The ending gets into some very uncomfortable territory. The heroes discuss giving Proteus an artificial body, but the combined Gilbert and Kevin don't accept that as the life th…

The ending gets into some very uncomfortable territory. The heroes discuss giving Proteus an artificial body, but the combined Gilbert and Kevin don't accept that as the life they want. Cyclops also proposes trying to persuade them to end their existence if the other approach fails. Cable objects to that, and the disagreement matters. Moira urges Kevin to let go of the world, while Harness continues trying to push Gilbert into using his power against the heroes. Eventually the merged being disperses, ending both lives in the story. Harness survives and is taken into custody. That's a pretty grim ending for Gilbert. He spends this entire story being forced to absorb energy until his body can't survive it, and even after becoming part of Proteus, he's surrounded by adults arguing about what should happen to him and Kevin. Cable challenges the way the supposed choice was shaped afterward. The comic leaves that argument there rather than giving everyone an uncomplicated victory. And behind the operation are Gideon and Toad, whose competing plans have helped bring all of this about. Their chess game is a pretty direct way of showing how they've been treating the people involved.