M'arzz rumbled to its core, tides of change clashing against the high walls of stability. The black surface rippled like water, oscillating like a wave that hid monsters in its depth. The monsters hidden were surfacing as the tide of change roared, as million tendrils with tri-claws broke through the black ocean, extending to the heavens.
From space, M'arzz now looked like a jellyfish with its million tendrils flowing smoothly in the weightless sea of void. They danced wildly as they flowed with the cosmic wind. The million tendrils covered the skies of M'arzz in an abyssal terror, its claws reaching to the stars as if to devour them. The tendrils, covered in golden circuitry, gleamed with power unknown, targeting the debris of the cosmos.
The asteroids in the main asteroid belt between M'arzz and Jupiter were the targets of this terror; even the moons of M'arzz were swallowed in their ascendance. The tendrils projected golden rays into the cosmos, lighting the void like a new sun. The sol solar system had a second star rising on the horizon. These rays soon reached their target, yet, instead of destruction, they captured their target, pulling them closer.
The captured asteroids were swallowed by the tendrils for nutrients as they moved to their next target. The million tendrils cleaned the sol system of asteroids in a matter of minutes, changing the whole solar system. After devouring the asteroids in the Main belt, they shifted their target to Jupiter's rings and its moons.
In the silence of the void, only the new jellyfish was excited.
...
The observatory was drowned in silence. The astronomers who were observing Mars had their jaws dropped at the sight. If shown without any prior information, they would have taken it as a joke, but they had been watching it as it happened and they still couldn't believe their eyes. The screen displayed a half-red planet, the once Mars, and its other half now fully filled with tendrils that floated in the void. The tendrils glowed with divine light, illuminating the black void between planets.
Mars, their sister planet, had changed into something unrecognizable. Now they had a giant jellyfish for a planet. Can they consider Mars a planet now? With its massive change, is it classified as an organism? Do they need to kick another planet out? The astronomers had many questions that they needed answers to, but they would have to wait for it.
"This is unprecedented," the senior astronomer voiced his awe.
His junior resonated with his awe, "They changed the whole planet."
The senior rubbed his chin, his mind forming many theories. "This proves that there are sentient life beyond our expectations out there in the infinite cosmos. We should carry out more investigations."
"You would have to wait for that," a familiar voice halted the senior's thoughts. The senior and his junior turned to their colleague, expectation visible on their faces. "The Pentagon has been informed, and we are sharing the live feed with them. They are discussing what to do at the moment," The colleague answered.
"But what can they do?" The senior commented. "For someone or something of this caliber, do you think our weapons would work."
"Do you want us to just be sitting ducks?" The colleague retorted.
"We could first try communication; this might be a false alarm, and we might end up in a war against a highly advanced species," the senior conveyed his reasoning. "We can't do anything about that. It's all in the hands of the Pentagon; they would decide what to do with the information," the colleague shrugged.
"Haa," the senior sighed, "What in God's name is going on?"
...
-LEXCORP-
The spacious office of Lex Luthor, adorned with sleek modern decor, overlooks Metropolis through floor-to-ceiling windows. Luthor sat behind his imposing desk, engrossed in his work. His secretary approached him with steady steps.
"Sir, we were contacted by the military. They are asking you to contact them immediately," she informed, her words calm, showing no sign of haste. "You might want to look at this before you decide. I think it's an urgent matter."
Luthor raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. He tuned and gave his attention fully to his secretary. Lex leaned back in his chair as he watched his secretary place a tab displaying a video of a jellyfish. Luthor puzzled, looked at his secretary.
"That's Mars, sir. We are watching the live feed," she answered calmly, "I checked with our satellite, and it's showing the same image." She then pressed the button on the table, prompting a larger screen to be revealed on the walls of the office. The screen rippled to life, displaying a similar image from a different perspective.
"Interesting," Luthor stated with interest, "What kind of scientific anomalies are happening on Mars?"
"Sir, there is something else," the secretary swiped the screen of the tablet, turning to an image with two figures flying in space. One with a very familiar 'S' on her chest while the other with an hourglass.
"It seems like the infection is spreading, and more of them are popping up," Luthor stated as he turned to the screen. "Connect with the Pentagon."
...
Zion, standing in the only sanctuary on the other half of the planet, observed the extraction process with a calculated gaze. One of his screens showed the image of Saturn's moon Titan, but it was not of importance now. {If you know, you know}
M'arzz was a relatively small planet compared to Earth, so it needed to be fed to fatten it up. Zion was also primarily targeting Callisto and Ganymede for their water and other minerals, mostly for water. With the new source of water added to the ecosystem, he didn't need to worry about cultivation in the future; he needed a food source.
His attention then turned to the newborn Mechmorphs roaming around, curiously observing the things that were happening. They were his new army, his force to win the war, and he would lead them to victory. He now owned half of M'arzz, and he would need his personal army to protect it, and protect it they will.
He would need them to maintain this place for the new arrivals of many... {Oops...Spoilers}
Zion, with his army ready, turned to the other phases of his plan on M'arzz. He didn't come to a barren planet to just conquer; he was here to make preparations for the future. Zion touched his chest where the Omnitrix resided and gave his command.
"Start phase 2."
[Activating Quantum Mineral Extractor]
A mechanical voice answered from the Omnitrix as a black box in the deep depths of the city activated in silence. The space inside the box expanded to exceed the size of a continent before the space twisted, clacked, and distorted as multiple worlds formed in a singularity. The superposition of infinite worlds painting an abstract world.
The QME utilized quantum superposition to extract minerals from other dimensions. By exploiting the principles of quantum superposition, allowing it to exist in multiple dimensions simultaneously, collect minerals, and return with them to our dimension. The QME was also powered by a fifth-generation Atomic engine which uses singularity to extract pure energy, much more advanced than the one in Gotham. This engine could power up the whole solar system.
This new atomic engine was the baby of Singularity Energy Generator and Atomic engine, with negated effects of massive gravity.
Zion normally would not have been able to accomplish this on his own while depending on Earth's technological level. But Kryptonians were a highly advanced race, and the sunstone was equipped with all that tech, fully eliminating the would-have-been wasted time in production. But even with this, the Atomic Engine was still not powerful. He would normally have to build a Dyson sphere for energy, but for now, the energy output was enough.
[Quantum Mineral Extractor activated successfully]
[Production yield 100%]
A relief washed over Zion as he heard the notification; his tensed heart relaxed. He was a tiny bit worried that all of this might explode on his face. He didn't want to lose a planet in the solar system and confront a rage-filled Martian Manhunter. He could now begin his future plans now that the materials are being mined across the dimensions. He wouldn't have to worry about rare materials running out, especially ninth and tenth metals. He could build weapons for his whole army and begin his war.
[Extraction progress 56%]
At the message, Zion turned to the screen where the thousand tendrils were crawling across two massive celestial bodies. Callisto with its icy surface covered with craters was being slowly dissected by the thousand tendrils; its ice melted, its oceans drained, its earth clawed. The once brilliant moon of Jupiter was now food to be devoured. And it wasn't the only one; Jupiter's moon Ganymede was also being devoured by the other tendrils, its ecosystem dissected and eaten as nutrients. The protector of Earth, Jupiter, now lacked two moons, but it won't matter as Zion had something in mind for Jupiter too, but that was for another time.
"Are the guns ready?" Zion questioned the interface.
[Affirmative]
"Good," Zion nodded, his gaze turning to veil the horizon, "Arm the Mechmorphs; we march in 24 hours. Let's give the Martians time to prepare, and then we crush them."
[Affirmative]
"Let's start the territorial war, shall we?" Zion clapped his hands in excitement.
...
J'emm held his head down as the council finished watching his memories. He felt ashamed of running away, but he had to inform them of the oncoming war; they need to be ready. And there was nothing he could do to stop Zion while the best of their M'hontrr's failed. The council discussed J'emm's action. While some thought that his actions were cowardly and unfitting of a prince, others understood him. J'emm really couldn't have done anything in that situation but return to inform them of the betrayal.
"J'emm, leave to your room and rest," The queen ordered. J'emm bowed and left the hall in silence, his head held lower in shame. "Is J'onn J'onz been informed?" The king asked his general. "We have sent the order through our communication link, and we have yet to receive a reply," The General answered.
J'emm, after leaving the hall, turned from the way to his room and left for a secluded space where he could meet the woman he loved. He exited the palace and took the tunnels to the sacred river. He sat near the river, admiring its beauty that calmed his mind. The bright light illuminated the cavern rocks, bringing light to the dark cave. He sat there, thinking back to the conversations he had with Zion, how friendly he was. The Earther never had a thought of betraying them, but he also knew that Martians could hide their thoughts very well.
"J'emm," a worried female voice called him.
"S'yraa," J'emm turned to the female Martian.
"Why are you sad? I could feel your sorrow through our link," S'yraa took J'emm's hand and rested her head on his. "What troubles you so much?"
"I... I have let the Martians down," J'emm answered, "I should have been stronger. If I was, I would have been able to stop this war."
"War?" S'yraa questioned, shocked at the revelation.
"Yes," J'emm answered as he opened his mind to her, revealing his secrets. But as he let her in, Zion's words flashed past. Zion had talked with him for an extended amount, sharing his view on relationships.
'If you truly love her, don't care for the world and if it stands in your way, burn it to the ground.'