Welcome to our new project- This would be a comic if I could draw, but I think I can make it work as a regularly updated web series instead. (Or until I can find someone who can draw and we team up. Whatever comes first.)

If you like this series and want to see more, throw a comment on the post or like it! The more people like it, the more I’m going to be motivated to continue writing.

A huge shoutout to my first test reader, Celeste, from one of my game groups. You are a huge help, and you are amazing!

And now… On to the story!

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I live in a world where everyone has powers. Flight, invisibility, elemental control… You know, “superpowers.” Well, at least, that’s what we called them when they began to appear. Those with powers were considered mutants. Now, those without are the freaks.

Usually, powers manifest around the ages of three to five, but people have shown powers as late as 12. If you don’t power up by then, you’re a mutant and life will be difficult. There’s another class of mutant, those with more than one power… But they are worshipped rather than ridiculed.

My story begins at the age of 16.I was born to an Ice Mage father and a Speedster mother. Basically, dad had ice powers and mom super speed. I was a mutant, not a hint of powers to be had. Kids at my school took every chance to try to torment me, but I learned early to brush it off. At least, as my dad was a cop, things didn’t get violent.

Well…. Things didn’t turn violent until the June after I turned 16. Three local jerks got fed up with their threats and extortion attempts being ignored, so they decided to take things up a notch. I had never bothered to give them the time of day, as I knew any criminal convictions would ruin their future plans.

You see, they each wanted to be a Collector, the most elite national crime fighting organization. If a person had even a minor criminal or misdemeanor conviction, with a couple exemptions, the applicant was out of the running. So, by natural deduction, I reasoned they weren’t ever going to risk it. Boy was I wrong.

They made their move in the late evening. I was heading home from some volunteer work, tutoring other kids, when the three cornered me outside the school. There was no preparing for the absolute beatdown they gave me, but I did my best to defend myself. With a cop for a dad, I certainly wasn’t going to just stand there and take it, was I?

“Stupid, dumbass mutant, you should’ve just done what we told you. Twenty bucks a week isn’t too much to ask to keep from getting your ass kicked, is it?” The leader was a jock, star cleanup of the baseball team. Or something like that, I didn’t particularly care for the school’s sports.

“Admittedly… Didn’t think… You three were as dumb as you looked.” I was careful to talk between blocks, so I didn’t distract myself too much. Apparently, they didn’t like this answer. Can’t imagine why.

“We are going to make you regret you were ever born.” The leader growled.

“Why? Want someone to feel as bad as you look?” Well, that wasn’t the right answer, either, I guess. One of them, the Fire Mage of their little group, got the other two to grab my arms as he lit up a punch and grinned.

“You won’t be so cocky when we’re done with you, mutant.” He said, and punched.

What happened next was absolutely baffling. Knowing the damage that punch could do, I ducked my head, which he was aiming for. I managed to twist my hold out of the third boy’s grip, freeing my left hand in time to throw my arm up and block the next fire punch. Instead of feeling a bad burn, my arm went cold the instant before the hit connected, there was a hiss, and steam blew out in front of my eyes. The boys swore, let me go, and backed up… And I passed out.

When I came to, there were lights going off nearby. Apparently, the cops had been notified. A Healer was looking me over.

“Aside from the cuts and bruises she has, she’s just exhausted herself, John. She’ll be fine.”

“Exhausted? From a fight? You’re sure nothing else is wrong?” My father’s face came into view. “Alex, what happened?”

“Oh, y’know… Just picking daisies and having tea parties.” I retorted, trying to sit up. Dad pushed me back down.

“You stay right there until we know what happened, young lady.” He looked at the Healer.

“I can’t find any signs of ill health.” The Healer explained. “She’s perfectly fine.”

“Daaad, come on. I’m fine, he said so.” I complained. Dad sighed and let me sit up.

“What happened? The boys were freaked out, but wouldn’t say exactly.” I didn’t answer. No matter how painful or irritating school and life got, there was one thing I still had going for me: I didn’t go running to Mommy and Daddy when the other kids were being mean. At least, not since I was, like, 8. “Alex- I have to know what happened, for the report. It’s clear they attacked you, but why? If you started this fight…”

“Of course I didn’t, do I look as stupid as them? I was leaving tutoring and they cornered me, alright? They tried to be intimidating, I wasn’t having it, and Mike threw a fire punch. My arm got cold, there was a lot of steam, and I passed out.” The Healer and Dad traded looks. “What?”

“Alex, do exactly what you did when Mike hit you.” The Healer told me. I frowned, but threw up my arm as if I was blocking a punch in a hurry. In an instant, my forearm was coated in ice! “Well, that’s what it was, then- You, young lady, are the latest bloomer I’ve ever heard of.”

“Ice powers! You’ve got ice powers!” Dad cheered, pulling me into a hug. “Just like your old man! Your mother will be so jealous.” He grinned.