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After the assassination of the mayor and deputy mayor, Polina decides to run for mayor in the new mayoral election to take responsibility for not being able to protect her friend and to carry on his legacy; however, her merciful actions towards repentant criminals and villains, and her history as a cop and superhero, are used against her. A new shadowy foe will use every underhanded tactic they have in a desperate attempt to keep a woman of her conviction and faith from gaining the authority and power they fear she might wield.

Infiltration of the Compassionate: Chapter 4 – Necessary Disaster

Chapter 4 – Necessary Disaster

After days of waiting, the day of the election comes. Every supporter and financial backer of each candidate comes out to show who they support and to encourage people to vote for that person and their given reasons. I think this is the most active the city has ever been for a mayoral election because of how many people are out and consider this a turning point, not only for the city, but for the country. Those who oppose me say that a superhuman with ties to a deeply Catholic and influential organization is another step in us taking over not only the country, but the world as well, given how the influence of the Dominion and Coronamento Corporation has been rapidly expanding. Many of my opponents are gathering in one place, in the more historic areas of Meridian, whose buildings are mostly comprised of Art Deco and Gothic architecture.

Here it is. This is the trap. With the Compassionate by my side and the Dominion and my friends in law enforcement on standby, I enter the spider’s web. Looking at the souls of people, I see that the businessmen and women, politicians, and normal citizens are the ones who have been funding and influencing both criminals, villains, and their fellow citizens to cause trouble for the people who chose to ally themselves with me, and they’re continuing to do the same, protesting my mayoral run as if me taking power means that I’ll become a tyrannical queen who will force everyone to become Catholic and make Meridian a police state. In their minds, they crave a physical fight and for me to attack them.

They think they win if I attack them, and that their arguments and power will save them from the hand of justice. Let’s see if they’re right. Firstly, I approach them, declaring that they’re all under arrest for the crimes they’ve committed, and list them out as they yell at me that they don’t know what I’m talking about, that what I’m doing is to gain more votes for myself, and that what they’ve been saying is being proven right. As I order my allies to arrest them and restrain people myself, they start to put up a fight with guns, and the superhuman among them uses their powers against us.

What ensues is a short fight that wrecks the area around us. Even as we try to minimize damage and loss of life, our foes are prepared for us, as reinforcements come from the civilian crowds and groups of other hero associations and police, leading to many injuries and a few deaths. The true fight then starts after the fight, as the people we arrest continue to accuse us of being tyrannical and telling the observing crowds that this will happen across the country and world when people like me take power. I leave the arresting to the Compassionate and my allies, and decide to talk to the crowds myself.

I say, “Don’t listen to them! They were the ones responsible for all of the death and destruction that’s been following me ever since I started running for mayor, and they’re getting what they deserve. If I really wanted power, I would’ve gone after my rivals, not their backers, and made myself subject to being kicked out of the mayoral race. You’ve all seen or heard of my works, have you not? Everything I do, I do to protect Meridian, save the innocent, and give second chances to those who take it, and if doing so means not being mayor, then so be it, as long as justice is achieved.”

With nothing better left to say to a screaming crowd, I leave. Sure enough, the remaining city government announces that the election is being halted today, and I’m immediately kicked off the ballot due to a Meridian city law that says no candidate can be investigated during the election, a leftover, useless law from the city’s corrupt past, which I was hoping to change as soon as I entered office, but it’s over now. I strangely feel at peace despite letting so much work seemingly go to waste.

The criminals we arrested continue to be adamant that they did the right thing, saying things like, “We proved to them that you’re no different than Kane and his Castigators! You call yourselves Compassionate, but you help the scum of the earth escape prison and execution, if they say they’ll change or work for you.”

“You’re only Compassionate in the eyes of your false faith.”

“You just want power and to enforce what you consider justice. When our candidates win, we’ll be out of here, and you’ll be the ones behind bars.”

“You’re a disgrace to the legacy L’Obscurité left. We only managed to get the help of so many criminals and villains because you left so many alive and unpunished.”

Nothing else they say matters besides them admitting to the crime of starting trouble and getting people hurt and killed. Election day comes again in a couple of days, and I’m surprised by what happens. A few of my rival candidates drop out.

One of them says, “Polina opened my eyes to my faults that I’ve been running from my entire life. Because of that, I’ve chosen to turn over a new leaf. Despite all the good she’s done and continues to do, she got kicked while she was down and spat in the face when she was forced to leave the mayoral race, and because of that, I’m choosing to step down, and cast my vote and support for her.”

The other candidates echo the same message, and people in the streets protest against the city, so I can be an option for people to pick. Reports on the news talk about people writing my name in and others spreading the word to do the same.

A man on the news says, “She spared my life when I didn’t deserve to live because of what I did. She even spared the people who tried to destroy her election run and kill her. If that’s not compassion, then I don’t know what is.”

“This is…I don’t know what to say,” I say as I start to cry.

“The people love you, Polina. Of course, they’re going to have your back in your time of need when you had theirs when they needed it,” Raziel says with one arm holding me.

Zahara says, “There was no better choice than you. You proved that with your actions.”

“We don’t need to read people’s minds to see that they were going to come out for you like this,” Penelope adds. “We did a lot to inspire them to pick others up when they’re down, and that we’re the ones in the right.”

Later in the day, the city government caves in to the people’s demands, and holds the election again the next day with me on the ballot. Even though the support for me doesn’t stop, I’m surprised that I overwhelmingly win the vote. I start to cry tears of joy as my parents, Raziel, Zahara, and Penelope celebrate and cheer for me. Since I have to make a victory speech, I quickly head out with the Compassionate to the city hall to address the now growing crowds who want to hear what I have to say. It’s packed here with what must be hundreds of people cheering me on.

Once everyone is quiet and without a proper speech planned, I speak from my heart and say, “I didn’t think I’d be here a couple of days ago. I gave up hope when I decided to confront the people who tried everything to sabotage my run for mayor and put the lives of my allies and myself in danger, but it’s thanks to you all that I won, so really, this victory is yours.”

The crowd cheers and starts chanting my name.

“There’s no other way for me to thank you than to do what I said I would. I’ll make sure that those who will make the most of the second chance given to them can be reintegrated into society, that old laws that were taken advantage of by criminals are wiped from the rulebook, that criminals and villains get the justice they deserve, that the poor and sick of this city get the support they need, and that the legacy of the previous mayor, my friend Jeph, and his deputy mayor, Tim, is continued and honored by what we accomplish next. Thanks to you letting me into your hearts, we can bring Meridian to even greater heights and make this city the most compassionate city not only in the Columbian Union but in the entire world.”

The crowd cheers and chants my name even louder. With nothing more to say, I thank the crowds again and get to my office with the Compassionate by my side as always, ready to get to work to help those in need. Of course, before we can really do anything, we get reports of villains and criminals starting trouble because they don’t like that I was elected.

“Let’s take care of them. I didn’t want to be stuck in an office all day anyway,” Zahara says.

“They’re starting trouble because of us, so we might as well take care of them ourselves,” Penelope says.

“I agree with both of you,” Raziel says. “Polina?”

I laugh, put on my armor, and say, “Let’s do what we’re best at.”

The End

Infiltration of the Compassionate: Chapter 3 – Punished Good Deeds

Chapter 3 – Punished Good Deeds

Today, I chose to help the people at one of the many rehabilitation centers for ex-criminals and repentant villains. It’s not something I want to do to flaunt the Dominion and Coronamento Corporation’s accomplishments. Instead, I want to show the public that those who turned to lives of sin can change and become better people. Those who want to share their story with the public do so outside the center, while I talk to the many patients, using my psychological powers to see their issues and give them sympathetic advice and a hug if they need one. I also see Lily, who is the reason the previous mayor was killed, to see how she’s doing. She seems to be making real progress in her recovery.

Her prayers and penances have reduced the size of the horns on her body to stubs, and she seems to be at peace in her cell. Both Penelope and Zahra also check on her, and despite being manipulated by her, they are concerned about her and want her to get better. Since she seems to be at peace and we hear from the psychiatrists, doctors, and priests that she’s recovering well, we leave her alone. Just like the rest of the people here, they let their weakness overwhelm them and need a helping hand so they can be who God made them to be. It’s then that the inevitable problems start rearing their ugly heads, as I hear that the civilians outside the center are getting angry and throwing things at the ex-criminals.

When the Compassionate and I go outside, we hear people say things like, “That woman murdered my family!”

“That man stole my children from me!”

“Those criminals destroyed my neighborhood!”

“This is all fake and for show!”

Guess I should’ve seen this coming. In the crowds, I see on the souls of people those who are here to start trouble again. I tell Penelope, Zahara, and Raziel to watch the crowds and the area around us for suspicious activity and characters. They do so, and I stand in front of the ex-criminals and try to talk down the crowd.

“This is not for show, primarily to get more votes for myself, or gain more support for the Dominion or Coronamento Corporation,” I tell them. “This is to show everyone can change for the better and to give these people the opportunity to show that, so that they won’t be shunned for their actions in the past.”

“See?” a voice in the crowd says. “She is doing this for her benefit.”

“That doesn’t make what I’m trying to do here purely selfish or for my own gain. Even if I don’t become mayor, I’ll continue to conduct events like these to reintegrate repentant convicts back into society.”

“These people don’t deserve a second chance!” another voice in the crowd says.

“Who are you to decide that?”

“We decide who makes the laws in this country!”

“Do you? Many of you are here starting trouble because someone else told you to do it or paid you. Don’t think that I can’t see you, and you’ll escape without facing consequences for your actions.”

“I told you I was right! If Polina becomes mayor, she’ll turn Meridian into a police state, run by the Dominion, the Coronamento Corporation, and her so-called Compassionate,” yet another voice says.

More accusations get thrown at me one after the other, and no matter how I try to answer them, they don’t stop or calm down. Instead, the crowd becomes more agitated and wilder, and the next worst possible thing to happen ends up saving me from this situation, as a shot rings out, making some in the crowd scatter, and others take their guns out or begin to use their powers. There’s an explosion in the sky, and fire starts raining down on certain people, while also forming a ring of fire around the crowds.

“I told you they’d turn against us!” a woman in the crowd says, whom I immediately go after, restrain, and interrogate.

“Why are you turning people against us? Don’t lie to me! You can’t! I see in your mind that you came here to start trouble and force a violent confrontation between both sides,” I say.

“I did it because you helped the people who hurt my friends and family. Someone gave me a paycheck and a chance to get back at you, and that villain, and that’s all I really needed. If you want to know their reason for doing this, let’s just say we share similar motives, but any more information is above my pay grade.”

“You’re doing this for revenge? Look at what you’ve caused! Others are getting hurt and killed because of you!”

“I’m not native. I knew what would happen.”

“Did you? You think you could bear the weight of the responsibility, but look at the reality of what you’ve caused.”

Around us, people are dying because agitators and criminals are fighting against the ex-convicts. Amid the chaos, one scene stands out: an ex-villain throwing herself into danger to save the life of a family watching from the sidelines. This ex-villain is the same one this woman I was talking to was after, and that same villain dies to save strangers. Seeing this changes the woman I’ve restrained, and I can see her struggling to justify her actions as similar scenes play out around us.

“Oh…I might’ve…made a mistake,” she admits.

“You made a major mistake, but not one that you can’t recover from,” I say.

“How?”

“Look at the person you hated. She changed from a murderer and thief to a selfless hero. If she could change, so can you, but you need to prove you can by helping me.”

“Okay…alright. I’ll tell you what I know.”

The agitators in the crowd are rounded up to be taken into the rehabilitation center for questioning and to keep them locked up for now. Meanwhile, the injured and dead are taken away by paramedics to be cared for.

When the Compassionate regroups with me, Zahara explains that, “Penelope, Raziel, and I were looking for trouble and found it, watching from a distance. Some of them were organizing it, and others were going to start it, so we had no choice but to catch them while they were in our sights, and start the chaos, before they could.”

“I’m sorry we couldn’t think of anything else. It all just happened so fast,” Penelope adds.

“What happened was avoidable, I admit. It could’ve gone better. May God have mercy on us,” Raziel says.

I look at each of them and embrace them all.

“You don’t need to be so humble. I trusted you to handle this in the best possible way, and you did. I probably would’ve done the same thing in your place,” I say.

They thank me, and we go to question the agitators. They all explain that they were there to start trouble in a way that made us look bad. At first, they were trying to prey on the ex-convicts' bad habits and get on their nerves so that they’d attack the crowd. Tech recovered from the scene also reveals that they were using sound devices to subtly make people angrier. Secondly, the people who hired them all also employed criminals and villains to incite the crowds to attack us, and us fighting back against seemingly civilians would guarantee that their plan would work. In actuality, they’ve made us look better due to the sacrifice of ex-criminals and repentant villains who gave their lives to protect innocent people and to bring peace to the situation.

The organizers of this all were also responsible for hiring the criminals and villains from yesterday, and are said to have ways to get these agitators out of jail with the money and connections they have, which I seriously doubt, because it would break their cover. What we learn isn’t much, but we are getting closer to the truth that we know that the people after us are also involved in business, and not just politics. Therefore, we need to investigate the people who are politically opposed not only to me, but also to the Dominion and Coronamento Corporation. We are told by the agitators that there’s nothing we can do to stop the plans of the people who hired them unless we want to get our hands dirty in public, and there it is. Our foes want us to spring their trap, and as they hide in plain sight.

Together with the Compassionate, I tell them, “Election day is coming up, and the supporters of each candidate will be out and about, pushing people to vote for either side. What makes this particularly special is that powerful donors will also be out there giving support to their candidate, and since they dare us to confront them in public, I say we take the bait and make them regret it.”

“What about your mayoral run? Wouldn’t vigilante justice get you disqualified?” Penelope asks.

“All that matters to me is getting justice for those who’ve been hurt and killed because of the actions of people who don’t want me to become mayor. If that means I get disqualified, so be it.”

“I like your attitude and thinking. I’m with you, all the way,” Zahara says.

“I am, as well,” Penelope says.

“You don’t need to ask for my support. You always have it,” Raziel adds.

With the plan agreed upon, we decide to wait and gather our strength in secret, just as our foes are. I may be throwing away everything that I’ve been working towards, but all that’s ever mattered to me is enacting God’s mercy and justice, so I’ll gladly throw away my months of hard work to the wind if that’s what needs to be done.

Infiltration of the Compassionate: Chapter 2 – Thankless Tasks

Chapter 2 – Thankless Tasks

Waking up in the morning, I go about my daily routine in my house and sit at the table, half asleep and not wanting to do any work, with the morning news being meaningless noise to me, especially when they start talking about me and what happened yesterday. My dad is the most interested in it as he stands in front of it and talks to it as if the people on the other end will hear him. Given how loud he’s yelling, I wouldn’t be surprised if they actually heard him.

“I can’t believe you put up with these people, Polina,” my dad says. “Just say the word, and I’ll beat them all up with my own two hands.”

My dad is the kind of guy who would actually do it, facing a crowd of people with his bare hands, without a second thought, as long as he knew he was doing the right thing. It’s that kind of bold arrogance that won my mom’s heart on their first date. She told me she didn’t think he’d be the one until a group of two armed criminals and three superhumans tried to rob them. Instead of giving in, my dad threw himself at them until law enforcement arrived to save their lives. Even though my dad had to stay in the hospital for a month, that was the day my mom knew he was the one she was meant to be with. I hope to be like him, facing seemingly overwhelming odds without blinking, caring only that I’m doing the right thing; however, my dad beating up my political enemies wouldn’t help me at all, and I tell him that.

He grunts, smiles, and says, “Yeah? I guess what you said to them was more effective, but they should still be taught a lesson. I’m sure you’ll win. These pieces of trash in overly expensive suits don’t stand a chance.”

I smile and say, “Thanks, dad.”

“How did your date with Raziel go?” mom asks.

“It wasn’t a date.”

“Our daughter isn’t a young girl anymore; she’s a grown woman, and doesn’t need us prying into her personal business, though I wouldn’t mind if she stays with us for the foreseeable future.”

“Shush. You still want to beat anyone up who picks a fight with her.”

“What father worth his title wouldn’t?”

I eat my breakfast while my parents go back and forth, and I consider my plan for the day. Because of what happened yesterday and the reports of increased crime in the city, the choice is obvious.

When I get into the Dominion office and see Raziel, who wants to know what we’re doing, I say, “The streets are getting too dirty. It’s time to clean them up.”

“Let’s do it. My guardian angel says God’s anger grows over it, and it needs to be quenched with divine justice,” Raziel says.

“Let’s not keep God waiting then.”

Putting on our armor, Raziel and I head out to the places where most of the crime has been reported. We get there just in time to catch the group of thieves and superhumans who have been recently terrorizing the area and making sporadic attacks around Meridian, including the suburbs. Their equipment is advanced for a bunch of nobodies with sets of unrelated powers, as some utilize technology, while others focus on using their powers. Looking into the souls of the people we’re facing, I begin to see the bigger picture and the trap within it. Unfortunately for us, we’ve already triggered the trap, and more criminals and villains spring out from the alleyways and sewer holes to ambush us. Before I can begin to call backup, sniper shots ring out to take out multiple robots and villains, and some begin holding their heads in pain and turning on their allies.

On the radio, I hear Zahara say, “You didn’t think we wouldn’t be in the area you assigned us to, did you?”

“We thought you needed our help, especially when we heard on the radio that you were helping us today,” Penelope adds.

I thank the two for their help and focus on using my psychological powers to subdue or kill our foes. With the tide of the battle turning in our favor, the criminals retreat as they were contracted to do, but Raziel stops them by sprouting up walls of supernatural flames that don’t burn anything but the sinful men and women who are trying to escape. Once the remaining living criminals are in our custody, Penelope and I try using our powers to further restrain them so they don’t try killing themselves, and we only manage to save a few.

Both Raziel and Zahara are unsure of why this is happening, so I explain that, “These people were hired to specifically start trouble to lure us in, and ambush us. As to who hired them, I can’t seem to tell, can you, Penelope?”

“Me neither, or rather, I can’t tell who originally hired them. Whoever did, used a go-between to protect the original contractor’s identity, and knew that we’d use our powers to try to find them,” Penelope says.

We interrogate the criminals and villains about what they know, and they don’t tell us much more. They tell us they were each from different groups and independent persons, some of whom caused chaos to distract us for the money, others did it for fun, and the last group mentioned did it for the most interesting reason, that being that they wouldn’t be bothered by the law if they succeeded and managed to live.

“There it is,” I say. “Our true targets are those with the power to influence laws and law enforcement.”

“That’s the part that we’ve been trying to figure out,” Zahara says. “All the crime you’ve been having us investigate is all connected and part of a bigger plot that we haven’t been able to find the end of, yet.”

“Why didn’t you ask me for help?”

“You’re running for mayor and busy with all that political business, taking care of the poor, kissing babies, and all that,” Penelope says.

“Well, I’m back to protecting the public as part of my mayoral run.”

“How is that going to help you?”

“It helps in the same way that helping the poor does. People see me actively helping to protect the city, and should vote for me, because of it, or at least, they should.”

“Maybe some of your rivals are responsible. Proving it will make your victory even easier.”

“I didn’t see it on their souls yesterday during the debate, so I doubt it.”

With nothing else to go on, we all go back to the Dominion office as law enforcement arrests the criminals, villains, and the dead. Returning to the Dominion office, the Compassionate and I review the records we have to see if those we encountered have any connections to political leaders. We find that they do have some connections, but these political leaders are outside of Meridian, or have already been arrested and put in prison. Turning to the latest news to see what my rivals are doing, I see that they’re all seemingly turning over a new leaf after I brought their sins to light, as they help feed the poor and make public promises to change, with detailed plans for how they’ll help the city.

Zahara says, “How about Penelope and I question the people in prison? It’s possible they were the ones working with the go-betweens to cause chaos in the city as a form of revenge.”

“I’ll come too,” I say.

“No, your rivals look like they’re gaining more support. If anything, you should be doing more in public, while we handle this matter that’s in private.”

I can’t argue that Zahara is wrong, so I allow her and Penelope to do what they want. Thinking about what we could do next, I decide that Raziel and I should go back to the place we were fighting at to help the cleanup crew and the civilians who were caught in the crossfire. I usually leave the work to those who can write checks to those whose businesses and homes are affected and whose jobs it is to clean up the scene, but I think it’ll be good if people see me personally cleaning up the mess I’ve made. When I go there, many are happy to see me helping out, though there are a few who would rather not see me.

Even as I’m helping around, giving condolences, and promises to prevent future damages like this, people say things like, “She’s the reason why this happened!”

“She didn’t do enough to protect us!”

“They’re just offering their help to get votes and more power over the city!”

Looking at the souls of these people, I see that many are hurt, and there are a few bad actors in the crowd who are just doing this to stir trouble and take advantage of what happened to turn people against me. There’s no easy solution to this, so I let my actions speak for themselves, as I continue to help people. I don’t return insults, nor do I flinch when things get thrown at me from the crowds. Instead, I continue doing what I’m doing until the crowds get tired and disperse, and the work is done as much as it can be today.

“I’m sure you gained and held onto support today,” Raziel assures me. “Don’t let the words of the naysayers get to you.”

“Thank you. Since today was another hard day, does that mean you’re treating for dinner again?” I ask.

“How about I make something at my house for you?”

“Oh, I haven’t had your cooking in a while.”

“I’ve been trying to improve it in my free time. How does pasta and chicken sound?”

“I think it sounds great.”

Sure enough, when Raziel makes and serves dinner, what he makes is amazing, beyond high-end restaurant quality. Enjoying our meal and each other’s company is short-lived when Penelope and Zahara call to let us know what they found, which is nothing. No one besides the family of our suspects has visited them. Surveillance hasn’t caught any suspicious conversations between them, and Penelope hasn’t found any notable memories in their minds. They ask whether they should investigate the other suspects outside the city, and I tell them not to because I need them in Meridian. I tell them we’ll have our allies in the other cities investigate those suspects instead.

After saying goodbye and hanging up, I try to continue having a nice dinner with Raziel, but I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed. We still have an unknown enemy out there, and there’s nothing more I can do about it, so I try not to let my nervousness about it get to me and pray that they don’t strike again anytime soon and that our allies in the other cities will take care of them for us.

Infiltration of the Compassionate: Chapter 1 – Taking More Responsibility

Chapter 1 – Taking More Responsibility

This is probably the fiftieth time I’ve checked my appearance in a mirror, but I have to do it for the crowd. I make sure my dressy police hero uniform is in order, that nothing is on the dark blue shirt, the tie is straight, the skirt is not wrinkled, there are no rips in my pantyhose, my hat is on properly, and my heels are shined. While combing through my red hair again, I look at my red eyes and examine my face for any blemishes or imperfections. This is ridiculous, but it’s the nature of politics, and this is what I have to do. Seeing that everything is in order, again, I walk out from the backstage and onto the stage where the other mayoral candidates are. We’re in a public park with hundreds of people waiting and cheering for us.

Once everyone is quiet, the questions begin. The first one is simple, and how we’ll change the city. Everyone is given a maximum of two minutes to answer each.

When it’s my turn, I say, “I’m going to start with building opportunities for the poor by giving businesses and companies financial incentives to hire more people and raise the minimum wage in Meridian, especially for non-superhumans and those who don’t work with hero associations, who are struggling the most.”

One of the other mayoral candidates interrupts me and says, “Right. You’re going to make all those people work for you, the Dominion, and Coronamento Corporation. That’s all you’ve been doing ever since you joined them.”

“I’ve worked with others outside of my own businesses to increase their profits and reach.”

“They all became subsidiaries of the Coronamento Corporation, and aren’t independent in any way. You only support them because they profit you at the same time,” another mayoral candidate says.

Before I can respond, we’re told to stop debating and given another question. This one is about protecting the city and continuing to build its good reputation.

My turn rolls around, so I say, “My mentor, L’Obscurité, turned this city from one of the most dangerous to now being one of the safest to live in, and I will continue his legacy by continuing to promote and financially support our police, leading the Dominion to do what it was made to do, and personally being on the front lines as I always have.”

“What you’ve done has led to the death of the mayor, the deputy mayor, and many others in the festival that happened months ago, and why we’re holding an emergency election,” one of the mayoral candidates points out. “The city is directionless without its leaders, and the people who killed all those people are working for you and were supposed to be helped by your organization and those you allied yourselves with.”

“They weren’t in their right state of mind and were being manipulated by a woman who wasn’t herself.”

“Despite what they did, you gave most of them a slap on the wrist, and even gave them a job offer at the Dominion or Coronamento Corporation,” another rival candidate says.

“I gave them a second chance when they honestly repented. Let’s not forget that I’ve personally killed and arrested the others who continued to resist arrest, and the people who repented cleaned up after their mess and continue to serve the city they hurt.”

“You and the Dominion were there to protect the mayor and everyone at the festival, and you failed many of them.”

The crowds are getting rowdy, and the moderators are struggling to keep them quiet. I can hear screaming about how it’s unfair that I’m being targeted by everyone, and opposing screams about how it is, and I should be made to pay for my mistake.

“I’m doing what I can to make up for that mistake.”

“By running for mayor and gaining more power for your constantly expanding organization?”

The moderators don’t help too much by going to their next question about what to do about the increasing dependence on superhumans.

My rivals don’t bother answering the question as they start pointing at me about it, with one of them saying, “Polina will probably give them all a job, especially if they’re criminals or villains. You have a new subsidiary at the Dominion called the Compassionate, don’t you? What an ironic name, since two of its members were responsible for the massacre at the festival.”

“What’s ironic about being merciful?” I ask.

“That you’re too merciful to people that should’ve been killed on the spot,” another candidate says.

“The mercy I give is justice. They still pay for their crimes, but it depends on their state of mind and who they are. My powers allow me to see that. Why would I kick someone who is already down and isn’t acting like they normally would? Would you like to be held accountable for every odd word you unintentionally said or action that you did in ignorance?” Using my powers, I look into the souls around me and continue, “What about the time when you blew your wedding money on expensive trips and vain decorations for a house you had to have your parents buy for you?”

“Well…”

“What about you?” I point at another candidate. “You spent more time sleeping with people than helping them on the streets to gain support.”

“Hey, that’s not-”

I keep pointing out the sins of others, saying, “You killed people in an accident, you almost killed a loved one, while trying to kill yourself, and you used to sell drugs to kids and are still struggling to kick the addiction. Do you want me to dig deeper into all of you? I can, but I won’t, so let’s be civil in this debate and focus on the questions and not be at each other’s throats, trying to make our rivals look bad to make ourselves look better.”

What I say quiets down the mayoral candidates more than what the moderators say. Fortunately, the rest of the time is spent in civil and calm answering and debating, with no more personal attacks or targeting me in particular. Instead, we focus on what we’re going to do to help the city and share our reasons why our solutions are better than our opponents’. In the end, we all shake hands, go our separate ways, and when I leave the stage and get in my police car, I immediately want to wash my hands. My fellow apprentice of L’Obscurité, Kane Mundr, wasn’t lying when he said that politicians are worse than actual criminals. Calling another fellow apprentice and close friend, Raziel Emundato, I tell him what happened and what I was just thinking.

“I get it,” he says. “Even though we protect them, it’s another thing to be there debating and talking to them when you prove to be a threat to their power. I’m surprised the moderators didn’t say anything about you using your powers on them.”

“There’s no law against that yet. I probably shouldn’t have done it, since I did it because I was beyond aggravated at them, and it could give others the idea they can do the same,” I say.

“We’ll deal with that when it comes around. Are you heading over to me now? Everything is ready, and everyone is waiting for you.”

“Yeah. Just calming down in my car before I get there. I don’t want to be angry at people who don’t deserve it.”

“I’ll take you out to dinner today after work to make you feel better. How does that sound?”

“Assuming no one bothers us while we’re out, it sounds like a great idea.”

“We’ll go to one of the upper-end restaurants then, the kind that have a good view of the city.”

“Let’s do it.”

After hanging up the phone, I wonder for a few seconds about Raziel’s relationship with me. Ever since L’Obscurité, or rather, Timeo Severe, left the city in our care, he’s been by my side through it all. We’ve never acknowledged each other as anything more than close friends, and I’m okay with that…but…I don’t know. There could be something more, so I pray that one of us gets the courage or an answer from God as to whether or not we’re more than friends. I drive to the charity center that Timeo’s family owns and see Raziel and the other two members of the Compassionate there, Zahara and Penelope.

Zahara is a dark-skinned woman with black and pink hair, has purple crosshairs for eyes and eye makeup, is wearing a black hoodie and pink shirt, a black skirt, pink stockings, and black boots, has a synthetic left arm, while Penelope is fair-skinned and wearing one of her usual handmade purple dresses. Penelope’s blonde hair is tied into a bun, her right eye is purple, and her left eye is a black spiral. These three people and I are the Compassionate, a subsidiary of the Dominion, who are more than superheroes. We’re charity workers and community service members who help our neighbors by feeding the poor and giving to the needy, just as much as we punish evil and the misguided. Today, we help this soup kitchen make food for the poor and give out needed clothes and medical supplies to those who can’t afford them.

While working, Penelope and Zahara stand around me. I tell them about how the debate went and if Raziel told them. They say he did and laugh a bit.

“What’s up?” I ask.

“How long are you going to deny it? You have the hots for him,” Zahara says.

“Why else would he constantly care for you and be by your side all the time?” Penelope asks. “You two are so aloof to one another’s feelings that it’s so cute, like a slice-of-life romance story that goes on forever.”

“Come on, it’s not…It’s not exactly like that. We’re just good friends.”

“Don’t tell a half-truth. I don’t need psychological powers like you and Penelope do to see how you really feel. Girl, I’ll pull you over there and tell him how you really feel.”

“Polina, it’ll be easier if you get this out of the way now rather than later.”

I feel like I’ve lost my touch when it comes to communicating with people because no one listens to what I’m saying, except for Raziel, of course. Ignoring Penelope’s and Zahara’s constant chatter, I focus on helping people around the soup kitchen until I hear a sudden gunshot. I go to the source and find a man with a gunshot wound to his side and a homeless woman holding a smoking, makeshift gun. The woman rambles on about not meaning to shoot anyone, saying she acted in desperation because of her hunger and broken nerves, as she’s recovering from alcohol and drug addictions. She betrays the people she was causing a scene for, and the people stealing food and supplies from the back are quickly caught.

With all the begging poor, criminals in front of me and hearing all their excuses for their actions, I look at their souls, and decide that “Go with the man who got shot to the hospital and spend time working here, feeding and giving to others.”

“What about us?” a shaking woman says. “We can’t do anything. We’re as hungry and needy as they are!”

“That doesn’t give you the right to get more than they do and get what you need first, ahead of them. I see what you really want, and when you get it, you’ll only want more. If you’re truly sorry and want to drop your addictions, do something charitable for others, and you will break it in time and be able to live a more comforting and virtuous life.”

The addicted criminals argue among themselves, and only one goes with the ambulance to the hospital with the injured man. I wait for the ambulance to leave before using my psychological powers to knock out the remaining addicts, then call the police to have them taken in and locked up. I’ll ensure the injured man doesn’t have to pay any hospital bills, and the woman who shot him, who went with him to the hospital, doesn’t face any legal repercussions. I go back inside the soup kitchen, see people clap for me, and tell them we should get back to business as the blood from the unfortunate scene is cleaned up. This day is so exhausting, and it’s barely over, so I sit down to catch my breath again.

Raziel sits with me, dressed like a blonde knight in crimson armor, like he usually is. Some say his orange, yellow, and red eyes are intimidating, but I find comfort in seeing them, and I only see a strong protector when I look at his eyes.

“Are you alright, Polina? Penelope and Zahara said they can handle the rest here while we go out,” Raziel says.

Looking over at the two girls, I see them signaling to me. I don’t need my powers to see that they want me to kiss him, or at least go out with him.

“I’m fine. It’s just that God is definitely testing my patience and capacity for mercy today,” I say.

“My guardian angel says you’re doing well against temptations.”

“What about you? What do you say?”

“I think you’re doing better than I ever could. In your situation, I’d probably beg my angel to burn something or someone with its supernatural flames. I also think we could head out now. You’ve helped out more than enough people today.”

“There’s no such thing as helping out more than enough.”

“The poor will always be with us. You, on the other hand, need some time to breathe so you can help them better tomorrow when we have to do things like this all over again, and God only knows the challenges ahead of us, so we might as well take every break we’re given, right?”

I sigh, admit that Raziel is right, and head out with him. He takes me to a nice place where we joke and talk without being bothered by anyone, and nothing happens, which may be the right thing to do at the moment. I’m fine with staying friends with him. All I needed for today was a brief escape from the chaos of running for mayor and my daily duties, and I got that. Perhaps when the city’s chaos calms down, we can spend more time together, and God will reveal what we should be to one another. For now, I thank God for everything I have, both big and small, and pray for the strength to finish the mayoral race and be okay with the results, even if I lose.

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The mayor and his deputy mayor are shot, and the crowds surrounding them are attacked during a festival in Meridian meant to help the poor and needy. Polina Yelizaveta and Raziel Emundato push back against their attackers and go on the hunt for those responsible for this attack. They discover that the culprits are known as the Neglected, a group made up of people who were let down and abandoned by the society that was supposed to help them in their time of need. Because of this, some mercy and empathy are required, along with the firm but fair hand of justice.

The Mercy in Punishment: Chapter 4 – Measured Mercy

Chapter 4 – Measured Mercy

Before conducting our questioning of Penelope, I decide that Raziel should take a breather, during which we notice that the news and people online aren’t talking positively about the Neglected anymore, and don’t seem to know why they were. I look at the time and the night sky and begin to feel the weight of not taking a break, eating, and resting for the past few hours.

“It reminds me of the all-nighters I pulled as a normal officer,” I say to Raziel in the breakroom. “Even after getting a bit of a boost from Timeo, I still feel exhausted from all we did today.”

“I remember the days I would spend without getting rest or just a few hours of shut-eye before getting back to work, as both a cop and vigilante to obtain justice, so I understand the feeling,” he says.

“I’m not complaining about it. Just talking about it makes it easier to bear. What isn’t easy is thinking about what we should do about the woman who orchestrated all this. She’s responsible for the deaths of Jeph, Tim, a lot of innocent people, and the guards who tried defending them.”

“God will give you the answer when the time is right. You’ve dealt justly with the rest of the Neglected so far, so I trust that you’ll make the right decision.”

“I hope so. Thank you.”

Raziel nods, and we go see Penelope in the same questioning room that we talked to Zahara in. She sits calmly on a couch in a ladylike manner with her legs crossed. Raziel leans up against the wall while I take a seat across from her.

“You seem happier than I imagine you would. What’s on your mind?” I ask.

“Nothing. It just feels relieving to be honest with myself for what feels like the first time in forever,” Penelope says.

“I’m glad that you feel that way and are being honest. It’s good for your soul.”

“It is, and it’s good for you as well. I was influencing the media and everyone in the city to talk positively about the Neglected and what we did. I’m sure it’s relieving to have the public on your side.”

“So, that was you doing that, huh?” Raziel says. “Here I was thinking the media was acting stupid again.”

“They indeed do, but the woman I talked to wanted to be sure that they talked positively about us, so we could get more people's support from people not under our influence. I’m sure you’d like to know more about her.”

“We do. What do you know of her?” I ask.

“I know a lot about her, but not her name. She was once a Catholic nun who was abducted and corrupted by the sixth family through rape, dark rituals, and other forms of torture. She acted as a brood mother for the sixth family until you saved her. After, she tried to go back to the life she was taken from, but found it very difficult as the dark rituals and her giving into them left a hard to get rid of mark on her soul. I see you’re assigning blame to yourself, Polina. Don’t.”

“I’m trying not to.”

“It was her choice to go back to her old ways, and when she saw that she was perversely sinful without the sixth family’s influence, she blamed the people who tried to help her rather than herself.”

“So, that’s how she put us in the situation we’re in.”

“Yes. She used her spiritual powers to find desperate people like Zahara and me and influenced us in our weakness to act on our emotions and temptations to get what we thought we deserved.”

“Do you know where she might be and if she has any backup plans?” Raziel asks.

“She’s been right under your noses this whole time, in the Coronamento Corporation rehabilitation facility in the center of the city. I don’t know of any backup plans, but I’d expect her to prey on those people to build another army to strike against you.”

“We’d better hurry then. Thanks for your help. You’re free to go after you sign some papers,” I say as I quickly get up.

Before I exit the room, Penelope asks, “Is that it?”

“It is, and unless you want to help by signing the offer you’ll be given, you’ll be free to go back to build your community.”

Penelope looks pleasantly surprised. Raziel and I tell the police and Dominion what we know and head to the rehabilitation facility. When we enter it, we find that none of the lockdown procedures for dangerous patients are being followed, probably due to the woman we’re after’s influence. There is a normal number of visitors and workers around here, and nothing seems out of the ordinary.

“Watch out!” Raziel says.

Both he and I move, just as a hail of gunfire rains down on us. We get shot in the head, but our helmets are thankfully durable enough not to be pierced or destroyed by the shots. The surrounding visitors and innocent workers panic and run for cover.

“Thank you for saving us, my angel,” Raziel says. “Now, ensure that none escape.”

A fire engulfs the building, covering all exits and windows, shielding the innocent, and taking hold of some of the people attacking us to enact God’s judgment of death or mercy on them. The foes we’re facing are a mix of people with guns and those with powers. Using my powers, I find that some are convinced by the woman to fight for her, while others are fighting against us against their will. Regardless of the reason, I try to break the woman’s hold over them, especially on those who are sympathetic to her cause.

“You’re helping someone who isn’t acting in her right mind! She needed more help than she got, but that doesn’t mean she should hurt others for what she considers justice,” I say.

I manage to get many of the security guards and ex-criminals, and reformed villains back to their normal state of mind. They help me against those who continue to fight against us, and help lead me to where the woman we’re after is. Going to the lower, underground floors, where the holding cells are for the most dangerous criminals and villains, we find dozens upon dozens of people who are under the woman’s influence, and are also met by the building’s robotic security forces, who also attack us. Calling for backup as we’re overwhelmed, I’m surprised by sniper fire that destroys many of the robots and takes out our human foes. Looking around to see who helped us, I’m surprised to see Zahara sniping from one of the vents in the wall.

She waves at me and says on my comms, “I’m still a cop and soldier through and through. Come on, Polina. We have a city to protect.”

“Thank you!” I say.

Pushing forward with Zahara’s sniper support, the odds begin to shift in our favor. Eventually, more help arrives from the police and Dominion, and victory appears within reach. That is, until an ear-piercing scream drops everyone to their knees and plunges us into darkness. Everything becomes darker and more claustrophobic until I can see nothing but what’s directly in front of me. A woman in a black dress and veil approaches. She has tiny horns protruding from every part of her body, and she must be the one I’ve been searching for. Her eyes are black as the void around me, and her mouth is drooling some black liquid.

Knowing her name now through her mind, I say, “Lily.”

“Don’t even try to get me to change my mind. I won’t do it. I don’t deserve mercy or want it. I want pleasures and riches to make up for the pain I’ve gone through,” Lily says in a distorted voice that feels like fingers in my ears that poke through my brain.

“You keep denying it, but you know in your studies as a nun that no one is beyond salvation, until the moment after their death. You know this isn’t satisfying to you, and you’ll only be more miserable in the end.”

“So what? I don’t care anymore. Even if I try to repent and try again, I’ll only fall into sin again.”

“We all fall to sin again and again. Still, God continues to allow us to live, repent, and try again. Give up, and I’ll make sure you’re given twice the help you were given before.”

“No, no, I don’t want to be helped! No, instead, I want nothing but pleasure and what God has denied me. Don’t worry. I haven’t forgotten the value of charity. As such, I will gift you with what was done to me.”

Several nude people approach from the darkness around me. They try restraining me and taking off my armor. The powers Lily is using are making it hard to fight them off.

“Please, Lily!”

“Beg God for help, not me. Oh, I’m sorry. He won’t hear your prayers, like how He didn’t hear mine.”

I do exactly that and pray to God for strength and help, and soon get it. The darkness around me evaporates as if someone flicked on a light in a dark room, and I feel myself more in control of my mind. After fighting off the nude people around me, I turn around and see Penelope.

“I figured you’d need my help,” she says.

“I am beyond thankful for it,” I say.

Penelope and I use our mental people and words to talk down Lily.

“Despite what you tried to do to me, I forgive you, Lily,” I say. “It’s not too late to give up and try again.”

“The virtuous woman God made you to be still exists within you and will never be snuffed out, no matter how much sin you’ve committed. It’ll be okay,” Penelope says.

Lily falls to the ground and starts to cry. Her black eyes turn to normal green ones as she says, “My life will be miserable from here on out, and it is going to be miserable no matter what. Is this how a merciful savior treats the wounded and weak?!”

“Sometimes, that’s what mercy is,” Zahara says as she approaches from behind us. “A slap in the face, wake-up call can be the best act of charity someone can receive. I should know after receiving one.”

“I may have lost everything that I built up and tortured for over the years, but it was worth it to see the error of my ways,” Penelope adds.

“Shut up! I don’t deserve a second chance.”

“That’s not true,” I say. “Look at yourself. You’re still alive and breathing, and surrounded by helping hands. If that doesn’t mean that God still wants to save you, then I don’t know what mercy looks like.”

Lily finally stops trying to use her powers, gives up, and cries. Penelope, Zahara, and I embrace her as the people under Lily’s control regain their senses. Once all the prisoners are back in their cells, we promise to offer Lily and everyone else more help than we did before, and most of them are grateful to accept it. Penelope, Zahara, Raziel, and I leave the rehabilitation facility while everyone else stays to clean up the mess, care for the dead, and tend to the wounded.

Zahara breathes a sigh of relief and says, “It feels good and right to be a law enforcer again.”

“I can get used to it, being a hero, if more situations end like this,” Penelope says.

“I’m sorry to say, but they don’t always do,” I say.

“Really?” Zahara says, annoyed.

“It’s true,” Raziel says. “Sometimes they end with most of the culprits dead and unrepentant. Other times, more innocent people die than guilty, and souls end up being completely lost to the evil that infected their souls.”

“That’s a downer to hear,” Penelope says.

“That’s why we try to be as merciful as we can to the degree necessary in the situation we face. Today ended well because of all of you,” I say. “I think it’s time we started our own subsidiary of the Dominion. Don’t you think so, Raziel?”

“I do, especially with our two new members here.”

“We’re going to be the heads of it alongside you? Why?” Zahara says.

“Hehe, are you really surprised after all she’s done for us?” Penelope asks.

“I guess I shouldn’t be.”

“Without your help, things would’ve ended terribly, and with it, we can forge a brighter future for Meridian and ensure that those needing second chances get the help they deserve, even if it comes through a harsh wake-up call at our hands.”

“I’m in,” Zahara says.

“I am, as well,” Penelope says.

“I’ll always be by your side, so you don’t need to hear a confirmation from me,” Raziel says.

“It’s settled then. Let’s go celebrate with breakfast. Raziel has to treat since he’s the only man in the group.”

“I wasn’t going to mind, but now that you said that, I do.”

We all laugh and walk toward a favorite spot I know in the city that serves breakfast at six in the morning. I watch the sunrise and feel a renewed sense of hope. With this feeling, I say a small prayer of thanks to God for what He’s allowed today, and for the promise of an even brighter future for me, my new friends, and the people we will meet who need our help. May we be the help they need, and I hope they accept the hand of mercy that reaches out to them, even if they refuse it at first.

 

The End