Invictus drew in a breath. He didn't like what he was about to say, and nobody here would like it either. But he'd never backed down from a challenge before. This would merely be his last. The founding board of the Enforcers waited. He spoke.
"The future prediction matches with Aresian history. The destruction of humanity will come from this time period, from a member of the most powerful force on Earth. That time, according to the prophecy, is now. That force, according to everything we know, has to be us. One or more of us will destroy the human race."
Almost a dozen voices clamored for the attention of the room. Triton's booming voice cut through the din.
"Other heroes can stop us, should that happen."
Invictus' smile was sardonic. "They'd try. But can they? Do you really believe that?"
The sea-god reluctantly withdrew. The Aresian looked from face to face. Some wore masks, but their feelings were as plain as their bare-faced comrades.
"There is only one force that can stop us. That is ourselves. The Enforcers have to be sealed away. The Anti-Zone is the safest course of action."
Others broke in. Oya was first. "What about our enemies? Earth isn't free of villainy yet."
"We will... we will have to take steps. Permanent steps." This raised the loudest objections of all from the founding board. Invictus sighed. This, he knew, would be the hard part.
Moleculon was next. "You're talking about murder. You're talking about killing them, or depowering them. All of them. Xee, Nuculon.. that's one thing, but without us, even some of the mid-level criminals will run roughshod over the cops and the junior heroes. We've been too good at our jobs."
Invictus nodded. "Yes. Anyone who could have posed a significant threat. We have a couple of decades of work ahead of us. But no more. After that, we have to seal ourselves away."
The Marksman spoke up. "Hold on. Like you say, there's basically nobody who can stop us in combination. That means the governments of the world too. They won't like it. They'll resist us. And we'll push back. We'd have to. How do you know that this won't turn us into the destroyers your prophecy predicts?"
Invictus sighed. "We'll have to balance force, coercion, and .. well, honestly, a blind eye. Some of the worst villains will have to be allowed to run rampant for awhile. The need for law and order will make the government accept our actions."
Captain Victory's comment was a disgusted grunt. "Law and order. Really, Jordan? You're going to terrorize the populace indirectly! How are you better than the villains you're talking about taking down?"
"No, he's right." The Shroud's voice was quiet, but it commanded silence from the others. "Leaving the superhuman world a blank slate is the only way. He's not asking you to like it. He's asking you to do it."
"What about the non-founders? What do we tell them?" Microman asked. "This doesn't sit well with us. How will they react?"
"They will have to understand. We'll see some desertions. We have to accept that. Everyone we can't afford to lose is already in this room." Invictus put his hand to his forehead and rubbed at the growing pain there.
"You're talking about creating a new age. A dark age where murder has become acceptable," Hoplite concluded. "You're gambling that there's a light at the end of that tunnel. You're gambling people won't follow our example once we're gone. That's a big gamble."
"I know. But what else can we do?"
Invictus' simple question invited alternatives, but none came. The group stayed silent for minutes.
"The Anti-Zone. We'll be fighting all the people we put there." Oya finally speaks. But her point signifies acceptance. The others seem resigned too.
Microman rubs his chin. "The future might need us. The only way they can get us back, if the worst comes to pass, is to retrieve us from the Zone. Besides, I'm not a fan of suicide, even if I was fully convinced that this outcome was certain. I want a chance to come back."
In due course the motion was put to a vote. And in due course the tally was announced. Plans were made. Letters were written. Documents were sealed. A capsule was fired into space, one that could be found at a certain place and time, explaining everything. An apology to the future, if there was one, for what was to come next.
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