SIGNAL STRENGTH DETERIORATING
[TINA's voice comes through the static.] "I hope you can still hear me. There isn't a lot of time left.
"I'm going to transmit a clip from a personal log of Magnus Venture. The original timestamp is lost, but it was recorded roughly 14 years pre-singularity. Narine Venture urged Magnus to leave the recording for their daughter. And now, I'm playing it for you."
RECORDING BEGINS
"That's all there is to it... We grew so much that we sat at the head of all the world's tables. Governments, military, communications, biotech, and... and we stopped changing. Superheroes turned the world into a stalemate, a cartel of powers.
"People become superheroes because they want to do good. They want to help people. But somewhere along the way, that purpose gets muddled. Superheroes want to save the world, but they don't want it to change. We became a mockery of ourselves—preserving a world that no one wants, only to maintain our own power.
"It's time to flip the chessboard and start over. It's time to do what none of us were brave enough or strong enough to do before.
"...I just don't know when we'll be ready. ...Or when I'll be ready.
"I hope one day that you'll join me."
RECORDING ENDS
[TINA continues.] "I can see the playback records. Clara listened to that recording seven times over the years. The last playback was two days before the final battle.
"Change is hard. Growth is hard. But Clara, Emmett, and the rest of the Resistance are a testament that such changes are possible. Hopefully, our world can serve as an example. I'm telling you this, not to condone or condemn, but to show you what is possible—"
SIGNAL STRENGTH DETERIORATING
"Since discovering the existence of other realities, we assumed that this connection was limited. Larian's animals possessed limited awareness of another world, but the Menagerie did not. We also assumed that the connection to realities went in one direction only. Superpowers bled through to ours, but some magic and reality-warping needed a two-way connection. Amarque often saw some of these other realities, though he was only vaguely aware of what he was seeing.
"When the antimatter reactors came online, not all realities closed right away. Some powers held on for a few hours. You saw how the Menagerie and Larian's animals held on for a few days longer—long enough to say their goodbyes. But slowly, the antimatter reactors have closed off all other realities—
SIGNAL STRENGTH DETERIORATING
"We knew some of these worlds better than others. I still don't know whether that's because of the strength or duration of the connection, or because of the proximity of that reality to our own. Some worlds—some stories—are only shared for a short time. Like catching a glimpse through a window. We'll likely never know for sure. There's no more time left, and I don't know if those connections will ever reopen.
"Now, there's only one reality left to close.
"I wish we could've known your world better. Whoever you are, this is goodb—"
SIGNAL LOST
~ ~ ~
END SERIES
*AUTHOR NOTE*
Just stopping in to say thank you for reading! Some of you guys have been following the story for the past few years, and it means the world to me that you've followed all this time.
This final book of Mod Superhero will stay up until Aug 17th, then it's coming down for the Amazon and library release.
I'm already working on the next story. Probably won't be ready to announce it or start posting for another couple months. Trying to build up a back log first. It's still prog fantasy, but it isn't superheroes.
One day I might come back to Mod Superhero, maybe for a prequel series with Wight and Venture and TINA's origins, but that will be a ways off in the future.
Anyways, thanks again! It's been a hell of a journey. I'll try to pop into the comments over the next couple days.
YOU ARE READING
Mod Superhero - STUBBING AUG 17TH!
Science FictionFor this cyborg, power is just an upgrade away. Emmett was used to being caught between college and his engineering internship, but when he gets caught between a powerful hero and an even stronger villain, he becomes collateral damage. Instead of d...
