The Perfect Run

“Sorry, I can’t do that.”

Ryan scratched Eugène-Henry’s back while watching Dr. Tyrano on his computer screen. The A-bomb laid on the desk, right next to the late Fat Adam’s gravity cannon. “You’re saying no to unlimited fundings, resources, and safety from the monster you keep bottled up in your lab when he inevitably breaks out? Because you know he will.”

“I don’t know how you managed to learn that much about my work,” Tyrano admitted, a little disturbed. “But I am contractually bound to Dynamis for the next two hundred years. I can’t even leave the building without a heavy escort.”

“Two hundred years?” Were there other time-travelers running around in Italy? “Is that even legal?”

“In New Rome, it is.”

Ryan massaged his temples, at his wit’s end. “Think, Tyrano, think! You’re using an unstable product to turn people you know into timebombs! What will you have after everyone has turned into a Bloodstream clone?”

Dr. Tyrano remained silent for a moment, but Ryan guessed his answer before he even spoke.

“Dinosaurs,” the scalie answered. “I’d still have dinosaurs.”

That made Ryan think more than it should.

Still, the fact Tyrano wouldn’t leave the Dynamis HQ nor agree to sabotage the Knockoff supply dashed a few of the courier’s hopes. Even if the Carnival developed a vaccine plague to cure New Rome’s population, they would have to assault Lab Sixty-Six again to finish off Bloodstream for good.

Still, Ryan didn’t give up on the saurian Genius.

“What if I told you we have access to a completely safe Knockoff variant, so strong it even works with robots?” The courier tempted him. “That we have not one, but two Genomes with multiple powers and no-side effects to study? That we possess a wealth of research and information on Elixirs… and a lab capable of creating life from scratch?”

Then he delivered the coup de grace.

“Inhuman life?”

Tyrano’s slitted eyes expanded like a frog’s, to Ryan’s shock. The courier wondered if it was what passed for arousal for humanoid dinosaurs. To hook him further, the courier forwarded the Genius a sample of his Elixir research, including a bio-scan of Mongrel.

“We’re working on a cure for the Psycho condition,” Ryan said. “Though you’re contractually obligated to work with Dynamis, certainly you can sacrifice some of your precious time for it. Who knows, maybe you could make a Green Knockoff capable of granting your dearest, cold-blooded wish.”

The Genius barely took a glance at the data before raising his white flag. “Where do I sign?”

“First…” Ryan scratched Eugène-Henry behind the ears. “You must give me access to that folder.”

“Oh, that one?” Dr. Tyrano seemed strangely embarrassed about it. “It’s something of a side-project, and early results weren’t promising. But it will change the world, you’ll see!”

“I’ll keep an open mind,” Ryan said, as he received an email called ‘Monster Girl Project.’ He opened the video file within.

The courier instantly regretted it, as an abomination came into view.

The screams and moans that came out of this… this thing startled Ryan so much, that he almost fell from his chair. His terrified cat leaped out of his lap to take over the nearby bed.

“Oh God… oh God…” Ryan covered his mouth, though he couldn’t tell if it was in horror or terrible awe at the man’s demented genius. There were things that could still surprise him after eight centuries of time-traveling. “Why?!”

“A creative spur!” Tyrano explained, as if it made up for this crime against nature. “I couldn’t do that to a reptile!”

“Why a mink?!” Ryan asked, closing the video feed when he couldn’t take the abomination’s screams anymore. “Is… is that thing still alive?”

“No, no, it died, unfortunately,” Tyrano reassured him. “But I have a spare.”

Ryan resisted the urge to throw up, and stopped the video call feed. He would have nightmares for years to come. Even the most depraved Sonic the Hedgehog fans didn’t go as far as Dr. Scalie did.

The courier took a moment to gather his breath, only to suddenly hold it. Two long ears rose from the side of the desk, a monster rising from the depths of Hell.

“No,” Ryan said with false panic.

The plushie looked at his maker, then at the A-bomb, and finally back at his maker. Meanwhile, Eugène-Henry ignored them all to vanish beneath the bedsheets, considering the matter beneath his kingly notice.

“No!” Ryan forbade the plushie.

And for the first time since this loop began, the furred fiend answered.

“I will always be your friend!”

This plushie hastily pushed the A-bomb’s button with a loud ‘click.’

Nothing happened.

The plushie hit it again, and again, and again in quick succession, growing more and more frustrated. Its eyes turned red as it glared angrily at Ryan.

“It’s a prop,” the courier replied with a grin. “I gave the real one to Vulcan.”

He had bribed his favorite dwarf Genius with so much technology, that she didn’t even ask him to ruin Star Studios this time. Vulcan insisted that Ryan become her assistant instead, and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Though Ryan could now interact with Vulcan without feeling stabbed in the gut every time she opened her mouth, the shadow of his Jasmine remained ever-present. The courier also intended to use this loop to deal with the Bliss Factory and Narcinia, and so would rather stay a contractor working for multiple branches of the Augusti’s

the suicide chain,” he said. “Aim for the heart though. There’s a chance you might live

kill anyone else!” Ryan pleaded as he left the fiend to its

him in the next corridor. He had managed to repair his glass mask, though Ryan wondered why he bothered to hide his true

tomato juice factory,” Ryan replied with disappointment. “He fears his

was on a Meta run, he might have changed that, but Ryan would have his plate full with the

day had passed since the bunker raid, though Ryan spent last night at the harbor helping Jamie protect drug supplies. Luigi hadn’t shown up this time, probably at Livia’s urging, but Jamie still invited Ryan to stay at his house all the same. That guy was so nice,

over the bunker’s mainframe. With Dr. Stitch and Tyrano’s long-distance assistance, the courier would have the best medical

he would

need to clean up Dynamis’ upper echelons,” Mathias said. “We planned to

said with a shrug. “His children might be willing to switch to a safer, better product than one capable

Mathias said. “Enrique might, once we provide him with the necessary data to show the destruction Bloodstream could unleash; and especially

red, a commie infiltrator. He wants to turn everyone

supply, but with Tyrano’s cure, he can also remove powers at will. That’s not the case

make everyone a Genome so people like Augustus couldn’t monopolize power, but he didn’t wish to

superpower. People would be kept in line by the fear of losing their Knockoff Genome

himself to be, he wouldn’t have

time,” Ryan said, remembering Bianca running off to sacrifice herself. “I will stop

operating in Italy, he comes a

can, with

place will have to go, Ryan,” Shroud insisted. “Maybe there is something here that could defeat Fallout, or even Augustus, true. But the risk of dangerous weapons spreading to the public is too great. Even distributing Mechron’s Knockoff formula doesn’t strike me as a good idea. It might weaken the position of Genome warlords, but our post-war society is too

preaching to a convert,” Ryan replied. “But I will only destroy this place after

“Do you truly believe

don’t, my

if there is a chance it works… if there is even the slightest chance it works, I can’t stop you

is specialized in brains.” Shroud’s head perked up at Ryan’s words. “He

behind his mask, though the vigilante turned his head sideways, thoughtful. “Why do you think the Alchemist distributed

Ryan

to ravage the world.” Shroud shook his head. “When I hear all the positive things Geniuses can make, I can’t help but wonder why Mechron built weapons rather than medical supplies. Not even superpowers could change

but most people I’ve met only need the right circumstances

you know that she sculpts in her spare

must have shown her boyfriend her gallery

that appeal to me as a game designer. I can’t quite explain it. And she won half a million euros in lottery

was he speaking fondly of Fortuna? Yesterday’s battle had greatly helped to turn his

it up. “Loud, no respect for personal

a much better person

“Will you be transparent with her on your

deadpanned with a joke of his own, before answering. “I think

it for the killing,” Ryan said. “She wants to protect Livia first and foremost. It’s

that why you’re dating her?” Shroud’s voice turned from amused to serious. “To turn Augustus’ daughter

to,” Ryan replied. He really had a thing for Blue

Ryan. What if

I needed it,” the courier replied. “I want

for her sake, if he didn’t. She didn’t deserve to

words, Ryan, you can’t save everyone.” Shroud marked a short pause.

he had to

Ryan said, changing the subject. “You can confirm what I said about the other Mechron bases

understand that?” Shroud asked. “Even if you turn back time again,

my cute, beautiful

there a way for you to carry others through time? I suppose it

“I have a procedure to transfer information directly into your brain, though your past self will

I am too paranoid to let anyone alter my brain, even if you earn my trust beforehand. I’m not sure I would even accept such a procedure at Leo’s urging, and I respect him more

much. The only people he imagined would go through with the memory transfer unconditionally were Alchemo, who understood the technology; and Sarin, who had nothing left to lose. Even Len had remained on the fence so far. “I’m trying to improve a system that could

like it,” he admitted. “You hold all the cards, and all I can do is go

I also trusted you enough to share my greatest secret too, Safelite,” Ryan pointed out. “I can count on one hand those who know my true,

adventures we went through for you to

defeated the Meta-Gang together once, though Lightning Butt destroyed the city after you

dryly, though he didn’t like it. Neither did Ryan, since Atom Kitten would clearly be much happier with the Carnival than with Dynamis. “A shame. I was interested in Felix Veran. He has

as the

with me and see for

near a pile of

mantis so fast that Ryan could barely see his paws move. The construct joined four others, representing a monkey, a

snickered. “Can you unlock Rubik Cubes

herself into paper sharp enough to slice throats,” Shroud replied dryly. “She could even slice

you?” The Psycho taunted him, while focusing

as much as Ryan did in the early days

then you’ve got nothing to fear from

fold paper that fast, even though he had mastered the skill years ago. “I thought you were a martial arts Genius?” he asked

head. “I ran tests. It… it took him minutes to pick up origami, and he…