Chapter 7: The Catalyst
Location: Sinister's Facility
The facility trembled under the strain of its failing systems. Sparks rained down from the ceiling as Sinister's pristine laboratory became a battleground of chaos. The once-sterile environment now reeked of ozone, scorched metal, and raw power. Jade stood at the center of it all, glowing with an unearthly energy that pulsed and crackled around him.
"Magnificent," Sinister muttered, his voice barely audible over the din. "The experiment is a complete success."
Jade's body trembled violently as arcs of lightning leapt from his form, striking the walls and floor. His silvery eyes shone like twin beacons, his face contorted in pain and confusion.
"Kid!" Logan shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "You've got to get a hold of yourself!"
Deadpool, crouching behind a half-collapsed console, poked his head out cautiously. "Uh, quick question: is he supposed to be turning into a walking, talking Tesla coil? Because I did not sign up for this. And, Logan, I swear, if my suit gets fried—again—I'm billing you."
Sinister remained calm, his crimson eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Let him burn through it. The boy must adapt to his newfound potential."
Jade staggered, clutching his head as fragmented memories flooded his mind. Images of Logan's claws tearing through enemies, Deadpool's acrobatic feats, and even Sinister's cold, calculating gaze assaulted his senses. It was as if he could feel their abilities—not just see them, but understand them.
"Logan…" Jade's voice was barely a whisper, his knees buckling under the weight of the power coursing through him. "What's… happening to me?"
Logan took a step forward, his claws retracting with a deliberate snikt. "It's your power, kid. You've got to take control before it takes control of you."
Jade tried to focus, but the energy continued to spiral out of control. With a deafening crack, a bolt of lightning shot from his body, narrowly missing Logan and slamming into a bank of monitors. The resulting explosion sent shards of glass and metal flying in all directions.
Deadpool dove for cover, muttering, "Oh, great! Now he's a human EMP! This is why I hate labs. And kids. And kids in labs."
Jade fell to his knees, the glow around him intensifying. The raw energy inside him was tearing him apart, and he could feel the strain in every fiber of his being.
Before anyone could react, one of the malfunctioning power conduits beside him exploded, sending a concentrated surge of energy straight into Jade. The collision was instantaneous, the energy mingling with the experimental serum in his blood to create a volatile reaction.
Jade screamed, his voice reverberating through the room. The energy enveloped him completely, lifting him off the ground as his body contorted unnaturally. The arcs of lightning shifted, no longer random but focused, forming intricate patterns around him.
"Get him down!" Logan shouted, charging toward Jade.
But the moment Logan reached out, the energy pulsed outward in a blinding shockwave. Logan was thrown backward, slamming into a wall with a grunt. Deadpool, despite his usual antics, was momentarily speechless as the force hurled him into a pile of broken machinery. Even Sinister, standing farther back, staggered under the intensity of the blast.
The room fell silent, save for the hum of residual energy. Jade's body collapsed to the floor, steam rising from his skin as the glow around him faded.
Logan groaned, pushing himself up and shaking off the debris. "Kid? You still with us?"
Deadpool staggered to his feet, brushing off his suit. "I'll take that as a yes. Or maybe a no. Either way, I'm voting we don't stick around to find out what else this place has in store. Oh, and for the record, I told you this was going to end badly."
Sinister, recovering quickly, straightened his coat and adjusted his gloves. "Incredible," he said, his tone brimming with dark satisfaction. "The fusion is complete. He's no longer just a weapon—he's the ultimate evolutionary breakthrough."
Logan's claws extended with a menacing snikt. "You're not getting anywhere near him, Sinister."
Sinister smirked. "Oh, Logan. You misunderstand. I don't need to. The boy will come to me willingly when he realizes what he truly is."
With a flourish, Sinister activated a concealed escape route, disappearing into the shadows as the facility's alarms blared.
Logan knelt beside Jade, gently shaking his shoulder. "Kid, wake up. We've got to move."
Jade stirred, his silvery eyes fluttering open. He looked at Logan, confusion and fear etched into his face. "What… happened to me?"
Deadpool crouched beside him, his tone unusually serious. "Long story short, you just went full supernova. And, oh yeah, you can apparently steal other people's powers now. Welcome to the 'Cool Mutants' club. Membership includes anxiety, betrayal, and occasional explosions."
Jade frowned, his body trembling as he struggled to stand. "I don't want this."
Logan helped him up, his voice firm but reassuring. "It doesn't matter what you want. What matters is figuring out how to control it. Right now, we've got to get out of here before this place comes down on top of us."
As they made their way through the crumbling facility, Jade began to notice strange sensations. When his eyes lingered on Logan, he felt an odd familiarity in his hands, as if the claws were his own. When he glanced at Deadpool, his movements felt lighter, quicker.
"What's happening to me?" Jade whispered, panic creeping into his voice.
Logan looked at him but didn't answer immediately. Deadpool, however, clapped him on the back with a grin. "Oh, buddy, you're in for a ride. You're like a superpower sponge now. Absorb, adapt, and annoy your enemies. It's every mutant's dream!"
Jade's expression darkened, the weight of his newfound abilities pressing down on him. "If this is a dream, I want to wake up."
Logan placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll figure it out. Together."
Behind them, the facility collapsed in a fiery explosion, erasing all evidence of the experiments that had taken place within.
Unbeknownst to the trio, Sinister watched from a distant monitor, a satisfied smile on his face. "Run while you can, Jade. You can't escape what you're destined to become...