Trevor was a 28-year-old software engineer with a lanky build, messy brown hair that always looked like he’d just rolled out of bed, and the kind of unassuming face that blended into any crowd. He lived alone in a quiet suburban apartment, spent his evenings gaming or tinkering with code, and had never imagined his ordinary life could unravel in a single moment.

That moment came when he stepped into his living room after a long day and froze. A masked intruder stood in the center of the room, holding a strange, metallic device that looked like a prop from a sci-fi movie-the Transformation Pistol. Its barrel glowed with an unnatural violet light.

Trevor’s heart hammered. He threw his hands up over his head. “Please, take whatever you want! I don’t want any trouble!”

The intruder didn’t speak. The trigger was pulled.

A brilliant flash engulfed Trevor. His body convulsed as bones shifted, skin softened and wrinkled, and his clothes melted away into something new. When the light faded, he was gone.