDA has secure accommodations. And given the circumstances, I think it's best if we keep Mark's return quiet for the moment, at least until we understand exactly what's happening."
Mark nodded. "That makes sense. But I want to talk to my friends soon. They need to know I'm alive."
"We'll arrange that," Cecil promised. "But first, let's get you and your mother settled. You both look like you could use some rest."
As Cecil led them deeper into the facility, Goku hung back slightly, his senses extending outward to map this new world.
It was similar to Earth in many ways, yet fundamentally different – the energy signatures, the flow of life force, all carried subtle variations that marked it as distinct from their home dimension.
"This world has its own protectors," he observed quietly to Lelouch and Mikasa. "But also its own dangers. You should remain vigilant."
Lelouch nodded, his mind already processing the political and social structures they'd glimpsed. "The GDA seems to function similarly to certain organizations in our world. Governmental oversight of metahumans, clandestine operations, advanced technology."
"Cecil is cautious but not hostile," Mikasa added. "He values Mark's well-being, despite his suspicions about us."
Goku smiled slightly. "He's intelligent enough to recognize when direct confrontation would be unwise. A valuable trait in a leader."
They were shown to a suite of rooms adjacent to the ones prepared for Mark and his mother. The accommodations were comfortable if somewhat sterile – typical government-issue furniture and décor, but with all necessary amenities.
"These quarters are secure and private," Cecil explained. "No surveillance within the living spaces, though the corridors and common areas are monitored. Standard protocol."
"Understood," Goku replied. "Thank you for your hospitality, Director Stedman."
Cecil lingered in the doorway, clearly wanting to ask more questions but restraining himself. "We'll talk tomorrow," he said finally. "After everyone has had a chance to rest and recover."
After Cecil departed, the three of them gathered in the common area of their suite.
"Mark needs time alone with his mother," Lelouch observed. "Their reunion is just the beginning of a longer healing process."
Mikasa nodded in agreement. "The trauma they've both experienced won't be resolved in a single conversation."
Goku moved to the window, looking out at the unfamiliar skyline of this world's version of Washington D.C. "We should prepare for tomorrow's discussions. Cecil will have many questions, and not all of them will be easy to answer without revealing too much about our origins."
"The demon already confirmed that Mark's soul is the same," Lelouch pointed out. "That gives us some leeway to explain his return without delving into the specifics of dimensional travel or our own... past."
"True," Goku acknowledged. "But Cecil strikes me as someone who values complete information. Half-truths will only increase his suspicion."
Their conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door. Mikasa moved to answer it, her posture automatically shifting to a defensive stance.
Mark stood in the hallway, looking emotionally drained but more at peace than they had seen him since their arrival. "Mom's resting," he said as he entered. "The GDA doctors gave her something to help her sleep."
"How are you feeling?" Goku asked, genuine concern in his voice.
Mark sank into one of the chairs, running a hand through his hair. "Honestly? I don't even know. Relieved. Exhausted. Angry still, but... different now. Seeing Mom like that, knowing what she went through thinking I was dead..." He shook his head. "It puts things in perspective."
Lelouch took a seat across from him. "And your father? What will you do about him?"
Mark's expression darkened. "I don't know. Part of me still hates him for what he did, for what he was planning to do. But seeing him like that, broken and remorseful..." He sighed heavily. "I just don't know."
"You don't need to decide everything now," Goku said gently. "Some wounds take time to heal, and some questions don't have immediate answers."
Mark looked up at him gratefully. "Thanks. For everything. For helping me get back here, for being there during the fight. I don't think I could have faced him alone, not really."
"You weren't alone," Mikasa stated simply. "You won't be."
The simple declaration seemed to comfort Mark more than any elaborate reassurance could have. He nodded, a small smile breaking through his exhaustion.
"I should get some rest too," he said, standing up. "Cecil's going to want to debrief all of us tomorrow, and that's going to be a long conversation. And I don't to leave my mom alone right now."
After Mark left, the three of them prepared for sleep in their own ways.
They had an entirely new world to make their own home tomorrow after all.
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(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all liked the chapter!
As most of you has probably seen, I changed the title to add besides DC other worlds.
DC is the main reality, it will be the main focus of this fic, but sometimes there will be other worlds as well, because, Mikasa, Lelouch, and Mark aren't the only otherworlders we'll meet.
We'll eventually meet others as well, some will be adopted too, others won't.
Well, I hope you all still wish to stick around and I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)