Tether

Chapter 2

The metro station was quieter than usual. Normally the train would be buzzing with energy as several people would head to work. But it's Saturday morning, and the train is silent aside from the buzzing of the overhead lights and the rattling of the wheels.

I sat alone looking out the window as the train passed by the harbor. The sun slowly began to rise, as the water reflected the incoming light. Only for it to be blocked when the train entered the station.

"You have now entered Downtown Harbor View" the electronic female voice said as the train screeched to a halt.

I walked out of the train and made my way outside the station. I took a left and made my way home.

Slowly creaking the door open I peered inside my apartment to see the lights were off. Walking to my room my legs began to feel weak, and I hurriedly made my way to my room before collapsing on my bed. It's been weeks since I last had a good night's sleep, and the stress of the interview is bound to make it worse. I wanted to scream but stopped myself knowing I'd wake the neighbors through the thin walls.

"Oh god this is so fucked" I groan laying down in my bed, a twin sized that sat near a small window. I didn't even bother to change clothes as I drift to sleep.

I woke up to the sun piercing my eyelids. Looking at my phone I see it's 2pm. Climbing out of bed I inch my way to the kitchen and make a glass of water. Slowly sipping I notice my mom sleeping on the couch, almost the same as I was hours before.

We aren't too financially stable, and it's only gotten worse since the crash. But ever since I got my powers, I've began creating money and leaving it on the counter. I can't make too much without my mom getting suspicious. But I think she already knows something's up.

Finishing the glass, I remember my card still in my pocket. Pulling it out I noticed my Tether codename, Alternate.

I never heard about them, the gen 2 probably died before I was born, but I still want to understand my abilities better. I put my shoes on and transformed a couple napkins into some cash before quietly slipping out the door.

Walking outside the city felt more alive. People were out having fun and living normal lives. While I'm now thrown into a situation only a few thousand have ever experienced.

I remembered the city library was around 3 blocks away, so I made my way to the harbor. The library was the easiest way I could get any information on tethers.

I approached the local park that sat near the edge of the harbor. I saw several kids running and playing while their parents looked over them and read books from the neighboring library. Climbing up the steps, I pushed open the heavy doors to the library.

As I entered, I saw the lobby was full of people waiting patiently and working with the attendants at the desk. Some of them looked up after the woman spoke. I realized that I'm not in the right place.

"Can I help you?" a woman at the front desk asked.

"Uh yeah, I'm looking for the library." I ask realizing I made a mistake.

"Oh, that's next-door sweetie. This is a bank." she said calmly.

"O- Oh sorry" I say, embarrassed, before turning around and leaving.

As I left, I noticed a group of teenagers my age staring at me, particularly one girl with dark ginger hair. If looks could kill the whole bank would be a graveyard.

Entering the actual library I quietly made my way past the large shelves of books, to the back where the computers were located. Sitting down I login with my library card and look up the National Tether Database. The bright blue seal of the TEAR appeared on the main homepage of the website.

The first thing I searched for was Alternate, the database came up with several articles and photos. I decided to click on the first article titled "The Alternate Tether" and began reading.

On New Years Eve of 1980 as soon as the last clock struck midnight an estimated 500 people between the ages of 1-20 experienced a vision that to this day no one can really explain. Soon it became apparent that many of these people began to develop supernatural powers, along with certain "physical" alterations.

Alternate was one of them. Sporting a black mask and poncho, both with dark purple hues outlining them, Alternate was one of the first Tethers to use their powers for good. From generating cash and food to those in need, anything in a mile wide radius could be altered, there have been reports of him even creating whole houses.

But we will never know the extent of his crusade, as he was killed only a month in. During the first encounter with the Horsemen when trying to protect a group of civilians from harm, sadly resulting in the deaths of all personnel. Cutting the extent of his goodwill short.

The second gen Alternate 2 is the reason why the Alternate codename is still remembered. While her actual upbringing is not entirely known. Some psychologists do believe her to be an undiagnosed narcissist. Since the Generation loss effect was not yet discovered, Alternate 2 believed herself to be on the same power level as the original alternate. Believing herself to be a "god among insects". She began to use her powers for her own selfish gains, as well as causing as much destruction and chaos to any that opposed her. 

The TEAR was unable to combat her due to the radius her power extended to. It was incredibly difficult to track her during her time on the run due to her changing disguises in each encounter. And these encounters became much more violent when she learned how to use her powers to swap out human limbs.

I froze when reading that. Was it possible for me to do that? Could I replace a human hand with anything? I forced the thought out of my head and skimmed over the more gruesome details of Alternate2's killing spree.

Thankfully her murderous rampage was interrupted after she was killed in an altercation with the Death-Row 5. Their leader, Murder provided this comment while gloating in front of her burned corpse "We're the Death-Row 5 we don't have room for six". And thus the alternate tether has gone down as one of the most unpredictable Tether. Both a tool for good and a tool of mass destruction. The 3rd generation tether has not been yet identified but given the previous Tethers history leaves a lot up to assumption on what they choose to do.

While the article ended up providing me with the answers that I was looking for it still left me dissatisfied. Closing the article, I began to browse the recent headlines surrounding Tethers.

They weren't too interesting, just a couple of altercations outside of my area. There have been disputes surrounding Queen Bee and her territory up north, the Trinity is still in pursuit of the Death-Row 5, and there hasn't been a Horsman attack in at least 8 months.

But one article from a local news station caught my attention. "The Runaways Still At Large!" with a photo of the three villains in the header. The first was named The Mushroom Witch, a girl dressed like a wizard with several mushrooms growing around her. The second, named Smokesceen, looked like a ninja but it was hard to tell with a large amount of smoke covering their body. But it was the last member that sent a chill down my spine, Bomb-rush. She wore a long trench coat that was cut off near the end of her combat boots. But it was the gas mask she wore on her face, concealing everything except a pair of eyes that glared through my soul.

It's her! The girl from the bank! The Runaways are right next-door! I hurriedly stood up and ran to the exit, hoping I had the ability to do something.

I only took a few steps before the explosion knocked me to the ground.