Confident he was close to success, Michael took a fifth insect and began again. After nearly an hour of intense effort, he successfully reconstructed the insect's DNA by attaching a new sequence. Overcome with joy, he nearly shouted but quickly controlled himself, as it was around noon, and someone might be outside the lab. Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching.
Michael froze as the faint sound of footsteps echoed through the deserted corridor, growing louder with each passing second. His heart pounded in his chest, a cold sweat breaking out across his forehead. He pressed himself against the wall beside the laboratory door, his muscles tense, ready to spring into action. If anyone dared to enter the lab, he was prepared to incapacitate them instantly. Michael couldn't afford to let anyone interfere with his groundbreaking research, nor could he risk someone panicking at the sight of him and alerting the authorities. The stakes were too high. His secret project—his life's work—was on the verge of a revolutionary breakthrough, and he wasn't about to let it slip through his fingers.
The lab was dimly lit, the faint hum of machinery filling the air as Michael's mind raced. He had taken every precaution to ensure his activities remained undetected. The surveillance cameras had been hacked to loop footage from the previous night and Sunday, creating the illusion of an empty lab. But the approaching footsteps were a stark reminder that no plan was foolproof. Michael's project was too sensitive, too dangerous, to allow any outsider even a glimpse of what he was doing. He had kept it hidden even from his grandfather, the one person he trusted most in the world. If he could conceal it from him, no one else had the right to know.
Michael's plan wasn't just to use the lab and abandon it. He intended to leave behind subtle clues—ingenious methods embedded in the lab's equipment—that would aid future researchers without revealing his own involvement. He wanted his work to benefit humanity, but only after he had achieved his goal. The footsteps grew louder, closer, each step amplifying the tension in the air. Michael's grip tightened around the small metal tool in his hand, a makeshift weapon if needed. He wasn't a violent person, but desperation had pushed him to the edge. His project was worth any sacrifice.
As the footsteps reached the lab's entrance, Michael held his breath, his pulse thundering in his ears. Then, to his astonishment, the sound began to fade, retreating down the corridor. Relief washed over him, and he exhaled shakily, wiping the sweat from his brow. Whoever it was had passed by without entering. For now, he was safe. Without wasting another moment, Michael returned to his work, his focus razor-sharp.
So far, he had successfully modified the DNA of a single insect—a small, black creature he had carefully selected for its genetic malleability. His plan was audacious: to use this insect to destroy his own DNA and then reconstruct it using another insect, a larger red one, which he would engineer to carry a specialized serum. This serum, delivered through the second insect, would rebuild his DNA to unlock its full potential, granting him abilities far beyond those of any human. The process was fraught with complexity and danger. What Michael was attempting had never been done before—not by any scientist, not in the history of humanity. While some researchers had dabbled in genetic manipulation, Michael's vision was revolutionary. If he succeeded, he could surpass the fictional heroes he admired—Captain America, Superman, Hulk, even Thor. His reconstructed DNA would push him beyond human limitations, transforming him into a being of unparalleled power.
Michael's reasoning was rooted in science, not fantasy. DNA determined everything—strength, intelligence, resilience, even susceptibility to disease. By reconstructing his DNA to operate at its maximum potential, Michael could break free from the constraints of human biology. He could become a pioneer, the first step toward humanity's evolution into something greater, a star rising in the cosmic expanse. But the risks were immense. One miscalculation could destroy him, or worse, unleash catastrophic consequences on the world. Yet the potential rewards—becoming a superhero in reality, not just in comic books—drove him forward.
He reached into a sealed jar and extracted the second insect, a vibrant red specimen three times larger than the black one. Its size and genetic complexity made it a more challenging subject, but Michael was undaunted. He took a deep breath, steadying his nerves, and began the next phase of his work. The first insect's DNA modification had taken just an hour, a relatively simple task. This time, however, he estimated the process would take 12 to 18 hours. He needed to dismantle the red insect's entire DNA structure, replace it with a new one, and embed a serum that would reconstruct his own DNA. The precision required was staggering, but Michael had prepared for this moment for years.
Reflecting on his previous success, Michael spent two hours analyzing his notes, pinpointing the exact methods that had worked with the black insect. Armed with this knowledge, he began working on the red insect, methodically breaking down its DNA structure. The process was grueling, each step fraught with challenges as the insect's genetic code resisted manipulation. But Michael's determination was unshakable. After hours of intense focus, he succeeded in destroying the insect's original DNA, clearing the way to build a new structure from scratch.
As he worked, a fleeting thought crossed his mind—a memory of a technique he had read about in an obscure scientific journal. This technique proposed creating a serum that could directly destroy and reconstruct human DNA without the need for an intermediary like the insects. The idea was tantalizing, but it filled Michael with doubt. He had invested so much time and effort into his current approach—abandoning it now would mean wasting everything. The new technique was untested, and Michael wasn't willing to take that risk. He pushed the idea to the back of his mind and continued his work, making slight adjustments to ensure the red insect would obey his commands and expire within 15 days. Its natural lifespan was a year, but with only three days of life remaining, Michael needed to act quickly.
The reconstructed DNA would strip the insect of its cognitive abilities, turning it into a biological machine that followed a single directive: to rebuild Michael's DNA. To ensure safety, Michael also removed the insect's venom, rendering it harmless. He extracted a drop of his own blood, isolating his DNA to serve as the blueprint for the insect's instructions. The process was meticulous, requiring him to embed precise commands into the insect's genetic code. After nearly 12 hours of relentless work, Michael inserted the final instruction, completing the reconstruction. Exhausted but triumphant, he checked the time on his phone: midnight. His body ached, his mind was drained, but he had done it.
Carefully, Michael placed both insects into separate pouches and prepared to leave the lab. Before departing, he decided to leave a letter for the lab's researchers. In it, he apologized for using their facility without permission and included cryptic insights about DNA manipulation—enough to guide future research without revealing his own project. It was his way of giving back, ensuring his work would benefit humanity even if he didn't survive his experiment.
Michael opened the lab door and slipped into the night, moving swiftly to avoid the surveillance cameras he had previously hacked. He restored the cameras to their normal function, erasing any trace of his presence. Five kilometers away, he retrieved his car from a busy parking lot, a deliberate choice to avoid suspicion. The lab was located in a desolate alley, but the parking lot was bustling, providing perfect cover. As he drove away, Michael reset the cameras within a five-kilometer radius, ensuring no evidence remained of his activities. An hour and a half later, he arrived at his secluded farmhouse, where he placed the insects in separate jars and collapsed onto his bed, succumbing to exhaustion.
---
Meanwhile, in New York City, Joshua Becker, a 23-year-old special agent with the NYPD, was monitoring surveillance feeds during his night shift. At 5'11" with a muscular build, Joshua was a dedicated officer who had joined the department a year ago. His duties included tracking minor crimes and keeping an eye on the city's surveillance network. Honest and principled, Joshua never acted without ensuring his actions aligned with the law and served the greater good.
The previous night, Joshua had noticed a glitch in the surveillance cameras near the lab's location. Initially, he dismissed it as a software issue, but when the cameras resumed normal operation shortly after, he grew suspicious. Without concrete evidence, he couldn't report it to his superiors, so he conducted a discreet investigation. He visited the area, spoke to a nearby parking lot owner, and learned that 130 cars had been parked there the previous night, with 90 retrieved the next morning. Among the names on the list was Michael's, but Joshua found no reason to suspect him. Michael was a high school student with no criminal record, the sole heir to a wealthy family. Joshua let the matter drop and returned home.
But the following night, when the same glitch occurred again, Joshua's instincts kicked in. The odds of the same issue happening two nights in a row were too high to ignore. Convinced it was deliberate, he resolved to investigate further. Michael, aware of the risks, had taken precautions to cover his tracks. By parking his car a mile and a half from the lab in a busy area, he ensured his movements blended into the city's chaos. The lab's isolated location further shielded him from scrutiny.
As Joshua prepared to dig deeper, Michael's experiment was nearing its final phase. The insects were ready, and the next step would determine whether he would become a superhero—or a casualty of his own ambition.