章 156: Chapter 156
Faced with Kara's resolute stance and warnings, Dr. Manhattan didn't waver. It wasn't that he dismissed her threats, but no matter what she said or did, he would still do what he believed was necessary.
"Stop this! It's enough!" Silk Spectre II shouted, her voice echoing with frustration. "Millions of people have already died! Don't let there be more senseless sacrifices!"
Without turning back, Kara raised her hand toward Silk Spectre II. Instantly, a green energy shield materialized, blocking her mouth and silencing her protests. The action was swift, but Kara ensured it didn't pose a threat to Silk Spectre's life. Because of this, Dr. Manhattan didn't intervene.
"You want to save them?" Dr. Manhattan asked, his glowing blue form radiating calm detachment. He seemed to already know Kara's intentions, as if he had glimpsed the future. But even for him, her actions raised questions. "Why?"
"Because humanity matters. Because justice matters," Kara replied, her tone unwavering.
Dr. Manhattan tilted his head slightly, puzzled. To him, those people were already dead; their sacrifice was the price for peace—a peace that could last decades. It wasn't that he couldn't change history; he simply didn't see the need. He had foreseen that, even if Adrian Veidt's plan succeeded, the utopia he envisioned would eventually crumble. For Dr. Manhattan, the length of peace—be it a second or a millennium—was irrelevant. His detachment from humanity rendered him indifferent to such matters.
This was Veidt's gamble: that Dr. Manhattan's increasingly godlike perspective would lead him to compromise. Veidt believed that once Dr. Manhattan learned the full scope of his plan, he wouldn't interfere. And for the most part, Veidt was correct.
But Kara was different.
"Because people are destined to die, does that make saving them meaningless? Because they're already gone, should we ignore their suffering?" Kara's voice sharpened. "Is it acceptable to stand by, knowing the future might hold more war and destruction, and decide to do nothing? If everyone thought that way, the world would already be lost."
She shook her head, her gaze piercing. "Humanity's greatest strength lies in its resilience—the courage to fight against despair. Their story is one of bravery, even in the face of tragedy. That's what makes life worth living—the uncertainty of the future, whether it brings joy or sorrow. Knowing every outcome beforehand strips life of its meaning."
Dr. Manhattan listened in silence as Kara continued, her words cutting through his stoicism. "You claim to see the future, Jonathan. But do you truly understand it? Every choice you make—or don't make—is dictated by what you think will happen next. You've become a slave to the quantum field, not its master. You aren't shaping destiny; it's shaping you."
Her words struck a nerve, and she pressed on, pulling out an old photograph. It showed Dr. Manhattan before his transformation, back when he was still Jonathan Osterman. Beside him in the picture was his ex-wife, Janey Slater—a beautiful young woman who had been his first love.
"You carry this with you everywhere, don't you? Do you think you don't love her anymore? Or is it that you've buried that part of yourself beneath excuses—claiming you've transcended humanity?" Kara handed him the photo. "Jonathan, think about it. How many years has this picture stayed by your side? If you've truly let go, why does it remain?"
Dr. Manhattan stared at the photograph, his expression inscrutable. Silk Spectre II watched the exchange, her face clouded with complex emotions. Kara turned to her with a smirk, finding her reaction ironic. Laurie had once left Janey's husband for her own desires, only to later betray Dr. Manhattan as well. Now, she seemed bitter—proof that hypocrisy wasn't exclusive to mortals.
Finally, Kara addressed Night Owl II, who had been silent throughout. "Dan, you think I'm wrong, don't you? You think trying to save those lives is pointless?"
Dan hesitated, unsure how to respond. "You… you said you want to bring back the dead?" he asked cautiously.
Kara shrugged. "Not exactly. But let's just say there's more to this world than you understand. Dr. Manhattan isn't the only one with power here, and he's certainly not the only one who can bend reality."
Her words carried weight, leaving Dan and Laurie visibly unsettled. For the first time, cracks began to appear in their confidence. Even Dr. Manhattan seemed to reconsider his position.
Suddenly, he spoke. "Let me come with you."
Kara raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Why the change of heart?"
Dr. Manhattan looked at her, his glowing blue form flickering subtly. In his hand, he still clutched the photograph. "I have something I need to witness," he said quietly.
Kara tilted her head, curious but respectful. "Witness what, Jonathan?"
He didn't answer, instead turning to Laurie. "Laurie," he began, his voice tinged with a faint emotion, "I thought I loved you. But now I realize… perhaps I only loved what you represented—a fleeting moment of youth and vitality."
Laurie flinched, her expression shifting from shock to pain. But Dr. Manhattan continued, unrelenting. "I have clung to this photograph for decades. It's time I faced the truth."
Kara watched him closely, noting the subtle shift in his demeanor. For the first time in years, it seemed as though Jonathan Osterman—the man buried beneath the godlike facade—was beginning to resurface.
As Dr. Manhattan stood beside Kara, she smiled faintly. "Maybe you're not as far gone as I thought, Jonathan."
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