Debbie...
Debbie and Donald pulled up to the Pentagon, it stood tall against the dark Virginia sky, lit by layers of security lights, checkpoints, and armed personnel. Even after everything that had happened in the last five years, the building still carried that same feeling Debbie remembered.
The place were power and secrets went hand in hand. People making impossible choices behind closed doors, for the future of the country.
Donald walked beside her through the outer security entrance in silence. The guards recognized him immediately as he gave his credentials. Then proceeded with retinal scans. Keycards, and fingerprint verification.
Every checkpoint opened faster than the last.
Debbie folded her arms slightly as they walked deeper into the facility. The halls were sterile and polished, government and military personnel moving around them. The deeper they went, the quieter things became.
Finally they reached a secured elevator. Donald pressed his thumb against a scanner. The doors slid open, and the two stepped inside.
The elevator descended and kept descending.
Debbie watched the floor counter continue lower and lower beneath the Pentagon itself. Her reflection stared back at her faintly through the metal doors. She looked on edge, she didn't know what to expect and it was eating her from the inside.
But she knew she had to be strong. She had to see her son, and decide what to do from there.
The silence stretched for nearly a full minute before Debbie finally spoke. "Is it normal?"
Donald glanced at her. "Is what normal?"
Debbie's eyes stayed forward. "Taking people who are considered mass murderers and rehabilitating them." Her voice tightened slightly. "Or using them for national security."
Donald was quiet for a moment. Then he answered honestly. " Honestly. No."
The elevator hummed around them. "It's not normal," Donald admitted. "I've only ever seen two people actually pull it off."
Debbie looked toward him slightly. "And Cecil's one of them?"
Donald nodded once. "Cecil's the best person I've ever seen for the job."
Debbie crossed her arms tighter. "We'll see about that."
The elevator continued descending. Then she asked quietly, "Who's the second?"
Donald paused. Long enough that Debbie noticed.
His expression hardened slightly in a way she rarely saw. "Someone you never want to meet."
That answer sat heavy in the elevator. Before Debbie could ask more, the doors opened. The hidden headquarters of the Global Defense Agency stretched before them.
Debbie stepped out slowly as the place was alive with movement.
Scientists moved between holographic displays and labs. Engineers worked on half-disassembled drones and armored equipment. Doctors hurried past with digital tablets in hand. Armed security personnel stood near blast doors and secured checkpoints.
Large screens showed satellite feeds, threat assessments, and emergency response maps across the globe. A few costumed heroes moved through the area too.
Debbie recognized some and others she didn't. The scale of the underground complex felt even larger than before.
"This place hasn't really changed," Debbie murmured.
Donald gave a small breath through his nose. "Actually it changed a lot."
He gestured around them. "We added several more lower levels after the attack."
Of course they did, when isn't the world close to ending, even with all of the heroes that exist.
Then a familiar voice cut in. "Well look who finally came back early."
Brit walked toward them wearing jeans, boots, and his usual irritated expression. The older hero stopped when he noticed Debbie.
His posture straightened slightly. "Ma'am."
Donald nodded toward him. "Meeting at the Hall of Justice ended earlier than expected. We also got some new information thanks to the Green Lantern Corps and the League."
Brit grunted. "Well that's good at least. Sounds annoying already."
Debbie studied him for a second. Brit looked exactly the same as always.
Which made sense considering his powers.
"Where's Cecil?" Donald asked.
Brit jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "With the kid. Doing his debrief."
Debbie's stomach tightened slightly hearing that. Donald looked toward Debbie. "Brit was one of the people who helped Cecil rehabilitate Mark."
Brit snorted. "Rehabilitate is a fancy way of saying I let the kid beat the hell outta me for a few years."
Donald adjusted his glasses. "You were one of the only people who could survive his hits consistently."
Brit shrugged. "Comes with being hard to kill."
Debbie looked down slightly before speaking. "I'm sorry for the trouble my son caused you."
Brit's expression softened slightly. "The boy made his own choices," he said. "He'll have to live with them. Plus I knocked some sense into him."
Then he looked at her more carefully. "So don't apologize for him, Ms. Grayson. You're a good mother."
Debbie's eyes flicked upward, those words caught her off guard.
Brit continued quietly. "Sometimes we can't help what our children become."
Debbie looked away slightly after that. Her chest hurt hearing it. Because part of her still blamed herself, and maybe she always would.
Her phone vibrated suddenly in her hand. Debbie looked down. The screen lit up with a picture of her and Caius from his first day at Gotham University. Caius stood beside her smiling awkwardly while she held onto his arm proudly.
Her chest warmed immediately.
A message notification appeared from Caius.
Debbie opened it.
I'm here if you need anything and will be there in a heartbeat. Catch up over dinner this Sunday?
Debbie smiled softly despite herself. The tightness in her chest eased just slightly. Even after everything… she still had family.
Donald noticed her expression. "Are you okay?"
Debbie locked her phone and nodded. Then she looked up toward him again. "Yes, I'm fine. Let's go. I'm ready to see him"
Donald nodded once. "Follow me."
They began walking deeper into the facility. Toward the secured holding sector. As Debbie walked, memories started surfacing whether she wanted them to or not.
Mark as a little boy flying in his dads arms for the first time. Mark crying after scraping his knee. Mark laughing at dumb movies with her on the couch. Mark and Nolan watching zombie movies together.
Mark smiling and hugging her. Then Mark covered in blood at Titans Tower.
Her breathing tightened, but she kept walking. Because no matter what happened… That was still her son. And she needed to see him with her own eyes.
Earlier....
Far above Gotham Harbor, a lone figure flew through the night sky.
The costume was black with glowing green accents running along the chest, arms, and legs in sleek lines. A metallic helmet completely covered the figure's face, reflective black glass hiding his features.
Wind screamed past him as he crossed over the ocean toward Gotham. Inside the helmet, a voice crackled through the comms.
"This is GDA Command to Guardian. You're approaching the anomaly zone. Last confirmed Mauler Twin activity originated from Gotham Harbor warehouse district."
The armored figure remained silent for a moment.
Then— "Roger that."
His voice sounded tired. Deep beneath the helmet, Guardians eyes stayed focused ahead
The warehouse appeared in the distance. Even from the sky, he could see blue-white energy flashing through broken windows.
Guardian accelerated. The moment he reached the building, he flew straight through the reinforced warehouse doors.
Metal exploded inward. Inside, the entire warehouse had been converted into a makeshift laboratory.
Massive machinery filled the room, as cables stretched everywhere. Energy pulsed through giant cylindrical towers connected to a central machine glowing with unstable power. And strapped into chairs around the device were people.
Men and women.
Multiple figures in blue moved around the machine frantically. The Mauler Twins and there were several of them.
One looked up first. "Oh shit," he snapped. "It's Guardian."
Another twin cursed. "The damn GDA had to barge in now of all times."
At the center of the machine sat a man connected directly into the core through dozens of cables and metallic restraints. His eyes glowed faintly blue as power surged around him.
No. "Don't interfere!" the man shouted desperately. "I'm close! I'm so close to gaining the power I need!"
Inside Mark's helmet, Cecil's voice came through instantly. "Guardian, shut that machine down now!"
Warning alarms appeared across his HUD.
ENERGY OUTPUT REACHING CRITICAL. STABILITY FAILURE IMMINENT.
Guardian launched forward toward the machine. "Everyone get away from—"
The explosion hit before he finished. White-blue light consumed the warehouse instantly. The blast tore outward in a violent sphere.
The entire building was vaporized. The harbor water below exploded upward into massive waves.
Guardian threw up his guard protecting his face as the shockwave swallowed everything. For several seconds there was only light.
Then silence. Smoke and burning debris drifted through the air above Gotham Harbor. Guardian floated without a scratch, staring at the destruction below.
The entire warehouse was gone. Nothing remained except a crater partially submerged beneath dark water.
Inside the helmet, Cecil's voice returned immediately. "Guardian. Report."
Guardian blinked slowly. "...It went off. There was nothing I could do."
He then scanned the area. "No signs of the Mauler Twins." His jaw tightened. Or the people attached to the machine."
Cecil cursed quietly over comms.
"Damn it."
Guardian floated silently above the harbor. Hearing emergency sirens already echoed through Gotham.
Cecil spoke again. "Cleanup teams are already en route. ETA five minutes."
Guardian stared at the water beneath him. "What was the point of even coming here?" He said, but there was no anger in his voice.
Cecil answered after a pause. " Don't worry about it kid. You wanted to stay busy. And I kept you busy. You can't save everyone."
Guardians eyes lowered slightly. As silence followed.
Then Cecil added more quietly. "But that's enough for tonight, kid. You've been going for twelve hours straight. Head back"
Guardian didn't answer. Then. "... Copy that, I'm en route."
Guardian flew off into the dark sky. Some time later, Guardian landed inside one of the GDA's private hangars.
Personnel moved around him carefully. Most of the people avoided him. The helmet concealed his face, but everyone knew who stood inside that armor.
Then a woman approached him casually. She had curly brown hair. Bright blue eyes, and spoke with a southern accent.
Her name was Sandy.
"Welcome back, Guardian," she said gently. "I already had your food put in your room, and I let your therapist know you returned."
He sighed beneath the helmet. "Can we skip therapy today, Sandy?"
Sandy gave him a sympathetic look.
"Sorry, hun. Cecil's rules. I heard what happened out there. I'm sorry you couldn't about what happened at Gotham."
Guardian let out a quiet breath through his nose. "Right, fine."
He walked toward the private living sector. His room opened automatically.
It was large, clean and minimalistic. With metal walls, simple furniture, and a bed, desk, and bookshelves.
There were no decorations, or signs of a personal life.
Guardian stepped inside silently. The helmet dissolved backward into the armor itself, revealing his face.
Mark Grayson's face appeared. He looked older now, and tired. His hair slightly longer, and his face sharper.
There were dark circles beneath his eyes that never fully went away anymore. He stared at the tray of food waiting on the desk. Then looked away.
I miss her cooking. The thought hit him harder than expected.
Then the door behind him hissed open.
Cecil stood there. "Mark."
Mark didn't turn around immediately.
"There's someone here to see you."
Mark's shoulders tightened. "Can we not today, Cecil?" His voice sounded exhausted. "I'm tired."
Cecil remained silent for a second his eyes showing contemplation. Then...."I think you'll want to see who it is."
Mark turned around with irritation already building. "Look Cecil, I just want to...." Then he stopped, His eyes widened instantly.
"...Mom?"
Debbie stood behind Cecil and Brit near the doorway. Mark froze completely.
For a moment neither of them spoke. Cecil looked between them both carefully. "Sorry about this, kid. But she wanted to see you. And your therapist suggested a family session eventually."
Mark stared at Debbie like he couldn't process she was real. His breathing became uneven.
Debbie looked at her son carefully. He looked so much older now. Taller with broad shoulders.
But underneath all that strength… She could tell he looked exhausted, and broken. His eyes carried something heavy inside them now.
Maybe guilt. Self-hatred or loneliness?
Debbie stepped forward slowly. "Mark…" She reached toward him carefully she was scared for herself as much as she was for him.
But Mark stepped back immediately. "No."
Debbie froze.
"Please go." Mark said quietly
Her chest tightened painfully hearing it. "Mark, I wanted to see you."
"And now you did." His voice remained low. "But nothing good comes from talking to a murderer like me."
"Mark....Please."
His voice cracked slightly. "Cecil, can you just get her out of here?"
Debbie's eyes filled with hurt immediately. Mark looked away from her completely. "I'm tired."
Debbie swallowed hard. She forced herself to stay calm. "That's okay," she said softly.
She slowly reached into her purse and pulled out a card. "Here's my new number." She stepped closer and gently placed it onto the nearby table. "Call me whenever you're ready to talk."
Mark's jaw tightened hard enough to shake. He turned his back toward her. "Like I said," he whispered, "nothing good would come from that."
Debbie's eyes watered. But she nodded anyway. "Okay."
Then Mark spoke again quietly. "Cecil."
Cecil looked toward him.
"We need to talk later."
Cecil's face became solemn immediately. Because he already knew exactly what kind of conversation was coming.
Debbie looked at her son one last time before slowly leaving with Cecil. The door closed behind them.
Silence filled the room. Mark stood completely still for several long seconds. Then slowly, he looked down at his hands. And saw blood.
Not real blood, but memory of it. Then he remembered Titans Tower. The screaming and the bodies.
Caius screaming and hitting him. What he did to Gar and the others. The hallway collapsing and blood everywhere.
Mark's breathing started shaking. He stumbled toward the mirror near the wall.
For a second....He saw himself from five years ago staring back.
Those cold eyes and blood-covered face. The version of himself who had believed Viltrumite superiority justified everything. The version that smiled while hurting people. The monster.
Mark flinched backward hard. Then the reflection shifted.
Current Mark stared back instead. As the tears started falling before he could stop them. His knees hit the floor.
"I'm sorry," he whispered shakily. His shoulders trembled violently.
"I'm so sorry, Mom."
Mark covered his face with both hands as years of guilt finally crushed down on him all over again. And alone in that room beneath the Pentagon....The former Invincible cried.