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Scene 1: The Lab
The sterile hum of fluorescent lights filled the air, punctuated only by the soft whir of machines and the occasional hiss of pressurized gas. Ethan Voss adjusted his lab goggles, trying to shake the gnawing fatigue from his mind. Another late night at the Elemetal Organization's state-of-the-art research facility.
"Voss, you're burning the midnight oil again," Greg, his colleague, called out from behind a cluttered workstation. "You know the higher-ups don't pay overtime, right?"
Ethan smirked, not looking up from the glowing chamber in front of him. "Someone's gotta babysit this stuff. Can't have it blowing up in our faces."
Inside the containment chamber swirled a strange, shimmering liquid—an experimental isotope derived from an unknown element discovered in the Earth's crust. The organization called it E-37. Ethan called it trouble waiting to happen.
"Pressure levels stable?" Greg asked, half-jokingly.
Ethan glanced at the console. The numbers seemed fine, but something felt... off. A faint vibration resonated through the floor, barely perceptible but enough to make his gut tighten.
"I don't like this," Ethan muttered.
Before Greg could reply, the lights flickered. A sharp, insistent beep blared from the control panel.
"Pressure spike!" Greg shouted.
Ethan's hands flew across the controls. "Shutting it down!"
But it was too late. The liquid in the chamber flared, its color shifting violently between shades of blue and crimson. The vibration grew into a tremor, shaking the entire lab.
"Get out of here!" Ethan yelled.
Greg bolted for the door just as the containment chamber exploded.
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Scene 2: Awakening
When Ethan came to, he was lying amidst a scene of destruction. Smoke curled from twisted metal, and the acrid smell of burnt chemicals stung his nose. He groaned, pushing himself upright.
"Greg?" he called out, coughing. No response.
The lab was unrecognizable. Equipment lay in shambles, and the containment chamber was gone, replaced by a smoking crater.
Ethan's vision swam as he stumbled to his feet. His hands trembled, but it wasn't just from shock—his palms glowed faintly, radiating a soft, golden light.
"What the hell..." He stared at his hands, heart pounding.
A faint metallic glimmer caught his eye. A nearby steel table had liquefied, forming a silvery puddle at his feet. Panic surged through him.
"Greg!" he called again, louder this time.
Footsteps approached, crunching over broken glass. Ethan turned to see two figures in black suits, their faces cold and expressionless. The insignia of the Elemetal Organization gleamed on their lapels.
"Ethan Voss," one of them said, his voice devoid of emotion. "You're coming with us."
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Scene 3: The Pursuit
Ethan took a step back, his instincts screaming at him to run. The glow in his hands intensified, heating the air around him.
"What's happening to me?" he muttered, fear twisting his voice.
The suited men stepped closer. "You've been exposed to E-37. We need to contain the situation."
"Contain? What do you mean, contain?"
Before they could answer, Ethan felt a sudden surge of energy pulse through his body. The air shimmered, and the ground beneath his feet cracked.
"Stay back!" he shouted, raising his hands instinctively.
A burst of heat erupted from his palms, sending the men flying backward. Shocked, Ethan stared at his glowing hands.
"I... I didn't mean to..."
The suits were already recovering, pulling out strange metallic devices that looked like weapons.
Ethan didn't wait to see what they would do. He turned and bolted, stumbling over debris as he fled the ruined lab.
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Scene 4: The Chase Begins
The night air hit him like a slap, cool and sharp. He ran blindly, his mind racing. His hands still glowed faintly, leaving faint scorch marks on anything he touched.
Behind him, alarms blared, and the sound of heavy boots echoed in the distance. The Elemetal Organization wasn't going to let him go.
Ethan's thoughts were a whirlwind. What had they done to him? What was happening to his body?
He had no answers, but one thing was clear: his life would never be the same again.
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