THE COUNCIL OF HEROES 2

THE COUNCIL OF HEROES 2

After saying this, Broly knelt down before Son Goku, bowed his head and implored his mercy. Son Goku, however, hardened his heart the moment he perceived what Broly was driving at so that none of his words drew any compassion from him. He was too tense about everything that was going on and he couldn’t stand his asking, and less of all his gesture. He wanted the discomfiture to cease so he answered.

Son Goku: “Stand up, Broly. We have heard you, and have seen your gesture. Our answer is that if you don’t attack us, we will let you live. You shouldn’t expect anything more from us. After what you did to my family, I refuse to forgive you and take you home. That would be treason in my opinion. Understand that if you had had your way in the past, we wouldn’t be here talking.

Thanks to Agape, we’re alive and what you did wasn’t fatal to us. That, however, doesn’t change the fact that it hurt us, and continues to for the scars are still here. You said it yourself; it’s asking too much. Be content to live a quiet life with Galactus. I say it clearly so there should be no misunderstanding: Broly, you’re not part of us. If that was all you had to say, we’ll ask you and Galactus to leave our space field now.”

The agents heard Son Goku, and although some didn’t approve what he said, they let him speak for them. How could they reproach him? It was Son Goku who was personally hurt by Broly; and it was still Son Goku who saved Nootra on the three occasions Broly attacked the city. Although that response was contrary to what their civilization would normally give, the Council of Heroes let Goku’s case be as he said, given the things he suffered at the hands of Broly.

Broly raised his head and gave a pleading look at Son Goku. The hero, however, was intransigent. He stared hard at him, anxiously waiting for him to depart. Broly got up and shyly turned away, and walked back to Galactus. None of the heroes stirred for they were all behind Son Goku who was their spokesperson in that matter.

Nevertheless, their attitude outraged Galactus, and he drew near and rebuked them.

Galactus: “Nootra, is this what your civilization has become - one man speaking for your entire city? You violate the very essence of what your forefathers left behind when they built this civilization. I was present when Captain Universe and his peers took all the risks to make this city stand on justice and love. This inevitably meant collaborating with people who had harmed them, and those who even posed a danger to them. They did so because they stood on the faith that evil would see goodness and transform into good. This trust was perilous to some yet they refused to let fear or revenge hinder the revolution they were bringing into the world.

‘Your forefathers were persuaded Nootra was the new world they were building, and so they went where man refused to go. They forgave enemies and embraced former detractors because they believed only challenging steps as those could change this world. That was the dream of Captain Universe, your first Captain Nootra. He passed this dream to you so that you should live this lifestyle and spread it, not only across this galaxy, but to the entire universe. Have you forgotten already that this isn’t about you, your planet or your personal ambitions and dreams? Remember that this is about man, whosoever he is, villain or hero, Nootran or Saiyan, Kryptonian or Aegelist.

‘There is yet one pertinent thing you stubborn Nootrans aren’t taking into account. The Supreme Fighter is at the gate of our galaxy with the Ablom. I saw what he did in the seventh galaxy, and I promise you Kainos isn’t joking when he talks of conquering the universe. Take him lightly and you’ll take this entire galaxy to perdition through that futile resistance you plan to raise against him. Ablom is emperor of a dimension of eight galaxies of a thousand planets, and his resources are limitless. He is doing the opposite of what Captain Universe did with this expedition of conquering the worlds. And now that he is Supreme Fighter, don’t think your secret force will stand a chance against him.

‘If we want to preserve our galaxy, we need all our fighters, and without a doubt, Broly is our trump card. He fought you once or even thrice, and the last time you changed him. Isn’t this what you wanted; what you shout everywhere – transform everything into good? Why reject him now that he’s good? Where do you want him to go? You said this city is the best place in the world and all men should come and live here. Yes, Nootra is the paradise of the universe. What do you now mean by excluding someone who has openly shown that he wants to be part of you and live your dream?

‘Are there not some wise ones among you: Superman, Pikkoro, Prime, J’onzz, and especially you, Captain Nootra, the one whose heart has the same craving as your ancestor’s, Captain Universe? As long as you’re here, your fathers’ dream will continue to flourish for you’re the reincarnation of the one who first embodied this dream. Will you now leave your responsibility to others, and let little Goku make that decision when it is your place to do so? I advise you to forgive Broly and accept him as one of yours. Accepting him will also mean accepting me, and you’ll have the two most powerful fighters of the galaxy on your side. Captain, I adjure you to speak for your city. If you inherited the Nootra Shield, you know what it stands for, and you know what to do in this case. I’m done, and I await your answer, Captain.”

Captain Nootra kept his eyes on Galactus while this one spoke, and when he finished, he looked at Broly who was standing at a distance from Galactus. Then he turned and faced the Council for he couldn’t speak without consulting the heroes. He asked Galactus to give him some time before he delivered his answer, and raising the Nootra Shield, he opened a force field, which covered him and his peers for a briefing. Son Goku had drifted further away from the rest, and he wasn’t taken under the influence of the shield. The Saiyan stood there aloof and wouldn’t take his eyes off Broly. Storm came to him and asked him to join his comrades.

Storm: “Goku, don’t allow anything external to change the man you are. Don’t let them dominate you and make you another. You’re who you are and it’s not from the outside you’ll be influenced. Come; Nootra calls and we must heed.”

Son Goku: “I have expressed myself already. Nootra knows my position. I won’t lower my guard until these two are out of my sight.”

Seeing how restless his companion was, Iron Man took some security measures, and came to reassure him.

Iron Man: “They won’t attempt anything while we’re in Council. I have created a perimeter and posted my armours all over the place. They’ll report immediately they pick up something. Those two won’t succeed if they try to trick us in any way. Let’s get in and sort this out together.”

Son Goku listened to Iron Man and with Storm, they joined their fellows in the force field. J’onn J’onzz enabled the satellite, and they talked with those who were in the city.

J’onn J’onzz: “Headquarters, did you follow us so far? We’re now in Council. You can start, Captain.”

Captain Nootra: “Son Goku spoke for us all, but everyone’s opinion must be heard. What I’m asking from you is honesty. We’re comrades yet just as we differ from each other, so our opinions vary. We have been taught since childhood that we can have different opinions, tastes, and beliefs yet we don’t cease to be one people. What we cling to is our oneness, not our differences. Only one decision will be made at the end of the day, and we will all abide by it because we act as a single body. Yet everyone must voice their thoughts. J’onn, what’s your stance?”

J’onn J’onzz: “I think Broly is sincere when he says he has changed. I read his mind, and it is so. But that’s not the issue. The issue is, are we ready to live with someone who has tried to annihilate our people on three occasions?”

Superman: “Galactus talked of our ancestors wanting this city open to all. He was right about that. Our ancestors, however, didn’t face a trial as this. I believe each generation has its own challenges, and becomes a landmark by the way it reacts to this unique test to which it has no reference. Even if there had been a similar case before, it is not this one since everything here differs from its antecedent. We should decide from our own point of view, and not refer to the past. The future will see what we have done and appreciate from their own point of view; if it was noble or not. Personally, I have nothing to say in this case. I may be Superman, but sometimes, not even Superman has the answer to the world’s problems.”

Invisible Woman: “Are we going to betray one of us to practice what we say our ancestors left? If we fail to make a decision ourselves and rely on what we think our ancestors would want, won’t we be instituting a law and practicing an idea without giving our appreciation? That’s the very thing our ancestors were trying to avoid. We’re the ones present now, and it is we who make that decision, and we shouldn’t rely on what we might wrongly think our ancestors would want. The spirit of Nootra is in us and we’re this civilization.”

Storm: “I’m with Susan. Our civilization was never founded on concepts, narrated in the form of words. Our civilization is based on people living a higher consciousness. Our ancestors left us this civilization and we live it by developing every facet of its values. We don’t rely on the past, but on people who experience justice and love. What is love in this case; what is justice here? If we honestly answer these questions, I believe whatever we decide today will be in line with what our civilization stands for, and expose a new aspect of its beauty. Then we won’t be living for values, which are all abstract ideas, but we’ll be living for people.”

Iron Man: “Ororo’s point is relevant and to emphasize it, I would say, this civilization is nothing but us, the people who live it. Civilization is just a word, those values are only concepts, and the past is a memory; the present alone is real. We don’t trust in something, we trust in people, and we present are this civilization. In reality, this civilization has no values in itself; the people who live these values give substance to this civilization. I say we don’t depend on what our ancestors did. We do what we think is good for the people of Nootra.”

Batman: “Heroes, if truly Broly has changed, as J’onn confirmed, I don’t see why he shouldn’t join us. Apart from being a villain, nothing can prevent anyone from being a hero of Nootra. You take things personally when we’re supposed to be objective in this case. We’re currently in crisis with the Ablom posted at the entrance of our galaxy. It is the same warship that subjugated the seventh galaxy, the largest of our dimension. To have a chance to stand up to it, we need the best elements, no matter where we can get them. Agents, a world is coming against us, and no other than the strongest. We must let go of personal grudges and see what would be most beneficial for our people. Goku, you too have to see things in this light.”

Son Goku: “You’re free to express your opinion, Batman, and what you say is logical, as always. Yet I refuse to forgive Broly. Whatever Nootra decides, that will be it. I have stated my stand and you won’t make me change my mind.”

Wonder Woman: “We shouldn’t be speaking in the conditional. The reality is we’re all here now. Yes; Broly did threaten us in the past, but he didn’t succeed. Maybe it was for this reason we had to fight him these many times; so that he changes and helps save our galaxy from the Supreme Fighter.”

Cyclops: “We won’t split into parties because of someone who tried to annihilate us on various occasions. Goku, I understand you. It was you who suffered the most from Broly’s three attacks. Your sons, Goten and Gohan, were seriously injured in those attacks. That’s why I ask everyone to say if we take in Broly or not. What the Council decides in the end, everyone will abide by it.”

Optimus Prime: “I don’t like this thing of vote; it’s never good. Since we must reach an agreement that will go against the desires of some, I suggest Captain Nootra decides for us. Captain, you inherited our ancestors’ will, and we trust you. I am convinced what you decide will be good for our people and civilization. Anybody objects?”

Charles Xavier: “I approve. It’s the only way to settle this.”

Jean Grey: “Cap, you’re choosing for us.”

The Council of Heroes unanimously agreed that Captain Nootra, their ancestral figure, decides for them. He was the one who wielded the Nootra Shield, first brandished by Captain Universe, the city’s patriarch. He had his spirit, and the heroes believed that would guide him to do what was right.

Captain Nootra, however, didn’t like that the final decision came back to him. He had tried to shift his responsibilities onto others, but as Galactus said, that was his decision to make. He was afraid for he remembered making a decision once, which turned out to be his worst nightmare. Yet he couldn’t let that failure hinder him forever. He looked at Batman, and as in other cases, wanted him to get him out of there. Yet he knew it wasn’t what Batman wanted that he should do, but what he considered was right. His peers also encouraged him.

Thor: “We trust you, Captain.”

Wolverine: “Don’t pressure him, bub. Kid, responsibilities require you to always be at the helm.”

Pikkoro: “Be confident, Nootra. What you decide will be the right thing.”

After these words from his best friend and his two masters, Captain Nootra closed his eyes, and went into a minute of meditation where he considered everything revolving around that case. When he opened his eyes again, he spoke without hesitation and affirmed his verdict.

Captain Nootra: “Son Goku is the one who defended us the three times Broly attacked Nootra. If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t be here talking. Our civilization wants to receive everyone, but if we had been wiped out, there wouldn’t be anyone to receive anyone. I, Captain Nootra, speaking from my deepest convictions and with the most sincere love for my people and my faithfulness to Nootra, say we do as Goku says. He saved Nootra, and if he doesn’t want Broly, Nootra doesn’t want him either. We’re not letting down our own, whether citizens or heroes.

‘This civilization doesn’t only mean accepting people who want to be part of us; it also means being faithful to every single one among us. We do not forsake our own. It would be treason if we welcomed Broly and go against the expressed will of the one who defended us at the risk of his life. Heroes, the sons of Goku, Gohan and Goten, are the ones Broly threatened. It was still Son Goku who cast out the menace. Although some may wish to fight alongside Broly, and though he might be an asset, we refrain from him. If Broly is going to be one of us, it will happen when Goku accepts him. As for the Supreme Fighter, he will be defeated. Agape won’t let the enemy erase this civilization. This is His city. He gave us the Nootra Shield, and so we’re bound to win all of our battles, with or without Broly. This is Nootra’s answer to Broly’s request.”

Captain Nootra’s response settled the matter, closing all debates and putting the heroes in one accord. He united them all with the enlightenment he brought to the issue and they knew that was the answer. The Council adjourned and Captain Nootra suspended the force field, and the Council once again met with the two redoubtable fighters. Captain Nootra gave this answer to Broly.

Captain Nootra: “Broly, we stand by Son Goku and decline your request. We’re sorry, but after what you did to our world, we can’t make you one of us. We recognize you have changed, the reason we trust you’ll understand. You’re transformed into good and we praise you. Spread this good everywhere. Broly, you find family, friendship, and happiness. Life is good to you. Broly, you find a people who accepts you. This is our blessing to you, and it is so. Now we must ask you and Galactus to leave this space sector.”

Broly was disappointed after hearing Captain Nootra’s ruling. He turned to Son Goku, pleading with a dejected visage and eyes full of tears, but Goku looked away, having promised to not reverse Broly’s case by feeling pity for him. Broly looked at the other agents and there was such resoluteness on their faces he turned around and flew off to Galactus, asking that they leave. Galactus was furious at the Council’s response and wanted to speak, but Broly stopped him.

Broly jumped on Galactus’ shoulder, and this one retraced his steps. They flew away from Nootra’s gravitational influence under the heroes’ unyielding gaze. Yet while their outward expression showed intransigence, the hearts of the heroes hit them hard for it was the first time they had rejected someone who desired to join them. They returned to the city, and on their minds was Broly’s dejected face when they gave him that answer, the cruellest that could be given to any man: No.