ISSUE #9

" Mark, get up. It's time honey."

Debbie called out through Marks door unaware the boy was already up.

Mark walked over to his door and opened it up revealing to his mom he was already up and ready.

" Already ready mom."

Marl said as he hugged his mother.

" All right let's go. Your father is going to meet us there. He's going to be the one to give the guardians eulogy."

Debbie said as she kissed her son on his cheek.

The two grabbed the rest of their belongings and got in the car prepared for them by the GDA. The drive was relative short, but the quiet tension made the ride feel longer. Mark could sense the unease from the agents and his mother. She had been feeling weird recently and Mark knew why.

' Ugh! I hate funerals so much.'

Mark thought to himself as he looked out the car windows.

" Everything all right mom?"

Mark eventually spoke up and asked.

" Hm? Oh, yeah sweetie just thinking about... Well, your dad. He's been acting strange lately and I don't know why."

Debbie explained sadly.

Mark pulled his mother close and kissed her softly on her head.

" I'm sure he's just taking this hard. They were friends and Dad is from a different planet. Maybe this is just how they grieve. I'm sure everything will work out in the end. Let's just give it time."

Mark explained to his mom.

Debbie smiled and kissed mark back before resting her head on his shoulder.

' Sorry mom.'

Mark thought sadly.

The rest of the ride went along with much les tension and eventually the family arrived at their destination.

" Looks like we made it in time, it seems it's about to start."

Mark said as he looked up at his father and two jets passing over head.

" Come on let's take our seats."

Debbie said as she guided Mark to their chairs.

The two sat down together as Omniman started giving his eulogy.

' Such beautiful words from a snake. But what was I expecting, I knew it was going to happen and I did nothing to stop it. I couldn't. It would change too much. I couldn't risk that.'

Mark thought to himself as he listened to his fathers speech.

Once Omniman was finished he flew off into the sky.

Mark took a deep breath and sighed before getting up from his seat.

" That was beautiful. Right Mark?"

Debbie asked as she got up with the boy. However, she noticed Mark did not share the same attitude towards the situation and asked him what was wrong.

" What's wrong son?"

Debbie asked in concern.

" Nothing, just... Never been too good with funerals."

Mark replied.

" I'm sorry son. We can go home if you want."

Debbie explained to Mark.

Mark turned to the woman and smiled before giving her a hug.

" No, it's alright. Come on, let's go."

Mark said to his mother. The two turned to walk back to their cars to go to the actual burial site. But were greeted by a friend of Marks along the way.

" Hey, Mark."

Eve called out to the boy as he and his mom were walking towards the car. Mark turned and smiled at the woman before greeting her.

" Hey, Eve. You holding up all right?"

Mark asked as the woman walked over to him and his mom.

" Yeah, I'm alright."

Eve replied.

" I'm going to car son, don't take too long."

Debbie winked at Mark before walking away.

" So, where is the rest of the team? Did they not come?"

Mark asked in confusion.

" I know robot is around somewhere, but Rex and Kate said they weren't coming."

Eve replied as the two walked towards the front entrance to the burial site.

" I see, well it's whatever. Are you going to next site?"

Mark asked.

" Yeah, I am. I figured I'd show my respect to the world's greatest heroes."

Eve explained.

" Wanna come with us then? Me and my mom are about to head over there now."

Mark said to the woman offering her a ride over.

" Sure, why not."

Eve replied.

Mark led eve back to the vehicle where he was greeted by the agents and his mother.

" Mark, who's your friend?"

Debbie asked as the two teenagers got in the car.

" Oh, mom this is Eve."

Mark replied as he introduced the young woman.

" Hi Mrs. Grayson, I'm Eve one of Marks friends."

Eve said as she extended her hand for Debbie to shake.

" It's nice to meet you, Eve. How do you and Mark know each other?"

Debbie asked as she shook the girl's hand.

" We go to school together. And I'm also a superhero."

Eve explained.

" Oh, really?"

Debbie asked.

" Yeah, I'm Atom Eve."

Eve stated.

" Really! And no one's ever noticed you in school?"

Debbie asked in disbelief.

" Yeah, I felt the same way mom. I believe I said we were all pretty stupid for not noticing before then."

Mark joked making his mother and Eve both laugh.

" You make it sound like I'm and idiot too Mark."

Debbie joked back.

" Whaaaaat? Nooooo."

Mark replied as he held his hands up in surrender.

" MARKUS!"

Debbie slapped her sons leg in disbelief making Eve laugh at the antics of the mother and son duo.

" Hahahahaha!"

Mark joined Eve in laughter. Not too long after Debbie does the same.

' This... This feels nice.'

Mark thought to himself as he watched his mom and Eve talking.

Soon the trio arrived at the true burial site for the guardians of the globe to send them off in peace.

" This is a lot less people than I thought would be here."

Mark said as he looked around at the handful of people that had arrived at the burial site.

" They only told the people close to the guardians intimately about this. Souvenir hunters and all."

Eve explained to Mark as they arrived with the rest of the people.

" Damn."

Mark simply replied.

' I sometimes forget through all the good things that come with this planet all the very shitty and horrible things that come as well.'

Mark thought to himself.

" This is fucked Eve."

Mark said to the woman sadly.

" Yeah, well this comes with the territory Mark. It's not all sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes the bad guys do win. And when they do they really leave a mark."

Eve explained to the young boy.

" I was never part of the guardians."

Nolan said drawing everyone's attention.

" But the guardians were the one who welcomed me when I came to this planet. They were my mentors. My comrades. My friends. They knew the reality of this life. Martian Man was exiled from his own people. War woman was from a different age. Darkwing... Well, Darkwing made his own kind of solitude. It was a rare lucky few of us who found someone who understood our path. Even rarer if they accepted it. I hope they will rest in peace but at least they will rest together."

Nolan gave another brief eulogy for the guardians and their loved ones before burying the superhero team together.

Olga, red rushes lover, had an extreme breakdown during his burial and collapsed at his gravesite.

Mark watched on in pity for the woman's loss as he knew just how amazing red rush was at being a hero.

" I think it's time for us to go mom."

Mark said to his mom. He then turned and placed his hand on eve's shoulder before saying goodbye to her. Mark and his mom started walking to the car before Mark noticed his breath was visible.

' Darkblood.'

Mark thought to himself. He and his mother turned to see Nolan was talking with the demon detective.

" Come on Mom, let's go. Dad can handle the demon detective."

Mark said as he opened the door for his mother and Olga.

' Where did she come from? I didn't even see her walking with us.'

Mark thought to himself as the two women got in the car. Mark took one last look at Eve before getting in the vehicle himself. The drive back home was even more awkward as Debbie comforted the grieving Olga.

" Hey, mom. I'm going to give William a call. You need anything?"

Mark asked as he and his mom walked through the door of their house.

" No, I'm okay Mark you go ahead."

Debbie replied as she took her coat off.

Mark hugged and kissed his mother before going upstairs. and collapsing onto his bed. He grabbed his cellphone and dialed Williams number.

" Yo, where were you today man?"

William asked as he answered the phone.

" Guardians funeral."

Mark replied.

" Oh yeah, I forgot your dad's omniman. How did it go? You doing alright?"

William asked.

" Yeah, man. I'm doing fine and the funeral was just about as bleak as you'd think. Red Rushes girlfriend had a meltdown man. And I just felt bad for her."

Mark explained to the boy.

" You need anything man?"

William asked.

" No. I figured I'd fill you in on things. You're the only person I trust I can talk to about these things."

Mark replied.

" Alright man. Oh, hey I almost forgot, you gotta come to school next week man. Todd and his goons had a field day on amber."

William suddenly exclaimed.

Mark jumped out of his bed and flipped out.

" WHAT?!"

Mark yelled in anger.

" Yeah, man it was pretty bad. Apparently, they were badmouthing you pretty badly and she stuck up for you. Guess they didn't like it."

William explained.

" Thanks for telling me William. I gotta go man I'll call you later."

Mark said to the boy before hanging up his phone.

' That son of a bitch.'

Mark thought in anger.

" I'm going to kick their fucking teeth in."

Mark growled in anger.

Mark took a deep breath and gently let it out to calm his nerves.

' Okay, I need to do some checking up on my resources.'

Mark thought to himself before dialing Art's number. After a few rings Art picked up the phone.

" Hey, Art."

Mark greeted the man.

" Hey kid, calling about that device?"

Art asked.

" Yeah, is it ready?"

Mark asked hoping for something good today.

" Yeah, it's ready kid. But I figured with the funeral today you'd probably want to be given some time."

Art explained to the boy.

" No, actually I needed it now Art. Is it cool if I swing by and pick it up?"

Mark asked the man.

" Sure, come on by kid."

Art replied .

" Thanks, I'll be right there."

Mark said before hanging up.

Mark grabbed his suit and rushed out of his room and hurried towards Art's tailor shop. Once he touched down Art opened the doors for him and invited him in.

" Good to see ya kid. Here ya go."

Art said as he gave Mark a large box which left the boy confused.

" Uh What's this?"

Mark asked as he shook the box.

" Oh, I figured I'd make you a few more suits since you destroyed one. That way you'll have more than one backup in case of emergencies."

Art explained to the boy.

" Thanks Art I appreciate it. What about the device?"

Mark asked.

" It's in there kid. All you got to do is put it in your ear and it'll filter out any abnormally loud or sharp sounds."

Art explained to Mark how the device worked.

" Thanks Art you have no idea how much this is going to help me out in the future."

Mark exclaimed as he shook the man's hand

" No problem. For you kid, anything."

Art replied as he shook Marks hand.

" Alright! I'll see you later Art."

Mark said to the man before running out of his shop in a hurry.

' Now, my one major weakness is taken care of for now. But I'm going to need more than one small device to eliminate the problem completely. Maybe I can get robot to build something for me before I have to kill him.'

Mark thought to himself as he flew home, the sun setting just behind him really accented the red on his suit. He landed on the balcony of his house and entered his room through the window and much to his shock Eve was there on his bed crying.

" EVE? What are you doing here? Are you okay?"

Mark asked the crying girl.

' I thought we were following the show? What the hell?'

Mark thought to himself.

" Oh, Mark it was horrible! It was Rex... With Kate... And there was more than one of her!"

Eve cried out as she explained to Mark how Rex had cheated on her.

Mark quickly locked his door and placed his dresser in front of the door to keep anyone from walking in.

" Whoa! Slow down. Eve what happened?"

Mark asked as he sat down next to the crying girl.

" He was cheating on me! WITH THAT MULTI-SLUT!"

Eve exclaimed as she collapsed into Mark's lap, resting her head on his lap as she cried. Mark reached down and gently rubbed the girl's head.

" I went back to base after the funeral to see if he wanted to do anything before, I went home. He was there wit Kate in the shower all three of her."

Eve explained.

' I want this. I really do. But... I have a choice to make right now. I can do what I want... Or I can do the right thing here.'

" I'm sorry Eve. I knew he was always a dick. But I didn't think he'd hurt you like this. You deserve better. Come here."

Mark said as he lifted the crying girl into his bed.

" I like you, Eve. I like you a lot. But we can't do this not right now. I care about and respect you too much to take advantage of you."

Mark explained to Eve as he held her in his arms.

She looked up at the young man and smiled as Mark wiped the tears from her eyes. He leaned down and gently placed a kiss on the top of her head and laid back into the bed.

" Rest. You're safe now. I won't let him or anyone else hurt you again."

Mark said to the woman.

Eve smiled and held onto the man as tight as she could before both ended up falling asleep in each others arms.