Carcass 1.9.2

“How was Portland?” Jay asked, his eyes watching the woman's every move. His heart thundered in his chest, despite his confidence in his abilities. Even with his enhanced hearing, if he wasn't paying attention, then he was oblivious as anyone else.

“Fine, warm this time of year,” Smog answered. Her breathing was calm, and her tone was indifferent. The woman didn't appear to be expressive, at least so far.

“Why did you go? Shadow Man wasn’t very clear on the intricacies. Made it seem like you were working with Central?” Jay had begun to notice hints of what lurked behind the curtain. Things that were hidden from the average civilian.

“I went because Madok hired me. Simple as that.”

“Hired you to deal with another city’s beast wave?”

“Precisely. Not an uncommon scenario. Once you make your formal debut on the scene, Madok will likely offer you a few different tasks. There’s money to be made doing work for wealthy clients. Portland is wealthier than others, hence has more power to recruit temporary superpower might,” Smog explained.

“I never heard about this before.” The teenager rested his head on his hand. His features were less gaunt but still displayed a sharp predatory look.

“Unsurprising. The residents of New Seattle are stuck here, Central Pantheon probably doesn’t advertise the fact that their heroes make joy trips to other cities all the time. A willing servant is better than an unwilling.”

Jay frowned at her words. She made sense. With the way Stardust acted and the minor league team that tried to apprehend him, it seemed as if they cultivated their public personas. Central Pantheon had been established recently in the grand scheme of things. They had been an offshoot of the United States Defense League based in Old Seattle. Once the beast waves hit, they cut their ties to the main organization and claimed the city as their own.

It was more bureaucratic than Jay made it appear. The USDL was no longer an active organization. Its branches in different cities were now completely separate entities. It wasn’t surprising that Central also manipulated what the public knew.

This mentality allowed people like Stardust to climb to power. Those with enough strength and acting skills could play the game and win. Jay didn’t like it but he was quickly coming to an understanding that reality was often disappointing.

“Have you been here all day?” Smog asked with curious gray eyes. Jay stared at them, studying the way the iris flowed like drifting smoke. He glanced away, a bit of heat expunged from his pores.

“Basically. I went and tried a pastry shop that I’ve always wanted to eat at. Bought a computer too. I’m kinda bored, to be honest,” Jay answered.

“Understandable. Standby is the hardest for some. Should I recommend Madok send some minor missions your way? It would be a good chance to explore your limits.”

“Really?! That’d be great!” Jay shot up from the chair he had been sitting in, startling Smog slightly. She waved him down.

“No promises. I’d likely have to supervise to make sure you don’t make too many erroneous mistakes. The junior team will be back tomorrow anyway. It won’t be long after that Madok sends you all on your debut. This might actually work. It’ll give you some experience so you don’t risk the others,” she whispered and rested a hand upon her chin. Jay had to resist the urge to roll his eyes.

“That's fine with me. I can’t sit here all day when I know what I can do.”

“A quirk of your ability?”

“I don’t think so. I’m just actually living my life now. Don’t want to waste a second," Jay said with anticipation. Much had changed in the span of a few days, and he was ready to take life by the hand and TEAR THROUGH THE CHEST AND RIP OUT THE HEART-

“Fine. Then I’ll do it on one condition,” Smog stated.

“What?”

“You listen to me and follow my orders. This will be good training for actual missions.”

Jay seemed to hesitate but eventually gave a curt confirmation. Smog made a brief call to Madok. Jay couldn’t make out the words but he recognized the deep rumble of the gang leader. Half an hour later Smog and Jay were boarding a rundown boat.

A nervous man with dark skin ushered them on board. The fire in the engine caused ripples along the water. The three sped off into the bay. Jay watched the city slowly fade into the distance as he was led further out toward the ocean.

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The landscape surrounding New Seattle had experienced a constant transformation over the years. It wasn’t uncommon for entire ecosystems to shift. A few of the beast waves had pulverized most of the land between New Seattle and the pacific ocean. It wasn’t a direct line of sight, but it wasn’t far. A large portion of the islands in the bay had sunk into the waters, never to return.

During his exploration the previous day, Jay got a good feel of the bay and the path into the ocean. Mutated and monstrous creatures didn’t start to appear until halfway through the path, which at the rate the boat was going he wouldn’t have to worry about them.

Jay looked into the depths of the water and felt a sense of peace settle over him. He no longer fidgeted, and the worries of the mainland were partly swept away. Smog joined him on the stern. She wore her customary baggy attire but her slate hair was tied into a knot. She donned a pair of rubber boots that looked out of place with her outfit. Jay on the other hand had decided to put on his sweatshirt with the insignia of The Drowned, along with his custom design. His feet were bare, which was something that had started after he Cracked.

“Where are we going anyways? Madok was pretty fast on getting a mission for us,” Jay remarked. Smog hummed in confirmation. Before they boarded the ship, she created a dense fog that masked her facial features. Jay tried to make eye contact with her, but they were hidden behind the hazy substance.

“I think he was waiting for a good chance to give this to you. Madok is hands-off and only pays us our monthly stipend to make sure we don’t run off to different cities. He operates his gang like a business. Think of us and the other powered as different assets that require constant upkeep. He pays that upkeep, along with a good bonus when he needs more out of us. He constantly has various plans going on inside that head of his. The more plans mean the more opportunities for some of that money to get kicked your way.

“One of those plans involves you clearing out a beast nest in an abandoned processing plant near the water.”

“I’m not going to say no to more cash, but why the need? What’s he gonna do with some old factory way out here? Won’t the monsters just come back?” Jay didn’t know the inner workings of the wildlife outside the walls, but he did know it was difficult for humans to reclaim territory from the monsters. Said beasts were often highly aggressive and territorial. Even if they died, other creatures would come to inhabit the vacated land.

“Madok has an idea that might bring back some industry and economy to The Docks. He wants to see if it's feasible first. So try not to level the building.”

“Wait, I’m not as strong when I don’t transform. How the hell do you expect me to kill monsters like this?” Jay gestured to his still semi-skinny frame. While his foray into the depths of the water had yielded some definition to his body, he still looked slightly anorexic.

“You get a minor boost to your abilities just by being powered. It's referred to as the Cracked Boost. Makes you stronger than a baseline mortal in most cases. I also have a theory that you’re getting some portion of your transformed state strength. This’ll be a test in any case,” Smog explained.

Jay considered her words. He understood he was stronger than the average human, even despite his current body. The movements he displayed when running from the capes in Central Lane and Park were a testament to that. He hadn’t had a chance to see how far that increase to himself ran. Although, Jay figured he’d find out soon enough.

“Want me to go in their fists swinging?” Jay smiled wryly. The image of himself punching slobbering beasts in the jaws was amusing. He briefly thought of inserting his fist into someone else's face, wiping the smug grin away. Jay grimaced and clenched his hands, the metal bars buckled underneath.

“Indeed. Hate to be the one to tell you this, but with your ability giving you a weapon would be useless. Anything we gave you would just be destroyed when you transformed.” Smog didn’t seem too apologetic.

The teenager understood what she meant. His clothes were eradicated when he shifted to his snake form, and whatever he was holding would be crushed under his weight. He would simply have to learn how to throw a punch, or at least hope his raw abilities could compensate for his lack of experience.

Jay watched a flock of seagulls soaring overhead. Smog looked over at him, frowned, then shook her head.

Hours passed by as the boat cut through the choppy waters. Wind blasted back and forth, leaving Jay’s hair whipping about. He found solace on the deck of the ship. It reminded him of spending time with his father. He wished his brother was here to enjoy this moment.

The vessel slowed to a stop and the captain rushed out from the cabin to dock them to the pier. The man kept apologizing to Smog, bowing his head over and over. The woman waved him off and didn’t seem to pay him any mind. She motioned for Jay to follow. The man kept bowing slightly as the two got off.

“I’ll await your return,” the captain said before retreating into the hull. Jay watched him go and raised an eyebrow at Smog.

“You got some reputation or something? He looked like he was going to faint,” Jay’s face scrunched up in confusion. The man had acted like a fan meeting their idol, or a prisoner meeting their executioner. All Jay knew for certain was the man was sweating like crazy and his heart was bursting out of his chest. The teenager's enhanced hearing had no trouble picking it up, even when he wasn't used to doing it.

Jay heard Smog sigh.

“Get used to it. It's part of being a powered. The citizens either worship you, fear you, or want to be you. Often a mixture of all three. The Drowned members hardly see us, so most treat it like a big deal if we have to show up.” Smog seemed apathetic to their feelings and Jay understood. He wondered if it ever got easier, or if he would even dislike it.

People had treated him like trash for his life, and to have that suddenly turned around? Jay could feel a spark of excitement in his chest. He wanted to be the one that was looked upon with adoration. He wanted people to say his name with more than just disdain.

Jay ran a slender hand through his hair and looked out at the ocean.

"It doesn't matter if it's with hope or fear, as long as they look at me," the teenager thought to himself. He wasn't sure how to feel about the sentiment but didn't push it away like he usually did.

Jay looked around at the small dock they had been dropped off at. It appeared that at some point it had experienced a high usage. Leftover containers, shipping crates, barrels, boxes, and machinery were rusting outside, exposed to the harsh elements.

The fish processing factory was located right by the water's edge, its rusted metal walls and corrugated roof blending in with the bleak, overcast sky. The once vibrant red paint had faded to a dull orange, and green and brown algae had colonized the lower part of the walls. The smell of fish and saltwater wafted from the open windows and doors, mixed with the damp scent of rotting wood.

The surrounding vegetation had crept up and around the structure, with gnarled vines snaking up the walls and weeds sprouting through the cracks in the concrete foundation. The glassless windows were dark, their frames coated in a thick layer of grime and salt.

Inside, the factory large industrial machines and conveyor belts were covered in a layer of crud and rust, and the sound of buzzing flies and the sloshing of water mixed with the stillness of the machinery.

The air was thick with the smell of fish and chemicals, making it hard to breathe without gagging. It was clear that the factory had seen better days, and the deterioration was a reflection of the effect of the beast waves.

Jay could hear the sound of movement inside and saw the brush of bristling fur rubbing against rusted metal. A pair of yellow eyes stared at him from the shadows of the structure. Blood covered its paws and mouth. Its whiskers were dyed a crimson red.

“Clear out the building?” Jay asked Smog, his voice filled with building anticipation. Heat began to rush away from his pores, and his eyes narrowed into vertical amber slits. Smog took a step away, protecting herself from the intense heat.

“Make sure not to destroy anything,” Smog muttered under her breath. Jay grinned widely in response. His yellowed teeth had slightly elongated and shone with a harsh gleam.

He let out a roar and dozens of others answered his challenge.

Jay wasn't sure about many things in New Seattle, but he was confident of one fact.

All who faced Leviathan would be left as a carcass.