Laura Landry took several deep breaths as she stood at the starting line. She wore her running uniform, a purple tank top and set of shorts with white stripes going down her side and a white seven on her back. She had brown hair tied in a braid, blue eyes, and a fiercely determined expression on her face. A dozen other girls in similar uniforms stood on either side of her, stretching or running in place as they prepared for the race.

Laura was favored to win, and she knew it. Furthermore, she’d heard from the coach that talent scouts from several colleges were in the bleachers today. If she could catch the eye of any one of them, she’d be all set. This would be a big day for her, and she smiled as she saw a few new faces in the bleachers.

Moments later, all the racers took their starting poses. Laura’s slender, athletic frame was coiled like a spring, ready to go at a moment’s notice. That moment came with a bang as the starting pistol went off. She was away instantly, fighting for first place with two other girls.

Laura felt the wind whipping into her face as she pushed herself to the limit. It didn’t take long for her heart to start pounding and her limbs to feel like fire. As they approached the first turn, she could feel her two competitors pulling ahead of her, but Laura pushed herself, and soon, she was in the lead. The more she ran, the more distance she seemed to put behind her. Soon, it was like Laura was alone, just her and the track. She was in the zone, and nothing could stop her.

Laura reached the other end of the track and began the second turn, unable to even hear the other girls behind her. She rounded the turn, and then…

She almost stopped. The other runners were at the other end of the track, still rounding that first turn. Laura couldn’t have gotten that far ahead of them. Could she have? She stopped running, looking at her surroundings. Not only were her competitors that far behind her, they appeared to be moving in slow motion, slowly stopping and turning to look at her.

With a confused look on her face, Laura realized that everything was moving in slow motion. The audience in the bleachers was slowly getting up, a whirlwind kicking up dust moved lethargically, and birds flying high above seemed almost still.

Eventually, everything started to catch up with her, and Laura felt the sensation of something leaving her body. Soon, everything seemed back to normal, everything moving as it should. Laura still had this sensation of something missing from her limbs. She wasn’t certain what it was but had this strange feeling that she could summon it at a moment’s notice.

Now moving at normal speed from Laura’s perspective, the audience and the other runners looked at Laura, astonishment on their faces. Moments later, someone in the bleachers, whom Laura recognized as one of the runner’s parents, shouted at the top of her lungs.

“That cheater has powers!”

“What?” asked Laura, horrified as she backed away. “No…I…”

And a sizeable portion of the audience, and all of the other runners, began booing. Laura couldn’t believe this was happening. She didn’t have powers. At least…she hadn’t had powers yesterday. She’d trained so hard to get where she was. She wouldn’t use superpowers to cheat. She’d never do that.

“I didn’t…” she muttered. “I wouldn’t…I…”

The boos kept coming, and Laura wanted more than anything to wake up, and she found herself standing there, a shocked look on her face and a single thought ringing through her head.

You gotta be kidding me.

###

Two Years Later

The new superhero called SteelStar attended two funerals, one after the other. The first was for Manny Turner, a man killed by a superhero who’d lost control of himself and went on a rampage. SteelStar had tried to save him, but Manny had lost his life nonetheless.

This funeral took place in a church with white walls and stained glass windows on either side of the pews. People stood and sat scattered around the room in hushed conversations, Manny’s casket displayed on the pulpit. The event was closed casket only, as Manny had died in an explosion. All one could see of him was a framed picture of a smiling, middle aged man with greying hair on a pedestal next to the casket.

SteelStar had considered going as his alter ego Andy so he wouldn’t stick out, but then he’d have to explain why he was there. As the superhero who failed to save Manny, it at least made sense for SteelStar to pay his respects.

SteelStar stood at the entrance to the room and immediately stood out. While he’d chosen to wear the kind of suit one would normally wear to a funeral instead of his superhero costume, the grey skin and white hair of his Valtarian form still made it obvious who he was.

It didn’t take long for all eyes in the room to slowly look at him as every conversation went quiet. SteelStar suddenly lamented that invisibility wasn’t one of his powers. He stood awkwardly for a moment, but upon seeing the picture of Manny, he realized he needed to say something.

“Um…” he stammered. “Hello…I’m…I’m…”

“SteelStar,” said a stern looking man to the side. “You were there when Manny died.”

“Y…yes,” said SteelStar. “I…I tried to save Mr. Turner. I just…I didn’t know what was wrong with Spectramancer, and I tried to stop him without hurting him. I just...I’m sorry I couldn’t save either of them. I’m…I’m so sorry for your loss.”

The room was silent for a moment. Everyone there, from adults to the elderly and children, seemed very uncomfortable. Finally, an older woman came up.

“Thank you,” she said. “I’m sure that…”

“You should have killed Spectramancer sooner,” someone said.

Everyone turned to the stern man who had spoken before, his eyes intense. SteelStar gaped at him in astonishment.

“Gordon!” said the older woman.

“What?” Gordon asked defensively. “I’m not the only one thinking it. If this SteelStar had killed the rampaging superhero sooner, Manny would still be alive.”

SteelStar backed away.

“Gordon,” said the woman. “Not now!”

Gordon steamed for a moment, then walked away. SteelStar felt even more awkward than ever. The woman came up to SteelStar and took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry about that,” she said. “Gordon is Manny’s brother. They were very close, and he took Manny’s death pretty hard. I…I can’t imagine being put in the position you were in.”

“I’m sorry,” said SteelStar. “I was with Spectramancer in his last moments. He found out what he’d done when he came to his senses, and he was horrified. He never would have done this in his right mind. I just wanted you to know that.”

“Thank you,” she said.

SteelStar spent the rest of the night making small talk, paying his respects to Manny, and sitting for the funeral service. It was one of the hardest days of his life so far.

The next night was even worse.

###

Technically Spectramancer had two funerals. One was for his alter ego, Nigel Beaumont, and was held in private for his family. The other was for his superhero persona and took place at the United Heroes of Earth Headquarters, so that’s where SteelStar went. Paramount had arranged for a Superhero with no direct connection to Spectramancer to look after Partition City while SteelStar was gone. SteelStar would have been uncomfortable otherwise, or at least more uncomfortable than he already was.

The U.H.E. headquarters was a massive facility in Washington D.C. with a long stone staircase leading up to an entrance held up by marble columns. In front of the staircase stood three statues. These statues, including Paramount, were the founding three members of the U.H.E.. The statue on the left was Racerman, the first speedster. This statue wore a costume with an R on the chest and a helmet with goggles. On the left of Paramount’s statue stood one of Octawoman, who could grow tentacles of energy from her back strong enough to hold up a building. This statue showed a mask and a skintight costume with an octopus on the chest.

This building and the statues usually looked grand, but today it was raining with lightning, casting a gloomy mood over the building. If the rain wasn’t gloomy enough, the entrance hall was worse, as that’s where the funeral would take place. This massive room echoed when people stepped, folding chairs laid out across the floor for this occasion. SteelStar left his umbrella on a peg on the wall and went inside.

SteelStar didn’t stand out as much at this funeral, as most of the people here were superheroes. People wore suits or black dresses, and the only break from that were the people wearing masks to hide their identities. There were even obvious aliens there, like Gargant, a man with purple skin who stood ten feet tall with huge muscles under his suit, or Lionfish, who looked like a humanoid version of his namesake. Lionfish even had to wear a helmet filled with water to breathe. Compared to superheroes like that, SteelStar looked pretty normal by comparison.

SteelStar also recognized some human superheroes like Heavyweight, a big burly man with a purple and black mask and big, black gauntlets on his hands. In the back stood the Jade Mantis, a man in a mask depicting a praying mantis’s face and two katanas on his back. SteelStar also saw one of the Fabled Four, a woman called Shieldmaiden. She wore a green mask, a black dress, and a small, round, gold shield on her arm. SteelStar knew that shield was magic and could grow as big as she needed it to, among other things.

Some of the superheroes SteelStar ran into offered condolences for what he had to do. Others took one look at him and seemed uncomfortable. At least no one seemed angry. Presumably, Paramount had explained what happened, but SteelStar still feared that someone would snap at him. SteelStar knew there was a lot of hate for him outside this building.

Of course, SteelStar met Paramount, who was set to give the eulogy. Wearing a normal suit, the bearded superhero thanked SteelStar for coming. The older man shared a few stories about Spectramancer, which just made SteelStar feel worse about the whole situation.

Finally, SteelStar saw the person he was there to see. The Superhero Passion was known to be Spectramancer’s daughter, inheriting his powers. Seeing her in person for the first time, SteelStar was struck by how beautiful she was. She sported platinum blonde hair, a white mask over her vivid green eyes, and a black funeral dress.

SteelStar hesitated. Spectramancer, in his last moments, had asked SteelStar to tell his daughter that he was sorry he didn’t listen to her and that he loved her. This wasn’t a conversation SteelStar wanted to have but knew he was obligated to. He knew that if he hadn’t stopped Spectramancer it would have torn Partition City apart, but he still felt guilty. Talking to the daughter of the man he killed was the last thing SteelStar wanted to do.

However, before he could work up the courage to go over, Passion suddenly turned and looked right at him, her eyes wide with shock. Of course, thought SteelStar. She would detect him immediately. She, like her father, could sense emotions, and she undoubtedly was sensing SteelStar’s guilt.

She turned and walked away, prompting SteelStar to follow. He considered turning to metal and using magnetism to fly over, but that would attract too much attention. He made his way through the crowd as fast as possible, tracking Passion’s electromagnetic signature so he didn’t lose her.

Finally, he followed her to a back hallway where there weren’t any people and the lights were off, leaving the area mostly in darkness. A few windows showed pouring rain, casting rain shaped shadows on the other wall. SteelStar caught up to Passion and made his plea.

“Mrs. Passion,” said SteelStar. “I need to talk to you.”

“You don’t need to say anything,” she replied, still walking away from her.

“I really do,” said Steelstar. “Please, I just need a moment.”

“He needed to be stopped,” said Passion, her voice trembling. “You…you did what you had to do. I get that.”

“Please,” said SteelStar. “I need to tell you something. You’re father…”

“DON’T TALK ABOUT MY FATHER!”

SteelStar froze. Passion had rounded on him, suddenly surrounded by a familiar red aura that turned her mask and hair red. Even her eyes glowed with red energy, and the look on her face was suddenly familiar.

It was the same look Spectramancer had when he’d gone on a rampage, and like a deer in the headlights, SteelStar couldn’t move.

It only lasted a moment. Passion took a few deep breaths, and her aura slowly faded. Her deep breaths slowly shifted to the strained breathing of something crying, and sure enough, tears began to go down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry,” she said, wiping her tears away. “Please just…just leave me alone…Please.”

She turned and walked away, the sound of her crying echoing in the hall. SteelStar looked down, unable to bring himself to follow.

Lightning flashed outside the window, followed quickly by the sound of thunder.

###

SteelStar flew home on a plane provided by the U.H.E. at Paramount’s request, the afternoon sun shining outside. SteelStar could have flown back home on his own, but there was something else he needed to do. On the plane, he changed into his blue costume with white star on the chest along with his metal boots, gauntlets, pauldrons, and belt. With this appearance, he sat face to face with the lawyer Paramount had recommended, a handsome young man with wavy black hair who pulled out his papers.

“Hello, SteelStar,” said the lawyer. “I’m Garrett Stone. Nice to meet you.”

They shook hands.

“Are you okay?” asked Garrett. “You’ve got circles under your eyes.”

Andy sighed and said, “I’ve just…got a lot on my plate right now.”

“Yeah,” said Garrett. “I’m sure, and I’m here to hopefully alleviate some of that, so let’s cut to the chase. The E.H.O.D. is putting you under review, and I’m here to prepare you for it. Do you have a date set?”

“The agent should be at my house tomorrow,” said SteelStar, a depressed note in his voice.

For a moment, Andy lamented that they’d be at his house. Technically, there were laws against revealing vigilantes’ identities to the public as long as they served their communities and country. The E.H.O.D. was the exception to that. All superheroes were required by law to report their true identities to the E.H.O.D. without exception. Andy understood why. If superheroes ever committed crimes, the E.H.O.D. was tasked with holding them accountable. After all, superheroes were only human, but that didn’t mean Andy wouldn’t find it frustrating, especially now.

“That’s okay,” said Garrett reassuringly. “We’ll have plenty of time to prepare before we land in Partition City. There will be two stages to this. First will be an interview, and we’ll prepare for that by going over the kind of questions they’re likely to ask. Second, they’ll probably leave agents in the city to keep an eye on you while you do hero work. Fortunately, this stage doesn’t have to last forever. E.H.O.D. agents have been sued for unnecessary harassment in the past. So long as you follow some simple guidelines, he’ll have to make a decision soon. You just need to show good judgment and not make any egregious mistakes, and he’ll have to clear you. Just be grateful superheroes aren’t licensed anymore.”

SteelStar had heard of this. There was a period back in the sixties and seventies when becoming a superhero required a license by law. This proved to be wildly unpopular for several reasons. If a superhero forgot to renew his license, he could get arrested for superhero work. There was often outrage if a hero was arrested for saving people’s lives. Not to mention the outrage if a superhero refrained from work when his license lapsed and people died. There were also problems if a superhero’s license was revoked due to political reasons, personal grudges, or even clerical errors. The public disgust with the policy was so great that many senators and even the president one year won in landslides just by promising to repeal the superhero licensing act.

“Yeah,” said SteelStar. “I’m glad that’s one nightmare I don’t have to deal with.”

“I know, right?” said Garrett. “So, first off. I have to insist, right now, that you do not refer to the agent as a pod person to his face.”

Andy chuckled. The E.H.O.D. wasn’t always called the Enhanced Human Oversight Division. It was first called the Power User Oversight Division, or P.U.O.D. for short. Unfortunately, the organization became known for its red tape that got in the way of superhero work more often than not. Due to the frustration, people started calling it the stinky o.d. to play on the letters p and u. When the internet became mainstream, this became a meme, and to change its image, the P.U.O.D. changed its name to P.O.D., the Powers Oversight Division. This didn’t help matters, as a new meme was born. Now P.O.D. agents were often called pod people, just mindless agents working for the state. The P.O.D. didn’t last long and was quickly rebranded to the E.H.O.D., thus saving some face.

Not that this stopped them from being called the pod people. The name ended up sticking because people thought it was funny.

“I won’t refer to him as a pod person,” said SteelStar, suppressing a grin. “In person, anyway.”

“Good man,” said Garrett, giving a thumbs up. “One other thing. I don’t recommend using your powers to try and intimidate him.”

SteelStar frowned.

“I mean…” he said. “I wasn’t going to anyway, but why do you bring it up?”

“Because they have ways of taking you in if they deem you a threat. I’m sure you’ve heard of the Cerberons.”

SteelStar’s face grew grim. He had heard of them. The Cerberons were the robotic guards of New Tartarus Prison. The first models were made in the nineties and were touted as robots that could take on beings as powerful as Paramount when in groups, and the most current models were reportedly even more powerful. There were only ever thirty of them in active service at a time as their power requirements were significant.

For this reason, they were almost exclusively used to guard New Tartarus and were sent out only for emergencies. The E.H.O.D. tended to rely on superheroes to catch supervillains otherwise. Given that the prison was called New Tartarus, the Cerberons were loosely named after Cerberus, the underworld’s three-headed guard dog in Greek mythology.

“They wouldn’t use one against me,” said SteelStar. “Would they?”

“They might,” said Garrett, his tone serious. “Paramount has most of the U.H.E. on your side, and even among nonmembers, they carry a lot of clout. Still, the E.H.O.D. has plenty of superheroes in its safeguard program, but if none are available, they may very well send a Cerberon.”

SteelStar took a deep breath, “But probably not, right?”

“Probably not,” said Garrett. “Always, let’s go over the first question.”

###

Andy spent the rest of the flight being coached on his answers. By the end, he was exhausted and ready to go home for a good night’s sleep. His Mother and Father, John and Amelia, picked him up from the airport. As John drove, Andy fell asleep as he sat in the backseat. It had been a long day.

It was fairly late in the evening when they reached their neighborhood, and Andy was suddenly woken up by his mother reaching back from the front seat and shaking his shoulder.

“Andy,” said Amelia.

“Huh? What?” said Andy, still groggy.

“Something’s going on,” said John.

Andy rubbed his eyes and looked out the window. In the waning twilight, he saw the Gatlin Family’s neighbors gathered out of their houses. All of them were Valtarians, survivors from the same planet as Andy’s mother. There were people of all ages, from little kids to the elderly, so something big had to be going on. As Valtarians possess light shapeshifting abilities in their organic forms, different families had chosen different human skin colors, from light to dark and everything in between. None of them looked exactly like the common ethnicities on Earth, but they passed as humans well enough.

It didn’t take long to see that they were gathered around the Gatlin house, and as the Valtarians parted for the Gatlin car, he saw concern and frustration written on everyone’s faces. When he saw who was in front of their house, he quickly understood why.

Standing next to a black sedan was a man in a business suit carrying a suitcase whose eyebrows seemed etched into a permanent scowl. Next to him stood the superhero Centurion, wearing bronze colored armor that covered his entire body and face. Where the armor Andy’s father had worn resembled a medieval knight, Centurion’s armor was styled after ancient Rome, complete with bronze abs and a plume on his helmet. He had a square piece on his back like a backpack, a large hammer behind that, and a roman style gladius at his side.

But it was the third figure that stood out to Andy, a vaguely humanoid figure made of sleek, black armor plating. The robot’s head was shaped with an elongated snout and had a pair of fins, making it look like a hound’s head. The fins presumably made it more aerodynamic when flying, but Andy wondered if it was deliberately meant to look like an attack hound. Whatever the reason, Andy knew who these people were immediately.

The E.H.O.D. agent had shown up a day early, and he brought with him both a superhero and a Cerberon. Andy felt himself grow tense. His long day had just gotten a little longer.