DC: Tyrant

Everything was unfolding just as Bardi had anticipated. The underground research base had reached an impasse in its studies.

Without his guidance, the scientists were floundering. The technology aboard the Kryptonian spaceship was so far beyond anything available in 1980 that they had no idea where to begin.

This was a world where personal computers like the IBM 5150 had only just been introduced in 1981. In 1984, the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X—the first mobile phone—was an unwieldy, bulky contraption. Windows wouldn't even exist until 1985.

Even the research base, with its advanced military-grade technology, couldn't make sense of a spacecraft capable of interstellar travel. The damage to the ship had only made things worse, leaving them with little to work with.

This was why General Vic had shifted his focus. He left the spacecraft's mysteries to Area 51, where other experts were working on technological advancements. Meanwhile, at this underground facility, he instructed Bori to study the alien himself, to uncover the secrets hidden in Bardi's genes.

After all, biological enhancements could make Vic stronger.

Of course, Vic hadn't abandoned the spaceship entirely. He intended to pursue both avenues, hoping for unexpected breakthroughs along the way.

But if someone knowledgeable about Kryptonian technology were to guide them, someone who could reveal future applications and explain the basics, their research would advance at an exponential rate.

Bardi was well aware of this. He knew exactly why he was being kept alive.

And so, the real performance began.

As long as he had contact with others, there would be opportunities. All he needed was patience.

Now, after months of waiting, an opportunity had finally appeared.

In the fourth month of Bardi's imprisonment, the research base selected a middle-aged woman to teach him English. She was a teacher with a qualification certificate, chosen specifically to help bridge the language barrier.

The scientists wanted Bardi to learn English so they could communicate with him, hoping to extract valuable knowledge.

But Bardi gave her nothing.

Whenever the woman came to teach, he kept his head down, his eyes dull and lifeless. He refused to engage, ignored her lessons, and acted as though he couldn't care less about communication. His performance left the old Bori visibly frustrated.

Bardi knew exactly what he was doing.

The teacher they had chosen—a middle-aged woman with thick calves, a stable career, a husband, and children—was of no use to him. Her life was secure and predictable; she had no reason to take risks or act impulsively.

What Bardi needed was someone who could sympathize with his carefully crafted persona, someone who could be swayed by his words, and perhaps even fall for him.

Although he wasn't a prince, he could play the part. He could weave a tragic tale and craft lies as easily as breathing.

But not with this woman. She wasn't the type to be manipulated.

He needed someone young, someone emotional, someone who could be ensnared by his story. If this woman had been twenty years younger, perhaps he could have used her. But as she was now? Useless.

Bardi had already constructed the perfect plan in his mind. He knew the words to say and the emotions to evoke. His target was clear: Dr. Jenny, the twenty-five-year-old biologist with a sharp intellect and a reserved demeanor.

He endured the middle-aged teacher's lessons for a month, biding his time. And finally, his patience paid off.

At the beginning of the fifth month, Bardi's target appeared.

Dr. Jenny replaced the researcher who administered his daily injections of muscle relaxants.

"Wendy, Bori wants you to start teaching him scientific terminology," Dr. Jenny said as she removed the needle from Bardi's arm. A small red dot marked where the needle had pierced his skin. It had taken effort to penetrate his dense muscle. Jenny placed the used needle on a tray, her face calm and composed.

Wendy, the middle-aged teacher, sighed, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her white lab coat. "Bori! That old man keeps dumping his problems on me. I haven't taught students in twenty years, and now he wants me to teach an alien? He just sits in his lab while I get stuck dealing with this brick wall of a student."

She paused mid-complaint, her eyes widening in disbelief.

For the first time, Bardi raised his head.

The moment Jenny spoke, he lifted his heavy gaze, his dark eyes meeting hers. His expression carried a whirlwind of emotions—surprise, grief, sorrow, and a glimmer of hope. His pupils seemed to hold a story too deep to express in words, as though seeing her had awakened something long-buried within him.

It was a masterful performance.

Even the Oscars wouldn't have been worthy of him.

Jenny froze, caught in the intensity of his gaze. For several seconds, she was utterly still, as if those dark eyes had reached into her very soul.

"Jenny, did the alien just fall in love with you at first sight?" Wendy teased, breaking the silence.

Her tone was light, but she was genuinely surprised. After spending over a month teaching Bardi, she had never seen him react to anything—or anyone. Yet here he was, transfixed by Jenny after hearing her speak a single sentence.

"Middle-aged women just don't have the same appeal as young girls, huh? Even aliens can't resist," Wendy joked.

Jenny rolled her eyes but didn't reply. She seemed flustered, though she quickly masked it. She and Wendy were clearly on good terms, but even friendly teasing couldn't quite shake the strange moment that had just passed.

Wendy eventually left, still chuckling at her own remarks, while Bardi lowered his head again. His expression shifted to one of quiet sorrow, adding a layer of melancholy to the sterile white room.

Wendy threw him a curious glance before resuming her lessons. But no matter what she said, Bardi remained unresponsive.

Her annoyance grew. "Oh, sure, ignore me, but you'll stare at the young doctor like she's the only person in the world. Back in my day, I was quite the looker too, you know!"

Bardi's indifference only irritated her further.

"Well, Mr. Alien, how about this? You learn English with me, and I'll help you woo Jenny. How does that sound?" Wendy said sarcastically, her tone lightening as she teased him.

"She's a D, you know."

Bardi resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He didn't care about Jenny's looks, nor did it matter if she was a "D" or an "E." All he cared about was using her to escape.

For now, he could only hope her emotional intelligence was low enough to fall for his act.

Wendy eventually realized that Bardi couldn't understand a word she was saying. She muttered something under her breath about how Bori always stuck her with the worst tasks, then continued her one-sided lesson.