Ch - 14 Adaptation and Evolution?
For Barry, seeing the renowned Dr. Harrison Wells—a genius known for his revolutionary ideas and inventions—backtrack on his statement was a shock. Barry wanted to question him, but he was in a rush. Iris had no idea where he was, and he couldn't leave her worrying. After a quick explanation, Barry bid everyone goodbye and sped off from S.T.A.R. Labs.
As Barry left, Swayam, aware of what awaited Barry, decided to follow him. Barry would soon cross paths with Clyde Mardon, the younger of the Mardon brothers, who was also a metahuman. Without waiting for any objections from Dr. Wells, Caitlin, or Cisco, Swayam began to track Barry.
Eobard Thawne, watching Swayam leave, had a troubled look on his face. He suspected Swayam was responsible for the timeline fluctuations, but frustratingly, he could do nothing about it. Thawne had no choice but to let Swayam act freely, knowing he had little control over the situation. Caitlin and Cisco had their own concerns about Swayam, but they stayed quiet, unwilling to voice them.
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After leaving the labs, Barry jumped into a taxi headed toward CC Jitters, where Iris worked.
Swayam, exiting moments later, found the taxi already some distance ahead. But this didn't bother him. He had abilities that would let him catch up. The moment he began to run, his body responded—his speed increased, far surpassing what he thought possible. Each stride carried him faster than the last, and something unusual coursed through him. Sparks—multicolored, vibrant bolts of energy—flowed visibly through his veins. Normally, these sparks only manifested when Swayam was near other metahumans, but now, they powered his speed in a way he hadn't anticipated.
Within moments, Swayam arrived at CC Jitters. He ordered the cafe's famous burger and sat down just as Barry walked in, only to witness Iris kissing Eddie, Joe's partner.
Swayam shook his head slightly, knowing full well how much this must sting Barry. "How can Iris be so oblivious to his feelings?" Swayam wondered, questioning whether this oblivion was part of her character's development or if she was simply dense. Either way, he shrugged it off, taking a bite of his burger while keeping an eye on Barry.
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After a brief farewell with Eddie, Iris ended her shift early and noticed Barry sitting in the corner. She approached him and suggested they take a walk together. Swayam, already observing them closely, followed at a distance, maintaining a watchful eye.
As they strolled down the street, Barry and Iris were deep in conversation when a sudden commotion caught their attention. A police car was in hot pursuit of a speeding black sedan. As the police car lost control and skidded into the pedestrian area, Barry instinctively shielded Iris, pulling her to safety with his superspeed. Once he ensured she was unharmed, Barry took off, chasing the black sedan.
In an instant, Barry caught up to the vehicle and flipped it over, the car skidding to a stop on its roof. Swayam, who had been following the entire event, arrived at the crash site just as Clyde Mardon—the driver of the black car—began to crawl out of the wreckage.
Swayam moved in, his eyes fixated on Clyde. Without hesitation, Swayam extended his hand and placed it on Clyde's shoulder. The same multicolored lightning that had surged through Swayam when he encountered other metahumans now passed into Clyde. For a brief moment, time seemed to stand still from Swayam's perspective. The energy that transferred into Clyde was returned almost instantly, but it brought something new back with it.
This wasn't the first time Swayam had experienced this phenomenon. Whenever he came into contact with a metahuman, the multicolored lightning would not only mimic but also copy their abilities. He had learned that the energy absorbed and integrated the powers of metahumans, though it never fully duplicated them. Instead, the powers Swayam gained were an imitation, starting off weak and needing practice and refinement to become strong.
For example, Swayam could now manipulate the weather like Clyde Mardon, but his control over storms and wind was far less potent than Clyde's initial mastery. However, over time, Swayam's version of the ability would grow stronger, evolving into something distinct from Clyde's original power.
The imitation aspect wasn't just about power—it was also about subtle differences in execution. Where Clyde Mardon could create massive tornadoes, Swayam's storms took on a different character, almost infused with the same multicolored energy that coursed through him. His powers were less about destruction and more about precision, as if the energy itself shaped his abilities in a unique way.
After Swayam finished copying Clyde's powers, he quickly vanished from the scene, leaving Barry to handle the situation. He had more pressing matters to consider. Each encounter with a metahuman brought him closer to understanding the nature of this multicolored lightning. It wasn't just copying; it was transforming Swayam, adapting him to the powers he encountered, allowing him to tap into their essence but in a way that was uniquely his own.
As he sped away, Swayam pondered his evolving abilities. He was becoming something far beyond a mere imitator. The powers were not just being copied—they were changing, merging with him, giving him an edge no other metahuman possessed. And the more he used them, the more potent they became. Whatever the future held, Swayam knew that his role in this altered timeline was far from over.