The Silver Lining

[Sugarculted]

My most recent work so far, based upon a universe in which most superheroes have retired. Which is a problem, when they haven't encountered the might of Galactus yet. Reading the 'Watchmen' and watching 'The Incredibles' too much, I came up with this.

Enjoy. Oh, and comments...much appreciated



A year from now, a certain silver line zipped through the dark starry sky, this glowing line could easily be seen in the pitch black dark. Suddenly, as a young child watched from his window, he witnessed the beam of silver stop. Running up to his father’s bedroom, he reached for the telescope. Spending a few seconds to get it ready in a hurry, he looked through it. Looking straight at the silver comet, which had oddly stopped, he stood back in awe. It was an amazing sight, and as he took another look he realised the comet had disappeared, perhaps to keep flying through the starry skies. He sat on his father’s bed and couldn’t believe what he saw. His father awoke, “What’s the matter, Franklin?” he questioned, still lying in his bed. “I saw the surfer, dad!” The young child replied, with glee. The father in the bed leaned forwards from lying down. “You saw the surfer? I must’ve miscalculated the time I’d be able to see it. That’s a bit of a shame…” He spoke, reaching for his glasses on the side. The father had grey hair, and brown eyes. His son was around the age of nine, and already showed the intellect of his father, Reed Richards…

On the grounds of the Xavier institute, sat the great Beast and leader Scott Summers. There they stood, in large overcoats. Beast was no different than his usual self, yet most of his face was covered by the shadow of his hat. Both mutants stood before a golden gravestone. “I miss him, Hank. I really do.” Scott said, sorting out his left sleeve. “I think we all do, Scott. He was a great leader; even after his passing he inspires most mutants so powerfully. I spoke to Emma last night, by the way.” Beast replied, looking at the smaller gravestone beside Professor Charles Xavier’s. “How is she?” Scott wondered, peering up into the starry sky. “She’s not too bad, she’s finding it incredibly hard to overcome the fact she’s lost her telepathy. Scott, I do believe she wouldn’t mind making contact with you once more.” The blue furred mutant claimed, looking at Scott. Summers shook his head briefly, “I don’t think I would like to speak to her. The past may be something to be forgotten, sometimes…but our memories? Nothing to be proud of. Remember Hank, it was my obsession with Jean that lead to her demise.” Scott answered, looking away. “Well, try to think about it…Ororo and I are leaving for England tomorrow night. I hope you’ll be there, alongside our old friends.” Beast hoped, as he walked away slowly. “I’ll make it, Hank. You take care.” Scott finished, as he stepped back into the mansion….

1 year ago…


“Just took a detour, and I presume it’s more than enough for you to consume. I understand I’m enslaved, but I don’t approve of your hunger. Can’t we at least move onto a different planet? This is more than you need. It’s going to take a lot, to take this planet down.” A man, cloaked in a silver substance said. He was speaking to another being, and they were oddly having their conversation on the surface of the moon. The man in the silver substance was hovering with a sleek, silver board. He was bald, and had no eye colour either. His muscles could easily prove he was tough. He was speaking to a man his stature, who wore a strange purple suit. He looked extremely old, yet had the same muscle structure as the man dressed in silver. He had blue eyes, and had short black hair. The man in purple sighed to himself, as he was sitting. “The other planets have done nothing for me, Surfer. I need to taste something challenging, for once…I’ll assign you to accomplish various tasks, to bring the planet down slowly.” He replied, in a very deep voice. The man addressed as Surfer placed his board on the dusty, uneven ground and sat beside the man. “I managed to take an account of the history, and they’ve had a rough past few years. Can’t you at least try to satisfy your hunger elsewhere?” The Surfer questioned, awaiting a response. The man dressed in purple stood up and crossed his arms. “What a shame, for now they must face the most difficult force ever. The world devourer, Galactus!” He boasted, with his arms held high in the air. “Galactus, surely you can comprehend with what they’ve been through?” The Surfer questioned, still. “I’ve already transferred the memories you’ve gathered in your head, into my brain. They haven’t been through that much, have they? There have been a few deaths here and there, heroes lost. You are my herald, Surfer. Stop persuading me to change my mind. They haven’t prepared for me, yet. I have no place in my heart for those human beings. Time to devour this rather odd planet.” He yelled, as he began to hover in the air. “Now, now we begin. Have you found the strongest advantages the planet has?” Galactus spoke, as he looked straight at the planet Earth. The Surfer leapt onto his board which was already hovering, and he slowly moved towards the planet Earth. “Yes, I’ve found out pretty much all I need to know.” The Surfer answered. “Good, I’ll implant the orders, once you land on the miserable planet.” Galactus replied. The Surfer looked back at Galactus and sighed to himself softly. He pulled the tip of his board up, as he entered the Earth’s atmosphere. His silver body was glowing red, and his whole body and board were glowing that colour. He struggled only the slightest, unlike any other person would. It was obvious he was a cosmic being, he was able to create sound, survive in space and even enter Earth’s atmosphere without a burn. Finally, he had reached the atmosphere of Earth, but for some bizarre odd reason he didn’t concentrate and fell from the skies. Yelling in fear, he was falling into a vast barren rocky plain…

 

[Sugarculted]

It was a late afternoon, in the sunny place of Spain. A well known American hero, stood outside on the balcony. He sipped his wine, and felt the loneliest he had ever been…in a long time. His old friend, Bucky…died just a few years back. He was the only friend Steve Rogers had left, of his generation. Nothing much had changed with Steve Rogers, sure he had retired from the superhero lifestyle but his appearance stayed the same. The super-soldier serum still flowed through his veins. Around twelve years ago, superheroes became something of the past. The world became a better place; villains were either locked up or killed. S.H.I.E.L.D became a greater importance across the world, finally being able to recreate the serum that made Steve Rogers; Captain America. S.H.I.E.L.D operatives filled in the boots of the famous superheroes. Heroes retired, to lead a normal life. Steve Rogers was the last to retire, to lead a married life with Janet, known as The Wasp. She hadn’t changed much; just her brown hair was much longer. She walked up towards Steve, who was in another world…thinking about the past life. She wrapped her arms around him, and relaxed her head on his back. “Are you okay, Steve? You’ve become rather distant recently…” Janet questioned, closing her eyes. “Steve? Are you okay?” She repeated. Steve finally stopped thinking about the few years back, and answered. “Not really, Janet. You’d think, after all this time…I would have adjusted. It still only feels like last week, when I was thawed out of the ice. I’ve lost Bucky, the only one I could relate too in this new world. His death, it’s just affected me. Today was the exact day he died on that hospital bed years ago. Why can’t I adjust, Janet?” Steve wondered, looking down. Janet didn’t reply, she had been receiving this behaviour from Steve all year. She tried to comprehend with the fact Steve came from a different generation, but she just couldn’t cope. Her arms left Steve’s side, as she walked into the room to pick up a phone call. As she did, she briefly turned to the saddened Steve Rogers. For some bizarre reason, Janet didn’t want her husband listening in on her conversation over the phone. The main reason was because; she was speaking to an old flame, her ex-husband…Hank Pym. Janet felt neglected, and saw Hank Pym as her comfort. Steve walked back into the main living area, and looked up at the glistening American shield. He closed his eyes briefly, and remembered the last time he used that weapon…