Chapter 57: Power and Politics - The Foundation of Dynasty
Ryan looked up at the sky in frustration. "Carol, are you going to fight or not? If you won't come down, I'm leaving."
Captain Marvel sneered from above. "This time it's my turn to dictate terms."
As soon as she finished speaking, she began circling overhead, gathering photon energy in her hands and launching concentrated blasts at Ryan's position.
FOOM!
Ryan's greatsword instantly transformed into a tower shield. While these attacks couldn't harm him, the constant bombardment was genuinely irritating.
Unable to fly and lacking long-range offensive capabilities, he could only maintain a defensive posture. Meanwhile, the soldiers from the military transport had contacted headquarters—reinforcements would arrive shortly.
Several personnel emerged from the crashed aircraft, assault rifles trained on Carol as they shouted, "Ma'am, stand down immediately! You may be a registered superhero, but Dr. Ryan is a defense contractor under military protection. If you don't cease this attack..."
Carol was in full combat mode, firing energy blast after energy blast at Ryan's shield. But she froze mid-air upon hearing the soldiers' warning.
She had once been a decorated Air Force pilot before being abducted by the Kree and transformed into a cosmic-powered warrior. She had fought alongside the Avengers against Thanos and helped save the universe during the Blip crisis.
Now, American military personnel were aiming weapons at her as if she were the aggressor.
The next moment, Ryan suddenly launched himself skyward, swinging his massive blade at the distracted Captain Marvel.
On the ground, Carol was outmatched by Ryan's superior combat skills, but the sky remained her domain. She effortlessly evaded his strike and, rather than pursue him during his descent, watched coldly as he fell back to earth.
"Let's see how long your arrogance lasts when the Pentagon gets involved!"
With that declaration, she streaked away in a blaze of golden light.
Following their brief engagement, Carol understood she couldn't defeat Ryan through direct confrontation. Her photon blasts proved ineffective against his energy constructs, and she was hopelessly outclassed in close-quarters combat. Continuing would accomplish nothing.
More troubling was how easily American soldiers had turned their weapons on her—it shattered something fundamental in her worldview.
Watching Carol vanish into the distance, Ryan dismissed his ethereal greatsword and returned to the military aircraft.
"Have you contacted headquarters?"
"Affirmative, sir. Extraction should arrive within ten minutes."
The base would dispatch another transport for Ryan while engineering crews dealt with the disabled aircraft in the field.
The military would definitely hold Carol accountable for this incident.
Perhaps Secretary of State Ross would use this opportunity for a press conference and congressional hearing, demanding that Carol sign the revised Sokovia Accords.
If she refused, the pressure would shift to S.H.I.E.L.D.—after all, it was Fury's organization that had accused Ross of endangering national security before Congress.
Now that Captain Marvel had attacked a military asset, she'd face identical charges.
Ryan boarded the replacement aircraft back to base and immediately headed for the underground laboratory.
Mister Immortal Craig Hollis was playing poker with several research assistants when Ryan entered.
Seeing Ryan return, he immediately dropped his cards. "Hey, Dr. Ryan! I thought you'd been arrested or something. Haven't seen you in days."
Ryan donned his white lab coat. "Why such concern for my welfare?"
Mister Immortal shrugged. "Those guards won't let me leave even when you're gone. You have no idea how tedious it is here."
Hollis simply wanted temporary escape from his numerous ex-wives' legal complications—he wasn't genuinely interested in permanent employment.
Having spent considerable time together, Ryan understood Hollis's character perfectly. He snorted dismissively and walked toward the main laboratory area.
"Be patient, Mr. Hollis. We have several more experiments to complete. I'll release you in a few days."
The laboratory Ryan had destroyed during his transformation had been cleaned and re-equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation.
He extracted a vibranium needle, drew blood samples from himself, and immediately began microscopic analysis.
Ryan could now fully manipulate cosmic energy constructs. He wanted to understand how this connected to his genetic structure—perhaps discovering methods to acquire additional superhuman abilities.
Observation revealed dramatically increased blood cell activity, with cellular membranes containing significantly higher concentrations of cosmic energy-conducting substances.
However, the limiting factor in Ryan's cosmic energy utilization wasn't located in his circulatory system.
He attempted to project energy beams from his eyes like Ikaris, or discharge photon blasts from his palms like Kingo, but regardless of his efforts, he couldn't achieve these results.
"What the hell is the problem?"
Ryan studied the data extensively, remaining completely baffled.
He didn't truly understand cosmic energy mechanics—only that his body absorbed ambient cosmic radiation to maintain its enhanced energy supply.
That knowledge felt frustratingly inadequate.
He worked late into the evening until an assistant came searching for him.
"Dr. Ryan, Secretary Ross requests an immediate meeting."
"Where is he?"
"Your quarters, sir."
Ryan nodded, removed his protective equipment, and hung his lab coat on the wall hook before departing the research area.
Returning to his residential suite, Secretary of State Ross sat beside the fireplace, whiskey in one hand and Cuban cigar in the other, warming himself by the flames.
Ryan approached the bar, poured himself water, then settled in the chair opposite Ross.
"The latest serum batch is ready for clinical trials whenever you're prepared."
Ross smiled and waved dismissively. "That's not why I'm here tonight. I wanted to discuss your encounter with Captain Marvel."
Ross had learned about the confrontation through classified military reports. Carol still technically maintained active service status within the Air Force.
When she'd disappeared years ago, she'd been declared killed in action and her files sealed. No one had expected her miraculous return.
When Carol reappeared as a cosmically-enhanced metahuman, the military had chosen to maintain their relationship rather than complicate matters.
Ryan replied casually, "What else would it be? They wanted to capture me for Steve's death—standard revenge motivation."
Ross harbored no less contempt for Rogers than he did for Banner. After all, it was Steve who had led the opposition against his original Sokovia Accords proposal.
"But she failed completely. I didn't expect even Captain Marvel would be outmatched by you." Ross's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
Based on this single engagement, Ross felt convinced that his partnership with Ryan was strategically sound.
Ross also maintained plans to assemble a metahuman task force centered around Ryan—a group that could replace both the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D.
Unaware of Ross's broader ambitions, Ryan simply said, "It wasn't a victory—at best a tactical draw."
Carol's flight capability while he remained earthbound was a limitation that genuinely frustrated him.
Secretary of State Ross chuckled, puffing his cigar. "Leave the political ramifications to me. I'll use federal authority to restrict Captain Marvel's operational freedom, and simultaneously put S.H.I.E.L.D. in the defendant's chair for once."
Ross then added, "I've officially filed for independent presidential candidacy. Campaign appearances and debates begin next month. Eternal Life Society members will provide funding and voter mobilization."
Ryan, uninterested in political machinations, yawned. "Don't burden me with campaign details. Just fulfill your promises to me."
"Speaking of which—when will the second immortality serum batch be available?"
The initial doses had been successfully administered weeks ago with no adverse reactions reported. Recipients showed remarkable improvement, immediately intensifying demand among those still waiting.
Ryan considered carefully. "We have sufficient raw materials for maybe ten additional doses, but I'll need blood samples from intended recipients for compatibility testing first."
Though Ross didn't understand why Ryan required preliminary blood analysis, he didn't question the methodology and agreed immediately.
End of Chapter 57
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