[AUTHOR'S NOTE]
Hi! I know in the 2nd chapter, I said that that chapter is the final chapter of this series of writings. Well, I'm wrong. This chapter 3 is the last one. I did manage to think of something for Frances Beck, but not so much. Again, this one is the last one. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks.
3: The Thoughts
Eight years later, the Earth has recuperated from the disaster that was people disappearing into dust. Nations with some decent population banding together, the opportunities to be had in life are rekindled, all that good stuff.
For some others, it got better.
Frances sat on a chair on top of the Standard Co. rooftop, looking over a morning of New York City that's refreshed and had part of its former glory back. Sure, a lot of buildings are unoccupied, unlit, but gradually it will expand for sure and its life of bright, and even darkness and corruption, will come back.
But, combatting those dark aspects of the megacity's former life will have to be left to other superheroes and heroines. Not this lady.
Frances dusted her hands on her middle-aged easy-going clothes, flowing skirt and all, and recalled her days in being part of Standard Co.'s S.H.I.E.L.D revival program. She remembered being the sole superhero being continuously evaluated and assigned roles to patrol New York city and suppress criminal activity.
She remembered that as the years go by, S.H.I.E.L.D, just like the rest of the country, built up its strength and its facilities and recruited people they found to possess legitimate powers and abilities that classified them as superheroes to be either student or staff or both.
She remembered being part of the staff that helped tutor the new students or staff in building confidence and guiding mastery of their own abilities. She remembered sparring with many other levitating and swinging superheroes in trials and practices in the S.H.I.E.L.D gyms.
She recalled the increasing portfolio of superheroes, which impressive as it was were still not as expansive as the past diversity. They in turn became the new standard-bearers against crime and just the safety of the human race in general.
S.H.I.E.L.D then became independent again, alongside the fledging US government. Although the new heroes occupied the spaces and imagination of the people, many still remembered the past glory and effects of Frances' Mysterio identity.
The identity had been gloriously retired a year ago. Well, passed onward to a new adult who displayed some semblance and ingenuity of the older Mysterio's ability. It was in a S.H.I.E.L.D recognition ceremony on which Frances, full in her own Mysterio costume, shook hands with the promising new identity bearer, himself in his own Mysterio-like costume.
The reason for Frances' retirement? Full time pursuit of housewife duties in Jonathan's household.
Indeed, Jonathan and Frances continued dating for all these years, before they finally affirmed their own love to each other and agreed to marriage and solemn vowing.
Jonathan continued maintaining Standard Co. as an industrial giant, while Mysterio has graduated from her own college studies but decided that she found more joy in raising her next generation in peace.
Hopefully the new generation wouldn't go to dabble in the dark arts. She would raise them to be model citizens and people in their own right.
Crime was on the rise though. With New York burgeoning (partially) again, people got it into their heads that they could try and pursue accumulation of wealth with whatever methods they deemed fine.
Well, it was the job of the new Mysterio and new Spider-Woman and new Scarlet Spider and new Captain America and whatnot to suppress major and minor conspiracies and criminal activities.
If the scenario demanded it, then only would she return to fighting crime and perhaps superhuman and supernatural conspiracies on Earth and from beyond.
Frances rubbed her stomach. She was expecting, perhaps in six months' time. And then … if Jonathan and herself agreed to it, they could have more kids. A bigger and happier family.
"What comes, comes." She sighed happily.
They were supposed to go for a happy time in a nature reserve beyond New York city's borders. Jonathan, though, had some last minute work to do, and she decided to wait it out on top of the huge building when the sun wasn't so glaring.
She almost fell asleep, when she heard her husband approach her. He too has grown more in mind and body. She turned her head around and found him standing not far behind herself.
"So … are you ready?" Jonathan smiled. He then scratched his beard.
"Yes, dear. Let's go. Time for picnic sandwiches." Frances smiled back.
THE END FOR REAL.
[AUTHOR'S NOTE]
Yeah, now it is complete. For real. Thanks for your readership for this very short series of writings. I hope it kind of has you like Frances Beck, for however short her appearance was in USM. I still think she has potential, it's just that my own ideas alone were not enough to justify her existence. Hopefully, someone else out there can write something better and more long-lasting than I can.