November: I Might Be A Superhero

008: Pathway to a Disastrous Experiment (II)

Continuation…

10: 50pm, Atticus Lab's conference Hall.

"Time to go see these kids," Prosecutor Adams said, rising to his feet as he stared at his wristwatch.

"If you can wait for a few minutes, we'll take a look at the footage captured by Styles," Doctor Hemmingway looked over at him. And waited until everyone sat down before he turned to Styles. "Put the lights out, my boy," and Styles did as he was told.

There was a bit of murmuring at this because they were clearly uncomfortable with the lights turned off. Commander Rodney Brown was reaching for his pistol, prepared to kill if Doctor Hemmingway wanted to harm them. His paranoia towards everyone in the hall knew no bounds.

Styles quickly picked up the large TV remote and popped the power button.

And silence relapsed in the atmosphere.

They watched as a boy hid behind a shelf as he observed thieves in the mall. How he grew angry when he saw a thief torturing an old woman and his anger caused a force from him to rip apart the thief's clothes, leaving him naked. Styles made sure he blurred the man's private area.

There were audible gasps from the men when the boy became invisible as a thief went to his side. He appeared shocked after making himself visible.

It was obvious he had no idea he got invisible for a minute. His quirk was powerful enough to make him invisible without him being aware.

And the men at Atticus' lab watched in shock, including Doctor Hemmingway. For he had not seen any kid who possessed such quirks.

"Apparently he discovers more quirks when challenges are set up for him." Styles was courageous enough to explain this to everyone in the conference Hall. He rose to his feet and then pushed his glasses up. "There, he controlled the guns and threw them out the window. Then the ropes he used in tying the thieves up," Styles spoke the whole time then men stared at the Tv screen in awe. He had so much admiration for the boy and took him as a superhero already.

"He even controlled the naked thief with his eyes to join his companions. Meaning he has a telekinesis quirk, an invisible quirk, and this indescribable quirk that comes up when he's upset. It's just superb that every other kid with quirks has one to themselves while he has three. And more if I may add. He's different, unique" Styles stopped talking and paused the video as he stared at everyone. Gaining a bit of confidence.

The hall remained mute like a cemetery. The only sounds that could be detected were far away screeching noises of vehicles on the road.

"You failed to capture his face the whole time," Doctor Hemmingway casted a disappointed look at Styles who in turn thinned his lips in regret.

"I was hiding at some corner, Doctor Hemmingway. I could've been seen if I had come out of my hiding spot and who knows if the kid would have destroyed my phone with his telekinesis quirk." He painstakingly explained himself as he put on the lights.

"I want him," Commander Rodney Brown rose to his feet.

"Point of correction, you cannot put him on the battlefront to fight wars with you. He's to be under my care because he belongs to the government," Prosecutor Adams shot him a disapproving look.

"And I am part of the Shadow government. Stick with your dragon of a son," Commander Rodney spoke back without meeting the questioning gaze of Prosecutor Adams. "I want that boy,"

"Wait, I thought we were gonna make him a superhero or something?" Styles blinked in confusion, he didn't like that the men were arguing about who to own the boy like an asset. For he greatly admired him.

The men turned to look at him incredulously completely ditching their argument.

"The hell are you talking about?" Commander Rodney asked.

"Superheroes do not exist." Prosecutor Adams said.

"And even if he seems like a marvel hero, we won't let such silliness of life risk take place." One man added, "Superheroes do more damage than good."

"Jumping on cars and destroying them in the process. Damaging people's buildings in the name of fighting villains."

"Imagine Hulk throwing a hammer at a villain and missing." And another chipped in with a snicker.

Laughter floated over the atmosphere.

While Styles stayed mute, glued to his standing spot. He hated the fact that they saw the boy as a weapon and not a superhero. When there was more to him. He even regretted showing them the video.

"Do not mind Styles, let's just head to Section C lab." Doctor Hemmingway waved off Styles and then led the eight men to the lab.

Section C lab consisted of seventeen kids in different rooms. White-coated Scientists were tending to them, drawing pipettes of fluids from bottles to inject these kids who were under the influence of a weakening dose.

Boys were bare-chested and had patient medical wires from a cable management that was being monitored by these scientists.

They stopped in front of the room with the print 001.

They stared at the boy through the glass doors.

"This is Harold Beisten. Age 16 and his infection-induced power is a rare kind. His body limbs and head separate when required." Doctor Hemmingway explained and the men stood back.

"Suzie, give him the red dew fluid." Doctor Hemmingway said into the speaker and the Scientist obeyed. She used an injection to suck out a red fluid from a glass vessel.

"Red dew fluid was invented just this afternoon by Doctor Steve, it was derived from golden dewdrop and sulfuric acid which is dangerous to mere humans like us. He said it will not kill them but make their bodies show response to this stimulus, and then we can detect if they can be controlled."

"And have you tested it on any of these kids?" Prosecutor Adams asked, looking skeptical for a bit as he placed his hand on his chin and watched the lady nearing the boy's side with the injection held up. While the boy struggled, making his limbs detach from his body.

"Fucking stop!" He struggled, flinging his arms and legs in her direction, while she dodged.

"I thought you had everything under control," Command Rodney Brown directed toward Doctor Hemmingway.

"I do." Disappointment flashed over his face for a second and he refused to meet the questioning gaze of the men. "Doctor Steve advised we deprive them of the weakening dose before pumping the Red dew fluid into their system,"

"Looks like your employee is incapable of carrying out this trial." Prosecutor Adams nudged his head towards the glass doors. The scientist, Suzie, got headbutted by the flying head and she immediately lost consciousness.

"I'm starting to think you cannot handle these kids," Commander Rodney said, shaking his head in pity.

"You will let me do my job." Doctor Hemmingway gritted out before calling in several scientists at once. They succeeded in catching the flying limbs and attached them back to the boy's body. Including his head.

"Hurry with the red dew fluid!" Doctor Hemmingway yelled and someone picked up the injection on the floor and pumped it into the boy's neck.

An audible gasp of relief escaped from Doctor Hemmingway and he casted a victorious look at the annoying men at his side when the boy's body began vibrating.

He tried to detach his limbs from his body but it was to no avail. It felt like there was a magnet in his bones. The red dew fluid was working.

Suddenly there was an immediate spark in the room that made all the men flinch.

"What in the hell was that?" Someone exclaimed, asking no one in particular.

This time, the fluorescent lights began fluctuating until there was a power outage in the whole Atticus lab, making everyone break into a murmur.

Fire arose in room 001 and as the scientists tried to escape, the door stayed locked despite several attempts.

They broke out into a scream as they began burning, including the kid. The fire was emerging from his body.

Doctor Hemmingway watched in dismay. There was nothing he could do to help because the glass door was hardened, and could not be broken down by anything. It could only be unlocked by a card.

The experiment was disastrous and for sure he would be mocked by these malevolent men at his side. That would be if they don't take the remaining kids off his hands.

He watched as his employees and the kid got burnt by the firing, shutting himself out to their cries of help.

To him, a failed experiment was worse than the deaths of people.