The Fallen Heroes world — classic
superpowers with a new twist…
Plain Jane
Jane Whitmore suffered a terrible injury when she was young that left her paralyzed from the waist down.
She adapted.
As a full adult, Jane witnesses a manager harassing a subordinate and HR sides with the manager after the harassed coworker backs out, leaving Jane looking like a liar. She's summarily dismissed, and blackballed in every major employer in Seattle and its surrounding suburbs.
She adapted.
But, after having a heck of a time getting on disability, while trying to cover her mounting expenses with her dwindling resources, Ellie comes up with a -- diversion. Ellie does her best to convince Jane that becoming a superhero herself, with the help of a mechanized suit, Jane can take out her frustrations of the injustices around them on the unjust people around them.
She-- considered.
And then accepted.
Around then, the Seattle Police Department began investigating a series of strange domestic terror incidents around the city involving people who have undergone surgery to replace body parts with mechanical counterparts; people who, rather than be taken into custody, explode.
But, perhaps, not willingly-- as their screams might suggest.
The Host of Heroes-- the only superhero contracting agency permitted by congress to employ superhumans and allow them to openly use their powers-- insists that finding the identity of this new 'Nemesis' should be the SPD's top priority.
With both the SPD and the Host of Heroes after her, Jane's 'diversion' winds up inviting a lot more trouble than she'd intended.
And, it turns out, that's just the start of her problems.
Superhero-Action and slight Police Procedural
Note from the author: while no one has to believe me, I wrote this before watching a certain TV show. I have since seen said show and, while there are similar themes, this story is distinct in its expression of those themes and does not coincide with the universe created within the show or its branching, in-universe stories. I do not intend to draw comparisons from audiences nor pull money away from the TV show or the affiliate stories.
Content warnings for: references to SA and depictions of abusive parents.
My Dad the Liar
Alex Martinson just had his golden birthday — he turned 8 on October 8. Everyone who cared about him came to celebrate him—
Everyone, including his dad.
Not that anyone saw him; he was turned away at the door when their neighbor, Mrs. Linda Burch, intercepted the man, scolded him for showing up drunk, and Alex’s step-parent Skyler seconded the decision for “Jim” to leave.
His dad, for what it was worth, denied being drunk but left without drawing attention to himself.
Alex didn’t even get to see him; he’d been hiding under his play set, out of view from everyone, and overheard the adults talking.
It was the worst thing in Alex’s short life—
Until school the next Monday.
He was called to the front office and the principle and school nurse had news that was even worse than the embarrassment of his father’s non-appearance at his birthday.
His parents had been in an accident; a really bad one. Both had been taken to the nearest hospital; both were in surgery; both were in danger of not pulling through.
A social worker showed up and said that his dad had been called and was on his way to pick Alex up.
The ride was quiet. His dad tried— really tried— but Alex was just— numb. His entire young life was turned upside down and all he had was a cramped room with his hurriedly-gathered stuff and an ornery cat who liked hanging out in his window.
Despite all of that, though, as Alex adjusted to living with his dad, he started realizing that there was an odd side he’d never gotten to know; even with the looming uncertainty of his parents’ health, Jim continuously finds ways to keep Alex’s spirits up.
Until Alex’s old neighbors, the Burches, begin insisting that his dad is an unfit parent; Mrs. Linda, especially, drags up all of the same complaints about the man’s fitness to parent.
Alex doesn’t want to be uprooted again; Alex doesn’t want to lose the last parent he’s been desperately clinging to; but, it seems the Burches aren’t interested in what Alex wants…
Maybe they’re just looking out for him— after all, they’re adults, and adults know better… right?
Content warning: depictions of grievously harmed children, mentions of animal cruelty