Trick 163: A God's Perception of Humans

A while later

Ace was standing in the streets of Madripoor, watching the people walk by. He flashed to a rooftop and sat down on the edge, looking down at all the criminals, taking in everything that was going on.

Drug deals, killings, robberies, fights…

Everything was in Ace's eyes as he watched silently, holding a bottle of Grappa.

He didn't do anything, he just sat there…

Watching what he saw as insects buzzing around, going on with their meaningless lives.

There wasn't a shred of emotion in his eyes as he didn't consider these things to be people. They were just that…

Insects.

But maybe that was the problem.

Ace drank from the bottle and wondered if he was wrong. Maybe they were humans just like him. Maybe he could bring salvation to them…

He knew he could wipe out the entire city with only a snap of his fingers, but just because he could, that didn't mean he should.

Nobody would miss these people.

Nobody would even notice if they all disappeared.

Nobody would care.

Ace looked at them all before correcting himself, no.

He would care.

He lived his life believing that life was precious because he was one of them at one point. They were misguided and troubled, but… It wasn't Ace's job to save them from themselves. He could wipe them out, but it wasn't his place.

Maybe that's what it meant to be a god?

Or perhaps, not a God, but a Hero.

What was he? A God or a Hero?

Ace wasn't too sure anymore. It was so simple before, study the thing you love to save the people who don't have the power you have. But when you have everything, why should you care about the people who have nothing?

He turned the bottle to dust and sprinkled it off the roof, watching it drift away with the wind as he thought to himself.

What's the difference between a God and a Hero?

He wasn't sure anymore. He did things he thought were right, but he didn't feel right about them anymore. Saving people was great and it's what he should do. He did these things because he wanted to, he felt obligated to.

He had the power to help and he did, but his power was too great now. He started having feelings of being above them now. People were looking less like people and more like…

Things.

He wondered if they even deserved to be saved…

Ace was confused and stood up, deciding to find out for himself.

Whether he would choose to be a God or Hero…

The next day

Jack and Margaret woke up to find Ace missing, however there was a note left behind 'I'll be back -Dad' they looked at each other in confusion as a woman in a maid outfit appeared in front of them suddenly, "I am your caretaker for today. Master has created me to keep you safe and entertained. Shall we play video games?" Jack and Margaret sighed, "No, that's okay…"

Meanwhile

Ace was standing in an abandoned GRC camp, wearing a black leather jacket with a cotton hood, a white shirt, jeans, untied black combat boots, with the skull half-face mask.

He stood on the side, invisible as he watched Karli run from Sam. He followed her and passed through walls as she ran into Zemo, who shot her in the stomach before shooting several times as she continued running away, smashing into a table and flipping over.

Ace looked at the serums on the ground and turned to Zemo, who looked at them, asking "Is this what I think it is?" before squatting down and picking up a light blue serum.

Ace watched with his hands in his jacket pockets as Zemo stood back up, looking at the serum in his fingers, chuckling to himself before smashing it on the ground and stomping on the rest, destroying them.

Ace turned to see John Walker, the new Captain America, throw his shield and nail Zemo in the head, knocking him out.

Karli ran away as John came over, looking at the ground, tilting his head before noticing one final serum left.

Ace looked at John, who picked up the Serum and looked it over in silence, turning it in his fingers for a moment before putting it in his pocket secretly.

Ace was unmoved, staring at him as Sam, Bucky, and John's friend arrived. Sam asked John, "What did we miss?" John looked around and said "Nothin'." as they took Zemo away.

Ace looked at the broken vials of Super Soldier Serum for a moment before pressing his hand out gently, turning it as the vials reverted back to normal. He curled his finger and they floated to him, disappearing in his personal space.

Ace looked up and turned away, floating through walls to Karli and her gang talking about something Ace didn't care about.

Her delusional revolution or something, he didn't care…

He only heard her say that she wanted to kill John, as well as Sharon telling Karli through text message that she was going to die very soon by her personal hand.

Ace left and went to Sam, Bucky, and Zemo, standing in the room they were in as Zemo asked "Were you ever offered it? The Serum." Sam replied "No." and Zemo asked again, "If you had been, hypothetically, that is, would you have taken it?"

Ace turned to Sam, who replied without hesitation "No." Ace tilted his head and looked at Sam with wonder as Zemo sat up, replying "No hesitation. That's impressive." before sighing, "Sam, you can't hold out hope for Karli. No matter what you saw in her, she's gone. And we cannot allow that she and her acolytes become yet another faction of gods amongst real people. Super Soldiers cannot be allowed to exist."

Sam gave him a confused look, replying "Isn't that how gods talk?" Zemo was silent and Sam added, "And if that's how you feel, what about Bucky? Blood isn't always the solution."

Ace turned to Zemo, who was still silent as Bucky walked into the room, saying "Something's not right about Walker." Sam chuckled, "You don't say." Ace walked to the couch and sat down, watching them converse as Bucky said "Well, I know a crazy when I see one. Because I am crazy." Sam replied, "Can't argue with that."

Bucky poured himself a drink and let out a breath, saying "Shouldn't have given him the Shield." Sam got up and said in frustration "I didn't give it to him." Bucky drank from his glass and replied "Well, Steve definitely didn't." Sam looked at him silently as the door was kicked open.

John Walker and his buddy walked in, saying "All right. That's it. Let's go. I'm ordering you to turn him over." Sam stepped out and held his hand on John's chest, saying "Hey, slow your roll. Man, let's be clear. Shield or no Shield, the only thing you're runnin' here is your mouth. Now, I had Karli and you overstepped."

He pointed his thumb at Zemo, who was walking away, adding "He's actually proven himself useful today. We'll need all hands on deck for what's comin' next." Ace tilted his head at John and Sam, agreeing with Sam.

Especially what he knew.

The strangest part was Zemo destroyed the Serums while John stole one for himself. The so-called Bad guy was more righteous than the new Captain America. But this was understandable, facing 7 Super Soldiers, a normal guy isn't really worth anything.

Ace didn't really see the problem with making yourself stronger to protect people, the point was how you handled yourself after the fact. Steve was a man married to Justice which was why he never abused his power.

Ace didn't know who John was, what he had done, what he had experienced, he was in the dark as of right now. However he did know one thing, the world was looking to John with a tremendous amount of expectation. The mantle of Steve Rogers was more of a burden at this point.

It was impossible for anyone to be Steve.

John had to come to terms with that instead of trying to imitate Steve…

Ace looked John up and down, before making a judgment. John was trying to be Steve. The helmet, the uniform, everything was the same. He shook his head as they argued, if he was correct, John wouldn't have such a good time in the future.