"It has been over a year since Mark's battle with Armstrong and him having to hold nothing back in fighting the madman who threatened to harm his mother and new brother, Oliver Grayson. This made it clear that he needed to get stronger to protect the people he loved, which luck would have it, he'd have a perfect group to help him assist him. Sledge's crew were shocked to hear what had happened to him when Armstrong teleported him to various worlds in an attempt to get him killed. So when Mark told the alien bounty hunters about asking for help in getting stronger, Fury was more than happy to help him get ready for what Cecil expected of him. Whether or not he didn't know what to expect, Mark needed to be ready at any moment and prove he could protect the world when it was just him and no one else around."
Morning-Middle of the Desert
Having been a bright and early morning with everyone half asleep, Fury had dragged the Viltrumite hybrid into the middle of nowhere to help with training. It was required since the training that he was putting Mark through was fighting someone he'd beaten in the past who wanted a rematch. Fury was underneath a tent standing near Cecil along with a handful of GDA workers were monitoring the training course that the alien lion had placed Invincible in.
"I'm going win! I'm going win!"
A voice shouted which came from one of Sledge's captured bounties, the Giant. He was brought to a maximum-security prison to have him studied and figure out why he wasn't like the other aliens that Invincible had battled. The GDA scientists had learned that the one-eyed giant had the mind of a child, meaning it was hard for him to understand everything around him.
"Your boss was a piece of work capturing that kid. Luckily, there were parents that would help him, especially after learning the kid they'd take would be the size of a skyscraper."
Cecil commented about Sledge's former captor getting adopted by a couple who were unable to have children. Fury couldn't understand what the humans were thinking about in adopting Giant since the idea was insane, they didn't care due to how the Giant was handling himself against Mark. Everyone was watching Invincible fight him since the test relied on facing off against immense strength and someone else's durability.
"Call it what you want. But none of the people were thinking about that when Giant tried to make an entire city his playground. It took Sledge and me a whole week to stop him, that was before we got powers."
Fury responded toward the director as they heard the impacts of Mark's punches coming off Giant's body, the cyclops didn't appear to feel them but laughed at how they felt. The Giant gave Invincible a backhand that sent him crashing into a mountain where it appeared he had been embedded within it; they watched the large alien walking over and delivering various punches at Mark to see if he would get back up. Each punch felt like an earthquake leaving the Giant's adoptive parents to show a concern expression at how he was acting toward Invincible.
"Are you sure this is safe? While it has been a challenge in looking after Giant, we've learned that he can be a bit over-excited whenever he's moving about."
The father asked Cecil if it was right to let Giant continue to lash out at Invincible with how strong he was and causing the ground to shake. The men said nothing since this was what Invincible wanted as well as allowing Giant to let out any aggression he had toward the Viltrumite. With one final punch, Giant put all his strength into his right arm before hitting the mountain which caused it to collapse on Mark and send him hurling into the ground. The cyclops looked at the rubble to see if there were any signs of Invincible being alive or if didn't have the chance to escape.
"Feeling tired yet?"
A voice asked Giant from behind as he turned around to see Invincible having no signs of being hurt from the immense punching that the red cyclops was doing to him. Resulting in an angered yell and about to knock him out of the sky, Mark flew at the Giant to deliver a strong uppercut that sent him up into the air where they saw him casting a shadow over the area.
"We don't want to make a crater. Stop him from crashing to the ground."
Cecil told Invincible through his communicator as the Viltrumite flew upward where he used his body to stop Giant from crashing into the ground as he steadied himself as much as he could in dropping the large alien. With being close enough to the ground that wouldn't cause an incident to happen, Mark drops Giant to the ground showing that their fight has now finished. However, the cyclops wasn't fond of what had happened and started to tear up about losing again.
"But I wanted to win!"
Giant cried out as it felt uncomfortable for Mark since the sight was making him think about his brother Oliver, who had started to grow up due to his Thraxan biology. Taking a moment to pat Giant on the shoulder and assuring him that he won in a sense during the fight, he flew over toward the tent where he would want to talk to Giant's parents.
"If I can suggest a way to help him out. Find an open place for him to move about and people from the GDA who can help make things that he won't break in an instant."
Offering advice if they were going to continue looking after him since it would be important to help Giant find peace with people who could offer him help and care that he didn't have when he was captured by Sledge. The couple thanked him for the advice while being escorted by GDA agents to check up on Giant who managed to calm himself as he saw his human parents walking over to comfort him.
"While you got the talking part of calming a threat down. You need to concentrate on finding weak spots in your opponent, even if they are friendly."
Fury instructed Mark about never letting his guard down and always going for the final blow. Cecil looked at the data that the scientists were recording the fight to show that Mark's strength had increased with the training that Fury had been putting Mark through over the last several months.
"Speaking of weak spots. I've gotten word about certain positions across the country that show holes being made, but none of them were made by construction workers."
Explaining what was happening during the training session. He presented them with his tablet that showed various holes that appeared in random spots which made no sense due to where they were located. Mark looked confused as to what it might mean for the spots, Fury on the other hand knew what the holes were and became annoyed at what they were.
"I know this work. It's from the ship that crashed with us, they belong to Meteor. He's this hothead who enjoys blowing stuff up, bastard destroyed five moons by using himself as an actual meteorite and traveled into their cores."
Telling the two about what Meteor was guilty of and what made his bounty high enough to get Sledge's attention. Taking the tablet from Cecil to get a better understanding of what Meteor might be up to, he walks away from the pair leaving them to talk privately since there was an issue Mark wants to discuss with Cecil.
"Does he know about Snide?"
The Viltrumite questioned the director on having an alien that attacked him, Fury, and the entirety of the Guardians who then appeared out of nowhere to save him from getting beaten by Anissa. Cecil said nothing since it was a private matter that involved him and the escaped fugitive who was now under his watch.
"No. The last thing I need is that cat starting a tantrum about the guy who kicked his ass is on the same payroll."
Cecil responded to how Fury would react to the same alien that was responsible for sending him and the others to Earth as well as having numerous convicts roaming the planet as if it was their new home. Looking at Mark's discomfort about lying to one of the aliens who he didn't enjoy hanging around was someone he could trust since they had both been beaten to near death made Cecil at how this was for the best.
"The former director told me something when I took this job. 'Do you want to be a good guy or the guy who saves the world', you can't be both."
He informed the young man about there being a difference between being a masked hero who helps people and doing whatever it means to protect the planet. Mark kept silent since he would do whatever it took to protect humanity after seeing his dad show his true colors to everyone and Armstrong threatening his family due to how dangerous he was. The moment was interrupted by Cecil's phone buzzing which made the director answer to see what was happening.
"What? Yeah, slow down. What the hell do you mean they're gone?!"
Cecil shouted on the phone about a sudden disappearance making Mark confused at the sudden change in emotion as he heard a groan coming from Fury. Walking over to show them why he was upset, Fury showed them the tablet which had a recording of an orange-skinned woman wearing bone armor who was being taken underground.
"Something took this girl I wanted to ask out. She wears bones and likes hitting people. There aren't that many females that interest me on this planet."
Talking about the video he'd watched and about asking the muscular woman out since it was difficult to find someone to hang out with. Mark looked at the video and was able to recognize the woman as Pangea, one of the superheroes who tried to get a position in the Guardians and watched the large insects dragging her down the hole.
"The phone call I just had informed me that the entirety of the hero community had been abducted. The Guardians, half of Fury's group. The only remaining is you two and Atom Eve."
Cecil informs them about how Pangea wasn't the only one who had been taken underground but people who were superheroes and anyone who protected their cities. Before having the chance to give the two a location in traveling to where the heroes were being taken, they saw a shadow hovering over them that belonged to Atom Eve who was hovering over them and hearing their conversation from afar.
"Let's not keep whatever's taking our friends waiting."
She responded to what was happening to their colleagues, Mark was obliged to fly with his girlfriend while Fury went to take a GDA agent's car since he couldn't fly. Watching them go off to find the heroes and insects that took them, Cecil looked at various videos seeing numerous heroes who were the public saw powerful being abducted as if they were ordinary people. Went back to his phone to call for backup for safe measures, along have several protocols set for when the situation was taken care of.
Later-Underneath the Surface
Deep within the bowels of the Earth were various heroes cocooned alive and using their abilities to break out, they weren't effective due to how durable the cocoons were in keeping everyone trapped. Amongst the trapped heroes was Rex-Splode who was trapped with Wrench attempting to blow up their imprisonment with his explosive arm.
"Please don't do that. With how hardened the cocoon is, the blast will bounce off and destroy us both."
The blue robot advised Rex to not try and use it since it would be impossible and dangerous for both of them. The explosive human got annoyed about how Wrench was right and that the blast would kill them as well as that he needed to do something to distract himself.
"It's better than being cramped in here with you. Plus, I need to blow something up because of a sudden marriage between Kate and fucking Immortal!"
He responded in anger at how out of nowhere during his time on the Guardians. Rex and the others had recently learned that Dupli-Kate had been engaged to the former leader of the Guardians in secret since it was out of nowhere. Meanwhile, Poisandra was pouting on the side where she was imprisoned with Robot and Monster Girl who wasn't doing anything heroic at the time.
"Curio is going be upset when I'm not back at Mark's house. I promised him and Oliver we have baked snacks, only to be taken by these bugs."
Poisandra told the two what she was doing before being abducted making Robot and Monster Girl sigh despite being as fast as Red Rush, she wasn't the fighting type and wanted to have fun. Suddenly coming from the corners across everyone were the large insects that captured them, one of the larger bugs showed the leader in charge of the abduction and laughed at how the heroes were unable to escape their prison, Meteor.
"It took me a while to get these bugs under control with brute force. But I did it, now I'm going have fun either feeding you all or blowing up sky high!"
The alien announced in excitement that as long as he'd kept the insects nice and fed, Meteor would have an unstoppable army that would do whatever he wanted. Before Meteor could continue his celebration, there was a sudden rumbling happening from above and the heroes were confused if this was Meteor's doing. The sound started to get closer before showing an entrance coming from above it was Invincible, Eve, and Fury who arrived dramatically and surprised everyone on them coming in to save everyone.
"This is the guy that destroyed five moons. Kind of looks like those cheesy monsters at amusement parks."
Eve commented on Meteor's look making the alien growl at her comment. He placed his hands together to form an orange volcanic ball and sent it downward into the lava causing it to rumble. Confused at what that was supposed to do, they heard various growls being made all around the trio which came from oversized centipedes and spiders that were responsible for the abductions.
"Can a cheesy monster summon bugs that tens stronger than these wimps? No. And I'll show you how destroyed five moons."
Meteor responded as leapt into the air and grabbed a stalagmite from above and molded it into ammo. Placing it onto his left arm, they saw how he started to charge up for a projectile attack.
"Planetary Destruction!"
Announcing his attack as the ammo he made charged into miniature meteors that flew at the trio at full speed. Avoiding the projectile attack caused the area to shake and caused several stalagmites to fall on them. Watching their flying and giant bugs that started their attack, Eve was in the air offering support while Mark and Fury worked together on the ground handling the large centipedes. The heroes watched at the sight of the three fighting the army as well as Meteor who continued to fire projectiles at them.
"There just a bunch of bugs. How the hell are they this strong?!"
Fury yelled as he hurled various bolts of lightning from his sword toward a pair of spiders that didn't seem to affect them. This led to him being overwhelmed and pierced through the back with fangs coming from behind, the arachnid hurled him to the ground and started to be webbed quickly as it came down to Mark and Eve. They continued to hold out until they started to become overpowered and collapsed, Meteor smirked at the victory before walking over to the beaten heroes.
"They told me that you were tough, guess you're just going be bug chow. But the cat? Oh, I'm going burn him alive."
He told him before generating a ball of fire preparing to destroy Fury with one attack. Everyone watched Meteor preparing to kill Fury on the spot, it was interrupted by a shuriken that went through the alien's hand. Yelling out in pain and looking over to see who was responsible, it came from Darkwing. The same Darkwing that Invincible and Sledge took down back in Midnight City, only to be accompanied by a set of familiar faces that Fury and the others were able to recognize.
"If this is why Cecil dragged us out here, then I'm surely disappointed.
A female voice called out from the back was Plasmora, one of Sledge's captured convicts who was standing by Darkwing's side. The vampire alien lets out a shriek before firing a set of energy blasts from her eyes that sent Meteor off into the lava. Confused at the unusual backup, the other heroes were being assisted by other aliens that came from Sledge's ship that Fury was able to recognize. Getting Poisandra and Wrench as well as the other heroes out of the cocoons were Hunter and Puzzler, who were assisting them with their unique abilities.
"What the fuck?"
Mark questioned at Darkwing being here and having aliens on his side helping out with rescuing everyone. What was more conflicting was that they were following Darkwing as he seemed to be their leader. While the battle appeared to be tipping to their scales, the insects started to stop fighting for no reason as they were following commands from a new leader.
"This planet has some decent giant-size bugs. Hope they don't mind a new queen being in charge of them."
Another female voice spoke out as it came from another alien prisoner that Sledge captured before coming to Earth. Beevil, an insect-themed alien who was able to manipulate the bugs to follow her commands. With having them under control and seeing all the heroes freed from their cocoons. Everyone saw Meteor walking out of the lava to see all the heroes he'd captured and the aliens that were on Sledge's ship glaring at him for what he'd done to everyone.
"Shit. This is awkward."
He spoke out of fear and attempted to escape but was stopped by his shadow showed Darkwing emerging from the ground and taking him to the Shadowverse. While it appeared the fight had finished and everyone cheering at Beevil in making the insects retreat into the shadows, Mark was upset at what had just happened and seeing Darkwing coming out of another shadow.
"You're welcome."
Telling everyone about helping them escape from the cocoons and stopping the bugs from eating everyone. He heard someone flying toward him as if it was Invincible, only to dodge the Viltrumite's attack and appear in a different spot with his team standing with him.
"Why the hell is he here?"
"Fuck that question, why are they with him?!"
Fury shouted over Mark at four of the captured aliens he'd spent a year looking for all of a sudden be with the same guy that had killed people back in Midnight City. Everyone looked confused at why Invincible was accusing Darkwing and his team of coming in to help them out since didn't know what the issue was between them.
"I got a second chance after you took me to prison. I got better as well as understood what I've done, I'm trying to be better. Much like the others are thanks to Cecil."
Darkwing explained how after doing time in prison and thinking about the lives he'd taken back in Midnight City. He wanted to try and fix his mistakes, Fury on the other hand didn't believe it since the convicts that Darkwing was aligned with were dangerous.
"Cecil? The same old man that threatened to lock us up if didn't find all of Sledge's bounties? That Cecil?"
Poisandra asked if the same human who to allowed them leave prison except to look after Mark had obtained several of the aliens they'd been looking for. Invincible was having trouble coping with this news and Cecil being the one behind it, immediately launched up into the air and through the stalagmites back to the surface to confront the director for having dangerous criminals under his watch. Meanwhile, Fury growled at the aliens who were giving him a smug look at how they saved him from being eaten.
"Will settle this later. Right now we need to start returning to the surface and patch these holes before any bugs decide to return to the surface."
Immortal took charge of the moment and had everyone help out in evacuating their prison. Eve was feeling worried about what Mark was about to do since she saw how frustrated he looked when he heard Cecil's name, she could only hope that whatever he was going to do wouldn't get him in trouble.
Later-GDA Headquarters
Back on the surface where Cecil had returned to his office to check up on the information about the captured heroes. He'd been informed about Darkwing's team coming in and helping everyone, only to hear about Mark coming his way. Preparing himself for the infuriated Grayson, Cecil saw Invincible coming with a hot head and wanting questions answered.
"You told me that Snide was the only one you had under watch. Now you have the same guy that killed people back in Midnight City and the aliens that Sledge spent a year looking for were with you the whole time?!"
Mark shouted at how the director had not one dangerous criminal but a whole team that could invade an entire city if they wanted to due to how dangerous they were. Cecil saw the frustration on his face and decided to get right to the point with him.
"Darkwing went through an entire year of psychological help to make him regret the murders he's committed. The aliens you met were interviewed and told me why they were captured, while their crimes are severe. They can make it up by protecting the planet."
He informed Mark about how he turned a murder and criminals work for the GDA. Mark was in disbelief at what he was hearing since it wasn't an excuse for him lying about not sending them to jail to pay for their crimes.
"Protecting the planet? Darkwing murdered people. There's a big difference between those two topics."
Responding to Cecil's statement about making them pay for their mistakes by working for him. Standing up and walking away from him, Mark followed Cecil wanting to know where he was going and wanting to continue the conversation.
"No. They're not, because I remember what happened at your house with Angstrom Levy. You came back covered in blood because you killed him after he threatened to kill them."
Bringing up what happened to Mark which brought up trauma on what he'd experience on that day. Having to fight a man who teleported him through various dimensions and made him think that Angstrom killed his family. The two continued to walk until they arrived at a door that Cecil opened up to show a room completely covered in white with nothing inside of it.
"I want you to tell me who else is working for you. And why did you hide this from me and the others."
Demanding answers about anyone else that Cecil had in his pocket that only worked for him. Hearing the door close behind, Cecil looked over at Mark not seeing him as the young man that wanted to work for him to help the world but someone else, someone that he wasn't able to recognize anymore.
"The room we're currently in is called the 'White Room'. This is where I talk to the people who are willing to do whatever it takes to protect the planet, as well as for my protection."
Explaining what the purpose of the room was answered half of Mark's questions on whom Cecil seemed to trust rather than the heroes who already worked for him. The last thing that made it confusing for him was Cecil needing extra defenses for himself.
"Protection. Protection from what?"
Question what type of protection the man who runs the top department in keeping Earth safe would have a room dedicated to looking after his safety. Before getting a response, Mark felt a chill running down his spine as he heard a set of footsteps coming from behind him as they came from Snide who was standing by him with the same sadistic smile he had when he was on the island when he faced Anissa by himself.
"Isn't it obvious? From you."
He answered the question while having the company of reanimen standing by his side and surrounding Invincible. The young man looked over at Cecil realizing that he brought him to keep the Viltrumite from leaving and to show him that one of the threats that he swore to face would be Mark. Along would have to keep the company of killers and criminals if it meant keeping the public safe, no matter what lines Cecil had to go over.