Chapter 7: The Copycat and a Calculated Risk (Refined)
Chapter 7: The Copycat and a Calculated Risk (Refined)
The sterile hum of S.T.A.R. Labs, a symphony of whirring servers and muted scientific chatter, now carried a subtle undertone of bewildered acceptance, almost a weary sigh. Barry Allen, still refining his control, zipped through simulated obstacle courses in the pipeline, a crimson streak of earnest effort. He was less a blur of uncontrolled energy and more a directed current, his movements still finding their rhythm but gaining a newfound purpose. He was learning to be the Flash, and the city, unbeknownst to most, was desperately waiting. Caitlin Snow's lab coat, once pristine, now often bore smudges of grease or faint scorch marks, testament to the volatile science of metahumans, her brow perpetually furrowed in concentration. Her skepticism remained, a deeply ingrained habit, but it was now a thin veneer over a burgeoning scientific curiosity that bordered on obsession, a desperate need to understand the impossible, especially where Adam was concerned. Cisco Ramon, meanwhile, was glued to his console, a wide, almost manic grin plastered across his face as he ran diagnostic after diagnostic, not on Barry, but on Adam. And Adam Stiels? Adam was the unexpected epicenter of their new normal, a walking, talking enigma who'd just peeled back a tiny corner of his impossible truth, leaving Cisco both terrified and utterly enthralled.
"Okay, my 'Neural Network' is picking up some serious 'Single White Female' vibes," Adam announced, tossing a crumpled Big Belly Burger wrapper into a nearby bin with a practiced flick of his wrist. He was perched on a lab stool, watching Cisco's screens, a half-eaten bag of chips in his lap. "We're talking 'Fatal Attraction,' but with more… multiples. My gut, which is still digesting a truly questionable amount of chili cheese fries, tells me we're looking at Danton Black. Or, as my highly advanced inner system refers to him: 'Multiplex'. Because, you know, everything needs a cool codename. Especially when it involves a guy who can make copies of himself. Originality is key, people."
Cisco looked up from his tablet, his eyes shining with an almost unholy glee, the kind of excitement only a true tech genius could muster when faced with a new, impossible puzzle. "Multiplex! Oh, that's good, Adam! That's really good! I was thinking 'The Many-Armed Bandit' or 'Copy Cat Man,' but Multiplex has that… pop! Plus, his powers literally let him make multiples of himself! Genius! How did your 'Neural Network' know that?" He gestured wildly at the holographic scans of Adam's anatomy, which pulsed with faint, alien energy signatures that only Cisco seemed able to detect, a secret language only he was starting to decipher. "Is it, like, accessing a quantum data stream? Or is it a sentient micro-organism that lives in your brain and just downloads Wikipedia? Does it have a preferred energy source? Can I hack it? Just, you know, for scientific inquiry. I promise not to install any malware."
Adam shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips, enjoying Cisco's infectious enthusiasm, a stark contrast to Caitlin's perpetually worried expressions. "Details, details. Let's just say it's got excellent Wi-Fi. And a very efficient search engine. Now, about Danton Black, my system is predicting he's got a bone to pick with Dr. Harrison Wells. Specifically, Dr. Wells's former colleague, Dr. Simon Stagg. Apparently, Danton likes to hold grudges, and people who screw him over in scientific endeavors. Classic supervillain origin story, really. Almost cliché. But hey, it works." He picked up a chip, crunching it loudly, his eyes already calculating. Danton Black. Multiplex. Duplication. The perfect opportunity. And I need to make sure I die to a unique duplicate. The system is quite specific about its 'killer' clause. Can't just be any clone. Has to be... special.
Caitlin, who had been listening from her station, her fingers hovering over a diagnostic screen displaying Barry's cellular regeneration rates, finally turned, a frustrated sigh escaping her lips. "Adam, are you seriously just sitting there eating chips while we're discussing a metahuman threat? And another one with a personal vendetta against Wells's past associates? This is becoming a pattern. And your 'neural network' or whatever it is, while undeniably... present," she emphasized the word, "doesn't explain how you come back from being, for lack of a better term, vaporized." Her arms crossed, a familiar gesture of skepticism mixed with exasperation. "I ran scans, Adam. Your cellular structure, your vital signs... every time, you flatline. And then... you're perfectly fine. It's like your body just... rewrites itself. It's scientifically impossible. And frankly, it's disturbing."
"Hey, a man's gotta snack, Caitlin," Adam said, popping another chip into his mouth. "And as for the 'vaporized' part, think of it as extreme yoga. Very painful, very enlightening. And as for the explanation, it's a 'neural network' that has a 'self-repair and reconstruction protocol'. Very cutting edge. You know, S.T.A.R. Labs level tech, but like, for my insides. Don't worry, I promise not to spontaneously combust. Unless it's strategically necessary. And believe me, the system has a very strict 'no unnecessary combustion' policy. It's surprisingly bureaucratic for a sentient program." He gave her a reassuring, albeit sarcastic, grin.
[SYSTEM ALERT: PRIMARY MISSION – ENGAGE WITH DESIGNATED KILLER. KILLER: DANTON BLACK (MULTIPLEX). OBJECTIVE: ACQUIRE SKILL – MINOR DUPLICATION. DEATH COUNT: 4/20 FOR UPGRADE 1. WARNING: ENSURE DEATH IS BY A UNIQUE DUPLICATE. FAILURE TO ADHERE MAY RESULT IN INCOMPLETE SKILL ACQUISITION.]
Adam felt the familiar prickle of the System's directive, more insistent this time. Unique duplicate, huh? This is going to be fun. Like playing 'Where's Waldo,' but Waldo is trying to turn you into a human puzzle piece. He knew Danton Black's unique duplicates were created from his own mass, making them distinct, living extensions of himself. He needed to be targeted by one of those, not just overwhelmed by a crowd of them. This required precision.
They tracked Danton Black to Stagg Enterprises. The skyscraper, a monument to corporate power, was already in chaos. Security guards, overwhelmed, lay incapacitated, and multiple versions of Danton Black were tearing through the offices, searching for Simon Stagg. The air crackled with a strange, almost dizzying energy, the sheer number of identical figures creating a disorienting effect.
"There are too many of them!" Barry exclaimed, his voice strained as he zipped through the building, trying to contain the duplicates, each one as strong and as angry as the original. He was fast, but the sheer volume of targets was overwhelming him. He kept phasing through them, unable to land a solid hit without being distracted by another clone appearing seemingly out of thin air. "I can't tell which one's the original!"
"My 'neural network' is telling me the original is usually the one screaming the loudest about 'justice' and 'corporate malfeasance'!" Adam shouted back, already moving, making his way towards the central mass of duplicates. He had his plan. He needed to isolate one, make it focus on him. He subtly used his Minor Wind Manipulation to create tiny, almost imperceptible drafts around the duplicates, trying to gauge their individual responses, their subtle differences in energy signature.
Caitlin, her hands flying across the console in the mobile command center they'd set up, was trying to track the energy signatures. "Their cellular structures are identical, Barry! But there are subtle energy fluctuations! One of them is a primary signature, the others are… secondary manifestations!" Her voice was tight with scientific frustration, the impossible defying her instruments.
Adam smirked, a plan already forming. "Alright, team, new strategy! I'm going to play bait! The original Danton Black is obsessed with Wells and Stagg. I'll make myself look like a bigger target. Draw him out. Barry, you focus on containing the others. Cisco, you tell me which one is the 'special snowflake' duplicate I need to… interact with."
"Adam, no!" Barry's voice was a frantic blur, his frustration palpable as he saw Adam deliberately stride towards the throng of angry duplicates. "That's insane! You can't just... walk into a horde of super-clones! What if your 'system' doesn't kick in this time? What if you actually stay dead?!" His voice betrayed a genuine, raw fear for Adam's safety, a growing protectiveness for the bizarre, sarcastic man who somehow kept putting himself in harm's way.
"Relax, Flashy," Adam called over his shoulder, a dismissive wave of his hand. "My 'neural network' has excellent life insurance. And a very strict 'no permanent death' policy. Mostly. Just make sure the paramedics have plenty of body bags. For the clones, I mean. Or, you know, just a really big dustpan." He knew the real risk. Getting killed by the wrong duplicate meant a failed skill acquisition, and an unnecessary, agonizing death.
He located the main concentration of duplicates near Simon Stagg's office. Danton Black, the original, stood among them, his face contorted with rage as he interrogated a terrified Stagg. Adam chose his moment. He used his Minor Atmospheric Pressure Manipulation to create a sudden, sharp pressure drop right next to one of the duplicates, causing it to stumble.
"Hey, Copy-Cat!" Adam yelled, his voice carrying clearly. "Having trouble keeping your act together? You know, the original Danton Black usually has better posture! And he's not usually a fan of bad puns! Clearly, you're a cheap knock-off! A Danton Black from a dollar store!"
The duplicate spun, its eyes narrowing, a flash of pure, focused rage in its identical face. It was one of the "secondary manifestations" – the kind that disappeared when the original was knocked out. But this one was unique, generated with full sentience, a deliberate, calculated extension of Black himself. It was the one Adam needed.
Cisco's voice crackled through his comms, a frantic, excited whisper. "Adam, careful! That one… that one's different! Its energy signature, it's… it's a direct, almost perfect copy of the prime! It's a true manifestation, not just a construct! It's the one that killed that security guard on the third floor! That's it! That's your guy! Be careful, man!"
My guy. Right. Time to get my butt kicked by my guy.
The duplicate roared, "You mock me?! You mock my pain?!" It lunged, its fist a blur. Adam didn't even try to dodge. He braced himself, a grimace on his face. This was it. The price of power. The unravelling of normalcy, one agonizing death at a time. The duplicate's fist slammed into his chest, a sickening crunch of bone, then another blow to his head, snapping his neck. But it wasn't just the physical impact. As the duplicate's form seemed to flicker and waver, almost vibrating with the force of its attack, Adam felt a strange, cold pull, a sensation of his own essence being copied, stretched, and then abruptly severed. His vision blurred, then went dark.
Well, that was certainly… duplicating. Didn't know death could feel so derivative. At least I got to insult him first. Small victories.
Darkness. Silence.
Then, the familiar, welcome ting. The cold, mechanical voice of the System, a constant companion in the void.
[SYSTEM ALERT: HOST DEATH – CONFIRMED. KILLER: DANTON BLACK (UNIQUE DUPLICATE). SKILL ACQUIRED: MINOR DUPLICATION. DEATH COUNT: 5/20 FOR UPGRADE 1. REVIVAL PROTOCOL – INITIATING.]
YES! Minor Duplication! Now I can finally have an extra pair of hands for, like, holding all my snacks! Or, you know, fighting crime. But mostly snacks. Five down, fifteen to go. This is becoming quite the morbid collection.
Adam gasped, his eyes snapping open. He was lying on the cold, polished floor of Stagg Enterprises, his body aching, but whole. Barry, a red blur, had just delivered a decisive blow to the original Danton Black, causing all the duplicates to shimmer and vanish into thin air, like a glitch in the matrix. Caitlin and Cisco rushed towards Adam, their faces etched with familiar concern, though Caitlin's had an added layer of frustrated resignation.
"Adam! You did it!" Barry exclaimed, a mix of relief and exhaustion in his voice as he skidded to a halt beside him. "You distracted him! But man, that was close! Are you okay? You were… you were gone for a second there!" He offered a hand to help Adam up, his gaze filled with a bewildered worry.
"Yeah, just taking a nap," Adam grunted, pushing himself up, feeling the strange, new sensation of a faint, almost imperceptible echo of himself, a phantom limb of duplication. He could feel the potential, a nascent ability to create a fleeting copy, like a rapidly fading echo. "Rough dreams. All about clowns. Anyway, I think I just unlocked a new party trick. Anyone need a clone? Because I'm suddenly feeling very… multiplied. And slightly more susceptible to existential dread. But in a charming way, of course."
Caitlin knelt beside him, her fingers immediately going for his wrist, checking his pulse with a practiced efficiency that spoke volumes of how often she'd done this. Her brow was furrowed, her lips pressed into a tight line. "Adam, this is beyond disturbing. Your vitals flatlined again. And then you just... reappeared. Intact. It's not just defying science, it's mocking it. We need to run more tests. Extensive ones. I need to understand how your system does this. It's… it's scientifically tantalizing, but also deeply unsettling. You can't keep doing this." Her voice was soft, but carried an edge of desperate scientific hunger.
Cisco, however, was practically vibrating with excitement. He held up a small, handheld scanner, its screen displaying a chaotic burst of data that coalesced into a complex, evolving pattern around Adam's core. "He's right, Caitlin! It's incredible! The energy signature, it's… it's like a programmatic reconstructor field! And look!" He zoomed in on a specific part of the holographic display, a new, tiny node of energy having materialized within Adam's intricate internal 'system'. "A new node! A new ability! Adam, what do you feel? What can you do? Try to make a copy! Just a small one! Maybe a copy of your hand? Or a Big Belly Burger? I'm thinking a duplicate burger would save us a lot of money!"
Adam smirked. "Well, I am feeling a strange urge to, like, high-five myself. Or maybe have an argument with a clone of myself about which Star Wars movie is the best. Spoiler: it's Empire Strikes Back." He focused, trying to tap into the new ability. A faint, almost transparent shimmer appeared beside his hand, a ghostly echo of his fingers, then it vanished. "Whoa. That was... weird. Like a really intense phantom limb syndrome, but for a whole extra appendage. Very minor, like the system said. Guess I won't be building an army of Adams just yet. Which is probably for the best. The world can only handle one of me at a time."
Cisco practically bounced on the balls of his feet. "This is incredible, Adam! This 'system' of yours, it's like a living, evolving API! We could learn so much! What if we could isolate the reconstruction protocol? What if we could use it to heal others? Or even… regenerate lost limbs? This isn't just about metahumans anymore, Adam. This is about rewriting the rules of biology!" His eyes gleamed with the pure, unadulterated joy of scientific discovery, his moral compass temporarily eclipsed by the sheer, exhilarating potential. He saw Adam not as a human, but as a living, breathing, endlessly fascinating experiment.
Adam watched him, a faint unease settling in his gut. Right. Cisco wants to poke and prod. Caitlin wants to understand the 'how' but worries about the 'why.' Barry just wants me to stop dying. And Wells… Wells is always watching. This 'cost of power' thing isn't just about the pain of death, is it? It's about how much of myself I'm willing to give up to these people. How much of my weirdness they can handle. How much of my humanity gets chipped away with each new skill. He knew he had successfully re-engaged Cisco, pulling him deeper into the mystery. But at what cost? The unraveling of normalcy wasn't just for Central City; it was for him too. And the price seemed to be climbing.