Cecil's shoes tapped against the hard, cold metal floor as he walked through the hallway of a secret facility. A massive slab of metal at the end of the hallway lifted with a hiss, rising to reveal the concealed entrance to one of the GDA's most classified underground labs, buried deep beneath a remote desert. Beside him, Donald followed silently, his expression unreadable behind his dark sunglasses.
A gust of chilled, recycled air hit them as they stepped into the bustling laboratory, the hum of high-voltage machines and the pattering of scientist's feet echoing around them.
"Tell me it's mostly intact," Cecil muttered.
Donald gave a nod. "Our agents managed to retrieve the corpse without tipping off Atlantis. Pulled it from one of the deep trenches just beyond the continental shelf. The Depth-Dweller's body is about 60% intact. Damage from Omniman and a few opportunistic bottom feeders, but... about half of the internal structures are untouched."
Cecil exhaled, half in relief. "Good. As long as the sound-emitting organs are intact, the lab boys should be able to pull something from it. I want that noise isolated, recorded, studied—if it messes with Viltrumites, we need to weaponize it yesterday. Right now, we're relying on a Viltrumite to keep another Viltrumite in check. But, we don't know how long until father and son decide to say fuck it and betray us."
At that moment, footsteps approached. A lanky figure in a lab coat emerged from the rows of high-tech equipment, his face half-covered by a surgical mask. D.A. Sinclair—pale, brilliant, and more than a little unnerving—came to a stop in front of them.
"Director," Sinclair greeted, giving a small nod to both men. "I assume you're here about the specimen."
Cecil raised an eyebrow. "Assume right. Tell me you've got something."
Sinclair's eyes darted briefly to the chamber where the Depth-Dweller's body floated in a suspension tank. "Unfortunately, reviving it... is out of the question. Its cellular degeneration is far too advanced. Standard regenerative protocols won't work. Its physiology is too alien for reanimation techniques, and while I've pioneered the reanimen process, my knowledge is rooted in human anatomy. I can't just rewire a sea monster's brain and expect it to sing the same tune."
Cecil pinched the bridge of his nose. "Damn."
"However," Sinclair added, "if someone could bridge the physiological gap—translate my methods to suit this specimen's biology—I believe a viable hybrid reconstruction is possible."
Cecil smirked faintly, his mind already moving ten steps ahead. "I know just the guy."
XXXX
The air was filled with laughter, the distant echo of a retro arcade game humming under the chatter. Mark's penthouse, sleek and sprawling with floor-to-ceiling views of the city skyline, was alive with the energy of youth and summer freedom.
William and, his new boyfriend, Rick were going head-to-head on one of the classic fighting games, their intense button-mashing punctuated by playful insults and victorious whoops. Amber and Eve sat nearby on the plush sofa, their legs tucked under them as they watched the chaos unfold, occasionally tossing popcorn at whoever lost.
Mark, meanwhile, stood in the open kitchen, digging through the fridge for another soda. He smiled to himself—this was nice. Spending time relaxing with no inventions and hero work. Just him, his friends, and having a peaceful moment.
"Hey, uh, Mark?" William's voice came from behind him, tight with anxiety.
Mark turned to see his friend holding a small, flashing device—his Coalition communicator. William kept it pinched between two fingers as if it might explode.
"This just started beeping on its own, I swear. I didn't touch anything. You remember last time—when I ended up covered in that glowing slime? Still have no idea what that was, by the way."
Mark chuckled, walking over casually without a hint of urgency, and joked. "You really need to stop messing with my bomb stuff."
"I didn't touch it!" William squeaked, handing the device over like it was radioactive before scrambling back to Rick.
Mark shook his head, still grinning, and tapped the side of the device. A holographic feed blinked to life, and Allen the Alien's massive eye filled the screen.
"Hey, Mark!" Allen's booming voice crackled through the communicator. "Glad to see you're still in one piece after all those Viltrumites showed up."
Mark shrugged. "Yeah, they weren't much of a problem. Dad and I handled it."
"Well, good. Because I'm almost in Earth's orbit. You and your dad ready?"
Mark sighed, already missing the carefree atmosphere of the room. "Guess we are now."
Allen gave a two-finger salute. "See you soon, champ." The feed cut out.
Mark turned around and immediately felt the twin stares of his girlfriends. Eve and Amber had approached quietly while he was distracted. Eve was giving him her patented suspicious look, arms folded. Amber just raised a brow, waiting.
Mark tried to play it cool. "So... I might have to go to space. Again."
Eve rolled her eyes. "Of course you do."
Amber leaned against the counter with a small smirk. "You're lucky we're used to this."
"You're not mad?" Mark asked, surprised.
Amber shrugged. "You're an alien. Comes with the territory."
"And," Eve added, "you literally came back the moment Amber called you last time. That earned you some points."
Mark grinned and pulled them both into a hug. "You two are the best."
"We know," they replied in perfect sync, making him laugh.
Eve reached up and kissed his cheek. "Just promise you'll try to be back in time for the first day of college."
"I'll do my best."
Amber nudged his side playfully. "Go kick some alien ass."
Mark smirked. "I am the alien, remember?"
Amber rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean."
With one last kiss for each of them, Mark turned and walked toward the balcony. He changed into his suit, wrapping around him like a second skin. With a final wave, he launched into the sky, a blue-and-gold streak arcing over the city.
But before heading to his parents' house, Mark took a detour.
XXXX
The Guardians of the Globe HQ buzzed with subdued energy in the aftermath of their recent encounter with the Lizard League and their temporary leader, Supreme Lizard, following the death of Queen Lizard and the arrest of King Lizard. The dust from their battle with Supreme Lizard had been settled, but the team was already back on their feet—recovering, regrouping, and preparing for whatever came next.
Inside the training wing, Monster Girl was off to the side, stretching out her limbs and practicing yoga poses. Her monster form was almost back to its peak. The absence of her curse, the one that once regressed her age every time she transformed, had given her the freedom to truly push her limits and train her monster form harder than ever before.
And she'd been doing exactly that.
That's when the sonic boom hit—faint but distinct—signaling someone was approaching the base at speed.
Seconds later, a blur of blue, yellow, and red zipped through the main hangar doors, slowing mid-air to reveal Mark Grayson himself. He landed without ceremony, eyes already scanning the space for someone in particular.
Amanda spotted him first. Her expression lit up—genuine, unfiltered joy—and she immediately jogged over to greet him. But before she could reach him, the Guardians' newest member, Bulletproof shot into her path.
"Hey! Who is this guy? How'd he even get in here?" he demanded, placing himself squarely between her and Mark.
Amanda blinked, clearly annoyed, and moved right around him. "That's Invincible. He has clearance. And more importantly—he's here to see me."
Bulletproof frowned, his eyes following her as she latched onto Mark's arm, hugging it close. His jaw clenched. He'd been trying to make headway with Amanda for weeks, always getting shot down or ignored. Now, watching her cozy up to Mark like this?
It stung.
Black Samson approached, clapping a hand on Bulletproof's shoulder. "Don't waste your time. She's been hung up on Invincible for a while now. You're not breaking into that fortress."
"Yeah," Bulletproof muttered, voice tight. "I noticed."
Meanwhile, Mark leaned his head toward Amanda, his tone quieter. "Hey… can we talk somewhere private?"
Amanda didn't hesitate. "Yeah, of course. Follow me."
She led him down a side hallway into her private quarters—a room with reinforced walls, workout equipment, and a modest desk cluttered with files and training logs. As soon as the door shut behind them, she turned, and before Mark could speak, she leaned forward and kissed him.
He didn't resist.
There was a beat of silence when they pulled apart, Amanda still holding onto his arms.
"That was nice," Mark said.
"Yes, it was. So why did you come?" Asked Amanda.
"Well, I wanted to let you know that I have an idea to make your monster form stronger than you could ever imagine." Replied Mark.
"Wow, that's nice, I'm almost back to my regular strength when my body was like 8," Amanda laughed.
Mark looked uneasy—nervous, almost. She sensed it.
"What's wrong?" she asked, stepping back slightly. "Did something happen?"
Mark took a breath. "No… well, yes. Sort of. I just wanted to talk to you before I left."
Amanda's brow furrowed. "Left? Where are you going?"
"I'm heading to space. To Talescria. Allen's coming to pick me and my dad up. We're going to take the next step toward bringing the Viltrum Empire under control."
Amanda's eyes widened slightly. "You're doing it. Already?"
He nodded. "It's time."
She reached up, cupping his face gently. "Just… don't die, Mark."
He placed a hand over hers, steadying himself. "I won't. But… there's more. Something I wanted to tell you."
Amanda tilted her head, sensing the shift in tone.
"I have a girlfriend," Mark started.
Amanda froze.
"And… actually, I have two."
Her eyes widened, a few unspoken thoughts flickering behind them.
"One of them is Eve. You already know her," he continued quickly before she could say anything. "And… they both know about you. They know about the time we've spent together—even though we aren't officially together."
Amanda tried to find words, blinking in disbelief. "Wait… so are you cheating on your girlfriend? What do you mean two? Am I a side—?"
"No," Mark said, stepping forward, holding both her hands. "I'm being honest with all of you. You already know that the Viltrumite Empire will be rebuilding since we're low in numbers. Some of us are going to have to practice polygamy to restore the population. I don't want secrets or lies. I want trust so I'm telling you now. Both Amber and Eve, already know this and about you so I came to tell you about this before I leave."
Amanda looked down, biting her lip, her hands trembling slightly in his.
"And," Mark added, "I came here because I wanted to ask you to be my girlfriend too."
A tear slipped from Amanda's eye, and she gave a soft laugh that almost sounded like a sob. "So what… you're asking me to be your baby mama?"
Mark chuckled, a little embarrassed. "I was thinking more… future wife. But we can take it one step at a time."
Amanda didn't answer right away. Her heart was torn. If it had just been Mark asking her out, she would've said yes without hesitation. But the idea of having to share him—of being one of many—complicated everything.
"I need time," she finally whispered. "I want to say yes, Mark. But… this is a lot. I just need time to think about it."
Mark nodded, understanding. "That's okay. No pressure. No matter what you decide, I'll always be here for you."
He reached into his belt and pulled out a small item—a key.
"This is to my place. You're always welcome."
She took it with both hands, cradling it like something precious. When she looked up again, Mark gave her a soft kiss on the forehead before turning to leave.
As he took flight out of the Guardian HQ, Amanda stood alone in her room, staring down at the key, contemplating her future with Mark.
Unbeknownst to either of them, Robot was listening in on their conversation.
From his private quarters, using an array of discreet surveillance tech, Robot had eavesdropped the entire conversation. He sat frozen in front of the monitor, expression unreadable due to his metallic face—until his hand curled into a tight fist and slammed against the desk, shattering the small gadget in front of him.
He had already committed to Cecil's request.
Now, he was more motivated than ever.
XXXX
Mark soared through the sky, leaving the Guardians' base behind him. His heart was a cocktail of emotions—hope, guilt, determination. Amanda's reaction still lingered in his mind, but he tried not to dwell. He knew it wouldn't be easy asking someone to step into a life like his, especially with the responsibilities of his heritage now weighing heavier than ever.
The warm summer sun bathed the city in gold as he descended toward the familiar neighborhood where his parents lived. His body drinking in the sunlight. Making him feel good.
When he reached the front porch, he could smell something cooking. Pizza.
He opened the door without knocking. "I'm home," he called out, a little smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"In the kitchen!" Debbie's voice rang out, cheerful.
He walked in to find both his parents standing at the kitchen island, hands messy with flour and sauce. Nolan had his sleeves rolled up, his once-imposing Viltrumite figure swapped for an image of him wearing an apron that read "Grilldaddy." Debbie gave him a quick kiss on the cheek as she slid a pan into the oven.
Mark laughed loudly at his father in the apron.
Debbie laughed. "Don't mess with your Father. He and I decided to do more together. And I bought the apron."
Nolan looked up, giving Mark a relaxed smile. "Pizza night. Your mom's idea."
"I can tell," Mark said with a smile. "Hey, uh… I didn't mean to interrupt, but Allen's ship is about to hit orbit. He wants us to meet him up there."
At that, Nolan's smile faded slightly. His time with his wife being interrupted annoyed him. He had been much more affectionate with Debbie ever since he came clean to her. It was like having a weight off his shoulder.
"Right. The Coalition." Said Nolan.
Debbie turned, wiping her hands on a towel. "Both of you—be careful, okay?"
Nolan nodded and kissed her temple gently. "We will. I promise." He was a little worried about how it would go when they got to Viltrum since they were about to face off against the strongest Viltrumite in history. But, he trusted in Mark's strength and extra powers.
Mark gave his mom a reassuring hug before stepping outside with his dressed father. Both men took off into the sky, their figures streaking toward the upper atmosphere. As they passed the cloud layer, a sleek Coalition cruiser shimmered into view, its surface pulsing with energy as it hovered silently above Earth.
The landing ramp extended before they even arrived. Allen stood in front, waving them in. His eye was bright, and his expression… a little nervous.
"Mark! Nolan!" Allen greeted, pulling Mark into a brief, tight hug before giving Nolan a more reserved handshake since he was still a little scared of him. "Glad to see you both intact."
"Same to you," Mark said, looking at the polished ship interior. "Let's get this show on the road."
As the ramp closed behind them, the engines hummed to life, and the ship angled away from Earth, cutting through the stars toward the Coalition homeworld—Talescria.
Talescria was full of life—lush continents, towering cities of sleek architecture and glass, and skies filled with peaceful air traffic.
Mark leaned forward in his seat, eyes glued to the viewscreen. "So this is the heart of the Coalition?"
Allen, sitting at the helm, grinned and gave a proud nod. "Welcome to Talescria. It's the most heavily protected planet in Coalition space—and for good reason. Every decision that shapes our galaxy happens here."
Nolan didn't say much as the ship descended. He stood tall and silent beside Mark, his eyes scanning every detail, every potential threat. A Viltrumite warrior through and through, even now he couldn't switch it off.
As they docked in one of the central towers, a group of armed Coalition soldiers formed a welcoming escort. Not in an aggressive way, more ceremonial than anything. Mark and Nolan exchanged a look before stepping off the ship.
The tower's main hall was massive—polished floors, hanging banners of every Coalition member world, and a circular table in the center surrounded by representatives of over a dozen alien species, each of them unique and strange in their own right. Some had scales, others shells, and a few hovered off the ground entirely. All wore expressions of cautious interest.
At the head of the table stood a tall, armored figure with a face covered in a heavy, metallic cowl—Thaedus, leader of the Coalition.
"Welcome to Talescria," Thaedus said in a voice like thunder. "It's an honor to meet you both in person, Mark Grayson… and Nolan."
Mark stepped forward first and bowed his head slightly. "It's an honor to be here. I'm grateful for everything you've done for the universe so far. I'm ready to do my part."
Thaedus gave a nod of approval. "You've already done more than most ever could. Your efforts against the Viltrumite scouts saved millions on Earth. And now… we have a champion to challenge the Viltrumite authority."
"We're also glad to have you here as well," Thaedus looked at Nolan. "A Viltrumite elite who saw the truth. Who broke from the empire."
Nolan looked around the room before nodding. "Earth changed me. My son changed me."
Mark glanced at his father briefly. It wasn't often Nolan admitted things like that out loud.
Before anyone else could speak, the chamber's main doors suddenly exploded inward in a violent burst of smoke and flame.
The Coalition guards moved instantly, drawing their weapons and surrounding the council members, who rose from their seats in a mixture of shock and anger.
Through the thick smoke, a towering figure strode into the room—his arm made of metal, his face scarred, one of his eyes blinded.
Mark's eyes widened in recognition.
Behind the towering figure, four more figures floated in, each one bearing the same expressionless, imposing aura.
"Stand ready for my arrival, worms." Said the newly revealed, Conquest.
Conquest floated there with four other non-descript Viltrumites floating behind him.
.
.
.
Author's Notes:
Be sure to check out my p*tr-eon where you get early access to my chapter and you'll be able to talk to me as I'm writing the story. You'll be giving me ideas I can incorporate into the story or feedback as I am a new writer so there may be plot points or mistakes that I haven't thought about. My p*tr-eon name is Bah_Goat.