α to ζ: The Measure of a Hero

By Sylvan Scott

Small, fragile species in Otawatapolis may be the most numerous but the city is built around those much larger. Underfoot and overlooked, Rhodes is a spiny mouse costumed crime-fighter who can make a giant-sized difference.

But he hates being called "Hero".

When he discovers a shrunken tiger in an alley he uncovers more than his punk attitudes and size-shifter abilities are used to dealing with.

“α to ζ” (“A to Z”) is my name for a story setting that encompasses magic, super-science, and costumed, powered individuals. The world is populated by humanoid animals in addition to humans. And although humans are the most numerous type of people, they comprise only one of roughly sixteen-hundred different, intelligent, mammalian species dating back to at least the last Ice Age.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sylvan Scott
• Release date: Oct 27, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463526194

Sylvan Scott

I wrote about robots. When I was a kid, my first story was about robots that looked like people: the only survivors of a world-wide nuclear war. What can I say? I grew up in the 70's. Since then I've sculpted all manner of stories about all sorts of topics. Science Fiction and Fantasy still remain favorites of mine and, usually, what I can express in speculative fiction I'd rather not express in other formats. I love short stories and am working on making this writing bug that I've harbored for so many years finally work for me. Here goes nothing.

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The α to ζ world-setting (containing Otawatapolis, Hammerson’s Jewelers, Avery’s: An Authentic Café and Apicissian Brasserie, International Personal Savings (IPS) Financial, ONN News, and other landmarks within this story’s context) as well as the characters of Catastrophe, Rhodes, Carolos Christos, Avery Calwithe, Titania, Mister Tower, Musclebound, Captain Happy, Bravewind, Skyscraper, The Surgeon, Alternity, Captain Amber, the Sky Pirates, Scrapper, and Hercule Alloysious Sabel IV are owned by Sylvan Scott. This story may not be shared or edited without the express written permission of the author.

α to ζ:

The Measure of a Hero

©2019 Sylvan Scott

Please don’t call me that; just … don’t.

All my life, I’ve been called something I’m not.

They called me strong for surviving cancer … brave when I turned-in dad for beatin’ up mom. They even called me honorable for boycotting graduation when th’ school board said Sondrie couldn’t wear a formal gown to prom jus’ ‘cause she’d been born with a penis.

"Punk, valedictorian, heteroflexible, spiny mouse": all labels that apply. But do they encapsulate me?

Do any of your labels fully describe you?

Listen...

I thought getting powers was my chance to escape; take control of my story. I saved some lives, but the stories still got out of hand. My masked persona has its moniker but gained even more labels: labels I don’t deserve or want. They ascribe motives I never even considered. It must make the people who use those labels feel happy and safe.

But I’m not safe.

Happiness is fleeting.

They put powered people on pedestals in hopes that, from that height, we won’t step on them. But they’re wrong. Giants always crush the smalls. They can’t help it.

I just try to do what’s right; I’m no paragon.

No one gets that.

They hope their praise will make them safe. They think it’ll change the world into something they can point to and say, See? I made that! How can it ever hurt me? But those with power shape the world. And praise doesn’t control them.

How could your creation ever hurt you?

Ask Doctor Frankenstein.

And don’t call me hero.

Walking the streets of the Northside District as a giant would have been easier. He could avoid being stepped-on, blown over by opening doors, crushed by tires when crossing from the fragile lane