The situation within the coastal city were worsening by the day. Riots were becoming a daily occurrence as the lower poorer area closer to the docks became uninhabitable as the rains from storms continued and forced authorities to enforce residents to have two choices. Either stay inside their homes as the water filled them and drowned or be relocated to a higher temporary shelter where they could find safety and a single military grade meal until the tides continued to rise again.
Stupid rain. Stupid idiots.
Criminals, opportunists and those who had become insane from dreams fought over emptied out store fronts smashed in with waters splashing by their feet. High above the lower areas of the city the wealthy, those in positions of authority and corporate enterprises watched over the floods from skyscrapers protected by private security forces, partial-autonomous weapons and patrolling drones.
The chaos on the lower tier inhabited areas were largely ignored by those who lived on the higher areas on the rises of the mountain which towered above the main city. There were patches of private forest and gardens which were secured with high walls and locked gates which were generally inaccessible to members of the public except for specific public holidays but remained entirely closed during times of national emergency.
I asked for an interesting mission assignment off-planet and they send me on recon. Stupid rainfall.
On the lower levels most people had taken the decision to leave but those who remained fought over the streets. The water had mostly pooled on the streets once the pumps used to push it back into the ocean beyond the docks slowly broke down from overuse. There was little to no police or emergency presence by this point as authority and law and order gave way to those who refused to leave, to find opportunity by breaking into or squatting in previously owned and abandoned homes.
Bunch of freaks. Tell me to stick to recon only? They can sod-off.
The streets of the lower sections of Hydpis City were a place that few normal people wanted to tread. There were those who had been infected by nightly dreams which had begun months ago but had only increased in intensity of a world which had become almost entirely flooded. According to reports there were images of six mountain peaks rising above the waters and monstrous creatures filled the waters of the world.
There were humans under the water of a type transformed into fish-like beings. Fins and gills on their bodies and shimmering scales covered their bodies. The worse of the dream was the presence of a woman, a giant rising above the flooded world with a deep smile and outstretched hands who simply smiled at her creation. From her body she radiated heat as hot as a star as she both evaporated the waters of the world and watched them steadily refill. Her beauty was a terrible thing which caused those to watch her to both admire, love and fear her presence. She was a goddess of water and pure will.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
I need to find answers quick. The violence that follows is only a side-effect. Honest truth boss.
The population of the coastal city were divided, those who had been worst affected were drawn together, firstly in small groups who wanted to share this dream with others who had experienced the same. As storm clouds drew closer to the waters edge of the coastal cities of the world strange events began to occur as a religious mania fell on certain people who had experienced the same dream.
They would begin to congregate in coastal cities of the world of Belphus and a loose inter-linked network of connection religious groups praising a goddess who would return to the world and punish those who had scorned her. The groups wore the same tailored design of blue swimming body suits with tattoos on themselves. More extreme members had begun to try and make biomechanical modifications to their own bodies in imitation of the powers of their chosen goddess.
That’ll do. Best place as any to get answers. At least until we identify a high-value target. Be a little boost for the criminal element around her to gain a little edge for a time. Break that power balance.
Outside one of their religious sites which took the form of a purchased waterfront container storage property a single woman stood covered in blood and pieces of flesh. The expression on her face was largely that of boredom but her hands were entirely clean and devoid of any stains. The spray from a massive tidal wave which stopped before it hit the waterfront and washed over her cleaning off the worst of the blood.
Nothing. Just the same name repeated over and over again. Nothing new. I literally wasted my work time for this. I could have called in a kill team instead.
The metal doors to the waterfront container storage were smashed in, both of the entrance doors were hanging off hinges and there was no signs of immediate life within the vicinity. The storms, rains and slowly rising water levels had kept most away from the area and the presence of the cultists did the rest.
Are you picking this up? For all your power spreading out these dreams I thought you could read the mind of a single woman. Show me a sign then fake goddess. Show me your power then. Out of all the worlds you choose to return to your home planet of Belphus for what? Revenge. No. That doesn’t track with your profile. Something else then. Power.
The woman was dressed in a simple mostly grey bodysuit with black patches on the chest, shoulders and lower legs. A waterproof cloak covered most of her body and an attached hood which partially stopped the near-constant slow rainfall above in the skies. The flooding of the city and surrounding areas was slow but continuous and she was one of the few who knew exactly what was causing it.
She outstretched both her arms as a lighting bolt struck down from the sky and directly into the waterfront storage container igniting a fire within despite the rain and the smell of cooked human flesh wafted through the air. The woman ignored the smell. She would likely order a direct strike onto the site after she had finished her brief interrogation of those inside. The surrounding area was largely abandoned and bare concrete which was wet to the touch given the rainfall.
Is that it? I expected more. You really don’t care do you. Are you still even a human being in mind at least? I’d like to fight. You and me. Just one fight. We can even choose a neutral zone like one of those Parks of Gaia which you can barely touch despite your power. Good luck operating in that desert. Those ancients are even worse then you in their own way but at least they keep to themselves.
A buzzing sensation came from the suit of the woman as she pressed her index finger into her gloved hand as a voice came online. Holding off acknowledging the call she jabbed a thumb into her neck as steam began to rise from her grey bodysuit and the mixture of water, flesh and blood burnt off and fell onto the concrete before her.