The low hum of servers filled the briefing chamber, pulsing in sync with the glow of status monitors and floating schematics. GDA Headquarters never truly slept, but this room, tucked behind biometric locks and two layers of clearance, felt quieter than most. Like the walls themselves were listening.
Cecil Stedman stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gaze fixed on a tactical feed slowly rotating in the air before him. The end of a cigarette smoldered between two fingers, the ash forgotten.
Robot walked in without a sound. His metal frame reflected the sterile light above, lenses dim and unassuming.
"I'm glad you came," Cecil said without turning.
"Of course, Cecil," Robot replied. "What can I help you with?"
Cecil glanced over, voice casual but edged with something heavier.
"You saved our behinds out there recently. With the Flaxans. That was clean work. Could've been a damn disaster."
"Thank you," Robot said. "That means a great deal coming from you."
Cecil exhaled, the smoke curling up through the blue light.
"You've always been independent," he said. "Off the books. Off the leash. But I'm offering you something a little more… official."
Robot tilted slightly, listening.
"I want you to work for the GDA," Cecil continued. "Form a new Guardians of the Globe. Pick the team. Train them. Lead them. Total control. No committee. No politics. Just results."
There was a brief pause as Robot processed the words.
"And I would answer to…?"
"Me," Cecil said flatly. "Only me."
Robot's lenses narrowed. "Forgive me… but would Omni-Man not be the optimal choice for such a task?"
Cecil gave a short, humorless laugh.
"In theory? Sure. I've tried for a decade to get him to play nice. He helps out when he wants, but he doesn't take orders. Not from me. Not from anyone."
Robot was quiet for a moment.
"I don't know what to say."
Cecil turned fully now, eyes locked onto the machine.
"Easy," he said. "Just say you'll do it."
____
They stepped through the front door together, the weight of rain and graves still clinging to their shoulders. The silence stretched for a beat, just long enough to make the house feel too quiet.
Then Nolan exhaled, tugging off his black suit jacket and hanging it neatly on the coat rack. Mark and Naruto followed, shrugging off their coats in practiced silence.
"I'm feeling pizza," Nolan said, loosening his tie. "I can be to Naples and back before the cheese stops bubbling."
Debbie placed a hand on his chest.
"Honey," she said gently, "let the delivery guy handle it this time."
Nolan gave her a small smile and nodded. "Sure."
He picked up the remote from the armrest and flicked on the living room TV.
The screen lit up with his own face of Nolan at the podium, the Capitol backdrop behind him, solemn and composed.
"You will have moments of doubt. Of fear. Of uncertainty. You may feel alone, unsure of what comes next. But in those moments… have faith. And look to the sky."
Nolan grunted and changed the channel.
The same image. Same voice.
"All of them… all of us… inspired by the ones who came before."
Click.
Same again.
"Darkwing. Aquarius. War Woman. Green Ghost. Red Rush. Martian Man. The Immortal. The Guardians of the Globe. Today we have lost titans…"
He sighed and turned the TV off with a final click.
Mark cleared his throat. "Mom, Dad… as fun as this is, me and Naruto are gonna go up to my room."
Without waiting for a reply, he grabbed the stair rail and headed up. Naruto followed silently behind.
The room was dim, lit only by the soft blue hue of his computer monitor. Posters lined the walls. A stray sock clung to the corner of the ceiling fan.
Mark sat on the edge of his bed while Naruto sprawled on the floor, arms behind his head, the hem of his black shirt riding up slightly. No hoodie tonight.
Mark spoke first.
"I don't know how I'm supposed to live up to that," he muttered, nodding vaguely toward the silence where the speech had just played.
"To him. To the Guardians. To anything."
Naruto didn't look up. "You're not."
Mark frowned. "Thanks, that's super encouraging."
Naruto finally glanced his way, eyes lidded but serious.
"You might never feel ready. That doesn't mean you don't step up. That's what makes a hero."
Mark studied him. "You've been awfully positive lately."
Naruto smirked faintly. "Have I?"
Mark raised a brow. "You're not exactly a motivational speaker."
Naruto shrugged. "If you quit, they'll just hound me to go full-time. GDA badge. Cape. 'Maelstrom' stickers on lunchboxes."
Mark laughed. "You pretty much already are an official hero, Maelstrom."
Naruto narrowed his eyes. "You keep saying that word like you want to suffer."
"Oh, I do. In Tekken."
Naruto sat up instantly. "I am going to make you feel pain, Mark Grayson."
"Bring it on, blondie."
The screen lit up with pixelated violence. Ten rounds later, Mark was hunched forward, face twisted in disbelief.
"Okay," Mark muttered. "You're cheating."
Naruto didn't even blink. "Your spirit was weak. Your combos were weaker."
Mark chuckled and fell back on the carpet.
A moment passed, then he said, "I got Amber's number."
Naruto glanced over. "And?"
"I haven't called her. I mean, with everything going on…"
Naruto grabbed a pillow off the bed and threw it at his head. "You're pathetic."
Mark caught it against his chest. "Hey!"
"Call her. Now."
"I can't just call her.."
"Now, Grayson."
Mark grumbled, pulling out his phone. "You better not watch."
Naruto leaned back and held up his hands, mock-solemn. "I'll be your emotional support animal."
Mark rolled his eyes and hit the call button.
"Hello?" Amber's voice crackled through.
"Hey, it's, uh… it's Mark."
A pause.
"Grays.. Grayson," he clarified. "Mark Grayson."
Another pause.
"Who?" Amber said, flat.
Mark froze.
Naruto silently made an 'X' with his arms. Abort.
"Mark? From school?" he said quickly.
Then laughter.
"I know. I'm just messing with you."
Mark slumped forward with a groan. "Oh god, you thought I was serious."
"Oh no, no, I got it. I was wondering if you were going to call."
Naruto gave a thumbs-up.
"Don't you mean when?" Mark said, recovering slightly.
"Nah," Amber said. "I can think up a few reasons for if. I came on too strong. You've got a girlfriend. You're lame. You don't like girls who kick assholes in the balls when they threaten you…"
Mark panicked. "Uh.."
"You're terrified of me, aren't you?"
Naruto pointed at him with two fingers. Say it. Say it now.
"No! I think you're amazing. That's why I'm calling to tell you that! I mean… that's not why I'm calling. Not that that's not true. I just… Sorry. It's been a weird day."
"Sounds like it," Amber said, her voice softer now. "Wanna start again?"
Mark smiled a little. "Sure."
Amber's voice lightened.
"Hey, handsome Mark Grayson. What's going on?"
"I was thinking… finals are coming up. And we're both in Ms. Walker's Global Issues class. Maybe we can go over everything together?"
Amber paused, then laughed.
"A study date? Well played. Safe and responsible. No pressure, but with potential to move to the next level. Smooth."
Mark scratched the back of his neck.
"Uh…"
Naruto gave a double thumbs-up and mimed finger guns.
"Works for me," Amber said. "When and where?"
Mark's smile grew as the call continued. Naruto lay back down, satisfied.
High above the quiet city, a streak of pink light carved through the clouds.
Eve flew fast and silent, the night wind threading through her hair as she descended toward the gleaming tower of Teen Team headquarters.
The sliding hatch hissed open with a soft mechanical sigh as Eve floated down onto the ground level of the Teen Team HQ.
"Anyone home?" Eve called out as she stepped inside the locker room. The hallway was still, misty with leftover steam. Somewhere deeper in, water hissed from an open shower stall.
No answer.
She walked past the lockers, her boots tapping against the tiled floor, and paused at her own. She popped it open, rummaging for a clean towel.
Behind her, a sleek panel of fogged glass slid open.
"Eve?" a voice called, slightly breathless.
Kate.
She stood with a white towel wrapped snug around her body, steam curling off her skin. Her long dark hair was damp, clinging to her neck and collarbones. Her figure, toned and lithe, was outlined in the fluorescent light.
"I thought you were at the funeral," Kate said, blinking.
"I was," Eve replied, still rifling through her locker. "I'd say you should've been there, but… it was pretty bleak. Red Rush's girlfriend had a full meltdown, and.."
Kate gasped, clutching her chest.
"You okay?" Eve asked, turning around.
"Uh.. Hiccups. That's all."
Eve gave a small nod and shut the locker. "Anything going on around here? Is Rex around?"
Kate froze for a moment.
"Rex?" she echoed, stepping toward the steam-fogged showers.
"Um… hang on a sec…" Kate said.
Water was still running.
Eve followed her voice, puzzled. "Kate?"
She turned the corner then stopped.
In the open shower stall, partially obscured by glass and steam, Rex and Kate were pressed together. His hands slid down her waist. Her lips were on his neck. Skin against skin. Their silhouettes tangled like a secret.
A low groan echoed in the tiled space.
Eve's stomach dropped.
"You piece of shit!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the mist like a blade.
Rex jerked back, water cascading down his bare chest. He grabbed for a towel, slipping slightly on the wet floor.
"Babe, wait! Hang on!"
Eve was already backing up, face twisted with fury and betrayal.
"I knew there was a reason you skipped the funeral!" she snapped.
"Just wait! Just wait a second!" Rex stammered, stumbling after her with the towel around his waist.
She slapped his hand away as he reached for her arm. "Don't even! Oh god.. Are you kidding me, Kate?" Her voice cracked, eyes narrowing in disbelief.
Kate stood motionless, mouth open, eyes wide. Wet strands of hair framed her flushed face. Before she could speak, two more Dupli-Kates emerged from the shower behind her identical in form, naked, dripping, and eyes downcast.
Eve stared at them all, her voice hollow now.
"I can't believe this. Oh, I am such an idiot…"
Kate finally spoke, voice defensive, strained. "Rex said you're dating Invincible now. He said you guys talked about it."
"What?"
"Oh, don't give me that," Rex said, stepping forward. "It's true! What did you expect, huh?"
Eve backed away another step, her expression hardening. "It's not true. And whatever I expected… I guess I was wrong. About both of you."
Her hands clenched at her sides. Pink energy flickered at her fingertips like fire catching air.
Rex stood there, dripping, clutching his towel. "This doesn't mean shit!" he said desperately, glancing toward the three Kates. "They're not even the real Kate!"
Without another word, she turned and launched upward, bursting through the ceiling hatch with a sonic boom of pink light. The building shook as she vanished into the sky.
Silence followed.
"We're all the real Kate," one of them snapped.
The others nodded in quiet agreement.
Rex looked down. "Okay, well… that's not what I meant…"
But Kate had already turned, her jaw clenched, storming off in the opposite direction.
___
The room was enormous. Ceiling lights buzzed overhead, casting long shadows across reinforced concrete and polished steel. Massive partitions lined the walls, dividing the space into combat zones, obstacle grids, and testing platforms. The air thrummed with tension, a quiet hum of boots shifting, capes fluttering, and whispered conversations.
This was no ordinary training room. It was a crucible.
A hundred heroes stood ready.
Invincible, Maelstrom, and Robot entered through the main blast doors, cutting a quiet path through the crowd. Every head turned. Eyes tracked their approach.
"Is that Demi-God?" Mark whispered, scanning the packed space. "Oh man! That's Shrapnel. And Burly, Pangea, Bug-Eye… are you kidding me? This is like a superhero convention!"
Robot hovered forward, serene as ever.
"The opportunity to be selected for the new Guardians of the Globe is the crowning achievement of any modern crusader," Robot said. "And an unprecedented chance to shape history."
He turned slightly toward his two companions.
"Which makes me wonder again why neither of you have signed up to compete."
Naruto didn't answer. His hands were buried deep in the pockets of his black hoodie, his hood down for once, golden hair slightly tousled from the wind. His eyes stayed half-lidded, unreadable.
Mark rubbed the back of his neck, sheepish.
"I know. I talked to my dad about it. He wants to train me himself first," he said. "Plus, my mom would straight-up murder me if I miss more school."
"I'm busy with school too," Naruto muttered, staring off at nothing.
Robot's mechanical gaze shifted. "Then why are you here?"
Mark smiled. "Are you kidding? Like I'd miss this."
"I was dragged here," Naruto said flatly, jerking his head toward Mark. "By force."
Mark laughed. "You needed sunlight."
His eyes widened suddenly. "Wait, is that Fight Force? What the hell are they doing here?"
Robot said nothing, but his head turned in the direction of the flamboyantly overdressed quartet stretching dramatically near the far wall.
"Despite your name, Invincible," Robot said, "I believe you underestimate yourself. And Maelstrom… I believe you would be a powerful asset to the team."
Naruto exhaled through his nose. "We'll still be around. Helping."
Mark nodded, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet. "So, uh… when does this thing actually start?"
Robot now stood on a raised stage built into the floor. Every hero in the hall stood in place, silent and expectant.
"Thank you all for coming," Robot's voice echoed, amplified across the entire chamber. "The Guardians of the Globe were not simply a team. They were a symbol. A promise. Their loss has left the world vulnerable, and hungry for those who will rise to meet that void."
He paused.
"Today, we begin the process of finding those candidates. Those of you who pass these trials will be among the elite, the best of the best."
On the main stage, a whistle blew.
A towering blond giant, broad-shouldered with a flat buzzcut and muscles like welded stone, stepped forward. He cracked his knuckles and smirked as he faced down a far smaller opponent, Atom Eve.
He winked.
Eve didn't blink.
The giant charged, cupping both hands overhead for a crushing blow. Eve sidestepped with calm precision, pivoting as the ground cracked beneath his fists.
He came at her again, a barrage of heavy swings.
She didn't flinch. Her body flowed around each strike, pink energy swirling around her fingertips.
Then she countered.
A pulse of hard light shot him backward, stumbling, dazed. Before he could recover, Eve launched herself forward and struck with a full-body punch charged with pure energy. It hit his ribs like a missile.
He flew back. Slammed into the wall. Out cold.
Robot didn't react.
"Needless to say," he continued, "not all of you will be up to the challenge."
_____
Mark, Rex, and Naruto stood among a group of VIPs overlooking the arena.
Mark grimaced. "Oof. What's up with her?"
Rex shrugged, face tight. "No clue."
Naruto said nothing, already descending quietly down a side stair.
Wolf-Man stood in the center ring. Towering, scarred, and covered in gray fur, his body rippled with restrained power. His yellow eyes scanned the ring, and his lips curled into something between a smirk and a growl.
Across from him, Maelstrom landed softly on the platform, the floor vibrating ever so slightly from his descent. His blonde hair fluttered, his feet scraping quietly against the steel floor.
Wolf-Man sniffed.
"So you're the one everyone's whispering about," he said.
Naruto tilted his head. "And you're the one that smells like wet carpet."
A whistle sounded.
Wolf-Man immediately exploded into motion.
He pounced, claws extended, fangs bared closing the gap in a blink. The sound of his leap echoed like a gunshot. Naruto didn't move.
He leaned sideways
The claws missed by mere inches.
Naruto slid past him and tapped him lightly on the back of the head with two fingers. Wolf-Man twisted, landing in a skid, eyes narrowing.
He lunged again but faster this time and aimed at his lower body.
Naruto stepped in, pivoted, caught his arm, and gently redirected his momentum. Wolf-Man hit the ground with a thud but bounced up instantly, his claws tearing into the floor where Naruto had just been.
"I said fight me, damn it!" Wolf-Man growled.
"I am."
Wolf-Man leapt high, soaring, trying to come down on Naruto with all his weight.
But Naruto was already airborne.
With a lazy twist mid-air, Naruto spun around behind him and lightly kicked him across the back, sending him spiraling down and landing on his feet like a falling boulder.
Naruto floated down after him, hands still in his pockets.
"Enough!" Wolf-Man roared, charging again.
Naruto stepped in.
In a flash, he struck. A flurry of body blows that were fast, clean, and exact. Nothing brutal. Just enough to unbalance him.
A trip. A soft shoulder shove. A palm to the chest.
Wolf-Man landed on his back dazed and confused, his breath leaving him in a sharp grunt.
The room was dead silent.
Naruto walked over and extended a hand.
Wolf-Man blinked, then slowly accepted it.
Naruto pulled him to his feet with ease, offering a faint nod.
"You've got power," he said quietly. "But just power's not enough."
Wolf-Man held his gaze. Then nodded once.
Respect.
Up in the gallery, Mark watched with wide eyes.
Robot observed silently, already calculating the final list.
___
Author's Note: If you're enjoying Inevitable and want to read up to 30 chapters ahead, you can support the story (and me) over on P atreon: banmido.
I update daily, and every bit of love and support helps me keep this story alive. Thank you for reading, y'all make this possible.