In an empty room abandoned and filled with nothing but boxes and conners dusty with partial darkness a man blind folded with no idea where he his is, then he heard a voice speaking to him aggressively
Kidnapper: what's the nuclear launch code, tell me now
victim: i don't know I'm just a secretary, they hardly tell me anything
kidnapper: then tell me someone that does (he speaks as he's rage intense)
meanwhile an agent hides in a hidden corner waiting for the right moment as he speaks on this ear piece.
John cruise: hey Lance I got a clear shot should I o for it
Lance: no, it's probably a trap wait for backup. And one more thing
John cruise: what?
Lance: never refer to me with my name again its chief to you
john cruise: really despite all we've been through that stings (says it with a smirk)
Lance: take this seriously someone's life is in danger
John cruise: your right, I'm going in
Lance wait what? That's not what I said
Before Lance could finish, John rushed in, firing a shot into the kidnapper's shoulder, forcing him to take cover. John then dashed to the victim, preventing him from being taken hostage. Gunfire erupted—bullets flew—until John shot a rope holding an unstable object. It crashed onto the enemy, knocking him out cold.
John cruise: well that was easy
LANCE: meet me in my office when you get back
as the issue decline it was clear the enemy was alone and had no trap, then they head back to there head quarters with the victim has some interrogating beating wounds and John having some scratches, as they arrived the victim/secretary went to the infirmary for treatment, and as for John he went to the chiefs office as he approaches the door he was a bit hesitant, then he had a colleague engaged with him
Michele: this is like what, your 6th time being in trouble this week
John: (chuckles) really I don't keep count
Michele: you have to go in any ways
John: I guess that's true (he knocks on the door)
Lance: come in
John: (he opens the they a bit scared but confident trying to play it as a joke)
Lance: so what's the report on the victim
John:(Surprised why the question and his calm voice) uh yeah his completely healthy and spilled no secrete
Lance: that's good
JOHN: anything else
Lance: yh we discovered that the suspect Arnold was paid to get the code and give it to someone to deliver it, since he hasn't been revealed you are to go a tech store and go under cover to deliver a fake code
John: wait wont they its fake
Lance: yh but first they have to open the case it built with a strong password which will take them at least 3 days to open
John: so they need a code to access the code (with a smile on his face proud of the joke)
Lance: (looking serious not having any of it) do you know why I let your little stunt fly
John: why?
Lance: because for once nothing went wrong and this time your going to be strictly guided
John: no problem I'm counting on you chief
Lance: are you kidding one more time with you and I can have a heart attack
JOHN EXPRESSION SHOWS HE DIDN'T LIKE THE JOKE
lance: you'd be guided by Michele through radio
John: wait what
Lance: get out
the chief pushes him out and slams the door , john turns his head giving Michele a suspicious look
Michele: what?
John: you knew didn't you
Michele: maybe I did maybe I didn't(with a smirk on her face)
John: (sigh) when am I going
Michele: tomorrow
later that day john took a cab home as he reaches he's building he checks he's mail box for and grabbed his letters right before going upstairs in his apartment he picked up a packaged food from the fridge then put it in a micro wave right after getting a shower. As he sits on his couch he turns on the news
news caster: recently for the past week there have been an unnatural electric surges across England
some are expecting a some kind of weather while others expect it might be meta humans specifically pneomorphs
John phone rings and at that moment he turned down the volume to pick the call
John: yo, Eddie how's it going in
Eddie: I'm doing good cant say the same about you though (with a slight tone of laughhter in his voice)
John: (sigh) I don't wanna talk about it
Eddie: fair have you seen the papers I sent you
JOHN: na I just got back, planning on reading them when I'm done eater
Eddie: it turns out that the enemy didn't want the nuclear code it was a cover up for something else
JOHN: I see, what now
Eddie: you go on with the plan so far as they know you have what they want even if you don't know what it is
JOHN: thanks buddy. Wait what's the point of the letter if you're just going to tell me all this
Eddie: what I told is just a summary the important detail you have to read it
John: alright
(hangs up the phone then continued work after eating)
the next day JOHN AND MICHELE Boarded the plane they sit down beside each other sitting quietly until John decides to break the silence
John: so..ooh first plane flight
Michele: actually my third what about you
John: yep
Michelle: really? Aren't you always on far away missions
John: yh but in near by countries
Michele: that explains why your nervous (with a smirk on her face)
John: me? Na not in a million years
Michele: I can literally shaking right now
John: (trying to hide his fair) keep dreaming
after a few banter they eventually landed, they pick there bags and headed there way before exiting
the airport John asked a question
John: don't you think it's better for us to stay close in case of emergencies, why asssign us to different locations
Michele: cuz its reduces the risk of all of us being found out
John: huh?
Michele: if one of us were to be found what the next place they'll look are near by areas,
JOHN: oh
they walked out of the airport and took different paths while Michele went home John decided check his surroundings going from places, he visit places like the London eye to take a ride in a capsule for panoramic views, spot place like Buckingham palace, the shard and saint Paul's Cathedral after that he went to the convent garden to watch street performers, artists and musicians, took photos at the Big Ben and the House of Parliament right before going home to rest, meanwhile in the agency a
lance sits in his as someone knocks on his door
Lance: come in
Eddie: you needed to see me sir
Lance: how is the interrogation going
Eddie: not much really he doesn't seem to know much
Lance: I see tell me if your able to find anything new
EDDIE stands up to leave as he reaches for the door he hesitated and proceeded to ask a question
Eddie:
"Hey, before I forget — about the helmet — I'm thinking graphene composite outer shell. Maybe with titanium mesh, to keep it lightweight but strong enough to take a rifle round."
Lance:
"Graphene, huh? That that the space-age stuff?"
Eddie:
"Yeah. Stronger than steel, thinner than paper. Expensive as hell, but worth it. Inside, I'm lining it with shear-thickening fluid — basically liquid armor that hardens on impact."
Lance:
"...Won't that mess with his head if he takes a real hit?"
Eddie:
"Not with the memory foam and neural dampeners I'm embedding. It'll adjust to pressure and reduce trauma."
Lance (gruffly impressed):
"...You should've gone into sports medicine."
Eddie:
"Too boring. Saving John's skull sounds more fun."
JOHN finally settles in the hotel as he sits down he reviews his files one more time to get a better look at it he turns on the TV and decides to watch a movie meanwhile Michele settles I and begging her work as she researches on her computer to check the stores history and background and she found something that catches her attention, she grabbed her phone to call John
JOHN: hello
Michele: you never guess what I just found
John(with excitement in his voice): speak to me
Michele: I've been gathering intel from the past employees and a majority of them claim to see a hidden room that has never seen
John: it could be a store house the employees have never seen before no big deal
Michele: it could be but every report shows different ways the entrance was changed like there are hiding something
John: do you know where it is
Michele: know clue, they refuse to tell me anything almost like there scared
John: or it could be a trap
Michele: possibly you never know
John: alright by (hangs up)
after hanging up he decides to read more on the tech store specifically about the owner
JOHN: let's see Arnold Angston Ray, oh look at that he's a meta-human
ability electricity and lightning manipulation, born in yada yada yada, founded the store at 19 bla bla bla, classification genix.(looking at information shockingly) huh someone with abilities like that
I thought he would be pneomorph or at least a catalyst, it's not that common to be born with energy manipulation (he smiled with a slight chuckle)
John: I love my job I see new things every day
the next day John grabs the case and decides to go to the store as she decide to contact Michele
John: hey I'm on the move
Michele: I'm there right now
John: good call that reduces the chance of suspicion
Michele: the store has a library for workers to use during free time, if I take the librarian job I can use the computers to access to the camera
John: that's are really smart move
he continues to walk for a while before calling a cab, as he finally arrives at the store he went to the counter to meet an employee there
John: do you know where I can find Arnold Ray
worker: why do you need to see
John: I have a package for him
Worker: Mr Ray
responding to the call he comes out off his office John can't help at looking at his unique build (no homo) blue skin all over wearing a black coat blonde hair and white lightning like patterns
John: wow never thought he'd be this big (he said in his thoughts)
Arnold: your the one that delivering the package meet me in my office
John followed him to his office calm headed but a bit shaky, they both enter the office and they have a sit
Arnold: so you got it
John: yes and no
Arnold: what do you mean
JOHN: we got the code but the briefcase is locked and requires a code
Arnold: don't worry about it leave it here I'll see what I can do
John: alright
John stood up and they shook hands before he leaves the room right before grabing his headphone to contact Michele
John: I'm in, now what
Michele: you can check a few blind spots you can use without being noticed
John: alright lead the way
Michele: the 3rd room to the left
John: (quietly opening the door before entering the room)
Michele: there's a conner by directly by your left
John: (takes a sharp turn to your right)
Michele: now there's supposed to be a door way right beneath you
John: (after looking around the ground he finally saw an opening) alright I'm going in
Michele: be careful there no camera there so visuals are completely left up to you
John goes in downwards in front of him was a passage going straight as he moves forward he sees another opening above him him, he carefully opens it as he uses the ladder to climb out the exit to find another not happy with what he saw
John: (sigh) I told you this was a waste of time
Michele: what do
John: it's a storage unit , all I see are old gadgets
Michele: then check around dummy, you truly dont't expect them to leave in plain sight
John: I know I'm just messing with you
Michele: now is not the time for that
John: some of these stuff are weird though, like what's a metal detector doing here
John tried pressing some buttons on it to see if works seeing no response he walks through because inspecting it to find nothing wrong despite that it's broken.
After checking he proceeds to continue his search till he hear a beep sound coming from that direction as he turns around he finds nothing wrong and continues his search 10 minutes into the search he finds nothing, but he heard foot step behind him
(UC): well well well so you're the original, nice to meet ya
John turns around to find himself looking at a carbon copy of him self from his hight to his face, his brown hair and green eyes no detailed was missed
John: (he points his gun at him) I don't know if anyone has told you this, but Halloween isn't due till next month.
John2: Sorry to break it to you, I'm the real deal—well, sort of.
John: What are you, some kind of illusion? A shapeshifter? What are you? Who are you? (keeping composure despite being distressed on the inside)
Michele: John, what's going on?
John: Basically, there's a duplicate me right now.
Michele: What? I'm heading there right now.
John2: Aww, are you scared I'm gonna hurt you?
John: You're getting really annoying.
John2: To be fair, I am you.
John: What do you want?
John2: Nothing too serious. I just wanna kill you.
John: What? You're not making any sense.
John2: I don't want to make sense. I want to break you and mess with your head—make you question your sanity.
The clone reaches for his gun right before getting interrupted by gunshots from—
John: Drop the weapon now.
John2: Make me.
The clone quickly draws his gun and shoots at a gas tank by his side, blinding John. John, with limited sight, navigates where he is, firing multiple shots. Despite his aim, the clone dodges every shot. The clone lands one successful shot on his shoulder. Right after that, he tackles him to the ground and begins to punch him vigorously. John breaks out and quickly hits him down before standing up and kicking him in the face. The clone quickly recovers, evading all of John's punches as they slow down due to his injuries. The clone tackles him again, pinning him to the ground. As he picks his gun up from the ground, aiming at John's head, he receives a shot to the left side from Michele. She rushes to grab John. She simultaneously runs and shoots at the same time, which all missed, for he was too fast, but they were enough to make the clone run deeper into the gas. As she helps John up, they hurry to the exit.
John: How did you know it was me?
Michele: I noticed your fighting styles, they're similar but not the same.
John: Oh, that makes sense.
As John slowly begins to pass out, Michele follows a different route to exit the building. To exit, she puts him in the back of her car as she calls for help.
Eddie: Hello?
Michele: Eddie, John is down. Can you send a medic?
Eddie: Sure. Send me your coordinates, then I can help.
Michele finally finds a safe place to park as she sends the details to Eddie. As they wait, Michele pulls out a first aid kit. She then applies firm and steady pressure directly on the wound using a bandage. She dips her hand into the first aid box and pulls out a tourniquet, placing it about 3 inches above his wound and tightening it till the bleeding stops.Michele finally finds a safe place to park as she sends the details to Eddie. As they wait, Michele pulls out a first aid kit. She then applies firm and steady pressure directly on the wound using a bandage. She dips her hand into the first aid box and pulls out a tourniquet, placing it about 3 inches above his wound and tightening it till the bleeding stops.Michele finally finds a safe place to park as she sends the details to Eddie, as they wait Michele pulls out a first aid kit, she then Apply firm and steady pressure directly on the wound using a bandage, she dips her hand into the first aid box and pulled out a tourniquet above 3 inches above his wounds and tightening it till the bleeding stops, after the first aid procedure medical aid finally arrived they took him to a hospital for final treatment, after 4 weeks John and Michele went back home the next day they returned back to work and gave a feed back to Lance as he looks at them with complete disbelief on his face
Lance: so you're trying to tell me you found a photocopied look alike of John that happens to be obsessed with killing him
Michele: yeah I wouldn't believe it if I haven't seen it for my self
Lance: to be fair we have had our share of weird
John: yeah but with people with amp strengths and healing factor this is completely new
Michele: what are we going to
Lance: for now we have find a way to differentiate between the two
the door opens as Eddie comes inside to deal with the situation
Eddie: hey John are you alright
John: physically yes mentally I'm far from alright
Eddie: when you were there was there anything strange before you saw the doppelganger?
John: not really, I guess there was that beeping sound
Eddie: in the store house did you happen to go through a device that resembles a metal detector?
John: yeah, why
Eddie: it's just a probability but I Know it's origin
John: what
Eddie: 6 years ago there was a government to duplicate soldiers, the project failed,
John: seems like it work to me
Eddie: well it didn't clones were out of control psychotic and there morals or goals are directly opposites of the original, and to make things worst they are obsessed with killing the original
John: Well, I'm screwed.
Lance: Wait—how do you even know about this?
Eddie: Remember the agency I worked for before I transferred here?
Lance: …Oh. Don't tell me they were involved in this experiment too.
Eddie: They were. And honestly, I'm not supposed to say anything… but considering the mess we're in—
Lance: No need to explain further, I—
The door swung open before Lance could finish. A tall red-headed woman stepped in, cloaked in black over a dark blue shirt and pants.
Michele: Rose! It's so good to see you again.
(She got up quickly and hugged her.)
Rose: I heard about the clone. What happened?
Michele: Well, it's—
John: Hold on. Tall, dark, and gloomy—are you auditioning for the next Batman movie?
Rose: Have you seen the weather out there? I should be asking if you are penguins.
John: …Fair enough.
Rose: Sorry I wasn't here to heal you.
John: You were on a mission overseas. Not your fault. But if your powers worked long distance, then maybe you'd have something to apologize for.
Rose: (smirks) So… what did I miss?
Eddie: Oh boy. Here we go again.
After a long exchange, Rose was finally caught up.
Rose: That's serious. Ever thought about getting a tattoo?
John: Why—trying to recruit me into a gang or something?
Rose: No, dumbass. To tell you apart from the clone.
(She pinched the bridge of her nose as she said it.)
---
Meanwhile, at Arnold Ray's tech company, an alarm blared in his office.
Arnold: What the hell's going on?
He sprinted into the server room—and froze. John's clone stood there, grinning wickedly, holding up a small storage device.
John2: Looking for this?
Arnold: What is that?
John2: Just a little drive with all your dirty secrets on it.
Arnold: You realize how reckless that is? One lightning blast and you're toast.
(He smirked, confident.)
John2: Not so fast. This thing's linked to my heart. If I die, it'll upload straight to every government agency on the map.
Arnold: (His smirk faded into a scowl.) …What do you want?
John2: (pulls down his collar, revealing a strange mark on his neck)
Arnold: I see… You want me to help you settle some old scores, while—
John2: While I help with your little passion projects.
Arnold: So the kid really was an agent all along.
John2: Yeah. We have our ways of handling things like this.
Arnold: We?
John2: I mean, we're the same person.
Arnold: No. You're nothing but a psychotic copy.