How to Undo a Genius
Chapter Two: The Man in the Shadows
A dark figure in a lab coat checks his watch just as the phone in his pocket starts to vibrate. "Do you see them?" a deep voice on the other end asks. The man in the shadows takes out the photograph he had been given two weeks earlier and scans the massive crowd for anyone resembling its' subjects. Running his fingers through the thinning hair atop his head, he answers, "No," his voice a mixture of relief and nervousness at what their absence meant for him. "Its 1:58," the deep voice says, "they have two minutes. If they don't show up, you know what you must do." "Yes," he replies, unable to say anything more before the voice continues on, "And the machine? You have it with you?" "Yes," he says again, "Excellent," his supposed 'boss' compliments him, "I trust you know the plan, should they make an appearance. And if they don't, we will try this again."
Deep Voice hangs up, leaving the balding scientist to his own thoughts. He looks down at the tiny machine in his hands; his life's work, his unsuccessful life's work. When he had first started out he'd meant to build a machine that could better the lives of people. Help those with disabilities to live normally. So much for that, he thought. He checked his watch though he already knew what it would probably read. Glancing at the dreaded time for only a moment, he looked up again at all of the people. All of the blood he would soon have on his hands. Taking a deep breath, he prepares himself to press the button that would end it all for every man, every woman, and every child here. His eyes gaze out at them once more as he rubs the button with his thumb, and then, at the last second, he sees them.
Double checking with his photo, there is no doubt these four are the ones he's been waiting for. Following Deep Voice's instructions he safely destroys and disposes of the detonating device. His hands somehow feel much lighter without it in his possession, but now he must follow through with the plan to 'undo a genius' as Deep Voice had called it time and time again.
Removing the message from the pocket of his lab coat, he skims over the purposely demented words for the third time since they were given to him yesterday. He refolds the paper and approaches the most innocent creature he can see: a small girl, no older than 6 or 7 years. "Hello there," he says in as friendly a voice as he can manage. "Hi," her small voice responds. The man smiles and kneels down, handing her the paper. "Would you mind giving this to my friends over there?" he asks, gesturing at his targets. "Sure," she answers and immediately turns to deliver it, no questions asked. Ah, the beauty of children, he thinks as he watches her hand the paper to the blonde haired woman from afar. He can't help but stare for a few moments at the monstrous rock man, but it is on the brunette that his eyes rest. His machine had made it through all of the tests and now it was time for its' first real job.