Sorry for the delay in updating, but I had huge work commitments. I promise I'll try to update more often.

Chapter 4

'The term metahuman mean anything to you?' The question kept echoing in my head. I realized that it was essential but, try as I might, I couldn't find any connection "No, I'm sorry"

"Ok, I'll try to explain it in simple terms, although it is a very complicated concept. We define metahuman people who possess abilities beyond human limits and using a greater percentage of their brain. Nobody knows exactly where to derive these capabilities, most believe that they are a 'biological variation' of humans called a meta-gene. The origin of the gene is nebulous, some believe that it is the result of genetic manipulation, others that it is simple evolution. It seems that the transmission of the gene is inherited, although often the children do not develop the same capabilities of the parents ... "

"What do you mean by capacity?" I asked puzzled

"Tough question, not all metahuman abilities are known, we discover new ones every day ..."

"Give me an example" I said, interrupting her again

She looked at Dinah for a moment and after her nod, she continued "Dinah skills are telekinesis and mind reading, which are completely different from those of her parents, her mother in particular"

This time it was my turn to look shocked Dinah "tell me if I understand correctly, you ..." I said, pointing to the young blonde "... you're a metahuman and can move things with the power of thought and read my mind?" I asked incredulously.

"Yes, yes and no," she replied with a smile "I am metahuman and I can move things with the thought" as a demonstration she stared at the bottle of wine on the kitchen counter and moved it on the table "for the mind-reading is more complicated, I need for physical contact and what I get are only flash " she continued with a smile " take my hand and I'll show you " she asked extending her arm.

I looked at her speechless, my mouth slightly open, my brain struggled to process the information I had just received. Hesitant stretched out my arm and shook her hand. The contact lasted only a few seconds, I felt a slight electric shock, but nothing more.

"You are very close to your family and your father loves barbecue ..." I stared dumbfounded, "... Alex is very beautiful, tall, blonde, statuesque and with those black-rimmed glasses she is really sexy. She's your girlfriend? " she asked with a smile.

"Ex ..." I managed to stammer. Then I turned to Helena "are you also metahuman?" I asked more and more incredulous.

"Only half"

"Helena has inherited the skills of her mother, but her father is human" Barbara began to explain "her skills are completely different from those of Dinah, one can say that they are more physical, her meta-gene is that of a feline ... "

"Basically you have the skills of a cat" I said interrupting Barbara again, then the realization hit me like a blow in the head "fuck!" I exclaimed before I pass my hands nervously through my hair. I stared at Barbara unable to say a word, my whole being bombarded by a multitude of sensations, confusion, disbelief, fear, elation, anger, terror ... I breathed deeply in search of air, while I tried to calm the inner turmoil.

"And you, what are your super ability?" I asked Barbara with a whisper.

"None, I'm only human" she said with a smile.

"Yes, but with a super brain" added Helena and Dinah in chorus.

"What happened to me?" I asked flatly.

She looked at me intently for a few moments, she was very focused as if she was searching for the right words "the aggressor mistook you for Helena, in a brief description you are quite similar, then he saw you with Reese and this has done nothing but confirm his belief ..." she paused, waiting for my comment, but since I was silent, she continued "... the content of the syringe was most likely a metavirus with the capacity to hold or even cancel metahuman abilities of Helena"

"But how is this possible? He does not know her appearance but he knows exactly her skills? Hard to believe" I said skeptically.

"Normally I would agree with you, but in this case it is possible. Probably he observed Helena for a while time and even though he was never able to get close enough to recognize her, he was able to study her skills. Then, if he's old enough, he may have met her mother ... "

"But before you say that is not always the ability of parents transmit to their children and then he wasn't old, he will have had at most thirty years" I objected in full detective mode.

"Is more likely to transmit the physical abilities of the mental ..." she paused and then she asked "did you see him well? Can you describe him? "

"About thirty, a little taller than me, about six feet, medium build, short dark hair, eyes color I'm not sure and he had a tattoo on the hand holding the gun ..."

"Wow! Have you noticed all these things? " asked incredulously Dinah.

"I'm a cop, I'm used to notice the details ..."

"What about the tattoo?" Asked Helena

"It looked like a star ..." I said thoughtfully, then closed my eyes trying to focus on the image "... no, not a star, a snowflake ... a stylized snowflake" I said confidently, opening my eyes.

"Are you sure?" asked Barbara

I felt a note of panic in her voice and that made me think carefully about the answer "yes, I'm sure. It looked like one of the images applied on freezers, the ones that show the strength " I tried to explain.

"Barbara, you know who is he?" Asked Helena, she too had not escaped the expression of red hair.

"I have my suspicions, but I have to do some research, now is more important to finish the explanation for Frankie" she said cutting short.

"Ok, I'm listening" I said trying to remain calm.

"When the virus came into circulation in your body and did not find the meta-gene, it behaved as a gene-bomb accelerating the evolution of your cells to the point of being able to create the ideal conditions for its development. This explains the intense heat, but the heat reached was so high that the virus has been killed ... "

"So why evolution didn't stop?" I asked interrupting her.

"Because the chain reaction was triggered and it would not stop until the last domino did not fall. If you hadn't been so fit, your body probably wouldn't stand for the transformation and you'd be dead "

"You mean that I now have the same ability to Helena?" I asked slyly waving my eyebrows

"Potentially yes, though not developed and trained as her"

I back serious and nodded "I guess this thing is irreversible" I added flatly. They didn't answer, but from their expressions I realized that it was so. "I need to get back to the hotel, take a shower and go to bed. For now my life has been disrupted enough "

"Please stay here, you can use the same room as before" Barbara said in a almost pleading tone "just to be sure you're all right ..."

I nodded without saying anything and always quietly walked down the hall.

When I returned to the room I found Helena sitting on the bed waiting for me, she handed me a pair of shorts and a tank top. I slid the towel remain naked in front of her, then without hiding my body, I dressed quietly. I saw the flash of interest in her eyes, but I ignored it, now wasn't the right time, there would be time later to explore that possibility.

"Are you okay?" She asked worriedly

"I honestly don't know" I said wearily as I put to bed.

"Okay, you need to rest" and she started to get up.

With a flash of movement I grabbed her wrist, twisting her to me "Helena, stay here with me?" I asked in a faint voice.

She stared at me puzzled for a moment "ok, let me warn the others, I'll be right back" she agreed with a soft tone.

"Helena?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks" I said with a smile before putting my head on the pillow.

...

The description of the former girlfriend is a tribute to Alexandra Cabot, I hope you will forgive me, but I love that character so much ...