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.

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

suicide chain,” he said. “Aim for the heart

it was. “Please don’t kill anyone else!” Ryan pleaded

to repair his glass mask, though Ryan wondered why he bothered to hide his true face

replied with disappointment. “He fears his bosses’ wrath more than

might have changed that, but Ryan would have his plate full with the Augusti

Jamie protect drug supplies. Luigi hadn’t shown up this time, probably at Livia’s urging, but Jamie still

by the next day and help take over the bunker’s mainframe.

he would dedicate to

clean up Dynamis’ upper echelons,” Mathias said. “We planned to wait for Hector Manada to retire, but we

a shrug. “His children might be willing to switch to a safer, better product

destruction Bloodstream could unleash; and especially

asked with a frown. “He’s a red, a commie infiltrator. He wants to turn everyone into a Genome, maybe

Fallout not only controls the Knockoff supply, but with Tyrano’s cure, he can also remove powers at will. That’s not the case with Mechron’s variants,

monopolize power, but he didn’t

would be kept in line

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

said, remembering Bianca running off to

operating in Italy, he comes a close third behind Augustus

with

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

“But I will only

crossed his arms. “Do you

don’t, my transparent

if there is a chance it works… if there is even the slightest chance it works, I can’t stop you from trying. It would help too

brains.” Shroud’s head perked up at Ryan’s words. “He can even cure mental illnesses, Alzheimer’s, and even a Psycho’s

the vigilante turned his head sideways, thoughtful. “Why do you think the Alchemist distributed these Elixirs in the

us into interdimensional squids, Ryan thought. “I dunno, improve

all the positive things Geniuses can make, I can’t help but wonder why

be rotten apples like Late Adam, but most people I’ve met only need the

know that she sculpts

shown her boyfriend her gallery

me as a game designer. I can’t quite explain it.

battle had greatly helped

retriever,” Ryan summed it up. “Loud, no respect

She’s a much better person

his head. “Will you be transparent

think I

the killing,” Ryan said. “She wants to protect Livia first

turned from amused to serious. “To turn Augustus’

wanted to,” Ryan replied. He really

place is dangerous, Ryan.

when I needed

if he didn’t.

can’t save everyone.” Shroud marked a short pause.

yet, he had to

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

you, you understand that?” Shroud asked. “Even if you

for my cute, beautiful

Carnival member replied with a chuckle. “Is there a way for you to carry others through time? I

to transfer information directly into your brain, though your past self

shaking his head. “I know myself. I am too paranoid to let anyone alter my brain, even if you earn my trust beforehand. I’m not

had nothing left to lose. Even Len had remained on the fence so far. “I’m trying to improve a system that

like it,” he admitted. “You hold all the cards,

too, Safelite,” Ryan pointed out.

adventures we went through for you to

Butt destroyed the city after

be much happier with the Carnival than with Dynamis. “A shame. I was

as

with me and see

found the transformed folding paper sheets under Len’s watch. Sarin was playing pool near a pile

Ryan could barely see his paws move. The construct joined four others,

“Can you

teammates, Origami, can turn herself into paper sharp enough to slice throats,” Shroud

Psycho taunted him, while

turncoat, and then we’ll talk.” Though he tolerated Sarin, the vigilante mistrusted her as much as Ryan did in the early days of his presidency. “If you sell us out as

you truly can cure me, then you’ve got nothing to fear from me.” Sarin hit an 8-ball with her pool stick. “Don’t make me wait

on his bear disciple. Even Ryan couldn’t fold paper that fast, even though he had mastered the skill years ago. “I thought you were a martial arts Genius?” he

tests. It… it took him minutes to pick up origami, and he… he learned French