(Sorry for the chapter delay, long story short. It was a mix of things, computer trouble, a dog attacked and injured my hand, etc. I was planning on uploading all the delayed/missing chapters tomorrow, but then I saw a comment from somebody claiming the story's been abandoned. So I'm not sure anymore, either way. Here's a chapter, I'll probably have another one for you later today.)
Leo's POV
"Okay, imagine if everything the human body was made of. Stuff like fat, tissue, blood, nerves, etc. Were fused into one super cell, a Biomass. One capable of rearranging, and constructing itself into any organic structure within its own biology. Then imagine, being able to stockpile and condense the material-"
"Allowing you to modify your biological capabilities by adjusting the density, and biological structure of your body." Gwen finished, amazed.
Which makes sense, it is her expertise. While everybody in the group can do a little bit of everything, coding, engineering, etc., they all have their expertise.
Ned, programming. Peter, engineering/chemistry. Harry, Physics and economics. While Gwen is a decent coder, she's better at stuff like biochemistry, which gives her an incredible insight on biology as well.
"What about the clothing?" She asked, rubbing my shirt between her fingers.
"That's more complicated, it's not real clothing. The Biomass has the ability to replicate synthetic material, like cotton or silk, but-"
Grabbing at the collar of my shirt, I began to rip it apart. Instead of grey threads and strings, there were red fleshy strings. Gwen winced, a little grossed out.
"At the end of the day, it's just biomass taking a new shape. It's a biological part of me." I explained.
As I let go, the shirt began to stitch itself. It healed over the damage, fading and blending back into the shirt.
Gwen examined it, then frowned. "Wait, does that mean you're naked."
"Technically, I'm wearing clothes made of human DNA." Sort of.
"....That's worse." She shot back.
"... Yeah, I know."
For a moment, we just stared into each other's eyes. She pressed a hand against my chest.
"How- how did this happen? You said you weren't a mutant."
"I'm not, it's complicated." As in, I haven't thought up a foolproof lie. "I don't remember all the details."
Gwen frowned. "What do you mean? What can you remember?"
"It was some sort of biological experiment, I think they were making a panacea or something. I'm not sure, but whatever it was. It got into my system, and messed with my memory."
At this rate, I'll probably have to create some sort of SCP foundation to explain everything. My powers, Om Nom, The Plague Doctor, etc.
"Well." She placed a hand on my shoulder. "If you ever need somebody to talk to, you have me."
We stared into each other's eyes, the moment didn't last as I sniffed the air. "Why do I smell smoke?"
"I don't smell anything." Gwen sniffed the air.
The smell led me through the kitchen, laundry room, and toward the interior garage door.
Pushing the door open, I was greeted with the sight of three smoking Compact servers.
"....fuck."
===
3rd Person POV
Peter, Ned, and Harry stood outside Leo's home. Very much annoyed, after today. All they wanted to do was to go home, and relax.
Instead, they received a bunch of vague emergency texts from Leo. Something about viral, overclocking, and overheating.
"This better be important." Harry rolled his eyes, tired.
It's 6 PM, he should be home. Relaxing, maybe in the bath.
"I'm sure it's important." Ned told him as they approached Leo's home.
Peter knocked on the door, and was greeted by a panicked Gwen.
"Quick, inside!" she practically pulled them in.
"What's going on?" Peter asked as Gwen led them through the kitchen, laundry room, and into the garage.
They were greeted with the sight of Leo frantically running around, placing a bucket of ice next to a large box fan. He placed a server by an open window, and placed another into a chest freezer.
"HELP ME!"
Ned, Harry, and Peter immediately sprung into action.
"What's happening?" Harry asked.
"Instagram is blowing up, it's overloading the servers."
Ned facepalmed. "The robots! We should have seen this coming, of course something like that would be all over the internet."
"What do we do?" Peter asked.
"We need to either increase its processing power, or amplify the cooling system." Leo explained. "Now hurry up and get to work!"
"What am I supposed to do?!" Peter asked, confused.
"You're a genius, build something!"
"With what?!" Peter asked in annoyance, it's not like he has an extra processor or something.
"You're in a garage filled with a decade's worth of random junk, figure something out." Leo told him as he began to fan one of their servers.
Peter threw his hand into the air. "What am I supposed to do with an old car jack, a jerry can, and-" Ned held up an old vacuum. "Wait a second." Peter snatched the vacuum with Ned. "I have an idea…somebody give me a saw and some zip ties."
Harry searched through some old boxes before pulling out an old GameCube, he grabbed a flathead and tried to pry it open.
"Don't you dare!" Leo swiped it from Harry. "Those aren't easy to replace, I have a Wii in the living room. Use that instead."
"Can I use this?" Ned held up an old Roomba.
"Go for it!"
Gwen watches as they work, unsure what to do. Sure, she's smart but this is a little out of her depth.
"Is there anything I can do?"
Leo pulled her in close. "Keep Om Nom hidden, make sure they don't see him." He whispered into her ear. "Also, maybe order some pizza. We might be here for a while." He added.
What Leo didn't know at the time is that today's event will set off a chain reaction that will change the world.
===
Malibu, California
Tony Stark let out a sigh as he entered his home, and removed his coat.
If you asked him, Tony would describe himself as a very handsome man. Tan skin, a well meticulously manicured anchor beard and goatee. Dark brown, and well styled hair. According to some people, he's the spitting image of Robert Downey Junior.
"Jarvis?" Tony spoke out loud.
"Yes sir?" A disembodied British voice, Jarvis, answered.
Tony sat at his personal bar and grabbed a bottle of 40 year old whiskey. "Order some food, I've had a long day. So something between two, to three hundred per bite." He requested as he poured himself a drink.
"Of course sir."
Tony dropped a cube of ice in his drink, and took a sip. "Anything new, Jarvis?"
"Several things, sir. Stark Industries stock has gone up by 4%. Ms. Potts has sent out several messages that you have yet to respond to, and New York's F.E.A.S.T Community Center was attacked earlier today by what appeared to be a group of autonomous Nazi foot soldiers. Also, Lieutenant Colonel-"
"Wait." Tony cut him off, and lowered his drink in confusion. "....what?"
"You have several missed messages from Ms. Potts about-"
"No, not that." Tony cut him off. "What's this about Nazi robots?" He asked as he grabbed a tablet.
"Earlier today, an outreach organization, known as F.E.A.S.T was attacked by a group of mechanical soldiers. That, according to the public. Bares a striking resemblance to Nazi infantry, complete with stylized Stahlhelm plating." Jarvis explained as a recording played on the tablet.
Tony watched as one of the so-called Nazi robots shot out a pencil missile. Obliterating a SWAT van, and then swinging some guy in a blue sweater into a police car.
Tony winced at the impact, but ignored it as he focused on the robots.
"Weapons are pretty outdated, high caliber ballistic gatlings bolted into their arms. It's like someone raided a World War 2 museum, and tried to make it look scary. On the other hand." He continued. "There's absolutely zero hydraulic stutter. No clunky, mechanical latency. They've got completely independent limb movement, perfect weight distribution, and a terrifyingly smooth gait. Honestly, if I didn't know any better, I'd say I was looking at a high end kinetic neural link. They don't move like autonomous logic boards at all. They look exactly like highly trained soldiers wearing form fitting mechanical suits. Whoever put these together wasted a beautiful, advanced chassis on a garbage operating system and outdated guns. It's an aerodynamic masterpiece with World War Two weapons." Tony let out a grunt, both amazed and annoyed.
"Are you done, sir?" Jarvis asked.
Tony watched as its head was ripped off. "Who are they?"
"Unsure, local authorities have yet to release a statement."
"Doesn't matter." He waved it off. "Contact Rhodey, I want to take the first crack at these things. Also, find out who built them. Maybe Oscorp?"
He doubts Hammer made them, if he did. It would have probably shot itself in the foot.
"I was hoping you would know." Rhodey spoke as he entered the room.
James "Rhodey" Rhodes, an African man. With a lean, sharp jaw, a closely chopped, military regulation haircut. Dressed in a standard, U.S. Air Force military uniform.
Tony just stared at him. "How long have you been here?"
"I've been waiting for you for the past two hours." Rhodey answered, annoyed.
===
Central City, California
"How's it coming along, point dexter?" Ben Grimm asked as he entered the workshop.
Ben Grimm was your average man, blue eyes. A wide, but healthy build. Light skin, and short brown hair.
"Better." Reed Richard answered as he slid out from underneath a tarp.
Despite being only 35, Reed had an aged look. A sharp face, black hair, but greying on the sides. Brown eyes, and pretty tall despite the fact he spent most of his time hunched over a lab table.
"Still struggling with the engine?" Ben asked.
Reed just sighed. "The fuel line keeps stuttering, the thrusters won't be able to get enough fuel during flight."
"I'm sure you'll figure it out." A voice chimed in.
Sue "Richard" Storm entered the room, a tray of lemonade in hand.
Even though Sue is only 5 years younger than Reed, she barely looked twenty five. Clear skin, blue eyes, and silky blond hair.
"Sue, Reed!" Johnny Storm yelled out as he entered the room.
Johnny is Sue's "kid" brother. A moderate age gap between the two, about 9 years. Blue hair like his sister, though his is obviously shorter and is styled in a more spiky style. Blue eyes, and fair skin like his sister.
"What's wrong?" Sue asked, worried.
"You got to see this." He held up his phone.
Ben, Sue, and Reed huddled around his phone as they watched the video. A group of people with enhanced abilities, fighting what looked like mechanical soldiers.
Reed snatched the phone from Johnny, and began to analyze the video.
"They've got completely independent limb movement, perfect weight distribution." Reed completely ignored the weapon, instead analyzing its movement and physical capabilities.
Sue sighed, and shook her head. Used to her husband getting side tracked with every new scientific discovery.
===
F.E.A.S.T Community Center
General Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross watched as they zoned off the area.
Men with rifles lined the street as they blocked off the area, and began to collect and load their new 'assets' into a military vehicle.
A smile formed on his face as he watched an engineer disarm the gatling gun from a mechanical arm. They loaded it into a military vehicle with the rest of its body.
Unfortunately, his smile didn't last long as a squad of black SUVs pulled out.
His men surrounded the vehicle, weapons raised. "Identify yourself!" He ordered.
A man in a black suit and tie stepped out the vehicle, badge in the air.
"Agent Coulson with the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistic Division. We'll take it from here." Coulson explained as dozens of men with eagle badges filled the area.
Despite his serious face, and commanding presence. Coulson had a soft face, broad forehead, a receding hairline, and a lean physique.
Ross scowled. "I don't care who you claim you are, retract your men. I have orders from the U.S. Military to-."
"General!" A soldier cut him off, a radio in hand.
Ross grabbed the radio, and began to speak through. "Secretary of defense? But sir, you don't understand. With this kind of technology- what do you mean the UN? The World Security Council?!"
Coulson smiled. "Are we going to have an issue, General?"