“Daddy. When I grow up, I wanna be big’n’strong, just like you.”

The words rolled through Robert’s mind. Tommy had been six. Small, slight, short for his age. Tommy had idolized his daddy. Loved him unconditionally, as only a child can.

And what came through the door could not have been his son. He was massive. So large, he had to stoop and step through the door sideways. He had to push to get through, even then. Standing straight, he must have been eight feet tall.

“Say hello, Tommy,” Elizabeth told him.

Tommy turned to Robert and Tabitha. “Daddy? Tabi?” His face broke into a grin that would have perfectly fit the face of the child he had been, not the behemoth that he now was. Robert saw a metal plate covering one eye where Robert’s uncontrolled energy blast had struck him.

Tommy noticed Robert staring. He touched the metal plate. His face screwed up, as if trying hard to remember something important.

Then it contorted with rage. “You hurt me, daddy!” Tommy charged forward, and all hell broke loose.