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The wheels of Davies' gurney squeaked on linoleum as Kane operatives pushed it toward the exit. IV lines swayed gently as three men flanked the stretcher, Alex following close behind.
"Stop this immediately!"
Alex heard a woman shout behind him as he stepped into the corridor. The woman seemed to be the doctor who operated on Davies. She was still in surgical scrubs, her stance rigid with outrage. She planted herself before the double doors, ignoring the armed men. Her eyes locked onto Alex.
"Who authorized this transfer? His vitals are unstable... he's not cleared for discharge!"
Alex met her glare calmly. "We have superior facilities at our headquarters. He'll receive continuous care."
The woman jabbed a finger at Davies' chart. "He lost 40% of his blood. He's on antibiotics for sepsis risk. Move him now, and you risk cardiac arrest." She stepped closer. "Is that what you want?"
Davies stirred weakly. "Doc… please. I need to go."
The doctor's eyes softened briefly, then hardened at Alex. "His desperation isn't consent. This is malpractice."
Alex's tone stayed cold. "Your concern is noted, Doctor…?"
"Palmer. Dr. Christine Palmer," she said, squaring her shoulders. The name seemed familiar, but Alex dismissed it.
"Dr. Palmer, I respect your oath. But he's my responsibility. We'll assume all risks."
"Risks?" Palmer's laugh was brittle. "One pothole could dislodge clots in his femoral stumps. He'll bleed out. Is this worth your ego?"
A tense silence followed. Davies breathed shallowly, each rise and fall of his chest a fragile rhythm in the quiet hallway.
Alex gestured to his team. "Proceed. Gently."
Palmer's knuckles whitened on her clipboard. "I'll file an injunction. Report this to the board."
"Do what you must," Alex said, walking past. "But he leaves today."
As the gurney rolled through the doors, Palmer called after him, fury and helplessness in her voice. "When he codes on your watch, remember I tried to save him!"
Alex didn't look back.
---
Behind the reinforced glass panels of the observation room, Alex stood with his arms crossed, flanked by Maya and Richard. All three watched in tense silence as Davies lay strapped to the slab inside the lab.
Davies's body arched, and he was roaring in pain. His entire frame glowed like a furnace, skin radiating heat as waves of steam rose off him. From the charred stumps of his legs, new tissue began to blossom—veins knitting, muscle reforming, bones pushing outward in a slow but undeniable act of regeneration.
Richard stepped back unconsciously. "He's—he's burning up."
Maya leaned closer, anxiety flickering behind her focused eyes as she scanned the monitors. "No cellular overload. He's stabilizing. The serum's working."
Alex's gaze never left Davies. A confident smile tugged at his lips—he trusted the system. "Exactly as you named it. Evolution begins now."
The machines beeped steadily as Davies' breathing began to steady.
Maya checked the readouts, then looked up. "Regeneration slowed, but the serum is definitely stable. This is a success."
She paused, a smile bloomed on her lips, then typed a final log into the terminal. "I'm calling this Extremis v1.3. Regeneration is slower than its predecessor but stable. No explosions. No meltdowns."
Alex's eyes lingered on Davies' regrowing legs. "Good. This is just the beginning."
He turned to Richard. "Uncle, find eight more loyal members willing to undergo the procedure. I'll begin preparing ingredients for more serum."
He paused briefly, then added, "Also, ask the survivor from Talon Squad if he wants to volunteer. He was part of Davies' team—he might be ready for this path too."
---
That night, inside Stark Industries, the spinning noises of motors whirred in Tony Stark's workshop. Sparks flew as he adjusted the Mark IV suit.
Alex keyed in the access code and walked in like he owned the place.
"JARVIS, remind me to change the password... again," Tony muttered, turning his head briefly toward Alex before going back to poking at a sparking cluster of wires with his tool. "You know, most people knock. Especially after setting fire to Florida."
Alex smirked. "What? That one-eyed bastard is complaining already?"
Tony snorted. "Fury's pissed alright. That Coulson guy dropped by and said you torched a government-funded lab and left with their scientist like it was a grocery run."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "I'm guessing you don't have a problem with it—since Iron Man hasn't come knocking on my door."
Tony smirked. "I'm not getting involved in your lover's quarrel."
Tony glanced over. "How's Maya, by the way?"
Alex blinked, caught off guard. "You know her?"
"Small world," Tony shrugged.
Alex nodded. "She's alright. The project was a success."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"
Alex's expression darkened. "Yeah. But the problem now is Killian... and Justin Hammer."
Alex explained the entire situation—how Killian escaped and how Justin Hammer had played them all. "I left Hammer alone after the Obadiah incident," he said grimly. "But this... I can't ignore."
Tony grimaced. "Great. Hammer is an idiot with a checkbook. Add a lava maniac, and we've got problems."
"They're not wasting time," Alex muttered, his voice edged with urgency. "We can't afford to either."
Tony tapped his desk. "I'll ask JARVIS to keep an eye out. And don't worry about the senator—I'll give him something to play with. As for the military, I'll check with Rhodey. See if he can help."
Alex nodded in appreciation, then turned to leave. But his eyes caught faint burn-like marks near Tony's shoulder—visible through the sleeveless undershirt he wore. Alex hesitated, staring briefly, but said nothing and continued walking.
"Hey," Tony called out just as Alex was walking out. "Stark Expo is in two months. Kane International better turn heads. Whatever you're cooking up—make it dazzling."
Alex raised a hand in reply and walked out.
Tony stared after him. "Sure, no pressure." He muttered.
---
Ten more days passed.
In the heart of Kane Headquarters in New York, Alex stood before a lineup of ten individuals. Davies was among them, his face lit with excitement. A faint ember-like glow shimmered in each of their eyes—the mark of the new Extremis formula working wonders.
Each member had already undergone the procedure, and all ten now stood tall, stronger, and unwavering. One by one, they had sworn the Blood Oath, placing their hands on the ancient scroll that had glowed faintly with arcane power. After the tenth person completed the ritual, the scroll lost its radiance and turned dull.
Alex walked in front of them. "You are now the Phoenix Squad. This is just the first stage of your transformation. Once the serum is refined—and it will be—you'll become the nightmare our enemies fear."
The ten stood straighter, fire in their gaze, ready for what came next.