NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2: chapter 2
Chapter Two Experiment
The icy Antarctic winds continued to roar, but the Quinjet was long gone. Hidden in the labyrinth of HYDRA's abandoned corridors, a figure emerged from the shadows. His breath misted in the frigid air, but his dark eyes burned with purpose. This man, lean and coldly efficient, was Markus Kreel—the estranged son of a high-ranking HYDRA scientist who had perished when SHIELD dismantled the organization years ago.
Markus knelt beside the shattered containment chamber, his gloved hand tracing the remnants of the glowing serum. He smirked.
"Father always said you were the key," he whispered. "And now you'll finally fulfill your purpose."
A New Experiment
Markus wasn't just a former HYDRA operative—he was a prodigy of bioengineering and virology. When HYDRA fell, he had disappeared, leaving behind a trail of false identities and scorched earth. Fueled by vengeance against SHIELD and a desire to complete his father's vision, Markus had spent years building a hidden lab in the shadows of New York City.
In a high-tech underground bunker camouflaged beneath a decrepit warehouse, Markus placed the stolen sample into a containment unit. The green serum shimmered under the sterile lights as he set to work. Monitors displayed intricate genetic sequences while robotic arms conducted delicate experiments under his supervision.
"This isn't just a virus," Markus muttered, his voice tinged with awe. "It's evolution."
Days turned into nights as he refined the serum. Using remnants of HYDRA's research and his own twisted ingenuity, Markus enhanced the virus. His version was faster, deadlier, and capable of spreading through air, water, and direct contact.
To test his creation, Markus captured stray animals and unleashed the virus on them. The results were horrifying: rats grew grotesque, their bodies bulging with unnatural muscles and their eyes glowing green. Birds became feral monstrosities, their screeches echoing with unnatural malice.
Markus watched with satisfaction. "Perfect."
A Plan for Chaos
One night, Markus stood before a digital projection of New York City, its skyline glittering like a jewel. His gaze lingered on SHIELD's headquarters and the Avengers Tower.
"They'll pay," he snarled. "For my father, for HYDRA… for everything."
He keyed in coordinates, identifying high-density locations: subways, water treatment plants, and crowded markets. Markus would release his creation where it could do the most damage, ensuring rapid infection.
To test his readiness, Markus infected a small, isolated homeless shelter in the Bronx. Within hours, chaos erupted. Local police reported wild, rabid individuals attacking civilians. By the time emergency responders arrived, the infected had torn through half the neighborhood, leaving a trail of destruction before disappearing into the city's underbelly.
Markus smiled as he watched the news reports. "A preview of what's to come."
SHIELD and the Avengers React
At SHIELD headquarters, Maria Hill stood in the command center, glaring at live footage of the Bronx incident. "This isn't random," she said. "This is controlled. Deliberate."
Jemma Simmons, seated nearby, analyzed a sample retrieved from the scene. "It's the same serum we found in Antarctica," she confirmed, her voice trembling. "But it's been… modified. Whoever did this knows exactly what they're doing."
Hill turned to the large screen displaying the Avengers. Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Tony Stark, and Bruce Banner listened intently as Hill explained the situation.
"This isn't just a zombie virus," Hill said. "It's a weapon. And it's already in the city."
Steve's jaw tightened. "Then we need to find who's behind this before it spreads further."
"I'm running facial recognition on every HYDRA operative we've ever logged," Tony interjected. "If they so much as bought a bagel in this city, I'll find them."
Bruce added, "If we can get a live sample of this modified virus, I might be able to engineer a countermeasure."
"Then it's settled," Steve said, rising to his feet. "Natasha and I will handle recon in the Bronx. Tony, keep digging. Banner, get the lab ready."
Hill nodded. "And be quick. The longer this goes unchecked, the worse it's going to get."
Markus's First Strike
As the Avengers mobilized, Markus prepared for his grand unveiling. Standing in his lab, he stared at a cylindrical device filled with his enhanced serum.
"This city will kneel before chaos," he declared. "And SHIELD will crumble under the weight of their own failures."
He activated the device, setting it to disperse the airborne virus into New York's central subway system. If successful, millions would be infected within hours.
As he prepared to leave, a proximity alarm blared. Markus's eyes narrowed at the security feed, which showed two figures entering the warehouse above—Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff.
"So, they've found me," Markus muttered, grabbing a weaponized injector gun loaded with the serum. "Let's see how they handle evolution."
To be continued...