Sitting right on the road in the middle of the street, while surrounded by a few dozen armed agents, two APCs, and a full team of superheroes, was boring. Maybe not to the point of being on the same level as when he was lying as a broken toy in the middle of the field after the explosion of the dirigible, but still boring enough to irritate because of lack of action and sense of Deja Vu. The looks were full of worries, the curious gazes, the mocking stares, the suspicious observations – everything was directed at Robert’s figure. However, after his experience of becoming a living exhibit, he didn’t care about the thoughts of others. Even his complete nudeness wasn’t bothering him at all. No, on the contrary, he was eyeing everything back, making mental notes for the future if the plan failed.
Or, precisely speaking, Rob was doing it before as it was already almost half an hour after his surrender and his observations came to a logical end, when the objects simply ran out, leaving him to fight the boredom. Still, he caught several interesting facts worth remembering in case everything went astray and he had to restart. The first one was three identical women in a military outfit with huge sniper rifles. Changing the location from the roofs to the windows on much lower floors, they deliberately showed their presence to him as if warning about the potential rain of bullets. Maybe it would work on anyone, but Robert faced it so many times that it was impossible to count. However, that confirmed that the decision to avoid any fighting was a good one, as CSA clearly underestimated his abilities.
The second was the specific super that stayed hidden all this time from Rob, going beyond the radar and not engaging in direct fights. The weird guy in blue spandex had a huge eye drawn on his chest and wore oversized glasses on his helmet that looked as if their purpose was not to help with sight, but quite the opposite – to limit as much as it was possible. Moreover, this exact guy spent some time watching at the ground with a raised technological visor in the direction where the underground facility was located. Sparing a single short glance at Robert, the man directly went to the blonde agent, before telling something and pointing at his heart. This fact made Rob frown, thinking about the super’s powers.
X-ray vision? Energy detection? Life detection? Prediction from a third eye? Something different? But it surely seems that he is responsible for finding me… Will the decrease of my energy generation to an absolute minimum hide me from his eyes? A note for the future test.
Turning his attention to the senior agent, Robert recalled her name. Only Dr. Green knew it, getting to know this cold woman less than an hour before Rob’s appearance in the laboratory. Sarah Bell was a super herself, albeit not a strong one. According to a local classification, she was potentially an Athlete, a mixture of enhanced physique and intelligence. The latter part together with her authority made her a dangerous opponent for Robert.
Dangerous, but petty… Is it the attractiveness of the threatening vibes?
Towering above most of the men by a head, she wore her branded serious expression, trying to hide her irritation from the inability of subordinates to follow the commands. Or maybe it was another reason, as she clearly felt a lessening of stress when the huge truck appeared on the other side of the street. Going through the open passage in police barricades, it stopped not far from Robert, allowing him to observe his future transport.
Ten-wheels monster had a huge, armored cabin and enormous trailer, attached to it. The thick metal of the latter couldn’t completely cover the technological device in its frontal part. And just from the looks, Rob could bet this moving cage wasn’t relying solely on the toughness of the steel. No, considering he saw the usage of the force shield, Robert was sure that there was something similar inside the massive thing. Otherwise, he couldn’t think how anyone in CSA would expect just a metal could stop a super.
“Get in,” the nearest agent commanded, pointing to the already-opening back hatch that was transforming into a small platform.
Slowly standing up without responding, Robert noticed how everyone subconsciously relaxed, when the machine had appeared on the horizon as if thinking that everything was over. At least half of the agents lowered the rifles, not they were very effective against him. The superheroic team immediately started to give interviews to the row of reporters, who were anxiously waiting to get the information first and finally send hot material into a studio. Rob even heard the loud boastful shout from the half-baked speedster, who was trying to convince the audience that “the villain surrendered instantly after discovering his mighty presence”. The doubtful look of the interviewer and other supers were simply ignored. Robert only inwardly laughed at that, moving to the truck.
If he wanted, it was a perfect moment to strike. Distracted, and grouped, most of the CSA members would be easy targets for him in melee combat. Some of them were too focused on scientists, helping those who waited in their queue to get medical treatment, completely disregarding the potential threat. Only the trio of snipers were still pointing their weapons at him, but their position not far from him wouldn’t protect them for long. Not against someone like Rob.
So it was them, and, surprisingly, agent Sarah Bell, who looked annoyed with the behavior of her subordinates. Glancing around to gauge the situation, she frowned before trying to say something in her communication device. However, this was the moment when her eyes met with Rob’s. Lightly smiling, he winked only to turn around a moment later, not waiting for her reaction. Getting to know her through multiple cycles, he was sure Sarah would send him a middle fingee, if not for her calm demeanor, which she wore as a mask in public.
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The first step caused the hatch platform to creak from the weight, halting Rob. Looking at the confused agent, he took another step, which led to a similar reaction. Fortunately, the machine itself managed to withstand his large frame when he finally stepped inside. Shooting a glance behind his back and catching a nervous look from the agent, who suddenly realized that the nude giant wasn’t completely apprehended to the point of being harmless, Rob spoke.
“Sorry, too many sugar… I definitely need a diet, preferably meat one,” baring his teeth before liking his lips, he caused a hast hit on the button from the scared man. A second later the hatch started to close, cutting him off from the outside world. Luckily, several lamps were located on the ceiling, dispersing the darkness. Therefore, Robert sat down and began another round of waiting. His biggest fear at this moment was CSA’s decision to blow up the facility, making another reset. However, even after the truck started its long trip to the prison, the realm kept its wholeness, pushing Rob’s thoughts in the direction of his future.
I was in several wars. Few times in space. Once even literally. On the island, filled with giant lizards. In real Hell, and a game-like world. But the prison for supervillains is something new… We’ll see how it goes.
In the end, Robert’s plan wasn’t anything complex. Just wait inside the cell for the needed time frame before breaking out. All he needed was to make CSA underestimate him as much as possible, easing the future escape. The only problem was that he didn’t know the exact moment, leading to the need to wait at least three months just to be sure that he was released from the time loop. Not that Aether would agree to send him to another realm if he was stuck in the prison. He already knew the message this emotionless machine would tell him – the situation wasn’t resolved.
So, you need to sit calm, while trying to get more information about the world to ensure that your escape plan will work out and you won’t be nuked into oblivion. Easy-peasy, Rob… if I am lucky.
The backup plan was to escape and move directly to the laboratory to destroy the machine and reset everything. The complication was in no knowledge about the exact location of the place. He wasn’t naïve to think that he could watch the route during his travel, but still held a deep hope that someone messed up and left a hole to peer through. Obviously, it didn’t happen, cutting him off from the view of the streets with a closed hatch. At least so many repeats deeply engraved the square around the skyscraper on top of the facility in his memory. So, potentially it wasn’t a problem to find it, given an opportunity. And he just needed to create one.
However, for now, Robert waited until the end of his journey, half expecting a threatening or mocking greeting from future cellmates. Something about “fresh meat”, or “prepare to die”, or even attempts of verbal sexual harassment. To his utter disappointment, there was nothing similar. Even more, he failed to see anyone at all. His cage was simply moved from the track according to his senses before being placed on another platform. The next half an hour went in regular stops as if he was going through multiple checking points before proceeding further. Finally, after long traveling somewhere upward, and short rotation, the noticeable push of the cell signified the last stop. Attaching itself to something, the cage opened its hatch just to show Rob’s future place of accommodation.
Cubic space with a five-meter (around 16 ft) length in any direction, the room had white painted walls, made from metal. The only two pieces that resembled the proper furniture were a short pedestal in the form of a large bed and a tiny toilet, barely able to fit hit his enormous ass. The former had no bed sheets, no pillow, no empty gap underneath, clearly made with a thought of possible use to escape. The deflation instrument had no hole to release the disgusting but natural mass, instead having an odd bluish liquid on the bottom. Looking around once again, Robert noticed a set of cameras in each of the corners, confirming that he would be constantly monitored.
“Step in,” the demanding voice commanded him from the hidden speakers, causing a wave of irritation inside Robert. It was already hard for him to step over himself and agree to be caged again, but many other things were slowly piling up. The need to wait after his prolonged period of constant repeats. The attitude of the guard, who despite being a fragile and pathetic human, wanted to order him around as if the man had real power over him. Rob barely held his wish to answer with “Make me”. However, the goal to stay low to escape the time loop was much more important than his pride. Moreover, this anger felt like the prick of an emotional needle, but not the overwhelming wave from earlier. It was just easier to deal with. And that Robert did, silently obeying the order.
The sparkling force shield appeared behind his back, cutting the way back to the transportable cage. A moment later it detached itself before moving backward. For a few seconds, it opened a view of the narrowing corridor that led to the lift in the center. Rob even managed to take a view of similar pathways that were created in a star-like manner around the central hub. Unfortunately, it was all he got as the two metal doors slid from the walls, obstructing both the corridor and his prison cell from the lift. Turning around and glancing over at the empty room, Robert mentally sighed. Now only he had to wait, once again fighting with boredom.
Not that I keep myself busy by training as it might give an idea of my capabilities… Wait, or not if they won’t see it.
Thinking over his newly emerged idea, Rob dropped on the bed with a loud bang, simply forgetting about an addition of “few” kilograms. Surprisingly, the material withstood his weight, not deforming at all after taking a hit. That raised Robert’s suspicions about the extent of the knowledge about him that CSA gathered through the limited observation at this point. He wasn’t sure that it was a standard bed at this place. Glancing one more time at the nearest camera, he closed his eyes and lay down. Focusing on the obsidian steel, Rob tried to move it inside his body as fast as he could, while keeping it within the boundaries of his metallic flesh. The whole idea was to improve control. Ideally to the point before his physical change happened, returning the capability of conjured constructs to appear instantly. However, Rob would appreciate any growth he could get. Or, precisely speaking, train for.
Something tells me that there is no chance I can get out so easily from this realm. Thus, the more power I have, the more chances that I won’t die trying… Let’s train then… Hmm, I just have been craving for the rest and after only a few hours of it, my seemed-to-be twisted mind is already demanding action, unable to tolerate idling. I guess you are beyond saving, Rob. So, fuck it, and let’s start.