Far above Faraday City ...

This must be how a god sees them.

Little creatures, scuttling about in their meaningless lives, unaware or uncaring that the world could come to an end in the blink of an eye. He'd seen it happen on his own world, millions of lightyears from here. An entire planet razed to dust and ash. It could happen here. It could happen so easily. He could do it. Several others supers could do it and these insects, these humans, had no idea how close they had come to extinction, or how many times it had happened.

Zjahn Zjmit had come crashing to this planet decades ago, a Peacemaker on his own world, searching for allies, for saviours, but they had come too late. He had watched his world burn and the heroes of this world, Earth, had proven as unable to stop it as he. With no home left to him, no family, no kin, Zjahn had settled here, took up the name Sean Smith and tried to live a normal life, but he could never settle. His training and his powers gave him an advantage over most of the people on this world and he chose to become a protector, a superhero, in order to ensure what happened to his own world never happened again.

Now, as the costumed adventurer, Psycona, he lived to serve a species that he felt little connection to. He could never become a part of this world, never love, never make friends. His psychic powers hid his alien visage, but never the otherworldly presence he hid from them all. All but a very few could compare to him and, he had to admit to himself, he could beat even the most powerful of his peers, under the right circumstances. Especially with the knowledge that he did not show all of his powers. Some powers could only cause panic and distrust and he needed trust here more than anything.

At this height, the prevailing winds whipped the ridiculous cape about him. It flapped against his legs, wrapped around his waist. A foolish affectation, but the humans appeared to expect such things from their more preeminent heroes. It didn't distract him from his mission. Nothing could. He was a Peacemaker of the Zjahul! His mind stretched out to the teeming city below, searching for anything that could require his skills, though he doubted anything could break the tedium of this world's petty crimes.

Their minds cried out. A constant cacophony. These humans could not even make the most basic psychic barriers, shouting out every thought, every idea, every passing whim into the air and he heard them all. He heard their hopes, their fears, their dreams and their desires. He heard the happy thoughts, the sad thoughts, the sickening thoughts. And, through the tumult, he searched for those special thoughts, the ones that told him the city had need of him.

There! Far below in the filthy back alleys of the unclean streets, where humans allowed their waste and unwanted souls to congregate. A familiar thought. A welcome thought. A cry for help, and not a banal cry, but one filled with fear and doubt. They expected to die at the hands of a super. A villain. A villain that Psycona knew well. Though one that had, more than once, given him a harder time than most of these creatures.

With a flick of his cape, Psycona burst into action, arms outstretched as his psychic powers defied the might of gravity and friction, powering downward to the streets he had chosen to protect.

He was a hero, and he was needed.

-+-

Faraday City banking district ...

"Pitiful fools! When will you learn your pathetic weapons are no match for Bone Master!" The creature extended bones through his skin, piercing the roof of the squad car, and lifted the vehicle above his head. "Now suffer the consequences!"

Bone Master tossed the car through the air, sending police and civilians diving for cover. It smashed against the wall of the building opposite, exploding into flames, sending debris arcing outward in all directions. The super-villain didn't care who he hurt. Psycona had seen the villain try to bring down entire buildings to affect escapes in the past. But, if nothing else, the creature had a consistent method. He took a single hostage, every time, thinking that could save him. It never had.

Using his telekinetic powers, Psycona caught the debris from the polluting vehicle that now lay shattered and burning against the wall behind him, and allowed it all to fall safely to the street. The flames, he smothered with a psychic bubble, restricting the oxygen-fuel to the fires. Then, after scanning for casualties, he turned his attention to the creature that had caused the damage.

"Let the woman go, Bone Master!" Psycona allowed his feet to touch the ground, the humans liked that. It made them think him less of an aloof elitist. He knew, because he could hear their thoughts. "Or do you wish to receive a beating once again?"

"Not this time, hero! I figured you out. See this?" Bone Master tapped a thick finger against his forehead. No skin showed there, only extrusions of bone. "After the last time we fought, I had time to think. When I covered my head to protect me, you couldn't read my thoughts. You couldn't hit me with that psychic blast thing you do. So, I figured I'd just make more bone around my skull. Beat me now! I dare ya!"

He wasn't lying. Bone Master had covered his skull with so much bone, he could hardly move his neck, having to turn, bodily, to see around him. The woman held in his massive hand begged and pleaded for a god that would not come, her thoughts crying out for salvation. No gods heard her, but Psycona did. Of Bone Master's thoughts, he could read nothing, but reading thoughts, and his psychic blast, were only a small portion of his powers. And he still had his superior alien strength.

"The hard way, then." He lifted from the ground, the cape falling against his back, and utilised another of his non-psychic powers. His incredible speed. "See how your new bones block ..."

A blur of white and gold passed before Psycona's eyes. Faster than even he could see. Bone Master now sat there, shackled by a street light pole, wrapped around the creature's body so tight that not even he could escape. The hostage had gone and now Psycona could only hear cheers, both in his mind and through his ears. He knew who it was and he swallowed a growl as he turned to face them.

Principle. Leader of the super-team, Bastion, fellow alien and inveterate glory-hound. No matter what Psycona did, how many lives he saved, Principle would always come out on top. Would always receive the praise that Psycona deserved. The man floated less than an inch above the ground and Psycona couldn't sense anyone thinking the man in the white and gold uniform 'aloof'. Even his cape seemed to obey him, resting lazily over one shoulder as the man smiled and waved at the adoring crowd.

"Principle! Principle! What is the world's greatest hero doing in Faraday City?" A reporter had pushed through the crowd and the line of officers, thrusting a microphone toward Principle. "Can we expect to see more of your much-vaunted heroics in the future?"

"No, no. I'm just here to see my good friend, Psycona. He has never needed help and I didn't want to impose, but I'm on a time-sensitive mission. Psycona is an unswerving servant to this great city and I am privileged and honoured to be his sidekick for this one moment." Principle reached out to Psycona and shook hands, his other hand clapping against his shoulder. "A greater hero you could never hope to meet, but, if you'll excuse us, my colleague and I need to talk. Thank you all!"

With a tilt of the head, a beaming, genuine smile and a cheeky lift of an eyebrow, Principle invited Psycona to join him in the skies above.

-+-

Above Faraday City ...

"It's Leona, Zjahn. Victor has taken her to some sub-dimension and I have to go. I know, I know. It's probably a trap, but ... it's Leona." Few people ever saw Principle like this. Worried. Concerned. Maybe even a little scared. "I'm taking a few of the big guns along with me, just in case, and I need the best to fill the gaps. I couldn't imagine anyone doing a better job than you."

He floated there, not realising in his arrogance what he had done. How small he had made Psycona look in front of the very people that relied on him to protect them. He didn't even realise how arrogant he was, still thinking himself only a small-town boy that just happened to come from the stars. Principle had never known his homeworld, not like Psycona. He never knew another life than what he had on Earth and that made him think himself one of them. Didn't understand how much Psycona had to fight for even a minor acceptance.

Principle always called him 'Zjahn'. Never used his human name and only ever used his hero name in public. He probably thought it was a sign of respect. A little nod between them as fellow aliens, but Principle had never told Psycona his real name. Not his human name, Psycona didn't care about that, but his true name. That, Principle had always held to himself and a select few.

Psycona hated him. Hated him with a passion he reserved only for those foul murderers that had destroyed his planet. If not for Principle, Psycona doubted anyone would dismiss him. He would be 'the world's greatest hero'. He would have the adulation, the praise, the esteem that Principle hogged to himself. Psycona deserved that as much as Principle and, maybe, this could prove an unmissable opportunity.

"Of course. Old friend." This time, Psycona offered the hand of friendship, and smiled, though even the 'great' Principle could only see the human projection that Psycona placed in the minds of everyone. "Go. Save her. I'll keep the world safe until you return. Trust me."

"You're a good man, Zjahn. A good hero. One of the very best." Principle returned the handshake, vigorous, thankful, strong. "I can't think of anyone I trust more than you. Oh, and keep an eye out for Megala-Don. That shark-faced mobster is planning something. Good luck!"

"And you ..." The words floated away into empty air. Principle had already gone. "... too."

Psycona turned in the air, expanding his psychic awareness to encompass the entire planet. For a short time, at least, the world would be his. He would face down the greatest threats, would beat the most powerful foes. He would give the interviews and smile at the cameras. But it all seemed a little banal. A little parochial. He needed to do something even Principle couldn't do, something to show the world how much they needed him. He needed a villain so powerful, so awesome, that no-one could deny Psycona's place as the greatest hero in this world.

Except Principle had already battled all the most powerful, insidious villains. Every one. What Psycona needed was someone new. A villain that only he could face and defeat. Those kind of villains appeared only on rare occasions. Unless someone created a villain especially for him, but that sounded beyond foolish. It sounded like something a villain would think of.

And that gave Psycona an idea.