"So..." I drawled thoughtfully, "the new serum will do the same thing as the Beast Potion, but without the side effects. It won't turn me into a berserker, but it will make me an ideal predator—calm, intuitive, with lightning-fast reactions."
"In general, yes. And instead of 'hangovers' after the end of the effect, there will only be a slight mental and physical fatigue."
"Amazing!" I wasn't playing, I was genuinely impressed. "The only thing left to do is create a new version and write the recipe so that even I can repeat it in my garage."
Peter nodded, but his gaze was already wandering around the lab, clinging to equipment for another project.
"Yes, but that can be done later. While the potion's effect lasts, I must... I can solve several key problems in the regenerative serum project!"
"Peter!" I called out sharply, cooling his ardor.
"Yes, John?"
"You're a sophomore, a junior assistant on a part-time basis. Genius, no doubt. But if you now solve the problems that the entire research group has been struggling with for months, questions will arise. Very awkward questions. From Connors, from the university, from conditional sponsors in the form of some 'Oscorp'. And we don't need them right now."
"Yes, but... Uncle Ben... the serum could help him..."
"And when will it help him?" I stepped closer. "After years of clinical trials, certifications and fighting the pharmaceutical lobby? Peter, your uncle is not in mortal danger right now. And I, believe me, have access to such 'recipes', compared to which Connors' serum is a child's drawing next to the 'Mona Lisa'."
He looked at me, and I saw the desire to help his uncle and common sense, amplified by the potion, fighting in his eyes.
"You're right..." he finally admitted. "It's better not to attract unnecessary attention right now. But the residual power of the potion... it needs to be used. Give me a task!"
"Combining the Muscle Stimulator and your new combat stimulator into one drug?"
Peter frowned, and for the first time I saw a look of complete bewilderment on the super-genius's face.
"No. Even now, in the best state of mind, I don't understand how the Muscle Stimulator works at all. It violates the laws of biochemistry and thermodynamics. I can't combine it with something because I don't know its operating principles! It's like asking to cross an internal combustion engine with a ghost! Give me something... a little simpler. Something that obeys the laws of physics."
I looked at Peter, whose brain was now working at the speed of a supercomputer, and discarded my original idea. It was too early to introduce him to the Ghost Orchid and the shadow side of the world. He first needed to get used to the "magic" that can be touched and measured. And for this, a practical, almost impossible task was required.
"Fabric," I said, interrupting his inner monologue. "I need fabric. But not just any. It must be resistant to cutting damage and extreme temperatures. Be waterproof. And, most importantly, I must be able to repeat the technology of its creation in my garage."
Given that in some versions of this universe Peter himself created his incredible web, I was sure that such a task would not be a problem for him. I was not mistaken. He froze for a second, his gaze went blank. I saw hundreds of options flashing through his head, as his biocomputer processed the request. After about ten minutes, he blinked, and his gaze became clear again. The verdict was ready.
"So, there are three options," he went to the lab board, picking up a marker. "Let's go from simple to complex. The first option I conditionally called 'Bastion'. It's a laminated aramid composite. The most pragmatic and quick to implement. We take the best of the existing materials and combine them into a... 'sandwich'."
He quickly drew a diagram of three layers.
"The outer layer is protection from the elements. Fabric made of aramid fiber with a Teflon coating. Fire protection up to 400°C and complete waterproofness. The middle layer is the main one, providing cut protection. It's made of UHMWPE (Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene). It's lighter and stronger than Kevlar in terms of tensile and shear strength. And the inner layer is a thin microfiber for comfort."
"Sounds good," I nodded. "But you said this is the simplest option. What's the catch?"
"The catch is that it's essentially not clothing, but light armor," Peter explained. "The key is in the lamination process. You need a thermal press and special thermal adhesive. We bond the layers under pressure. The result is a relatively inexpensive fabric made of proven materials. But it will be stiff, bulky, and won't 'breathe' much."
"I see. Are the next options better in that regard?"
"Significantly," Peter assured me, erasing the first diagram from the board. "The second option, 'Chimera.' The base is any elastic fabric, our 'frame.' And the reinforcement is carbon nanotubes. You can buy them in a suspension."
"What's the difficulty?"
"The process," Peter sighed. "You need a bath for electrophoretic deposition. Sounds scary, but you can assemble it. The idea is that we pass an electric current through the suspension with the fabric, and the nanotubes are literally 'imprinted' into the fiber structure. The process is complex, doesn't allow for mistakes, and the suspension itself is an expensive and rare component. But the result is a thin, light, and flexible fabric with colossal strength."
"Okay, I understand. This option looks much more preferable. What do you have in store for last?" Judging by the smile that lit up Peter's face, he couldn't wait to tell me.
"Honestly, this is the most elegant and... brilliant option. I don't even understand how I came up with it," he began to quickly draw a new, even more complex diagram. "A fabric that is soft and elastic in its normal state, like sportswear, but instantly becomes hard as a rock upon sudden impact or cut. A fabric with a non-Newtonian impregnation!"
"Sounds too good to be true..."
"The problem is in the implementation," his gaze darkened slightly. "The base is a 3D mesh of aramid fibers. It must absorb and retain the impregnation. And the impregnation is not just starch with water. I calculated the optimal formula: a suspension of silica nanoparticles in polyethylene glycol. Upon impact, the particles instantly bond, forming a solid structure and dissipating energy. But for impregnation, you need a vacuum chamber, a high-speed mixer, heat treatment... This is the most complex and capricious technological process. Any mistake will ruin the whole batch."
He fell silent, summing up.
"In short, 'Proteus,' as I called it, is the pinnacle. Light, flexible, comfortable, and with incredible protection."
I looked at the expectant Peter. The choice was obvious.
"I don't think there's anything to think about. Naturally, the third option!"
"Excellent!" Enthusiasm just poured out of the guy. "Then, when do we start? I'm ready right now!"
I had to cool him down. I had my own plans for the evening—earning OP. And it was obvious that we wouldn't manage in one evening, it's a project for a whole day, especially considering that the fabric itself is just the base for the suit.
"Tentatively, on Monday. I have a lot to do today and tomorrow. But you make a complete list of everything you need to buy in advance. Then we'll sort it out in my garage."
"Yeah, no problem!" He looked a little disappointed, but agreed.
"And one more thing..." I paused, drawing his full attention. "I have a new, important task for you. Directly related to the Potion of Intellect."
Peter immediately leaned forward, his eyes lit up with new force. Having experienced such an effect once, it was impossible to resist.
"I'm all ears!"