The Shadowverse

by Francesca Gallo

  The incomplete Shadowforce arrived in New York City after concealing the suits Z

  had given them inside bags. News crews and police crammed the streets of Manhattan, because only hours before Titan revealed himself to the world. They limped as they walked.

  Before heading out to see their parents and then the President, Sam went to his apartment. Walking into the corridor, he unlocked the door and crept in. The place was exactly the same he left it before they had departed Earth two weeks prior.

  Activating his console just for the hell of it, Sam saw Dustin’s account—DustyWave.

  His eyes welled, and similar to earlier, cried — except this time he not as hard nor as loud. Even the passing of Sonovan took its tol on him. The man was exactly who he wanted to be in the future: a being of patience, kindness, but nevertheless tremendous power.

  Sam turned off the television and the console. In the closet, he found Dustin’s clothes. Made up of mostly blue jeans and button-up shirts, Sam smiled as he filed through them. This day had simultaneously been the best and worst of his life.

  ~~~

  On account of Rose, she visited her home. The place had still been yel ow taped, and she made sure to not trespass, even though it’s technical y her home as well.

  Back in human form, Ryan tried his best to comfort her on the way there. He had been quiet since Dustin’s passing. Despite that, he himself was reassured that Dustin was in no way dead. In fact, he is more alive than anyone on Earth.

  For several minutes, the two scanned the house with their eyes. In an interesting turn of events, Rose rested her head on Ryan, supported by his large shoulders. He smiled but said nothing, because he was quickly getting used to it. In fact, never did he surmise how attached Rose got to people, but it made sense. Like Sonovan said, Titan used this fault in her to will her into his own monster.

  In a spit of curiosity, Rose walked over to an officer posted near the door.

  Investigations were stil ongoing on account of Henry’s death. “Sir, may I ask you a question?”

  “Ma’am, please don’t trespass. What is your question?”

  “Has there been a funeral for Henry Johnson?”

  “Yes.”

  “Where is he buried?”

  “Gate of Heaven.”

  “Thank you, officer.”

  “Are you Rose? The one from the photos and the newscasts?”

  “What newscasts?”

  “Six people were missing.”

  “Yes, but we were not missing. Just dealing with things.”

  Behind his glasses, the officer’s eyes widened. “Good for you.”

  On the way to the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Ryan’s thoughts shifted to Sonovan.

  Never had he ever met such a person. The man truly was something else, and Ryan knew for sure he would never again meet someone who could hold a candle to Sonovan. Where could he be? What was he doing, and more importantly, what was Titan doing? And the best question of all, what about Dustin?

  ~~~

  Sonovan found rest for his soul and redemption for every selfish action he had committed. Final y, at long last, he could rest. His destiny had arrived, and he was up to par. For centuries, he wondered if he could ever again be the hero—be who Oora and The Shadows expected him to be. If only Orslon, Venarian, and Zydok could see him now—their destiny fulfilled through him.

  Titan, on the other hand, ended up back where he started. The corrupt Ooris inside him did not forsake him, though. Therefore, in the commencement of this new life, Titan resorted to peace and tranquility, the pure Energy leveling out his hatred. In essence, Titan had become the prime balance of the Ooris in conjunction with Sonovan’s pure, good Energy. Forever opposites, yet forever equals—destined to remain in the Shadowverse ad infinitum.

  On the other hand, Dustin was far from dead. His death, though fearful of it, proved to birth something so much grander than he ever believed could exist. Now, his Ooris enabled him to construct the Shadowverse any way he desired. Oora aided him in the discovery of new areas, and how to will the Energy into his own world. The Shadowverse itself is nearly double the size of our universe.

  Dustin created a planet with waves hundreds of feet tall. He conjured up a surfboard with the words ‘ Never Gone’ pasted on the underside.

  In losing his body, he gained unexplainable serenity. He was sure he did not want to return to Earth.

  Titan and Sonovan had arrived in the dreamy Yeonlo Zone, which comprised 90% of the Shadowverse. Due to her being imbued with Ooris nearly a mil ennium ago, Aiko was also alive inside the Shadowverse. Sonovan could not believe his eyes and thought he had been dreaming when he saw her beautiful raven-colored hair. When she saw him, she ran to him.

  “Sonovan! Is this really you? How?”

  “My love? You…are here. How?”

  “Answer my question first!”

  Sonovan did not answer her, instead he cupped her head in his hands. “Now I know that it was worth it.” And there, like how he had done a mil ennium prior, he kissed her.

  Titan watched their encounter from afar. Aiko peeked past her husband and saw him. Though without any of his connections and armor, she felt his presence there. The corrupt Energy was difficult to miss. “Titan?”

  He stared at her. “Aiko.”

  “You do not know how glad I am to see you here.”

  “Glad?”

  “Yes. About time you got what you deserved. My life needed justice.”

  “I am sorry I kil ed you, but it was necessary.”

  Sonovan rolled his eyes. “Whatever you say, old enemy.”

  Titan eyed him in wonder. “How are you not still vengeful?”

  Sonovan slapped his hand on Titan’s dark shoulder and left it there. “Because I forced myself to forgive you. The anger would have destroyed me if I had not. Also, on Herook, I came to a conclusion. You would always be my nemesis—my opposite. I would always be yours.”

  “I see. You do realize it is not over, correct? Z will finish what we started. I am sure of it. And in that moment, you will know I was right.”

  “I believe in heroes.”

  “You mean heroes like me?” Dustin cut in. He ran over through the grass. Sonovan had summoned a planet similar to Herook, except, there was no sky. In its place, the multi-colored essence of the Oora, coupled with a space-like blackness, imitated a dreamscape sky.

  “Ah, Dustin. This is a surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one!”

  “What’s up Sonovan? Oh, are you Aiko?”

  “Hello, Dustin.”

  “Hello, ma’am.” Titan clenched his jaw at the sight of Dustin. “Well, wel , well. If it is not for my kil er.”

  Titan remained silent. He turned and in an instant, vanished. There would be nothing for him there.

  Dustin frowned. “Anyways, see you around, Sonovan.”

  “We shall meet again, my friend!” Sonovan shouted back, his voice resonating throughout the terrain.

  CHAPTER 44

  END OF A JOURNEY

  Johnny walked up to his porch, carrying his mother. At the door, Jane stopped him.

  “If you need anything, I am here. Just remember that. I’l be here for you.”

  “I know you wil .” He was not about to do anything extraordinary—not yet at least. He knocked at the door, and it opened instantly. Timothy Sparks stood there, unsure if he was dreaming or dead.

  “Son?”

  “Yes Dad, it’s me. We prevailed. But something else happened.” Timothy recognized the dead body of Irene in his arms.

  “Irene!” he cried. He checked her pulse and kissed her forehead, but soon recognized she was cold, and her neck snapped. “No!” he screamed. “No! Irene!”

  Johnny cried as he laid her on the sofa. “It was him! That monster took her from me!”

  “Who?!”

  “Someone broke in here, knocked me out, and then took her!”

  Johnny swore. “Solis.”

  “Is that his name?�
��

  “Yes, and by the way, uh, Dustin was killed too.”

  “What?”

  “Dustin. He didn’t make it.”

  “He’s dead?”

  “Yes. But not truly dead. He’s inside the Shadowverse, the alternate universe we had gotten our powers from. Titan and Sonovan are both gone too.”

  Timothy rested his head on her chest and wept there. Too much had happened in the short time it had been. “Too much, my son. It’s all too much.”

  ~~~

  Sam had left his apartment already and departed to his parents’ house. They had been awaiting him, because since Titan had not enacted the Justification, they surmised the Shadowforce overcame Titan. When Sam knocked on the door, it opened in a jiffy.

  “Sam!” his mother screamed. “I knew you would win! Where is Dustin?”

  Sam did not reply but shook his head as his eyes watered. His mother gulped and looked down at the empty suit Sam carried in his arms. “Sam, where is he?”

  “Gone.”

  Jenny col apsed onto the floor as Robert heard the commotion. Sam picked up his mother with ease and placed her on the couch. He expected her reaction. Now, it is Sam’s duty to recap what had occurred, but unsure if he could handle it.

  “Dustin, uh, Dustin didn’t make it, Dad. He fought valiantly to the end, and it was he who destroyed Titan. Sonovan worked off what he did and he and Titan departed into

  the Shadowverse.” His father did not respond, only lament. “But he is stil alive,” he croaked.

  His father looked up at once. In a fit of sobs, he choked, “What?”

  “He’s still alive, just in the Shadowverse. In fact, I can even get to him once in a blue moon.”

  “What?!”

  “Y-Yeah, but you won’t be able to.”

  “I do not care! As long as he’s alive!”

  “Well, he’s not technically a-alive. He’s, you know, d-dead, but his spirit lives on.”

  Robert again lowered his head and sobbed. In fact, they both did.

  “How did he…”

  “Speared.”

  “How did he defeat him?”

  “Ripped off his armor and exposed him as a naked man. We overcame that son of a bitch and his entire army fell apart because of it.”

  “Then?”

  “Titan departed.”

  ~~~

  After a while of seeking out the gravestone, Rose finally found it. The face of the stone was dark brown with gold-colored letters. Sinking to her knees on the wet grass, Rose bent over, face in her hands. The loud wailing prompted Ryan over to her. He squatted down next to her, he massaged her back as she cried.

  Ryan took Rose with him to his mother’s house. The door opened immediately upon his double knock.

  “Son!” she cried in glee. Throwing herself on him, he tried to bend down to embrace.

  “Dustin is gone,” Ryan replied.

  “Dusty? Gone?”

  “D-Dead.”

  “My God.”

  Ryan walked in, Rose behind him. “He died as the strongest of us. He was the one who really destroyed Titan.”

  “What happened?”

  “He destroyed the armor Titan wore after he was…uh…stabbed.”

  “I take it you killed Titan?”

  “Yes. His body is destroyed.”

  “But he is stil alive,” Rose added. “Inside the Shadowverse.”

  “The Shadowverse?”

  “Yeah, remember?” Ryan replied. “The place where we get our powers.”

  “Oh, right.”

  “Dusty is there too. In fact, we could see everyone there. Sonovan, Dustin, and even Titan.”

  “So they aren’t dead?”

  “Right,” replied Rose.

  “And one day, we will go to him,” Ryan replied.

  “Can I go too?”

  “No, you can’t.”

  Bethany sighed, fiddling with her fingers. “What happens now?”

  “Funeral for Johnny’s mother,” Rose replied.

  “Irene?!”

  “Oh, yeah. I forgot to tel you,” Ryan replied in sadness. “She’s gone.”

  “How?”

  “Titan’s second-in-command took her.”

  “Why?”

  “I won’t tel you that,” Ryan replied.

  “Why?”

  “I’m sorry, Mom. But I cannot.”

  ~~~

  Whilst there, Johnny’s phone rang without remorse. “Hello?”

  “Hello there, Mr. Sparks. It’s the President.”

  Johnny stood to listen to what the President had to say. “Oh, hello sir. We won. Talk later. I have lost too much.”

  “I send my condolences, son. But you must hear me. Your defeat of Titan will go down into the annals of history as the greatest showing of courage and strength ever.

  For that, I want to celebrate this day on Saturday. Meet me in Washington, D.C. There, I will present to you certain gifts.”

  Swallowing deep, he grinned ever so slightly. “What do you mean?”

  “Who is it?” Jane asked, trying to listen in.

  “POTUS,” he whispered, covering his hand on the speaker.

  “By gifts, I mean medals and other amenities. Want to work for the world?”

  “Uh, I wil call you back, sir. I need to attend to some things.”

  “Are you hanging up on me?”

  “No, Mr. President. My mother was just murdered and my best friend stabbed. Can you just wait a bit?”

  The President let out a gasp and tried to catch his breath. Johnny heard it. “Take as long as you need, son.”

  “Thank you, sir.” Johnny hung up the phone.

  “Who was that, son?” Timothy asked, raising his head off of Irene’s chest. “Who?”

  “It was the President, Dad.”

  “Well, what did he want now?”

  “He wants to discuss a deal.”

  “What?” Jane asked.

  “I don’t know. We’ll find out when we get there.”

  “I’m proud of you, Johnny,” Timothy said through an intense sigh. “Never forget that.”

  “I love you, Dad.”

  This emotional conversation made Jane miss her parents. They died when she was only a young teenager, and her grandparents died only a year ago. She had been so alone, and if it were not for them, she probably would be in an asylum for the insane.

  Once an hour passed, Johnny phoned the President again. Through sniffles, he said,

  “Mr. President, it’s Johnny Sparks.”

  “Hello, son. How you doing? Need anything?”

  “I’m getting there, sir.”

  “That is great to hear. You know, my wife has been praying for you for the past few days. She’s become an animal.”

  Johnny chuckled at the thought of the First Lady in deep intercession for him. “Thank her for me, please.”

  “I will. So, what do you want to know?”

  “Everything.”

  “All right, how abo—”

  Johnny ruminated on the idea, though. It did not feel right with him. “Actually, sir, can we come over? I would much rather my friends hear with me than just myself. It doesn’t feel right.”

  “Sounds good, Mr. Sparks.”

  ~~~

  For nearly an hour, Sam tried to summon the memories of the day. And once he did, Sam, his father, and now fully awake mother sniveled. To put the situation bluntly, the triad had a chaotically sad yet splendid time knowing their brother and son was alive, in a place not even they might ever fathom. Then, Sam received a cal .

  Rubbing his nose of the mucus, Sam spoke into his phone. “Who is it?”

  “Hey, bud. How are you doing?” It was Johnny.

  “Well, considering our master and archenemy are gone, my brother gone but still technically alive, Rose’s father also dead, and Irene dead too, I’m doing my best.”

  Johnny coughed on the other end. “I’m doing terribly,” he said, sniffling and rubbing his eyes
.

  “You sound like you want to say something. What is it?”

  “Well, the President cal ed and he wants to meet up with us at the White House.

  Some kind of discussion. I don’t know. He was about to tell me, but I told him I’d rather do it together. Not today though. I cannot do it today.”

  “Thoughtful of you. Thanks, man. Yeah, I’ll…uh…be right over anyway.”

  “Whenever you’re ready, dude.” There was a pause. “I miss Dustin. It won’t be the same.”

  “Yeah,” he replied, glancing at the floor during a sniffle. “And with Sonovan gone, who’s the leader?”

  “We are. Like Sonovan told us. We are the Shadowforce. He is the past, but we are the future.”

  “Sounds good.”

  CHAPTER 45

  MISSION

  Forty-eight hours raced by until the Shadowforce teleported to the White House to meet with the President. During that time, they buried Irene Sparks, the plot of ground dug and casket placed inside. The entire Shadowforce attended the burial. Johnny and Sam both slept for a day straight. Jane did as well.

  Johnny and his father held each other and wept as the black casket was covered in dirt. From the dust she arose, and to the dust she returned. Jane made an effort to support him as best she could—even more so than Ryan and Sam. Of course, she made sure she did not exaggerate or overdo herself, trying to help but also not make anything too awkward.

  A few more days elapsed and the Shadowforce slowly waned out of the hell the past few weeks had brought. Despite the permanent absence of Dustin Jones, the Hurricane, and Sonovan Lung, the team decided to meet the President.

  The peace and quiet of the Oval Office reversed once the Shadowforce arrived.

  Standing in his black suit complete with a blue tie, the President smiled. “Ah, my young heroes.” Johnny instantly had a flashback to the time Titan had spoken an identical salutation on his ship. Forcing the thought out of his mind, he dedicated his mind to remain engrossed into whatever the President had to offer. “Good to see you. Please.

  Sit down.” Motioning to a Secret Serviceman, the guard fetched five chairs. “Now, let us begin. Where should I start?”

  “Anywhere you’d like,” Johnny replied.

  “All right. The United Nations will host an event for you here in D.C. I expect you to be there, barring any external influences. The Secretary-General of the UN will present you with awards and medals. Sound good so far?”