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***
«Nothing, I just thought I'd talk about it. Some people don't want to be sinners, and it makes me laugh, so what's the big deal? Maybe you don't want to make that moral choice, though," I sipped my beer and continued:
«Okay, now it's my turn to tell you. First of all, Rani isn't really Rani anymore, he's merged body and mind with another man. This man's name is Martin Stein, you've heard of him. So, on the day of the gas pedal explosion, he arrived at Star Labs with some gizmo, and then there was a burst of black matter. At that moment, Rani split and fused with the Professor. Now they're one, Rani's body and Stein's mind, and together they're Firestorm.
Caitlin listened amazed, and when I finished she muttered incredulously:
«How is this possible...
I grinned:
«With this black matter, anything is possible. - Then I stood up and put on the mask, and then I said:
«Okay, I'll go. As before, I hope you won't tell on me, showing you my face was an act of trust. I know a lot about you, Caitlin, and now you know something. I hope I don't have to use my knowledge to your detriment...
The girl looked at me tensely and nodded. Then I turned around and said:
«Be careful Caitlin, this case you're getting into could be very dangerous. The military likes to stick their noses in where they don't belong and get in the way. I'll be gone for a while, so I can't kill them, and Flash doesn't have the guts. Anyway, be careful out there, I wouldn't want to lose a sweet sidekick like that.
After saying that, I left. I hope everything goes well, I don't want to get blown up by Firestorm. I may be strong, but I can't survive such a thing, so I should leave the city temporarily....
***
When I got home, I finally sat down and relaxed. Now all I have to do is wait. Soon there will be business with Ras Al Ghul, Firestorm, Reverse Flush. All in all it's going to be fun and I'll try to capitalize on it.
I know a little more about my abilities now. Life energy. Hmm, well, that makes sense. It's probably too weak in beasts compared to humans, or maybe there's another reason why their flesh is useless to me. Anyway, now I see why there are these time intervals and why corpses are useless to me. Blackout was powered by electricity, and I'm powered by Life Energy. I remember there was a meta that fed on plasma, so I'm not alone in my weird tastes.
But even if I do feed on the energy of life, that doesn't explain my ability to absorb the powers of other metas. Perhaps their powers are like some sort of vitamin to me and are absorbed by my body and then amplified. That's how it used to be with the powers of mere humans, for a while, they could enhance me too... Hmm, I guess the energy of life is different somehow too. After all, bone marrow can transfer the powers of others to me, just like eyes with bones. Normal brain is more nutritious, and thus contains more energy than in all parts of my body. Life energy sustains my body, but energy from certain people and certain parts of their bodies can allow me to become stronger. Well, that's an interesting ability. It allows me to evolve, which means it's at the top of the meta ability list. Not bad, I guess you could say I'm lucky, except my hunger is a very big drawback... Although, none of this explains the tastes of the past owner of my body, he wasn't normal either, maybe it was some kind of mutation that was amplified by the dark matter exposure? Yeah, the questions are there, but the answers....
All right, screw it, it's my day off.
***
*♪ Screep ♪
I opened the slightly rusty door and stepped into an empty, spacious room. There were no windows, just a single light bulb and a bed. There was a guy with glasses sitting on the bed, reading a book I'd left him last time and some food.
It was the first time we met when he could talk and his mouth wasn't closed.
When I walked in, he stood up abruptly and tensed.
I grinned and said:
«How's it going? You're not dead yet?
«Bastard, what do you want? - The guy asked angrily.
«Nothing yet, it's not your time yet. Like I said, it's nothing personal, you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, it happens.
The guy sat down on the bed and snorted:
«You're like me, aren't you? That girl, that's you, isn't it?
I nodded:
«Yeah, I had to find out something, so I had to cut her open. Her ability was teleportation, much better than yours. You're lucky, if your powers were any good, I probably would have cut you open first. But what makes you think I'm like you?
Hartley hummed:
«When I woke up, I almost vomited from the stench, not only of the girl, but also of the liquid you were in. It just kept coming out, and then you stood up. you're definitely an unusual person, I'm sure of it.
I nodded:
«It's true, our powers are somewhat similar. Yours is lacking in acute hearing, resulting in terrible pain. Mine is hunger, I've become a carnivore and can't digest anything but fresh human flesh. That's why you're still here.
«So you're going to eat me, now I see.... - The boy said with a sigh.
«Well, I can't let you go, you could cause trouble.
«It's not going to work out, is it? - Asked the boy with a mixture of hope and humility in his voice.
I hesitated for a moment, then answered:
«Depending on what you suggest, I might well not eat you and release you later, when you are no longer a danger to me. That won't be for a while, of course, but you'll live, albeit in slightly uncomfortable conditions.
The guy's eyes visibly lit up and he said:
«Я... Give me time, I'll think of something to offer you.
«Well, why not, here... - I gave him a pen and a notebook: -You can write something. I hear you're a scientist, you can think of something.
The guy nodded, and then I left.
We had a nice chat. He wasn't a coward and was quite cooperative, no panic or whining. I liked him, maybe he'd be useful, and I could find food elsewhere. Of course I doubt we'll be friends, but he can earn his freedom if he offers something worthwhile. I don't want to leave enemies alive, but maybe it won't come to that. And if we do, he won't live long, that's all....
"Your enemies must be punished with overwhelming force! So that they will never dare to stand in your way again!" So the more power I have the safer I feel, control the weather and change my appearance, why not....
***
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