Superverse

Chapter 1: Origins

     Growing up, life was great. I was the top dog everywhere I went, the peak of my life. I first discovered my powers in third grade during recess when I stopped a car and saved my friend. I became famous in fifth grade, winning the Super Olympics without breaking a sweat. The strongest man in the world. Everyone wanted to meet me.

     My mother, like all the other supers mothers, was pregnant during the solar radiation storm of 2050 that engulfed the Earth. Many of those children gained abilities, but none of them were as fast as me, as strong, or as useful. My superstrength let me do whatever I wanted, live the life the rest of the world dreamed of. I was meant to be the best.

     But now, I use my powers for construction and freelance work. The world’s forgotten about me. I have the big house, all the cars a man could want, and I take care of my entire family. But I’m empty inside. I am so lonely. Nobody understands me, nobody understands what I’m meant for. Nobody cares.

     “Bruce, you’re worth millions—what more do you need!?” my mother yells whenever I try to talk about it.

     My junior year of high school was when Eagle showed up. He can fly around the world in an hour. Anything job my strength can handle, he can get to reach faster and do it just as well. His name isn’t even Eagle, it’s Bradley. He’s so dumb. He’s no eagle. Nowadays, Eagle is everywhere: every aisle, every cereal box, every commercial, every movie. He took my shine. That should’ve been me. It all should’ve been mine. I have the money, but I want the fame.

     I stand in front of the mirror, looking at what I’ve become. I’m in great shape, wearing expensive clothes. The mirror’s as big as my childhood bed. But what I see is a nobody. I see empty eyes. I see nothingness. The hero I was meant to be to be is nowhere to be found. My breath fogs the glass. For a moment, I imagine the applause, the faces cheering my name and that’s what breaks me. I’ve had enough. I’m done living this life.

     I clench my fist and punch the mirror. Shards of glass rain down. I pick up my super work permit from the counter, look at it for one last second, and throw it in the trash. The paper flutters, useless, meaningless. I storm into my room and pull on a dark hoodie. I drag the ski mask over my face. Tonight, it ends. Tonight, I begin to make my name as a vigilante.

Chapter 2: Mediocrity

     The night air hits me like ice as I step out into the city. Streetlights flicker, cars hum, distant sirens wail. L.A. gets crazy at night I know finding crime will be easy.

     I stick to the rooftops, jumping from roof to roof. My knees ache with each landing; thirty is catching up to me. I stop and watch a couple walking below—holding hands, talking, kissing.

     I never found that kind of connection. I’ve always wondered if I was open to it.

     I keep moving, and then I see it: a mugging in an alley. Five men in ski masks forcing an old man down an alley. I can see the gun tucked into the small of his back, held by the one walking right behind him. I pause, adrenaline spiking. Part of me wants to savor the moment, make a dramatic entrance, but that’s not who I am tonight. I’m precise, efficient. I leap down from the roof. As I land asphalt explodes beneath my feet.

     The thugs spin, eyes wide, but it’s too late. My fist connects with one, sending him sliding into the alley wall. Another freezes as I snatch the gun from his hand and throw him into the nearest car. The old man stares at me, his face a mixture of terror and disbelief. The rest of the masked men scramble and run, faces pale with fear. The old man stumbles backward, muttering nothing, too stunned to speak.

     I pull my hood tighter. The adrenaline, the fear, the rush—it’s intoxicating.

     I continue through the night, stopping crimes and helping people—any small thing I see. I foil a gas-station robbery. I punched that guy through two aisles. I rip a man out of a car wreck where he was pinned, leaving him in the grass as he gapes at me wide-eyed.

     I head home at five in the morning, exhausted. I wake up in a daze, feeling like I’d been drunk. I turn on the TV. The news talks about the new vigilante. The host is in full monologue mode. “This new guy thinks he can do whatever he wants. We have laws for a reason, you cannot operate outside those boundaries. Look at the amount of property damage and personal injury these so-called ‘heroic’ acts have caused,” he says, pinching his fingers for emphasis. “The cops will find this guy and arrest him. The only hero we need in this country is Eagle. He handles the big things our government calls him for. Leave the rest to the brave men and women who serve this country.”

      I grab the remote and change the channel. That guy’s clueless; crime here is too high for the cops to handle it all. I get up to brush my teeth when my phone rings.

     “Hello?” I answer. “Bruce, this is FBI Agent Thompson,” he says. His voice is calm but firm, clipped, almost mechanical, with a faint hum of a secure line in the background. “Do you know why I’m calling?” “No,” I say. “How many people do you know with superstrength?” he asks. “Uh… there’s a lot. Those influencer gym bros have a lot of young men doing steroids these days,” I say.

     “Ha. he says unamused. We’re always monitoring you. Never do that again, or we’ll come get you. And it won’t be state jail you’ll be coming with us somewhere special.” Then he hangs up.

     I clench my fists in frustration as a single tear runs down my face. I gather my bearings and go pull my Super Work Permit out of the trash.

Chapter 3: Judgement Day 

     Months have passed since my vigilante night. I’ve returned to just working, living my mediocre life. I get home from a long shift, turn on the TV, and flip channels, looking for something to play in the background while I scroll endlessly on my phone.

     An emergency broadcast overtakes the screen. Unknown foreign objects are entering the Earth’s atmosphere. They appeared out of nowhere—NASA was unaware of anything flying into Earth’s trajectory.

     “The weird thing about these,” the newscaster says as the live feed plays, “is… they’re moving through Earth’s atmosphere at 10,000 miles per hour. They’re slowing down. There are hundreds of them. The good news is most are on course to land in the ocean. We’ll see if Eagle can stop the rest.”

     The feed cuts to the white house podium setup. Eagle stands next to the president and top defense officials, waving at the cameras with the grin he always has. President Hampton begins to speak.

     “We have been monitoring these objects since they appeared. We are unsure of their origin. Thirty of these are on course to land on U.S. soil, which would cause massive damage. Fortunately, we will not allow that to happen, so no need to panic. Eagle will intercept each one anticipated to hit land, and then help other countries as well.”

     He motions Eagle over to the microphone. Eagle takes a deep breath, looks straight into the camera, and says, “America have no worries. I’m here.” He takes off into the air, wind knocking everyone back. Cameras track him as he heads toward one of the objects. He flies into it, attempting to cut right through. Before making contact, he bounces off, flying back toward the Earth. Eagle stops midair, shaking his head, staring at the object as it completely halts in its descent.

I sit frozen, fists tightening. My heart pounds.

     The object becomes clearly visible: a ball of metal with a smooth surface. A blue light flashes, and the object disappears. In its place stands a man—but not a man. A figure twice the size of Eagle, arms crossed. His skin is a combination of black and purple. A square head rests atop his massive body.

     The alien drops his hands and appears in front of Eagle in an instant. He grabs Eagle’s face with a hand as large as Eagle’s head and throws him toward the Earth. Eagle plummets at a burning speed. The alien follows, grinning during the chase. He punches Eagle, sending him crashing into the ground. Eagle grovels in pain, his body half-buried in a crater. The camera zooms in, capturing his terror.

     The alien slowly lowers himself, arms crossed again, staring at Eagle as he levitates above him. Eagle struggles as he stands up, his expression pure fear. He looks at the alien screams and flies away at maximum speed, disappearing from sight.

     The camera focuses on the alien. He stands alone, grinning, a looming presence. Then he takes off into the air, vanishing from view. The feed switches back to the White House, showing an empty podium where the president was expected to speak at the conclusion of Eagle’s mission.

     Suddenly, the alien appears, looming over the stage, the crowd screaming in terror. “Humans!” he yells. “This planet is ours!” He laughs as chaos erupts. Secret Service and military personnel approach in line, firing at him. Amid gunfire, crashing into his massive body, he lifts a hand and fires a blast, blowing them all to smithereens.

     He turns toward the White House and fires another beam, setting it ablaze. Then he faces the camera, grinning and lifts his hand, then feed cuts out, leaving only static.

     I sit on my couch, frozen. My hands tremble. My heart races. I can’t move.

     My phone rings. I pick it up. “Bruce.” “Yes?” “Agent Thompson. Come in. I’m texting you an address, be there ASAP. We need you.” And the phone clicks.

Chapter 4: A New Hero

     The facility was massive, a fortress of steel and glass hidden in the Nevada desert. I arrived under Thompson’s instructions. A man emerged from the building, gesturing for me to come in. I followed him inside.

     “Thompson, nice to formally meet you,” he said as I followed him through the hall. He led me to a room.

Eagle was there, sitting at a table. Screens lined the walls, following the destruction the aliens were causing. The smug grin I’d always hated was gone, replaced with exhaustion. He stood with his arms crossed near the training bay.

     “Bruce,” he muttered, eyes avoiding mine.

     “That fight went well,” I said. “You ran. People are dying, cities are falling, and you”

     “I never wanted this,” he cut me off. “I love the fame, I love the money, but I wasn’t intending on dying! This… this isn’t a game. This is life and death. I’m not built for this.”

     I stepped closer, fists clenching. “Not built for it? People are dying, and you just… hide? You’re supposed to be the symbol everyone looks up to! The one we need! And now? Cities are leveled, and the world’s losing hope!”

     “I can’t,” he said quietly, voice breaking. He lowered his head.

     “Alright enough, let’s get into this,” Agent Thompson said. “You two are the best chance we have at saving the planet from whatever these things are. We will be researching them to try to discover a weakness. In the meantime, you two will be training. Hopefully, you can find will in this Eagle. We will also be working to find other candidates that can help this mission.”

     Weeks passed in the facility. We trained relentlessly. I pushed him to spar, to fly drills, endurance runs, combat simulations. Eagle barely moved at first, barely participated, but I didn’t back down. Time became a blur. The news outlets began to question Eagle’s absence.

     Headlines screamed: “The Hero Who Abandoned Us,” “Eagle Missing: Is Earth Doomed?”

     While wandering through the facility, I discovered the government’s secret monitoring program for supers. Banks of terminals tracked every capable super on the planet, analyzing abilities, potential, and activity. Every movement was logged. Every mission, every power deployment recorded. They knew where I was at all times. This is how Thompson knew to call me that night. They had been watching, waiting, tracking.

     Weeks here gave me a new perspective. The agencies were pooling all resources, coordinating to gather the strongest supers for battle. But there were so few who were truly capable, and most of them were nowhere to be found. That meant it was all on me. I didn’t want any help anyway. I always knew this was what I was made for. I always knew I deserved the recognition Eagle got.

     The weeks flew by. I had purpose for the first time in years. Eagle stayed on the sidelines, helping with training but never going on missions.

     I began to go out on missions alone. Small battles at first, aliens the agency had deemed weaker of the bunch. I liberated towns under siege. Word of the “new hero” spread fast. People began to remember the kid with super strength. The news shifted, now reporting on me, the man they had ignored a short time ago. I was Earth’s savior in the headlines, taking the fame and recognition Eagle had.

     I wasn’t just strong; I was needed. And unlike Eagle, I wasn’t running.

     I was sent on a mission to take down one of the identified key leaders of the aliens. The same one that had defeated Eagle when they first arrived.

     When I arrived, the sky was a burning canvas of orange and black, cities smoldering below.

The same alien that had defeated Eagle months ago hovered above the rubble. Twice the size of any I’d faced before. His black and purple skin shimmered like molten metal. A square head rested atop massive shoulders. Even from this distance, the aura of his power made the air tremble.

     I clenched my fists and stared, ready to go. He laughed, low and hollow, a sound that made the buildings shake. “You think you could defeat me?”

     I darted forward, fists blazing. I struck his chest, hoping to land a solid hit. He staggered back just slightly, then swung his massive arm and sent me crashing into a skyscraper. Concrete and steel rained down around me.

     I rose again, summoning every ounce of power I had. I jumped back to him, loaded up to strike.

We clashed, the sound of our blows shaking the city. As the fight went on, I was learning his pattern, the way he moved, how he seemed to siphon energy from the fires, the crumbling buildings, the very life of the city.

     “You feed off this world… don’t you?” I yelled, blocking a crushing blow.

     “Foolish human,” he said. “You know nothing of my kind. I am Zarb—a Leenite. We harvest life essence, and we take the resources of every planet we touch. Your world… will be perfect for us.” “Leenites, huh? You bunch are about to learn about the resolve of humanity. You picked the wrong planet,” I said, throwing a flurry of punches. “You think you can stop us?” Zarb boomed as he grabbed me and tossed me into the ground.

     I lunged at him again. Energy surged around us, tearing through streets and buildings. He staggered, but then, with terrifying speed, he caught me midair and slammed me down.

I hit the ground hard, vision spinning. I struggled to rise, fists digging into rubble. I yelled, summoning the last reserves of my strength.

     Zarb hovered above me, arms crossed. “Strength alone cannot save you. You are brave but foolish. You are doomed.”

I launched myself at him one final time. My fist collided with his in a blinding flash, and I felt energy arc around us. Buildings shook. Fires leapt higher. For a moment, it seemed I had the upper hand. But Zarb laughed.

     Then Zarb struck. With a single, devastating blow, he sent me rocketing backward. The city spun around me. I crashed through skyscrapers, streets, and rubble—everything blurring in flames and dust.

     Zarb flew towards me, grabbing me by my leg, and took off while I dangled through the air, falling in and out of consciousness. He dragged me through buildings, my lifeless body flailing. Each one collapsed behind us.

     The news live cast cameras played for all to see as he toyed with me, beating me to the brink of death. Earth’s newest hero was about to fall. Right when Zarb went to deliver the finishing blow, Eagle flew in full speed, striking him head-on and sending Zarb flying. Eagle grabbed me and took off as fast as he could.

     The world spun and the lights faded as Eagle flew me to an area of green in the middle of nowhere. He dropped me at a secluded cabin surrounded by forest. Eagle did this quickly and flew right back to fight Zarb.

     Zarb, furious, pulled no punches, brutally beating Eagle for the world to see. Eagle stood no chance, he was faster but just didn’t have the strength. Zarb pinned Eagle to the ground and ripped one of his arms off. Eagle screamed in agony. Zarb laughed manically and began beating Eagle with his own arm.

     A team of three supers came crashing out of the sky. “Get Eagle out of here!” a woman yelled. She pressed her fingers to her forehead, and Zarb froze in place, unable to move under her control. A second member grabbed Eagle and teleported back into the aircraft that brought them there. The third member summoned two grenades out of thin air and tossed them at Zarb, exploding with crashing booms. He then summoned a large minigun and began firing into the explosion before the dust even settled.

     “He’s still there! I can’t hold him much longer!” the woman yelled.

     “We know what we came here to do,” the man replied. “Our sacrifices are for the greater good.”

     Gunfire continued to rain into the dust cloud. Zarb screamed and flew into the air. The woman shot purple constructs at him shaped like discs. Zarb motioned his hands and sent off big beams at the two, screaming in frustration.          There was no response to his attacks. When the beams stopped, there was nothing left but charred earth. Earth’s heroes had again been defeated. The Leenites appeared to be too strong. Survivors watched the newscast in despair, losing their last semblance of hope.

Chapter 5: Never the same 

     I woke to the sound of wind through the trees, my head pounding and every muscle screaming in pain. My vision blurred, sunlight slicing through the cabin’s small windows. I tried to move, but a wave of pain knocked me back into the mattress.

     “Easy there.” A calm voice broke through the haze. I blinked and saw an older woman standing over me. Her eyes were sharp but gentle. “Don’t try to move. You’ve been through hell.” “Where… where am I?” I croaked, my voice dry and cracked.

     “You’re safe,” she said softly. “I’m Eagle’s mother. You’ve taken quite a beating. I’m afraid… you might never fight again, judging by your injuries.”

     I tried to sit up, anger flaring despite the pain. “I can’t just sit here. I have to get back out there. I have to defeat the Leenites.” She shook her head firmly. “You’re broken, Bruce. Your body needs time. Pushing yourself now could kill you.”

Before I could respond, another voice joined hers.

     “She’s right, you know,” Faith said, stepping into the room. Her gaze softened when it landed on me. “You’re lucky you’re even alive.” I tried to glare at her, but the effort left me dizzy. “And who are you?” “Faith,” she said simply. “Eagle’s sister. I live here with my mom. Eagle trusted you enough to bring you here when no one else knows where we are, so we’ll take care of you.”

     She settled into a chair beside the bed. For days she stayed there, tending my wounds, massaging stiff muscles, and guiding me through exercises I could barely manage. Pain became my constant companion. Eagle’s mom kept a strict watch, scolding me when I overexerted and when I ignored her warnings. “Bruce, your body is fragile. You think strength alone will save you? You’re not invincible.”

     “I don’t care!” I growled one night, sweat and blood dripping from a failed workout attempt in the small cabin training space. “I’ll get stronger. I’ll go back. I’ll stop them!”

Faith stayed silent for a moment, then reached out and brushed her hand across my arm. Warmth spread where her fingers touched. Slowly, the tightness in my muscles eased, the pain dulled, my strength returning—not fully, but enough to make me believe. “See?” she whispered. “You’re not as broken as you think.”

     Days turned into weeks. I trained relentlessly—every push, every hit, every failed attempt inching me closer to being battle-ready again. Faith stayed by my side, watching, correcting, encouraging—and without either of us realizing it, becoming something more than just a friend.

     The quiet evenings in the cabin, the shared meals, the long talks about everything and nothing it grew into something powerful, something steady. And with her power, her love, she helped me reclaim more than just muscle and bone. My confidence returned. My reflexes sharpened. Every small victory fueled the fire that I could fight again.

     But outside the cabin, the world was still burning. Cities fell. Forests burned. I watched the tv daily as a reminder of my mission. The Leenites continued their relentless extraction of life from Earth. Even from the cabin, we could feel it, the air thinner, the plants withering. Their shadow stretched across every corner of the planet, a constant reminder that my recovery wasn’t just for me it was for everyone still fighting to survive.

     One morning, I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “It’s been three weeks, and I feel nowhere close to full strength. When can I expect to be at least halfway healed?”

Eagle’s mom frowned. “Well… you sustained serious injuries, Bruce. I don’t think you’ll be able to fight again anytime soon.”

     “I’ll fight in any shape I can. Please—just help me get some semblance of myself back.”

     “Mom,” Faith said quietly, “I think I love him.” Her mother’s head snapped toward her. “What? When have you two had the time for this?” Faith blushed but didn’t look away. “He’s just… amazing.”

     Her mother’s expression softened, though concern lingered in her eyes. “Faith, love can be powerful… and dangerous. But if your heart’s sure, maybe it’s time to trust it.”

     I sat there confused, unsure what was happening. Faith grabbed my arm and closed her eyes looking focused. I felt a warmth spread through me. Gentle at first, then blazing like sunlight under my skin. My breath caught as the pain vanished. My scars faded before my eyes. Strength flooded my veins.

     I stood, trembling in disbelief. “What was that!? You could heal this whole time!?” Faith looked down, cheeks flushed. “It only works… if I love someone.” Eagle’s mom gave a small nod. “Then it seems he’s yours to save.”

     “Now you know why we must hide out here. Her gift is too powerful. If people found out they would try to take advantage of her. She then turned away, hiding a faint smile. “I’ll fetch your things. I’m sure you’ll want to leave right away.”

     I pulled Faith into a hug, overwhelmed by the energy coursing through me. “I feel stronger than ever. Spending these weeks with you has been a true calm in the storm for me. You’ve given me a reason to fight even harder.”

     “Go win,” she whispered, eyes glistening. “And come back for me.”

     At dawn, I stepped outside into the cold air, the cabin fading behind me. The rising sun caught the edge of the mountains, painting the sky in gold. I looked back once, memorizing the quiet safety of this place—then turned toward the horizon.

     The world was dying. But I was alive again. And I was ready to make them pay.

Chapter 6: Resurgence

     When I arrived at HQ, the air around it smelled like smoke and death. The sky was red from the fires burning miles away, ash drifting like snow over what was left of the world’s defense base. The place that once housed hundreds of soldiers now felt like a tomb.

     When I stepped through the gates, people froze. They looked at me like they were seeing a ghost. Maybe they were.

Agent Thompson stormed toward me, disbelief etched across his face. “Where the hell have you been?”

     “Dead,” I said simply, brushing past him. He followed close behind. “You picked a good time to come back from the grave. The world’s on its last breath. The Leenites have overrun half the planet. There’s no capable supers left to hold them off.”

     We walked through the wreckage of HQ — hallways lined with wounded soldiers, broken machines, shattered hopes.           Thompson stopped in front of the command table, flicking on a holographic display. Red dots covered the map. “Zarb’s the general around here,” he said. “If he falls, their ground forces collapse. But no one can touch him. Not anymore.”

     “I can,” I said, eyes fixed on the glowing red center of the map.

     Thompson studied me for a long moment, then gestured toward the corner. “Someone’s been waiting to see you.”

I turned — and froze. Eagle stood there, or what was left of him. One arm gone, scars burned deep into his body, his once-golden aura now dull. “Bradley,” I said quietly.

     He gave a faint, crooked smile. “Didn’t think I’d see you again, man.” “What happened?” I asked.

     “What always happens,” he muttered. “I lost. I’ve been trying to make it right since.”

     I looked at the empty space where his arm used to be. “I know Faith could heal you you’re her brother, she loves you. Why haven’t you gone to her?” I whispered.

     His eyes hardened. “Because I don’t deserve it. Not yet. I ran when it mattered most. I’ll get this back when I earn it.”

For a second, neither of us spoke. Then I nodded. “Then let’s both earn it.”

     Thompson broke the silence, rolling a metal case onto the table. He opened it, revealing a matte-black super suit lined with glowing silver patterns. “This was designed using fragments recovered from Leenite armor. It’s resistant to their energy blasts. We had one made for you, figured you might come back.”

     I ran my hand over the metal — cool, heavy, and humming faintly with energy. “Let’s put it to use,” I said. “Where’s Zarb now?” “They’ve got a base here,” he pointed at the map. “You want to go straight to him? What about what happened last time?” he asked, concern in his voice.

     “I’m a lot stronger this time. And I have a feeling you are too.” I looked over at Eagle, and he nodded back in confirmation.

      Hours later, I stood on the battlefield — a wasteland of burning cities and black skies. Zarb hovered above the ruins, his body pulsing with violet light. His voice thundered across the horizon. “You again?” he growled. “You survived our last encounter? Impressive… but pointless.”

     “This time,” I said, “I finish it.”

     He laughed — the same hollow, rumbling laugh that haunted my nightmares. Then he charged.

The ground split as we collided. Metal clashed against raw power. Each hit sent shockwaves through the city. I ducked under a massive swing, drove my fist into his ribs, and felt his armor crack. He roared, grabbed me by the throat, and slammed me into the ground hard enough to crater the street.

Pain flared through my body, but I pushed back. I hit him with everything — elbows, knees, punches like thunder. Every blow I landed sent bursts of fire and light into the air. I felt stronger this time, and his attacks were finally manageable.

     “You fight well for something so fragile,” Zarb sneered. “But your strength is borrowed. Your world is dying.” “Then I’ll drag you down with it,” I growled.

     He charged another energy blast, but the suit absorbed it, the metal glowing white-hot before fading. I used the moment to strike — leaping up and driving a full-force punch into his jaw, then another, then another.

     Zarb staggered back, blood, or something like it dripping from his mouth. “You think this ends with me?” he snarled.

Before he could move again, a golden streak slammed into his chest, Eagle. One-armed, but burning with defiance.

“Miss me?” Eagle shouted, grabbing Zarb’s head and sending him crashing into the ground.

     Together, we unleashed everything — me with raw fury, him with precision. The sky lit up with the impact of every strike. Zarb fought back, wild and monstrous, tearing through concrete and fire. But this time, we didn’t break. I caught him with one final uppercut that lifted him off the ground. Eagle flew in, tackling him midair, and pinned him to the ground.

     “Now!” he yelled. I flew in full force and punched a hole straight through Zarb’s chest.

     “This is just the beginning… I am not the strongest… I am not the only…” Zarb hissed as the fiery red light faded from his eyes. His body went limp as I pulled my hand free. His insides were barren black nothingness. The tar like gunk covering my arm.

     Zarb lay motionless, his armor shattered, his body stiff. The storm above began to break, sunlight piercing through the smoke for the first time in months.

Eagle dropped beside me, breathing hard, his one arm resting on his knee. “Guess we earned it,” he said, smiling faintly.

“Go get your arm back, brother. We’ve got more battles ahead,” I said, beaming at him with a big smile.

     Camera drones circled above, capturing the image of two battered heroes standing over the fallen alien general. Around the world, broadcasts erupted —“ZARB IS DEAD!” — “EARTH FIGHTS BACK!”

     For the first time in a long time… humanity believed again. There was hope we can win.