Ryan returned to Edna's mansion a few days later.
As soon as he crossed the property line, he could tell things had changed. Those four days hadn't been wasted. Edna had asked for a full explanation of his powers, how strong he was, how much heat he could handle, how fast he could fly, how his body dealt with friction, how quickly he healed, even how his emotions affected his abilities.
Her questions were direct and exact. There was no room to be unsure. At one point, she had gone completely silent.
She had clearly noticed that his powers were very similar to Homelander's.
But she never asked about it.
And Ryan was thankful for that.
Instead, she focused on the work, throwing herself into it with real excitement. She sent short, fast messages to his phone:
[Material prototype melted. Unacceptable.]
[New weave holds at extreme velocity. Promising.]
[Heat dispersion solved. Finally.]
[Do NOT ask what this cost me.]
On the fourth day, the message he had been waiting for finally arrived:
[Come. It's ready.]
Ryan landed outside the mansion just as smoothly as before. Edna was already at the door, talking before he even had time to greet her.
"You have no idea what a nightmare you are to design for," she said briskly, walking ahead and motioning for him to follow. "Flight and super speed ? Do you have any concept of friction ? Of heat buildup ? Of material fatigue at hypersonic velocities ?"
Ryan gave a small smile. "I have no idea..."
"A criminal amount," Edna snapped, then smirked. "But I solved it."
She sounded truly proud.
They walked through the mansion, passing clean, modern halls with sharp lines and smooth curves. Everything looked carefully planned. Nothing felt random.
Edna kept talking, clearly energized.
"The fabric had to be strong enough to survive sustained flight, repeated sonic transitions, and violent directional changes, without tearing, overheating, or restricting movement. Flexibility without weakness. Strength without bulk. A nightmare."
She glanced back at him. "Naturally, I succeeded."
Ryan let out a quiet laugh.
They entered a long white hallway. On both sides stood mannequins wearing expensive, perfectly crafted outfits, elegant dresses, sharp suits, strange materials that caught the light. Every piece looked priceless.
At the end of the hall stood a thick iron door.
Edna stopped in front of it.
"Now," she said, standing straighter, "pay attention."
She leaned forward as the first scanner activated.
A light passed over her eyes.
Then she placed her hand on a panel.
A calm mechanical voice asked for confirmation.
Edna took a breath.
"Edna Mode."
Part of the wall moved.
A heavy automatic machine gun slid out, aiming forward.
Ryan blinked. "…Uh."
Edna didn't react at all.
"And guest," she added calmly.
The weapon pulled back into the wall. With a solid metallic sound, the door slowly opened.
Ryan laughed despite himself.
"Okay, that's a little intense," he said. "Why so much security ?"
Edna kept walking.
"My designs are unique in this world," she said simply. "And you would be amazed at how many competitors would kill for my secrets."
She looked back at him, unimpressed.
"Also, you would be shocked by how many actually tried."
Ryan lifted an eyebrow. "…Fair enough."
They entered a large laboratory.
The room was dark and polished, filled with soft blue lights and quiet machines. Metal arms rested along the walls. Screens displayed moving data. On one side of the room, shelves held rolls of fabric, smooth, flawless, and clearly very expensive.
Ryan walked behind Edna, looking around in silence. He had been inside Vought design labs before, but this felt different. More personal.
Edna pointed ahead.
"Sit."
Ryan sat in one of the white chairs facing a huge glass wall.
Edna picked up a small control from the table and smiled at him.
"Prepare to lose your breath."
She pressed a button.
A door opened inside the glass area. A metal platform slid forward, carrying a mannequin locked in place.
Ryan stopped breathing for a few seconds.
The suit was black with red lines running across it like fire under the surface. The symbol on the chest was built into the suit, sharp and clean. The material looked flexible but strong, made for speed and flight. It looked powerful even while standing still.
His fingers tightened around the chair.
Edna smirked.
"Close your mouth," she said. "Or a mosquito will fly in."
Ryan let out a quiet laugh, still staring.
Edna pressed another button.
A flamethrower fired, covering the mannequin in flames. Heat filled the chamber.
When the fire stopped, the suit was untouched.
Edna nodded.
"Heat resistance. Obviously."
She pressed again.
Gunfire hit the suit, bullets striking the chest and arms. Sparks flew. When it ended, there wasn't a single mark.
"And finally," Edna said calmly, "friction."
The mannequin moved.
It ran so fast it turned into a blur. Air warped around it. The screens flashed with rising numbers.
Then it stopped, the suit was perfect.
Edna crossed her arms and looked at Ryan.
"Your suit will not melt, burn, tear, or betray you," she said. "If something happens while wearing this, it will not be the suit's fault."
Ryan swallowed.
"…I don't even know what to say."
Edna smiled, sharp and proud.
"Good," she replied. "That means I did my job."
Ryan stood up, clearly happy.
"Thank you so much Edna, as soon as I get to the tower I will send you the necessary amount of money." He said, his heart pounding with excitement.
Edna waved her hand dismissively.
"I don't need Vought's dirty money," she said. "The challenge was enough. The satisfaction was enough. Consider this a courtesy. My first service."
She tilted her head, looking at the mannequin.
"But," she added, curious, "if you don't mind… I would like to know what the big 'S' in the middle stands for."
Ryan went quiet for a moment.
He looked at the suit, then back at Edna.
"Well besides the name I intend to use…"
"It is more than just a name," he said calmly. "I want that symbol to stand for something. That good still exists. That not every hero is an actor or a walking energy drink commercial. Real heroes exist. And if people have hope, the world can become better."
Edna listened without interrupting.
When he finished, she smiled softly.
"I look forward to seeing what kind of change you bring with the suit I made," she said. "And I expect great things from you, young man. I will be watching the news."
Ryan smiled back.
Then he turned his eyes to the suit once more, his expression full of purpose.