10:00 a.m.
Ben Walker
I push open the door to the Dirksen office building, my footsteps echoing with purpose. Inside, the air thickens as I stride into the senator's office. Her eyes widen in shock, a flicker of fear she tries to mask. Around her, the president pro tempore, the secretary, sergeant, chairmen, and committee members all look up, startled by the intrusion.
"Hello, Mrs. Nadeer," I say, flashing a smile that doesn't reach my eyes. "Long time no see. Surprised to see me?"
She stiffens, trying to keep her voice steady. "What are you doing here?"
Without a word, I drop a thick stack of documents onto the desk. Checks, bank records, evidence—all laid out for everyone to see.
"This is why I'm here," I say, my voice cutting through the tension. "It's time they know you're into embezzlement."
The room falls into a stunned silence. Faces turn, eyes locking on her. Mrs. Nadeer lets out a laugh—forced, hollow—as she tries to dismiss the accusation.
"Is this some kind of joke?" she sneers, trying to maintain control. "You think they'll believe you?"
"They will if they read the documents," I reply, my tone unwavering.
Her laughter falters as she sees the determination in my eyes. She knows I'm serious. She knows I've come to expose her. Desperation flickers across her face as she signals for the meeting to adjourn, the room clearing except for her and me.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" she hisses, anger lacing her words. "Why are you trying to ruin me?"
I lean in, lowering my voice to a cold whisper. "Ruin you? I don't care about you. I've already sent a letter to the government you work for. By now, they're preparing to fire you. Your ID is in every crime agency database across America. You'll be labeled as an internet fraudster, and everyone will know to stay the hell away from you."
Her face pales as I pull out my phone, showing her an email. "This is from the FBI. They've given you a mandate to get your documents in order, but you ignored it. The warrant for your arrest has already been signed, and in 48 hours, they'll come for you. Your properties, your bank accounts—all of it will be seized. You'll be a disgrace to your family, your friends."
She stares at the phone, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She reaches for the phone on her desk, her hand trembling as she dials.
"Security," she snaps, her voice brittle with panic. "There's a lunatic in my office. Get him out of here. Now."
"Your security won't change anything," I say, standing my ground. "The only thing that can save you is a lot of money. Pay up, or you'll be behind bars, and everything you've worked for will be gone."
Five burly security guards burst into the office, grabbing me by the arms. But as they try to drag me out, something inside me snaps. My body heats up, a searing pain coursing through me. My clothes catch fire, and I drop to my knees, gasping for breath.
The guards back away, fear etched on their faces as they hear the hissing sound coming from within me. The pain is unbearable, but I force myself to smile through it.
"Any last words?" I manage to choke out.
"Wait!" Mrs. Nadeer screams, but it's too late.
I erupt in a violent explosion, a fireball that tears through the building, leaving nothing but ashes in its wake. The entire office is destroyed, but only Mrs. Nadeer and her security detail are dead.
LEONARD
The exhilaration of the interview still hums in my veins as I step out into the spring air. But then, time itself seems to stutter. Everything freezes—people, cars, even the hands on my watch. A sense of dread gnaws at me, a silent warning that something terrible is about to happen. But it's not instantaneous, and that gives me a chance to act.
I change into my green suit in the blink of an eye, then take off, moving at 8.3 million miles per hour—faster than anything on this planet. There's no time to think, only to act. I'm a blur, a force of nature, sweeping into the heart of the disaster to save lives.
The explosion rips through the air, but I'm already there, rescuing 1,189 people from certain death.
"Oh my God, what just happened?" one of the chairmen gasps, looking around in shock.
"The building's gone," I say, my voice steady, "but everyone's safe."
"Who did this?"
I hesitate, realizing that none of them know what led up to the explosion. I was too fast—faster than even I could comprehend. The realization makes my head spin.
But before I can answer, a cheer goes up from the fifty or so people who saw what I did. Cameras flash, capturing the moment for posterity.
3:00 p.m.
Nano Innovation Lab
The news of the explosion spreads like wildfire, and my team is in shock. Thirty minutes later, Mark and Theo leave to investigate what caused it. I stay behind, sitting alone, replaying the events in my mind. No matter how many times I go over it, I can't shake the feeling that I failed.
Bonnie comes over, sensing my mood. She sits beside me, wrapping an arm around my waist.
"Hey, you okay?" she asks gently.
"Yeah," I mutter, but she doesn't buy it.
"Come on, Leo. You can talk to me."
I sigh, leaning back in the chair. "I'm just thinking about what happened today."
"The explosion?"
"Yeah. I didn't save everyone."
Bonnie frowns. "You saved a lot of people, Leo. That's what matters."
"Not enough. The senator and her security detail didn't make it. I'm supposed to save lives, all of them, make the city better."
"And you do. Every day. You've saved so many people, stopped so many bad guys. You can't be everywhere at once."
"You don't understand, Bonnie."
She gives me a soft smile and starts tickling me under the arms, trying to lighten the mood. Despite myself, I can't help but laugh.
"Alright, alright, I'm laughing!" I gasp. "Thanks for that."
"You're welcome," she says, her eyes twinkling. "Oh, and I almost forgot—did you get the job?"
"Yeah, I did."
"That's awesome! I'm so happy for you."
"Thanks."
"Were the questions tough?"
"A bit, but I got through it. The interviewer even smiled and congratulated me."
Bonnie grins. "I'm glad, Leo. And... I'm sorry about this morning. I shouldn't have been so harsh."
"It's okay, Bonnie. No need to apologize."
BEN WALKER
The grass bites into my skin as I materialize in a field, naked and raw. The sun feels like it's burning through me, but I'm alive—alive in a way I never was before. My body hums with power, something dark and primal. I stand up slowly, running my hands over my skin, feeling the newness of it all. A laugh bubbles up, wild and free. I'm no longer just Ben Walker. I'm something more. A variant.
To be continued....