"Nick Fury refuses to provide any prisoners." Solomon had his booted feet propped up on the desk as Maya Hansen leaned against the other side, a plastic toy in her hand that she was absently fiddling with. Despite the bad news, Maya kept her displeasure to herself, plotting instead when she might throw the misshapen toy at Solomon's face.
Steve Rogers had also been surprised to learn that Solomon knew nothing about boxing. Solomon's experience lay in no-holds-barred combat, where he was just as dangerous barehanded as he was armed. The padded gloves of a boxing match couldn't contain his superhuman strength. That day at the boxing gym, Solomon ended up making a lot of money—everyone had bet on Steve Rogers. They had all seen the former Captain America's prowess, like how he obliterated punching bags daily. Compared to that, Solomon, with his aristocratic air, seemed like no match.
Nick Fury's predictions were accurate: although Steve Rogers was moved by some of Solomon's ideals, he refused to endorse them. As far as Steve was concerned, he was a soldier who fought for freedom, and Solomon, recognizing their fundamentally different perspectives, didn't spend too much effort trying to persuade him. Steve wasn't the Sorcerer Supreme or someone who could see the end of time—there was no point in overexplaining.
Still, Solomon suspected Fury wouldn't leave him alone. Others were bound to come knocking next—perhaps Phil Coulson or Natasha Romanoff. He could avoid the former, but the latter might just show up at his apartment, which could make for an awkward encounter.
Tony Stark, on the other hand, was fully on board with Solomon's ideas. Tony had always been searching for ways to protect humanity from alien threats. Their shared vision of humanity's future aligned, even if Stark believed more in machines than in people.
Human experimentation was an essential next step. Maya Hansen's Extremis virus was an exceptional tool for genetic editing, capable of overhauling human DNA. However, animal genes wouldn't help with Maya's research, and they lacked the facilities to breed animals with human-compatible organs.
Their collection of genetic samples was vast: Thor's DNA, blood from ordinary Asgardian soldiers, dark elf king Malekith's blood (extracted from his armor), and Solomon's own. There were also samples from various magical creatures, which Maya had initially studied to determine whether magic could manifest genetically.
Their plan was to use the Extremis virus to splice specific genes into test subjects, observe the epigenetic effects of these fragments, and pinpoint which genes were responsible for certain abilities.
It was a monumental task, one that would require immense time and resources.
Maya was thrilled by the grand scale of Solomon's vision, but she couldn't handle the workload alone. Even with the red potion Solomon had provided—promising her eternal youth—she was still human, albeit a long-lived one.
"I'll find test subjects for you," Solomon said with a sigh.
He had originally intended to use convicted criminals for his experiments, adhering to the existing legal system. However, human society was not eager to hand over prisoners, and he wasn't about to break the established order just yet.
Yes, he had witnessed the atrocities of U.S.-backed terrorist organizations, but he had never intervened. Not because he didn't detest their inhuman acts, but because he lacked the authority. He respected the rules.
Now, however, circumstances were forcing him to seize that authority. He would venture into the world's most chaotic regions, delivering judgment to human scum who threw people into meat grinders. These criminals would pay for their sins with their flesh and blood on his operating tables.
He would rescue orphans from these regions, bring them back, and educate them with books and discipline. He would train them with swords and firearms. Those who passed the rigorous training would undergo genetic modification. They would don armor and wield weapons, joining him on the battlefield to charge fearlessly against humanity's enemies.
"The question is, Maya, can you handle the pain this will bring?" Solomon asked, looking directly at her. Even if the genetic experiments succeeded, countless issues remained. Unlike Aldrich Killian's Extremis soldiers, Maya's test subjects would live and grow with them in the Immortal City. They would respect her, even love her as family. She would see many of them fail the modifications, becoming grotesque and dying. Even the successful ones might fall in battle.
This burden would weigh heavily on both of them. Solomon had mentally prepared himself for the responsibility, but he wasn't sure if Maya had.
The office was steeped in silence, broken only when Solomon opened the window with a flick of his fingers. The rolling clouds of dust and the stench of death from the Immortal City's ruins seeped inside, pulling Maya out of her thoughts.
"I'm not heartless, Maya. Quite the opposite—I cherish humanity, even though it complicates the grand vision," Solomon said, rising from his high-backed chair. He avoided looking at her shadowed face, choosing instead to tidy up the scattered parchment on the desk and close a ceramic inkpot.
"I'm sorry to ask this of you, Maya," he said, resting a hand on her shoulder. "We'll have to make decisions that are hard to live with, but remember why we're doing this. I hope you'll rely on reason to guide you."
"I understand," Maya replied calmly. "I won't forget."
As Solomon stepped back, he tried to lighten the mood. "By the way, I left a golden retriever for you to take care of. You can name it if you'd like," he said with a smile. "Oh, and if you're interested, there's a sheep as well. Though the dog might start thinking it's a shepherd and you'd have to fix that misconception."
Maya broke into laughter. "ROOT loves that golden retriever," she said. "She's even stocked up on dog treats for it."
"Until that infernal machine sends ROOT back, it's your responsibility," Solomon teased, raising an eyebrow. ROOT had been sent on a series of dangerous tasks by the AI, which had grumbled about Solomon delaying its plans with his "body project."
For now, the AI begrudgingly accepted Solomon's magical prowess and the existential threat he posed. It understood that spells like divination and foresight were beyond its algorithms.
"I haven't decided on a name yet," Maya admitted, her previously somber demeanor lifting. "But I have an idea. I'll tell you—if you cover the premium TV subscription fees. That's my only entertainment around here."
"Oh, for heaven's sake! We've got a digital god, and we still have to pay for TV? What kind of world is this?" Solomon exclaimed.
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! Only $5 per novel or $15 for all!!] [[email protected]/Mutter]
[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]