"Handing Earth over to the XYZ Country?!"
Ellis turned pale with shock and couldn't help but stand up from his chair.
As an American politician, handing over control of Earth to someone else simply overturned his worldview.
"Look, look, your vision is too narrow again, my friend."
Homelander reached out to press down on Ellis's shoulder, pushing him back into his seat.
"Earth is the birthplace of us humans. But in the future, its significance will far outweigh its practical value."
"It will become a history museum for all of human civilization, an eternal monument."
"The XYZ Country is the only country which was not affected by Skrulls other than America and Still preserved their heritage. They are the most suitable candidates to guard this significance."
Homelander straightened up and put his hands behind his back.
"Imagine, Matthew. Even if thousands or tens of thousands of years pass, when the human era reaches 30K or 40K, and when the pioneers from the edge of the Milky Way Galaxy return to their home Planet on a pilgrimage, they will still be able to find the most complete history on this land."
"They will clearly read about how Matthew Ellis, the first Galactic President of the Human Federation, turned the tide in a crisis and led all of humanity out of the Sun's system to realize the great Galactic Dream."
"Your name will go down in history and be remembered by future generations forever."
Ellis's breathing quickened. To be remembered by descendants thirty or forty thousand years later?
To have one's name go down in history, admired for generations.
Isn't this the ultimate goal that every politician dreams of?
He beamed with joy, his smile almost reaching his ears.
But he was still a little worried.
"But, Homelander. Do you really trust the XYZ Country that much? Are you sure they will honestly stay on Earth to guard history? Instead of abandoning it when resources are depleted?"
Homelander gave a confident smile and reached out to pat Ellis on the shoulder.
"Trust me, Matthew. No one understands the XYZ Country better than I do."
"Besides, they always manage to create miracles." Homelander added, "If one day humanity's conquest of the galaxy fails, they might become the key to humanity's comeback."
"I understand, Homelander." Ellis nodded.
"Let them remain attached to Earth, while we set our sights on the stars."
He raised his wine glass and clinked it with Homelander's.
"For the sea of stars."
"For the Eternity of humanity." Homelander responded with a smile.
...
Louisiana, outskirts.
As night fell, outside on the wooden porch, Carol Danvers sat casually in a rattan chair, wearing a simple leather jacket.
Sitting next to her was her best friend whom she hadn't seen in twenty years, Maria Rambeau.
Twenty years had left deep marks on Maria's face, but her eyes were still as resolute as they were back when she was a pilot.
"You've aged, Maria," Carol said softly.
"No kidding." Maria took a sip of beer and rolled her eyes.
"You think everyone can be like you, becoming Carol Danvers? I'm just an ordinary person, Carol. Twenty years is enough to turn me into an old woman."
Carol fell silent, looking at the back of her hand, which was still young and firm.
The television inside was on, broadcasting the news.
"Matthew Ellis, the first President of the Galactic Human Federation, today inspected the Interstellar Warship Assembly Base located in Nevada..."
"Vought International announced today that it will significantly increase the minimum wage for all federal workers and launch a free medical insurance plan for all citizens..."
"The White House also stated that in order to increase the birth rate, it will implement large-scale maternity subsidies and a universal free education system..."
In the footage, people everywhere took to the streets, waving the Federation flag, their faces filled with heartfelt smiles as they celebrated this historic moment.
Maria picked up a bottle of beer and handed it to Carol.
"Have a drink, Carol. You've had a stiff face ever since you came back from space."
Carol took the beer, her fingers rubbing the bottle, but her gaze did not leave the television screen.
"I don't understand, Maria."
"In the twenty years I've been gone, the World has changed too fast. Nations are gone, the Federation has been established. And the Skrull refugees I once helped almost destroyed my home."
"Sometimes I even wonder if I'm an outsider abandoned by the times."
Maria looked at her best friend, whom she hadn't seen in twenty years, feeling a bit sad.
"The World is always changing, Carol. You can't expect Earth to stay exactly as it was the day you left."
"Twenty years ago, you rushed into the Universe, saying you were going to deal with higher-level alien threats."
"Under your influence, I proposed to the government and led the establishment of S.W.O.R.D. My original plan was to build a space defense line for Earth, to nip problems in the bud."
Maria gave a bitter laugh.
"The ideal was beautiful, but the reality was cruel..."
"When aliens attacked Earth time and time again, S.W.O.R.D. couldn't play any substantial role at all. We didn't have an effective military force to oppose them."
Maria's gaze turned to the television screen, where the news was currently showing footage of Homelander comforting the families of the victims.
"To be honest, Carol. If it weren't for Homelander and his superheroes, I don't know how many times Earth would have been destroyed by now."
"I know you're biased against him. But objectively speaking, Homelander has indeed done things we couldn't do. He has given Earthlings a real sense of security."
Carol fell silent.
Homelander's lonely courage in carrying the life and death of all humanity on his shoulders, his conviction in facing powerful enemies without fear of death...
...all of it made Carol, who had been fighting alone in the Universe for years, feel a strange sense of resonance.
And after their last close encounter, she had to admit that there was a fatal attraction about that man.
"Maybe... I really should look at him from a different perspective."
Hint! Gained special popularity value +5000! (From Carol Danvers)
Homelander: ദ്ദി˶•̀֊•́)✧
But Carol's brow soon furrowed again.
"But, Maria."
"His methods are too extreme... He indiscriminately slaughtered hundreds of thousands of Skrulls, not even sparing civilians."
"He has no reverence for life in his eyes..."
"But he is full of kindness toward his fellow humans," Maria advised.
"Stay, Carol. Stay on Earth for a while longer."
"Perhaps you'll find that Homelander isn't as bad as you think. Humanity needs him, but they need you too."
Carol looked at Maria's expectant eyes, took her hand, and patted it gently.
"I know what you mean, Maria. I hope you're right too."
"But there are too many places in the Universe that need me. I'm leaving tomorrow."
Carol pulled an old Pager out of her leather jacket pocket and held it out to Maria.
"Keep an eye on that Homelander for me... If one day he changes, I'll come back to stop him."