ISSUE #36
Embedded Files
Page 1 – Full-page spread:
The setting is a quiet, secluded graveyard under an overcast sky. A row of heroes stands in solemn silence, all dressed in black suits. Their expressions are heavy with grief. A freshly dug grave sits before them with a sleek black coffin lowered halfway. Captain Hawke stands at the front, giving a eulogy. Evan, Jason, Phantomark, Lena, Voltfist, Mirage, Mindquake—all are present. Evan’s parents stand respectfully toward the back. Flowers rest gently on the casket. A carved headstone reads simply: “Aegis – Defender, Friend, Hero.”
Caption (narration):
“The world never knew. But the heroes did. Aegis had fallen… and they came to say goodbye.”
Page 2 – Panel 1:
Captain Hawke, holding back emotion, speaks with power and sadness. Everyone’s heads are bowed. Phantomark’s face is clenched in grief.
Captain Hawke:
“Aegis stood when no one else would. He gave everything—his strength, his courage, his life—for the rest of us to keep going.”
Page 2 – Panel 2:
Close-up on Phantomark’s face. A tear escapes one eye. His jaw is tight. He doesn’t blink.
Caption (narration):
“For Phantomark, it wasn’t just a teammate. It was his brother in all but blood.”
Page 2 – Panel 3:
Jason stands near the back, his eyes full of guilt. Lena stands beside him, arms crossed tightly, staring blankly at the ground.
Caption (narration):
“Jason carried the weight of what-ifs. Lena, the burden of foresight that failed her.”
Page 2 – Panel 4:
Evan’s parents exchange a quiet, mournful glance. Even they feel the loss of someone they barely knew.
Margaret (softly):
“He was so brave... and now he’s gone.”
Page 3 – Panel 1:
The coffin is lowered. The heroes each place a white flower into the grave. Phantomark is the last to do so. His hand trembles as he lets the flower fall.
Page 3 – Panel 2:
Everyone walks slowly away from the grave, the ceremony over. The city skyline looms in the distance, a stark contrast to the quiet.
Page 3 – Panel 3:
The remaining heroes walk in small groups along a city park path in silence. A rare moment—heroes in suits, unmasked, simply human.
Page 4 – Panel 1:
Evan and Jason walk with Phantomark, gently talking to him.
Evan:
“He wouldn’t want you to carry this alone.”
Jason:
“We’re still here. For you. Always.”
Page 4 – Panel 2:
Mindquake and Mirage walk side by side with Lena, who’s wiping her face.
Mindquake:
“You couldn’t have seen everything, Lena.”
Mirage:
“You did your best. He knew that.”
Page 4 – Panel 3:
Voltfist, strong and calm, approaches Captain Hawke. They speak quietly, solemnly.
Voltfist:
“Command’s holding up... barely.”
Captain Hawke:
“We lost more than a soldier. We lost hope. And that’s harder to recover.”
Page 5 – Panel 1:
Margaret and Thomas stand beside Evan, preparing to leave. Their voices are distant, tired.
Thomas:
“The food we made... from when you left for Thalora... it’s still in the fridge.”
Evan (quietly):
“Thanks. I’ll... I’ll eat.”
Page 5 – Panel 2:
In a nearby tree, a small metallic probe watches. Its red eye scans each hero. HUD vision shows data streaming. When it focuses on Evan, a blinking red warning flashes: “TARGET LOCKED.”
Page 5 – Panel 3:
The probe zips silently into the sky, vanishing into space. No one notices.
Page 6 – Panel 1:
Back at the base. The team slowly walks in, faces hollow. Captain Hawke stands before them.
Captain Hawke:
“Take a day. Two, if you need. Military’s covering us. You’ve earned it.”
Page 6 – Panel 2:
They all nod in silent agreement. Evan looks toward the exit.
Evan:
“I’ll head home. I should eat... something.”
Page 7 – Panel 1:
Lena flies alone, landing on a cliff high above a distant mountain range. She sits, arms around her knees, eyes staring into the clouds.
Page 7 – Panel 2:
Mindquake and Mirage stroll quietly through a city park trail. Mirage reaches out and takes Mindquake’s hand.
Page 8 – Panel 1:
Phantomark is in his darkened room. He holds a framed photo of him and Aegis, laughing in uniforms on their first day. Other pictures show them playing video games, training, standing on a rocky planet.
Caption (narration):
“From the first day at the Facility... to the last day on the battlefield.”
Page 8 – Panel 2:
Phantomark hugs the picture tightly.
Phantomark (whispering):
“Goodbye, my friend. Rest in peace.”
Page 8 – Panel 3:
Voltfist enters the room quietly. He places a hand on Phantomark’s shoulder.
Voltfist:
“He really meant a lot to you, huh?”
Phantomark (nodding):
“He was the only one who never gave up on me. No matter what I did... or who I was.”
Page 8 – Panel 4:
Voltfist sits next to him in silence. The two sit in quiet mourning, brothers in arms.
Page 9 – Panel 1:
Jason, unsure of where to go, flies through the air and spots Lena sitting on the mountain.
Page 9 – Panel 2:
He lands softly beside her. They don’t speak at first. Then she glances over.
Lena:
“Didn’t expect company.”
Jason:
“Didn’t know where else to go.”
Page 9 – Panel 3:
They talk as the sun begins to dip. Words shared, memories spoken. Jason places his hand on hers.
Lena (quietly):
“I miss him.”
Jason:
“Me too.”
Page 9 – Panel 4:
She grabs his hand tightly. He doesn’t let go. They lean into each other, finding comfort in the silence as stars begin to appear above.
Page 10 – Panel 1:
Evan walks down his street. No flight. No cape. Just steps.
Page 10 – Panel 2:
He enters his home. His parents are already at the dinner table, food warmed up. He sits with them, silent.
Page 10 – Panel 3:
The three of them eat quietly. No one says a word. Just the sound of cutlery.
Caption (narration):
“Sometimes the loudest grief... is the kind that says nothing at all.”
Page 10 – Panel 4:
Evan stands at the bottom of the stairs. He looks at his parents, then nods gently.
Evan:
“Goodnight.”
Page 10 – Panel 5:
He walks up the stairs slowly. The final panel shows him sitting on the edge of his bed in darkness, his head bowed.
Caption (narration):
“The world lost a hero. But Evan lost a friend.”
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