Chapter 614 - Codes Play (1/2)
”Dr. Octavius,” Harry greeted a brown-haired man who leaned towards the plumper side with a white lab coat covering his shirt and pants. The scientist in question wore tinted glasses as he enthusiastically shook Harry's hand. ”Mr. Osborn, I really cannot thank you enough to fund my research with your personal property and funds. I admired your father's work and still cannot believe that he disappeared so quickly.”
”I see that you are as awkward socially as you warned in your email,” Harry looked a little creeped out as the paunchy scientist discussed his father's death with an eager grin. But Harry knew the tale behind the curtains dr.a.p.ed by the secret agencies. As Otto stated, Harry had sublet one of the many properties Norman left in his name alongside a sizeable donation so that Otto could conduct his experiments in peace and even dive into the code Norman sent him through a letter.
”You said that there's been a breakthrough in the research of discovering a new self-sustaining element? Can you describe the process further, Doctor?” Harry inquired while pulling over a chair as Otto squeaked with a renewed vigor, something far more energetic than loads of caffeine as testified by Otto's breath. It smelled. Worse than armpits, in some cases. Harry grew up to like some strange fetishes in absence of a loving father after all.
”Oh, yes! It's a beauty,” Otto remarked as he turned back and wore a metallic backpack of sorts that extended into four mechanical limbs in a flexible, cylindrical shape ending to three-finger mechanical holders. ”This is your development of extra limbs, right?” Harry stated while seeing the man now operating with mechanical tentacles as Otto smiled even wider. ”This is nothing compared to the element I am on the verge of discovering, in fact, I am sure you are well aware of New York's famous superhero, Iron Man. While his arc reactor is a fascinating piece of technology, it actually builds up on the true element of a self-sustaining nature that would go right on the Elemental table.”
The top two tentacles moved the table filled with various tools aside and the remaining two pulled over a small prototype of a spherical shape and placed it near Harry. While Harry didn't understand the nature of the machinery, even his untrained eyes could see the thinner details that made him feel amazed. ”What is this, Doctor?” Harry inquired. ”The incubator which will produce the element. If the element can never be found in our given nature then, of course, we need to produce it and this wouldn't have been possible if you didn't have provided me with the genetic sequence. I checked it. That sequence, surprisingly, is of an absolutely neutral nature and is the core subject of the element.”
Before Harry could ask Otto to dumb it down, the man explained, ”The self-sustaining element will make us stop being dependent on nature!” His voice grew louder by the second, ”The element isn't just a product of physics and chemistry but biology, too. This would truly be an evolutionary breakthrough in all aspects.”
”So,” Harry nodded, ”We need a better security detail. Keep up the good work, Doctor. I will tackle the issue of us accidentally stepping on a few toes which we shouldn't.” With that, Harry stood up and bade his farewell to the doctor.
---
”Man, this punk is a weird one. Out of any place... literally! He chose sewers!” A bearded hunk with a mohawk scratched his bicep in frustration as his partner let out a breath of exhaustion. ”I know! It stinks! It's hot! And you even said the word— literally! If I wanted to go through this torture, I would've f.u.c.k.i.e.d my Aunt Cassidy. She's all those things. With rat eyes to the boot!”
”Hey man,” the mohawk spoke up, ”Is your aunt hot?”
”The f.u.c.k is wrong with you?” The other man clearly felt offended, ”I just said she smells! Like sewers. You need to get laid. And not with my Aunt, she's having it enough with her neighbor Bobby. You need to find a chick for yourself. Ignite that passion in you, let a girl know how your warm hugs can fill her—”
”Are we still talking about s.e.x?”
”Yeah! That's how you have s.e.x, you dumb f.u.c.k!”
”I don't know man... you sound gay. Maybe you need to get laid... and not with me!”
Meanwhile, deeper within the sewers, a slightly haggard man sat with his face layered with sweat. Not the most optimal condition to conduct experiments and research but after ingesting some equally questionable drugs like his decisions, Curt Connors started to enjoy the atmosphere in here. It was a good thing that Kingpin had so many men to keep him under control the first time he tested the drugs.
”Log 2,” he looked into the camera and reported his finding in a video logbook, ”The code developed by the persona— Goblin— is extremely similar to mine. I have found the filters in the equation unnecessary but I have been also unable to keep the effects permanent. I do not mind the changes in my physique. The temperamental issues can be changed, too. A reptile's genetic sequence has had amazing effects on my body and could be categorized as physical trauma of permanent nature.”
After doing so, Curt touched his right shoulder, his right arm detached once again. Sighing to himself, Curt closed the video and began researching the code once again.
---
”Listen to me,” Nik firmly held Mary's shoulders, ”I'm not into saving people to become some sort of hero. You should know this about me.” Nik looked into Mary's eyes for a few silent moments as Mary nodded, ”I understand. After I took a bit of time for myself with the interviews concluded, I did cool off.”
”Oh, I could tell that even if you weren't here,” Nik suddenly grinned, ”But how good was my acting?” Nik leaned forward and embraced Mary warmly, his lips pecking Mary as his hands held her close, ”And I would have enjoyed continuing the act if not for the fact that Nat is two flights below.”
”Yeah, she has groceries in her hands,” Mary hotly whispered into Nik's ears, ”She offered to carry it and I let her!”
”Sweetheart, you are everything a man can need. Making others work for you, ooh!” Nik snickered as he slowly let Mary go while she scoffed, ”Apparently, not enough for you.”
”Come on, now. That argument would've held more meaning if I wouldn't out-sleep the both of you and FYI, I had the 'f' word prepared before.”
”Hey, s.e.x is not everything!” Mary punched Nik on the shoulder with an embarrassed expression, ”And you do not out-f.u.c.k us.”
”Oh, you said the proper term, nice. Anyway, I totally do. Now, since I got my next big pay, I had already prepared a feast for you guys. Oh, good... it's not just Nat...” Nik and Mary stopped as the guy looked back, ”And the number keeps increasing. Interesting. Why is... Luke here?”
”Luke Cage?” Mary squeaked, ”We need to prepare more. I once saw him eat three plates of chicken.”
”Yeah, I eat way more than that,” Nik shook his head, ”Ann, we have guests. So... maybe not wear the rave skirt?” Nik called out towards Ann's room as the sound of her stumbling instantly echoed out, making Mary chuckle.
”Anyway, till they question each other on the stairs itself, let me get you a glass of chilled mountain dew. It's surprisingly good,” Nik smiled and led Mary in with their arms locked together.
As Nik expected, not only Nat, but Cindy, Ava, and Luke came up to the doors with Ava doing the knocking. And when Nik opened the doors, he could easily tell that the group was not pleased to meet each other. If Nik had to speculate, it would be that Natasha wanted to have a peaceful and private dinner and enjoy her time with Anna. Word from Brandon is that Natasha would often crash into his apartment just to check up on him and clean his place clean from any drugs.
And it would have been a comfort for Brandon if he did have any in the first place which would book his entire night to clean the mess his aunt would cause. As for Cindy and Ava, they were probably charmed by him completely and totally wanted to have some of him. Well, that was his recurring egoistic self's speech but Nik really had no idea why Cindy, Ava, and Luke would ever come to this place since he hadn't gone out of his way to actually develop any feelings with them. With his objective being rather long-term, he had already thought of taking things slowly. Relatively.
As everyone made their way into the living room, with Nik bringing in two chairs from the dining table to actually let everyone have a seat, he easily drifted into the kitchen. As he stated, dinner was on him and the glass of mountain dew in Mary's hand was the last. It was now either warm lemonade or warm beers, which Nat brought in.
”Huh, we really need to start spending the money on food,” Nik muttered to himself as he prepared the noodles.
”Hey, Nik, sorry for dropping unannounced. I saw Ava on the streets with Cindy and thought they were going in for some bust,” Luke shouted. The most amazing thing about Luke was that he was easily overlooked. Turns out, the city eas full of chunky black dudes in a hoody so Luke really doesn't catch much attention and with Shield covering his tracks, it had become even more apparent.
”Ugh, no worries. Sorry, I hadn't prepared anything for the three of you. I kinda knew Natasha would drop by... cause she has nothing else to do.”