"Samus Reilly, to Crew Chief Adams office. Samus Reilly, to Crew Chief Adams office."
Samus walked towards the office. He was met with a look of pity from Adams' receptionist. Samus opened the office door and entered. He sat down in the chair across from Eugene Adams, the crew chief of Sector 9. He was responsible for the most important sector of Gotham Oil Refinery. Sector 9 was experimenting with crystalized fuel sources. Samus was the head chemist and was supposed to have found the correct formula by now.
"Two months late, Sam. This was your last chance to finish the job. I'm going to have to let you go. Please get your stuff from your locker and be out in a hour."
Samus walked out of the office without any resistance. He knew that he would get another job soon, probably at Ace Chemicals. His ex-wife would be less docile about it. She would probably take a chunk out of his visiting time with his daughter, Clara.
A terrifying laugh ripped through the yard of the refinery. Everyone in Gotham knew that laugh. Laughing meant death in this city. Samus ran towards the exit but flames reared in the doorway. Samus lunged for one of the gasmasks on the wall. The fumes would be toxic without one. The sounds of distant explosions echoed. Samus got down on his knees.
"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be do-"
Fire ripped into his body, throwing him into one of the vats of crystalized gas. Samus felt like his cells were being torn apart. He felt his body being pulled and pushed, crushed and vacuumed, frozen and melted.
