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Jessica took the device and fiddled with it for a long time, her face full of impatience.
"God knows how to adjust the focus on this thing."
"No need to adjust it." Rocket jumped down, snatched the device away, and tapped it twice. "This is controlled by a brainwave link! It films wherever you want to look! You idiot!"
"Who are you calling an idiot? You little squirrel?" Jessica glared at him.
"Alright, Jessica."
Homelander clapped his hands, interrupting their bickering.
"There are thousands of media outlets, hundreds of thousands of fans at the press conference, and seven billion viewers around the world waiting for us."
"Let's go."
...New York, Central Park.
This place had been transformed into a massive open-air press conference venue.
Hundreds of thousands of people crowded the park until it was packed tight, while even more gathered on the streets of Manhattan, looking up at the big screens.
Broadcast vans from media outlets large and small formed long lines, and dozens of news helicopters circled in the sky.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
Ashley, back from her vacation, stood at the side of the stage with a microphone in hand, her voice trembling with excitement.
"Please raise your heads! Let out your screams! Let us welcome—Homelander—!"
"Whoo—!"
"Ahhh—!"
"Homelander—! Homelander—!"
A landslide of cheers resounded through New York.
"Rumble—"
Amidst the cheers of the crowd, a low rumble came from the sky.
The clouds parted.
A huge spaceship with a highly sci-fi design slowly descended.
The midnight blue fuselage reflected the sunlight, with red lines like flowing fire.
The golden "V" logo proclaimed its origin.
The anti-gravity engines sprayed blue-white flames, blowing away the fallen leaves on the lawn, yet precisely controlling the airflow so that the audience in the front row felt no discomfort at all.
"Wow—!!!"
The crowd erupted in bursts of amazement.
Even New Yorkers who had seen alien ships several times were still deeply shocked when they saw this human creation with their own eyes.
It was a symbol of power, a milestone for humanity's journey toward the stars.
The ship hovered at a height of two meters from the ground, its landing gear firmly gripping the Earth.
"Pshhh—"
Accompanied by the sound of hydraulic venting, the side hatch slowly slid open, and the gangway automatically extended to the ground.
Spotlights instantly focused.
All cameras were aimed at the hatch.
A polished red combat boot was the first to step onto the gangway.
Following that were red gloves, a blue bodysuit, and that Stars and Stripes cape fluttering in the wind.
Homelander.
He walked out.
His blonde hair shone with a divine luster in the sunlight.
The confident and calm smile on his face was the source of humanity's courage when facing unknown enemies.
Behind him followed Jessica Jones.
Although she looked extremely displeased and even wanted to flip the bird at the flashbulbs flashing crazily in her eyes, she still managed to maintain the image of the "Number One CP" under Homelander's powerful aura.
"Homelander! Homelander! Homelander!"
The cheers were deafening.
People waved flags and shouted his name.
Homelander stood at the top of the gangway, not in a hurry to walk down.
He tilted his head back slightly, closed his eyes, and spread his arms, embracing the cheers filling the sky.
He enjoyed it.
Enjoying everyone's attention, enjoying the popularity that surged toward him like something tangible.
After a moment, his super-hearing noticed people's voices starting to go hoarse, so he opened his eyes, slowly walked down the gangway, and came to the podium in the center of the stage.
He held the podium with both hands, his blue eyes scanning everyone below.
The noisy crowd gradually quieted down.
Everyone held their breath, looking forward to Homelander's speech.
"My fellow citizens."
Homelander's tone was gentle, but there was a hint of solemnity between his words.
"Today, we stand here. Not to celebrate, but to... say goodbye."
"Not long ago, we discovered that alien ecological weapon buried beneath our feet. It is growing, it is pulsing. It is attempting to devour our home, coveting our lives."
Homelander pointed to the sky.
"If we don't do something, our children will have no future. Our civilization will become cosmic dust."
"Am I afraid? Yes, I am afraid too."
Homelander said "candidly," a perfectly timed glimmer of humanity showing in his eyes.
"In the endless reaches of space, there is only endless cold and endless darkness."
"And the terrifying hunters lurking in that darkness..."
"But..."
His voice suddenly rose.
"...Fear cannot stop us from moving forward!"
"Because we are humans! We are a race born out of countless adversities!"
"Whoo—! Humanity—!"
"Long live humanity—!"
A burst of cheering erupted from below.
After the cheering, Homelander continued:
"And the meaning of this expedition is not just to eliminate alien scum, nor is it just to protect the Earth."
"This is the first time in human history that we are actively launching an expedition into the deep dark of space!"
"We are no longer lambs waiting to be slaughtered; we are hunters holding shotguns!"
"And I..."
Homelander patted his chest, the golden eagle emblem gleaming in the sunlight.
"...I am honored to serve as your representative, as the vanguard of humanity, leading the charge!"
In the crowd below, some people had already started sobbing, shedding tears of emotion.
Some called their bosses on the spot to resign, then immediately submitted their resumes to the official website of the Vought Deep Space Administration.
Homelander turned around, pulled Jessica to his side, and put his arm around her.
"And on this journey, I will not be alone."
"Jewel, Jessica Jones, she will serve as the eyes of humanity."
He pointed to the floating sphere in Jessica's hand.
"This is Vought's latest Quantum Communication Technology."
"There will be no secrets on this journey."
"We will be broadcasting the entire process live."
"Whether it is victory, or... death."
"I, Homelander... will be with you."
At this point, Homelander paused.
His expression became soft, even a bit sad.
He looked at the camera as if making a final farewell to his lover.
"If I... don't come back."
A wave of gasps and cries immediately came from below.
"No! Homelander!" "You'll be fine!" "You are invincible!"
Homelander smiled and shook his head, signaling everyone to be quiet.
"If..."
"If I sacrifice myself in outer space."
"Please don't be sad for me, don't lament my misfortune, and don't cry for me."
"Because I am lucky."
"I am lucky to have been born human."
"Lucky to have scouted the path through the stars for you, for my fellow citizens, for humanity. That is enough..."
"If I fall, then let my body become a signpost."
Homelander clenched his fist, raised it above his head, and let out a roar.
"Please... step over my corpse and keep moving forward!!"
"For humanity! For Earth!!"