“It just started…reacting.” Dr.
Muahitl was trying to explain the anomaly to Alex, who had rushed to the
research facility as fast as he could after making a call. “For weeks there was
nothing, not even anything during the attack. Yet out of nowhere it started
moving and trying to escape its containment unit. No outside stimuli were
applied, and no energy surge was detected by the sensors. In fact, even now its
energy levels are equal to what they were at rest. You demanded we contact you
if the energy exhibited any human characteristics, and quite honestly I’m not
sure what to make of this development. My expertise does not cover living
energy.”
Alex looked into the little
glass box at the darkness within. He could see it swirl around, and every once
in a while it would rush to one of the walls, as if trying to ram through and
escape. “That’s alright, doctor. I’ve called in someone who is more
knowledgeable in that field.”
A short time later, Alex was standing
outside of the research facility when he saw a bluish white streak fly towards
him. The glowing figure landed in front of Alex, and when the light died Alex
smiled. “Good to see you again, Matt. I’m sorry to hear about your falling out
with Frontier.”
“Thank you, Alex, but it’s less
of a falling out and more of me taking your approach. I’m still there for them;
I’m just not officially on the team,” Matt said as the two men shook hands.
Matt looked around at the bustle of people going about their days and heavy
construction taking place. “I never thought I’d actually be onboard the Eagle.
Man, I would love to take a stroll around the place.”
“That can be arranged, Matt.
Unfortunately this matter is much more pressing than a tour.”
Matt’s expression grew anxious
as he followed Alex through the research facility. Alex explained the situation
to Matt, who listened intently. When they finally reached the glass containment
unit, Matt gasped. He walked up to the box and lightly touched the glass.
After a moment of silence, Alex
asked, “Is it her?”
Matt nodded before removing his
hand. “Technically, yes. This little bit of shadow energy is part of Sombra.”
“Incredible!” Dr. Muahitl
exclaimed as he moved closer to the box. “You mean to tell me this energy has a
human conscious?”
“I’m not sure I’d consider
Sombra human, doctor.” Alex cut in. “It seemed like she was more like a natural
force given sentience.”
“It’s a little of both, I think,”
Matt explained, “Sombra was the darkest part of Jasmine’s psyche. The Mr. Hyde
to her Dr. Jekyll. We all have some darkness within us, but due to
Jasmine’s…unique powers, that darkness was given a method of materializing. But
she only exists through the shadow energy that Jasmine has become one with. If
there was a way to separate the shadow energy from Jasmine, Sombra would vanish,
in theory. But unfortunately I don’t think that’s possible. And seeing the
shadow energy like this, with no physical body…” Matt stopped, not wanting to
accept the fact in front of him. Jasmine was gone, yet Sombra survived.
“What do you want to do with the
sample?” Dr. Muahitl was growing more fearful with each word Matt said. Not
because of the power of Sombra, but because he was afraid Matt and Alex would
choose to destroy the sample. All that power and potential, wiped out!
Matt’s response stunned
everyone. “We need to let it go.”
Dr. Muahitl started to grow
animated, his anxiety heard through his voice. “But, no! Think of all we can
learn from this! The power!”
“You won’t be able to control
this power, doctor. It is wild and reckless. It already cost one powerful
metahuman her life, and she was made to control it. There seems to be nothing
stopping it from tearing through more bodies. We need to let it go so I can
track it. I need to find where Sombra is and stop her, once and for all.”
Dr. Muahitl tried protesting,
but Alex silenced him. “Matt is right. I’ve seen this power firsthand and it is
not something we can hope to contain, especially since we know nothing about
it. Open the containment unit.”
As a scientist starting entering
the code, Alex turned to Matt. “Are you sure you can handle this alone?”
Matt nodded while he stared at
the darkness. “Last time I was trying to save Jasmine. But now that she’s…”
Matt stopped and took a breath. “I won’t hold back this time. Sombra must be
stopped.”
Alex understood, but was shocked
all the same. He was holding back?
Incredible! Matt doesn’t seem like one to bluff, so he must have even more
power than I imagined!
As the containment unit opened,
the shadow energy raced out and flew towards a window near the ceiling. Without
slowing down, it broke through the glass and escaped outside.
“That’s my cue to leave,” Matt
said as he starting exiting the research lab. “It’s time to go face the
darkness.”
“Keep any information you have
gained so far,” Alex told the scientists. “We’ll never know when it might be of
use.”
As he left the facility behind
Matt, Dr. Muahitl glared at them. He pushed the other scientists away,
demanding that he take care of cleaning up. After gathering up the notes, Dr.
Muahitl returned to his private office. After locking his door to ensure
privacy, he stuck the pages in a folder and filed it away. Taking a deep
breath, the doctor pressed a hidden button on his bookshelf, which opened a small
panel on the wall. As he took out the vial he smiled, caressing it like a
father would a child.
“They might have gotten rid of
the larger sample, but they didn’t know about you, did they?” Dr. Muahitl held
up the vial filled with swirling shadow energy. “You’re going to tell me all
your secrets.”
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