Chapter 52: Super Soldier Project

Time flew by. In the days following the failed assassination, Luke returned to his peaceful, carefree life. Surprisingly, the incident brought unexpected harmony to the grocery store. Sharon and Wanda, once wary of each other, seemed to reach a quiet understanding. After seeing Sharon rush to Luke's rescue without hesitation, Wanda's attitude toward her softened considerably. She began to see Sharon less as a rival and more like an older sister. Sharon, for her part, realized that Luke's relationship with Wanda was rooted in genuine sibling affection. Whatever romantic feelings Wanda harbored seemed unrequited, just the wistful dreams of a young girl still figuring out her heart. With that realization, Sharon's guard came down. She started treating Wanda with warmth and even teased her occasionally, like family. This shift in energy brought a comforting balance to the household. The grocery store thrived in this newfound tranquility. And Luke? He basked in it. Admiring beautiful women, walking his mutant dog, shopping for exotic snacks, it was the kind of life he could only dream of in his past world. Now, he was living it, one blissful day at a time. ... Meanwhile, outside this peaceful bubble, S.H.I.E.L.D. was anything but idle. Nick Fury, accompanied by Agent Hill, personally took charge of helping a certain living legend adjust to the modern world. Captain America had been found, thawed, and awakened. Elsewhere, Natasha Romanoff and Phil Coulson were handed separate high-priority missions. Natasha was sent to monitor Tony Stark, who had begun developing a revolutionary armored suit. Coulson, on the other hand, was assigned to investigate Obadiah Stane, Stark Industries' second-largest shareholder, whose activities had raised a few too many red flags. ... Back at the New York Military District... After the chaos caused by the green giant dog, General Ross had spent weeks overseeing the rebuilding of his shattered base. The destruction of tanks and aircraft? A minor setback. The military had money. Replacing equipment was easy. The real problem? The Hulk had escaped in the chaos, and that enraged Ross more than anything. Not only had he lost his prize subject, but the dog that had torn through his defenses might be tied to Luke Yale. Although he didn't have hard proof, the connection was suspiciously clear. Havok had just returned from Luke's grocery store, only for the base to be assaulted shortly after. Moreover, Havok and his entire team had been killed, with no other soldiers harmed. That couldn't be a coincidence. Ross's hatred for Luke grew more intense by the day, now nearly rivaling his grudge against Banner. Still, there was one silver lining: before the Hulk escaped, the military had managed to extract a significant amount of his blood. And that blood was now the key to Ross's most ambitious project yet. ... Deep beneath the military base, in a hidden underground lab. General Ross stood before a wall of reinforced bulletproof glass, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the experiment about to unfold. On the other side, strapped to upright iron beds, were three soldiers, all amputees. Two missing arms, one missing a leg. Ross had lured them here with a promise: take part in this program, and you may walk away whole again. For men with nothing to lose, it was enough to put their lives on the line. Military scientists in sterile white coats completed the final checks. Ross raised his communicator to his lips. "gentlemen, whenever you're ready." The scientists nodded, pressed a series of red buttons, and quickly evacuated the room. They knew better than to linger. Tubes descended from the machines, injecting thick, dark green liquid into the subjects' bodies. Everyone watching held their breath. This was the fifth human trial. The first four had ended in horrific failure, bodies ripped apart from within, transformed for mere moments before exploding into gore. But this time felt different. The liquid coursed into their veins. Within seconds, their eyes glowed green. Their bodies began to grow, muscles bulging grotesquely, green veins pulsing beneath the skin. Bones cracked. The straps strained. Their screams of pain echoed through the chamber. Ross clenched his fists. This was the point when every previous subject had detonated, muscle growth outpacing the body's structural limits. But not this time. This time, the mutation was slower. More controlled. Contained. Minutes passed. No explosions. No fatalities. Just three hulking figures breathing heavily, trembling from the transformation, but very much alive. Ross's eyes narrowed, a dangerous smile spreading across his face. If this held... He wouldn't just be rebuilding his forces. He would be creating a new breed of super soldiers. Soldiers stronger than Captain America. And this time, they would be loyal only to him. All the sacrifices would be worth it. ...