24 Machine Man 23

In the city that never sleeps, in the middle of the night, atop the towering Arasaka Penthouse, Alex was abruptly pulled from his slumber by the insistent beeping of an alert. Startled, he sat up, his senses instantly heightened, and inquired, "What's the situation, Skynet?"

Skynet's digital voice echoed, and simultaneously, a projection of herself in the form a red hue, a little girl appeared. The digital image wore a red dress, a frightening stark contrast to the cozy surrounding.

"I have found one of your targets. Flint Marko, located in a nuclear test site facility in Savannah, Georgia. However, the local authorities lost sight of him in the process."

A surge of determination flickered in Alex's eyes. "How long ago was this?"

"Approximately 15 minutes ago," Skynet responded.

A wry smile played on Alex's lips. "That's good. Seems I still have time to have a quick snack before we go."

Skynet ever attentive to his maker suggest an idea. "You really should let a T-1000 handle more of the work."

Alex, who's just getting up from the bed, glanced up the holographic display and responded, "We could do that, but for now this one needs a personal human touch. 

As he was making his way to the kitchen, Skynet's holographic projection materialized in front of him, displaying the details of Flint Marko. A nod of acknowledgment passed between them. As he finished his snack, Alex's focus shifted entirely to the impending mission.

With a swift and purposeful motion, Alex navigated to the center of the room. A hidden platform emerged, and a concealed compartment revealed an assortment of advanced equipment and weaponry. As he geared up for the mission ahead, his mind calculated the best course of action.

The following day, at the nuclear test site, Specter, invisible thanks to his Optical Camo enhanced by the chameleon cloak, observed a peculiar phenomenon. Grains of sand rushed toward the center, forming an inexplicable spectacle. 

As Specter continued his surveillance, the swirling sand intensified, creating an otherworldly form at the epicenter. Skynet's voice echoed in Specter's earpiece, "This is highly unusual. There's no logical explanation for this gravitational anomaly. But I'm picking up signs of life and its growing stronger "

Specter, in his invisible state, couldn't help but be amazed. "No matter how many weird things I see, it never ceases to amaze me."

As more sand gathered, attempting to shape a humanoid form, Skynet commented, "It seems to be in anguish."

Alex, donning his Specter persona, replied, "The man just woke up finding himself looking like a sand monster. Anyone in their shoes would feel the same."

Skynet, struggling to comprehend, said, "He should have great power, yet he still feels sorrow."

Alex commented on Skynet's remarks, "That is what it means to be human."

As they conversed, the sand humanoid discovered a locket, revealing a picture of his daughter. This glimpse provided him the strength to control his powers, and he transformed into Flint Marko once again.

In a swift motion, Specter's chameleon cloak faded, revealing his imposing presence before Flint Marko. Startled and frightened upon seeing about the vigilante, he stammered, "Specter! I, I know you! I heard about you in prison."

With a touch of humor, Specter responded, "Well, it's nice to know that I have a lot of fans."

Fear etched across Flint's face as he attempted to escape, transforming into swirling sand. Specter intervened, calling out, "Flint! I can help! I can help cure your daughter, Penny Marko."

At the mention of his daughter's name, Flint hesitated in his sand-forming escape, slowly reassembling before Specter. Hope flickered in his eyes as Specter continued, "I know you didn't kill the Parker couple. I can help prove that, and I can help you cure your daughter."

Skeptical, Flint questioned, "How can I trust you?"

Specter's mask turned transparent, revealing the face of Alexander Saburo Arasaka. "Does this help?" he asked, swiftly returning his helmet to its usual skull shape with a blue glow.

Some might say that this I'm taking a big gamble and you would be correct, but this is worth it. An under-use power house comically defeated by sprinkling some water. If his the same as his movie's counter part then it would be worth it with just his personality alone.

Stuttering in disbelief, Flint exclaimed, "You! You're the multi-millionaire! Arasaka!"

Specter corrected, "Billionaire now. Follow me, Let's talk about how I can help you." The backside of the HK-Aerial slowly decloaked, and the hatch opened.

The soles of Specter's mechanical boots transformed, revealing small rocket boosters. With a burst of power, Specter soared into the HK-Aerial, leaving a trail behind.

Flint, witnessing this incredible display, comically dropped his sand jaw below the ground. Recovering from his stupor, he followed Specter inside, holding onto hope that his daughter would be saved.

As Specter and Flint journeyed back to New York in the HK-Aerial, Flint couldn't suppress his curiosity.

"Nothing is free in this world, what do you want from me?" he cautiously inquired.

Specter's helmet deformed, revealing his face with the metal parts surrounding his chin and cheeks. With the visor gone, he turned his head and spoke with a hint of authority. "Of course, nothing is free. I'm a capitalist."

Continuing the conversation, Specter shared a perspective on the evolving world. "The world is slowly changing. We've had our cases of giant humanoid lizards, a billionaire in a Halloween costume throwing pumpkin-shaped bombs, and undead ninjas. From what I could see, there will be more. I am forming a specialized group to be there in case something worse comes out."

Marko, feeling overwhelmed, interjected, "But I am just a man."

Specter countered, "You were. Now you are a super-powered being who can turn in to sand and control them, you can probably create a storm to swallow a small-sized city."

Marko, taken aback, attempted to make excuses, but Specter interrupted, "Would you rather be treated as a criminal? As your daughter grows up, would you like her to see you like this? Or would you like to be a hero and make your daughter proud? Make your choice."

Marko fell silent, looking down and contemplating his predicament. Specter, piloting the HK-Aerial, urged, "I know you're a good man, Marko. You're just a guy with bad luck, and I am here offering you fortune that will change your life. Think about it."

As the HK-Aerial soared through the skies, the weight of the decision hung in the air. Marko, grappling with the choice presented to him, stared into the city below, wondering if this unexpected turn of events could indeed be an opportunity for redemption. He held his breath, asking himself what path to take. Flint Marko, now a man of sand and potential, would choose to walk.

As they soared through the crisp morning air, Specter and Flint Marko journeyed back towards New York in the HK-Aerial. The rising sun painted the city in warm hues, casting long shadows across the waking metropolis.

Unbeknownst to the bustling streets below, a construction site stood as a potential threat. A massive crane carrying a steel beam swung erratically, as if possessed by an unseen force. Panic ensued among the construction workers who scrambled to clear the area. Down on the ground, police officers rushed to the scene, responding to the unfolding emergency.

"Oh my God. Seven Atom to central. That crane. It's bigger than we thought. We're gonna need a major mobilization right away," a cop urgently reported over the radio, his voice cutting through the city's ambient sounds.

At the construction site, the crane operator, recognizing the severity of the situation, barked commands to his team. "Shut it down at the generator! Now!" His voice echoed across the site, a desperate plea to bring the chaotic situation under control.

As the crane's wild swings threatened the stability of the construction site, additional police units were called in to address the escalating danger. The morning air buzzed with tension as officers coordinated efforts to secure the area and protect the city below from potential catastrophe.

The crane operator, perched high above, struggled to regain control, issuing urgent commands to halt the unpredictable movements. Down on the ground, police officers directed traffic away from the site and assisted in the evacuation of nearby buildings, ensuring the safety of the city's inhabitants.