DC HERO AT MARVEL

Jameson was still processing everything when Anton, maintaining a calm demeanor, feigned a resigned nod and replied, "Alright."

As the words left his mouth, Anton pulled out his phone and tapped at the screen a few times.

Whoosh!

In an instant, a figure materialized out of thin air.

Batman!

Jameson eyes widened in shock. He glanced at Anton, then at Batman, his expression resembling someone who had just seen a ghost.

Keller, however, remained composed, as if he had anticipated this moment all along.

"teleportation beacon," Keller muttered to himself, mentally connecting the dots and marveling at the wonders of alien technology.

Standing firmly in place, Batman clone scanned the room, his piercing gaze landing on the Secretary of Defense, John Keller. His tone was steady as he addressed the man.

"Secretary Keller. A pleasure to meet you."

"Batman…" Keller showed no surprise that Batman knew who he was.

As Secretary of Defense, his face was well-known, especially to those who paid attention to global affairs.

"I asked Anton to call you here regarding the aliens…" Keller began, repeating the same explanation he had given Anton earlier.

But Keller seemed unaware that two out of the three people in the room—Anton and Jameson—weren't paying much attention to his words.

Jameson eyes darted between Anton and Batman clone, before finally settling on Anton with a look of growing suspicion.

It was dawning on him that Anton earlier claim of being Batman might have been a bluff.

Almost made me eat a newspaper!

Anton offered an innocent shrug in response, further riling up Jameson, who was visibly seething.

If not for Keller presence, Anton suspected Jameson might have personally treated him to a metaphorical serving of bamboo shoots stir-fried with pork.

"I get it!" Jameson finally exclaimed, his voice dripping with exasperation and realization.

Meanwhile, Batman clone focused back on Keller, keeping his expression unreadable as he digested the man words.

Keller continued his pitch, delving deeper into his concerns about the alien threat, the NBE, and the recent invasion, seeking Batman cooperation—or, more accurately, the Justice League partnership—with the military.

All the while, Anton casually leaned back, observing Keller earnestness and Jameson suppressed frustration with a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Batman clone suddenly spoke, drawing Keller and Jameson attention back to him.

"Secretary Keller, I have just one question," the Batman clone began. "What exactly is the relationship between the Justice League and the military? Are we subordinates, or is this a partnership?"

"In name, it a subordinate relationship, but in practice, it a partnership," Keller replied without hesitation.

"You see, we've done our research on your organization. While we haven't uncovered much, we do understand your vigilante nature and your strong preference for autonomy," Keller explained.

"After much deliberation, we've decided not to interfere with the Justice League internal workings. However, we hope that, when necessary, you can act as allies to the military—taking directives and collaborating with us in joint operations."

To be honest, Keller conditions were remarkably generous, with none of the aggressive posturing that characterized General Ross.

It was clear the Military Committee had thoroughly studied the Justice League current public image and opted for a softer approach based on recommendations from military advisors.

These terms were far more appealing than anything offered by Nick Fury S.H.I.E.L.D.

"So, you're proposing a more balanced alliance," Batman clone responded. "But let me make one thing clear: the Justice League will only act in situations of extreme crisis, such as alien invasions. On that condition, we're willing to share intelligence—including information about the recent alien incursion."

Intelligence sharing?

Keller eyes gleamed briefly before he smiled and nodded.

"Agreed."

"Then we have an accord."

Batman clone nodded and glanced at Anton.

The two exchanged a knowing look.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, another figure materialized in the room.

Cyborg!

Jameson, now thoroughly drained from shock, didn't even bother to react. As a media mogul, he had ironically ended up as the most uninformed person in the room.

Keller, however, was visibly intrigued, once again marveling at the capabilities of teleportation beacon and the potential it represented.

Still, Keller refrained from commenting further.

The Military Committee had chosen a conciliatory strategy with the Justice League, correctly identifying that vigilantes generally rejected coercion but were more receptive to cooperative overtures.

Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. heavy-handed approach had unintentionally demonstrated what not to do.

By maintaining a relationship with the Justice League, the military could potentially gain access to their advanced technology in the future—either by borrowing it for use or by negotiating for joint research efforts.

Moreover, if teleportation beacon was indeed derived from NBE aliens, there might not be just one in existence. In future operations against other NBE extraterrestrials, the military could seize additional devices.

As these thoughts raced through Keller mind, Batman turned to Cyborg.

"Show them the information about the Autobots and Decepticons."

"Understood," Cyborg said, his voice mechanical and precise.

He cast a penetrating gaze at Keller, whose calm demeanor faltered under the icy, almost inhuman scrutiny. The intensity of Cyborg stare felt like a blade scraping against Keller composure.

Then, with a faint whir, Cyborg electronic eye projected a holographic screen into the air.

A massive metallic planet appeared on the screen, slowly rotating in space.

"The Autobots and Decepticons hail from Cybertron," Cyborg began, his voice steady and informative. "We've named their species the Transformers."

"Cybertron orbits Alpha Centauri and is roughly the size of Saturn. It a vast metallic planet composed of diverse types of metallic ore. It serves as the home of a powerful race of mechanical beings capable of shifting between robot and alternate forms."

"The Transformers on Cybertron are divided into two factions: the Autobots and the Decepticons. These factions have been locked in a bitter civil war for countless ages, depleting their planet resources. As a result, both sides have scattered across the cosmos in search of new sources of energy and sustenance."

Cyborg paused, his tone dropping slightly.

"For reasons unknown, the Decepticon leader, Megatron, came to Earth thousands of years ago. His current whereabouts remain unknown."

The room fell silent as Keller processed this revelation.

"Megatron…" Keller murmured to himself, his expression darkening as the pieces began to fall into place.

So that his real name, Keller thought, realizing that the mechanical extraterrestrial stored at Hoover Dam—the one they had designated NBE-ONE—was none other than Megatron himself.

"But whether Autobots or Decepticons," Cyborg continued, breaking the silence, "their primary objective revolves around recovering an artifact lost during the Cybertronian civil war—a relic that crash-landed on Earth."

"And what is this artifact?" Keller asked, his voice barely masking his growing unease.

"The AllSpark," Cyborg answered, his tone even. "A peculiar, cube-shaped object. It essentially the essence of the Transformers—their source of life and ultimate sanctuary. It can grant life to machines, transforming any mechanical object into a sentient being with intelligence comparable to humans. It also serves as a source of energy for the Transformers, enabling them to create new life."

Keller pupils dilated slightly at the mention of the AllSpark capabilities, though he quickly schooled his expression into neutrality.

"You seem to know where the AllSpark is," Batman clone remarked suddenly, his voice cutting through the room like a razor.

Though Keller had done his best to hide his reaction, the clone had seen through him instantly. His tone was calm, yet it carried an air of quiet certainty that left no room for denial.