Soon after, Chleopatra came back in. Verlin had heard them talking about the process and thought it was an alright trade. If what Alexander said about being the leader for the past 400 years was true. That would mean enhanced humans could live for at least 500 years, Verlin believed that 6 years is a relatively small price to pay for the substantial increase in power.

Chleopatra looked at Chloe with a little worry and said, " Is everything alright with you?"

Chloe nodded her head and said, " Yeah, everything's fine now. It was just a little shocked knowing the person I've been hanging out with is an alien."

"I bet, but I guess that's something to be proud of. I mean, you are probably the first person to make friends with an alien."

Chloe chuckled, "You're right. That does sound pretty cool when you put it that way."

Seeing that Chloe was fine, Chleopatra couldn't help sighing in relief. She couldn't help but feel bad for Chloe, all the people around her always keeping secrets and leaving her in the dark. Chleopatra continued and said, " Alright, we should get going with the process. It will take about 2 days to complete. But there are some things we have to take care of first."

Chloe nodded her head and followed Chleopatra to another room.

Chleopatra turned to look at Verlin before she left and said, " You can take a look around the base. Just make sure you stay away from the restricted areas. They have security systems installed."

Verlin nodded his head and watched as both of them left the room. He decided to look around he was interested in the technology they had. He was interested in the type of energy they used given they were at least a hundred years more advanced than humans in technology. He also left the room and started wandering around.

As Verlin was walking around, he saw rooms that seemed to have what he was looking for, but they fell under the restricted areas that Chleopatra was talking about, He didn't want to cause a commotion, so he used his X-ray vision to try to peak through it and he saw some truly remarkable things. His X-ray vision pierced through the metallic walls, revealing a scene that would have been unimaginable on Earth.

In the room, he saw what seemed to be a miniature star, contained within a sophisticated containment field. It was a vibrant, pulsating energy source that defied everything he knew about physics. The star-like object appeared to be both a power source and a data center, with streams of information flowing from it like solar flares.

'This must be their energy source,' Verlin thought to himself, He was familiar with how nuclear fusion worked, and it seemed as if this miniature star was functioning on the same principle. It was a self-sustaining, controlled fusion reaction. Verlin had only read about such a concept in the realms of theoretical physics, where it was seen as the "holy grail" of energy production. The idea was to replicate the process that powered stars, including the Sun, which would provide almost limitless, clean energy. But the application here was far beyond anything humans had achieved or even theorized.

Verlin couldn't help but wonder if coming in close contact with it would have an substantaial effect on his physiology, knowing that kryptonian powers come from stars maybe if he could replicate something like this, he could substitue its radiation for that of the Sun, that way he could have a portable miniature star. He continued to look, but this time, he used his microscopic vision along with his X-ray vision to try to break down every minute detail of the structure in hopes of building a similar power source.

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As Verlin scrutinized the miniature star and its containment field, he began to identify several key features. The containment field was made up of several layers of force fields, each oscillating at a different frequency to contain the vast energy of the star. It was a delicate balance, and he could see the field constantly adjusting to the star's fluctuations.

The star itself was a swirling mass of plasma, heated to millions of degrees, with a tightly controlled fusion reaction occurring at its core. The streams of data he had noticed earlier were the result of sophisticated sensor arrays embedded within the containment field, constantly monitoring the star's condition and adjusting the field parameters as needed.

The energy generation process was indeed nuclear fusion, similar to what happened in the Sun. Hydrogen atoms were being forced together under immense pressure and heat to form helium, releasing vast amounts of energy in the process. This energy was then harnessed and distributed throughout the base via an intricate network of energy conduits.

Verlin also noted that the miniature star was being fed a constant supply of hydrogen from an external reservoir. This ensured that the fusion reaction could continue indefinitely, providing a virtually limitless source of power. Luckily, with his current intellect, remembering every detail would be a breeze, and collecting the materials needed would be even easier. If he couldn't find the materials on Earth, he had the whole solar system as a mine field.

Although Verlin was focusing on what he was looking at, he still had his other sense to pay attention to his surroundings, so he noticed when someone started walking towards him.

Verlin smoothly turned around, his attention snapped back to the immediate surroundings as he noticed a figure approaching. It was Alexander. He had a calm but authoritative presence about him, carrying an aura of wisdom that only comes with living through centuries.

"Verlin," Alexander greeted, his voice carrying a sense of gravitas, "I trust you're finding everything to your liking?"

Verlin nodded, replying, "Yes, your base is quite impressive. It's obvious your technology is far more advanced than the humans on this planet."

Alexander seemed to appreciate his candor, offering a small smile. "Well, we've had quite a head start. A few millennials of uninterrupted progress can yield significant advancements. If not for the lacking population of enhanced humans, I'm sure we could have accomplished a lot more."

Alexander shook his head and continued, " We are gathering all the enhanced humans for a discussion about the war, It's about time we came to a consensus on what we should do. I wanted to invite you to the meeting, but I have one thing to ask, what exactly do you plan to do about the situation?"

Verlin paused for a moment before saying, " Actually, I don't plan on doing anything. I don't think I should have any hand in choosing the direction of humanity."

Alexander nodded his head an said, " This is also one of the reasons we have yet to come to a conclusion, Half of the enhancced humans want to stop the war from happening, while the other half don't want any part in it."

"I see," Verlin said slowly, "it's not an easy decision. On one hand, you have the power to potentially stop a war and save lives. On the other hand, intervening could lead to a multitude of unforeseen consequences. It could even escalate the situation, given the fear and distrust humans often harbor towards beings they don't understand."

Alexander nodded in agreement, "Exactly, Verlin. Moreover, the question is not just whether we should intervene, but how. If we decide to step in, what form should that intervention take? Should we merely act as peacekeepers, trying to prevent violence? Or should we take sides, fighting alongside those we deem to be in the right? Even among those who agree to intervene, there are still disputes."

"And beyond the immediate issue of the war," Alexander continued, "there's the longer-term question of our role in human society. If we reveal ourselves and use our powers openly, it will change everything. Humans will have to come to terms with the fact that they are not alone, that there are beings among them with abilities far beyond their own. How will they react? Will they accept us, or will they see us as a threat?"

Verlin could understand why some enhanced humans wouldn't want to intervene, knowing that enhanced humans live much longer, most of them probably don't have any connection with humanity, even if they did, their loved ones would have perished from old age or other causes.

Alexander continued and said, " Luckily, I think i have come to a conclusion that can appease everyone. Although you haven't been on the planet long, from what I've seen, you are being with great strength with comparable compassion. So, I would like you to join in the meeting."

Verlin took a moment to consider Alexander's words. His own self-perception was indeed very different from the image others had of him. His actions thus far had been guided by a sense of curiosity and the fact that it doesn't take much effort to help, not necessarily by a deep-rooted sense of compassion. If there was a situation that put his life in danger, he doubts he would step in to try and be a hero.

Verlin nodded his head and said, " I would be a pleasure to participate in the meeting."