Chapter 7: Whispers of Wings & A Close Call
[SYSTEM MESSAGE: SKILL PROGRESSION: FLIGHT (12% PROFICIENCY). ENHANCED STRENGTH (16% PROFICIENCY). NEW PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: INCREASE FLIGHT MASTERY FOR PRACTICAL APPLICATION. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITY FOR 'HATE' OR 'DESPERATION' TRIGGERED SKILL COPY. WARNING: INITIATE CAUTIOUS FIELD ENGAGEMENTS. AVOID OVERT IDENTIFICATION.]
The hum of Flight had become a constant, thrilling undercurrent to Adam's days. His secret nightly training sessions on his penthouse balcony had yielded steady progress. From clumsy hovering, he could now manage short, controlled glides across the vast space, even performing rudimentary maneuvers. It wasn't graceful, more like a powerfully propelled jump than true soaring, but it was undeniably flight. His Enhanced Strength, now at 16%, gave him incredible control over his body, subtly aiding his aerial movements. He still had to be incredibly careful, knowing that one wrong move could expose him, or worse, injure him severely from a height.
His role at the DEO continued to solidify. He was the "analytics guru" whose insights seemed to defy logic, often predicting the tactical movements of alien threats or the motivations of shadowy organizations with uncanny accuracy. Alex still eyed him with a blend of professional respect and lingering suspicion, but J'onn's quiet trust had swayed her significantly. Kara, meanwhile, relied on him more and more, seeking his advice on both superheroics and her personal life, finding solace in his unwavering support and unique perspective.
A new threat began to emerge in National City, one that perfectly highlighted the need for aerial agility. Reports came in of a creature, dubbed the "Sky-Slasher" by local media, a monstrous winged alien that swooped down from the clouds, causing localized windstorms and property damage, seemingly at random. It was fast, elusive, and its attacks were causing widespread panic, relying on its superior aerial mobility to evade capture. The DEO had struggled to pin it down, its flight patterns unpredictable.
[ALEX DANVERS: (DURING A DEO BRIEFING) This thing is a phantom. It hits, it leaves. Our drones can't keep up, and even Supergirl is having trouble anticipating its next move. We need a way to predict its trajectory, its vulnerable points.]
Adam, listening intently, already had the answer. His Future Insight painted a clear picture of the Sky-Slasher's patterns, its reliance on specific thermal updrafts, and a critical weakness: its targeting system was disrupted by sudden, high-frequency sonic bursts. He knew Supergirl would eventually figure it out, but he could speed up the process.
"Commander," Adam interjected, leaning forward, "I've been studying the reports. The attacks might seem random, but there's a subtle pattern. It seems to favor areas with… unusual atmospheric pressure fluctuations. Almost like it's riding specific air currents. If we can map those out, we might predict its next strike with better accuracy. And," he added, a spark in his eye, "I have a peculiar thought on its sensory input. Perhaps it's not visual, but… auditory. A high-frequency disruption might throw it off balance."
J'onn looked at him, his brow furrowed in thought. [J'ONN J'ONZZ: (TO ADAM) Auditory? That is an interesting hypothesis, Adam. Most creatures of its type rely on thermal or visual signatures. What makes you say that?]
"Just a hunch," Adam shrugged, maintaining his casual demeanor. "My 'intuition' sometimes delves into the esoteric. But if you have any high-frequency sonic emitters, it might be worth a test run during the next engagement."
J'onn, always open to new strategies, nodded slowly. Alex, ever practical, immediately dispatched a team to gather relevant atmospheric data and modify a sonic emitter.
The next day, as Adam was discreetly heading out for a "business meeting" (really, a solo flight practice session in an abandoned industrial park), Kara called him, her voice urgent. "Adam! The Sky-Slasher! It's attacking the National City Bridge! Mass casualties imminent!"
Adam's heart leaped into his throat. This wasn't in his primary canon knowledge as a major event, meaning his presence was already causing ripples, or this was a minor, unrecorded incident. He immediately changed course, his practiced flight barely visible against the midday sky, his destination: the bridge. He had to trust his abilities, and his disguise.
He arrived moments after Kara, who was already struggling with the airborne menace. The Sky-Slasher was indeed formidable, its sharp talons tearing through concrete, its powerful wings whipping up gale-force winds that threatened to send cars tumbling into the river below. Kara was doing her best, but the creature was incredibly agile, evading her blows and creating chaos. J'onn and Alex were on a comms channel, coordinating DEO efforts, but their ground forces were ineffective against the flying threat.
Adam, still wearing his business casual attire, landed silently on a deserted section of the bridge, hidden by the chaos and a thick plume of smoke from a damaged vehicle. His Empathic Resonance flared wildly. He felt the intense fear from the trapped civilians, the righteous rage from Kara, and a distinct, almost primal hate emanating from the Sky-Slasher itself – a territorial fury aimed at Supergirl, the dominant airborne presence.
He saw a school bus teetering precariously on the edge of the bridge, a dozen terrified children inside. The Sky-Slasher swooped low, its talons extended, ready to finish the job. Kara was engaged with another part of the creature, her back to the bus. There was no time.
"Kara, sonic emitter!" Adam barked into his comms, a direct, commanding tone he rarely used. "Its weakness! High frequency!"
Kara, surprised by his sudden directive, hesitated for a split second, but her trust in him was absolute. She heard Alex confirm the theory over the comms. "On it!" she yelled, creating a focused sonic blast that momentarily stunned the creature.
But it wasn't enough. The bus still teetered. The Sky-Slasher, though disoriented, still saw the vulnerable target. As the creature let out a shriek of renewed fury, its eyes locked onto the bus, Adam felt a different kind of surge. The pure, unadulterated hate and rage from the creature, directed at him for interfering, for being another obstacle, for being there.
[SYSTEM ALERT: SKILL COPY INITIATED. SOURCE: SKY-SLASHER (HOSTILE ALIEN). EMOTION: HATE/RAGE. SKILL ACQUIRED: SUPER-HEALING (10% PROFICIENCY). INITIALIZING ADAPTATION PROTOCOL. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR THIRD SKILL ACQUISITION. PROFICIENCY WILL IMPROVE WITH PRACTICE AND CONTINUED EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT (IN THIS CASE, EXPOSURE TO HOSTILE EMOTIONS).]
A strange, tingling warmth spread through Adam's body, not painful, but deeply regenerative. He felt a newfound resilience, a subtle tightening of his very cells. Before he could fully process the new skill, the Sky-Slasher, still furious but slightly disoriented, lunged towards the bus.
Adam didn't hesitate. With a powerful surge of Enhanced Strength (now at 16%), he launched himself forward, barely a blur of motion. He used his nascent Flight to bridge the distance, closing the gap in seconds. He slammed into the side of the bus, not to push it, but to stabilize it, digging his heels (and his hidden strength) into the concrete, becoming an impromptu human anchor.
"Get out! Now!" he yelled to the terrified bus driver, his voice strained but firm.
The Sky-Slasher shrieked, diverting its attack from the children to him, recognizing the immediate threat. Its razor-sharp talons raked across his arm as he held the bus steady. Adam gritted his teeth, a sharp pain lancing through him. But even as the pain registered, he felt the immediate, subtle thrum of Super-Healing kicking in, a rapid mending of tissue, dulling the agony. It wasn't instantaneous, but it was incredibly fast.
Kara, having regained her bearings, saw Adam holding the bus, a dark figure against the chaos. She screamed in renewed rage, a primal cry of fury. She unleashed a powerful punch that sent the Sky-Slasher reeling, finally giving the DEO a clear shot. J'onn, having heard Adam's warning, instructed his team to fire the high-frequency sonic emitter, and the creature collapsed, its senses overwhelmed.
Adam released the bus, allowing the children to safely evacuate, his arm throbbing. He quickly pulled down his blazer sleeve, hiding the rapidly fading lacerations. Kara landed beside him, her face etched with concern. "Adam! Are you okay? I saw you… you were amazing! You caught the bus!"
"Just a lucky reflex, Kara," he said, breathing heavily, playing it off. He had to be careful. "Saw the bus slipping. Adrenaline, you know." He shot her a quick, reassuring smile, then subtly winced as a phantom ache from the healing wound lingered. This Super-Healing was going to be incredibly useful.
Alex rushed over, her comms still active. "Who was that?" she asked Kara, her eyes scanning the area for the mysterious helper. "Someone was holding the bus. We saw a blur."
"Just… a bystander, I think," Kara said, glancing at Adam, a knowing look in her eyes. "A very brave one." She winked at Adam, subtly acknowledging his silent heroism.
Adam knew he had pushed the envelope, exposing himself more than he would have liked. But the children were safe, and he had gained a valuable new ability. The Hate/Rage trigger was brutal, but effective. He felt a grim satisfaction. This wasn't just about collecting powers; it was about truly helping, making a difference. And sometimes, that meant getting a little too close to the action.