Chapter 45: Ross Backstabs the New Avengers
Superpowers, political influence, and love—these three desires share a fundamental characteristic: they breed intense possessiveness.
When people lack them, they desperately pursue them. Once achieved, they desperately prevent others from obtaining the same advantages.
Those with vested interests actively block others' access to similar benefits, even targeting someone like Captain America, the embodiment of American ideals.
Steve had identified Ryan as a potential threat requiring preemptive action. That assessment had triggered everything that followed.
Steve bore significant responsibility for creating the timeline branch that led to this conflict.
Yet all blame ultimately fell on Ryan's shoulders, fueling his determination to resist.
"I've become more powerful than any of you—why should I tolerate this injustice?"
A weaker individual, operating under the guise of maintaining world peace and justice, had moved to suppress a superior force preemptively. It resembled workplace politics on a cosmic scale—eliminating promising competition before they could rise.
The Avengers' attitude toward Ryan transcended mere suppression—they wanted him dead.
Steve's corpse lay before Ryan now. Strange had vanished into dimensional exile, but the fire burning within Ryan remained unquenched, now redirected toward the Ancient One from the 2008 timeline branch.
Traversing the multiverse and traveling through time represented entirely different concepts. Returning wasn't simple, but Ryan vowed that if the opportunity arose, he would settle accounts with the former Sorcerer Supreme.
"Dr. Ryan, I'm entrusting the super-soldier formula development to your expertise. I eagerly await your progress."
Ross reminded him about the life-extension treatment before departing.
After leaving the laboratory where Captain America's autopsy was being conducted, they proceeded to Ryan's designated research facility.
The preparations had been somewhat hastily arranged. Upon entering, several technicians were positioning laboratory equipment, methodically checking and calibrating each component.
Ross gestured toward them. "These are your assigned research assistants. They'll support your work. Feel free to delegate any tasks requiring assistance."
Diplomatically speaking, they were assistants. Realistically, they were surveillance operatives.
Ryan responded with calculated indifference: "Whatever works, as long as they don't interfere with my research. When can you deliver bone marrow biopsy needles fabricated from Carbonadium alloy?"
Ryan suddenly shifted tone. "Do you have any Vibranium available? Needles crafted from Vibranium might prove more effective."
Ross hesitated momentarily. "Yes, though our supply is limited."
Although Wakanda had opened diplomatic relations, Vibranium acquisition remained restricted. Most Vibranium currently at the base had been salvaged from Captain America's shattered shield fragments.
"Manufacturing bone marrow needles wouldn't require substantial quantities, correct?" Ryan raised an eyebrow. Who would refuse superior materials when offered? Given sufficient Vibranium, he'd consider crafting an entire suit.
Spider-Man pressed anxiously: "Are we just going to let this slide?"
"Absolutely not, but Ryan's under military protection now. We can't attack federal installations." Nick Fury's expression had grown even darker than usual.
Hawkeye demanded firmly: "It's indisputable that Ryan fought the Avengers in Manhattan. He should face trial."
While Clint Barton lacked superhuman abilities, he remained an original Avengers founder, and his pressure put Fury in an impossible position.
Maria Hill quickly intervened: "Clint, Secretary Ross orchestrated this arrangement. Nick Fury opposed it completely."
Hawkeye persisted: "Can the Secretary of State erase the fact that Avengers were killed? If politicians consistently treat the Avengers this way, I'm considering resignation."
Clint Barton remained unyielding. He'd never signed the Sokovia Accords and represented the Avengers' independent stance.
If even he capitulated, it would constitute complete betrayal of the team and their fallen comrades.
Barton also categorized Fury among the politicians, questioning the integrity of Avengers leadership.
Fury found himself trapped between conflicting loyalties. He had to maintain relationships with federal military leadership while appeasing remaining Avengers members—an impossible balancing act.
After leaving the problem squarely on Fury's shoulders, Clint Barton departed the office.
Black Panther T'Challa approached him in the corridor.
"Clint, my condolences regarding Steve and Sam."
Barton shook his head. "How's Bucky holding up?"
After the Manhattan battle, Winter Soldier had traveled to Wakanda, recounting events to T'Challa. The Wakandan king had become Bucky's sole external support system.
Upon learning of Fury's New Avengers initiative, T'Challa immediately escorted Bucky back to New York.
"He's stable. You need to maintain your resolve as well. We face challenging battles ahead."
After their brief exchange, Clint proceeded to the New Avengers training facility.
He'd recruited Kate Bishop as the new Hawkeye and Yelena Belova as the new Black Widow, currently training on the practice grounds.
Every encounter with Yelena reminded Barton of Natasha, forever lost on Vormir.
"Hey Clint, when do we deploy?" Kate asked, shouldering her bow.
Barton compressed his lips, unwilling to share the complete truth. "Fury's recruiting additional Avengers. Focus on training. We'll notify you when operations commence."
As evening approached, Hawkeye drove away from the New Avengers compound.
After several hours, he arrived at the military installation housing Ryan's laboratory.
He positioned himself on a nearby hillside, staring at the base with unsettled thoughts.
Inside the facility, Ryan hunched over a microscope, conducting cellular biopsy experiments.
He extracted bone marrow samples from Captain America's remains, then introduced the specialized substance derived from Eternal cosmic energy absorption.
Steve had been an enhanced individual, his genetic structure far exceeding baseline human parameters. Before Ryan could extract his own marrow, Steve's enhanced tissue provided perfect experimental material.
Ryan designated this cosmic energy-absorbing substance the "Celestial Gene"—not native to the Celestials themselves, but their technological creation.
Ryan lacked expertise in energy physics or cosmic radiation science. He couldn't identify cosmic energy's fundamental nature, only investigate its practical applications.
Bone marrow integration represented his only viable approach.
"Interesting..."
Through the microscope, Ryan observed that Steve's cells regained activity after Celestial gene fusion.
Cosmic energy continuously nourished the marrow cells, enabling multiple divisions per second. However, without proper containment, this energy dissipated rapidly.
Ryan immediately analyzed post-division cellular samples, discovering that new cell membranes could actually conduct cosmic energy.
"Could anyone potentially evolve into an Eternal? This seems... impossible."
Ryan's assessment proved overly simplistic. The Celestials predated universal formation itself. While Eternals were based on human templates, the transformation process was infinitely more complex than he realized.
End of Chapter 45
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P@atreon/Soulforger (45+ advanced chapters)