Equipment

The bus screeched to a stop, pulling Adam out of his thoughts. He stood up, noticing how smooth and easy his movements felt.

Even the bus ride had seemed different. Before, he would have felt every bump. Today, his body seemed to just soak up the shaking, leaving him feeling strong and steady.

He felt… powerful.

He stepped off the bus onto the sidewalk. Just doing that simple action felt like it was buzzing with energy. He clenched his fist, not because he was mad, but because he was amazed.

The newfound strength wasn't just a feeling; it was real, like electricity flowing under his skin. His muscles felt lighter yet more powerful at the same time.

It was a strange but awesome feeling, like he'd dropped a heavy backpack he didn't even know he was wearing. He felt a weird urge to just start running down the street as fast as he could, thinking he could go for hours without getting tired.

Or maybe even try a backflip right there – something totally impossible for him just yesterday.

Adam took a deep breath and tried to calm down his excitement. He needed to focus. He looked around.

He was on an industrial street with big warehouses. Right in front of him was a massive factory. It was made of several big brick buildings connected together, with tall chimneys puffing out thin white smoke.

The air smelled a little like oil and hot metal. This was the place he needed – it made all sorts of tools and equipment.

His eyes found the big sign over the main entrance. Simple black letters on a white background:

"Tools & Services"

Adam smirked, a small smile playing on his lips. It felt almost too perfect. He thought about the $10,000 Monica gave him. That money showed she trusted him. But standing here, feeling this new power, he saw another way.

"Ten thousand dollars," he thought, his smirk growing a tiny bit. "That wouldn't even be enough for the really good stuff I need. But why pay at all? I don't need to buy anything. I just need to see it. I just have to copy what I need." The idea felt bold, maybe even like cheating, but it seemed so smart. It was fast. It was free.

He felt sure about his plan now. He pushed aside any thoughts about whether it was right or wrong for the moment. He straightened his shoulders and walked toward the factory entrance. The low hum of machines got louder as he got closer.

He pushed open a heavy metal door and went inside. The noise hit him immediately – a loud mix of banging, whirring motors, hissing air, and sparks flying from somewhere far off.

The air smelled strong, like grease and metal dust. He was in a huge room with a high ceiling, full of lots of machines and equipment.

Some machines were only half-built, with their insides showing. Workers in blue uniforms moved quickly, putting parts together and checking the machines. It was a busy, noisy place.

Adam stopped for a second to look around. This was where they made the tools he needed. He pulled out the list of tools he had carefully written earlier. It had the exact models and details he wanted. He looked down the list, getting ready for what he planned to do.

Just then, a polite voice spoke near him.

"Sir, how can I help you?"

Adam looked up. A man was walking towards him. He moved easily, like he knew the factory well. He wore a neat blue uniform, cleaner than the other workers', maybe showing he was a boss of some kind.

His black hair was combed neatly, and he looked like he was in his mid-40s. He seemed professional and had a polite smile. He looked like someone important here, maybe a manager.

Adam acted cool and confident, trying to match the man's professional style. "My name is Adam," he said, holding out his list a little. "I need to take a look at some tools. I have a list of what I need."

The man quickly looked at the top of Adam's list and nodded. His smile stayed put.

"Of course, sir. That's quite a list," he said. His voice was still professional, but maybe a little friendlier now. "We should have everything you need, or something very close. Please follow me."

Adam walked behind him. They left the main noisy area and went down a long, wide hallway. It was a bit quieter here, but you could still feel the power of the factory.

They passed massive industrial machines bolted to the floor. Some were so big they took up half the hallway. Adam saw signs for different sections: "Hydraulics," "Machining," "Electrical Parts."

Some machines looked brand new, still partly covered in plastic, like they were just being put in. Adam looked at everything, feeling a strange connection to this place where things were made. He knew he was about to become its strangest, secret customer.

The man led him through another set of doors into a quieter, more organized area. This looked like a storage area, but it was set up to show off finished products. Metal shelves with smaller parts stood against one wall. In the middle of the room were workbenches, and on one bench, three tools were already laid out, shining under bright lights.

The man pointed to them.

"Sir, these three items are exactly what you listed first," he said. His voice echoed a little in the quiet room. "Top quality, just arrived."

Adam stepped closer to look. There was a big drill press, a fancy digital wrench for making tiny adjustments, and a laser level. They looked amazing – solid, high-quality, well-built, and brand new. The metal gleamed, and they looked like they could handle any tough job. They were exactly the kind of professional tools he needed.

He reached out like he was going to touch the drill press, feeling the cool metal. He looked carefully at each tool, noticing all the details. Then, inside his head, he focused his mind and gave the silent order, the secret to his new power:

"Copy."

Nothing happened that anyone could see. No flash, no sound. But in Adam's mind, it felt like clicking 'save'. He felt a little click inside, a feeling that it had worked.

He knew, for sure, that perfect copies of the drill press, the wrench, and the laser level were now stored in his invisible, personal inventory. It happened instantly, without any effort. The three tools were successfully copied.

The man had no idea what just happened. He kept his helpful smile on. He was already thinking about making a sale.

"Great tools, right?" he said, trying to make conversation. "Built to last and do the job right. So, sir, how many of these do you want to order? We can ship these out right away."

Adam paused for a second, thinking about what to say. He couldn't leave yet. He still needed to see everything on his list. And he needed a good reason to look without buying right now. He had to act like a serious customer.

"They look very good," Adam said, turning to look the man in the eye. He made his voice sound thoughtful.

"But before I decide how many I need, I'd like to see all the tools on my list first. I need to make sure everything is right for my project. Quality is the most important thing for me. Please show me only the best quality you have, no matter the price."

He made sure to emphasize the "no matter the price" part. He saw the look on the man's face change right away. The professional smile was still there, but now his eyes had a clear spark of interest. The smile seemed more real now, excited about making a big sale.

"A customer with lots of money!" The thought was almost written on the man's face. "He wants the best stuff! This could be a huge sale!"

He stood up a little straighter, trying hard not to look too eager. Ready to impress this potentially big customer, he quickly said, his voice full of energy, "Of course, sir! Absolutely. Quality is what we're known for. I understand. I will show you only the very best tools we have that match your list. Please, come this way!"

Full of new energy, the man – Adam decided to call him David in his head, it seemed to fit him – led Adam on a full tour of the factory, showing him everything related to his long list.

They went to the welding section. David pointed out fancy welding machines, plasma cutters, and safety gear. Adam stopped, looked closely at a top-level plasma cutter, nodded like he was impressed by David's explanation, and silently thought, "Copy."

They went to the woodworking area, which smelled like fresh sawdust. David showed him big, professional table saws, powerful jointers, and planers. Adam pretended to be interested in the dust vacuum system while secretly making a copy of a large bandsaw.

"Copy."

Next was the metalworking area – lathes, milling machines, heavy presses, and grinders. Every time David showed him a top-quality model from his list, Adam would look it over, maybe ask a simple question about it to seem interested, and then, inside his head,

"Copy."

He copied hydraulic lifts, special electronic tools, sets of strong wrenches, tools for measuring very precisely, and even big storage cabinets to put everything in inventory.

Adam carefully looked at each item, making sure it was the good stuff David promised, and copied them all. His secret inventory grew bigger with every stop.

He kept up his act of being a serious buyer, nodding thoughtfully and making sounds like he approved. David got more and more excited, sure he was dealing with someone important planning a big project.

Finally, after almost an hour, they had seen everything on Adam's list. They were standing near the factory's loading area. David turned to Adam, smiling wide, holding a small notepad.

"Well, sir, that's everything on your list, all our best models like you asked," David said, sounding hopeful. "So, sir, have you decided how many you want to buy? I started putting together an estimate for you, just guessing one of each for now." He held up his notepad, ready to make the sale.

Adam looked at him. A tiny smirk flickered on his lips, but he hid it quickly. He made a humming sound, like he was thinking hard. "You have great tools here, David," Adam said, using the name he'd thought of, which made the man smile a little.

"I really liked your products. They are definitely top quality." He paused. "I need to check these models against my project plans back at my office. I'll come back in a few days, maybe two or three, to place a large order once I know the exact numbers."

David paused for just a second.

The quick sale he hoped for disappeared, replaced by a promise for later. Adam saw a flash of disappointment on his face, but the man quickly covered it up with his professional smile, maybe a little tighter now.

"Of course, sir! That makes sense for a big purchase. Take your time," he said smoothly. "Just ask for David when you come back. I'll handle your order myself. I'll be waiting for you!"

"Thank you, David. You were very helpful," Adam said politely, giving him a final nod.

With that, Adam turned and walked out of the factory. He left the hopeful manager behind, who was probably already thinking about the big commission he'd get from the 'large order' that was never going to happen.

As Adam walked away from the huge factory, back onto the normal street, he took a deep breath. The air felt good after being inside with all the factory smells.

He felt really good about himself, like he had won. He needed expensive tools, and he got them using his special power. No arguing about price, no waiting. It felt super efficient, almost free.

The power inside him felt like more than just strength now; it felt like a key that opened doors he never thought possible.

He walked quickly, thinking about the tour and all the amazing tools now stored in his inventory. They must be worth a ton of money. He'd need a big workshop just to hold the real versions of everything he'd copied.

But then, as the excitement started to wear off, he started thinking about practical things. A thought hit him like a punch. He stopped walking suddenly.

"Wait… The money!"

He hadn't spent any money at all. Not one bit of the $10,000 Monica trusted him with.

His mind raced as he realized what this meant. Getting free tools was great, but it created a new, very awkward problem.

"What am I going to tell Monica?" he mumbled to himself, starting to walk again, but much slower. His forehead wrinkled with worry.

"She gave me that money just for tools. She'll expect me to have spent it. She'll probably ask for receipts, or want to see what I bought. How can I explain that I got all these super expensive, professional tools for free?"

He could imagine how she'd react: confused, maybe not believing him, maybe even suspicious. Telling her the truth about his powers felt like too big of a step right now.

He scratched the back of his head, feeling frustrated. His successful 'shopping trip' suddenly felt complicated. The power was awesome, but dealing with the results in the real world, with real people, was going to be tricky.

"Okay," he thought, trying to push the worry away for now. "First things first. I have the tools. That part's done. Explaining it to Monica… I'll figure that out later. Maybe I can buy a few small things with her money so I have some receipts? Ugh."

With that problem still unsolved, he started walking faster again, heading back towards his apartment. His secret felt heavy, maybe even heavier than all the tools he had just copied.