The journey back to Earth was long and silent, the hum of the ship's engines the only noise as they soared through the vastness of space. Mark sat quietly by the window, staring out at the stars as they blurred past. His thoughts were a jumbled mess—Traxon, the Viltrimits, his family, Earth. So much had happened, and yet there was a gnawing feeling inside him that told him the worst was yet to come.
Nolan, sitting across from him, was lost in his own thoughts, his arms crossed over his chest as he stared straight ahead. The silence between them was comfortable, but the weight of everything they had faced and would continue to face hung heavily in the air.
"Dad," Mark began, his voice breaking the stillness. "Do you ever think about what comes after all of this? Like, when the Viltrimits are gone, or when Earth is safe?"
Nolan didn't immediately respond, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered his son's words. "I don't think about that," he finally said. "There's no time for thinking about the end. We deal with what's in front of us, and once it's done, we move on. If we sit around thinking about what happens afterward, we'll get complacent. And that's when the real danger comes."
Mark nodded slowly, taking in his father's words. He understood the logic, but it didn't ease the feeling of uncertainty gnawing at him.
"I guess that makes sense," Mark muttered, still staring out the window. "But I can't help but think about what Earth will look like after this fight. It feels like everything is on the line. And sometimes… sometimes I wonder if we're enough."
Nolan turned his gaze to his son, his eyes softening just a bit. "Mark, we've fought harder battles before. We're more than enough. I know it doesn't feel that way now, but trust me—when the time comes, we'll stand tall."
"I don't know if it's enough just to fight," Mark continued. "I mean, we're facing a whole race of people who want to conquer everything. It's not just about being strong, right? It's about protecting everything we care about."
"That's why we fight, son," Nolan replied. "We don't fight because we want power or glory. We fight to protect what's ours. And that's the difference. That's what sets us apart from them."
Mark turned his head, looking at his father. "I'm just tired of the fighting. But I know I can't stop. I don't think I could ever stop."
Nolan nodded in understanding. "We do what we must. We don't get to choose the battles that come our way, but we do get to choose how we fight them. And you, Mark, you're strong. You'll keep fighting because you know what's at stake."
As the conversation settled into a comfortable silence, Battle Beast, who had been sitting in the corner of the ship, suddenly stood up and stretched. His massive form filled the room, and his voice, low and gruff, broke the quiet.
"I can feel it," he said, his voice carrying an edge of excitement. "We're almost back. And I'm looking forward to the next fight. Can't say I'm bored with this, but it's getting harder to find opponents worthy of my time."
Mark gave him a sidelong glance, amused. "You're always looking for a fight, aren't you?"
"Better to fight than sit around," Battle Beast responded with a shrug. "That's what keeps me sharp."
Nolan raised an eyebrow. "We've got bigger things to deal with than your need to fight every second, Battle Beast."
But Battle Beast didn't seem to care. "You said I was part of the family now. Families fight together, don't they?"
Nolan smirked. "You've got a point. But if you break anything, I'm holding you accountable."
The three of them shared a rare, lighthearted moment, their usual intensity softened by the mundane exchange. For a few moments, the weight of the situation didn't feel as heavy.
Then, the mood shifted. The comms system on the ship suddenly beeped, pulling everyone's attention to the screen at the front of the room. The familiar face of Cecil appeared, his expression serious as always.
"Omni-Man," he said, nodding at Nolan. "It's good to see you're all on your way back. But we've got a situation."
Mark leaned forward. "What happened?"
Cecil's expression darkened. "There's been an escalation. Some Viltrimits have managed to break through our defenses on Earth. They're getting smarter. It's only a matter of time before they send more powerful reinforcements. We need you back, and we need you back now."
Nolan's eyes narrowed. "I told you, I'm not rushing back unless it's absolutely necessary."
"It is necessary," Cecil replied firmly. "The Viltrimits are making their move. We've got to stop them before they establish a stronghold on Earth."
Mark stood up. "We'll get there as fast as we can."
Before Nolan could respond, Battle Beast stepped forward. "I'm in. Let me crush something. I've been patient enough."
Cecil nodded, acknowledging Battle Beast's eagerness. "I knew you'd be ready."
As the ship's engines hummed to life, Mark exchanged a glance with his father. They had no choice but to head back to Earth and face whatever awaited them. There was no time to waste.
Nolan turned to Mark. "You ready for this?"
Mark gave him a determined nod. "I've been ready. Let's go."
The ship picked up speed as it zoomed through the void of space, heading back toward Earth. There was a lot more at stake now, and Mark knew they weren't going to have the luxury of taking their time anymore.
Earth's fate was in their hands, and they couldn't afford to fail.
Back on Earth, the new Guardians of the Globe were already preparing for battle. They had no idea what was coming, but they knew one thing for sure: they would stand together, no matter the odds.
The calm before the storm was over. The fight was about to begin.