ISSUE #6

* Brrrrring!

The school bell signaled the end of the current class period. Mark left his classroom thinking about his fight from the previous day still weighing heavily on his mind.

" Mark."

William called out to Mark.

Mark lifted his head and saw that it was William who had called him.

" Oh, hey William."

Mark said to the boy.

WIlliam looked at Mark's face a little confused and asked him what's up.

" Hey, man you alright?"

William asked.

" My dad uhm... He got attacked."

Mark said to the boy, shocking him.

" What? You're kidding!"

William replied. However, the look on Mark's face told him otherwise.

" You're not kidding. Is he okay? What happened?"

William asked.

" he's in the hospital. They're doing their best, but it's messed up William. he's really hurt."

Mark explained to the boy.

" I'm sorry. Did they catch who did it?"

William asked again.

" No, not yet."

Mark stated.

" Well, speaking of someone who's been attacked in this city, you want to talk I'll listen. You and Debbie need a lasagna, I make a good one. Actually, I make a great one."

William explained to Mark. Cementing all the reasons he is Marks best friend.

Mark looked at the teen and smiled as he knew William truly meant what he said. Mark was going to thank William when someone else actually caught his attention.

" Eve Wilkins."

Mark whispered.

" What?"

William asked. He turned his head towards the direction that Mark had been looking and realized who he was talking about.

" Yeah, that's her."

William stated.

" I need to talk to her."

Mark exclaimed.

" Huh! You and all the other straight boys in a ten-mile radius."

William joked. However, Mark ignored the boy and walked over to Eve and her friend.

" Eve."

Mark called out getting the woman's attention.

She looked up at Mark and said goodbye to her friend before turning her attention to Mark fully.

" Hi."

Mark said to the woman.

" Hi! Uhm Mark right?"

Eve asked.

" Yeah, I just wanted to thank you for saving my butt yesterday. I really appreciated it."

Mark explained to the woman.

" Yesterday? Oh. Oh!!!! That was you in the Red and Grey."

Eve said as she realized what Mark was talking about.

" Yeah, that was me alright. Invincibles' the name."

Mark said to the woman.

" Isn't that a little optimistic?"

Eve asked.

" Nah, not really. Not many people can hurt me."

Mark replied with confidence.

" Well, Invincible. I'm Atom Eve. but the rest of the team just calls me eve."

Eve replied in a whisper so no one could hear her.

" Right, because that's a normal name and not outlandish like."

Mark was saying before eve cut him off.

" Invincible?"

Eve joked.

" Do you want to talk about yesterday? You look like you do. Come on let's go."

Eve said to Mark as she led him to the roof of the school.

" All right, how come I've never noticed you before?"

Mark asked the woman.

" No one does Mark. It's a psychology thing. if you don't expect to see a superhero in your school, you don't see a superhero in your school."

Eve explained as the two sat on the ledge of the school's roof.

" Hm, that makes it sound like we're all pretty stupid if you ask me."

Mark joked making Eve laugh a little.

" Well, when you put it that way, I guess the schools full of idiots."

Eve joked back.

" Hey! I just happen to be one of those idiots thank you very much."

Mark replied.

" It's even worse when you realize I follow Teen Team on Instagram."

Mark said as he placed his head into his hands in shame.

" That's us! Everyone's fourth favorite superhero team."

Eve stated sarcastically.

" I like you guys more than fight force."

Mark replied.

" Oh! We're definitely better than Fight Force those guys are the worst! They got their asses kicked by the lizard league last year."

Eve explained as she took a jab at the superhero team.

" Oh man, I saw that on TV!"

Mark exclaimed.

" So, you're new to this right?"

Eve asked.

Mark took a deep breath and sighed once again.

" Yeah, I just got my powers. That was my first big fight."

mark explained.

' Hey, don't be so hard on yourself. You did pretty good for your first fight. Though you could tone the violence back a little. We are supposed to be heroes after all."

Eve explained.

" Ha, those guys deserved it. Besides who said I wanted to be a hero? Maybe I want to be a villain and overthrow the earth?"

Mark explained sarcastically.

" Huh! Yeah, right!"

Eve laughed as she punched Mark in his arm.

" Well, anyway you'll get used to it alright?"

Eve said to the man.

" I hope you're right. It's just more than I expected really. The sign of fear on their faces. It really messes with you."

Mark explained.

" Yeah, it does. But that's what being a hero really is Mark. It's not like what you see on TV or read in a comic. Just don't give up all right. You can do this."

Eve explained to the man as she held his hand.

Mark rubbed his neck and for the first time since the fight, felt a feeling of relief wash over him.

" Heh! Thanks eve."

Mark said to the woman with a smile on his face.

" I charge 250 an hour."

Eve stated as she got to her feet.

Mark looked up at her in shock. Eve laughed when she saw the look of terror on the boy's face.

" Now, I'm kidding! You are new at this."

Eve joked as she patted Mark on his shoulder.

' Oh, thank God. Because even with the job. I still don't make enough to be comfortable spending 250 dollars an hour.'

Mark thought to himself as he rubbed his neck in relief.

" Why don't you come by and meet the team after school?"

Eve offered the young man.

" Teen Team, Ehhh I don't know. I heard they're only everyone's fourth favorite."

Mark teased.

" Ugh! Meet out front after class Invincible."

Eve joked as she jumped off the roof.

Mark laughed and waved goodbye to the woman as she raced off. Mark quickly followed suit and made his way to his last class for the day.

After another hour and a half, the bell rang again and Mark made his way to his locker.

" Hey Mark!"

Amber called out as she approached the young boy.

" Amber! Hey, how are you?"

Mark asked the beautiful blue-eyed woman.

" I'm alright. I was more worried about you. I heard you got into a fight with Todd and a few of his friends the other day. Are you doing alright?"

Amber asked.

" Yeah, I'm just fine. I've been a bit busy with work and some things at home. but other than fine."

Mark explained to the young woman.

" Hey, so are you doing anything today?"

Amber asked.

" Yeah, actually. I'm meeting up with some friends."

Mark replied as he placed his books in his locker.

" Oh, okay."

Amber said a little saddened by his response.

" Hey, don't be upset. You have my number anytime you want to hang out give me a call and I'll make sure I clear my schedule for the day. But look I gotta run. I'll see you later Amber."

Mark said before walking away from the young woman. Leaving her a little hopeful.

" Hey, eve!"

Mark called out to the woman as he exited the building.

" Hey, Mark. Ready?"

Eve asked the young man.

" Let's go."

Mark said enthusiastically.

The two quickly made their way away from the school and took off in their hero suits. Eve in her traditional pink and Mark in his suit without the face mask.

" Try to keep up!"

Eve challenged Mark to try and keep up with her as she flew around the city.

" You're on!"

Mark responded accepting her challenge instantly. Mark watched in amazement as he followed Eve around the city, flying by skyscrapers, and under bridges. Even though he knew she was taken at the time, he still couldn't help but be completely captivated by the woman's beautiful performance. The feeling of his heart beating faster and his face burning spurred Mark on.

" Not bad Invincible! No mask today?"

Eve asked as she settled down with her tricks.

" Well, I don't need it. And I wasn't planning on wearing it all the time anyway."

Mark replied as the two flew through the air.

" I see, well I gotta admit you look cooler without it."

Eve stated.

" Thanks, beautiful!"

Mark replied to Eve Half-joking Half-serious.

" Hmph! Follow me."

Eve responded with a smirk.

Mark nodded and followed the woman all the way to the city's bridge and landed on top of it.

" Okay, what next? Is the floor going to open up or something?"

Mark asked

" Yes, actually."

Eve replied as the roof opened up.

The two began to descend down into the room where the rest of the team was currently enjoying themselves.

" Wow!"

Mark exclaimed as he looked around in amazement.

" Babe!"

Rex called out as he noticed Eve had arrived. He walked up to the gril and the two started making out. Once they were done, Rex turned his attention to Mark.

" Oh, hey it's the Iceman. Couldn't have won that fight without ya."

Rex taunted Mark purposely.

" Rex."

Eve called out to the man to make him stop.

Mark however, simply smiled and walked over to Rex and patted him on the shoulder.

" Hey, it's nice to meet ya. Rex Splode right?"

Mark asked as he applied more force to his patting on the end.

" Argh!"

Rex grunted as he felt his shoulder dislocate.

" Oh Shit! Sorry!"

Mark yelled out as he feigned shame.

" What the hell man?!"

Rex yelled.

" Dude, I'm so sorry. I'm still new to the superstrength. And oh jeez. I dislocated your shoulder."

Mark exclaimed.

" Not cool Mark."

Eve said as she held Rex's hand.

" I'm sorry look. Come here, I can fix it."

Mark said as he gently grabbed Rex's arm.

" You can fix it?"

Rex asked.

" Yeah, when I was younger I took some martial arts classes and I played a lot of sports. Wrestling, Football etc. Hold his hand hard by the way."

Mark was explaining before turning to eve and giving her directions.

" And when you play sports you!"

Mark was explaining before fixing Rex's dislocated shoulder in one swift movement making him jump.

" Argh! Damnit!"

Rex cursed.

" You get used to the dislocated bones. I mean I dislocated my shoulder and after the first time I learned how to set it myself."

Mark finished explaining as he got to his feet.

" Hey, look man seriously. I'm sorry about that. It wasn't intentional. I guess I still don't know my own strength."

Mark lied through his teeth.

" It's cool man. Just be careful from now on."

Rex said before walking over to the chair and sitting while still holding his arm in pain.

" Welcome Invincible! I apologize for Rex splode. He's..."

Robot was saying before Rex cut him off.

" Unbelievably awesome!"

Rex stated boldly.

" Unbelievably incorrigible."

Robot corrected.

" And rude!"

Eve stated.

" And bored of this."

Rex said before going back to his arm.

" I'm Dupli-kate!"

Kate and her two copies said as they approached Mark.

" Nice to meet ya ladies!"

Mark replied as he eyed the three women up and down.

" Hey, robot. Find anything at the site?"

Eve asked.

" The Flaxans come from a dimension with a faster temporal rate. As a result, the tachyons they emit spin more rapidly than our own. I've created this detector to warn us if they return."

Robot explained to the team as he showed off his new device.

" Oh! Because we almost missed the explosions, and the screaming, and the chaos?"

Rex said sarcastically.

" Settle down man."

Mark said to the still sore Teen.

" Thank you invincible. As I was explaining it should give us a few minutes of early warning. Cecil and the GDA have also requested to call on us for any possible emergencies. Since the guardians are apparently indisposed. Invincible may we count on you in the future?"

Robot asked.

" Oh, absolutely!"

Mark exclaimed.

" Besides never gonna get better if I don't do anything."

Mark stated.

" Just text me or something. Here I'll give you all my number."

Mark said as he pulled out his phone. He got the numbers from everyone else and sent them all a message.

" All right, I guess that concludes my free time for the day if anything comes up give me a call. Oh, and robot before I go can I ask your help with something?"

Mark asked the robot.

" Sure, what can I do for you?'

Robot asked as he and Mark walked away from the others.

" Two things, first can you tell me if you learned anything about their language. It'd be nice to have some inkling on what they are saying if they and when they return."

Mark explained to the robot.

" I was able to successfully reverse0engineer their language, so I can help you get the basics. What was the other thing?"

Robot asked again.

" Well, I was wondering if you could create a gravity chamber. Something that could help me train and get a better grip on my powers."

Mark asked.

" A gravity chamber? You mean like a room that alters Gravity within? I suppose I might be able to do that. Though I don't know the materials I would need or how I would get them. The best I can offer you on that end is to try."

Robot explained.

" That's all I'm asking. That's robot! I'll see ya later."

Mark said as he turned to leave the Teen Team's secret headquarters.

' Okay, that gives me some opportunities to train. Now let's go see how mom and dad are doing.'

Mark said as he flew straight for the GDA. Once he was within a few miles he landed and quickly changed back into his regular clothes before continuing on foot.

" Glad I left the skirt home today. Maybe I'll go without from now on."

Mark said to himself as he walked towards the building.

Once inside, Mark made his way down to his father's room and noticed that his mom was gone.

" She's probably getting food right now. And you're still sleeping. I know you probably wouldn't care, since you don't like the whole team thing, but I got to meet the Teen Team today and they all seemed really cool. Well, except for Rex Splode. That guy was an arrogant Dick. But I did dislocate his shoulder, so maybe he'll learn his lesson. And Eve. Man, if you could see Eve. She's just amazing. She's breathtaking! I mean as soon as I laid eyes on her it was if nothing else in the world mattered."

Mark explained to his still unconscious dad unaware that his mother had walked in during his ranting.

' Damn it Dad! Why do things have to be the way they are. I know what you do and I hate it so much. But I love you. I wished things didn't have to be this way. But hey, if things work out as I remember, which these days isn't much, it should all work out in the end right? OR maybe my messing with certain events will only end up getting us all killed. Who knows anymore.'

Mark thought to himself as he pondered the events he could remember and the impact of his changing of certain events could have on those moments.

" Where did you learn to talk like that? Who's Eve?"

Debbie asked as she walked into the room drawing Mark from his stupor.

Mark froze as his face turned bright red.

" Uh... No one. Just a friend."

Mark bumbled over his words as his mother grinned.

" Did you find the frozen dinners I left?"

Debbie asked.

" Yeah... Mom. Thanks."

Mark said to the woman with a smile on his face.

" Oh, Mark I'm sorry. I've been so distracted with your father I forgot about you."

Debbie said as she hugged Mark.

" Are you okay? Donald said you saved a lot of lives."

Debbie asked.

" Yeah, it's just dad never talked much about this part of being a superhero."

Mark replied.

" Your father is good at many things. Talking about his feeling isn't one of them."

Debbie explained to Mark.

" But we can talk. Always."

Debbie said as she kissed her son.

Mark smiled and kissed his mom back.

" Thanks mom. I love you. More than you know."

Mark said as he hugged his mother.

" I love you too son. Now, go on home. You need to sleep before school tomorrow."

Debbie said as she gestured for her son to leave.

Mark smiled and kissed the woman one last time before getting up from his seat and leaving the hospital and heading home for the night.

The next day was the same as any other for Mark he got up early and took a shower before going to school.

' School's almost over, thank God!'

Mark thought to himself as he sat in Calculus class.

* BRRRRRING!

The bell alerted the students to the end of the class period.

' Oh, thank God It's time for lunch!'

Mark groaned as he got to his feet. He grabbed his books and bolted out of the class towards the cafeteria.

" Hey Eve!"

Mark called out to the woman as he walked into the cafeteria.

" Oh, hey Mark wanna sit with us?"

Eve asked Mark to join her and her school friends.

" Yeah, come on big stud Mark."

One of Eve's friends said as she eyed Mark up and down.

" Joyce knock it off."

Eve said to the young blonde.

" Sorry, ladies. I'm eating with William today. But I'll see you later Eve."

Mark said before walking over to his friend's table.

" Hey man, why didn't you tell me you and Eve Wilkins were dating?"

William asked as Mark sat down.

' Who the hell starts a conversation like that? I just sat down.'

Mark thought to himself.

" We're just friends."

Mark replied.

" Look you don't have to lie to me okay Mark?"

William replied not believing the boy.

" William, we're just friends."

Mark replied again.

" Will you stop saying that. It's like you're trying to jinx any chance you have at dating Eve."

William stated as he held a meatball up to Mark's face.

" A day ago, you said I had no chance!"

Mark shot back.

" That was before everyone saw you leave school with her yesterday."

William replied with a sneaky grin on his face.

Mark looked at the boy completely stunned for a solid second before leaning back in.

" Everyone saw that?"

Mark asked and William nodded before stuffing the meatball into his mouth.

" Ugh! Whatever. It doesn't really matter she has a boyfriend. I can't do anything until they break up if they do that is."

Mark replied.

" So? You can be more awesome than him and take his place. That's how dating works. Why are you intimidated by her? I mean look at you dude, you're jacked. You're funny. You're nice. You're the complete package. Just go for it man."

William was explaining to Mark.

However, while he was talking Eve gave Mark a look and nodded for him to follow her.

" I see, thanks for that William. I gotta go."

Mark said as he got up to follow Eve.

" Go? Go where?"

William asked as he reached out for Mark.

" To follow that advice."

Mark said as he smiled at his friend. He tapped him on the shoulder before leaving the cafeteria.

" Oh! Well, good luck then."

William said before going back to his food.

" Eve what's going on?"

Mark asked as he ran to catch up with the girl.

" Robot says the Flaxans are coming again."

Eve replied.

" All I needed to hear. Let's go."

Mark said as he picked the girl up and took off towards the sight of the Flaxans incursion The two landed on the roof and quickly changed into their hero outfits before joining the rest of the team inside.

" Uhm where are you guys coming from?"

Rex asked as the Eve and Mark joined the rest of the team on the building

" We go to the same high school Rex."

Mark replied.

" Oh, you do, do you?"

Rex asked.

" Yeah, we do."

Eve answered.

" Must be nice. You know who never got to go to high school? Me."

Rex said as he pointed towards himself.

" We know. It shows Rex. You're not exactly the brightest bulb in the pack, are you?"

Mark asked as he taunted the man.

" Hey!"

Rex yelled.

" I'd appreciate everyone's attention at the matter at hand."

Robot said as he looked at the returning Flaxans

" Look who's back."

Kate said as the Flaxan leader walked through the portal.

" They aren't getting old robot. Why aren't they getting old?"

Rex asked in a panic.

" It seems they have discovered a way to resist our time stream."

Robot explained.

" In three days?!"

Rex asked in disbelief.

" Three days for us. Decades for them."

Robot explained.

" So, what? I bet their bones still break."

Kate exclaimed as she jumped into the Team's vehicle.

" So, do ours."

Rex stated as he joined her.

" You ready for this?"

Eve asked Mark.

" Yeah, thanks to you."

Mark said to the woman with a smile. Mark and Eve jumped off the roof to join the rest of the team.

' Okay, here goes nothing!'

Mark thought to himself as he rushed towards the Flaxans, He slammed his fist down into the ground knocking a bunch of them into the air, before punching them away with enough force to kill them.

While Marl seemed to be doing a better job at facing the Flaxans the rest of the team were struggling. The Flaxans had created multiple devices specifically to deal with the members of the Teen Teams powers.

Rex was dodging incoming projectiles while throwing his exploding discs at the Flaxans. However, two of the ran forward and used a device to return his explosives back towards him.

" Oh, don't do that!"

Rex yelled as his Explosives landed near him barely missing.

Mark grabbed one of the Flaxans by his wrist and crushed the watch. Mark watched as the Flaxan rapidly aged.

" Everyone! Destroy the wristbands. it's what is keeping them from aging!"

Mark yelled to the group.

The group all turned and started destroying the watches.

" Brax Moy!"

The leader yelled as he fired on Eve and the others with a spherical device. The others seemed to have dodged it but Eve was caught by one. The device circled around her head and kept Eve from breathing.

" Eve!"

Mark yelled as he punched away another one of the Flaxans.

The leader seeing Mark's reaction smiled as he walked towards the girl.

" No!"

Mark yelled out as he rushed to save Eve. Mark tackled the man in anger.

" YOU DON'T GET TO TOUCH HER!"

Mark yelled as he pulled the man's arms off with ease. He then turned and raced towards eve and ripped the device off of her face, allowing her to breathe.

" Are you okay?"

Mark asked Eve as he helped her get to her feet.

" Yeah, thanks Invincible."

Eve replied.

" Uh guys, they're running away again!"

Rex yelled to the two. Mark turned to see the group of invaders leaving once again.

" Right back at ya buddy."

Rex said to the fleeing Flaxans before blowing a Razzberry at them.

" Way to go psycho Invincible. I take back everything I ever said about ya. And I said a lot."

Rex said to the man as Eve glared at him.

" I just got angry. I saw Eve in danger and I snapped."

Mark explained.

" Don't get me wrong that was amazing. But also, the scariest thing I've ever seen. Just don't ever point that at me okay."

Rex explained to the man as he held his hands in up in peace.

" Don't listen to Rex, you did great!"

Eve said to Mark.

" That's what I said, Eve. Ugh! my back."

Rex said before complaining about his back.

*Brring!

Suddenly Mark's phone went off as his mother called him. He answered the phone and talked with his mother before hanging up and turning back to the Team.

" Everything okay?"

Eve asked as she walked up to Mark.

" I gotta go!"

Mark said to the girl before taking off.

' He's finally awake. What is he gonna say when he sees the outfit?'

Mark asked himself.

" I hope he doesn't snap and order me to change. Because it isn't going to happen."

Mark said to himself as he flew towards the GDA. He quickly rushed into the building and into his father's room.

" Mark!"

Debbie called out as she turned her attention to the newly arrived boy.

" Hey son, look at you! Is that your suit? It looks good on you!"

Nolan exclaimed with pride.

" I'm glad you like it, I took the inspiration from yours dad."

Mark exclaimed as he gave Nolan a hug.

" Ugh! And you've gotten a bit stronger kiddo."

Nolan exclaimed as he Mark hugged him.

" I'm glad you're okay."

Mark said to his father as he was genuinely happy to see the man awake.

" No, he's not. But he is okay enough to come home."

Debbie explained to Mark as she smiled at Nolan.

" Mom says you've been keeping the planet safe for me."

Nolan said to Mark.

" Mom's exaggerating."

Mark replied.

" Tell me everything."

Nolan asked his son.

After a few hours Mark had gone over most of what had happened in the last three days, choosing to leave out certain bits of information as to not spook his mother. Once they finished Mark and his family left the GDA hospital. But not before Nolan made sure to get his Costume from them.

" Where's my costume? I want it back. It's private property and I want it. Go get it now."

Nolan practically demanded the nurse to go get his suit.

Mark and Debbie both watched his display and looked at him with faces of confusion and disbelief.

' I hate what you're becoming dad.'

Mark thought to himself as looked on his father in sadness.

The nurse quickly returned with a bag containing the bloody suit and handed it over to Nolan.

" All right, now we can go now."

Nolan said as he walked out of the hospital with Mark and Debbie right behind him.

The family was driven home, and Mark retired to his room where he relaxed before bed. Mar's phone started buzzing as a text message came through. When he went to check it, he saw that it had come from eve.

" Hey, Mark. Everything okay?"

Eve asked as she texted Mark.

" Yeah, everything's all good. My father just got released from the hospital. Sorry, about leaving you guys with the clean-up."

Mark replied back.

" No problem. I'm glad your dad is alright. And thanks again for saving me today Mark. Seriously thank you."

Eve replied back a few seconds later.

" No problem, Eve. I couldn't sit back and watch you get hurt."

Mark responded.

" Thank you. Good night, Mark."

Eve replied with her final Message for the night.

" Good night Eve."

Mark replied before slipping out of his suit and into his bed.