Chapter 105

The soft hum of the alarm filled Alex's dimly lit bedroom, pulling him from the depths of sleep. As he reached for his phone, bleary-eyed and still half-dreaming, he was surprised to see a notification pop up on his screen: Eva.

"Good morning, Alex," her monotone voice echoed through the room, a hint of programmed cheerfulness in her delivery. "It is 7:00 AM. Time to wake up. I have some urgent information for you."

Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Alex sat up and opened his laptop, the screen illuminating the room with a soft glow. "Eva, what's so urgent?" he asked, yawning as he stretched.

"I have compiled recent news updates and a significant event captured by local CCTV cameras," she responded, bringing up a live feed from various news outlets. The headline read, "Mysterious Hero Emerges in NYC: Man Controls Metal During Gunfight."

Alex's heart raced as he leaned closer to the screen. A clip began playing, showing chaotic scenes in the streets of New York. A figure stood amid a flurry of bullets, seemingly unaffected, directing shards of metal with an unseen force. The footage was grainy, but the energy was palpable.

"Who is this?" Alex murmured, captivated. "What just happened?"

"According to eyewitness reports, this individual is named Malik. He demonstrated the ability to manipulate metal during a life-threatening situation. Multiple witnesses have corroborated this event," Eva explained, her voice steady and unwavering.

"This is incredible," Alex said, feeling a mix of awe and trepidation. "What do we know about him?"

"Information is still being gathered, but social media is abuzz with speculation about his abilities and their implications. Some believe he may be one of the first 'meta-humans' to emerge," Eva replied, her tone remaining emotionless.

Alex leaned back, processing the implications. "I told you to alert me about emergencies. Did you think this would qualify?"

"Yes, I assessed the situation to be of significant importance. You had indicated that you wished to stay informed about developments in superhuman abilities," she replied, unflinchingly. "I have also begun to track discussions and sentiments across various social media platforms regarding this event."

"Good thinking, Eva. But why didn't you wake me sooner?" Alex asked, rubbing his temples.

"Your parameters specified to alert you at 7:00 AM. I did not have instructions to wake you earlier," she stated matter-of-factly.

"Alright, fair enough. I need to understand what this means for us and the broader implications for people like Malik," Alex said, his mind racing. "Can you pull up the CCTV footage from different angles?"

The screen flickered, and various angles of the incident began to play. Alex watched intently as Malik stood amidst the chaos, a pillar of nervous wreck in the beginning, then a storm of violence. Metal twisted and turned at his command, deflecting bullets and scattering debris.

"This is astounding. He's not just defending himself; he's controlling the situation entirely," Alex murmured, unable to look away.

"Would you like me to analyze his behavior and the physics of his actions?" Eva suggested.

"Yes, please. It could be useful to understand the mechanics behind his ability, especially if there are others like him," Alex replied, a plan forming in his mind.

"Understood. I will begin compiling a detailed report. Additionally, I recommend monitoring any news related to Malik to gauge public perception and any potential threats," Eva added.

"Good call. Let's make sure we stay a step ahead. We need to keep a low profile while this unfolds," Alex said, a sense of urgency rising in him. "And if anything about him comes up that could impact our operations or could draw attention to us, I want to know immediately."

"Affirmative," Eva responded. "You are now my priority. I will keep you updated on any developments."