Chapter 150 (edited)

It didn't take long for Dr. Manhattan to return, accompanied by what could only be described as a beautiful young woman dressed in strikingly revealing clothes.

Kara hovered in the distance, arms crossed, her expression betraying a mix of displeasure and annoyance. "Hey, if you didn't want me on your precious device, you could've just said so," she snapped.

She hadn't left by her own choice—Dr. Manhattan had manipulated the universe once again, pulling her from her original position. Only Kara seemed to sense the shift in the very fabric of existence, and she wasn't pleased to find herself suddenly transported and then discarded like an afterthought.

Her irritation was palpable, and for the first time, Kara's composure wavered. 

The young woman standing near Dr. Manhattan was Laurie Juspeczyk, the second Silk Spectre, radiating a confident beauty. Kara couldn't help but notice the dynamic between them and muttered to herself, amused yet annoyed at the apparent tension.

Laurie turned her curious gaze toward Kara. 

Kara, standing there in her distinctive attire—a blue, form-fitting top emblazoned with a golden "S," her bright red cape flowing behind her, and her red skirt paired with striking red boots—was an impressive sight. Years of absorbing solar energy had imbued her clothing with a subtle golden sheen, making her presence almost otherworldly.

Laurie's eyes lingered a bit too long, a look of intrigue crossing her face. 

Kara, noticing the unspoken assessment, tilted her head with a sly smirk. "I have a feeling you're thinking something less than polite," she quipped, her tone light but cutting. 

Laurie opened her mouth to reply, but the words caught in her throat as she suddenly crouched down, struggling for breath. Kara blinked, realizing what was happening. Laurie wasn't breathing because there was no oxygen to sustain her. 

Mars' atmosphere wasn't built for human lungs. It was composed mostly of carbon dioxide—not a problem for Dr. Manhattan or Kara, but for Laurie, it was lethal. 

Kara turned toward Dr. Manhattan with an exaggerated gesture of frustration. 

Dr. Manhattan, seemingly unbothered, extended his quantum abilities, constructing an intricate atmospheric field around Laurie, complete with breathable air. Laurie gasped and coughed, recovering quickly. 

"I'm actually on Mars?" Laurie exclaimed, her voice filled with awe and disbelief.

Kara gave Dr. Manhattan a sidelong glance. "You didn't bother to show her the universe? How very uncharacteristic," she remarked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. 

Dr. Manhattan hesitated for a moment, clearly unsure how to respond. 

Laurie, still catching her breath, turned her attention to Kara. "Who are you?" she asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and caution. 

Kara smiled, extending a hand as if to shake Laurie's. But just as Laurie reached out, Kara pulled her hand back and wiped it on her cape. Her expression shifted to one of exaggerated politeness. "Hi, I'm Kara, from another universe. I was kidnapped by this glowing blue guy. Please call the authorities."

Laurie raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching into a reluctant smile. She glanced at Dr. Manhattan, silently demanding an explanation.

Dr. Manhattan, visibly uncomfortable, gave a half-shrug. "She's not lying," he admitted.

Kara grinned triumphantly but said nothing, choosing instead to hover a short distance away, casually observing the interaction between the two. 

Dr. Manhattan turned to Laurie, his tone suddenly serious. "I need to ask—how long have you been involved with Dan?"

Laurie froze, her expression shifting to one of surprise. "You know?" she asked cautiously.

"I didn't," Dr. Manhattan replied, "but you'll tell me soon enough."

Kara, now seated on a nearby rock, materialized a bucket of popcorn from seemingly nowhere and began munching with obvious amusement. 

Laurie hesitated before finally nodding. "Yes," she admitted quietly. "I slept with Dan."

"Stay strong, Jon," Kara called out, her voice teasing as she conjured green light from a power ring she had acquired during her travels. The symbol of willpower flickered brightly, a mock gesture of encouragement.

Dr. Manhattan remained silent for a moment, his face unreadable. Then, almost imperceptibly, his posture shifted, and he let out a deep, deliberate breath—an action that seemed almost human.

"You're angry," Laurie said softly, more a statement than a question.

"You thought I'd abandoned my humanity completely?" Dr. Manhattan asked, his voice tinged with a rare hint of emotion. "Laurie, I told you—you were my only connection to Earth. You were the reason I stayed grounded. And yet you betrayed me. If that's the case, why should I save the Earth at all?"

Kara leaned further back on her rock, her popcorn forgotten. The scene before her was something she couldn't have predicted. A man who could bend the fabric of reality itself was acting like a heartbroken child. 

Laurie seemed caught off guard, struggling to find the right words. "Jon, if you still care about me, isn't that reason enough to save the Earth?" she said finally.

Kara nearly choked on her laughter. "Oh, come on!" she muttered under her breath, incredulous. 

The blatant manipulation in Laurie's words was almost too much to bear. Kara felt a wave of secondhand embarrassment. Was this really the best argument Laurie could muster?

The dynamic between the two was baffling. Kara had traveled through countless universes and encountered all manner of beings, yet this level of self-centered reasoning left her speechless.

Just as she was about to voice another sarcastic remark, Kara's attention snapped toward Earth. Her expression grew serious. Something was happening—something big.