Chapter 114

Dr. Everett Carlisle was not your average scientist. Renowned in the academic world for his breakthroughs in bioengineering and genetic research, Carlisle had made a name for himself early in his career. His mind was sharp, his ambition even sharper. But what set him apart from his peers wasn't just his intelligence—it was his fascination with the extraordinary. From a young age, Carlisle had been captivated by the idea of humans evolving beyond their natural limits. Movies, comic books, and stories of people with superhuman abilities had sparked a fire in him, one that had never dimmed.

In the pristine white walls of his personal lab, Carlisle reviewed his latest findings. His research was cutting-edge, hailed as revolutionary, but it wasn't enough for him. The world knew him as a genius, but the one thing he craved above all was still out of reach: the chance to work on something truly groundbreaking—something beyond the realm of human comprehension.

That chance arrived in the form of Malik.

Carlisle's face twisted into a smile as he scanned the encrypted document on his tablet. Through his carefully cultivated contacts within the government, he had pieced together the truth. Malik, the metal manipulator who had captured the world's attention, wasn't missing. He was held, sedated, and under experimentation.

For weeks, Carlisle had been angling for more information. A few favors called in here, a few subtle conversations there, and now he had confirmation. Malik was real, and not just a figment of wild rumors or tabloid headlines. The government had him, and they were doing exactly what Carlisle had dreamed of: studying him.

His hands trembled slightly with excitement as he set the tablet down and leaned back in his chair. The thought of a living, breathing subject with actual superhuman abilities was too tantalizing to resist. This was his chance. The culmination of everything he had ever wanted—an opportunity to step into a world where fiction became reality.

But Carlisle knew he had to tread carefully. The government wasn't just going to let him waltz into their top-secret operation. He needed to be subtle, to work his way into their trust.

His methods in the past had been controversial—cutting-edge genetic experiments on the brink of ethical boundaries, but never crossing them enough to attract unwanted attention. He had made sure to keep a clean public profile while quietly pursuing his private obsession: unlocking the potential within the human genome. What if, he mused, there was a trigger for these abilities? What if Malik's powers could be studied, isolated, and—most importantly—replicated?

Carlisle couldn't suppress the smile that tugged at his lips as he thought of the implications. "If I could get access to Malik," he muttered to himself, "I could change the course of human evolution."

Ever since childhood, Carlisle had been obsessed with power—the kind of power that transcended human limitations. As a boy, he had poured over comic books, watching superheroes wield abilities that defied science. Now, as an adult, he saw himself as the man who could bring those fantasies into reality. With Malik in his sights, that dream was closer than ever before.

His mind raced through his strategy. He needed to present himself as indispensable to the project. He had already laid the groundwork with government officials, touting his experience in genetic manipulation and bioengineering. A few well-placed phone calls later, and he was on their radar. Now, he just had to get his foot in the door.

Carlisle knew the kind of people he was dealing with. Government agencies were notoriously tight-lipped about their operations, especially something as sensitive as Malik. They would never admit to holding him, but Carlisle was patient. He would play the long game, offering his expertise slowly, letting them see him as a valuable asset. If they were experimenting on Malik, they would eventually need someone like him. His reputation would get him in the door, but his expertise would make him indispensable.

He imagined the conversations he would have with the shadowy figures behind Malik's containment. He could already see himself standing over the unconscious figure of the metal manipulator, running his hands over the machinery, analyzing Malik's DNA, mapping out the pathways that allowed him to control metal. The possibilities were endless. Carlisle's mind buzzed with excitement. He wasn't interested in Malik as a person—no, to Carlisle, Malik was a puzzle, a key to unlocking something far greater.

Carlisle's obsession had cost him before. His relationships were few and far between—colleagues found him too intense, too driven, too willing to push boundaries. He never cared much for social pleasantries or making friends; everything in his life was secondary to his work. Even now, in his forties, Carlisle felt as if his true calling was just within his grasp.

He stood up from his desk and walked to the large window overlooking the city. The skyline was bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun, and for a brief moment, Carlisle allowed himself a rare moment of reflection.

"If only they knew what's coming," he whispered to himself, fingers tapping against the glass.

He would make sure he was part of it. Malik was just the beginning. There would be more, he was certain of it.

Dr. Everett Carlisle sat at his desk, gazing intently at the series of encrypted files spread across his computer screen. The government's secrecy about Malik was impressive, but Carlisle was nothing if not persistent. After weeks of probing, pulling strings, and leveraging contacts, he had managed to get tantalizing glimpses of what was happening behind closed doors. But glimpses weren't enough. He needed access—direct access to Malik.

He glanced at his reflection in the darkened window of his lab, his sharp eyes glinting with the determination of a man on the verge of a breakthrough. His reflection smiled back, confident, ambitious, and relentless.

Carlisle's plan to infiltrate the government's operation had to be executed with precision. Official channels were out of the question—no matter how esteemed he was in the scientific community, the government wouldn't allow an outsider into something so sensitive. His academic brilliance would only take him so far. No, Carlisle had to find a way in that went beyond reputation and research.

Leaning back in his chair, he considered his options. The key was to get close to the right people, and there was one in particular he had been targeting for weeks: Colonel David Mercer. Mercer was the man in charge of Malik's containment and experimentation. From what Carlisle had gathered, Mercer was a by-the-books military man, meticulous and loyal, but also pragmatic.

"Mercer..." Carlisle muttered under his breath. He needed to gain the colonel's trust. But how?

An idea began to form, and Carlisle's grin widened. He had a reputation for solving problems that others deemed unsolvable. He could offer Mercer something no other scientist could—results.