- Mark joins William and Amber on a campus visit to Upstate University, hoping to discover a new future for himself. Debbie makes her own disturbing discovery.
- After recovering from his beating at Battle Beast's hands, Mark decides to reconnect with Amber by going on a college tour with her and Will. Meanwhile, Atom Eve sets out to use her powers to make the world a better place, and Robot tries to help Monster Girl recover.—Gislef
- Three female students at Upstate U walk through the quad, and someone watches them from the bushes. The male student, Doug Cheston, lunges out at them, drunk, and "surprises" them. Doug boasts that he's been drinking, and that his father owns Cheston Pharmaceutical and owns half the university. One of the women points out that Doug's father hiked up the cost of baby medicine, and Doug readily admits that his father did and that soon Doug is going to inherit his father's money.
Doug asks if they want to have sex with him and get in on the "ground floor" of his inheritance. Disgusted, the women walk off. Once they leave, a figure dressed all in black grabs Doug and injects him in the neck with a sedative.
Later, Doug wakes up strapped to a gurney. His captor, wearing goggles, tells Doug that he's going through a metamorphosis and will be better than before. Doug calls his captor a nerd, and the overhead light swings to reveal partially-cybernetic corpses strung up from the ceiling. Seeing them, Doug panics and looks down, and discovers that his right arm has been replaced with a replacement mechanical arm. His captor then cuts out Doug's vocal chords with a scalpel, and tells Doug that he'll be better than the prototypes.
Medics brings Invincible, Samson, and Monster Girl into the hospital, and on the OR table Monster Girl transforms into her monstrous form, goes berserk, and then passes out. Robot comes in and tells the doctors that he's familiar with Monster Girl's physiology, and they can have security remove him or they can save Monster Girl's life. The doctors let Robot stay, and he goes to the unconscious Monster Girl and tells her that he's there. Robot tells the doctors to begin an infusion of belladonna and wolfsbane.
Other doctors tend to Samson and try to shock his heart into working. Energy surges from Samson's body, and his heart starts.
Nolan and Debbie arrive and watch from the gallery as doctors operate on Invincible. Cecil and Donald join them, and Debbie and Nolan start arguing about their son. Later, Mark wakes up to find his parents at his bedside. They tell him that he's been out for six days, and Mark says that he was supposed to meet Amber. Eve comes in and says that she told Amber that Mark was hit by a bus. She says that Samson and Monster Girl are still unconscious, and Debbie tells her son that it isn't his fault.
Cecil watches through the observation window as Robot sits at Monster Girl's bedside. Nolan is with Cecil, and offers to take a swing at Damien if he hasn't said anything about the Guardians. Cecil refuses, and Nolan asks if Damien murdered the Guardians. The GDA director is more interested in why Damien would do it, and asks Nolan if Mark told him he was taking on Machine Head by himself. Nolan says that Mark told him he wasn't going off to the crime boss, and Nolan insists that children don't disobey their parents on Viltrum. Cecil tells Nolan that human kids do and walks away.
Mark visits Amber at her house, and he says that the hospital has rules about letting visitors in. Amber tells Mark that she had already dumped him the night he missed their "date" at the center. Mark admits that he messed up his first call to her, but Amber let him start over. He asks if they can do that again, and she finally agrees. They kiss and fall down on Amber's bed.
Later at school, Will tells Mark that he needs to watch traffic. Mark suggests that they catch a movie the next Friday because they haven't hung out in a while, and Will says that he's going to Upstate U for a tour, and his former boyfriend Rick Sheridan is there. Will is staying over, and he's going to check out their pre-med program. Mark tells Will that he wants to come and bring Amber, and Will considers.
Later in his room, Mark is packing when Atom Eve flies up to his window. Mark lets her in and thanks her for covering with him with Amber. Mark explains that he, Amber, and Will are going to Upstate for a tour, and invites Eve along. Eve says that she's skipping college, and just wants to help people directly instead of fighting super-villains.
Mark tells Atom Eve that he messed up, and Samson and Monster Girl almost died because of him. Because of that, he understands what Atom Eve is going through and maybe they both need a fresh start. Amber and Will arrive, and Atom Eve falls off.
The trio drive off in Will's car, and Will talks a lot about Rick. Back at the Grayson house, Debbie tells Nolan that she's going out. When he offers to go with her, Debbie reminds him that he said he had work to do on his book. Once Debbie leaves, Nolan gets his bloodstained costume from where he hid it.
The trio arrive at Upstate U, and Will insists that he's not in love with Rick despite talking about him non-stop. Rick greets them and hugs Will, and Rick takes them to his dorm room where he's putting them up.
Eve moves out despite her parents' protests, and tells her mother that she needs a fresh start. Her father Adam says that he isn't going to let her ruin her life on some "find yourself bullshit", and if she wants a fresh start she should stop being a superhero. Adam tells Eve that she can't save the world, and trying will get her killed. He says that the worst day of his life was when she got powers, and he wants a normal life for her. Eve tells Adam that that's what best for him, not her, and flies off.
Rick shows the trio around the dorm, and says that he's arranged a biology class sit-in for them. At the class, the professor talks about how they focus on quality of life. Student DA Sinclair speaks up, disagreeing, and Rick tells the others that Sinclair is there on a genius grant.
Sinclair rants about how human failings are engineering challenges, and they need to realize that humans are machines that need to be improved. Amber tells Sinclair that he's being a jerk, and he tells them that his problem is how the university is staffed by idiots. Sinclair tells Rick that he's impressive--a classic alpha male-and the professor tells Sinclair to leave and return when he's ready to learn. Sinclair tells Rick that he'll see him at exams and leaves, and the professor returns to his lecture.
Eve flies over the forest and uses his powers to make a treehouse when she finds a spot with a good view.
As the quarter check out the quad, Rick suggests that the two couple split up, and Will quickly agrees so he'll be alone with Rick. Amber and Mark go off, look around, order foot from a street cart vendor, and end up kissing. Later, they settle on a bench and watch people go by, and Mark tells Amber that he likes it there. He asks Amber what she thinks of them coming there together, and Amber tells Mark that he has to get his grades up. He says that he wants to be there with Amber, and Amber agrees.
As Will and Rick join Mark and Amber, there's an explosion in a nearby building. A cyborg Reaniman staggers out, clutching at his helmet and lunging at the pedestrians. Amber yells at everyone to get bac, and a couple trips. Amber goes to help them and calls for the others to help them, while the Reaniman throws a van. As Mark prepares to fight the Reaniman, Amber calls him over to help.
The Reaniman, formerly Doug, grabs Rick, and Will throws cans at the cyborg's head and yells at the Reaniman to get away from Rick. Doug jumps over and grabs Will by the throat, and Mark change into his Invincible costume and frees Will from Doug's grasp. As the two grapple, Will recognizes Mark despite his mask, and Invincible tells Will to run. Doug shoves Invincible's head into a decorative fountain basin, but Invincible eventually frees himself and slams Doug into the pavement.
Doug recovers and starts beating Invincible. Invincible manages to rip off Doug's helmet, and stagger off. The Reaniman goes after him, but sees the reflection of his face in the basin water and withdraws back in shock. He jumps on a decorative statue in the basin and impales himself,
Invincible goes over to Will, who shares at his friend in shock. He tells Will not to tell anyone his identity, then flies off as Amber and Rick come over. Rick hugs Will and thanks him for saving his life, and Will hugs him back. Mark runs up in his civilian clothes and says that the police are on the way, and Amber angrily asks where he went. Mark says that he ran for help, but Amber accuses him of being a coward. She says that she and Eve were wrong about Mark, breaks into tears, and walks off.
Sinclair comes up, picks up the Reaniman's discarded helmet, and says it's the last time he'll leave any of his subjects' frontal lobes intact. He studies Rick, and figures he'd make a suitable subject.
At her treehouse, Atom Eve brings up news photos of disasters and flies off to deal with one of them.
A badly damaged Robot drone staggers into the GDA room where the doctors are tending to the comatose Monster Girl. It holds out a single cerulean cosmos flower, and Robot takes it and explains the doctors that he sent a drone to the Arctic to get the flower. The flower contains a single molecule that adds 60% to Monster Girl's chance of survival. Robot gives it to the doctors and instructs them on how to extract the necessary compounds, then call Robot for isolation and purification.
Once the doctors leave, Robot sits at Monster Girl's beside. Samson is the next bed, and says that Robot really cares for Monster Girl. He wonders how a machine has emotions, and Robot says that he's programmed to care for all humans. Samson doesn't believe him and asks if they won, and Robot stares at him.
Debbie goes to Art, who is examining Omni-Man's bloodstained costume. He says that he's spent the analyzing it like she asked, and has confirmed it shows samples of various Guardians on it. Debbie suggests that maybe the Guardians attacked Omni-Man and he defended himself, but Art uses the oxidation patterns of the blood to confirm that Omni-Man struck first. She asks Art not to tell anyone, and he says he's too scared to tell anyone, while outside, Nolan hovers in the air and listens in.
Back in Rick's dorm room, Amber tells Mark that there's no way she's sharing a room with him and throws his pack at him before going into their room alone. Rick tells Mark that he can bunk with him and Will, and Rick goes to get some food. Amber goes to take a shower, and Will gushes over Mark being Invincible.
Atom Eve puts out a forest fire with her powers, regrows the destroyed trees, saves two hikers from an avalanche, and grows plants on a farm.
Robot visits the Maulers, who are growing a creature for him in a tank, and tells them that their progress is satisfactory. They ask who it's for and whose DNA did Robot steal, and Robot says that their work doesn't require answers to their questions. Robot tells them that they'll be paid when their work is complete, and the Maulers threaten to destroy the creature. Robot tells them that they'll get the schematics when their work is done, and the Maulers back down.
Once Robot leaves, the Maulers figure they need some "insurance" and one tells the other to grab a shovel.
Will continues to question Mark about Invincible, and points out that Mark never told him even though he's his best friend. Mark says that he doesn't even want to be Invincible anymore, and Will says that Mark is being a superhero is the coolest thing that's ever happened to him. Mark isn't sure that Amber will forgive him, and Will agrees. Will then jokingly says that Mark should take him flying or he'll tell everyone that Mark is Invincible. Mark flies Will out and back at superspeed, and Will asks to try on the costume.
As Amber returns from the shower, fraternity bro Kyle startles Amber from behind and gives her a flyer for his fraternity's party later that night. She takes the flyer.
Rick leaves a convenience store and Facetimes Will to ask if he should get some pizza. Rick's call cuts out in mid-conversation, and Will goes to tell Mark. Mark shows Will the flyer and says that Amber got invited to a party, and wonders if he should have gone after her. He'd rather go after Amber, and refuses to help Will, saying that whenever he tries to be a superhero he makes things worse. Mark tells Will to call him if he can't find Rick, but he has to go after Amber.
At the hospital, Samson dresses and tells Robot that he feels better than ever. Robot tells Samson to rejoin the team at Guardians HQ, while he'll remain there until Monster Girl recovers. Once Samson leaves, Monster Girl wakes up and is shocked to find Robot hovering over her. She apologizes for her reaction and Robot tells her that they won the battle., and assures her that her teammates are fine. When Robot says that he stayed with her through her recovery, Monster Girl is surprised and touched.
Art leaves his shop, and Nolan approaches him and offers him beer.
Amber goes to the fraternity house party.
Mark looks for the fraternity house on the flyer.
Will looks for Rick and finds his discarded phone. He follows a trial to an open manhole cover.
Amber sits alone and drinks a beer, and Kyle comes over and greets her.
Will goes down into the sewer and looks for Rick, secretly setting off a sensor.
Mark arrives at the frat house.
Nolan and Art sit on the shop rooftop, drink, and talk about old times. When Art looks nervous, Nolan points it out and asks what the matter is. The tailor says that's he's just tired, and Nolan talks about time catching up on someone. He gets up to go, offers Art a last beer, and says that he just wanted to make sure their "partnership" was still strong.
Mark goes into the party, looking for Amber. He sees her out on the balcony talking to Kyle, and he mentions that his girlfriend is transferring there next semester. Kyle asks Amber if she's seeing anyone, and Amber says that she was. Meanwhile, Will calls Mark and on a staticky call, tells Mark that he's in trouble. The line goes dead, and Mark leaves.
One of the REANIMAN carries Will to Sinclair's hidden lair, puts him on a gurney, and straps him down. Sinclair comes in, carrying a surgical saw.
Invincible flies over the campus looking for Will, and flies into the hole to the sewers that Doug came up from. He flies through the sewer looking for Will, and three Reaniman attack him. They knock him into Sinclair's lair, where Sinclair is "operating" on Will. Sinclair says that he's "improved" the Reaniman since Invincible fought Doug, and the Reanimen continue beating Invincible. The student insists that he's fixing humanity' weakness.
Invincible rips off one of his attacker's helmets, and Will realizes the Reaniman is Rick. Sinclair says that he removed Rick's emotions, and Will reminds Rick of the sex they had at a lake a year ago. Sinclair cuts Will's arm with his saw, and Rick sees it calls Will's name, and cries. Sinclair sees it, and Rick pulls the control plate out of the back of his head, then fights back against the other two Reanimen beating Invincible. He yanks off one Reaniman's helmet, and Invincible pulls off the other one's helmet.
Sinclair grabs his laptop and runs off, while Invincible frees Will. Will tackles Sinclair and beats him. Sinclair knocks Will off of him and yells that it's about progress. Invincible punches Sinclair, shattering his jaw and knocking him out, sees Will trying to comfort Rick but Rick turning away, and collapses to his knees.
Invincible calls in the GDA, and they haul Sinclair away. Cecil tells Invincible that he would have punched Sinclair as well, says that he's going to lock Sinclair up and throw away the key, and admires his technology. Medics take away Rick, and Cecil tells Invincible that they'll do their best to help him.
Mark and Will go back to Rick's room, and Mark comforts his stricken friend. Amber is sleeping, and Mark looks in on her briefly then leaves. Amber isn't asleep, and sighs.
Atom Eve flies back to her treehouse and collapses on her bed, exhausted.
Nolan returns home and finds Debbie drinking. She asks him why he killed the Guardians, and tells him not to lie to her when he says he didn't do anything. Nolan says that she's drunk and they'll talk about it the next day, and Debbie curses him and goes to bed. He punches a hole in the wall in frustration and anger, then sits down.
Two teenagers have found Immortal's gravesite and dig up his body. They've heard rumors that if they that if they drink from Immortal's skull, they get his powers. The Mauler twins arrive at the gravesite.
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