User visit: Mark Grayson

[a1enzo]

"Okay," says Enzo, leading Mark into the digimat room, "just stand over there in the target area so I can shoot you with this laser."

Comments

[1nv1nc1ble]

"You know," says Invincible, grinning. "That sounds like something a very polite supervillain might say." He gives the digimat a once-over, adding, "Looks like something I saw in a movie once...." before standing on the clearly marked target.

"You may fire when ready, Mr. Matrix."

[a1enzo]

"You probably did," Enzo agrees. "Once you're digitized, you're gonna be in here," he notes, patting the computer bank. "Press the button to output. Ready... set..."

pchooooo

[1nv1nc1ble]

The digitization happens like it always does, the grid of blue tracers breaking down Invincible and storing him in the computer. (Though he did get caught with an odd expression on his face.) And a minute later, he rematerializes on the target, fully digitized.

"I feel a little odd," Invincible says.

[a1enzo]

"You look a little... um... different."

He's seen humans digitize as binomes, or end up with rivets. This, though, is new.

[1nv1nc1ble]

It's hard to tell what expression Mark might have had on his face, but his voice (sounding a bit like an autotuned version of his normal voice) takes a partially jesting, partially worried tone, and he asks, "What? Was there a fly in the digitizer or something?"

(Hey, he's a fan of horror movies alright. It's a classic!)

[a1enzo]

"No, no, it doesn't work like that. However you turn out, it's all you. It just... doesn't always come out how you'd expect."

[1nv1nc1ble]

Mark looks down at himself. "Well, I like the suit...." He reaches up to touch his face, and his hands freeze in position.

"Oh. I see what you mean."

[a1enzo]

"Is that okay? Do you, um, want a mirror? There's one over there..."

[1nv1nc1ble]

Mark turns and faces the full-length mirror that some helpful (or possibly sadistic) soul has left in the corner of the digimat room. He stares at the reflection for a few minutes, turning his head one way and then another to get a complete look.

"From this side, it feel completely normal," he says eventually. "I guess that means this is normal. Weird, but normal."

[a1enzo]

Short Bus begins its concert in the usual fashion, playing a couple verses of the opening number. Then they drop the volume and switch to a minor key, while Hugh steadies the lights into a spot on Value.

"Ladies and gentlemen. What you are about to see will shock and disturb you. The alarm of earlier this evening was a mere taste of the horror to follow. Any of you with weak processors may wish to leave now."

Pause for laughter. All but the newest cadets know the routine by now, and the newbies can pick it up from the others' reactions.

"Steel yourselves, folks! Userspace's answer to a Webcreature! The lack of tentacles is only to lull you into a false sense of security! The deadly, the terrifying, the invincible... Mark Grayson!"

[1nv1nc1ble]

Mark could have walked in from the wings, but that wouldn't do justice to such an introduction. Invincible floats down from the rafters above the stage, arms crossed and looking as formidable as can. He stops about two or three feet above the stage, hovering effortlessly, and drifts out over the audience, giving them a closer look at him. A circuit out over the crowd, and he circles back and lands next to Value.

As he drops to the stage, his attitude drops into a more relaxed stance. He lifts a hand in greeting. "Hi, guys."

[a1enzo]

He gets a cheer from the crowd. They know the score. If he were any real threat, the band—two of whom are graduates—would be taking care of business, not showing him off.

The band conclude the song while he's doing his flyover. Enzo takes the mike. "Mark is a superhero, code-name Invincible. He's half human, half alien, which is why... all that. Mark, you want to tell them a little about yourself to start things off?"

[1nv1nc1ble]

"Sure," says Mark. "As Enzo said, I'm half-alien. My father is from the planet Viltrum which is on the other side of the galaxy from Earth. His people are very advanced, so they go to other worlds with intelligent life, and help those peoples develop. In Dad's case, he came to Earth and decided to protect people from other aliens, monsters, and criminals."

"Viltrumites are much stronger and tougher than humans, and they... well, we... can fly. Dad met Mom after he started helping people, and I inherited his powers about five months ago. So, since Dad wears a uniform, I got myself one and started practicing the family business."

[a1enzo]

"So Viltrumites are sort of like Guardians?" calls a voice from the crowd. "But for planets."

[1nv1nc1ble]

"Well...," Mark looks to Enzo for confirmation. "That sounds about right. Viltrum has an organization called the World Betterment Committee. They survey worlds and decide how to help other planets. Dad told me that they often monitor a world for a period before sending someone to make contact, so there's a research side of it as well as protection. Most of the Viltrumites that work for the Committee do that; only the top agents are sent to interact with a planet's people."

[a1enzo]

Enzo waves a hand ambivalently. "Partly like Guardians. We mostly just do the protecting stuff. We'll help systems new to the Net get set up, too, but mostly by inspecting their ports and advising them on safety procedures."

[1nv1nc1ble]

Mark nods. "So, similar definitely. Mind you, there's plenty of heroes on my Earth, who do what Dad and I do. Some are more focused on certain areas, like Officer Dragon, who only works in the Chicago area, and others protect a broader area, like the Guardians of the Globe, who work with a number of countries to protect them all. Dad helps protect all over the world, since he can fly very fast and get where there are threats quickly."

[a1enzo]

"So! Big system to choose from. Where do you want to go?"

[1nv1nc1ble]

Mark considers the question. "Well, a general tour of the system would be cool, but I was wondering... do you have a comic book shop around here?"

[a1enzo]

"Course! But it's comic bytes. Better watch the wording when you're out there."

[1nv1nc1ble]

"Of course. Comic bytes," Mark says in a tone that says he finds the term amusing. "Lead the way."

[a1enzo]

"It's not far." (Near the Academy, or indeed a school of any kind, is a good location for a comic shop.) "You want to walk or fly?"

[1nv1nc1ble]

"You fly?" asks Mark. He's seen a few folks in or on flying vehicles in a variety of shapes, but he's never seen Enzo riding one around Milliways.

[a1enzo]

"Sure. I don't drive yet, but I've got a top-of-the-line surfbaud."

[1nv1nc1ble]

Mark parses the word (if he had his normal face, Enzo would see him mouthing the word "surfbaud"), and then shrugs to himself. "Cool. Let's fly." He lifts off the ground and hovers, waiting for Enzo to mount up. "This is the very best part of being a superhero," he asserts.