>>5700957You can taste the tension in the air, feeling that things might not turn out well for the Kryptonian if things come to blows. So you step forward between them with your back to Freeza and speak up.
“Superman, thanks for helping Ubo.” you say to him, then gesture to the emperor behind you. “Allow me to introduce you to my friend and the emperor of the universe, Lord Freeza. Lord Freeza, this is the other Kryptonian I told you about, Superman.”
“Superman? Well, I suppose to the inhabitants of this world, you must seem quite 'super' indeed.” Freeza says, his golden glow fading as he reverts back to his fourth form, offering the Kryptonian his hand. “Ubo has spoken quite highly of you.”
“Ah-” he exhales, unsure how to respond to the immediate diffusion of the tension. After a second he takes his hand, the two shaking. “You're the one who your General spoke of.”
“Yes, Karn and I go quite a ways back.” Freeza says, glancing over as Broly and Arctus land near you all, along with the two warriors from this planet who saved them from Darkseid's final attack. “Were it not for him, I might not be here.”
“Heh, we have that in common.” Superman says with a small smile, no doubt remembering that abomination that nearly killed him before you and Ubo showed up the first time. But as the warrior woman comes up, she addresses Freeza directly.
“Thank you, foreign emperor for your assistance in this battle.” she says, giving him a salute with her sword. “Most of the best rulers I have met were also some of the greatest combatants.”
“Certain rules are inevitable, no matter the time or place.” Freeza replies with a smile. “The strong rule, and the weak either submit to their rule or perish resisting.”
“So, I take it you're the strongest being in this universe then?” Batman asks him, but then adds. “Or, at least the strongest in the domain of your empire?”
“Yes, at least for now.” Freeza replies with a smile, reaching up and patting you on the forearm as you tower over him. “As long as a certain someone doesn't surpass me in the coming years, I will remain so.”
“Then I'm sure establishing mutual communication and diplomacy would be in order.” Batman says, surprising the woman and Kryptonian of his world. “Would that be you directly, or...?”
“Ohoho, I'll leave my cousin Arctus to this.” Freeza says, gesturing to Arctus as his cousin powers down as well, shrinking down a couple feet. He's still taller than his cousin, but no longer toweringly so. “But I have business I simply must return to. Until next time.”
cont
