Inside the dimly lit private office of his airborne laboratory, Dr Nyx moved with cold efficiency.
The sleek interior of the aircraft was meticulously designed - advanced equipment lining the walls, monitors flickering with streams of data, and a faint mechanical hum reverberating through the confined space.
Seated at his workstation, Nyx lifted his left arm. The metallic prosthetic whirred to life, the hidden mechanisms shifting as a holographic interface projected before him.
A profile appeared.
A face, and beside it some details.
Subject 357 – Kai Hawkes
His eyes gleamed with a strange mixture of amusement and fascination as he scrolled through the data. Blood type, genetic breakdown, height, age, background - every minute detail logged with precision by his researchers and himself.
His gaze flicked to the side, where footage played on a separate display.
There were cameras rigged all around his facility, and he was captivated by the successful artificial mutant. He began watching everything that occurred between Kai's last dose of serum to facing each other in the lab.
Discovering what he had become.
Handling the worthless guard sent to retrieve his body like he was nothing.
Releasing the other subjects and roaming the facility.
Then lastly, his battle in the lab against his creations. It was incredible to see how quickly Kai was able to control his ability as if it was intuitive and instinctual - just like a natural mutant.
A smirk tugged at Nyx's lips after watching through all the recordings.
"There was no way that pathetic guard could've dealt with him - especially after he awakened. And he was quite impressive for someone that just awakened, especially when he went berserk," Nyx laughed.
'Well, he was part of the original AMC made up of elites,' he added, as his fingers danced across the holographic keys.
He then began his record in his logbook, in which he had maintained a timeline of results.
"Date: 12/03/2027. Subject 357. Code Name: Bloodweaver - The first seemingly successful artificial mutant. Abilities related to blood manipulation. Stability - tentatively confirmed. Sanity - tentatively confirmed… though his mind and memories appear to be scrambled. Current side-effects - Bloodlust, red eyes, and others to be confirmed."
"Seven years since the first mutations, and at last, a true artificial mutant had been created. The reason for success? Unknown."
"Hypothesis: A rare fusion of extreme mental resilience, exceptional physical capability, and an unidentified genetic anomaly."
Nyx exhaled slowly, shaking his head.
"Blood powers… what an unprecedented ability."
He leaned back in his chair, eyes flickering with something bordering on obsession.
"The possibilities... I can't even begin to imagine the full extent of his potential."
He tapped his fingers against the desk, a slow, rhythmic sound filling the space.
Then, a chuckle.
"I'll let him have his fun."
His smirk widened.
"Let him believe he's free. Let him think he's escaped me and survived. It'll be all the more entertaining when our paths cross again."
A full-bodied laugh escaped him, filled with twisted delight.
"I'm sure he'll become quite dangerous… but that only makes the game more fun, doesn't it?"
His fingers drummed against the armrest of his chair.
"The rest of the Association will be blind to him for a while. But if the truth of his existence comes to light?"
He scoffed, shaking his head.
"It will send shockwaves through the world."
But none of that concerned him - not yet.
And he had all he needed to continue his research...
Nyx reached for the vial sitting on his desk.
Inside was Kai's blood.
Collected from the aftermath of his fight, when his power had run wild, splattering the walls of the facility.
He held the vial up to the light, watching as the dark crimson liquid moved - shifting unnaturally, as if in response to some unseen force.
It was fascinating and almost hypnotic.
"I can get started with this..."
On the desk beside him, another prize sat carefully preserved - a severed arm.
The Phaser's arm.
A trophy. A resource. Another step forward in his research.
The aircraft hummed as its trajectory shifted, carrying him toward one of his other facilities - where he would continue his work.
Nyx exhaled slowly, anticipation curling in his gut.
The thrill of the unknown. The challenge.
The fact that things hadn't gone entirely his way only made it all the more exhilarating.
His lips curled into a grin.
"I look forward to our next encounter, Subject 357."
And with that, he laughed once more, the sound echoing through the cold, sterile lab as the aircraft disappeared into the night sky.