Smashing the thick metal plate that for unknown reasons was called a door and not a moving wall, Robert finally stepped inside the hidden laboratory under the pet shop. It took some time to find a way inside, avoiding harming the locked animals. Luckily, he had someone to ask, ignoring their unwillingness. In the end, he had a heavy argument. Just a few stomps on the legs turned the bones into hundreds of fragments, mixed with torn blood vessels and meat. This appeared to be enough to convince the last criminal alive to give the needed information, not playing a silent hero anymore. Therefore, Rob proceeded further, destroying one obstacle after another. However, an open passage seemed to be not the final one.
The long white corridor ended with two laser turrets and a freak in a yellow pajama. Yawing widely, the man looked quite annoyed, forcefully woken up by Rob’s intrusion. His clothes were covered with colorful images of unknown animated heroes, even though the man was clearly in his mid-thirties. Looking at Robert, whose body was already covered in pitch-black armor and had only part of the pants left intact, the super calmly spoke.
“Listen, man, today was a tiring day. I’ve just gone to bed… Turn around and let’s pretend that nothing has happened. You will have your life; I will have my well-deserved ten-hour sleep. Deal?”
“Simon, what the fuck are you talking about?” The outraged voice resounded from behind, showing its owner in the next second. Dressed in black leather with multiple metal pieces attached randomly, the girl immediately hit the man’s shoulder, “We were hired to protect the place. This asshole killed our people!”
“Not our, but our employer’s… Why do you even care? Those dumbasses just yesterday laughed at you,” the man replied, turning around and glancing at his partner, who was at least ten years younger.
“So what? They don’t deserve to die!” The girl once again hit the shoulder.
No super strength or toughness got it.
“Whatever… I just want to sleep… Listen, man, my deal is still on the table,” the super again spoke to Robert. The latter only smiled sadly. The layer of obsidian steel hid his expression, making him look like a faceless figure, but it didn’t make his emotions disappear without a trace. Therefore, Rob paused his steps before tearing the last piece of his clothes to wipe the blood stuck on his armor. Creating a tiny hole under the caution gazes, he answered.
“Unfortunately, I can’t. I need the serum. So, I have the opposite suggestion – step aside and you can leave freely.”
“Sorry, man, my hands are tied. I don’t like the experiments, but they pay good money, and we do need them,” The man yawned again, not even bothering to cover his mouth.
“Why are you speaking with him at all? Doctor, fucking use the turrets!”
The girl shouted aloud, seemingly addressing the third party. The next moment, both automated weapons came to life, pointing the wide barrels with focused tips at Robert. With a sigh the man swung with his palm, creating a bubble around Rob. And before the latter managed to realize the effect, both turrets shot, creating the constant laser beams. Unfortunately for them, Robert already had summoned the destructive layer on his armor. Completely unaffected, he took the first step toward them, causing the girl to frown.
“Why isn’t he dying?”
“Well, the lasers obviously can’t penetrate his defense, so I can’t suck all oxygen from his lungs,” noticing the slow approach, the man changed his relaxed expression, finally getting serious, “Be ready to act”.
With another wave of the palm the bubble had disappeared, replaced by the fast-growing wind stream. In just a second it turned into a stormy one, before finally reaching the level of a real hurricane. At this point, Robert had to push his weight to maximum just not to be blown away. The thirty-meter (100 ft.) corridor had no protruding parts. On the contrary, the smooth walls and lack of objects created a feeling of a single purpose - to intensify the super’s ability. And from what Robert knew, it was the sole way inside.
Therefore, Rob dived his fingertips into the surface of the nearest wall. Meanwhile, his feet flashed with a glow, melting the floor to give him another grip against the invisible force that tried to push him back. The laser beams never stopped shooting, adding even more annoyance to his slow walk, when he had to cover his eye holes with a palm. However, when he reached halfway, the girl stepped forward. Deeply inhaling, she filled her lungs with air before starting to scream. Or, precisely speaking, SCREAM.
The sound was so terrifying and loud that Rob had to create additional earplugs under his armor, and even that didn’t help. Somehow, it still penetrated his defense, causing an odd vibration that tried to destabilize him from the inside. As if his cells tried to dance after getting overdosed by a mixture of amphetamines and caffeine. Robert had to use all his willpower to keep his own body from breaking apart under this injection of a foreign desire to move chaotically. Failing to make another step, he had to lean to the wall, while the whole world around was going crazy with those winds and constant beams of laser.
Fortunately, the girl had to breathe, pausing her ability for a second. That was enough for Robert. Gripping the wall, he tore a piece of it before throwing it. It appeared that his aim was influenced by the sound attack, missing the girl and instead hitting the turret. Still, the torrents of sparks from the destroyed weapon caused the super to close her eyes, allowing Rob to act. The refreshing wave of regeneration washed over his body, wiping all the unpleasant aftermath. Simultaneously, he was already pushing himself forward.
“Hey, man, I think I will agree to your…,” the previously yawing super, whose current expression had no traces of sleep, attempted to speak, but Robert wasn’t listening. Gripping the barrel of the laser, he pulled it out, ripping the turret apart in a single motion. In the next instant, the improvised club swung, hitting the man and the girl. Instinctively reacting to the approaching weapon, the latter tried to use her ability again, but the inertia was hard to stop. Smashing against the wall as two broken dolls, the pair missed another strike that ended their misery, showing no mercy.
No second chance in this loop…
Stepping over the pool of blood, Robert paused before the next door, preparing to destroy the obstacle, but the voice from above made him stop.
“Oh, please, don’t break it. I am opening, no need for violence…,” As if confirming the words, the door moved to the side, showing the inners of the laboratory, “I’ve heard that you need serum – I will give you one. Or more… No need to crush anything. It’s too costly to restore everything.”
Silently walking inside, Robert found himself on the third level of a huge underground hangar filled with different equipment, several cages with trapped animals, and a single working table with an old man sitting behind it. The scientist with a freckled face and a mixture of gray and red hair was already looking at Rob through the thick glasses, not hiding his worries. Hastily standing up showing his empty hands, he shouted.
“Please, come down! I will prepare everything you need,” quietly muttering something, the scientist quickly went to the opposite side of the laboratory, skillfully avoiding the mess around. And the place had a lot of it, stuck to the brim with many types of equipment in different states and origins. Standing side by side, even the similar-looking things could have unlike labels marked on them. They could miss a few pieces, or even the whole case could be removed, exposing the inner parts of another machine. Quite a few were clearly broken, but still took place as if the owner of the place was unable to throw the trash away. Or maybe he was using it as a potential donor to replace the broken part.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
This indeed looks nothing like the laboratory from the facility. Obviously, the budget difference has an impact on the situation… Not surprising, why he fears me breaking anything here – too difficult to replace.
Robert had to lower his weight to come down, using rusty metal stairs, which made cracking sounds under his steps. Almost moaning from the heavy pressure, they didn’t inspire any confidence in their ability to withstand Robert’s body. However, breaking the expectations, the construct managed to do it, surprising Rob and making to reevaluate the thing, despite a pitiful state.
“Here… I have only three serums ready,” the voice behind Robert’s back made him turn around to face the scientist with a container in his hands, “Nothing more – that’s everything I’ve managed to produce after the previous delivery and my latest tests.”
“Just like that?” Robert couldn’t hide his surprise, creating a hole around his mouth and asking the bothering question.
“Just like that,” the scientist confirmed, before suddenly coming into action, “I need to show you, obviously. You may think it’s a bomb…,” Opening the case, while pressing it to his chest, he showed three small tubes with yellow sparkling liquid inside. Taking them out, he simply shoved them into Rob’s palms, throwing the container on the floor, “Please, take it.”
Only after that, the scientist sighed with relief, slowly walking to his chair. Dropping down on it, making the furniture crack from the weight, he closed his eyes and waited. Noticing no motion from dumbfounded Robert, the man opened them again before speaking.
“Can I help you with anything else?”
“Well, yes,” Robert nodded, glancing at the three tubes in his hand, “I have a lot of questions in fact.”
“You can ask but I need to warn you that the reinforcement will come in several minutes – you might want to get out of this place. They might not stop you, but I would appreciate it if you took the fight somewhere else, and not inside my laboratory.” The scientist calmly explained before adding, “Don’t be surprised about my behavior. It’s like the sixth time when all my guards died. I don’t want to follow their example… Plus, rebuilding such a place will take a lot of time and, more importantly, money – believe me, I’ve done it a few times. All my life is in research. Nothing else interests me, so I want to avoid any wastage. Even getting my abilities didn’t change it… Don’t worry, it’s just an increased memory, heightened intelligence, and capability to make calculations in mind. Plus some intuitive knowledge on a few subjects. Nothing combat-oriented… So, please, ask and leave.”
“Quite a straightforward way of dealing with problems… I like it,” Robert smiled, for once not feeling any malicious intent in the words of the other person, “Can it give the powers to someone without them?”
“It was initially the main purpose of creating it… Unfortunately, no. Or, theoretically, it can, but even well-trained humans in a peak form just can’t handle the injection,” The scientist replied, pulling his glasses and massaging his nose bridge, “Too painful, too energy exhausting, too harmful for both the body and mind.”
Nothing I can’t handle it seems… And not that I have any potential subjects for the test, who are walking metal dudes…
“But it can increase the existing powers?”
“Again, theoretically yes, but despite all the advertisements my sponsors made, it’s far from being the state to work all the time. But yes, the potential infusion of an additional portion of synthesized omicron particles may have such an effect on the super… Too many variables to consider, not counting the potential side effects,” the man sighed, clearly showing disappointment in his work, “I am in the process of improving it. In a year I think I can get a stable version. Or maybe in two…”.
“It seems a very important topic that can easily change the world. Why are you working on it alone?” Robert couldn’t stop his curiosity, glancing at the tubes once again and imagining what he could potentially get from them.
“I wasn’t alone at the start. We have dozens of minds researching it. Sadly, the government doesn’t like supers… So, CSA stormed the place, killing most and imprisoning others. Only I managed to escape. Already hiding for years… Therefore, my success stands on our combined achievement. And believe me, I will never forget them if I ever manage to finish it! That’s why I ask you to leave not to endanger this place.”
“Okay, I will do it,” Robert agreed, knowing that he could come back here in the next loop to get more information, “Final question – how do I use it?”
“Just inject in the blood and that’s it… In fact, any contact is enough to cause the reaction… Stop, what are you doing?” The scientist shouted, watching how Robert smashed the top of the tube and gulped it at once only to continue with another one, “One is enough! Oh, what have you done… Now, you… Damn it!”
“Calm down, Doc,” Robert spoke, dropping the empty tubes on the floor, “I wasn’t the super in the first place. Nothing to worry about… And one more final question before I go – how do I understand how to use my powers if I get one?”
“What? Not a super? Just a suit?... Forgive me for the distraction, that was unexpected. You will instinctively know how to use it if you visualize the process. The problem is only finding what type of power you’ve got. Some may be very strange… But are you okay? Sometimes it takes only a few minutes when the change becomes intolerable with death as a result…,” Robert simply turned around, ignoring the man after getting all he needed. The clock was ticking.
Moreover, the intensive heat was already coming from inside, almost trying to fry his inner organs… if it could work against his steel-like body. Then his muscles tried to contract uncontrollably. More unpleasant feelings came, annoying him during his hasty escape. However, with his experience in tolerating the pain and barely sensitive body, it never went over the feeling of irritation, making it more akin to a stomach rumbling and not the life-turning point with a risk of dying.
Rob was lucky enough to avoid the attention of multiple vans that were driving toward the pet shop at full throttle, ignoring any speed limits. Not showing any signs of a boiling process inside him, Robert continued his way, keeping the same slow pace. Dispersing his armor around his palms and head, he made it look like a tight sports costume. Not that it mattered as there was almost no one around. At some point, the dark and empty streets occupied all his attention, redirecting it from the serums taken. The atmosphere was filled with tranquility, despite having some vibes from apocalypse movies.
The light breeze moved the torn piece of paper. Empty streets, illuminated by only a few working lights, which were fighting with barely visible fog. The walls, fully covered with graffiti and loud slogans, like “Equality to Supers” or “CSA is a government’s bitch!”. Rare passersby with gloomy faces, who immediately changed the direction of their walk, when they noticed Rob’s bulky frame and bald head. The papers with photos of missing people and pets, attached on special desks. Several cars with clear damage from unrecognizable causes, and not just driving accidents. With holes or imprinted palms, they looked abandoned after another battle between the supers, when the owners without insurance didn’t bother to restore their property. There were more of those little signs of a decline that was slowly appearing from different corners, foretelling the upcoming explosion in society. However, Robert didn’t care, enjoying the silence and the ability to walk without hiding.
By the point when Rob reached the familiar basement, all weird sensations from taking three serums died out, granting him nothing in return. Not even a predicted death. At this point, the latter wasn’t even the worst outcome for Robert. Focusing on his feelings in an attempt to find something new inside his metal body, Robert at first failed to see anything new. After so many restorations of himself, he knew each tiny part of his steel shell that was his body. Searching again and again, he finally turned his attention to the reactor core. The container of his inner being had no traces of change… until he noticed the tiny dots on the surface of the sphere that contained his entity. They were like odd clots, simultaneously made from energy and matter.
Okay, it worked out despite my shitty luck… The doctor haven't lied… I managed to get out safely. So, where is the catch? And how do I know what did I got? Stop, I am an idiot. Self-check, I have a self-check function! Aether, please tell me.
By fusing with the omicron particles that are exclusive to the particular realm, the Transcendent temporarily was granted the following supernatural ability – Areal Walking. Using the inner energy, the wielder can conjure a material but invisible stair to create a support in midair. Simultaneously, only one stair can be summoned. Its toughness and ability to withstand the weight will depend on the energy spent during the creation. The effect of the infusion will last for six more months until full exhaustion of the serum.
What the hell?