totally meta

chapter 11

Henry sat in the sleek, sterile office of Seven Labs, the smell of antiseptic hanging in the air like a persistent reminder of the world he had entered. His heart raced as he replayed his confrontation with Lilian Ice, the enigmatic CEO of Angelic Industries. He'd taken a leap, but he wasn't sure if it had been a good idea. Dr. Harris entered, her expression a mix of concern and something else—something Henry couldn't quite decipher.

"Henry," she began, her voice firm, "I need to talk to you about what happened with Lilian."

He braced himself, ready for the reprimand he anticipated. "I know it wasn't the smartest decision," he admitted, looking down at his hands. "But she needed to be confronted."

Dr. Harris shook her head, her expression softening. "It was reckless, Henry. You put yourself in a dangerous position. Lilian doesn't take kindly to threats, even from someone like you."

"Right," he said, swallowing hard. "But I felt like I had to say something."

"True," she conceded, a hint of a smile creeping onto her lips. "But you surprised me. After your confrontation, Lilian called me. She was shaken."

Henry's brow furrowed. "Shaken? Why?"

"She admitted that her encounter with 'The Flash' made her realize the real devastation she might have caused," Dr. Harris explained, her tone becoming more serious. "She's been so focused on her own questions that she hadn't considered the consequences of her actions on others."

"Wait," Henry said, his heart racing at the mention of the flash. "Are you saying she actually thanked me?"

Dr. Harris nodded. "Yes, she did. She said she never intended for any of this to happen. In her quest for answers about her own identity, she lost sight of the lives affected by her experiments. Now, she's genuinely concerned about preventing bad meta-humans from causing harm."

Henry felt a surge of satisfaction at hearing this. "So, she actually gets it now?"

"Yes," Dr. Harris confirmed. "Lilian wants to make amends. She's willing to cooperate and ensure that any meta-humans caused by her experiments are brought in and helped rather than left to their own devices."

"That's... unexpected," Henry murmured, his thoughts swirling. "I didn't think she'd have that kind of insight."

"Neither did I," Dr. Harris admitted. "But you ignited something in her. You forced her to confront the truth about her actions."

Henry felt a mixture of pride and uncertainty. "So what now? Is she going to help us find these meta-humans?"

"Exactly. She's willing to work with us," Dr. Harris said, her tone resolute. "But it's going to take time, and we have to approach this carefully. There's still a lot of damage control to be done."

"What about me? What's my role in all of this?" Henry asked, eager to contribute.

"You'll still be a hero," Dr. Harris replied, her gaze steady. "You have the ability to run so fast you can catch these meta-humans. But we need to ensure you're trained and ready for any situation that may arise."

"Training, huh?" Henry grinned, excitement bubbling within him. "I can do that."

"Just remember, Henry," Dr. Harris cautioned, her tone turning serious again, "this is about more than just being a hero. It's about understanding the responsibility that comes with these abilities. You have a chance to change lives, but you also need to be careful not to become a target yourself."

"I get it," he assured her, the weight of her words sinking in. "I'll be careful."

Dr. Harris smiled, a glimmer of approval in her eyes. "Good. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I believe you can make a difference. Just stay focused on the mission."

As she walked out, Henry felt a mix of anticipation and trepidation. He was ready to embrace this new path, but he knew it wouldn't be easy. With Lilian's help and Dr. Harris's guidance, he was determined to make an impact, not just for himself, but for all those who had been affected by the experiments that had changed their lives forever.