James lounged by the villa's pool, wine glass in hand, its amber glow catching the moonlight. He closed his eyes, super hearing spreading like radar. New York's sirens, Tokyo's subway announcements, London's debates, Moscow's arms deals—a cacophony of billions flooded in.
He filtered it, hunting key snippets.
"…Superman, I want a girlfriend…"
"…Hurry, Mark, hope Superman doesn't show tonight…"
"…Sir, tomorrow's Senate hearing…"
Then, a faint, desperate whisper: "If there's really a Superman… please save me…"
James's eyes snapped open, super vision piercing to a Hydra base in Eastern Europe's mountains. In a glass cylinder, a red-haired girl sat, about nineteen, her crimson eyes flickering with pain and hope. Scarlet energy swirled around her, clashing against the glass, triggering alarms.
He set down the glass, water dripping from his toned frame as he stood. Grabbing his watch, nano-particles swarmed, forming his black armor, the golden "S" gleaming.
On the terrace, wind brushed his armor. He locked onto the girl's plea with super hearing.
"Found you."
Golden energy sparked at his fingertips, tracing a circle. A two-meter portal opened, revealing the dim lab and the trapped girl.
James stepped through, the portal fading. The villa fell silent, the pool rippling softly.
Half an Hour Earlier, Eastern Europe, Hydra Base
Wanda curled in her glass prison, eyes fixed on a surgical table where a boy, no older than fifteen, lay strapped. Electrodes dotted his pale chest, his pupils dilated, lips trembling under neural suppressants.
"Subject 47, X-Gene activation, ninth attempt," a masked researcher droned, logging data.
Another held a syringe of glowing green serum, its drip eerie under the surgical light. "Serum concentration at 80%, new catalyst added."
Wanda's nails dug into her palms. She'd seen this too often—failure meant death.
The needle pierced the boy's neck. Nothing happened at first.
Then his muscles spasmed, spine arching, a hoarse whimper escaping. His skin reddened, veins writhing like snakes.
"Vitals spiking! Heart rate 220!" a researcher said, excited.
Bones cracked sickeningly, his arms twisting, nails hardening into black claws. His pupils slit like a beast's, a growl rumbling.
"Success?" someone whispered.
SPLAT!
The boy's chest burst, a bone spike piercing flesh, blood spraying. His scream tore free.
"Out of control! Suppress him!"
Alarms blared. Soldiers fired tasers, but the boy grew wilder, snapping restraints. He tore a soldier apart, blood painting the lights red.
Wanda stifled a scream, scarlet magic sparking at her fingertips. The boy was no longer human, lunging at a researcher, teeth shredding his throat.
"Activate incineration!"
Ceiling vents unleashed white flames. The boy wailed, skin charring, yet he fought on. His eyes met Wanda's, human despair flickering. "Save… me…" he mouthed.
The blast door opened, a squad firing energy rifles. The boy collapsed, charred limbs scattering.
"Subject 47, failure. Uncontrolled mutation post-X-Gene activation. Reduce serum, adjust catalyst," a researcher noted coldly, ignoring the corpse.
"Another bust," one sighed. "Strucker'll have our heads if we don't deliver tomorrow."
Cleaners swept in as Wanda's tears fell, her scarlet magic flaring and fading. She'd seen too much death, her only goal survival.
The lab emptied, save for two guards chatting by the wall.
"Heard the news?" the taller one said, toying with his rifle. "That Superman stopped a truck in Tokyo, didn't even scratch the paint."
The shorter scoffed. "Comic book nonsense. Probably a mutant."
"It's real!" the taller whispered, showing his phone. "My buddy at S.H.I.E.L.D. says satellites caught him crossing the Pacific. Bases are on alert, scared he'll show."
Wanda's fingers trembled, scarlet sparks dancing. She pressed her ear to the glass.
"We need a Superman-killer with the Tesseract," the shorter said, kicking a shackle. "These mutant freaks—"
"Shut it!" the taller snapped, scanning the lab. "Want Strucker turning you into a lizard?"
They fell silent. Wanda's heart raced. Superman?
Her scarlet energy pulsed. "If there's a Superman…" she whispered, closing her eyes, "save me…"
Golden sparks crackled.
A portal opened.
Wanda looked up.
A black figure stood beyond, eyes burning like suns.
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