Interlude 1

Mary walked into the decrepit building. Rats scurried across the ground and she flinched at the scratching of their paws across the cold stone. Cobwebs clung to the ceiling and water dripped down on the walls.

She had lived on the streets for years, even before the beast tide struck Old Seattle. She was no stranger to harsh sights, but the quiet of the area left her turning over her shoulder every few seconds.

She had survived thirteen beast waves. The first few had been brutal. Those on the streets had been the first to die. The monsters would destroy anything in their path, leaving swathes of the city little more than burning ruin.

The outer towns had been the first to fall, but they also provided a buffer for Old Seattle to gain their bearings to fend off the oncoming waves. Mary remembered hiding in the sewers, praying that she would survive the night.

The air had been filled with the screams of the innocent and the blood-curdling roars of ravenous monsters. Something had clawed at the manhole above her and she recalled crying, covered in feces and piss and tears.

There had been an explosion above her that knocked the metal plate off. Mary caught a glimpse of a flame-red suit shooting an inferno of fire out of their hands, burning the blurry monster to ash. The hero had reached down and pulled her out of the disgusting waters. She fell to her knees and cried. The hero directed her toward an emergency shelter before running off to save more citizens.

Back then heroes and villains had been little more than children bumbling around. Corporate-sponsored walking advertisements. They weren't different from race car drivers with their suits covered in logos.

Sure, there had been the occasional power that went mad and tried to take over the world. There were also capes and cowls that took things too far and engaged in duels to death. But by far and large the world had known relative peace for thirty or so years.

Countries were less willing to risk war when they realized some of those that survived the first attacks ended up Cracking and fighting back with superpowers. That didn’t stop every border dispute or regime coup, but not everything could be perfect.

Events had been getting progressively worse as time went on. The fights between powers got more violent, scandals appeared in the news more often, and villains got bolder. The few years before the beast waves were filled with power struggles. Governments enforced strict regulations against people with powers, with some being locked away due to their potential for harm. Even if they had never committed a crime.

The powered population didn’t appreciate this action against them. Humans had forgotten how mortal they were compared to the godly beings. What was a president when a woman with invulnerable skin and the ability to move tanks with her mind walked into the white house?

The short-lived conqueror of a New United States of America, a villain named Visionary, reigned for approximately twenty minutes before the original Pantheon sent out a team to take her out. The old premier supervillain fighting force had been deadly and efficient, composed of some of the strongest capes in the United States.

The way to deal with a super that no weapon would leave a mark on? The easiest method is to blow them up from the inside. Mary wasn’t sure how it had happened, only that it had been bloody and gruesome.

Pantheon had been nothing more than a way for capes to sign contracts with advertising agencies, so seeing their favorite supers wipe the floor with Visionary left the nation shocked. No one had realized the power a select few had truly wielded.

Acts of violence against the powered slowly stopped occurring, and a shift in the mentality of humanity took over. Could a baseline human really say that they were equal to a super? Even the weakest one was already stronger than the average being due to their abilities. The ‘Cracked Boost’ as it was referred to, made those that Cracked, physically stronger, even if their abilities had no connection to pure athleticism.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Even the gangliest Techno could wipe the floor with a regular human. They were superhuman for a reason.

Mary imagined that the world would be similar to how it was now even if the beast waves hadn’t happened. Everyone understood that the elected officials of New Seattle were figureheads meant to be eye candy for the ignorant public. The New Seattle citizens told themselves they had a choice when they went to the elections. It was a lie that they clung to from days of the past.

Central Pantheon ruled New Seattle. Their strength was absolute, even if gangs and supervillains would have you believe otherwise. Central would protect them all, and the heroes would save each soul from the jaws of the beasts.

And yet Mary was afraid.

Mary knew she was being watched. Living on the streets forced her to develop skills that a normal person wouldn’t have. A feeling of danger, the common sense not to wander The Docks at night, the knowledge to realize when she was being in the eyes of a predator.

“Well?”

Mary stifled a scream with her slender fingers. Scars and bumps covered her skin scratched against her rough exterior. Her face was not a pretty one, but it was all she had. Caring about one’s appearance was the least of her worries most of the time. The next meal and where the best place to sleep was more important.

The aged woman gazed at the ebony beauty. Her dark skin was flawless and without a single blemish. Purple-hued eyes stared down at the woman from atop the stack of crates. Her violet-tinged hair swayed around her like it had a mind of its own.

Mary had recognized Stardust the moment she had appeared in front of her on that thundering morning. The sudden weather had proved disastrous to her shelter, which had been composed of leftover pieces of plywood. The materials had been flung away and she was forced to flee into the ruins of a once-daycare.

She had met Stardust there, gazing at the rainbow-painted walls.

It was strange meeting a goddess in the flesh. Remove the floating hair and glowing eyes, Stardust would just be a normal pretty woman. Mary had once believed that the powered were humans, just like herself. How wrong she had been.

Mary gave a jerky bow before kneeling down on the wet floor.

“I’ve talked to him. The afternoon that you gave me your directions. I tried to lean him towards the path you wanted, but I’m not sure if he took it to heart,” Mary informed the deity that sat above her. She prayed in her heart that she wouldn’t strike her down for her failure. Holding the favor or ire of a powered could elevate her to new heights. Or it could mean being a corpse on the side of the street.

Stardust rested her head in the palm of her exquisite hand. Her nails were perfectly trimmed and painted with the planets of the solar system. It must have taken hours for someone to tediously create the minor masterpiece.

“Is that all?” The superhero sounded disappointed and Mary shuddered as the air dropped in temperature. She raised her head and held up her hands.

“N-no. No! He seems to trust me. Gave me money to buy a phone and spent an hour chatting with me. Said that it was easy to vent to me,” Mary tentatively held up the pile of cash she had been given by Jay. She offered the money to the goddess.

Stardust scoffed and waved away the offering.

“You did try to stab him, right? Not engaging in some begging or sexual deed right?” Stardust raised a lovely eyebrow as she questioned the beggar.

“I wouldn’t dare. I followed your orders exactly as you desired.” Mary bowed again, pressing her forehead against the filthy floor. She ignored the rat droppings inches away from her face.

“Hmm, how interesting. Keep the money and buy a phone. Find a cheap apartment to live in too. Continue befriending Jay and refrain from discussing heavy topics for now. Don’t want to scare him off,” Stardust smiled with her pristine teeth. She hummed to herself, a strangely familiar melody.

“You have pleased me, Mary, and thus you will be rewarded,” Stardust stated while reaching into her suit. She pulled out a small roll of cash that she dropped to the floor. Mary’s arm unconsciously snaked out and snatched the green notes.

“Thank you, my goddess! I swear to not let you down!” Mary cried out while clutching the money like her life depended on it. This was the most money she had seen in decades, let alone held onto.

“Keep your cover, do not suddenly start purchasing above your means. If I hear of this happening then I will find a replacement,” Stardust declared while smiling. Mary felt a chill in her heart and nervously nodded along. She wouldn’t dream of opposing Stardust’s words, and the frozen smile on the cape’s lips left Mary terrified.

Mary knew she was replaceable, and only luck had her stepping into that ruined building that morning. Now she was, kneeling in front of a living god. She knew she should have only been happy to breathe the same air, the money was simply a side benefit.

“I wouldn’t dare, my goddess. My life is yours to do with as you please,” Mary said without a single waiver of her voice.

“Good,” Stardust’s sweet voice drifted down. The sound of air being displaced echoed around the room. Delicate footsteps strode towards the shivering Mary. A cosmic hand cupped the beggar’s face, forcing Mary’s eyes to meet the superhero’s.

“Remember, Mary, Jay is nothing more than a small powered that has a purpose he needs to fulfill. You will guide him to my goal. It doesn’t matter what you learn about him. You will entrench herself in his life and be the strings I use to puppet him. Do this and I will make your life heaven,” Stardust caressed the woman’s face with tender care. The motion was like stroking the fur of an animal. Tears pooled in the corner of Mary’s eyes.

“Shh, my pet, now is not the time to cry,” Stardust soothed with a voice of sweetness. Her smile never faltered.

Mary had also learned from her years of experience a single, unwavering truth.

When gods battled, mortals died.