Broken(DC)

The impressive structures, like the project itself, were constructed in record time.

"Let's proceed to Dr. Wells' office," Caitlin said, pulling me away from my thoughts.

Following her, we walked down a wide corridor and arrived at a spacious room divided into several informal sections. At the center stood a desk with three monitors, a couple of screens were mounted on one wall, and in another section was a board filled with numerous notes and calculations. That was where Dr. Harrison Wells was, carefully studying his records. Surprisingly, despite all the advanced technology here, he still performed calculations manually.

[image]

"Doctor," Caitlin called out, drawing Harrison's attention.

"Caitlin. You brought our guest. I was a bit surprised to receive your message yesterday. You have quite a lot of faith in the success of our accelerator," he said, turning around and moving toward us.

"For now, it's more about curiosity. I'm not very well-versed in physics or engineering," I replied.

"Everyone has their strengths. Admitting you're not skilled in something is a sign of wisdom; not everyone is willing to acknowledge their ignorance," Harrison noted.

"Aren't you going to introduce us?" a man with light stubble interjected, approaching us.

"Of course. This is Brian Foreman, a scientist from MedTech. You might have heard about them in the news recently. Brian has offered us a collaboration in the field of medicine. And this is my fiancé, Ronald Raymond," Caitlin introduced us.

"Yes, I've heard of MedTech, but not of you," Ronald said, extending his hand.

"I try not to stay in the spotlight too much," I replied, shaking his hand.

"Mr. Raymond, Caitlin is in charge of giving our guest a tour. I understand you're not particularly fond of being apart from your fiancée, but I must ask you to maintain professional boundaries. You have responsibilities that require your presence elsewhere," Harrison intervened.

"Of course, Doctor. Nice meeting you, Brian. See you at home," Ronald said, kissing Caitlin on the lips before leaving.

"So, you run everything from this room?" I asked.

"Yes, this is our modest little control center. Due to an injury, I can't move around the entire building, so this control block has become my sanctuary. While I trust my team, mistakes in such a critical project are unforgivable. The particle accelerator is the work of my life and my late wife's," Harrison replied.

"Inviting so many people here and starting up the reactor aren't you afraid something could go wrong?" I asked, watching Harrison's every movement closely.

"No, I'm not afraid. This afternoon's launch is only preliminary; we'll test the system's operation. The main activation will take place at night, when most of the personnel are outside the particle accelerator zone. Our goal is stable and safe operation," Harrison answered confidently.

"But can the city be saved if the accelerator explodes?" I asked.

"Do you think so poorly of STAR Labs and me that you believe we could let such a thing happen? Even in the worst-case scenario, the consequences wouldn't extend beyond this building," Harrison said. Evaluating his words and demeanor, I couldn't come to a definitive conclusion, but a gut feeling told me things weren't as simple as he made them seem.

"Don't think I'm trying to insult your team working on this project. The tragedy in Metropolis wasn't so long ago," I said, referring to the disaster in one of the cities.

"What happened in Metropolis was terrible, but we won't allow the destruction of a city. That's why I'm confident there won't be any issues," Harrison replied.

"I hope that's true," I said.

The tour of the lab continued, and I was given a broad overview of nearly everything though, of course, I wasn't granted access to any classified information. The information I was shown was general, yet detailed enough to suggest that the preparation had been extensive, covering every conceivable scenario. Many of Dr. Wells' calculations had been laid down five years ago and were refined over the years. It gave the impression that I was searching for a problem where none existed.

The tour turned out to be quite informative and clarified a lot for me, but eventually, it came to an end. I was politely asked not to interfere with their work, though I was allowed to explore the complex as long as I stayed out of restricted areas. Talking to some of the staff, I only heard positive remarks about Harrison Wells. Everyone described him as intelligent, fair, and attentive. No one had a single bad word to say about him, which was surprising. Even in my own company, there are always people who think they could do things better than us and look for imagined flaws.

Back at my apartment, I tried to process everything but couldn't pinpoint what was bothering me.

***********************************

In the lab, Harrison Wells sat in front of a monitor, watching Brian leave. A thoughtful expression was frozen on his face as he twirled a pencil in his hands. Hearing approaching footsteps, he quickly switched the monitor. Caitlin Snow walked up to him.

"Caitlin, is your tour finished?" Harrison asked.

"Yes, I introduced him to a few people from different departments," Caitlin replied with a smile. She was happy to spend time with a colleague who shared her field of study.

"That's good. What do you think about our collaboration?" Harrison asked with interest.

"I think it will bring great benefits and progress to medicine," Caitlin replied.

"Hmm, so I can trust this young man. I thought his knowledge for his age might be less developed. Perhaps it's just a marketing move by the company to create the image of a genius of tomorrow," Harrison said thoughtfully.

"I'm sure he surpasses me in some areas," Caitlin said.

"If you say so, I'll trust your judgment. There's not much work left for today. I think you can go and spend time with your husband," Harrison said.

"Thank you," Caitlin said, nodding slightly in gratitude.

Once Caitlin left, Harrison made sure no one else was around, locked the doors, and calmly rose from his chair, surveying the room. Standing up, he walked down the corridor a bit and stopped at a wall, pressing his palm against it. The wall began to dissolve, revealing a view of a white room.

"Let's see what's changed," Harrison said, placing his hand on a pedestal with a sphere.

"Welcome, Eobard Thawne," a voice greeted him from nowhere.

"Gideon, tell me about the events three days from now," Harrison requested.

"Of course. During the particle accelerator's launch, a malfunction occurred, causing an explosion that resulted in dozens of injuries and fatalities," Gideon reported.

"So, nothing has changed," Eobard said thoughtfully. "Did Brian Foreman appear in the upcoming events?"

"It is difficult to track his connection. He seems to elude the timeline," Gideon responded.

"Everything will happen as it's supposed to. No one can alter the key events," Eobard Thawne said, then, taking a ring, added with cruelty in his voice, "I won't let anyone interfere with me." Red lightning flashed in his eyes. A second later, the room was empty, and the passage disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared.

**************************************

During the days I spent visiting STAR Labs, I couldn't find even a shred of evidence. Everyone I spoke with genuinely believed in the success of the project. Only Harrison Wells stood out from the general mood. I tried to engage him in conversation, but he kept his responses minimal, citing busyness, and it was impossible to get anything concrete out of him.

Today, an exhibition was scheduled, and I convinced Elizabeth to stay home so I could handle it on my own. Standing outside the entrance and waiting for Lex Luthor, I doubted he would actually show up, considering our last meeting didn't end on the best of terms.

I waited by the main entrance, where a large number of reporters had gathered. Being relatively unknown, I blended into the background and went unnoticed. A limousine approached the main entrance, escorted by several vehicles. Luthor stepped out, accompanied by his security detail, and was immediately swarmed by reporters hoping to get even a single word from him. Now that's what you call popularity. At the entrance, security kept most reporters outside, allowing only a few news channels to enter to minimize noise and focus on the scientific conference.

Luthor spotted me immediately and headed in my direction.

"Brian, good to see you," Luthor said with a warm smile.

"Good to see you too," I replied.

"Come, tell me about this particle accelerator. I'm thinking of building one in Metropolis if everything works out," he said. Together, we made our way to the hall where the conference was to take place.

"It's quite an extensive and promising project. They've already conducted several test runs, and no malfunctions have been detected. There's a high chance of success; I hope everything goes as planned," I said, though the feeling of unease never left me.

"But you have doubts, don't you? That's a natural reaction. We all fear the unknown. But those who are willing to take risks reap the rewards and make history," Luthor said. It was unclear whether he was referring to the particle accelerator or his earlier proposal. He had quickly picked up on my lack of confidence in the project and detected the trace of doubt in my words.

"Let's go somewhere quieter. I've asked for a room to be cleared," Luthor said, stepping into a small room. We were alone; his security remained outside. I had an ordinary spot among the other attendees in the main hall, and I was scheduled to speak later in the day, with several hours to go. "What about my proposal?" Luthor asked, pouring a drink.

"I've thought about it, and I agree that Earth needs protection, but I don't think an army of superhumans is a good idea," I replied. The more superhumans there are, the higher the chances of things going wrong. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

"I understand. I rushed you last time by placing such a difficult decision on your shoulders. Let's set it aside for now and move on to more immediate matters. I have great news: I've gained access to Kryptonian technology, and we might be able to learn more from it. I've studied some of it and was deeply impressed. I believe our space industry stands to benefit the most from these discoveries," Luthor said.

"That's good news," I replied. Advanced technological developments could help bridge the gap between us. The main concern was ensuring no weapons emerged like those that almost destroyed Earth. Thankfully, those had been completely eradicated.

"Absolutely, but there's still much work to be done. Wouldn't you like to take a look at the Kryptonians?" Luthor proposed.

"Did anyone survive?" I asked.

"No, the explosion killed them all. Only General Zod's body remains. We're studying their structure and trying to understand why they were so powerful. Even in death, their skin tissue is so durable that our tools are useless against it," Lex explained.

"I'm not sure," I replied hesitantly.

"We'll discuss it later. It's too early to draw any conclusions. We can't even cut through the tissue. It will take much more time before we uncover all their secrets. Now, tell me more about this particle accelerator," Luthor said.

I began explaining everything I had understood about the project. He grasped everything instantly and seemed to understand it even better than I did. He agreed with my explanations, but when I mentioned the safety protocols in place for the launch, he remarked that the risks were minimal compared to the potential benefits. "The risk is worth the reward," he said.

The conversation shifted to discussing the exhibition, where various people presented their projects. It wasn't just scientists in attendance but also representatives of companies looking to invest in new ventures. Luthor was here precisely for that reason.

As we talked, I began to feel that something was wrong. A sense of danger crept over me, bringing with it the realization of a looming threat.

"What's wrong?" Luthor asked, watching me closely.

"Yes," I muttered.

"You acted the same way in Metropolis," Luthor noted, intrigued.

Ignoring his words, I noticed a strange movement above the glass-paneled roof. Several figures in armor appeared overhead. Then, a shot rang out, and numerous beings with jetpacks began descending. They were clearly not human. They varied in appearance, with some having multiple arms, different numbers of fingers, and other unique features. The security team barely had time to draw their weapons before being incinerated by some kind of laser weapon that dissolved their bodies into dust.

"Nobody move, or we'll blow you all to pieces," one of them said in distorted but clear English.

I leaped up, quickly considering how to act to avoid casualties. I didn't know what they wanted or why they were here, but my priority was protecting the people.

"We need to come up with a plan," Luthor said.

"Zhizhanusam!" came an indistinct shout, followed by several shots outside the door.

"They're here," Lex said.

I didn't need him to tell me that. The moment the door burst open, fire erupted from my hands, engulfing one of the aliens and leaving nothing but scorch marks on the walls and ash on the floor.

"Good thing you're here," Luthor remarked.

"Stay here. I'll handle this," I said, stepping outside. My face was immediately covered by a fiery mask, concealing my identity from prying eyes.

I had to act quickly, not giving them time to regroup distract them and then eliminate them all in one move. I had a plan. Flames poured from my hands and into the ventilation shafts. Bursting into the main area, I detonated the fire above. The deafening explosion shattered the glass into tiny shards, creating the distraction I needed.

I directed the fire toward the aliens, sparing only the one who spoke English. I detonated the flames near him, knocking him out with the shockwave. Around me, the air was filled with screams and the crackling of fire.

Just as quickly as it all started, it ended. I tried to sense if anyone was still around, but felt nothing. Finally, I snapped out of my thoughts and noticed that a crowd of people was staring at me. Reporters immediately pulled out their phones and cameras, starting to film.

"That's the fire guy from Metropolis," someone said.

"Right, it's him! Our hero," another voice called out.

"Yes, our hero!" someone from the crowd cheered, and people began to clap, ignoring the fact that I had just incinerated living beings. As I approached the leader, I glanced at their armor clearly of extraterrestrial origin. What did they want? Had an advanced race decided to steal the best human minds' research? Were they trying to understand us, or what? Leaving that to law enforcement, I cloaked my departure in flames and began to leave, avoiding unnecessary attention.

Was this the feeling of unease an alien attack? It seemed everything would have to delay my speech; returning now would be very suspicious. I sent a message to Luthor saying I was leaving and received a reply: "Rest, you've earned it, I'll handle the speech problem myself."

When I got back to my apartment, I turned on the broadcast just in time for Harrison Wells' speech.

"Despite the attack, we proceed. Furthermore, all necessary security measures have been taken. The particle accelerator was not damaged, and its launch will proceed as planned. I ask that we continue our conference and not let this overshadow such an important day for humanity," Harrison Wells said, standing on stage, before stepping off.

I watched him thoughtfully for a moment. Deciding to make sure, I returned to STAR. Labs and felt the unease again. I would need to talk to my wife. I had to decide whether to act or not. Doubt that was what stopped me. I don't want to cause harm without reason. Yes, he has sins, but I still live in a human world, and killing someone based on their sins is a weak excuse. People would see me as a religious fanatic and psychopath.

Remembering the address, I headed toward the cemetery.