A/N: An offer she can't refuse?
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Maya could admit it… her experience in the Second Flaxan Invasion notwithstanding, she loved being a hero. She loved flying, she loved kicking bad guy ass, and she loved being the one to save the day. Sometimes she even wondered if she might be a bit of a bad person, because obviously heroics weren't about having fun or enjoying herself… and Maya enjoyed herself a lot.
Case in point, she's patrolling at the moment and has come across a group of bank robbers trying to flee from the scene of a crime. They were nothing too serious, a couple of dudes with guns and a guy who looked like he might be made of some sort of stone. The muscle of the group, obviously.
None were a threat to her, but they were certainly a threat to people around them. However, there was pretty much nobody around them, seeing as they were fleeing down a series of empty back alleys.
It gives Maya all the time in the world to set up her entrance, slamming into stone guy first and taking him down with ease. The other two guys try to run while she's putting him on his back, but catching up with them is super easy too. And of course, when they try to shoot her… nothing happens. She's bulletproof after all.
"You guys really needed to make better life choices."
Grinning all the while, Maya has them disarmed and sitting on the ground with their hands behind their heads by the time the cops arrive a few minutes later to take them into custody. It was easy, tackling crime like this. More importantly, it was fun. Victimless, really.
Nothing like the death and destruction caused by the Flaxan Invasions. The sheer slaughter, especially during the second invasion… it was still keeping Maya up at night, truth be told.
Maybe her dad was right to tell her to stick to small stuff while he was gone. Maya liked making things like this easy. She especially liked the praise of the police as they put the bank robbers in the back of their cop cars.
"Thanks for the help, Invincible!"
"Doing great, Invincible!"
"Holy shit, War Woman!"
Maya is so busy basking in their praise that she actually doesn't register that last one for a moment. When the words finally permeate, she lets out a laugh and looks to the cop who said it.
"No, I'm-!"
But she cuts herself midsentence upon realizing the cop isn't looking at her… he's looking past her. Whipping around, Maya comes face to face with not just War Woman but also The Immortal, her jaw dropping open as they float down from the sky to land in front of her.
They both look serious… but also warm and inviting, with welcoming smiles on their faces. War Woman takes a step forward, her signature mace on her shoulder, the Flaxan countermeasure no longer stuck to it at this point.
"Invincible? Do you mind having a word with me and the Immortal for a second?"
Eyes bulging out of her skull behind her costume's goggles, Maya gulps audibly… as in, she's pretty sure even the cops hear it to be honest. Still, she eventually gets herself under control enough to nod and let out the most embarrassing 'Uh huh' of her life.
Neither War Woman nor The Immortal call her out on it though, thank fucking god. Instead they simply fly back into the air, expecting her to follow them… which of course, Maya does. You didn't say no to two of the greatest heroes in the fucking world, after all!
Soon enough the three of them touch down on the roof of one of the city's taller buildings, with Maya looking between her two idols wondering what they could possibly want her for. It didn't seem like she was in trouble or anything, but… this was still pretty unusual, right?
"You've been doing good work since you debuted, Invincible."
Swallowing, Maya nods.
"T-Thank you War Woman. I mean… I try my best. I just want to live up to… w-well, the example that you and the other Guardians set, of course."
She'd been about to say she wanted to live up to her dad's example most of all, but that would have been telling. Sure, Cecil knew about her secret identity, but that didn't mean he'd told the Guardians that she was-
"I'm sure you want to make your father proud as well."
The Immortal's serious tone cuts through the air, causing War Woman to throw him an exasperated look. Maya, meanwhile, freezes up. Well… so much for that being a secret. She could try denying it of course, but… what would be the point?
"Cecil told you then?"
Looking a little chagrined, War Woman slowly nods.
"You don't have to worry. Your secret is safe with us, the same as your father's has always been. We've been colleagues for a long time… as long as he's been on Earth, even."
That was fair, yeah. War Woman and The Immortal were both much older than they appeared from what Maya knew. She remembered reading that The Immortal had been around for thousands of years, adopting several identities over the centuries. Only in recent decades could he come out as his true, ancient, immortal self with the advent of superheroes. This chapter is updated first at novelping.com.
Meanwhile, War Woman was said to be from a different era entirely. She didn't have the same recorded history as The Immortal for historians to point to, so maybe she'd been transported from the past to the present in recent decades. Either way, she definitely didn't look her age.
Both of them had been Guardians before Maya's father even arrived on planet. And while Omni-Man had never actually joined the Guardians of the Globe as a full member, he was still there at every major, world-threatening fight they'd ever had and held close personal ties with many of them.
"Omni-Man has always been a strong one. We've never had cause to regret calling him our friend."
The Immortal's next words pull Maya out of her momentary daydream, causing her to blink as he frowns slightly.
"… His absence the past week or so has not gone unnoticed."
Huh, had Cecil not told them that part?
"We understand he's been called away by his people. Hopefully he can return home soon."
Oh. Nope. He told them. Maya… honestly doesn't know how to feel about this conversation. On the one hand, some of her favorite heroes in the whole world are complimenting her and her father and really laying it on thick too. On the other hand, she felt a little violated, knowing that they knew who she was. Why would Cecil even need to tell them all of this? Unless…
"Maya… no, sorry. Invincible."
War Woman takes a step forward, giving her a nod.
"We wanted to talk to you today about a particular opportunity. One that, admittedly is born of tragedy… but doesn't come up all that often anyways."
Oh fuck. Maya's mouth goes dry, even as War Woman exchanges a glance with The Immortal. He nods and then takes over, crossing his arms over his chest and looking at imperious as ever.
"It's been decided that you're to be offered a position with us. Should you choose to accept, you would become a Guardian of the Globe. It would come with a lot of perks and a lot of bonuses… but most importantly of all, it would come with quite a lot of responsibility."
Holy shit. They were seriously trying to recruit her to join the Guardians?! Maya was flattered… no, she was floored!
"I… I've had dreams about this."
Immediately after those words spill forth from her lips, Maya goes bright red. Both War Woman and The Immortal smile at her words, but that only makes her more embarrassed. Damn it… damn it, damn it, damn it. Why couldn't she have kept her cool? Why couldn't she have been nonchalant?
And worse still, War Woman continues on.
"You know, Atom Eve already said 'yes' as well… so you'd have a friend joining at the same time too."
Oh god, they knew about her budding friendship with Eve too. Of course they knew about that, Maya and Eve had been spending parts of almost every day together both in and out of costume, especially since Eve had lost her boyfriend to the Flaxans.
It wasn't like Maya was trying to take advantage of Eve's grief or anything like that though… no, she was just trying to be there for the other girl! Frankly, this was one of the rare times when she'd patrolled alone in recent days. Of course, Eve being a Guardian is great and all, but Maya… Maya still feels conflicted.
No, more than that… she's not sure she's allowed to say yes. Oh, she definitely wants to. God, Maya wants nothing more than to say yes and become a Guardian of the Globe. However, she knows full well that her father wouldn't approve. There were reasons he'd never joined Earth's premier hero team and even if Maya didn't fully know what those reasons were, she did know that he wanted to have full control over her training.
When he got back, he would expect to pick back up where they'd left off and if she was a Guardian, Maya wasn't sure she would have the time to devote to his training anymore.
… At the same time, who could say when her father was coming back, right? Heck, there was a possibility he might never come back, though Maya shoves that thought out of her mind as soon as it coalesces. It's like The Immortal said… this kind of opportunity didn't come knocking very often. The Guardians almost never took casualties like they had during the Second Flaxan Invasion. Open spots in their roster were extremely rare.
But also, more than that… Maya herself was powerful. Easily on the same level as the Guardians. Hell, she might be stronger than The Immortal given she was able to break free of the grey gunk without help and he'd needed assistance to escape.
So… so wasn't it her responsibility to join them? To join with Eve and keep her safe? Even if her dad wouldn't approve, even if he would be angry with her… well, he wasn't here right now, was he? So…
"I-!"
"Enough."
Maya jolts as her father's voice cuts the air like a blade, splitting through her thoughts and causing her to whip her head around at the same time both War Woman and The Immortal jerk over in his direction. Omni-Man floats down onto the roof with his cape waving majestically in the wind and his arms crossed over his chest, a stormy expression on his face.
"My daughter will not be joining the Guardians of the Globe."
Silence reigns for a moment before The Immortal's frown returns.
"Your daughter is an adult, Omni-Man. She can make her own choices."
Maya flinches as the tension in the air ratchets up several notches. Her father is now staring at The Immortal with an expression of such raw anger that Maya isn't quite sure how the other hero is even managing to weather it. She's not even the main recipient of her dad's intense focus and she wants to quail all the same.
"Let's not fight. We're all heroes here. Omni-Man, we're glad you're back but you've been sorely missed. Red Rush, Darkwing, and Martian Man are dead and-!"
"I'm already aware."
Maya's breath hitches as her father abruptly cuts War Woman off. At least Nolan seems to understand how he sounds because a moment later he relaxes and his expression becomes more sorrowful.
"… Apologies. Cecil filled me in upon my return. Their losses are strongly felt. And I understand that you need to rebuild your ranks as quickly as possible in order to avoid losing the public's trust. However… my daughter will not be joining you. She's not ready yet."
That… Maya wants to speak up. She wants to bristle, to tell her father that she is ready. If Eve is ready, so is she! But then she thinks back to the Second Flaxan Invasion and her moment of internal cowardice. She'd thought about running… so maybe he's right. Maybe she isn't ready. Maybe… maybe she needs more training.
"He's right."
Her voice cuts through any remaining tension as all three larger-than-life heroes look over at her. Maya's shoulders slump.
"Now that my dad is back, he can resume my training. He knows best what I need to become the best hero I can be. It's better this way."
She doesn't meet War Woman or The Immortal's eyes, not wanting to see their disappointment. In the end though, she hears it all the same in War Woman's words.
"… If that's how you feel, we understand."
Only when the two Guardians lift off the roof and begin rising into the air to depart does Maya look back again. Before they leave, War Woman looks to her father.
"The funerals are next week. Will we see you there?"
Nodding somberly, her dad dips his head.
"You can count on it."
With that, War Woman and The Immortal depart. As they're turned away, Maya is the only one who sees the flash of tightly controlled anger on her father's face directed at their backs. But before she can get the chance to ponder that, he's looking back to her and she's tensing up.
"D-Dad… I know I disobeyed you while you were gone. I didn't-!"
Suddenly, her father's arms are around her, hugging her close. Maya gasps and hugs him back, wrapping her arms as best she can around his broad frame.
"I'm proud of you, Maya. You did well in my absence."
O-Oh… she didn't know how badly she needed to hear that until now. Fuck, she can't cry… she can't let herself cry…
"I have good news as well. I know you might have wanted to be a Guardian... but you'll be much happier training and working alongside me with the other Viltrumites who are already on their way to join us on Earth."
Any potential tears vanish in an instant as Maya jolts at her father's words, pulling back to stare up at his smiling face.
"Other Viltrumites? Coming h-here? To Earth?"
Grinning, he nods.
"Yes. And they're very excited to meet you."
Maya stares blankly for a moment more… before hugging her father again all the more tightly as she lets out an excited squeal.
This was the best news ever! Absolutely nothing could ruin this high for her!
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A/N: Well, it seems Nolan could refuse for her lol.
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