The midday sun bzed overhead as Fii returo the Rust Market, limping from her injuries. Everything ached, but worst of all was her ribs, where the brute had kicked her. It hurt to breathe, and every step felt like kabbing through her chest.

  She found Rao standing outside his stall, sing the crowd for her. When he saw her approach, his eyes widened.

  "Fii, what the hell happeo you?!" he excimed, rushing over.

  She winced. "The Gully Rats took everything. They roughed me up pretty bad."

  "Damn it! Those bastards. Here, let me get a look at that," he said, frowning at her injuries. He pulled a cloth from his pocket and dabbed at her swollen face, wiping the dried blood and dirt off.

  She wi his touch. "Sorry I lost your order," she mumbled, averting her eyes.

  Rao sighed. "Don't worry about that, we'll deal with it. But what oh were you thinking? Don't you know how to avoid their territory? You've run this route dozens of times, you ought to know where those rats hang out. Holy, Fii..."

  "They weren't supposed to be there, I swear! Some sort of turf war started, and they showed up out of nowhere. hing I know, they were dragging me and my cart around, beating me up, and I couldn't—"

  "Alright, enough," He shook his head, clearly frustrated. "You don't o expin yourself. You were only doing what I asked you to, and I'm sorry you got caught in the middle of that. Let's get you ed up and give you something to eat. Go inside, I'll be right with you."

  Fii hobbled over to Rao's small workshop and colpsed onto the chair inside. A momehe vendor entered carrying a small bucket of water.

  "Now, sit still," he ordered. "This'll sting."

  He wet the cloth and applied it to Fii's bruises, making her flinch. Grittieeth, she ched her fists and ehe pain.

  The silence dragged on until finally, she spoke.

  "So what's the damage?" she asked softly.

  "Broken nose, split lip, and plenty of bruises. Probably some cracked ribs, too. You o get patched up by a professional unless you pn on lying around in bed for weeks. Luckily you didn't break anything worse. Might cost a bit of Tink to fix you, though."

  "Tink? But I spent all my—"

  "I know," he interrupted, sighing. "Look, I'll cover for you this time. Just make sure you find work somewhere else after this, okay? I 't always be bailing you out of trouble."

  She nodded, blinking away tears. "Thanks, Rao. You're the best."

  "Don't mention it," he said gruffly. "It's not your fault you got mugged by those bastards. But seriously, what were they fighting over this time? I thought the gangs had called it even after st month."

  "Dunno, they weren't saying much. But it seemed important enough that they attacked me anyway."

  "Huh, I guess they really did mean business. Well, all the better reason for you to stay out of it. You're a smart girl, Fii, don't act rashly again."

  "I won't," she promised, nodding.

  The rest of the afternoon passed without i.

  Later, Rao sent Fii home after giving her another synthie roll.

  "Go home, rest, and be baorrow," he said as he handed her the food. "I need you for something, and no excuses."

  She smiled weakly. "Okay, see you tomorrow."

  As she left the market, the exhaustion of the day finally set in. She trudged home with ag legs, wing at the pain with every step. Along the way, she passed a group of urs pying a game of football ireets, using an old ball stuffed with rags. A few children called out treeting her enthusiastically.

  "Hi, Fii! Py with us? Please?"

  "Hi guys, I'd love to py, but I'm tired right now," she answered, f a smile. They pouted at her refusal, but she ruffled their hair and tinued onwards.

  Ss of versation drifted through the streets.

  "...heard the Aether ic's free check-ups..."

  "...'t trust 'em. Nothing's free in the slums..."

  "...might be worth a shot. Got this cough that won't go away..."

  Free check-up? She paused to listen to the talk. The Aether ic was a new pce, and she hadn't been inside before. A check-up could mean that they’d also fix her up. Doubt they’d do that part for free. Still, it wouldn't hurt to take a peek. Maybe it was worth the walk over.

  Taking a bite of her synthie roll, she turned around and headed towards the ic.

  It took half an hour to reach the far end of the slums, where a small two-story building stood at the end of a narrow alleyway. Its walls were painted a dull grey, and its windows looked grimy. A rusty sign hung above the entrance, reading, "Aether ic".

  A line had already formed outside, and people shuffled slowly towards the door.

  Fii took her pce at the end of the line, her gaze wandering to the people around her. Some looked nervous, their eyes darting around, while others chatted with their neighbossiping. Several young kids sat on the curb, swinging their legs to and fro as they waited.

  The line inched forward until finally, Fii made it to the door. Ihe cool air was a wele relief from the heat outside.

  As she stepped through the doorway, Fii was met by the sterile smell of disiant and the bright fluorest lights overhead. The walls were bare save for faded posters showg healthy living, but the pictures were of people from the metropolis, not the slums. Their , well-fed faces seemed out of ppared to the gauntness and grime surrounding her.

  Fii fidgeted in her seat, her fingers pying with the frayed edges of her jacket. The room was filled with hushed versations, punctuated by the occasional cough or cry of a child. Every now and then, a nurse would e out and call a name, leading the person inside.

  As the miurned into over an hour of waiting, Fii's patience began to wear thin. She was about to get up and leave when she overheard a versatioween two elderly meed o her.

  "...heard they're giving out some new kind of vae," one of them whispered, his voice raspy.

  The other man nodded, his eyes filled with a mix of hope and skepticism. "Yeah, but you know how it is with these things. All sizzle, no steak."

  Fii's ears perked up. A vae? Wasn’t that some sort of wonder drug that stopped people from getting sick from something? She strained her ears, trying to hear more.

  "...said it's supposed to boost your immune system, make you resistant to all kinds of diseases," the first man tinued.

  The sean snorted. "All sizzle, no steak," he repeated, shaking his head. "If it works, though, I'll be the first to get it."

  "Yeah, me too. Be nice if I didn't have to worry about catg something."

  Fii leaned back against the hard pstic chair, lost in thought. A free vae could be great, if it was real. But holy, she just wao get her injuries treated and then go home.

  She sidered leaving, but she had already waited so long. Besides, the the desk seemed busy, and it wasn't like the line was getting any shorter. With a resigned sigh, she settled into her chair.

  Another hour passed, but eventually, it was her turn.

  "," called a woman at the desk. Fii walked up, takiurn.

  "he nurse asked, not looking up from the clipboard in her hands.

  "Fii."

  "Age?"

  "Eighteen."

  The nurse nodded as she scribbled on her clipboard.

  "Any pre-existing ditions?"

  "Err, no? I'm pretty healthy, except for this." She gestured to her cuts and bruises. "But I ha on my own, I just—"

  The nurse held up her hand, cutting her off. "Thank you. Now, follow me."

  She led Fii into a small examination room, gesturing for her to sit on the examination table. A tray of medical instruments sat on a nearby ter, their gleaming surfaces refleg the overhead lights.

  Fii took a deep breath, trying to calm her his was her first time going to a proper ic. Sure, she'd teo her fair share of scrapes and scratches, but never anything this serious.

  The ook a fshlight and sho in her eyes, peering closely.

  "Any pain in the neck or back?"

  Fii shook her head. The nurse checked her heartbeat, then listeo her breathing, nodding to herself.

  "Any history of heart problems, respiratory issues, or diabetes?"

  Fii knew she had a stro, but what did the other things mean?

  "Err, not that I know of?"

  "You sure?" The nurse frow her answer. "Alright, then. The doctor will be in shortly."

  The nurse left, leaving Fii alone in the room.

  As she sat waiting, Fii's thoughts drifted to her day, repying the events that led to her current dition.

  How the hell had things gotten so messed up today? It wasn't that bad in the m. Well, the weather had been stifling hot, and her water had run out earlier than usual, but still.

  Then there was the ambush from those Gully Rat assholes. Who knows what they were doing there, but they certainly made a mess of her afternoon.

  Now, here she was, stuck at the ic for who-knows-how-long. Her head ached, and she couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that something big was happening in the slums.

  Before long, another womaered the room. She wore a white coat over her clothes, and her dark blonde hair ulled bato a ponytail.

  Fii instinctively straightened up.

  "Hello, I'm Dr. Edith," the woman introduced herself. "Are you here for the free checkup?"

  "Yes, that's me," Fii replied, nodding. "But it'd be nice if you also patch me up, er, the more serious stuff."

  Dr. Edith looked her over, her eyes widening at Fii's wounds.

  "Those are some nasty cuts and bruises you have there," she noted, frowning. "Let me get a better look."

  She ied Fii's fad gently prodded her ribs. Fii wi her touch, a sharp pain shooting through her chest.

  "Try to remain still," Dr. Edith instructed.

  Fii did as she was told, but she couldn't help but gnce curiously at the doctor. She wasn't from the slums; her clothes were , and her skin ale and unblemished. The bags under her eyes revealed how exhausted she was, though.

  "Your injuries seem superficial, but your ribs may be cracked," the doctor ented. "I give you a week's worth of painkillers but I doubt you have the moo pay for them, and those aren't free."

  "No, I don't. Sorry, doc."

  Dr. Edith pursed her lips, looking thoughtful. After a moment, she spoke again.

  "I'm dug a voluntary vaatiram. Have you heard about it?"

  Fii shook her head.

  "Basically, we're giving out a free vae to anyone who wants oo prevent a viral iion spreading through the slums."

  "What's that got to do with me?"

  "The vaes are experimental, so we est subjects," Dr. Edith expined. "If you volunteer, I give you those painkillers and treat your other injuries. That way, you get something iurn, a valuable data to advance our research."

  Fii bli her. The doctor's words sounded suspiciously ve, but what choice did she have? If the offer meant free treatment, she wasn't going to pass up on it.

  "You're me free stuff in exge for a vae?" she asked cautiously.

  "Yes, that's correct," the doctor firmed. "I promise it's entirely voluntary, and the vae itself is pletely safe. There's no catch. So, what do you say?"

  Fii mulled over her options. It was a strange offer, but she needed help, and if the doctor was telling the truth, it could be everyone.

  "Alright, I'll do it," she decided.

  Dr. Edith smiled, pleased with her response. "Good. Just rex a me take care of everything."

  The doctor retrieved a syringe from the nearby tray and approached Fii with a sterilized needle. Fii felt a brief pri her arm, and within moments, a cooliion spread through her body.

  "How do you feel?" Dr. Edith asked.

  "It's kinda cold," Fii replied, rubbing her arm. "Is that normal?"

  "That's just the medication cirg in your bloodstream. It'll warm up in a few seds."

  Dr. Edith paced around, eyeing her carefully.

  After a minute or so, a frown of disappoi crossed the doctor's face. She pihe bridge of her nose, seeming annoyed by something.

  "Um, is something wrong?" Fii asked.

  "Oh no, nothing's wrong. There don't seem to be any immediate side effects, so you go now. And here, take the painkillers." Dr. Edith took a bottle of pills from the table and ha to Fii. "Take one pill a day in the m with a gss of water."

  "Okay, thanks!" Fii pocketed the bottle and slid off the examination table.

  Dr. Edith was already on her way out of the room, mumbling something under her breath.

  Well, that was weird. Fii shrugged, guessing the doust've been stressed from w in the slums. With a yawn, she stretched her arms ahe ic.

  The sun outside seemed harsher, the shadows deeper. Fii's steps faltered as a wave of dizziness washed over her. She leaned against the ic's outer wall, trying to steady herself. The world around her seemed to tilt, the ground shiftih her feet.

  A sudden warmth spread from the iion site, c through her veins. Panic gripped her as her vision blurred, the familiar sights of the slums morphing into a kaleidoscope of colors. She could hear distant voices, but they sounded garbled, as if uer.

  "Hey, you alright?" Someone's voice pierced through the haze. A hand grasped her shoulder, keeping her from falling.

  Fii tried to respond, but her tongue felt heavy, her words slurred. Her knees buckled, and she sank to the ground. She closed her eyes, her breathing bored.

  A otioed around her, but she could no longer make sense of it.

  "We o get you baside!" a panicked voisisted. "Doctor! Doctor!"

  Her world went dark.

  When she came to, she was baside the ic, lying on a makeshift bed. The smell of disiant stung her nostrils, and the harsh fluorest light hurt her eyes.

  Dr. Edith loomed over her, taking notes on a clipboard. She looked more alert now, her eyes clear and focused.

  "Ah, you're awake," she said, smiling. "I was beginning to worry."

  Fii tried to sit up, but her body refused to cooperate. "What did you do to me?" she croaked, her voice hoarse.

  The doctor's lips curled into a smile. "Just a little experiment," she replied nontly. "But don't worry, it was a success."

  "Success? What are you talking about?" Fii asked, growing more fused by the minute.

  "I gave you a dose of the experimental serum," the doctor said, her toter-of-fact. "The ohat's meant to create Metahuman subjects."

  What was this nutjob of a doctor saying? Metahumans? Serums? What did she get herself into?

  "It should ki soon. In the meary to rex. It'll be over soon enough." Dr. Edith checked her watch, jotting down more notes on the clipboard.

  Fii's heart raced, her mind struggling to process the doctor's words. "You used me?" she whispered, disbelief evident in her voice. "And...the other people here?"

  Dr. Edith shrugged. "Don't think of it as being used. Think of it as you being an invaluable partit in a revolutionary medical breakthrough."

  Revolutionary my ass. This was insane.

  Fii swallowed hard, her throat dry. "W-what now? What's gonna happen to me?"

  "Well, noait. And see. Your body should be ging at a quantum level, with your cells evolving to acclimate to the neithin you," she expined, as calmly as a artist expining a pyramid scheme. "You might experiene disfort at first, but it's all part of the process."

  What was this nutjob talking jibberish about?

  "That's crazy..." Fii mumbled, staring bnkly ahead.

  "Yes, it is. And it's going to ge the world," the doctor replied, her eyes glittering with excitement. "Just wait and see. You won't regret this, I promise. You'll soon be just like those superheroes you've probably seen or heard about on the news."

  Fii's eyes widened.

  Superheroes? No way.

  A millioions swirled in her mind, but she couldn't find the words to express them. As she was about to ask another question, she felt herself sinking.

  The world around Fii felt distant, as if she were submerged in water. Her senses were dulled, yet heighte the same time. The hum of the overhead lights became a deafening roar, while the soft rustle of Dr. Edith's b coat sounded like the rustling of leaves in a storm.

  Fii tried to move, but her limbs felt heavy, unresponsive. Panic bubbled up inside her as she struggled to breathe. She tried to call out, but her voice was trapped ihroat, barely esg as a wheeze.

  Dr. Edith watched her ily, seemingly unfazed by Fii's distress.

  "There's o fight it," she murmured, her voice sounding faint and distorted. "Let the transformation take pce. Yoing to be fine."

  Suddenly, the weightlessness intensified. Fii felt herself lifting off the examination table, her body floating in mid-air. She thrashed, desperately trying to get back down, but it was no use.

  As the seds ticked by, Fii's panic grew. She felt trapped inside her own body, uo trol her as. Dr. Edith observed her with a detached curiosity, taking notes on her clipboard.

  Objects around her began to levitate, floatilessly. The examination table rose off the ground, tilting sideways. Various medical equipment and supplies followed suit, swirling in a slow orbit around Fii.

  A faint blue glow surrounded Fii's body, bathing the room in a ghostly light. Dr. Edith's eyes widened as she watched, her grip on the clipboard tightening.

  Fii felt as if her blood had turo fire. A burni radiated throughout her body, searing her from the i. Her vision blurred, the outlines of objects ing and twisting. A splitting paied in her skull, and she screamed.

  Her eyes rolled back, and her sciousness flickered.

  The st thing she remembered was Dr. Edith's voice speaking with someone.

  "Did you get all that, Helix?"

  A robotic voice replied.

  [Affirmative, Doctor. Ss indicate the subject is exhibiting advanced graviton manipution capabilities. Brainwaves are spiking, but her vital signs are stable. gratutions, Dr. Edith. Your theory has been proven.]

  Fii's vision faded to bck again as the sound of footsteps echoed in her mind.

  Zanafar