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.

the shadow of his Jasmine remained ever-present. The courier

“Here, if you want to work your way up the suicide chain,” he said. “Aim for the heart though. There’s a chance you

the cannon curiously, though the weapon was ten times larger than it was. “Please don’t kill anyone else!” Ryan pleaded as he left the fiend to its experiments, rising from his seat to move

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

factory,” Ryan replied with disappointment. “He

Meta run, he might have changed that, but Ryan would have his plate full with the Augusti for

Luigi hadn’t shown up this time, probably at Livia’s urging, but Jamie still invited Ryan to stay at his house all the

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

would dedicate

we will need to clean up Dynamis’ upper echelons,” Mathias said. “We planned to wait for Hector Manada to retire, but we can hasten his departure all

“His children might be willing to switch to a safer, better product than one

the necessary data to show the destruction Bloodstream could unleash; and especially if his family lied to him. But Alphonse is another beast entirely. He won’t surrender Bloodstream, even for a better

he?” Ryan asked with a frown. “He’s a red, a commie infiltrator. He wants to turn

Knockoff supply, but with Tyrano’s cure, he can also

and had to admit that he might be right on the money. Atom Smasher planned to make everyone a Genome so people like Augustus couldn’t monopolize power,

true superpower. People would be kept in line by the fear

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

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

you?” Shroud asked, doubtful. “Among the most dangerous Genomes operating in Italy, he comes a close

can, with

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

convert,” Ryan replied. “But I will only destroy this place after it helps solve the

his arms. “Do you truly believe

don’t, my transparent

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

of the Genomes I called is specialized in brains.” Shroud’s head perked up at Ryan’s words. “He can even cure mental

see Looking Glass’ face behind his mask, though the vigilante turned his head sideways, thoughtful. “Why do you think the Alchemist distributed these Elixirs in

interdimensional squids, Ryan thought. “I dunno,

think so too, and yet we used them to ravage the world.” Shroud shook his head. “When I hear all the positive things Geniuses

be rotten apples like Late Adam, but most people I’ve met only need the right circumstances to turn their lives around. Anyone

that she sculpts in her spare

must have shown her boyfriend her gallery

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

Yesterday’s battle had greatly helped

no respect for personal space, but surprisingly warm and loyal

better person than

put his hands behind his head. “Will you be transparent with her on your next

you turn back time to make your own go well?” Mathias deadpanned with a joke of his own, before answering. “I think I will clear things up with her, but… not as long as she’s working as a hitman for

of her group, she isn’t in it for the killing,” Ryan said. “She wants to protect Livia first

why you’re dating her?” Shroud’s voice turned from

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

Ryan. What if she

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

if he didn’t. She didn’t deserve to have her sire’s crimes on

you can’t save everyone.” Shroud

he had to

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

asked. “Even if you turn back time again, I can’t keep that to

for my cute, beautiful

“Is there a way for you to carry others through time? I suppose it is only

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

you earn my trust beforehand. I’m not sure I would even accept such a procedure at Leo’s urging,

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

the cards, and all I

secret too, Safelite,” Ryan pointed out. “I can count on

went through for you to do

the Meta-Gang together once, though Lightning Butt destroyed the

though he didn’t like it. Neither did Ryan, since Atom Kitten would clearly be much happier with the Carnival than with Dynamis.

much as the

scoffed. “Come with me

sheets under Len’s watch. Sarin was playing pool near a

that Ryan could barely see his

snickered. “Can

into paper sharp enough to slice throats,” Shroud

aren’t you?” The Psycho taunted him, while focusing

vigilante mistrusted her as much as Ryan did in

you’ve got nothing to fear from me.” Sarin hit an

had mastered the skill years ago. “I thought you

that’s not it,” Len said while shaking her head. “I ran tests. It… it took him minutes to pick