Chapter 35 - 35: Branded by Umbrella

Black Widow's heavy eyelids fluttered open, revealing a metallic ceiling overhead. As her mind struggled to regain clarity, fragmented memories of what had happened before she blacked out flooded back to her. She had attempted to take Gene Mason hostage and escape from Mason Industries' tower. However, instead of subduing him, she had been the one overpowered—her throat gripped tightly by Mason's hand. Now, she tried to move but soon realized that she was restrained inside some kind of containment pod. Surrounding her were numerous unfamiliar devices, their blinking lights casting an eerie glow. "Miss Romanoff, how are you feeling?" A calm voice sounded. Gene Mason appeared before her, his face adorned with an unsettling smile. Black Widow narrowed her eyes as she took in his presence. "Who exactly are you?" "Who am I?" Gene chuckled. "I am a capitalist, a philanthropist, an inventor. The weapons I've designed have wiped out countless terrorists, and the rapid-healing spray I developed has saved an uncountable number of lives." He then leaned in slightly, his eyes gleaming with mockery. "But you, Agent Romanoff, what are you really? A so-called hero? Or just an executioner with blood-stained hands?" His words were laced with derision. Black Widow remained composed and countered, "Aren't you afraid of provoking a conflict with S.H.I.E.L.D.?" At this, Gene burst into laughter. "A conflict with S.H.I.E.L.D.? And what would that accomplish?" "Do you think that with Mason Industries' current influence, we would even consider S.H.I.E.L.D. a threat?" "You assume the Department of Defense, Congress, or the White House would support your little organization in opposing me?" "Don't overestimate S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Romanoff. In the face of corporate power, your agency is nothing more than a pawn on the chessboard." His words were spoken with absolute confidence, filled with disdain for the organization she served. "Red Queen, is everything ready?" Gene suddenly asked, his tone shifting. Black Widow's stomach twisted at his words. What was ready? For what purpose? "Sir, preparations are complete. The injection can proceed at any time," Red Queen's mechanical voice responded. Black Widow's heart clenched. Injection? On whom? Seeing her confusion, Gene's smile deepened. "I've always been a generous man, Miss Romanoff. Since you've graced me with your presence, how could I not prepare a special gift for you?" He gestured toward the pod restraining her. "This is the latest human enhancement serum developed by my Umbrella Corporation. It will significantly boost your physical capabilities." "Of course, I must admit there's a slight… addition. We've embedded nanobots into the serum. They will monitor every change in your body." "And, if necessary—" Gene's voice grew colder, "—they can kill you instantly." At that moment, a mechanical arm extended inside the containment pod, revealing a syringe filled with a luminescent blue liquid. Black Widow felt an icy dread wash over her. "You can't do this—AHHHH!" A piercing scream escaped her lips. A searing pain erupted from her back, unlike anything she had ever experienced—even during the brutal training she endured in Russia's Red Room. For the first time in years, the Black Widow—an agent who had never flinched at bullet wounds—was screaming in agony. Unbeknownst to her, a symbol was being branded into the flesh of her back: The Umbrella Corporation logo. Beneath it, small words were etched into her skin: "Test Subject No. 3." seaʀᴄh thё Nôvel(F)ire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, the cold steel of a needle pierced her vein, and the frigid blue liquid was injected into her bloodstream. Her heart rate spiked. Her body temperature surged. She could hear the deafening thump-thump-thump of her own heartbeat in her ears. Her mind spiraled into chaos before finally— Darkness. "Sir, the test subject has lost consciousness. All vital signs are being monitored," Red Queen reported. "The nanobots have successfully attached to the spinal cord. They are ready to sever neural signals at your command." This was the most terrifying aspect of the procedure. Once the nanobots intercepted the brain's neural signals, Romanoff's body would belong to Red Queen—fully controlled, yet her consciousness would remain intact. She would be aware of every action her body performed—but powerless to stop it. Gene's expression was unreadable. "Modify Romanoff's memories. Send her back to S.H.I.E.L.D." A chilling plan was forming in his mind. He wasn't just turning Black Widow into a sleeper agent. He was planting a ticking time bomb within S.H.I.E.L.D.—one he could detonate at the perfect moment. When Black Widow finally regained consciousness, she found herself in the backseat of a taxi. As soon as she woke up, her memories surged back into her mind. She had successfully infiltrated Mason Industries to conduct a full-scale assessment. After gathering intelligence, she had left voluntarily, citing personal family matters as her excuse. She checked the time on her phone. Two months had passed since she first went undercover at Mason Industries. She must have been exhausted—falling asleep in the taxi like this was unlike her. "Miss, we've arrived at your destination," the taxi driver said with a polite smile. "Thank you. Keep the change." Romanoff stepped out of the vehicle, adjusting her disguise before heading toward the towering Triskelion, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s headquarters. Inside the Triskelion, Director Nick Fury was already waiting. "Agent Romanoff, we've reviewed the intel you sent back. Thanks to you, we now have a much deeper understanding of Mason Industries." Fury's voice carried a rare note of appreciation. The moment he had gone through the classified documents Romanoff provided, he had involuntarily sucked in a sharp breath. He had expected Mason Industries to be hiding something—but he hadn't imagined the sheer scale of their secret operations. It was like looking at an iceberg that had been lurking beneath the surface. Only 30% was visible to the world. The remaining 70%? It was terrifying. Human experimentation AI-controlled robotic soldiers Genetic engineering projects Extraterrestrial exploration programs Each classified project sent chills down Fury's spine. And then there were the covert activities: Funding proxy wars Overthrowing small governments Arming private militias Mason Industries wasn't just a corporation. It was a shadow empire, shaping world events from behind the scenes. Yet, despite the weight of the revelations, Black Widow's voice remained steady. "Director, I strongly advise against taking direct action against Mason Industries." Fury studied her carefully. His expression darkened as he slowly closed the classified file in front of him. "I wasn't planning to." "Because, quite frankly—" Fury exhaled sharply. "There's nothing we can do." -------------- T/N: Access Advance Chapters on my P@treon: [email protected]/MPHFics