Who Is The Protagonist In 'Aftermath' And Their Backstory?

Man, the chaos that follows Thragg's death in 'Invincible' is the kind of messy aftermath I love to chew on during late-night rereads. One popular theory is basically a classic power vacuum scenario: Thragg's leadership kept the Viltrumites brutally unified, and without him there's a splintering into warlords and regional leaders, which would explain why some fanfics imagine decades of low-intensity conflict rather than instant peace. Another angle I like is the sleeper-ideology theory — Thragg didn't just command soldiers, he instilled a hierarchy-based, survival-of-the-fittest doctrine. Even if most Viltrumites reject conquest, that upbringing doesn't vanish overnight. That feeds into little threads where Earth becomes a refuge for dissidents and a target for ideological purges, and you can imagine whole political movements forming around Viltrumite assimilation versus resistance. I always picture myself on the subway, rereading the final arcs, thinking about how the personal (Mark, Nolan, Oliver) and the civilizational collide. The best theories mix military fallout with culture shock and personal trauma, and those are the versions that feel the most plausible to me.

I still get a little choked up thinking about that crash, but from a legal perspective the aftermath was far more about investigation and ethics than courtroom drama. Immediately after the accident there were formal inquiries by the authorities involved — because the flight was Uruguayan but the crash site was in the Andes, Chilean and Uruguayan investigators both played roles. The focus was on what went wrong operationally: navigational errors, decision-making in bad weather, and shortcomings in search-and-rescue coordination. The pilots and the military operation that ran the flight were scrutinized, and those reports influenced how people talked about accountability for flights in difficult terrain. On the human side, survivors had to give repeated testimonies explaining the extreme measures they took to stay alive. There were intense ethical debates about cannibalism, but legally the survivors were not prosecuted; investigative authorities recognized the life-or-death context. Over time the story fed into aviation and rescue procedure reviews, and it spawned books like 'Alive' and later 'Miracle in the Andes', which further shaped public sense of what was at stake.

I recently stumbled upon a 'Game Paradise' fanfic titled 'Scars in the Virtual Sky' that absolutely wrecked me emotionally. It explores the fallout between the main CP after one character, let's call them Player A, discovers Player B's secret alliance with the game's antagonist. The betrayal isn't just about trust—it's layered with Player B's desperate attempt to protect Player A from a system glitch that could erase them both. The writing digs deep into Player A's PTSD-like symptoms, avoiding login screens because they trigger memories of the betrayal scene. Player B's redemption arc isn't sugarcoated; they spend chapters rebuilding trust through tiny actions, like leaving rare in-game items as anonymous gifts. What got me was how the fic mirrors real MMO trauma bonds—how virtual betrayal can feel as visceral as real-life heartbreak.

I’ve read so many 'Transformers' fanfics that dive deep into Optimus Prime’s trauma, and the best ones never shy away from the weight of Cybertron’s collapse. They paint him as a leader who carries the grief of millions, his stoicism cracking in private moments. One standout fic, 'Ashes of Iacon,' shows him staring at the stars, haunted by memories of fallen comrades—his hands trembling as he replays battles in his mind. The war isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a ghost that shadows his every decision. Some writers frame his relationship with Bumblebee as a lifeline, the younger bot’s optimism forcing Optimus to confront his own numbness. Others explore his guilt through flashbacks, like when he hallucinates Ratchet’s voice during repairs. The emotional aftermath isn’t just about sadness; it’s about a leader who’s forgotten how to be anything but a soldier. What fascinates me is how fanworks contrast his public resolve with private vulnerability. A recurring theme is his avoidance of the Autobot memorials, as if facing the names would undo him. One fic had him secretly visiting the ruins of Cybertron, picking up rusted insignias—small, visceral details that wrecked me. The war’s aftermath isn’t just PTSD; it’s the erosion of his identity. He’s not Optimus the hero; he’s Orion Pax, forever mourning the world he couldn’t save.

Reading 'Hiroshima' was a gut punch, but in the best way possible. The book doesn’t just describe the physical devastation—though it does that with terrifying clarity—it digs deep into the human side of the catastrophe. The immediate aftermath is chaos: streets filled with burned bodies, survivors wandering like ghosts with skin hanging off them, and this eerie silence broken only by cries for help. The author paints a vivid picture of a city turned into hell overnight, but what sticks with me are the smaller details. People helping strangers despite their own injuries, the way time seemed to stop, and the lingering effects of radiation that no one understood at first. The long-term aftermath is even more haunting. Survivors deal with invisible scars—both physical and mental. The book follows several characters over months and years, showing how their lives unravel. Some die slowly from radiation sickness, others face discrimination for being 'hibakusha' (bomb-affected people). The societal impact is brutal: families torn apart, jobs lost, and this constant fear of the unknown. What makes 'Hiroshima' stand out is its refusal to sensationalize. It’s raw, honest, and forces you to confront the human cost of war in a way textbooks never could. The aftermath isn’t just about ruined buildings; it’s about ruined lives, and that’s what stays with you long after you finish reading.

There’s a gripping fanfiction I've come across focusing on a character's breakdown after a deadly clash. It digs into how they reflect on the experience, haunted by memories and grappling with trauma. The author beautifully captures the mental turmoil, using internal monologues to explore how the character's relationships change. Friends become distant due to the survivor's guilt, and moments of sheer panic are tied to their memories of the battle. I appreciate how the writer manages to balance action with emotional depth, making readers truly empathize with the character's struggles, especially when they seek closure or understanding from their allies who barely grasp the horror they've faced.

The aftermath of the All-Valley Tournament in 'Cobra Kai' fanfiction often delves deep into the psychological scars left on the characters. I’ve read stories where Miguel’s recovery becomes a central theme, exploring his physical pain and the emotional toll of feeling abandoned by Johnny. Some writers focus on Robby’s guilt, painting vivid scenes of him wandering the streets at night, haunted by the image of Miguel falling. These fics don’t shy away from raw emotions—Johnny’s drunken regret, Daniel’s struggle to balance mentorship with his own trauma from the past. The best ones weave in quieter moments, like Sam and Tory reluctantly bonding over shared nightmares, or Hawk’s internal conflict as he questions his allegiance to Cobra Kai. I’ve noticed a trend where authors use the tournament as a catalyst for redemption arcs, especially for Kreese, who’s sometimes portrayed as a broken man reflecting on his failures rather than a one-dimensional villain. Another angle I love is the exploration of secondary characters. A particularly moving fic had Demetri becoming the emotional anchor for the group, using his humor to diffuse tension while secretly battling his own PTSD from the fight. Some stories even jump years ahead, showing how the tournament shaped their adult lives—Miguel as a physical therapist helping others recover from injuries, or Tory coaching underprivileged kids as a way to atone. The depth of these narratives lies in their refusal to offer easy solutions, instead focusing on the messy, ongoing process of healing.

The ending of 'Aftermath' is a rollercoaster of emotions and revelations. The protagonist, after surviving a harrowing series of events, finally confronts the mastermind behind the chaos—only to discover it’s someone they trusted deeply. The final act is a tense showdown where sacrifices are made; the protagonist’s best friend dies shielding them from a fatal blow. In the aftermath (no pun intended), the protagonist is left grappling with guilt and a fractured sense of justice. They walk away from the ruins of their old life, vowing to rebuild but forever changed. The last scene shows them staring at the horizon, symbolizing both loss and hope. It’s bittersweet, leaving fans debating whether the cost of victory was too high.