The process of using Neutronium to grant superpowers is as follows:

1) a series of tests are run to see if a subject can survive the process with no ill effects

2) the subject lays down inside a filtration fhamber and given sedatives

3) a tube of Neutronium is inserted into the filtration system and a portion of energy is delivered with a pre-programmed designation to grant the powers desired

A year ago, Interpol scientist Deepak Bakshi worked in a lab in Lyon, France. This lab in particular was for the processing of Neutronium in preparation for empowering future IMD agents and contained multiple filtration chambers. The chambers were tight rooms with an examination bed, twin filtration screens to emit Neutronium energy, and a camera to monitor. A Neutronium tube would be inserted into the wall chamber and the energy would then pass through the screening systems. Dr. Bakshi had a tube inserted in a chamber to test the system when the terrorists attacked.

The explosion tore through the building, killing most of the science team instantly. The chambers were fortified and built to resist explosions and radiation leaks in case of accidents, so Bakshi was safe from the initial blast, although he was knocked to the ground from the shockwave and the tube of Neutronium housed within the chamber burst open. Luckily for him, the energy was channeled through the screening systems as opposed to causing a much larger explosion. Normally, only a small amount would be released (a single tube was used to empower all contemporary members of the IMD). It was considered dangerous to use an entire tube, to say nothing of the limited quantity of Neutronium. The likelihood of his survival was astronomical.

Director Sean Pierce went to the site of the attack in person as it was linked directly to the IMD and he brought Dafne Mansoor and Kisi Yeboah due to their extra-sensory powers. Emergency personnel were putting out fires and removing the dead while the three agents walked through the rubble.

“The EMTs told me they had one survivor who’s unconscious and in the hospital now,” Mansoor explained, “He had mild injuries… and was inside a filtration chamber at the time of the explosion. Energy readings show traces of Neutronium.”

Pierce raised his eyebrows, “That could prove to be.. quite interesting. I’d like you to check back with the hospital after we leave here. When the survivor wakes up, I’d like to speak with him.”

“Sir, would now be an appropriate time?,” Mansoor asked respectfully but in a tone that conveyed she was in disagreement.

“I’m sure the scientist won’t be in a talkative mood but at the same time, if the results are what we suspect they will be, it’s a situation we have to be a part of.”

“Yes, sir,” Mansoor opted to drop the subject.

“Now, the two of you have strong senses. Do either of you have an idea of what we’re dealing with?”

“I can’t smell napalm or any other explosive agents,” Mansoor explained, “I’m not sure what actually caused the explosion but as there is little sign of an accident, it must have been a targeted attack.”

“Kisi?”

“I can sense a very… unique reading,” Kisi wore her usual headgear, covering her eyes and ears so as to focus her telepathic abilities.

“Do share.”

“Neither of you are familiar with Ley Lines. There are certain Earth energies that run along certain points on the planet. It’s a concept that is not commonly believed but there are practices that do. Being from Ghana, I’m familiar with them. Once I became a telepath, I found I was able to detect psychic residue when these lines are used. Someone recently used a line near this area.”

“What could these lines be used for?”

“A variety of mystic acts. Some people can use them to travel far distances quickly without the need of a vehicle. One such group from the Caribbean that supposedly uses Ley Lines for travel are Iseda practitioners. In fact, there’s one sect that rejects modern technologies and society itself. They call themselves Iconoclasts and they apparently use them quite often.”

“Iseda,” Pierce considered the name, “The sect you’re referring to doesn’t like technology or modern society and I imagine they wouldn’t like an Interpol laboratory that uses an alien substance to create super agents. You can sense the energy being used, so I trust you could track this perosn down?”

“I believe so.”

“It’s a start,” Pierce turned to Mansoor, “Keep me updated on our friend in the hospital. Kisi and I will return to headquarters and send a few Badges out to find our suspect.”

Not long after that, Pierce sent Dave Bronson and Jill Frakes to a forest in Germany once Kisi was able to pinpoint the location of the suspect. They landed the Cloudburst in a clearing with Kisi telepathically guiding them from the ship.

“Let us know when we’re close, Kisi,” Bronson said through a mind link as he and Frakes walked into a grove of trees with their firearms drawn.

“This person shouldn’t be far. Remember, if this is our target, he used magic to travel to the lab and destroy it. He would be very dangerous.”

“Aren’t they always?,” Bronson responded.

Suddenly, their guns turned bright red and heated up, forcing the two agents to drop them. Once on the ground, they watched as their guns slowly began to melt; undaunted, they placed their backs against one another in preparation for the next attack. A figure dashed between trees with the strange image of a flying eagle. The figure disappeared behind a large trunk and Bronson and Frakes silently turned to face it. Soon, it whipped around the tree with a vengeful roar and swung a sharpened blade. Frakes phased and allowed the attack to pass through her while Bronson gave chase. It wasn’t long before he lost the figure inside a thick bush. “We’re with the Interpol Metahuman Division,” Bronson called out, “Show yourself!”

Back at the headquarters, Pierce sat at his desk, looking at the medical charts of Deepak Bakshi while Mansoor stood patiently on the other side of the room. “This man was hit with filtered Neutronioum. An entire tube’s worth,” Pierce said aloud, “There was no program set in the filtration chamber that we know of, which means that Dr. Bakshi was empowered by pure Neutronium.”

“The doctors are unsure if he’s gained any powers,” Mansoor explained, “Neutronium was harvested from a dying star, so theoretically, if he did have powers…”

“… He would be terribly powerful. We’ve never emptied an entire tube into a single subject. It’s not something to be taken lightly.”

“I agree,” Mansoor finally sat down in a chair in the office, “If he has powers, what should we do?”

“He’s already working for Interpol and I suspect he’ll remain on the payroll. He’d be beneficial if he switched to our division, however.”

“But he’s a scientist, not a soldier.”

“Well, it’s not as though we don’t have a training program,” Pierce turned in his chair and gazed out the window, “Let me know when he wakes up.”

In the German forest, a concussive force erupted, sending Bronson into a tree hard enough to nearly topple it, but he regained his balance quickly enough to land on his feet. A thin albino man in robes dropped down in front of him, mystic energies swirling around his palms. “There ya are, ya sneaky bastard,” Bronson took a fighting stance and while the albino man was distracted, Frakes phased through the trees behind him. The man quickly turned and opened his palm and a mystic current swirled around her, effecting her phased form. She screamed and fell to the grass as Bronson leapt forward. The albino man curled up, an image of a tortoise shell appearing as Bronson’s fist harmlessly struck his back, then the albino man pressed a hand against his forehead, “Sleep”. Bronson fell unconscious and as the albino man stood over him, Kisi decided to take matters into her own hands. She sent a strong telepathic assault into his mind, which shut his entire body down and sent him into a paralytic state.

Later, the man woke up in the prisoner hold in the Cloudburst with Bronson watching him. “Rise and shine,” Bronson said, his arms folded across his chest, “I’ve a few questions to ask.”

“So ask them,” the albino man sneered, “I have nothing to hide and there’s no sin I’ve committed. My name is King Argent and I’m an Iseda priest.”

“Iconoclast sect, yeah?”

“That is correct. If you want to know if I attacked the Interpol laboratory, that’s also correct. I performed a ritual that sent an eldritch blast to the location.”

“You’re giving me a lot of information without me needing to do much. Why’s that?”

“As I explained, I have no sin. There’s a prison for criminals with abilities like mine. I understand I’ll be sent there because you feel I’ve committed a crime and I will gladly go now that you’ve captured me. True Nature will decide my fate.”

“Actually, it’ll be the French judicial system that decides your fate but I’d wager you’re on the way to the Ice Box after the trial. I do have one question if you don’t mind. You’re a priest but me and my partner noticed you didn’t have much of a congregation.”

“I will not place my followers in harm’s way. I sent them elsewhere and since they had nothing to do with the attack, you have no reason to go after them.”

“That’s very kind,” Bronson said sarcastically.

“I am a holy man after all.”

At headquarters, Pierce remained in his office, looking over a spread of holographic images of potential recruits to the IMD. While deep in thought, Kisi alerted him telepathically, “We’ve apprehended our suspect. He admitted to the attack and is being turned over to French authorities. He’s an Iconoclast as we suspected.”

“Well done. Did you have any trouble?”

“Magic can be a bit tricky. Bronson and Frakes were taken out without serious injury but I brought him down.”

“Next time we go after a wizard, we should have a bit more muscle. Thank you, Kisi.”

Pierce went back to contemplating the pictures of potential recruits before him.

After the explosion earlier that day, Bakshi’s next memory was waking up in the hospital due to feeling a tremendous amount of heat. It was almost as if he had a severe fever, yet he wasn’t ill. His eyes opened and he sat up, curiously making eye contact with a strange man who had apparently just entered his hospital room. Both Bakshi and the man seemed equally surprised but the mysterious visitor was the first to get over the shock. “Interpol has our leader,” the man growled, “He told us not to get involved but I cannot abide a single survivor. I will carry out the desires of True Nature and kill the blasphemers.” “What? I don’t understand,” Bakshi pleaded but the man said no more; he reached behind his back and produced a dagger. Bakshi was too frightened to call for help and could only watch as the Iconoclast raised the blade over his head and lunged.

Instinctively, Bakshi raised a defensive hand and clenched his eyes. Next, he heard a thunderous noise and felt the entire room shake as if a train was passing through the entire building. A pillar of yellow light exploded out the side of the hospital in an instant. Next, Bakshi heard a smoke alarm going off and when he opened his eyes, the cult member was gone. In his place was a burning hole in the wall of his hospital room, which matched the hole in the hallway outside as well as the hole in the opposite room. He stared in disbelief, getting a clear view of the night sky through multiple walls. He peaked over the end of the bed and witnessed an ashy spot where the Iconoclast once stood. That was a year before the Elite Squad’s first mission.