Beyond Invincible

As Nolan explored the unfamiliar strength in his body, his gaze fell upon the surroundings of the hospital room. It was then that he noticed the reflection in the polished surface of a nearby metal tray—his own face, yet not entirely his. The chiseled jawline, the piercing blue eyes, and the iconic mustache all belonged to none other than Omni-Man, the superhero he had seen on television and read about in comics.

A shockwave of realization hit him. Nolan Grayson, or rather, the man whose consciousness now occupied Nolan's powerful frame, wasn't from this world. Memories from the Invincible series flooded his mind, each scene and battle playing out as if he had lived them.

Panic gripped him for a few seconds before excitement came. It wasn't any day that one suddenly became the strongest man on earth. He wasn't just an observer; he was now Omni-Man. He knew of the dangers ahead, but so what? He also knew ways to squash them.

The hospital room's door creaked open, revealing a nurse entering with a clipboard. "Mr. Grayson, you're awake," she said, seemingly oblivious to the internal turmoil Nolan was experiencing. "How are you feeling?"

Nolan, or rather, the man inside Nolan's body, nodded slowly, choosing his words carefully. "I... I'm fine. Just a bit disoriented. Can you tell me how I got here?"

The nurse hesitated for a moment before explaining that he had been found unconscious in the aftermath of a devastating event involving the original Nolan Grayson and the Guardians of the Globe. Unaware of the tragic turn of events that had unfolded.

'Well, there goes that option out the window.' Ideally, he hoped that hadn't happened yet. The guardians of the globe could have given him another sword to point against the Viltrum empire. At least they would self-destruct, thanks to a certain idiot if pushed in the right direction. then, there is the coalition of planets.

Before something else could be said, Debbie, who had apparently been waiting just outside, rushed in. "Nolan!" she sounded relieved as she hugged him.

Nolan awkwardly reciprocated the embrace, acutely aware of the emotional dissonance within him. He held Debbie at arm's length, searching her eyes for any sign of suspicion. She seemed genuinely relieved, her concern overshadowing any doubts.

"You had us all worried there," Debbie said, a mixture of relief and concern in her eyes. "Mark was here earlier, but he had to attend to something with the Guardians. He'll be back soon."

Ah, the new bargain discount gurdians. Lacking anything better at the moment, those will do. That's being generous; those kids aren't all that strong at the moment.

Nolan nodded, masking his internal conflict behind a reassuring smile. "I... I just need some time to process everything," he said, choosing his words carefully. "The nurse explained what happened, but it's a lot to take in."

Debbie nodded understandingly, her expression softening. "Of course, Nolan. Take all the time you need. We're just glad you're okay."

It was at that moment that Nolan hesitated. 'Should I come clean and say it? that's stupid, I have no valid reason to explain why "I" killed the guardians of the globe. feign ignorance, and say I have amnesia? Although that could work, it would diminish the weight my words would carry... Leave it alone; for now, it is.' 

"How is Mark doing?" A little pushy and straight forward, but that'll do—something the real Nolan would do.

Nolan met Debbie's gaze, the weight of his secret threatening to crush him. "I don't have all the answers yet, Debbie. But I promise you, I'll find out who's responsible for this. I owe it to the Guardians, and I owe it to our family."

Debbie nodded, her fear mingling with determination. "We'll face this together, Nolan. Just like we always have."

It was at that moment that Mark barged in. "Dad!" and pulled him into a crushing hug.

Nolan winced slightly at the intensity of Mark's embrace, but he reciprocated, realizing that this was a moment for them to lean on each other. "Hey, Mark," he said, trying to sound more confident than he was feeling. "Your mom told me you have been busy keeping the world safe while I was taking a nap."

Mark released his grip, stepping back to look at his father with a mix of relief and concern. "Yeah, it's been... different. I never expected to see you like that, Dad. What happened? Who did this to you?"

Nolan sighed, choosing his words carefully. "It's a long story, Mark. I'm still piecing it together myself. But I'm here now, and we're going to make things right. I promise."

Debbie watched the exchange, her worry etched on her face. "Nolan, you have to tell us what's going on. We can't help you if we don't know the truth."

Nolan hesitated; this wasn't the time to be talking about that. "I will, Debbie. I just need some time to figure it all out. There are things I need to understand before I can explain."

After that, it was just waiting for the nurse to give the go-ahead. He spent the time contemplating the complexities of his situation and strategizing his next moves. The nurse, aware of his restlessness, entered the room with a smile. It wasn't like it was weeks or anything, but every second counted.

"Mr. Grayson, you're recovering quite well. The doctor will be in shortly to discuss your release. Is there anything you need?"

Nolan, ever the strategist, seized the opportunity. "Yes, there is. I need my suit. The one I was wearing when I... when all of this happened. It's crucial that I retrieve it."

The nurse hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "Mr. Grayson, I understand it might have sentimental value, but it's in no condition for you to wear. Besides, it's evidence in an ongoing investigation."

Nolan's eyes narrowed, a hint of Omni-Man's authority creeping into his gaze. "I appreciate your concern, but that suit is more than sentimental. It's a part of who I am, and I need it. Now."

The nurse, taken aback by the sudden assertiveness, nodded hesitantly. "I'll see what I can do." After fumbling around, she retrieved his suit and gave it to him.

As the nurse exited the room, Nolan examined the suit with a mix of conflicting emotions. Just looking at it reminded him of the events that had transpired, and the weight of the blood-stained fabric in his hands only deepened the internal turmoil.

His mind raced with questions and uncertainties. How could he navigate this new reality without exposing the secrets that lay beneath Omni-Man's heroic exterior?

Nolan couldn't shake the gravity of his actions. He knew that disposing of the suit was a necessary step to conceal the truth, but the guilt lingered. The weight of the Guardians' blood on his hands, both metaphorically and literally, pressed on his conscience. He didn't do it; he would never do that, but he did do it. It would have been better if Nolan's memories had overwhelmed his conscience, not whatever this was.

Debbie threw him glances all the way home. She couldn't understand why he would decide to take a walk instead of flying like he always did to any destination and even sometimes at home. "Are you sure you are feeling alright?"

Nolan glanced at Debbie, mustering a reassuring smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just felt like a change of pace, you know? It's been a while since we took a walk." He decided not to tell her about wanting to avoid painting the ground with her blood in case he made a mistake during the fly. Mark did something similar to an old lady, and he wasn't going to take any chances.

Debbie's concern persisted, etched on her face. "Nolan, you've been acting... different since you woke up. Is everything really okay?"

Nolan sighed inwardly, recognizing the sincerity of Debbie's concern. He couldn't blame her for sensing that something was amiss; after all, if something really was wrong, it was him. How could he explain the turmoil within him without revealing the truth?

"I appreciate your concern, Debbie," he began, choosing his words carefully. "It's just... everything that happened with the Guardians, and waking up in that hospital room, it's a lot to process. I'm still trying to make sense of it all."

Debbie couldn't help but smile, relieved. Nolan's concerned face was as sincere as they could get. In her mind, he couldn't have done it. She felt guilty about suspecting her husband, even if it was for a moment after watching him act differently, as if he were being controlled.

Debbie reached for Nolan's hand, intertwining her fingers with his. "How about we just go home and... rest for a while? Hm?" They locked their gazes with each other. "What you need now is not to think about it."

Nolan squeezed Debbie's hand gently, appreciating her understanding. "You're right. Let's go home." He couldn't help but feel a mixture of gratitude and guilt. Gratitude for the support he found in Debbie and guilt for the secrets he harbored that could shatter the fragile peace they were trying to rebuild—all of this was built on a card house that could collapse at any moment.

Upon reaching home, Debbie led Nolan to the living room. "Just relax, Nolan. We'll get through this together." She gave him a comforting smile, and for a moment, Nolan allowed himself to believe that everything would be okay.

As Nolan settled into the familiar surroundings of his home, a sense of normalcy washed over him. Debbie's comforting presence and Mark's genuine concern provided a temporary reprieve from the complexities that awaited outside their front door. For a moment, he allowed himself to believe in the illusion of stability, savoring the warmth of the family he had inadvertently become a part of.

This is the strongest weapon against the Viltrum empire. As corny and stupid as it sounds, give a Viltrumite enough time to fall in love, and they will stop being psychopaths.

As he sat on the couch, contemplating the delicate balance he needed to maintain, he couldn't help but agree with the sentiment the more he thought about it. Love, connection, and a sense of belonging—these were the elements that could potentially reshape the rigid mindset of a Viltrumite. It was a dangerous gamble, but Nolan couldn't deny the transformative power of human emotions.

Even the most war-seasoned Viltrumite became a loving parent capable of giving love. Nolan pondered this revelation, recognizing the potential it held. He looked around at the photographs of family moments adorning the walls and let a small smile on his face.

He stopped thinking about it when Debbie offered him a slice of pizza. "Really? You weren't kidding when you suggested to just relax."

Debbie chuckled, relieved to see Nolan seemingly embracing the momentary peace. "Pizza has a way of making everything a bit better, doesn't it?" She handed him a slice, and they settled into a comfortable silence.

As Nolan bit into the pizza, he couldn't help but appreciate the ordinary moments that had become extraordinary in the wake of recent events. The taste of an always trusty slice of pizza, the warmth of a family, and the mundane joy of a quiet evening at home—all these elements formed a sanctuary, shielding them from the storm that raged outside.

Mark entered the room, sensing a shift in the atmosphere. "Hey, Dad, everything okay?"

Nolan nodded, giving Mark a reassuring smile. "Yeah, Mark, we're okay. Just taking it one step at a time." He motioned for Mark to join them, and together, the three of them shared a simple meal.

In the quiet moments that followed, Nolan couldn't shake the realization that this, too, was a battle. a battle against his own nature, against the secrets he harbored, and against the weight of a legacy that threatened to consume them all. As he observed the genuine smiles on Debbie and Mark's faces, he found himself grappling with a newfound determination to protect the fragile peace he had found.

'Was this Omni-Man's true feelings?' Nolan mused internally. 'Did he always want to just indulge himself with his family and spend his days with them?'

Nolan couldn't deny the authenticity of the emotions he now experienced. The genuine smiles on Debbie and Mark's faces, the simple joy of sharing a meal, and the comfort of being surrounded by loved ones—it all felt too real to be a mere act.

'I wish I had the chance of finishing the comics before coming here.' Perhaps, beneath the veneer of Omni-Man, there was a yearning for a life free from the shackles of the Viltrum empire and the endless weight of conquest and duty.