by Lucas Flint
“You’re lying,” I said. “No machine can do that. Even powerless gas only negates a superhuman’s powers for as long as a superhuman is exposed to it.”
“No human machine can do that, I agree,” said Mastermind. “But the Apocalypse Switch is not a human machine. It isn’t even of this planet, though without it, you wouldn’t even exist.”
“What are you talking about?” I said. I briefly looked around, but didn’t see Ivan and the others just yet, so I kept talking. “What does this machine have to do with me?”
“It has nothing to do with you, specifically, aside from the Cipher inside you,” said Mastermind, “but everything to do with the mere existence of superhumans.” He gestured at the Apocalypse switch behind him. “This machine is the genesis—and apocalypse—of superpowers.”
“Genesis and apocalypse?” I said. “What do you mean?”
Mastermind sighed again. “You still don’t get it, but I shouldn’t be surprised, since you were never as smart or quick-witted as me. In plain terms, it is this ship that gave humanity our superpowers.”
I looked at White Lightning, who had stopped trying to free himself and had been listening to Mastermind talk. He looked as surprised as me by this revelation.
“That doesn’t make any sense,” I said, looking down at Mastermind again. “Superpowers are genetic. They weren’t ‘given’ to us by anyone or anything. They naturally developed in humanity, just like every other part of our genetics.”
“Did they?” said Mastermind. “That’s the current theory, both in your universe and mine, but no one has ever been able to prove it. Why? Because it’s wrong, that’s why.”
“Then explain how it is wrong,” I said. “All I hear is a bunch of crazy accusations from you, but not a whole lot of facts.”
“Very well,” said Mastermind. He gestured at the floor. “This ship in which we are standing crash landed on Earth thousands of years ago. Its crew was comprised of an advanced alien race that had already mastered space travel and science before we even knew that was possible. I don’t know where these aliens came from or who they were, but I did manage to gain access to the files left on their ship, which was how I discovered some interesting facts about them.”
“Like what?” I said.
“Like the fact that these aliens discovered early humanity,” said Mastermind. “They studied our ancestors and eventually came to the conclusion that, while we were a primitive people, we had the potential to become great. So they took some of us and altered our genetics in order to allow humans to gain the same sort of superpowers that these aliens themselves wielded back on their world. Then they released the genetically modified humans into the wild, where they then mated with their unmodified counterparts and helped to propagate the ‘neogene,’ as our scientists called it.”
“How did you read the files left by the aliens?” I said. “Aren’t they in another language you can’t read?”
“Their language is remarkably similar to the Pokacu language, which was a code I cracked some time ago in my universe,” said Mastermind. “I don’t know if this means that these aliens were related to the Pokacu or not; regardless, I figured it out anyway.”
“Well, if all of that is true, then how come it took such a long time for the world population of superhumans to grow?” I said. “I remember my Grandfather said that, before nineteen eighty-six, there were less than a hundred superhumans all around the globe, but now there are about ten thousand. What happened in that year that caused the superhuman population explosion?”
“The genes were activated by this ship,” said Mastermind. “There is another device on board this ship that can ‘activate’ the dormant genes that give us superpowers. It was activated in that year, which resulted in the superhuman population explosion, which also helped raise awareness of superhumans all over the planet.”
“Who activated it?” I said.
Mastermind pointed at the cage, specifically at Cadmus. “Cadmus Smith, the only man in the world who knew of this ship’s location.”
I looked at Cadmus Smith in surprise. He was still lying unconscious in the cage and didn’t seem to have heard Mastermind. “What? Why did he do that?”
“I can only guess,” said Mastermind. “It was a mystery I didn’t know until I caught him and interrogated him today. He admitted to activating the device, but why, I don’t know. Nor do I care, because I am going to reverse his actions.”
“Reverse his actions?” I said. “Are you saying that you want to de-power the entire superhuman community?”
“Of course,” said Mastermind. “If I can do that, then the entire planet will be defenseless against my armies from my home dimension. I can then expand my empire across dimensions, giving me more power than even the most power-hungry emperors of the past could have dreamed. It isn’t the same as destroying the world, but I will take it.”
“That’s impossible,” I said. “Isn’t it?”
“No, it’s not,” said Mastermind, shaking his head. “All I need to do is have you two power the Apocalypse Switch. It will then take away the powers of every superhuman on the planet, including you. And it will take away your powers forever, meaning that you will never be able to fight against my intelligent and logical rule ever again.”
“Won’t it take away your powers, too?” I said.
“No,” said Mastermind. “I doubt it, since I’m not from this universe; but even if it does, I still have my technology. I still have my empire. I don’t need superpowers to rule the world, especially if no one else has powers, either.”
Mastermind said all of that with intense relish, like he was about to achieve a lifelong dream that he’d been working toward forever. Even with his helmet still covering his face, I could imagine him grinning like a madman at how successfully his plan was going. It made me sick to my stomach, but more importantly, I felt foolish for walking straight into his trap.
“I wish I didn’t have to trick you two,” said Mastermind, though the mad glee in his voice hadn’t left him. “You are my sons, my own flesh and blood. If I could, I would have you two serve me, but I can see that you have chosen to fight against me. How sad, but I’ve dealt with plenty of sadness in my life already, so this is no different.”
Mastermind folded his arms again. “Now, use your lightning powers. Allow the Ciphers to flow through you and into the machine. Let the Apocalypse Switch return humanity to its original state. You have no choice.”
“Yes, we do,” I said. “Even if that means starving to death in here, we won’t use our powers.”
Mastermind shook his head. “When I said ‘you have no choice,’ I meant that you have no choice.”
All of a sudden, the air in my tube vanished. I found that I couldn’t breathe, and based on White Lightning’s terrified expression, I could tell that he also lacked air now. I tried to hold in what little air I’d managed to inhale, but it wasn’t enough and I was soon gasping for air that wasn’t there. I fell to my hands and knees, gasping for as much air as I could, but my consciousness was already slipping between my fingers and I couldn’t stay awake much longer. I heard White Lightning futilely beating against the interior of his tube, but I doubted he’d be able to break it in time to get our air back.
All of a sudden, right before I blacked out, the air returned. I gasped for air and this time actually inhaled some. It felt wonderful and refreshing, even after less than a minute without it. Even so, I still felt too weak to stand, though I managed to look at Mastermind, who was watching us as if in amusement.
“How did that feel?” said Mastermind. “Bad? Painful, perhaps?”
“You … nearly … killed us,” I said.
“Correct,” said Mastermind. “But because you have to stay alive, I’m not going to kill you. I’m just going to keep taking away and returning your air for as long as it takes for you to do the one thing that will ensure your survival. It may cause some permanent brain damage in the long term, but that’s a sacrifice I
am willing to make if it will get me what I want.”
“You … monster,” I said. I rose back to my feet, but had to lean on the tube for support. “I’d rather die than help you.”
“I’d rather you didn’t,” said Mastermind. “Still, I admire your will. You remind me so much of how you were in my universe: An indomitable will that cannot be crushed … easily, at least.”
“Dad …” said White Lightning in a pained voice. “Why …?”
“Because I need your help,” said Mastermind. “Do you want to help me, Ronald? If you do, I won’t take away your air again. I promise.”
“Don’t listen to him,” I said to White Lightning. “You know he’s lying. He just wants you to do his dirty work. He doesn’t really care about you or me.”
White Lightning looked hesitant. He looked from me to Mastermind and back again. I was worried this would happen; he was still very much attached to Mastermind and would not easily betray him. It didn’t help, either, that White Lightning was very weak-willed due to spending most of his life under the control of the government.
“Hesitant, I see,” said Mastermind. “Not that it matters. I have plenty of experience forcing people to do what I want them to do or simply tricking them into doing it. I have all the time in the world, I think, to accomplish this goal, so whether you willingly help me or not, I will ultimately win in the end.”
I had to admit that Mastermind had a point. There was no way that White Lightning and I could escape or beat him. As long as he had control over our air supply and kept us locked up in these tubes, we were totally at his mercy. I had no intention of breaking under his power, but at the same time I didn’t know how much longer I would be able to handle this kind of torture.
That was when, without warning, the ceiling above us exploded, causing Mastermind to look up in surprise.
“What?” said Mastermind. “Who is—”
All of a sudden, a large, thick ice slide formed from the ceiling and down to the floor below. As soon as it solidified, five people immediately slid down it: Blizzard, Ivan, Triplet, Emma, and Rime. They came down the slide quickly, reaching the floor not far away from Mastermind. They then rose to their feet, with ice already starting to form in Blizzard and Rime’s hands, while Emma and Triplet drew their throwing stars and guns respectively. Only Ivan hadn’t used his powers, but I could tell that he was just as willing to fight as the rest of them.
Hope rose within me at the sight of the others. I had been wondering where they were, so seeing them appear just in the nick of time like that was enough to banish all doubt and fear and worry from my mind. Even White Lightning looked a little bit more hopeful, the doubt and worry on his face disappearing as he looked down at the others below.
Despite his initial surprise, Mastermind seemed to have gotten over it quickly. With his arms folded across his chest, he looked at my friends and allies as if they were rude guests interrupting his party.
“So Bolt did not come alone,” said Mastermind. “Not very surprising, really, given how he has already broken one half of the deal.”
“Let him and his brother go,” said Blizzard. She pointed a hand glowing with ice energy at Mastermind. “Or else.”
“Or else what?” said Mastermind. “You’re just a thin teenage girl, hardly much of a threat even with your ice powers.”
“What about a big Russian man like myself?” said Ivan, gesturing at his biceps. “Or the rest of us?”
Mastermind looked at Ivan and snorted. “Nuclear Winter … in my universe, you are dead. I just find it funny that you think you can beat me here. I beat you twice, once in this universe and once in mine, yet now you are working with my son to take me down. I do wonder, though, why you are helping him.”
“Because Bolt is a friend,” said Ivan. “He may be your son, but he’s much better than you. Besides, if you take over the world, that means I will be dead, just like how you killed me in your universe, and I would rather not be dead.”
“How foolish,” said Mastermind. “I would admire your collective optimism, but I’m afraid I’m smarter than that.”
“Do you think you can beat us all?” said Ivan. “Because you are clearly outnumbered.”
“Be that as it may, I still have the power over the hostages,” said Mastermind. “Observe.”
He held up his gauntlet and pressed a button on it. Instantly, spikes emerged from the ceiling of the cage, which then began to lower down onto the unconscious hostages. It was lowering rather slowly, but even at its current speed, I knew it would kill the hostages if it wasn’t stopped in time.
“No,” said Blizzard, taking a step forward. “Stop that!”
“Only if you agree not to interfere with my plans,” said Mastermind. “Of course, if you were smart, you would just attack me anyway. After all, I think sacrificing four people is better than leaving the world defenseless against my armies. Too bad you are all too stupid to think that way.”
“Guys!” I shouted, causing Blizzard and the others to look up at me in surprise. “Stand down. Don’t let Mastermind kill the hostages.”
“You heard him,” said Mastermind. “Stand down or I kill the hostages.”
Blizzard and the others looked angry about Mastermind’s threat, but they finally listened to me and lowered their hands and weapons. Then Mastermind tapped a button and the ceiling of the cage stopped lowering, though it was now about halfway as high as it had been before.
“There,” said Mastermind. “See? There is nothing that you or anyone else can do to stop me. I am invincible.”
I wanted to say, ‘No, you’re not,’ but in all honesty I wasn’t sure whether I believed that. Mastermind certainly had us all in a bind now, and if he kept torturing me and White Lightning, he’d probably succeed in activating the Apocalypse Switch.
“Now,” said Mastermind, looking back up at us, “with that little interruption out of the way, I think it is time that you two finish it. Activate the Apocalypse Switch. Or else I will kill everyone here.”
I looked over at White Lightning. He looked just as troubled as I did, but I wasn’t so sure whether to agree with him or not. It seemed pointless, to keep fighting Mastermind, even though I knew we were going to die either way.
So I said to Mastermind, “All right. We’ll do what you want. We’ll activate the Apocalypse Switch. Just … just don’t kill everyone, okay?”
“Of course,” said Mastermind. “Now all you need to do is raise your hands up and unleash your lightning powers into the crystals. The Ciphers will flow through your hands into the machine and I will handle the rest of it from there.”
A part of me still wanted to resist, still wanted to fight, but at the same time I knew it was foolish, so I ignored that part as I raised my hands above my head. White Lightning mirrored my pose in the tube to my left. Below, the others wore expressions of disbelief and horror on their faces; I wished I could have explained to them that we’d lost, but I didn’t know what to say.
Red lightning crackled around my fingertips and then shot into the crystal above. Rather than shatter the crystal or send electricity flying everywhere, the lightning was absorbed into the crystal, which began to glow the exact same shade of red as me as I poured more and more red electricity into it. Over in White Lightning’s tube, I could see him doing the same thing, except his was a bright blue.
Outside of the tubes, I saw the piping connecting our tubes to the Apocalypse Switch glowing red and blue as they channeled the energy from our tubes into the Switch itself. The gigantic machine behind Mastermind started to rumble and shake. Lights began to turn on, rows of red and blue lights that bathed everyone in the area. My friends were looking around in horror and fear, while Mastermind simply looked on, his mask making it impossible to tell what his expression was, though I bet it was happy.
“Yes,” said Mastermind, his voice barely audible over the crackling of our lightning, “yes, let the power flow through you and into the machine. You are both doing a
very good job. You will not regret this.”
But I already was. I didn’t know how much power we’d need to channel into the machine to make it work, but I was too afraid to stop lest Mastermind kill all my friends. But I did notice the hostages begin to stir; Mom was shaking her head, Malcolm and Tara were covering their ears, and Cadmus’s eyes were flickering open. Not that it really mattered, though; it was already too late to save them or for us to stop Mastermind.
Out of the corner of my eye, however, I thought I caught movement in the shadows. At first, I just dismissed it as nothing more than an illusion created by the flashing lights, but then I saw the shadows actually moving. No one else seemed to notice, including Mastermind, who was completely focused on me and White Lightning.
“Yes, keep draining your power into the machine,” said Mastermind, the gleeful madness still in his voice. “It won’t be long now before the Apocalypse Switch is fully operational. Soon, all of my hard work will be fulfilled.”
“Sorry, but that’s just not going to happen today,” came a familiar feminine voice from the shadows.
A shadow tendril rose from Mastermind’s own shadow—cast by the red and blue light generate by me and my brother—and flew toward him. Mastermind noticed it just fast enough to raise his own defensively, blocking the tendril as it tried to slash him. But the tendril managed to cut through his gauntlet, causing him to cry out in pain and stagger to the side as he clutched his arm.
“What?” said Mastermind, the gleeful madness replaced by anger. “Who did that? Who attacked me?”
“That would be me,” said that familiar voice.
Shade rose from the shadows, but she looked a little different from before. She was draped in darkness, like she was wearing it as actual clothing. She was also taller than before, growing taller and taller until she looked more like a giant made of shadow than a human being.
Mastermind looked up at her in surprise. “You? Where did you come from?”
“The shadows, of course,” said Shade. Despite her changed appearance, she still sounded the same. “Now I’m not in a very good mood, so if you would like to keep living, I suggest giving up now and letting the hostages go unharmed.”