Carcass 1.4.2

“They call him Leviathan.” A feminine voice came from the speaker.

Jay raised his head to look at the TV. During his anger, he had landed on this channel. Two people were talking to each other. Microphones in front of each, and both were smoking what appeared to be weed or cigarettes.

Jay glared but didn’t react.

“Leviathan? Damn. Seems a bit excessive. Why not Serpent or Scaley Boy,” the opposite speaker, a man with a bald head and light complexion, questioned. The two individuals chuckled and took another drag.

“In all seriousness, why do the cowls always get the best names? Each year we see new capes being churned out of Central Pantheon with names like Pebble and Swoosh. The villains in comparison get titles like Vanquisher and Seismic. Seismic for fucks sake! That’s a powerful name. No one is going to respect someone with the stupid name of Pebble.” The bald man shook his head.

“Really just goes to show the state of the Pantheon. Rumors are that the new heroes don’t even get to choose their own names. Their managers pick them out.” The woman responded.

“Damn, unlucky bastards. Almost enough to justify going cowl.” He took another deep breath of the cloudy air, “Any reason Leviathan was the name settled on for this kid? The dude’s scrawny. Barely over five foot five. Almost thought we were looking at another elementary school Crack, but apparently the dude’s seventeen.”

“Looks can be misleading. Just goes to show never to be rude to anyone. Can’t be sure if who you’re talking to will transform into a giant bloody beast,” the woman warned. “In any case, Leviathan is what they’re calling him on the forums. He already has a bunch of people clamoring to classify him. New Seattle will eat him up until the next shiny toy appears.

“Speaking of toys, have you heard that they’re increasing farmland on the east side this year?” The two people tittered off to another topic and the strange woman who had been standing still and silent the entire time pressed a button on the side of the TV. The room went quiet.

“I was hoping I would have gotten lucky and my face wouldn’t be plastered on every channel,” Jay commented.

The woman lifted an eyebrow.

“That’s the first thing you’re worried about? Not going to mention the dozen and a half dead due to your actions in Central?” She questioned. Her tone was neutral and her face expressionless.

Jay shrugged.

“Didn’t even mean for that to happen. I was too busy running for my life from the capes to worry about what was getting damaged around me,” Jay admitted. He felt bad for taking their lives, even without meaning to, but he wasn’t going to dwell over the deaths of Central elitist scum. He thought back to the numerous people he had begged for help when the bullying first started. Their indifferent eyes haunted him. He shoved down the small part of himself that screamed that he should care.

He felt a small bit of glee at hearing the destruction he caused. It was but a pool in an ocean of what he felt was owed.

“Go big or go home. I think that’s what they say?” Jay thought to himself. Except there was no true home for him anymore. There hadn’t been for a long time.

The woman frowned and narrowed her eyes as if she was trying to calculate the sum that was Jay.

“In the future, I’m going to have to warn you against killing innocents, especially those directly related to Central Pantheon. Do it enough and the kiddy gloves come off. Although, I doubt you’ll keep that protection for long,” she admitted.

“What do you mean? Wait, in fact, who are you?” Jay hadn’t questioned the appearance of the strange woman. She appeared to be in her late thirties, older than the image Jay had painted of the team he was being placed on by Madok.

“Name’s Smog. I’m the one that’ll come bust you and the others out when you all are eventually overwhelmed,” she boldly declared.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

"And if you become too much of a menace, Central will just put out a kill order and hunt you down, no matter the consequences. Did you think Central was dumb enough to allow mass murderers to relax until they did it again?"

Jay sucked in a breath. Smog, along with Shadow Man, were constantly concealed by their powers. Shadow Man by his shadows and Smog by her control of polluted air. Powered who managed to keep their identities secret for years would go to enormous lengths to remain undiscovered. To see her bare face displayed an amount of risk Jay wasn’t sure of. He couldn’t help but feel as if he was caught up in another game. He hated the emotion.

He also understood the fact that Central wouldn't just allow him to do whatever he wanted. The capes in the Pantheon couldn't claim they were protecting the city if every other week there was some chaotic event. It seemed they tried to limit it to once a month.

“Brave of you to show your face to someone you just met. Is this the norm around here?” Jay couldn’t help but ask. Smog gave a brief nod.

“Only people who have something to hide still wear masks when around those who their working with. You’re Drowned. Or, you’re about to be. No point in petty actions when this is more comfortable. Knowing my true features increases familiarity and bonding.” She recounted. It seemed as if she had said this before.

Jay didn’t respond. Unwilling to bring up the subject of his possible betrayal to them.

“Why did you want me to see that?” Jay said while gesturing to the powered-off TV.

Smog looked at it and ran a frail hand through her murky gray hair. Jay was once again reminded how appearances could be deceiving.

“It's pertinent that you know what they’re calling you, and what they’re said about you. The more knowledge you have the better you’re able to adapt,” Smog asserted.

“What was I supposed to learn from that, that Pantheon is after me? I could’ve guessed that,” Jay scoffed.

“Let it serve as a warning. They've already turned public opinion against you. Do something else against their interest and the next step will be to come for your family," she noticed his chilly face, "But perhaps I am being too critical. You are a new Cracked,” she muttered to herself. “Fine. we’ll wait till the next time. Then I’ll have the entire team to do performance reviews. Shadow Man asked me to inform you that he will come to get you near dusk.”

“For the mission?”

“Yes. I advise staying indoors until the time. Pantheon is currently patrolling the streets in greater numbers.” Smog carried her mug back through the doorway and into the kitchen. Jay followed her, unsure what to do with himself. He looked at the clock on the stove and noted it was almost noon.

“What do I do?” Jay asked.

“Wait. Watch TV. Read a book. Do not practice your powers. I doubt the others would enjoy having their home destroyed by a curious super. I’ll be here to watch over you. There’s food in the fridge if you want something,” she calmly stated. The smell of coffee was overpowering in the decent-sized room. Jay gazed through the windows to the outside. He saw the shore, along with numerous warehouses and dry-docked ships.

He returned to the fridge and peeked inside. He was shocked by the overflowing foodstuffs. Meats, cheeses, fruit, vegetables, it was almost too much. Jay’s hand shot forward to grab some of the sliced ham and Swiss cheese, he found some plain bread and constructed a basic sandwich. He bit into it with hungry abandon. The snack was gone within moments and Jay moved to make another. Smog watched as Jay finished his sixth sandwich.

He gave a wryly smile when he noticed her blank expression. He felt like he could eat more, as if there was a hole missing from his stomach that yearned to be filled. The meal he just consumed did little to stem the hunger.

“Lot of food for someone so small,” Smog remarked. She refilled her mug another time and continued to take small sips.

“Sorry, haven’t eaten in a while.” Jay tried not to think back to the overwhelming taste of crunching upon human flesh. He salivated uncontrollably and had to audibly swallow. He felt equal parts sickened and ravenous. Smog must have misinterpreted his face as she raised an eyebrow.

“Still hungry? Could always order a pizza or Thai. There's a couple that runs a restaurant nearby that has some stellar curry.”

About an hour later Smog and Jay were sitting on the couches watching some rerun of a comedy show. Jay slowly ate the large pizza in front of him, forcing himself to not consume the entire slice in one bite.

“So, you draw the short end of the stick and had to watch over me?” Jay asked. He couldn’t envision someone like Smog as someone who wanted to spend her Saturday making sure a boy didn’t do something stupid and transform into a snake. He couldn’t get a good read on her. She never smiled nor displayed any form of emotion. It was eerie.

“The main team takes turns. Last time it was Shadow Man and now it's mine. Consider me your temporary mentor.” Smog said while leaning back on the plush leather sofa. She didn’t look bored, but Jay wasn’t sure.

“So, this main team and junior team. What can you tell me about them?” Jay was curious about them. He had heard of the names that publicly declared their affiliation with The Drowned, and here was one in the flesh. Gang leaders ruled their territory like tiny kings. The powered under them were their enforcers and main muscle.

From what he knew, The Drowned only had four powered working under Madok. Shadow Man, Smog, Fishbait, and Obscenity. None of the supers had any particularly damaging powers and mainly relied on subterfuge and covert operations. At least that's what Jay believed. You hardly ever heard of them getting into fights, only claiming they'd committed a deed after the fact.

He'd never heard of a junior team.

“Not much to say. You’ll meet the junior team eventually, don't want to taint your image of them with bias. Madok has high hopes for them and for you, so I'll leave it at that. The main team, we’re the ones that operate in the city and Madok sends us out for various purposes. With the addition of you to the junior team, Madok will be able to bring them all here and have them in the spotlight too. It’ll be a benefit for our perceived strength,” Smog explained.

“This secondary team, why aren’t they here? I haven’t heard of them either.”

“I’d be surprised if you did. Madok wanted to train them up for a bit before unleashing them in West Seattle. He sends them beyond the walls to deal with contracts. You’ll be able to skip that, lucky you,” she laid her unblinking gray eyes upon Jay.

“You speak as if me getting on the team is certain,” Jay remarked.

“Nothing in this life is certain. You might blunder tonight and Madok will decide whether to take a risk with you. It may all go swimmingly. I don’t believe you should be on the team. You’re incompatible. Your powers are leagues above the others in raw strength. You’re a loose bullet.”

Jay felt the words fill him with worry. He had grown slightly confident with the talk of him being almost assured of joining The Drowned. But all of a sudden Smog was telling him the opposite. She didn’t stop.

“Your powerset appears to be straightforward. Transform and wreak havoc. Others don’t have it as simple. You’re just as likely to hurt your teammates as you will harm the enemy. I advised Madok to have you train with the others for another month, but he’s moving up some of his plans with your appearance. It makes me wonder why he considers you so special,” she continued to stare at him.

Jay looked away. He shivered and put the pizza in his hand back into the container.

“I’m not sure either. Had no clue about any of this before you told me.”

“I know. Madok keeps his cards close to his chest. If he hasn’t shared it with me it's because it's part of his plan. Some questions just aren’t meant to be answered.”