Chapter Text
“Are the portals ready?” She asked, tapping her heel anxiously as she watched the Cyborg running the diagnostics on his computer. She watched the destruction through the numerous monitors. Buildings collapsed as variants of Mark Grayson flew through them like a bullet through a body. People screaming and running, and the world’s heroes first on the scene trying to hold off against an enemy that hopelessly outmatches them. All while muttering, “Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod.…”
“Okay,” The one with the golden suit stepped forward in front of the dimensional gateway, giving a nod to the Maulers typing on the computer. Setting the coordinates, making sure the energy core was set, and the reality-traversal portal glowing blue. The man in the gold suit floated in the air as all eight of them gathered. “We have little time, so it’s straight to the point. Agent will find Stedman and explain everything, he knows his way in and out of the Pentagon. Cyborg will hack into the GDA communications network. Coordinate with other heroes, minimize civilian casualties, and don’t get ganged up on. Use the telepathy-earpieces if you must. And don’t die, our worlds need us too.”
“Do we take prisoners?” The one with the warhammer stepped forward, twirling the grip in his hand.
“If it comes to it, no. Preventing casualties by any means necessary is what matters.” The gold one put his hands on his hips. “Our obligations are not limited to our worlds, so we move fast. We save who we can, because today the world beyond ours needs…”
INVINCIBLE
The Pentagon, Virginia
The roof of the engineering wing burst open with an explosion as the Flaxan variant of Mark flew through like a rocket. The Flaxan Invincible floated in the air, disgusted grimace on his face as the security guards opened fire. Bullets deflecting off of him harmlessly before rushing forward and decapitating a guard with a swift chop from his hand. Engineers screamed and fled as Flaxan Invincible waded through them, killing them with nonchalant swings.
He floated into the corridor. Smirking as he swatted one guard into a paste. Another ran empty on his rifle before drawing out his pistol, only for the Flaxan Invincible to punch him so hard his upper body in a cloud of red mist and meat. A man in a suit stepped around a corner, the scar on his face stretching in a grimace as he barked, “Mark, what the fuck are you doing?!”
“Cecil…” Mark growled, his Flaxan armor stretching taut as he prepared to lunge forward. Cecil's thumb hovered over the switch, ready to hit the button. He could hear the Reanimen barreling their way towards them. But not quick enough to intercept.
Bullets struck Flaxan Mark in the face, one of them shattering one of the lenses of his goggles. He raised his arms, shielding his face from Donald’s cover fire as he tried to give Cecil a few more seconds. Only for Flaxan Invincible to close the distance and half-heartedly backhand Donald, the cyborg flying into the GDA director. The switch to the sound devices skittering away in a frightened frenzy.
The first of the Reanimen threw themselves at the interloper, thrashing and gnashing at Flaxan Mark, who promptly tore them apart. With the swipe of his hand, he split a Reaniman in half before moving on to punch a hole through the chest of another. Ripping a third reanimated abomination off his back, the intruder quickly lifted the Reaniman above his head and tore it in a spray of blood and viscera. More and more Reanimen tore through the hallways, lunging at the Flaxan armor-clad variant as he tore his way towards Cecil and Donald who slowly fell back.
“Donald, order an evacuation now! And tell Sinclair to activate the Reanimen, all of them!!” Cecil shouted, Donald making calls as alarms rang through the building. The floor vibrated with footsteps as people began fleeing the whole Pentagon. Many of the GDA agents and staff head to facilities where they can safely follow oncoming orders. All the while Flaxan Mark tore through one Reaniman after another.
“Cecil! I’ll fucking tear you limb from limb for leaving me to die with the Flaxans!!” Flaxan Mark roared before a wall to his right exploded. The first thing flying through the spray of rubble was a gloved fist that collided with the side of Flaxan Invincible's head. The variant flew through the wall, the distant rumbling of broken concrete tens of feet away. Reanimen charged through the breach to finish off the threat as another Invincible stepped through.
“Mark, tell me what the hell is going on!” Cecil rubbed his head. His eyes narrowed as he realized he was yelling at another alternate version of Mark. Wearing a similar blue and black costume to the Mark he knew, this Invincible wore a charcoal gray leather trench coat over his costume.
“Let me explain…” Agent Invincible then hesitated before shaking his head dismissively. “No, there's too much, let me summarize. I'm Agent Invincible, I’m from a different dimension, and-”
Suddenly, the Flaxan Mark rushed the new variant with an airborne tackle, both of them punching through concrete before Agent grounded his feet to a halt. His boots kicking up ceramic and cement before elbowing Flaxan Invincible in the back. Grabbing the back of Flaxan Mark's head, Agent Mark elbowed him in the throat before pulling back and striking him on the ears. The Flaxan Mark, now wide-eyed and stunned, dropped in a heap.
Agent Mark flew over back to where Cecil was. He could overhear Donald explaining, “...the Team thinks they're from alternate dimensions where Mark isn't so… Mark.”
“No shit, and how many are there?” Cecil asked, wiping the blood dripping down to his lip with his sleeve.
“When we came to respond, we counted around eighteen, but there may be more.” Agent Mark strolled in, brushing dust off the shoulder of his trench coat. Cecil's eyes narrowed suspiciously, Donald looking between Cecil and the variant. Agent explained further, “I am one of eight variants that have come to help."
Cecil scowled, however Agent Mark's resolve remained unbothered. Cecil scanned Agent Mark's features inquisitively before sighing. Making the split decision to hear him out.
“What matters is that there are eight of us on your side.” Agent Mark crossed his arms before turning his head, watching Flaxan Mark slowly clamber up to his feet. Agent Invincible turned as he floated in the air, ready for a fight before saying, “I'll explain further after I take care of this guy. Get to the Command Center.”
Cecil watched the variant's trench coat billow as he flew back to face his opponent. The ground and walls shook from the magnitude of the fight as blows landed and the two combatants fought throughout the Pentagon. Cecil immediately pivoted and strode back to the command center as Donald asked, “Sir, can we trust him?”
“Donald, this Mark saved our asses, even if it isn't the one we know. We need all the help we can get.” Cecil hurriedly went into an elevator, punching a few buttons before they were lowered down into the GDA base. He quickly stepped out, jogged, and rounded a corner before finding the command center. “We need to make calls.”
“To who, sir?” Donald asked, not noticing that a chunk of his skin was gone, revealing his robotic interior.
“Everyone!” Cecil shouted, slamming his hands on the desk as dozens of screens in front of him showed news around the world.
London, United Kingdom
British Knight bounced on the pavement outside the ablaze of Buckingham Palace. Slowly rolling onto his hands and knees, he staggered to his feet with a determined groan. Looking at the civilians scrambling behind him, British Knight shouted, “Go! Head indoors! Stay inside!”
He looked up at this variant of Invincible, his super-suit striped and his shoulders badged with the Viltrumite insignia. British Knight looked behind the people behind him, ready to buy them any time he could for them to evacuate. He raised his fists as Stripe-vincible berated, “Pathetic! I wouldn't even keep you as a slave in my Emp-!”
The tirade was cut short. A pale gold warhammer slammed into the side of the variant’s head with a sonorous bong. Sending him flying a hundred feet and rolling across scattered cobblestone and concrete before stopping in a heap. In his place hovered another Invincible; his red and black costume sleeveless, and his mouth covered by a metal half-mask adorned with lion's teeth. The tattered cloak around his shoulders billowed with the embers and dust.
“Go,” Battle Invincible spoke, his tone low and unwavering as he flourished his warhammer, the alien metal humming through the air. Stripe-vincible angrily shot back into the air, his mask half-torn, and his fists trembling with rage. Battle Invincible raised his shield as he continued, “And leave this tyrant to me.”
Stripe-vincible flew forward with a roar, both fists outstretched forward in an attempt to slam himself into his opponent. Battle Invincible dodged at the last second, swinging his hammer upward and catching Stripe-vincible in the chin. The extra-dimensional tyrant flew higher into the air, his opponent in hot pursuit as they clashed over the skies of London. The imperious variant who dared to lay its defenders low shoved away with a battering tackle from Battle Invincible's shield.
Seoul, South Korea
The Lotte World Building began to creak and groan from the hole punched through the sixtieth floor. Cap-vincible smirked as he admired his work, listening to the panicked screaming of those on the ground in the building. Until the building stopped, suddenly righting itself up. Cap-vincible snarled, “What??”
He flew around the building to see a single man with a blue and gold cape pushing the building upright. Looking down, an orange blur ran in and out, allowing people trapped inside to evacuate as local heroes moved civilians to safety. Cap-vincible gritted his teeth before flying up to the stranger holding the building, “What the fuck are you doing?! We’re supposed to cover the whole planet!”
The hero bearing the weight of the building with ease turned with an inquisitive glare. Cap-vincible flinched back from what was obviously an older variant who was much taller and broader than he was. The heroic Invincible’s costume was emblazoned with gold around his shoulders, gloves, and boots. The gold-clad Invincible scoffed, “If you could please excuse me, I’m kind of in the middle of something.”
Cap-vincible growled and threw punch. Unimpressed, Gold Invincible reached out one hand, and caught the punch faster than Cap-vincible could blink. Completely undaunted by the blow, Gold Invincible smirked amusedly, yanking Cap-vincible closer by his fist and whispered, “I’ll deal with you later.”
After an effortless backhanded slap, Cap-vincible was sent flying out into the distance as he screamed and faded into towards the Pacific. Gold Invincible turned and caught the gaze of a child clutched in her mother’s arms who gawked at him before waving. Gold Invincible waved back with a smile before slowly pushing the building back upright.
Outside of Earth’s Orbit
Tech Jacket was firing everything. Soaring through space, dodging punches and attempted tackles as laser beams fired off outside the Earth's exosphere. Turning his gauntlets into guns, Tech Jacket unloaded a salvo of laser blasts and ballistics at the three variants. Each of them trying to move in and tear him apart.
Sweat built up under Tech Jacket's helmet as he rocketed and pirouetted through space. His heart jumping up into this throat as a variant with a mustache came inches away from grabbing his face. A second variant with lengthy hair grabbed a hold of his ankle, quickly countering by blasting him in the face with his arm-mounted laser cannon. The third attacker, his Invincible costume almost completely yellow with exception to his blue goggles and gloves, grabbed him from behind and restraining his arms as the two closed in.
Suit diagnostics alerted faltering armor integrity as the Mustached Invincible pulled his hand back, his hand flattened to a blade with the intention of stabbing through Tech Jacket's armor. Tech Jacket fired his weapons and fired off his jets with the intention of freeing himself. A second to spare before the Mustached assailant punched a hole through his suit like a spear.
A fourth Invincible shot out of Earth's exosphere. His blue and teal suit adorned with a pale grey uniform jacket, on its shoulder sat the symbol of the Coalition of Planets. The Coalition-marked Invincible flew in, grabbing Mustache Invincible by his wrist before slamming his elbow into his jaw. Carrying the blow through, he tackled Mustache Invincible into the Long Haired cohort. The Yellow-suited variant’s grip loosened in surprise, giving Tech Jacket the opening he needed, reaching back over his shoulder and firing another laser blast into the Yellow-suit’s face. Freeing himself, he turned to Coalition Invincible, both of them sharing a cooperative nod before rushing to meet the three hostiles head-on.
Paris, France
A gun-metal quarterstaff smashed into the gut of the Maskless Invincible, leaving him clutching his stomach as he faced down his new opponent. He looked up at the female Invincible as she spun the staff in her hand with a cheeky grin. Brushing her hair behind her ear as she hopped side to side, goading, “I’ve wanted to visit Paris for many reasons. Never thought I’d visit for an ass-kicking.”
“We’ll see whose ass is getting kicked!” Maskless snarled, lunging forward with a flurry of jabs and crosses. Wolf-cut met every punch with a parry and block with her weapon before trapping his arm under her staff and slipping a jab. She forced his arm to bend, closing the distance before letting go of her staff's shaft and throwing an uppercut into his throat. Marie, codenamed “Wolf-cut”, flipped the weapon over her arm and grabbed the far end. She smirked as Maskless caught his breath, his eyes wide from being unable to take another breath.
Maskless Mark clenched his teeth before rushing forward, leading with a punch that would be left wide open as she slipped to one side. The Warrior Invincible winded up her staff before striking Maskless in the back of the knee. He screamed in pain as he dropped to one knee, giving Warrior the opening she needed. With a swing that cracked over the back of Maskless’ head, Wolf-cut shouted with a grin, “And I win!”
New York City
Viltrum Invincible stood over Wolf-Man, readying a killing blow as the lycanthrope clawed and tore at his arm in vain. “See? I told you that I’d kill you.”
A piercing blast screamed through the air making the two fighters cover their ears as Viltrum Invincible flew back from the concussive force. Wolf-Man rolled to his elbows to look up at a floating blue and black costumed hero. His left arm covered in interlocking mechanical plates that shifted itself back into the shape of a hand. The helmeted Cyborg floated down, offering his remaining organic hand and asked, “Are you alright, Wolf-Man?”
“Who are you?” Wolf-Man asked with a gruff voice, his eyes widening as the helmet receded back into the gorget-like armor that sat around his neck to reveal the face of Invincible. Shielding his left eye was a glowing yellow lens. “Invincible?”
The Cyborg Invincible scoffed a laugh, pulling Wolf-Man to his feet. “Yes, but not entirely.”
They both turned as Viltrum-vincible groaned, staggering to his feet, gritting his teeth as he looked down at his hands which he pulled away from his bleeding ears. Wolf-Man and Cyborg Invincible grinned determinedly, both of them leading with their shoulders in a fighting stance. The cobalt blue Geldarian tech slamming over the Cyborg’s face as they both rushed him.
Chicago, Illinois
Marcie flew for Chicago as fast as she could. Brushing her ponytail hair over her shoulder as she frantically looked for the source of the explosions, the alternate Invincible punched through building after building. Hovering above the Chicago skyline, she muttered, “Come on, come on. Where are you?”
Another variant floated down next to her, the eyes of his domino mask narrowing as he searched the city. Marie raised her eyebrow at the blue and black suit, similar to hers, but in place of the tall “I” of the Invincible icon sat an “O” for Omni-man. Marcie cleared her throat before hesitantly asking, “Mark- Omni-Man 2, maybe you should stay back. I don't know if people in Chicago would be happy to see an Omni-man.”
“Your codename was ‘Ponytail’, right?” Omni-man ii lowered his head in thought, Marie nodding as he turned to face her. “My father failed my world, I won't fail this one, regardless of the mantle I've taken.”
Three explosions sounded off simultaneously, Omni-man ii turning towards two humanoid shapes bursting out of the same building. He exasperatedly groaned with a curse, “Damn, there's two of them.”
“Three,” Ponytail gasped, looking at the column of smoke due dozens of miles east. She darted off in that direction. “That's close to Eve's house!”
“Marcie, wait!” Omni-man ii shouted, his blue cape swishing as he looked between his compatriot and two variants shot towards him like two missiles. The twin variants reached forward in an aerial lunge towards Omni-man ii. Mark, clenching his blue-gloved fists, swooped down to meet them, “So be it.”
The Pentagon
“Goddamn it.” Cecil cursed, looking at all of the hostile doppelgangers of Invincible displayed on the large screen sitting in the command center. Agents on computers sending frantically urgent messages to heroes across the world. The personnel occasionally flinched at the rumbling above their heads until it stopped.
Donald turned back towards the door to the command center. Seconds turned to minutes as a silence settled over the room. Then the doors opened, guards and agents raising their rifles before slowly lowering them. Agent Invincible strode into the room, Cecil's eyes falling to the limp body of Flaxan-vincible in his grip.
The Agent dropped the variant's corpse and brushed rubble off his shoulder. Flaxan-vincible's head disjointedly rolled to one side as his gaze stared into empty space. Agent huffed and looked to Cecil, “Send this one to Sinclaire.”
“Sure, but first tell me who our assets are.” Cecil sighed, his eyes darting down to the dead variant before looking back up at his newfound ally.
"Two women, a cyborg, a big guy with a warhammer, the guy with the gold suit, another in the blue Omni-man suit, and the last has a Coalition of Planets uniform.” Agent Mark crossed his arms. Cecil nodded receptively before turning back towards the screen.
“The fuck’s the Coalition of Planets?” Cecil asked sharply.
“That's not important.” Agent Mark dismissed, shaking his head.
“And I suppose you'll be getting back out there.” Cecil muttered curtly, his back turned as a test of trust. Agent strolled up, almost shoulder to shoulder.
“You know that's what I'd do, director.” The Mark variant replied with a shrug.
A small grin slipped onto the corner of Cecil's lip. He scoffed and turned back to Agent, “Tell me each member of your team, I'll let the heroes know.”