The scientists froze as Doggo stared at them with gleaming eyes and a thick string of drool dangling from his jaws.
For the people of the Life Foundation, today had been a waking nightmare. But this moment, this particular moment, was by far the most terrifying.
They had watched, helpless and pale-faced, as this monstrous husky devoured three fully armed security guards whole, crunching through their bodies like they were dog treats. And now, that same creature that had licked its lips after the last bite was eyeing them.
Was it... hungry again?
Terror swept through the group like a virus.
Two of the female scientists couldn't hold it in anymore. Their lips trembled, their knees gave way, and they collapsed to the floor sobbing uncontrollably.
Luke's expression darkened and frowned, visibly irritated.
This lab wasn't that big, and the loud, high-pitched cries echoed unpleasantly off the sterile walls. The sound grated on his nerves like fingernails on glass.
The louder they cried, the more his irritation turned to cold indifference.
"Doggo, don't eat the guy in the suit. Got it?" Luke said casually, pointing at Carlton Drake, who stood frozen at the front of the group like a man awaiting execution.
That one was still useful. Drake and Eddie Brock were key pieces in the game Luke was playing. He needed both of them alive to move the plot forward.
He didn't even realize how much he'd changed.
The Luke from not long ago would've hesitated at the idea of letting innocents die just because they were annoying. Now, not only did he not hesitate, he directly ordered their executions. He didn't even seem to notice he was doing something wrong.
Whether it was the power, the thrill of control, the ease of rewriting reality, or maybe something entirely else… he didn't recognize the line he'd crossed.
Doggo, however, understood his command perfectly.
His eyes gleamed with sudden excitement, then quickly turned into a solid, glowing yellow.
And then it began.
Before the terrified stares of the scientists, a thick yellow substance began to ooze out from Doggo's body like melting wax, except it moved with purpose. It wrapped around him, coiling tightly like armor, until the dog was fully transformed.
Bloated, monstrous, and dripping with saliva, Doggo stood there, twice his normal size and ten times more horrifying.
Rows of jagged teeth lined his widened jaws. His tongue lolled out, quivering in anticipation.
The Phage symbiote had fully taken over.
"Wh-What are you doing!?" one of the scientists cried.
Drake didn't say anything. His voice was caught somewhere between his lungs and throat, paralyzed by fear.
Luke casually pointed at him again and motioned. "You. Come here."
Drake's legs moved before his brain did.
He stumbled forward, almost tripping over his own feet as he half-ran, half-crawled toward Luke, escaping the danger zone behind him.
When he finally stood next to Luke, trembling and sweaty, he risked a glance back at the others.
The fear in his face had lessened just a bit. It was clear that despite everything, being near Luke was the safer choice.
Safer than facing that thing, at least.
The scientists noticed, and the panic in their own expressions deepened.
Doggo stalked closer, claws tapping on the floor, his massive tongue hanging loose like a banner of doom.
One of the male scientists suddenly screamed, tears pouring down his cheeks. The rest soon followed, breaking down in helpless despair.
They were cornered prey.
Then Doggo lunged.
His jaws opened unnaturally wide, wider than any earthly dog could manage, wide enough to swallow a person whole, and his head now resembled something more akin to a Tyrannosaurus Rex than a canine.
To an outsider, it might have looked absurd.
But to the group of terrified scientists, it was a vision from Hell.
Within seconds, screaming and crying turned into gurgles and silence.
Doggo, or more accurately Phage, devoured them all. Eight scientists, gone just like that.
The symbiote inside him was thrilled beyond measure.
Before, Phage had calculated that just two heads would be enough to satisfy his appetite.
But inside Doggo?
He could gorge on eight whole humans and still feel hungry.
It was freedom, limitless gluttony. And best of all, Doggo liked it too.
They communicated effortlessly. No words needed. Doggo's thoughts were easy to read for Phage, so they could hold conversations inside his mind.
They had become inseparable.
Best friends... bonded by blood and carnage.
Now, only two people remained in the lab, Luke and Drake.
Luke turned his gaze toward the reinforced glass containment unit at the side of the lab. Inside, the Venom symbiote writhed restlessly in its container, as if it could sense the chaos.
A crooked smile tugged at Luke's lips.
Then he turned to Drake, who stood a head shorter than him and looked like he might faint at any moment.
Luke reached out and patted his shoulder softly.
"Don't worry," Luke said with a faint smile. "I won't kill you. You're still useful to me."
Drake nodded quickly, his whole body tense like a coiled spring. "Y-Yes. Of course."
Luke's smile widened, pleased by his obedience.
"You've already seen it firsthand," he continued, voice calm but with an edge of command. "These symbiotes can bond with humans. So... I suggest you begin human experimentation as soon as possible. Don't you agree?"
That smile again.
It chilled Drake more than the monstrous dog ever could.
But the logic was undeniable. Luke had just given a live demonstration that it was possible.
"Yes, yes," Drake nodded quickly, a flicker of excitement returning to his face. "That... makes sense."
Luke could read the man like an open book. He knew what Drake feared most, that he would lose both symbiotes to him.
So Luke casually walked to the glass containment unit and pointed at the squirming Venom.
"Relax. I'm not taking this one."
Drake didn't speak.
He just nodded again, silently.
A smart man knows when to keep silent, he didn't want to risk annoying this crazy bastard.
Luke turned and walked away, Doggo trailing behind him.
The lab doors closed behind them with a hiss.
Only then did Drake exhale.
He collapsed to the floor, his body soaked in sweat. His limbs shook uncontrollably.
He had always believed himself to be ruthless. Cold and efficient.
But next to Luke?
He was just a child playing with matches.
That man had let his dog eat a group of people without a flicker of emotion.
Still... Drake's face twisted into a strange smile.
The other symbiote was still his.
He didn't understand why Luke left it, but that wasn't important. All that mattered was that it was here and he could continue his research.
And Luke had confirmed it: human-symbiote bonding was real.
His ambition burned hotter than ever.
Human trials must begin immediately. The sooner, the better.
Drake stood, his expression warped by obsession.
A quiet madness glinted in his eyes.
…
Outside the building, Luke returned to his parked car.
"Boss, where to next?" Bumblebee asked, eager to please.
Luke slid into the driver's seat and smirked. "Let's find a reporter named Eddie Brock. Time to pay him a visit."
The engine roared, and the car shot off like lightning, leaving a yellow blur in its wake.
Luke tapped his fingers against the door panel thoughtfully.
If he let the story unfold naturally like in the film, things would take too long. Especially since the scientist who originally exposed the Life Foundation, Dr. Skirth, had been... well, eaten.
So he'd step in.
He would be the one to tell Eddie about the Life Foundation's dark secrets.
And since Drake had just been given the green light to begin human testing, Luke was sure it wouldn't be long before Eddie came face to face with Venom.
The timeline was speeding up.
Just how he liked it.
Luke smiled faintly.
He could already smell the plot points waiting to be harvested.
…