~Umbrella Corporation, Laboratory No. 3~
This was the weapons developnt departnt belonging to Ivan Vanko...
The heavily tattooed Russian brute chewed on a toothpick while teasing a white parrot perched on a stand.
Beside him stood an excited Dr. Connors (the first test subject for the Chrysalis Serum) whose empty right sleeve now housed a strong, newly grown arm.
Sean, who had rushed over imdiately after receiving the call, stepped through the doors of Laboratory No. 3...
As a rising star in scientific research, Umbrella had four dedicated independent laboratories:
- Laboratory No. 1 (Dr. Connors): Focused on limb regeneration research...
- Laboratory No. 2 (Dr. Octavius): Dedicated to the new energy source of the artificial sun...
- Laboratory No. 3 (The Vanko Father-Son Team): The weapons R&D division, currently working on replicating the Arc Reactor...
Umbrella's resources and researchers were primarily allocated around these three labs. Beyond them, however, there was a secret 'Laboratory Zero', located in the core area, Sean's private research facility.
Without authorization from the Red Queen, no one could enter...
"Harry told what happened. Sorry to call you over so late." Dr. Connors apologized, having just learned about Sean's earlier ordeal.
"Don't worry about it. It was nothing." The young man waved a hand, exuding confidence that imdiately eased the scientist's unease, "I did say to notify imdiately if there were any breakthroughs in the experint." Sean smiled warmly.
He had previously discussed with Dr. Connors the creation of a new suit capable of withstanding extre energy output. During his battle with Magneto, even specially reinforced uniforms had proven too fragile.
After Ivan Vanko joined Umbrella, the rough but brilliant weapons expert had also contributed to the project. The two often exchanged ideas. Dr. Connors, specializing in genetic biology, believed traditional armor was too bulky and inflexible, while Ivan, favoring brute force, proposed a 'liquid nanotech suit' after considering the feedback.
However, due to material and technological limitations, the project had been temporarily shelved... until now...
"Subsonic explosive power, superhuman strength and speed, extre endurance, and energy output..." Dr. Connors murmured, "I made so improvents based on the armor you provided, but it still wasn't perfect... until Peter brought this..."
The middle-aged scientist pointed to a glass container holding a writhing black substance. According to Peter, he and Mary Jane had discovered it on a teorite during a camping trip.
Sean leaned in. The squirming black mass was, more accurately, a shape-shifting liquid organism. Under a high-powered microscope, its cellular structure revealed an alien parasitic lifeform... One highly active and requiring a host to survive.
"Be careful! Once it latches onto a host, it's nearly impossible to remove!" Dr. Connors warned urgently.
"...Its composition doesn't match 1970s chondrite teorites. It's likely extraterrestrial. It's capable of amplifying a host's emotions and traits. Dangerous, yes... but its radiation resistance, regenerative properties, and structural resilience make it perfect for a liquid-based suit."
Sean stared at the violently pulsating black mass. It seed to sense sothing as it slamd against the glass with alarming intensity.
"It... really likes you." Dr. Connors sounded surprised.
"No. It won't." Sean smirked and lifted the glass lid.
The symbiote lunged... then froze...
The primitive consciousness within the black ooze recoiled in terror.
The life force radiating from this being was unlike anything it had encountered... This being's life force was as dense as a collapsing star, dwarfing even its previous host, Spider-Man, who now seed pitifully weak in comparison.
"Little thing..."
Though it couldn't understand human speech, the symbiote sensed sothing far worse... an aura of cosmic annihilation, like a supernova's fury compressed into human form.
The once-ferocious parasite dropped mid-air, shrinking into a trembling black puddle.
Ivan, still teasing his parrot, suddenly stiffened. His animalistic instincts scread at him... sothing about his young boss's smile was wrong.
Few people could unsettle the battle-hardened Russian, but Sean Cyphers was one of them.
The oblivious Dr. Connors placed another glass container over the cowering symbiote, "My plan is to cultivate it in nutrient solution, use electromagnetic waves and sonic pulses to suppress its consciousness, then harvest its cells as the base material for the liquid suit."
Sean nodded. It was a solid approach. Neutralizing the symbiote's corrupting influence while retaining its regenerative and shape-shifting properties.
However...
"Ivan... Your thoughts?"
The weapons expert scoffed, "Defensive capabilities are lacking. Radiation-resistant? Yes. Self-repairing? Sure. But weak to sonics and electromagnetics, and heavy firepower would shred it. You don't need a bulletproof vest, you need an indestructible suit. This thing is flawed."
Dr. Connors took the blunt criticism in stride.
Sean fell silent... He recognized the symbiote... an alien symbiotic organism that enhanced its host at the cost of amplifying aggression.
He wasn't worried about its influence. His ntal strength could crush its will effortlessly. But Ivan was right... as armor, it had critical weaknesses.
"rge it with your existing high-tech suit. Combine their strengths to create sothing perfect." Ivan proposed.
Sean's lips curled. The Kryptonian battle armor he'd recently exchanged for all his System Points was powerful, but cumberso. If not for that, he wouldn't have sought alternatives.
A tal cabinet slid open, revealing a sleek black exosuit... its design was streamlined yet imposing, with a flowing cape reminiscent of ancient warriors. The chest bore a stark emblem... though Sean knew this wasn't the 'Last Son of Krypton's' armor...
Glancing between the cowering symbiote and the dormant Kryptonian armor, Sean smiled, "I look forward to the finished product..."
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