Deepwater

Somewhere off the northern coast of Cape Cod, a fishing vessel floundered about in rough seas. It was winter, and a blizzard had hit just as the boats were coming in. One captain, upon setting foot on land, swore that the ocean itself had chased him to shore. There were only a few boats caught in the chop. This ship, this fishing vessel was call the Grit Ten.

Had the ocean reared up it's ugly face? Evan McGovern, standing on the deck of the Grit Ten watching sailors throw themselves overboard in panic, believes on that day, it did. He looked it right in it's frothy eyes and spat back.

Evan cursed, tied a rope off around his waist and climber the fo'c's'le and raised his arms to the steely sky. What he said, no man heard save the Sea, but the waves cleared and a spot opened in the clouds and Captain O'Heard steered right for this patch of bright, as Evan instructed him to do.

Evan was considered lucky. No one ever suspected he was different. His ships came in no matter the weather. Now, his secret was revealed. Captain O'Heard begged him to stay on. They all did. They promised to keep him secret.

Evan could not stay. He could no longer deny what he was. He was a hero. He had to live up to his obligation.

from Parables of the Famous Heroes, Chapter Nine: Deepwater.

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Supercell

Generators. He didn't know anything about them. They'd gotten him into this mess. Without these generators, there would be nothing to power a grid and he wouldn't be at gunpoint.

People needed power. Electrical power. They didn't need a half man, half magnet so much. Especially one with no control over his gift. But, sit him near a few generators and electricity flowed. Endlessly.

He thought up a few plans. Threaten to turn of the power, they shoot you. Wait for the right moment and run, they shoot you. Overload the generators, they shoot you. Nothing was good nough.

So, he praticed manipulating his magnetism. He moved little objects first. A pen. A paper clip. One day, he moved one of the men's chairs while he was sitting down.

They don't shoot you. They beat you. They withheld food and water. They tortured you. Only they don't know their own strength, right? You pass out.

Next thing, waking up to new circumstances. New people with powers like his. The books on Tesla and basic principles of magnetism and electricity. They made a suit for him, insulated. Then, he got a pack with two mini-engine/generators in it. When he focused his thoughts, electricity came out of his hands.

Then they had him practice for hours. The suit was hot and uncomfortable. They blathered on about justice and nobility. He was sick of them. They capture you, fix you up, train you. You shock them.

Issue Two: Part 3 | Issue Two: Part 5