Kara was startled by the sudden appearance of Doctor Manhattan.
The reason for her surprise was clear—Doctor Manhattan didn't belong to this universe. He came from another one entirely, separated by a vast distance from the DC universe where Kara resided.
For those unfamiliar, the universe of the Watchmen, where Doctor Manhattan originated, wasn't originally part of the DC universe. It was a completely independent creation. However, due to real-world circumstances—such as the author of Watchmen being mistreated by DC—the two universes began to overlap and gradually integrate. Despite this, the Watchmen universe wasn't officially part of the DC multiverse.
In simpler terms, the Watchmen universe existed on its own, separate from DC's New 52 multiverse. While it might contain its own infinite multiverse, it wasn't part of DC's broader cosmic framework.
But now, the integration between the two universes was becoming more apparent.
Kara, however, didn't concern herself with these intricacies. Instead, she found herself staring blankly at Doctor Manhattan.
She wasn't doubting his immense power. In fact, she was constantly on guard, a mark of respect for him. After all, Doctor Manhattan's abilities could very likely allow him to kill her in an instant.
That said, Kara also possessed the means to destroy Doctor Manhattan if the need arose.
This made their interaction fraught with tension. If he became her enemy, their clash could easily obliterate not just the Earth but perhaps even the entire solar system.
Compared to Doctor Manhattan, the Parallax Entity seemed almost adorable.
So, when Doctor Manhattan raised the question of whether he was a god or a man, Kara didn't find it amusing. She knew he had every reason to ask.
Still, she was curious. "You're asking me this on purpose? How would I know?"
Kara sighed. She wasn't some profound philosopher, despite her extensive study of psychology, which she had mastered to the point of earning a degree.
But psychology wasn't philosophy, and even theology or religion often fell short of explaining such questions.
"That's too complicated. I refuse to answer," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "And by the way, this is my personal space. What's the deal with a big guy like you suddenly showing up here without clothes? Hurry up and get out."
Doctor Manhattan didn't seem offended by Kara's bluntness. Perhaps it was his almost complete detachment from humanity, or maybe he simply didn't care anymore.
Doctor Manhattan's inner turmoil stemmed precisely from his dwindling humanity. His overwhelming power made him question his identity.
He had started caring less and less about humans. His memories, once treasured, now seemed meaningless.
This existential crisis had driven him to seek answers, prompting him to question what he truly was.
Some called him a god. His country even worshipped him as one. But they also feared him—feared his power.
Recent events had intensified his doubts.
Instead of leaving, Doctor Manhattan said, "In my world, history unfolded differently than it does here.
"Because of my intervention, my country won a war in Vietnam.
"This victory shaped an alternate future. A nuclear war that should have been narrowly averted could now become a reality, potentially leading to Earth's destruction."
Kara frowned. She found the revisionism distasteful. Why glorify a nation's dreams by rewriting history?
Doctor Manhattan's involvement had indeed created a divergent timeline in the Watchmen universe. The Cold War's delicate balance was thrown off, and the risk of mutually assured destruction loomed larger than ever.
Kara studied Doctor Manhattan intently and sighed. She couldn't just ignore his plight, as much as she wanted to avoid getting involved.
"So," she said, scratching her head in frustration. "You're debating whether to intervene and save humanity, or to abandon Earth altogether and use your godlike power to create a new one, right?"
Doctor Manhattan's dilemma boiled down to two outcomes. If he still saw himself as human, he might choose to save Earth and its people.
But if he identified as a god, he could abandon humanity and simply create a new, pristine world elsewhere. For a god, the destruction of one Earth wouldn't matter—it was merely a stepping stone to creating a better one.
For humans, however, every life mattered.
"So, what do you want from me? To tell you whether you're still human?" Kara said, exasperated. "Fine, you're human. Happy now?"
Her response was deliberately flippant. The Watchmen universe was far removed from hers, and she didn't want to get entangled in its affairs. It seemed like nothing but trouble.
Doctor Manhattan shook his head, refusing to accept her dismissive answer.
"I overheard your conversation with your siblings," he said. "You mentioned that the most important thing isn't reaching the destination. It's the journey—what you see and experience along the way."
Kara tensed. So, the quantum fluctuations she'd sensed earlier had been Doctor Manhattan observing her. But how had he noticed her in the first place?
"Though I'm now known as Doctor Manhattan," he continued, "I was once called Jon Osterman. But even that name is slipping from my memory.
"I had no hobbies, only my physics research and a wife. No friends.
"An accident during a quantum conversion experiment annihilated my body.
"My consciousness drifted into a non-physical realm.
"There, my understanding of existence was completely upended. I wandered for what felt like an eternity before returning to the physical world.
"When I did, I was transformed into this—a blue, bald man whose every atom bends to his will. A being with power that rivals that of a god."
Kara couldn't help but interject, "You gained that power just by wandering there? Doctor Strange must feel cheated! He's ventured into spiritual and dark matter realms countless times and all he got was some cosmic haggling."
Doctor Manhattan, unfamiliar with Doctor Strange, continued undeterred.
"I thought I wouldn't care about humanity anymore, given my transformation into a quantum observer. But perhaps I was wrong.
"That's why I'm here—to find an answer."