Danny Hearn opened his eyes, and shut them again quickly. He was in a chamber that was flooded with bright white light.
He opened his eyes again slowly, giving them a chance to adjust to the light.
He couldn't quite make out how large the chamber was... the light that seemed to be shining from everywhere at once made it hard to judge where the walls began and ended. He got the impression that it was pretty big.
What disturbed him most, however, was the four large men in shiny black suits and grim expressions surrounding him.
"I don't like this, Danny," Hal said.
"Uh... Hi..." Danny said to the men.
"Daniel Hearn?" One of the me said, the grim expression never leaving his face for a second.
"Depends. Who's asking?"
"...interested parties," The same man in black, obviously their elected spokesman, said.
"Right."
"There are several people in your proper time, Daniel..."
"Danny."
"...Danny... who disagreed with the research of Doctor John Feldman. I'm sure you can see their objections."
"Not really."
"Regardless. The world will be better off without the technology that currently inhabits your body, no matter which era you live in, and whether your agree or not."
"...right. How did I get here, anyway?"
"We ambushed and drugged you. We apologise for the heavy-handed tactics, but it was the only way to get you into a position in which you could be reasoned with."
"To be honest, that doesn't sound like the beginnings of a fair and even negotiation..."
"We see your point. But now, we must implore you to see reason. Please, return with us to your correct time..."
"This IS my correct time."
"...then return with us to the future. We will extract the nanites, and the beta-brain, from your body. Then you can rejoin society where you left off, and the world will be safer."
"You want me to go back to prison?"
"We can guarantee you a pardon, if that's what it takes for you to comply."
"No deal. TOMB needs me. And who's to say the world will be safer?"
"Trust us... Dr Feldman was an evil man. He had nothing but sinister intentions for this technology."
Danny noticed that they appeared to be nice to him. They were apparently offering him a choice. Maybe they were on the level...?
"Sorry. No. My home is here now."
Danny then noticed that the four men were looking at each other in turn, and occasionally sharing small nods. Telepathy, maybe?
"Very well," The man in black said.
One of them grabbed Danny from behind him. Another dove to the floor and grabbed his legs.
Now they're showing their true colours... should've known it was all bullshit...
"Cheetah's legs..." Danny said through gritted teeth, struggling for air. He immediately felt the muscles in his legs strengthen, and increase in mass.
He jumped upwards, slamming against the roof and knocking the man on his back unconscious. When he hit the floor, the man who was on his legs let go and rolled across the room.
"Bull's horns..." Danny said, as the two remaining men ran towards him. He rammed into one, breaking his ribs and sending him to the floor. He managed to dodge the other using the speed granted him by his new leg muscles.
Dannu ran across the room, to where one of the men was sprawled... the man who had grabbed his legs earlier.
"Tasmanian Red Tree Frog..."
He knelt down, and grabbed the injured man in a headlock. He turned to the other three.
"Did you know that in 2019, a frog is discovered in the Tasmanian bush that excretes a poison instantly deadly to humans with only the slightest contact? Just one of the many useful tidbits of information given to me by my this little second brain... and I've just grown some new glands."
Danny held up his hand next to his hostage's head. An oily substance was coating it.
"And before you ask yourselves why the poison isn't killing me... I've temporarily modified my immune system. And you say this technology is dangerous..."
The three men were hesitant. Danny must have appeared a fearsome sight... bull horns and cheetah's legs. And he had their colleague.
"Bird wings..." Danny said. Large, feathered wings sprouted from his back, tearing his clothing.
The man that Danny held suddenly reached upwards, trying to break the hold and strangle his captor. Danny clamped his hand against the man's face.
The man convulsed violently, and collapsed dead on the floor.
"I wasn't kidding about the frog poison," Danny said. He leapt upwards, using the wings to push himself the few metres to the roof. He used the bull horns to ram against, collapsing a big section. He clambered out, and began the flight back to Mandelovia.
"Who the hell were those men, Hal?!"
"I don't know... but I would advise caution from now on."
