Biomorph

When Bevan had gone into the base that morning, he had used his credentials to power down all defense systems for the day. He couldn't access everything, but these controls were added to his security clearance after some wars left only a captain or private alive. If no living person of higher rank was on site, the next highest rank got the defense settings, and the Major was at a conference with the other experimental military departments.

It began at 6 PM. The group of friends Dillon pulled together used their trucks to speed past the security checkpoint, and then they took up station around the main entrance. Then, Dillon took half of his men, and left the other half to guard to entrance. Not that any of the personnel actually cared, as they hated working here.

Dillon took all the unlocked rooms with ease, as every person they came across just surrendered. However, their problems started when they tried to interact with the AI.

"Computer, where is Beta 42?" Dillon roared.

"Unauthorized personnel. Deploying countermeasures..."

"Answer me, Dammit!" Dillon shouted, and then fired a shot at the computer terminal.

"Lethal force detected. Countermeasures operational. Project Sigma Potens activated." The AI smugly stated, before frying its main circuits and memory core.

"Sigma Potens?" wondered Dillon. "Is that Beta 42?"

The door to his cell opened soundlessly, and the AI in his head whispered, "The idiot they replaced me with just fell into your trap."

Bate 42 grinned and spent the time to put on his best armor. Also, a tail, a pair of wings, and a mouthful of three rows of self-sharpening teeth. This was his first proper expedition, after all, and he wanted to escape. He would deal with the tracker outside, he just needed fresh air.

Dillon was faced with a horrific sight as he opened the door to leave the Major's office. There, in front of him, was a tall, green humanoid, with many features only found on animals, and a few that looked like they came from nightmares.

"You're not the major..." rasped the creature. "Why are you here? Is it because of Beta 42?"

"Y-Yes." stammered Dillon, awed by the mass of muscle and strength towering above him in the tunnels.

"In that case …"

Dillon shrieked as the form started rippling, but then stared, mouth gaping open, as the monster that had been facing him became an average looking, if rather pale, human.

"You found him!"

The Major stood alone in a dark room, surrounded by only the sound of enamel grating on enamel, and a screen updating him on what had just happened.

The conference had ended earlier than anticipated, and he had just got this report.

The captain dared to use a friend to bust Beta 42 out? Fine. Let's see him survive a missile strike. Beta 42 could...

Dillon and Bevan both stared at the person sitting beside them. How could this overly ordinary boy have so much power?

"Because my power lets me copy powers." stated Beta 42.

Both men jumped.

"How did you do that?" Dillon queried.

"Simple. I copied a 'mental:others' power, which happened to be mind-reading. I also have copied various 'mental:self', and 'physical:self' powers. However, 'physical:other' powers were less common on the base, and a 'genetics:self' like me was impossible to find." shrugged Beta 42.

Bevan shook his head, and sighed: "ok, ok, can we name you something other than Beta 42? I can't think of you like that forever."

Dillon laughed, and replied, "How about …"

At that moment, the missile struck.

A quater of a cycle later...

An armoured hand ripped through the final piece of twisted metal covering the body it had been separated from.

Pulling himself up, Beta 42 saw that not only had the fire been put out, but the others had been removed. Reaching down, he picked up his left hand, and reattached it, as growing a new limb was too long a process to consider right now. Loading up the satellite map he had, he started toward the town. Hopefully, there would be a charity there with free housing for a few days...

The Major cursed. He hadn't sent a big enough missile. The ambulance got there, and retrieved all bodies before he could send his men in. Project Sigma Potens had just failed. Because of his choice of subordinate.

He winced thinking about how the General would not be pleased. However, that problem was for slightly later.

For right now, Bevan would be quietly removed and dealt with quickly by the MPs, as would the others. They always needed someone in the power-mills. Or, they could become the fertilizer in the Bunker's food farms.

Beta 42 would be retrieved, though. Why recruit an army, when you can clone one?

A QUARTER OF A ROTATION LATER...

Beta 42 had made it to the town. Finally. It was different to how he had imagined it, but he had never been anywhere new before.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a fast-approaching shadow. His AI identified it as a safety hazard and activated his armoured persona just before the shape could see him. Beta 42 sighed and pointed his spiked tail at the shadow approaching. That shadow better not be trying to harm him. He had walked too far, for too long, to care what would happen to the opponent, and he really did not want his first action in the city to be killing someone...

The Ice Felon was grating his teeth, and stomped down the damp alley. Pyromancer and Overclock had thwarted him again. However, he would kill the boy he had seen enter here, and then the night would not be a total loss. After all, he needed to replace the frost warriors he had lost today. And what better way than using a dead body?

He rounded the corner, looking where he expected the kids' eye-level to be. Instead, he was greeted by an armoured chest. He looked up, and saw the inhuman eyes behind the mask glint, as his would-be victim assessed the situation.

Beta 42 could not believe that this random stranger - dressed in a rather odd white suit - had just tried to jump him. He smiled behind the full - face mask he wore when his armour was up.

"Bad move. Really bad. On my part. So sorry." apologized the stranger, as he backed away rather too fast to just be anxious about getting somewhere.

Beta 42 decided that he would pass this man to the relevant authorities, as it was sure to gain him at least a few merit points. As a new person in town, this seemed like a sensible thing to do. However, if he put his armour down, he could get harmed, and his AI would not allow that. Losing a limb now would be conspicuous, as would a blood puddle with no apparent body. He sighed, then picked up the stranger, and unfurled the wings he had kept hidden. He needed to get a vantage point over the city, and flying was one of the more fun ways of doing that.

Officer Gihring stared at the screen, mouth hanging open, as this new superhero took flight. Armour and wings? Not to mention that tail, that looked like it was moving of its own violation. And he captured the Ice felon almost instantly. Who was this hero? What was his power? He would have to wait for the hero to turn in the Ice Felon, then he would at least ask this new hero his name... If he was indeed a hero.

Gihring shivered as he realized that this stranger could be a new villain here to take the city. He must write up a file immediately.