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.

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

eldritch horror examined the cannon curiously, though the weapon was ten times larger than it was. “Please don’t kill anyone else!” Ryan pleaded as

Shroud asked, having waited for him in the next corridor. He had managed to repair his glass mask, though Ryan wondered why he bothered to

help sabotage the tomato juice factory,” Ryan replied with disappointment. “He

changed that, but Ryan would have his plate full with

Luigi hadn’t shown up this time, probably at Livia’s urging, but Jamie still invited

bunker, settling things here. He had contacted Alchemo, who should make his way to New Rome by the next day and help take over the

would dedicate to

Mathias said. “We planned to wait for Hector Manada to retire, but we can hasten his departure

many times.” Ryan said with a shrug. “His children might be willing to switch to a safer, better product than one capable of causing a

show the destruction Bloodstream could unleash; and especially if his family lied to him. But Alphonse is another beast entirely. He won’t surrender

red, a commie infiltrator. He wants to turn everyone

remained skeptical. “Think about it. Fallout not only controls the Knockoff supply, but with Tyrano’s cure, he can also remove powers at

on the money. Atom Smasher planned to make everyone a Genome so people like Augustus couldn’t monopolize power, but he didn’t

could both give superpowers and take them away, then it could become a true superpower. People would be kept in line by the fear

side-effects than the societal control they grant his organization,” Shroud said. “If he was truly the hero he believes himself to be, he wouldn’t have created something so dangerous in the first place. In the end, Alphonse Manada only believes in his vision. He won’t deviate from his chosen path unless

time,” Ryan said, remembering Bianca running off to sacrifice herself.

operating in Italy, he comes

can, with this base’s

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

preaching to a convert,” Ryan replied. “But I will only

“Do you truly

my

replied, before adding, “but if there is a chance it works… if there is even the slightest chance it works, I can’t stop you from trying.

up at Ryan’s words.

his mask, though the vigilante turned his head sideways, thoughtful. “Why

into interdimensional squids, Ryan

shook his head. “When I hear all the positive things Geniuses can make, I can’t help but wonder why Mechron

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

you know that she sculpts in

shown her boyfriend her gallery yesterday night.

but she hides artistic sensibilities that appeal to me as a game designer. I can’t quite explain it. And she won half a million euros in lottery winnings this morning, but instead of sitting on it, she wants to

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

it up. “Loud, no respect for personal space, but surprisingly warm

a much better person

head. “Will you be

well?” Mathias deadpanned with a joke of his own, before answering. “I think I

group, she isn’t in it for the killing,” Ryan

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

her out because I wanted to,” Ryan replied. He really had

this place is dangerous, Ryan. What if

me when I needed it,” the courier replied. “I want to return the

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

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

he had

to access the mainframe,” Ryan said, changing the subject. “You can confirm what I said about the other

will have to inform Leo about you, you understand that?” Shroud asked. “Even if you turn back time again, I can’t keep that to

for my cute, beautiful

member replied with a chuckle. “Is there a way for you to carry others

your brain, though your past self will have

my brain, even if you earn my trust beforehand. I’m not sure I would even accept such a procedure at

through with the memory transfer unconditionally were Alchemo, who understood the technology; and Sarin, who had nothing

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

Safelite,” Ryan pointed out. “I can count

adventures we went through for

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

Ryan, since Atom Kitten would clearly be much happier with the Carnival than

much as the

scoffed. “Come with me

atrium, where they found the transformed folding paper sheets under Len’s watch. Sarin was playing pool near a pile of books, including Discours de la méthode:Pour bien conduire sa raison, et chercher la vérité dans les sciences, by

shape of a mantis so fast that Ryan could barely

snickered. “Can you unlock Rubik

herself into paper sharp enough to slice throats,” Shroud replied dryly.

taunted

much as Ryan did in the early days of

pal, if you truly can cure me, then you’ve got nothing to fear from me.” Sarin hit an 8-ball with her pool stick.

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

tests. It… it took him