Homelander returned to his seat and looked at Fury's despairing eye.
"Earth can only be saved by Earthlings themselves."
"And now, that Earthling is called Homelander."
Fury fell completely silent.
He slumped back in his chair, the light in his eye dimming.
Thinking back over the past twenty years, whenever Earth faced a crisis, he had instinctively wanted to press that button, but he had held himself back every time.
He had told himself it was to save his trump card for the very end.
But now that he thought about it... perhaps, deep down, he had been afraid too.
Afraid that after pressing it, no one would answer.
If what Homelander said was true...
Then everything he had done was not only a joke, but a disaster.
He had let the wolf into the house and had even been smug about it.
After a long while.
Fury rose from his chair and picked up the documents on the table. There was no expression on his face, but his slightly trembling fingers betrayed the turmoil in his heart.
"I need to go back first... and get them to confirm it."
"Do as you like."
Homelander waved dismissively, turned his chair around, and stopped looking at him.
"Anyway, once I'm done with what I have on hand, I'll start cleaning up these alien goblins."
"Of course..."
Homelander tilted his head, leaving Fury with only his profile.
"If you can handle them, that would be best."
"Have them come to me voluntarily to confess, hand over the list, and follow Vought's arrangements."
"In that case... they might still have a chance to survive."
Fury said nothing more.
He silently turned around and walked out of the office with heavy steps.
After Fury left.
As Skynet tidied Homelander's desk, it spoke.
"Sir,