The call, The Holiday, WTF a Scarab

Truthfully, Ethan was a little bit disapointed with the echo box he created, apart from being able to absorb energy and restructure matter. It couldn't do what the motherbox could, but still his echo box was just an improvised version made from promethium.

It lacked many material, firstly, it was not connected to the source and as such does not possess unlimited energy, it needs to absorb energy from external sources. Secondly, it cannot teleport because it lacks the spatial algorithm of the mother box which cannot be replicated through analyzing the mother box alone, Ethan need to scan the residual spatial energy fluctuation of a boom tube , upload it on his echo box in order to teleport.

Thirdly, his echo box was not sentient.

Just as he was tabulating the data he received from the echo box, his phone rang, hebpicked the call, " Hello Jaime, what's up" he said

" Something came up, I need your help"

"Ok, I will be there" Ethan replied

Ethan dropped his phone, leaning on his desk, he heaved a sigh. He pondered about the call and the sense of urgency attached to it, five years ago he met Jaime Reyes at MIT, they were best of friend, linked together by the love for science throughout their school years. After graduation, Jaime went back to El paso Texas to be with his family. They kept in touch ever since.

Ethan rubbed his temple, his phone in his hands accessed a flight booking app to book a plane ticket.

"Time for an holiday".

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Location: El paso Texas, latitude: 31.7619° N longitude: 106.4850° W

Time: 10:46 am

Ethan leaned against the rusting chain-link fence surrounding the Reyes family's modest backyard in El Paso, Texas, watching his friend Jaime Reyes try to fix an old, beat-up lawnmower. The air was heavy with the smell of freshly cut grass and motor oil.

"You sure you know what you're doing, Jaime?" Ethan teased, arms crossed.

Jaime shot him a mock glare, wiping grease off his hands with a rag. "Hey, not all of us get to mess with alien tech in high-tech labs. Some of us have to make do with human stuff."

Ethan chuckled. "Fair point. Still, I don't think that thing's ever going to run again."

"Yeah, yeah," Jaime said, laughing. He leaned down to fiddle with the engine. "You didn't come all the way from Metropolis just to roast me about my lawnmower, though. What's up?"

Ethan hesitated. "I just needed a break from work," he said finally. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either. For weeks, he'd been feeling restless. The Echo Box project had consumed him, but something in him needed to reconnect with people—normal people, or as close to normal as anyone could be in a world like this.

Jaime was one of the few friends Ethan had made after his strange arrival in the DC Universe. The two had bonded over their shared love of technology, video games, and sarcasm. Jaime was grounded in a way that Ethan envied, someone who kept his sense of humor despite life's challenges.

But today, something felt different.

The Scarab

Ethan had noticed it the moment he arrived. Jaime's usually carefree demeanor seemed... off. He was fidgety, distracted, like he had a secret he wasn't sure how to share.

As the sun began to set, Jaime finally spoke up. "Ethan, can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Ethan said, leaning forward.

Jaime reached into his backpack and pulled out an object wrapped in a cloth. When he unwrapped it, Ethan's eyes widened.

It was the Scarab.

The alien artifact shimmered faintly in the dim light, its blue shell etched with intricate designs that seemed almost alive.

"I found this a couple of days ago," Jaime said quietly. "Or... maybe it found me. I don't know. But it feels... weird. Like it's waiting for something."

Ethan's instincts kicked in immediately. He crouched closer, his fingers itching to touch the Scarab, to analyze it the way he had analyzed so many other pieces of alien tech. But something about it made him pause.

"Have you tried to figure out what it does?" Ethan asked.

Jaime shook his head. "No. I mean, I've looked at it, but I haven't done anything. It's... kind of freaking me out, honestly."

Ethan frowned. "Jaime, this thing isn't just some random piece of junk. It's alien. And it's active. You're not wrong—it's waiting for something."

Jaime sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I got that vibe. So, what do I do?"

Before Ethan could answer, the Scarab moved.

---

The Bonding

It happened so fast that neither of them had time to react. The Scarab leapt out of Jaime's hands, its legs unfolding like a mechanical spider. It latched onto his back, glowing brighter with each passing second.

"Jaime!" Ethan shouted, reaching for his friend.

Jaime staggered, clutching at the edges of the Scarab as it fused with his spine. His body convulsed, and an otherworldly hum filled the air.

"What's happening to me?" Jaime gasped, his voice tinged with panic.

Ethan grabbed Jaime's shoulders, trying to steady him. "It's bonding with you," he said, his mind racing. "The Scarab—it's a symbiotic device. It's choosing you as its host!"

Jaime screamed as blue armor began to spread across his body, covering him from head to toe. The transformation was both beautiful and terrifying, the alien technology seamlessly integrating with his biology.

Ethan could only watch as his friend was encased in the armor. The glow from the Scarab intensified, and a pair of glowing, insect-like wings unfurled from Jaime's back.

When it was over, Jaime stood before him, unrecognizable. The armor was sleek and alien, with glowing blue lines running across its surface. A pair of sharp, blade-like protrusions extended from his arms, and his eyes glowed a piercing blue.

"Jaime?" Ethan said cautiously.

The armored figure turned to him, its voice layered with a mechanical undertone. "I... I can hear it," Jaime said, his voice trembling. "It's talking to me. The Scarab... it's alive."

---

The First Flight

Before Ethan could respond, the Scarab activated again, its voice echoing in Jaime's mind.

"Host integration complete. Power levels optimal. Tactical systems online."

"What the hell does that mean?" Jaime said aloud.

Ethan stepped back, his mind racing. "It means you're wearing the most advanced piece of alien tech on Earth. And it's probably trying to figure out how to protect you."

Jaime barely had time to process Ethan's words before the Scarab took control. His wings spread wide, and in a blur of motion, he shot into the sky.

"Jaime!" Ethan shouted, shielding his eyes from the sudden burst of light.

From the ground, Ethan watched as Jaime's armored figure soared above the neighborhood, weaving through the air with an agility that defied physics.

A few minutes later, Jaime landed awkwardly in the backyard, his armor retracting as he stumbled forward. Ethan rushed to catch him.

"Are you okay?" Ethan asked.

Jaime nodded, breathing heavily. "Yeah... I think so. That was... insane."

Ethan helped him sit down, his mind still reeling. "Jaime, you need to be careful with this. The Scarab isn't just some piece of tech—it's a weapon. And now it's part of you."

Jaime looked at him, his expression a mix of fear and determination. "What do I do, Ethan?"

Ethan placed a hand on his shoulder. "You figure out what it wants. You learn how to control it. And whatever happens, you don't let it control you."

Jaime nodded slowly. "Yeah... okay. But I'm gonna need help."

Ethan smiled faintly. "You've got me, man. We'll figure this out together."