Karma Has It Out For Me

Lyra Federation, United Republic, Golden Pixiu, and various other civilizations exist in the current Milky Way. There was no such innovative company as the Orion terraforming agency that Leo formerly worked for. Even the Woutuber Jacksepticeye didn't exist. Leo couldn't believe it, he had actually been teleported into an alternate universe. And apparently he wasn't allowed to leave the hospital bed because he was this universe's first human that opened a portal, flew like a superhero, and survived an egregious impact. Sighing, he couldn't blame the Federation for its safety measures, but that sure didn't mean he liked being locked in a hospital again. He shivered as it brought back bad memories.

"So, to recap, an unknown battleship began boarding your space station and, in the end, you got portaled here because of a particle accelerator malfunction?" Jean inquired while tucking a black lock of hair behind her ear.

"Yes, if I could open portals myself, then I would have already portaled myself out of these handcuffs."

"That still doesn't explain why you were glowing when they found you."

Leo was startled. "I was glowing?"

"Yes, it was all over the news. A random rift opened for a few seconds and a man -"

"Ahem." A quick rap came from the oak door. They turned to recognize that the African American man from before had arrived. Obviously, Leo had now surmised that the Federation was keeping tabs on him, hence it wasn't hard to guess that this man was a secret agent. As long as he wasn't relocated to the rumored Area 51, Leo would be a bit more at ease. He hoped that the Federation found his laptop so he could analyze the programs it ran before this whole portal fiasco happened. Those particle accelerator calculations were his safest bet back home.

With a nod from the secret agent, a blond nurse began to remove all Leo's wires and tubes.

"How has he been?"

"Very cooperative," Jean muttered as she closed her dark blue notepad. ���He seems just as confused about us as we are of him."

"Hmmm." The secret agent's beady eyes gazed at Leo. "Whatever happens next, do not resist." The next second, four men fully equipped with black armor vests, submachine guns, and tactical gear came in behind the secret agent as he skeptically released Leo from his handcuffs.

[You can't be serious.]

Turning on his heel, the agent pensively murmured, "if you really are telling the truth, then … that will save you from a lot of suffering."

[No, just no.]

This guy is too ominous. The imposing S.W.A.T. team sealed Leo's hopes.

[I'm going to area 51 aren't I?]

He had been wondering where his brown wallet and wrist communicator were, but there was no point now. There had to be a way to make them believe he was not an overpowered alien. Nudging Leo out of his trance, the blond nurse assisted him into his sneakers and white t-shirt.

Once ready, the S.W.A.T. team didn't give Leo any time to talk his way out, leading him out the white room, down concrete stairs, and into the hospital's sealed off garage. Frantically searching, Leo couldn't spot that eerie secret agent before the S.W.A.T. team blindfolded and ushered Leo towards three black vans. They jostled him inside and, for the first hour, Leo pleaded with them. But it was pointless. Leo prayed he wouldn't become a lab rat.

After who knows how long, Leo felt his van stop. Doors clicked open and they elbowed him out.

"Please, I'm just your average scientist!"

Silence.

The bitter darkness, thumping footsteps, and Leo's hollow breathing almost made him hysterical. Sweat creeped down his spine while being forced around what felt like a maze. Finally, a door creaked open and a hoarse voice boomed.

"Hurry up! Tie him down."

[Not like this. Not like this!]

***

Through the one-way-glass, the same secret agent that met Leo scrutinized the blond burly man next to him.

"General, even though he has unknown origins and somehow speaks nonsense without being brainwashed, he still appears human. Even that blood sample from earlier today proves that he has human DNA."

"Hmph." General Baker eyed him. "Son, this has to be done."

The secret agent scoffed. "If you want to see what he looks like inside, then just stick him into an MRI machine." He turned back and observed Leo's messy black hair, sweat drenched t-shirt, and plump body quivering in panic.

"I know you are spearheading the research into lost military technologies, but this crosses a line. He's a human -."

"I know what he is!" General Baker fiercely glared at him. "Agent Moore, do you have any idea what the Federation is facing right now? The Golden Pixiu doesn't give a damn about the pirates that plunder our convoys near our borders. Also, you should know the results of the last test carried out on planet Starlight's moon."

Agent Moore bitterly closed his eyes. Of course he knew. It was all over the galactic news: the trillion dollar project into lost lightspeed technology brought the inevitable. An affluent moon colony was shredded into oblivion by that damn wormhole the Federation's scientists spawned. Outraged, the Federation's citizens demanded the project's termination and for the government to take responsibility. But what did they do? They turned a blind eye and continued pouring billions into technologies lost after the cataclysmic war.

Agent Moore's fists tightened. To think he became an agent to stand for this 'just' government.

"The Chancellor is becoming anxious and he wants me to take desperate measures. Any breakthrough to get the public off his back." General Baker gazed at Leo with avarice. "This man was found glowing and survived an impact that led to a crater. He is no ordinary being."

"Ugh." Disgusted, Agent Moore left the room.

"There is no victory without sacrifice," murmured General Baker as his blue eyes glinted. They reflected the steel scalpel steadily approaching Leo.

***

"ARE YOU MAD! JUST STICK ME INTO AN MRI MACHINE! TAKE MY BLOOD! ANYTHING BUT - mmph!!"

They shoved a white rag into Leo's mouth, leaving him starring in horror.

"Ugh, why can't you be quiet? Can't you see that the purpose of this isn't to prove that you are human, but to find out the reason as to why you have survived a miraculous impact?" The gray haired man languidly fiddled with the scalpel while his assistants ripped open Leo's white t-shirt, giving way to his heaving chest.

"I would have given you anesthesia of course, but I believe this is the best way to determine your pain resistance."

[no No NO!]

SWOOM

S.W.A.T. members, medical equipment, that crazy old man - everything that wasn't pinned down flew towards the walls.

"AAAAAAAAHHHH! Don't DONT….. Aaaaaa!"

Leo squirmed as he flared his arms on the bed.

"Don't touch me," he sniffed.

CRASH

A ceiling lamp fell.

"AAAA!" Leo rapidly crawled away, falling onto the concrete ground in the process.

[Fuck, fuck…. Huh?]

He ignored the bruise from the fall as his eyes quickly darted around.

[The hell just happened?]

Everything was in shambles; the metal door was warped outwards and slight drops of blood pattered the floor near his perpetrators. What's going on?! An automatic submachine gun rested near Leo, making him shudder. Seconds passed but nothing happened, letting his fear ease as he reassured himself that everything was going to be fine. It had to be fine. Please be fine.

THUD

[Oh dear god.]

The metal door trembled, but held.

THUD

Leo frantically crawled over to an overturned metal desk.

THUD

Leo glanced at the automatic submachine gun.

CRASH

[I don't want to kill anyone!]

"GO GO GO!"

He covered his head.

[God have mercy.]

Footsteps approached the bed.

"NOOO!"

RA KA TA TA TA

"EMPTY YOUR MAGS!"

RA KA TA TA TA

"FUCK, HE'S STILL ALIVE! RELOAD."

[Alive?] Leo peaked. [What the f-]

RA KA TA TA TA

All the gleaming bullets stopped 5 cm from his body. "AAA! Bloody hell!"

Then there was silence.

Leo peaked only to be greeted by a mini red light saber.

"Fuck this." The light saber was thrusted at Leo.

"NOOO!" yelled Leo.

SWOOM

As if he was whacked by a boulder, the man flew backwards and smacked a wall.

"The f-"

"HE'S FIGHTING BACK. TAKE HIM DOWN NOW."

More S.W.A.T. members poured in while Leo slowly stood up and gawked at his hands.

[No freaking way. I got super-]

RA KA TA TA TA

[For crying out loud!]

Bullets fell down in torrents as Leo despondently shielded himself.

"HIS EYES ARE GLOWING!"

[Glowing?]

All clips got emptied again, leaving all the S.W.A.T. members in disbelief. They were four magazines in. Four magazines in and they hadn't even scratched him!

In desperation, another red mini lightsaber was activated and jabbed at Leo.

"Leave - me - ALONE!"

CRASH

White concrete bits flew as another S.W.A.T. member slumped unconscious.

"BLOCK THE DOOR AND BOMB THE ROOM!"

[Oh no.]

Leo rushed straight into the S.W.A.T. members obstructing the door while outstretching his arms.

"Let me in! Let Me IN!"

SWOOM

Five guards flew out, bashing into the opposite wall as Leo barrelled into the hallway.

"COME BACK HERE!"

[Like hell I'll do that.]