Under the cover of night, between the sky and the mountains, two dark figures sped beneath the clouds.
Shetty's eyes were covered by a towel, and she could only hear the wind whistling in her ears.
She gripped the shoulder of the person beside her tightly, her voice trembling slightly: "We... where exactly are we going?"
Wade's speed dropped sharply, and he ripped the blindfold off: "You're really annoying! You've asked a hundred times in three minutes... We're here."
The sudden light made Shetty squint, her gaze locking onto the dilapidated RV parked on the cliff's edge.
At the door of the vehicle stood a familiar figure holding a basin, preparing to splash water.
Anand seemed to sense something; he turned his head, and the weariness on his face transformed into sheer shock.
Clang!
The basin slipped from his hands, dirty water splashing onto his pant legs, but he didn't even notice: "She... Shetty?!"
"Daddy, what's wrong?" A young, eager voice came from behind the door, and Nisha's little head poked out.
At the moment she heard and saw the two of them, all of Shetty's reason and defenses completely crumbled.
"Nisha—!! Anand—!!!" Shetty cried out, wrapping her arms tightly around them both.
There were no extra questions, only incoherent murmurs; the three of them seemed intent on melting into each other's embrace.
"Thank goodness... you're really okay... I'm not dreaming, I'm not..." Shetty's hands frantically caressed Anand's rough cheeks, then tremblingly smoothed out Nisha's tangled hair.
Anand's eyes also reddened as he held his wife's trembling shoulders tightly: "It's okay... it's okay... we're all here..."
Wade stood quietly not far away, like a silent statue, not disturbing this tender moment of reunion.
He did not interrupt, only stepping forward once their intense emotions had receded like a tide, and the wailing had turned into suppressed sobs: "I'll come to pick you up tomorrow morning."
This voice pulled the trio, who were immersed in the ecstasy of reunion, back to reality.
Shetty looked up, gripping her husband and daughter's hands tightly like a mother wolf sworn to protect her cubs: "Thank you..."
Wade bent his knees, and his figure shot up into the sky like an arrow, quickly disappearing into the thick night.
Located on a mountain hundreds of meters high, without any communication devices or climbing gear, and with the vast, boundless forest below—not to mention the wild beasts in the mountains—Shetty's family had no way to escape.
Wade traveled at high speed through the clouds, looking down at the shrinking mountains below, muttering to himself: "All of Shetty's belongings are at the highway motel 60 kilometers away... She's a smart person, she shouldn't do anything foolish."
He pulled out his satellite phone and methodically sent two text messages: "A dark and windy night, perfect for negotiations."
...
Midnight, Jefferson County, New York, Fort Drum Army Base.
Inside the No. 1 Comprehensive Training Ground, three squads of fully armed soldiers stood like javelins, the air thick with a murderous aura.
A black pickup truck tore through the silence, screeching to a halt at the entrance of the training ground.
The door opened, and Mena stepped out, dressed in a sharp, tailored pure white suit that felt completely out of place in the surroundings.
She stepped out of the car carrying a black wheeled suitcase and waved: "Good evening, officers."
At the entrance, three officers who had been waiting for a long time walked up to meet her.
The leader was an elderly man with graying hair and sharp eyes, who reached out his hand first: "Nice to meet you, ma'am. I am Richard Hayes, Director of the Defense Science Office. Just call me Richard."
Mena shook his hand briefly, a professional smile on her face: "Dr. Anderson could not come in person; I am his plenipotentiary representative, Mena Fischer."
Richard led her toward the training ground and asked casually: "Ms. Mena, as far as I know, you were once the head of the Red River Institute under Vought... yet now you bring such special products to us? It's hard not to wonder if these serums are related to Vought."
Mena chuckled and waved her hand: "You're joking. At Vought, I was just a replaceable 'wage earner'... As for the source of the technology, it is naturally the result of Dr. Anderson's research."
Richard's gaze was like a torch: "Then, can you tell me about this mysterious Dr. Anderson of yours?"
Mena avoided the topic, calmly opening the suitcase and taking out a transparent square box containing white, blue, and red serums arranged neatly.
She handed over a thick folder: "This is our sincerity for cooperation. Inside are the core materials and composite production processes for twelve stable super-powered gene carriers."
Richard took the file, flipped through it casually for a few pages, and passed it to the technical officer beside him: "These technical terms give this old man a headache. Let's get straight to the point; what are we demonstrating tonight?"
Mena's fingers slid across the white, blue, and red serums in turn, explaining the temporary superpowers and side effects granted by the support-type 'Shadow Bug,' defensive-type 'Guard Bear,' and offensive-type 'Wolf Strike' serums.
Richard frowned and raised his hand to ask: "Wait, are you saying these composite superpower serums... come with baggage superpowers and cause abnormal hunger and fatigue when the effects wear off?"
Mena gestured as she explained: "Exactly. Our serums use a multi-gene combination matching model. The effects and functions are relatively stable, and there is no significant damage to the human body after use, nor is there any drug addiction or drug resistance."
Richard stroked his chin, pondering for a long time: "It sounds too perfect."
Mena handed the transparent serum box to the officer nearby and explained: "The Doctor uses a multi-gene combination model; to ensure stability and safety, a corresponding price must be paid."
"Unlike Vought's uncontrollable 'compound v' gene lottery, our product is positioned as a consumable, a tool—directional, stable, efficient, low side effects, and non-addictive. I assume your side has tested the samples the Doctor provided previously, so I don't need to say more, right?"
Richard stared intently at Mena, silent for a few seconds: "Precisely because it's too good, we must be more cautious. Who can guarantee this isn't another 'compound v'?"
Mena met his gaze without flinching: "Mr. Director, trust is built on sincerity and mutual benefit... We have brought the formulas, samples, and specific data for the serums. Whereas Vought will always view the military as a client to be served, not as a partner."
These words struck Richard's heart like a heavy hammer, reflecting the military's deep-seated resentment toward uncontrollable power.
He exhaled twice, waved his hand at the line of soldiers, and said in a deep voice: "Start the demonstration... Let me see for myself whether this tool of yours is actually handy."
Three robust soldiers stepped out, took off their shirts, and walked to the center of the training ground.
Under the guidance of medical personnel, they were each injected with 5 milliliters of different colored serums.
A dozen seconds later, astonishing changes occurred under everyone's watchful eyes:
One soldier floated off the ground, and flying insects began to gather out of thin air, circling around him;
Another soldier let out a low growl, his muscles bulging and his body expanding, instantly transforming into a nearly 2.5-meter-tall black-furred bear-man, curiously feeling his own body.
The third soldier let out a heaven-shaking wolf howl, fell to his knees, his body stretching in spasms, yellow fur bursting from his skin, turning into a hideous, strong-limbed werewolf.
Richard stood at the edge of the training ground with his arms crossed, shouting at the three'super-powered soldiers' of various forms: "What are you standing there for? Move! Let me see what you can do!"
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