The human torch's flame

Chapter 1

Sweat streamed across your face. A second longer and you would be ashes. Your hands shaking you put the remaining piece in the bomb. You leaned back and pressed the lid close. As a satisfying click was heard you said:

"And That gentleman, is how you stop a bomb from exploding." You said. You stood up and let the scientist cover the remaining area and gawk in awe at your work. Your boss let out a small whisper:

"You can go now." You smiled though your heart was emotionless and walked out of the room. You slipped your ID card in a slot and walked down into a dimly lit corridor. It would be more accurate to say tunnel but it led you from one place to another so it could be both. Something was off though. The sound of your footsteps resonated less across the floor. Someone was here, that's why there wasn't as much of an echo. Their silhouette stopped the sound from travelling any further.

You stopped in the middle of the corridor. No one was moving. He or she was hiding. Probably hoping for some kind of encounter with your brilliant mind.

"If you are going to try to kidnap me, I am telling you it's not going to work. I've been in more hand to hand combats than any comic book character." You said, your voice perfectly smooth as though you were saying ' I'm going to eat a pizza' rather than ' I'll be able to kill you in less than a minute with no witnesses.'

The man (You guessed because he wasn't very discrete)sighed and stepped out of nowhere. When I say nowhere, I mean he was standing in the underground tunnel under a bulb that had fried. He took another step forward but you slid your hand up your sleeve and dragged out a shiny blade from its shelter.

The blade wasn't very long but it did give off a treating aura. The man laughed nervously but didn't take any more steps closer to you.

"I'm hear to offer you a job."

You snorted "I already have a job."

"Stopping bombs from exploding is the least you are able of. Why are you hiding your skills?"

A shiver spread down your spine. You gripped the blade in your (right/left) hand. Keeping your voice steady you continued.

"How would you know?"

"I read your file." He took a step forward, light shown upon his face and his features were definitely on the elegant side. And those features where those of Victor Von Doom. The famous man that could be found on billboards and newspapers. Immediately you felt interested by what Victor had to offer.

"I'm listening."

"We're planning to head out to space as no doubt you've heard."

You nodded. He placed his hands in front of his chest. He seemed already more at ease. You would hate to make that feeling more extensive so you started tossing your knife from hand to hand. He got the point and continued to speak. His voice wasn't edged with confidence anymore. It was panic.

"I need a second pilot. And we know you are the best. You'll have to fly with the fourteenth best flyer in the country though. He's aggravating but I.."

"You have a thing for his sister. I know. I am not totally cut off from the world. I do read the newspaper." Sometimes. He gulped, you were enjoying this feeling. The feeling of control and power. Although you didn't lack of it.

"We'll also need you in the lab sometime or others. The pay is well... more than generous."

"Will it be enough to stop me from killing anyone on board?" you asked. You were joking, of course(?) but Victor seemed to take the question seriously.

"Yes. Definitely."

"I'm in." you said. Your eyes sparking with delight as you put the weapon back in its shelter. Victor smiled but seemed a bit surprised.

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

"I thought you would take a little more persuasion than a flick of my hand and a show of my money."

"I thought you were going to pee in your pants, Van Doom. Don't dwell on what you see."

Victor smiled and walked closer though this time he seemed very aware that you had a blade beneath your jacket. He handed you a file and said:

"All the information you need is in there. Plus, an encouragement." You smiled and took the note than walked off, feeling a stare on my back witch would no doubt be Victor's.

You didn't need to tell your boss you quit. He's figure it out. And if he had any common sense at all he wouldn't come after you.

It's strange how you could make your life change in less than five minutes. In taking a bad decision and going for the money rather than safety. But safety had never really been your thing. I mean, You disassembled bombs for a living. Or used to.

You took a cab to your apartment and opened the file. A few hundred dollar bills slipped to the floor of your apartment. That was his 'encouragement'. But this came with a job.

You looked across the files of your to-be colleagues. One caught your eye: Johnny Storm a.k.a. your co-pilot.