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| − | “<font color="C8C864">Nnnngh...</font>” Everything feels fuzzy. I don't know how long I've been out. There's a bright ceiling light pointed straight at me. One thing's for sure, I'm definitely not in the collapsed complex anymore. Feels like I'm lying on a table. A really uncomfortable table. Better take a look around...Except I can't move. “<font color="C8C864">What the-?</font>”
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| − | My vision finally adjusts enough to let me see that I'm bound to the table with thick leather straps. Too tight to move. Okay, this isn't a problem, I can just untie myself with my powers. But let's not be hasty. First let's see if I can find out who did this to me. Maybe I can get a monologue out of them if I let them think they've got me. Just need to...Struggle with these bindings. Make some noise...Get their attention...
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| − | After about a minute of rattling around, someone looms into view. He's wearing a white hazmat suit that nearly blends in with the blinding shaft of light around me. That suit looks heavy duty. Professional. I can't tell who it is, his visor's tinted. “<font color="329632">Excellent, you've awakened. I was hoping you would be able to appreciate what you are about to set in motion.</font>” Oh yeah, he's definitely the monologuing type. What's your plan, creep?
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| − | He reaches out of my line of sight and wheels an IV drip next to the table. Uh oh. So much for playing possum. I'm not about to just lie here and let him play doctor with me. Time to cut loose. “<font color="329632">By now I'm sure you've noticed you have been stripped of your mental powers. Save your efforts, I assure you the suppressor strapped to your head is quite functional.</font>” That's...Bad. That's <i>really</i> bad. I need to think of something fast. I can feel my heart rate climbing already. I've never had too much trouble with needles. But something tells me this isn't going to be good for my health!
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| − | He holds my arm steady. “<font color="C8C864">What are you doing!?</font>” My suit resists the needle. He applies more pressure until... “<font color="C8C864">Ah!</font>” With a dull snap, the hypodermic needle punctures my suit and slides into my arm. He connects a red IV bag to the tube and lets the fluid start its journey into my arm. It's taking all my focus not to hyperventilate.
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| − | Okay. Don't panic! Don't panic. Maybe Krow or Luna could reverse whatever he's doing. I just need to get out of here. Fast. “<font color="329632">Are you familiar with a man named Harold McLester? You probably knew his costumed hero identity: Nega-Neutron.</font>” <b>NOW</b> he monologues me? I can't listen to him now! I'm too busy worrying about whatever he's pumping into my arm! “<font color="329632">No? Pity. You see, his story was rather tragic. Yes, <i>”was”</i> is the correct term. For he perished some time ago, and with him, my hopes for harnessing one of the most potent power sources in the world.</font>”
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| − | Where have I heard this before? “<font color="C8C864">What does any of that have to do with me? What did you just do to me!? <b>Answer m</b>- mmph!</font>” His heavily insulated glove covers my mouth.
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| − | “<font color="329632">I spent a lifetime chasing that man to the ends of the Earth. In the end, he gave his life so that I could not harness his powers. Even more frustrating, despite my best efforts, I could not duplicate his complex mutation. But you can.</font>” A blood sample! That's what he injected me with! But...As far as the public knows, skin contact is the only way I mimic powers. So how did this guy know that I've got another way? “<font color="329632">Fortunately for me, Mister Shadow was generous enough to offer his services in capturing you. For a modest fee.</font>” That slimeball! I try to bite the hazmat guy's hand, but it's no use. He probably doesn't even feel it.
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| − | He turns away to deal with something outside my field of vision. At least he's done talking. But I'm not. “<font color="C8C864">You know you sound a lot like my father-in-law. We didn't get along. He tried this scheme too. Maybe if you let me out of here you won't end up like he did!</font>” Okay, so maybe I didn't give Neophyte what he deserved for pulling this same stunt on me. It's called a bluff. “<font color="C8C864"><b>Hey! I'm warning you! Let me out of here or I'll-!</b></font>”
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| − | I feel strange...My whole body is overcome with that burning feeling I get when I come inside on a really cold day. A clicking geiger counter gets hazmat guy's attention. “<font color="329632">You best calm yourself.</font>” He picks up the geiger counter and inspects the readings. “<font color="329632">Otherwise you might have a meltdown. Figuratively, and <b>very</b> literally.</font>”
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| − | Maybe I've got some leverage after all. “<font color="C8C864">Oh yeah? How about you let me out before I give you the worst tan of your life!</font>”
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| − | “<font color="329632">I think you will change your tune when you learn that we are currently beneath the old building where you had your little scuffle. If you allow yourself to go critical, not only will we both perish, you will also unleash a twenty kiloton blast. The radius of which will encompass far more than this small abandoned section of the city, I assure you.</font>” He puts the geiger counter down and turns away to work on something.
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| − | What am I supposed to do now? I couldn't contact my team to let them know where I was, and M'Aara's probably still buried in rubble. There must be a way out of this. There has to be...I...I want to see my fiance again...I'm a veteran superhero who's been throwing away supervillains since '05. How could I let this happen? No. I've got to focus. I've gotten out of tighter spots and I can get out of this one too. I just need to figure out how...
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| − | If I just had my telekinesis, I could get myself out with hardly any effort. It's this stupid inhibitor on my head that's the problem. Hazmat guy probably thought ahead to protect it from my new radiation powers...But I bet he wasn't counting on M'Aara's electricity! That makes two I owe her.
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| − | No time to waste. I tense up like before and pray that I've got some power left. I can feel my skin tingling again, but it's not as strong this time...Come on...I just need to short out the inhibitor. There's a faint crackling sound near my ear as arcs of electricity dance around in the device. I think hazmat guy hears it too, because he turns back to see what's going on.
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| − | “<font color="329632">Cease this at once.</font>” That stern tone isn't going to stop me any more than these straps once my powers are freed. He brings another syringe into view. “<font color="329632">This is seven hundred micrograms of adrenaline. If you do not stop resisting, I will empty this entire dose into your system. It will force your radiation abilities to go critical.</font>” He can't be serious. He'd be killing himself too. I'm not giving up.
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| − | “<font color="329632">I have come too far! I have spent my entire life in this venture! If I cannot harness these powers, then my legacy will be written in the crater that was once this city! <b>Do not force my hand!</b></font>” Too late, creep. A small trail of electrical smoke rises from the toasted inhibitor. Just as the mental haze lifts from my mind I feel a sharp prick on my arm. I turn to see hazmat guy's hands trembling as he drops the needle to the floor. I don't believe it...He actually did it...
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| − | “<font color="C8C864">No!</font>” A telekinetic wave sends hazmat guy flying into the wall. I leap off the table as soon as my powers untie me. It's starting already. The geiger counter goes crazy. My body feels like its on fire! I have to stop this now before hundreds of people go up in a mushroom cloud! But the energy just keeps building up...I-I can't control it!
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| − | I hear a familiar voice behind me. “<font color="644B96">Thhhat'ss enough of that.</font>” Suddenly I feel like I've been punched in the chest. Hard. Everything slows to a stop. My breathing. My heart rate...Sweet relief. I won't be exploding today...My eyes drift down to see Mister Shadow's blade-arm sticking out of my chest. I try to let out a gasp, but all that comes out is a weak gurgle followed by some blood.
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