005 [VIDEO]

[shorttempered]

[The video clicks on and the image of Mark comes on the screen. He’s visibly nervous, and you can just barely see he’s wringing his hands as he talks. It’s clear he doesn't want to say what he’s saying, but he’s just as determined to get through it.]

Um, hi. I know the network’s not super reliable right now, and that it’s not secure and all of that, but with everything that’s happened the last few weeks, I really don’t want to wait in the hopes this gets fixed to say what I need to say. And as for Never-Speak-His-Name, well… that’s sort of the point of what I want to say, so…

[Takes a deep breath, sits up straight, and stops fiddling with his hands.]

I know some of you aren’t going to understand why what I’m about to say is so difficult, but I’m sure there’s some of you that are. And for those of you that can’t—this… this is really big for me, okay? I’m breaking pretty much the cardinal rule where I come from. But I've thought about this a lot, and with everything that’s happened… I’ve realized that this rule is getting in the way of helping people, which is what the rule is trying to do in the first place.

What am I rambling about? I’m getting to my point, I promise.

[He pauses because he knows after this there’s no turning back.]

For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Mark Grayson. [Mark picks up his mask, which was sitting on his lap, and puts it over his head.] I’m also the superhero who goes by the name Invincible.

This is a big deal for me because where I come from your secret identity is everything. Your secret identity is what keeps the bad guys you fight at work from coming to your home and hurting your family. And that’s not hyperbole. I've had a super villain come to my house and hurt my mom and threaten my brother to get back at me. For something I didn't even do. My family might not be here, but I've made a lot of friends here and while a lot of them can protect themselves, some of them couldn't. Not from the likes of the people I’m used to fighting, anyway.

But now everything’s changed. It’s not just my friends in danger of getting hurt anymore. Everyone’s in danger. And that’s why I decided to come clean. So the long-winded way of getting to my point is this, and this goes out to everyone (well everyone but Never-Speak-His-Name): if you need me for anything, anything, come to me. I’m super strong, super-fast, can fly, and yes, I’m invincible. And I want to help any way I can. If you need me to be a messenger, I can be a messenger. If you need me to carry something heavy like your couch to a different room, I’ll carry it. Heck, if you need me to open a stuck jar, I’ll do it.

Everything got real with the explosions, I’ve realized that I haven’t been really helping people like I should. Stopping muggers isn’t going to cut it anymore. It’s time I took my responsibilities more seriously. My secret identity doesn’t matter anymore. The safety of Keeliai does.

So I mean it. If you need help, for anything, let me know. I’ve been told I make a really good pack mule, and I’m knowledgeable about construction. Unfortunately I don’t have superhearing, so if you want to get a hold of me you’re going to have to do it the old fashioned way.

…I’m sorry this was so long, but thanks for listening.

[Quickly turns it off before he rambles any more.]

Comments

[shorttempered]

Oh I didn't think you were, just going with the phrase and all. And I thought it would be easy... until everything got nuts.

I don't get how other people do it.

[backwordscompatible]

Neither do I.

I mean, it's one thing to keep a few tricks up my sleeve for a rainy day...but hiding a whole part of who I am? Nope. Couldn't do it.

[shorttempered]

For me it was just a matter of making sure my personal life didn't leak out more when I was Invincible, and my Invincible life didn't leak out to the like four people close to me that hadn't figured it out. I say "more" because everyone sort of knows my name is Mark back home. They just didn't know my last name or anything like that.

[backwordscompatible]

Strangely enough, my dad never really had that problem.

I mean, unless you counted the tabloids. They were pretty ruthless.

[shorttempered]

I know you've mentioning this offhand, but it just clicked. Your dad was a superhero too? So was mine. [Except he's willing to bet yours didn't try to kill you and claim the planet for an alien race.]

My mom banned those from the house. Not that my dad really paid too much attention to them.

[backwordscompatible]

[Her smile was warm, as any child not-so-secretly proud of her parent would be. Nope, definitely didn't try to kill her. Just the opposite. She nodded.]

Yeah, he was. The absolute best.

I don't really remember my mom, but my dad was pretty strict about it. He wanted to keep me out of the spotlight for as long as possible. Like he actually thought that was possible.

[shorttempered]

[Mark smiles at that, but the smile doesn't quite reach his eyes. He wishes he could say the same of his dad.]

My dad was the same way. He was always giving me lectures about how it's okay if I never get my powers, and that even if I did I didn't have to go into the family business. But I did the second I got them anyway.

[backwordscompatible]

How old were you when you got them?

[shorttempered]

17. Which was super late.

[backwordscompatible]

...why do I feel like there's a pun in there somewhere?

[No, wait, this wasn't the time for jokes. Sorry, Mark.]

Any particular reason for the delay, or were you just a late bloomer?

[shorttempered]

As far as I can tell, just a late bloomer. So that meant I only had to wait about 10 years impatiently for powers.

[backwordscompatible]

[Yeah, best not point out the fact that hers came a lot earlier than that. A lot, a lot earlier.]

But was it worth it?

[shorttempered]

Most days.

[backwordscompatible]

Really?

I was kind of expecting an all or nothing kind of deal.

[shorttempered]

Why? Just because some days have been beyond awful doesn't mean I'd give up the awesome times too.

[backwordscompatible]

No particular reason.

Just that, in my experience, people in this line of work can sometimes be a little...dramatic.

[Herself included.]

[shorttempered]

Oh man, I sort of grew up knowing a guy like that. Everything was dark and brooding with him, even though he was like a bazillionare.

For the most part, though, the heroes I know don't get themselves wrapped up in drama, unless it's of the romantic variety... and I'm pretty sure that's a universal drama.

[backwordscompatible]

...you knew Batman?

[It was meant to be a joke. Mostly.]

[shorttempered]

People keep mentioning Batman. Who is this guy? And honestly, whenever you guys bring him up I can't shake this feeling I've met him before, even though I really don't think I have.

For the record, I was talking about my dad's friend... sort of friend... co-worker? Darkwing.

[backwordscompatible]

He was here for a while. Tall, dark, and grumpy, with a thing for hiding in the shadows and beating up criminals while wearing a black cowl and cape.

Actually, coincidently enough, he used to me one of my dad's closest friends, too.

[shorttempered]

That... REALLY sounds like Darkwing, actually. Kind of spooky, really.

[backwordscompatible]

...parallel world, maybe?

[The strangest part of all, probably, was the fact that she didn't seem all that surprised. Not anymore. Not after hearing about an alternate universe version of herself. One that was significantly older.]

[shorttempered]

I'd say yes, but I've never heard of your world's superheroes.

[backwordscompatible]

Parallel, not identical.

So maybe there's one or two differences in names.

[shorttempered]

Does he live in Midnight City?