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Lower Manhattan Hospital, New York City. 9:25 P.M.

Sitting ad her father’s hospital bedside Lorraine Stein felt more and more heartbreak with every passing moment. Her father, Prof. Martin Stein, was dying while hooked up to several life-support machines with tubes plugged into his arms and up his nose. The sight did Lorraine no better as she kept feeling tears fall down her cheeks. She just hoped Jason would make it here before it was too late.

Thankfully Jason Rusch, Lorraine’s lover and her father’s other half of the “Firestorm Matrix” had arrived. Seeing him Lorraine jumped from her seat and embraced him the moment he came through the door, burying her head on his shoulder to keep from bursting into tears.

“Oh Jason…” she whimpered.

He shushed her while hugging her, stroking her head for a moment, while saying “I’m sorry. I tried getting here sooner.” When they finally broke he looked to the hospital bed and asked “Is he…?”

“No. But he doesn’t have long.” She replied, looking back to her father. “The doctor’s said he might not last the night…”

Given the psychic link Jason shared with the professor he could now sense that he was still alive. He was getting weaker and even without the link Jason could tell just by looking at him the doctor’s diagnosis was likely right. Eventually Jason took Lorraine’s seat from before and inched closer to the bed to speak to him.

“Professor? Can you hear me?” he softly asked. “It’s me. It’s Jason. I’m here.”

At first Prof. Stein did not respond. Both Jason and Lorraine paused as they feared the worst. Finally the old scientist’s eyes started to open as he became more and more aware of his surroundings. He turned his head to see his friend and daughter standing by his side, bringing a warm smile to his face.

“Good to see you again…Jason.” Stein managed with deep, uneasy breaths. “I’m sorry….I’ve not been there to aid….in your heroism. I’m sure…you’ve been missing it.”

“Don’t worry about it, Professor. You need rest more than I need Firestorm.”

Stein chuckled and replied “We’ve shared the same mind….for years, Jason. I know…part of you means that. But….I know part of you misses it….as much as I do.” He coughed a little before adding “So much like Ronnie…. I think that was why you took his place. I may be a man…..of science but even I must ackowldgde….an act of fate.”

Prof. Stein coughed again, this time a little more violently. Lorraine was about to call for a nurse before her father began begging for her as if unable to see her. She hurried to the opposite side of the bed, taking his hand and reassuring him she was here.

“It’s okay, Daddy. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.” She soothed him despite the tears in her eyes.

As he settled he looked to her and asked “Where…where are we?”

“Lower Manhattan Hospital.” She told him. “Remember? Where mom…” she stopped herself, not wanting to be reminded about this was also where she lost her mother.

Another smile came to Stein as he finished “Yes. Where your mother…..gave birth to you.” This surprised Lorraine to know that was what her father was thinking before he recalled “I remember that day….hehehe. Oh I was such a nervous wreck. I…I hadn’t felt that way since….since my first lecture to the university board.” He chuckled again into smaller coughs, Lorraine laughing a little with him. “When they handed you to me….I never thought my life would be the same….ever again.” He looked back to Jason and joked “Hard to believe, eh, Jason?”

He smiled and replied “For guys like us, nothing’s ever the same.”

Stein nodded before trying to sit up, Lorraine and Jason both helping him as all he managed was to move a little further up on his pillow. He coughed yet again but managed to calm himself this time before taking a few more breaths before speaking to both of them.

“I don’t have much time left. But there’s something….you both need to know.” He first looked to Jason and explained “I’ve been conducting research…into my half of the Firestorm Matrix. I’ve found that….because of Ronnie’s unintentional transference of his half…to you….it’s had some unforeseen side effects on my physical and cellular structure.”

Hearing that Jason asked “So you’re saying you’re dying because of me?”

“No…I’m dying because the original Matrix was born…from the fusion of energy between myself…and Ronnie. Because of his energies transferring…into you….your body has mutated. It’s….compensated and changed. Mine on the other hand….has been slowly trying to reject it. As such…” he indicated his dying self “…this is the result.”

Realizing all of this Jason insisted “How do I stop it, Professor? How can I save you?”

“I had been testing…to see if there was a way. And there is…” Another deep breath before he confessed “The logical way would be if we fused….but could never undo the process.” Seeing both Lorraine and Jason’s reaction he nodded “My thoughts exactly. Even if it were possible….I could never wish that on you, Jason. You still have such a life to lead…”

“So…there’s nothing we can do then.” Jason said with defeat in his tone.

“No….but there’s something you two can.” Stein smirked, getting his and his daughter’s attention again.

“W-What?” Lorraine now asked. “What are you saying, dad?”

“During my research…I’ve found that there is a way…for me to…exchange my half of the Firestorm Matrix to another. And unlike when Ronnie’s half found you, Jason….I can pass it along willingly to someone who is willing.” It was then he turned to say “That’s why…I’m hoping you’ll agree, Loraine.”

Both she and Jason gave a unison “What?”

Lorraine knelt down to talk to her father face-to-face and said “Daddy what are you saying? Are you trying to turn me into Firestorm?”

“Only…if you choose.” He replied. “I’ve seen how you and Jason are together. I feel his thoughts…and I know what you two share is…real. A far better combination than I could ever hope for.” He coughed a little again before managing “But I also want you…to live your life as you want. With…or without…Firestorm. The choice…is yours.”

Stepping away from her father Lorraine walked up to Jason and asked “I…I don’t know. What do you think?”

He shrugged at the notion and said “I honestly don’t either. He’s not wrong though. You’re just as smart as him. You tend to handle yourself pretty well when things get hairy.” Taking her hand he continued “And I love you. I never meant that more than I do now. But like your dad said, I don’t want you to do this if you don’t want to. If not it’ll be fine. I’ll fuse with him and stay that way until we find someone else. Just know I’ll stick with you no matter what.”

Lorraine seemed to silently contemplate and debate within those few short moments. She kept looking back between Jason and her father still lying in the hospital bed. She argued with herself about if it was the best thing to do to take the offer or to just allow Jason and her father to find someone else. True there could have been plenty of others better suited but clearly her father wanted her to be the one. Would she really deny him his one last, dying wish?

She made her way back to her father’s side, taking his hand while tearfully confessing “Dad…I don’t know if I’m ready for this.”

Smiling he said “Neither was I… Nor Ronnie… Not even Jason. We were all frightened… Confused. Angry… But we always had someone at our side. Someone to help us cope… Someone we loved that…kept us going. For me…it was you and…your mother.” He reached up and touched her face, bringing a sad smile to her. “I’ll give her all your love when I see her again…”

Lorraine tearfully smiled “Dad, you’re a scientist. I thought you didn’t believe in those things.”

“I didn’t believe in…men who could fly. Run faster than…time itself. Or even two men who could come together and become….something amazing.” A chuckled smile came to his face. “But I’ve always believed in you….my little angel.”

She was barely able to contain herself as she happily cried at her father’s words. Jason had to rub tears from his eyes as well as he watched Lorraine take her father’s hand and kiss it before holding it tightly. His old, frail and weak digits wrapped around hers as she looked to Jason with her answer.

“Alright. Let’s do it.” She finally said.

Nodding to her Jason took a step forward before saying “Thank you, Martin. What do we do?”

“Just…take my hand. And I’ll do the rest.” As Jason held his hand out Prof. Stein looked at it before saying aloud “Two and three…. I didn’t realize until now…” When Jason asked what he meant he waved off “It doesn’t matter now.” Slowly he reached for Jason’s hand and, with one deep breath, he smiled “I am going to miss…flying…”

With both of his hands held by Jason and Lorraine a chain reaction occurred from Stein. What seemed like a glow of nuclear energy glowed from his chest and enlightened his whole body, blinding both Lorraine and Jason. It became so bright and warm it was almost inviting but unknown to either of them.

When the light finally settled none of the three were standing in the room. Firestorm instead stood where Jason had been, opening his eyes to see that indeed he was still there and alive. A moment of realization also struck the mental consciousness of Lorraine who realized she was sharing both the body, mind and powers of the fused superhero.

“It worked!” Jason said with joy.

“Oh my god. It did!” Lorraine added. So this is what it’s like being inside your head. It’s…odd.”

He chuckled and replied “You always said I was an odd one. Professor you…”

When Jason turned both he and Lorraine were shocked. Professor Stein’s body was gone. Nothing remained. No remains. No clothes. Nothing at all.

“Dad?” Lorraine called without realizing. “Jason…where…?”

“I…I don’t know.” Jason admitted.

“Did something go wrong? I mean where is he? Where’s my father?” she pleaded to the point of nearly crying in his head.

Doing his best to comfort without her psychically there he said “It’s okay, Lorraine. I’m here. I’m right here.”

Still crying she asked “I can feel it. I can feel how sad you are, Jason. God. It makes me feel worse.” Jason comforted her a little more before he gave a small chuckle. “What? What’s so funny?”

“I think I get what he meant. Two and three. His research. The equation had two answers.”

“What do you mean?”

“The new fusion, Lorraine. It’s not just us. It’s your father. He’s a part of us now. We’re two minds….and three hearts.”