Silver Lining: Heroes with Oddly Specific Powers

By Brett P. S.

Magnanimous, now head of the UN.C., stood one step away from uniting resonance in the western world. He was getting older and Simon was well past his prime. During a pivotal vote, a rogue resonance user by the name King Midas interrupted the Italian senate, a powerful gold metallomancer leading a nefarious group with goals unknown. In Spectrum's absence, it was up to Miles to strike back.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brett P. S.
• Release date: Feb 19, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311994301

Brett P. S.

Brett Sawyer (1986), born in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, is an indie author who writes short stories & novellas, from science fiction to heroes. He graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 2015 with a Bachelor’s in education and currently teaches game design at Lake Land College.Short Change arrived at retailers in November of 2014, the start of a hero series where ordinary people gained powers over oddly specific domains, following the story of a shorter than average hero who can telekinetically manipulate small units of currency.Short Change is free on “smashwords.com/profile/view/BrettPS” and Barnes & Noble along with other samples and short fiction.Brett’s popular releases in science fiction include “Dark Station” and “Tales from the Colony: An Interstellar Saga.” Dark Station is a deep space thriller set aboard an abandoned orbital science station where Ben Gebbley and his crew secretly investigate the disappearance of the original staff before others come to claim the lost assets.

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Table of Contents

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

EPILOGUE

Prologue

The World Needs a Hero

Paris, France

Two years following the defeat of the Berlin Djinn …

Miles Emmerson. Age 31. With the help of his allies, Miles rose up as the super hero Metallomancer Magnanimous, who put an end to the Berlin Djinn. Wherever the villain vanished, it was far away from the world Miles knew. Perhaps James McCarthy joined the ranks of those arbiters of resonance, the Architects, as Will said he would. Maybe. Miles wasn’t ready to believe in something like that, but he trusted Will when he said James was gone for good.

Miles strode up a quiet grassy hill in southern Paris, far from the UN.C. headquarters. Starlight filled the sky, interrupted occasionally by looming clouds overhead. Miles wore his resonance suit, as he usually did. He spent most of his time as Magnanimous, hardly ever setting foot around the city without the cowl.

Where are you Will? he said. The world isn’t right without you.

Miles stopped at the highest point and stared up at the twinkling blanket that covered Paris and heaved a heavy sigh on a cold November night. His breath puffed out in a wisp of visible gas. It’s all he ever was, a bag of hot air. Will was the real hero. Will saved the world. Miles just watched, a bystander compared to the might of Spectrum.

Miles rubbed his gloved hands together to build up some friction. The air grew cold and a chill ran up his back. He might have caught something yesterday, but Magnanimous was a man of consistency. He would remain steadfast in his weekly routine, no matter what.

Spectrum left Simon and Miles to head the UN.C. on their own merit. He was out there somewhere, drifting in starlight. Wherever he flew off to, he’d be back. He said he would. Miles just didn’t know when.

Same deal as before, I suppose, Miles said. I wonder sometimes if you can even hear me out there, if you can hear the world calling out for a hero.

The world has a hero, Magnanimous.

Miles heard him clear as day, and he spun around to catch a flash of hard light erupt in a quiet flare. It settled in a familiar form, the resonance user he’d come to know as Will, otherwise called Spectrum. Miles smiled and ran over to give the man a hug like he’d never forget in all space and time.

It’s actually you! Miles said. I can’t believe it.

Miles worked his way back a few steps and dried his eyes. It had been years, but Spectrum looked no worse for wear. He hadn’t aged a day, if at all. Miles examined the otherworldly clothing Will wore, something closer to a tunic and odd dark slacks, though he couldn’t place it.

I can’t stay for long, Miles, Will said.

What are you talking about? Miles stammered. I thought you were coming back for good.

Will averted his gaze. A change of heart, he said. The world doesn’t need me yet, Miles. Right now, it needs you.

Bull crap! Miles shouted. The world needs a real hero, and I’m getting too old for this.

I’m not as mighty as you think I am, Will said. You have a power I could never match, a strength that surpasses resonance.

Miles clenched his fists and lowered his brow. He’d had about enough of Spectrum running off and getting his way. Not this time. Three years of solitude and he still wasn’t ready to hang with the heroes. What about Simon? How many friends would you leave in your dust before you felt anything at all? Eat your words, you pompous jerk!

Miles drew a breath. The dawn of resonance is upon us, he said. As the head of the UN.C., I will not allow it.

Miles … Will said with pause.

You can’t keep running from us! Miles shouted. I will make you understand!

Miles drew up all the coins he paid as tribute, the scattered bits strewn around the landscape as a testament to his friendship. Pieces floated from the grassy surface, while others dug themselves up through the mud until they stormed around Miles as a maelstrom of monetary prowess. Miles stood with his arms crossed, his cowl drooping casually over his head.

Miles smirked. Don’t blink.

At once, he threw a scattered cloud of coin fragments, flattening them to bladed edges in the process with his Metallomancy. Laser sharpened discs flew forward, and the visage of Spectrum, a smug young man, did nothing but smile as the deadly objects hurdled toward him. A flash of light erupted, and Spectrum vanished from sight. Light speed?