Before injecting the gene optimization fluid, Ryan Cole didn't forget to run a full-body scan on the "brave volunteer," Happy Hogan, using the medical platform.
To be fair, while Happy was definitely on the heavy side, his overall health wasn't bad.
That said, "not bad" was only by average civilian standards.
The scan didn't reveal any major issues, but the usual Western-world problems—minor cardiovascular strain, joint stress, metabolic inefficiencies—were all present.
Fortunately, for the MedPod 3000, problems like these were the definition of overkill territory.
A hazy beam of light swept over Happy's body, and within seconds, he was restored to peak physical condition.
Even though the issues had been minor, Happy could clearly feel the difference once the treatment was done.
After hearing the results, his confidence in the upcoming gene optimization shot skyrocketed.
Tony Stark and Pepper Potts felt the same—especially Tony.
Seeing the scars on Happy's body vanish instantly finally made it click for him how his own chest wound had been healed.
What none of them expected, however, was just how ridiculously simple the injection process turned out to be.
Simple to the point that even Happy himself found it hard to believe.
"That's it?" Happy asked, flexing his arms and legs after the injection.
"What were you expecting?" Ryan replied with a grin, casually tossing the empty vial aside.
"But I don't feel anything," Happy said, clenching his fist while sitting up.
"Totally normal," Ryan explained calmly."You took the Intermediate Gene Optimization Fluid, but its effects are still relatively mild at the start."
"That means it takes longer to kick in."
"Based on previous tests, you'll start noticing changes within twenty-four hours."
He then turned toward Tony and added:
"Tony, I'd recommend preparing in advance—high-energy food, training equipment, testing instruments. You're going to need them."
Tony nodded. While he was slightly disappointed not to see immediate results, he also knew this outcome was far more realistic—and safer.
"Don't worry," Tony said."I'll take care of it. In that case, let's regroup in twenty-four hours."
"Sounds good," Ryan replied."But I expect complete confidentiality regarding everything you've seen here."
Tony and Pepper exchanged a glance.
That request didn't surprise them in the slightest.
Even if the gene optimization fluid didn't live up to Ryan's claims, the medical platform alone would be enough to cause global chaos if it ever went public.
And after everything that had happened, both Tony and Pepper already viewed Ryan as an equal partner—if not a friend.
As for the so-called "lab rat," Happy Hogan had always been tight-lipped. Otherwise, he never would've lasted as Tony Stark's personal bodyguard.
After seeing the three of them off, Ryan didn't immediately start preparing for his next jump.
Instead, he activated the intelligent combat units disguised as data terminals, ordering a full sweep of the underground facility.
He had his reasons.
Tony Stark's reputation was… questionable.
After all, in The Avengers, the moment Tony stepped onto the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, he immediately started hacking their systems.
Only after confirming that the Iron Man hadn't pulled anything funny did Ryan finally turn his attention back to preparations for the next traversal.
Meanwhile, back at Stark Tower, the trio headed straight into Tony's private lab.
Happy Hogan was hooked up to monitoring equipment and placed under twenty-four-hour full-spectrum observation.
Knowing this wasn't something that could be rushed, Tony returned to his own work.
With the lethal chest injury no longer an issue, the Iron Man armor development plan underwent a major overhaul.
Within just a few hours, inspiration flooded in, and Tony drafted an entirely new design direction.
That was when Happy's body finally started reacting.
In less than half a day, his physique underwent a dramatic transformation.
The bulky, thickset body slimmed down rapidly, muscle definition surfacing where fat had once been.
Seeing this with her own eyes, Pepper finally became fully convinced that the gene optimization fluid really could give her an incredible figure.
But physical changes weren't the only thing happening.
As the designated "lab rat," Happy also noticed his mind sharpening.
Forgotten memories resurfaced with ease, and his learning speed and memory retention improved noticeably.
Once the former big guy fully transformed into a proper muscle-bound powerhouse, the so-called side effects finally arrived.
Happy had always had a big appetite—but when he demolished an entire table of food meant for six grown men and still wasn't full, even Tony and Pepper were shaken.
Thankfully, aside from eating like a black hole, no other side effects appeared.
In fact, after extensive testing, Happy showed significant improvements across the board—strength, speed, endurance, neural response time, coordination.
Staring at the data JARVIS compiled, even Tony Stark had to admit he was jealous.
No matter how advanced the Iron Man armor was, it was still just a tool.
Without it, Tony was still just a normal human.
Setting aside the appeal of increased height and improved physique, enhanced physical performance alone would drastically elevate how effectively the armor could be used.
And this was only the Basic Gene Optimization Fluid.
What would the Intermediate version do?
Compared to those results, trading away JARVIS's source code felt like an absolute bargain.
Not because JARVIS was less valuable—if anything, Tony still believed JARVIS was worth far more.
But Ryan only wanted the source code, not a copy of JARVIS itself.
While the source code formed JARVIS's foundation, the two were not the same thing.
With that in mind, the very next day, Tony, Pepper, and Happy returned early to the former Umbrella Biopharmaceutical facility.
After receiving notice, Ryan kept the intelligent machines in terminal-disguise mode and led them down into the underground lab.
With a living, breathing example like Happy—whose appearance had changed so drastically that only his facial features remained recognizable—the negotiation went smoothly.
After a brief round of bargaining, two vials of Intermediate Gene Optimization Fluid were exchanged for JARVIS's source code.
Combined with the vial already used on Happy, Ryan also received an additional compensation:
A building.
Specifically, the original Umbrella Biopharmaceutical headquarters.
Truth be told, Ryan wasn't particularly satisfied with that bonus.
Once the Marvel Cinematic Universe reached The Avengers, and the Chitauri invasion unfolded as expected, New York would be devastated.
That was precisely why Ryan had relocated Umbrella's new headquarters to California, deliberately avoiding the East Coast.
Still, dissatisfied or not, free benefits were free benefits.
Relocating the underground lab and traversal zone was an enormous hassle—otherwise it wouldn't have been delayed this long.
As for whether a single vial of gene optimization fluid was really worth that much?
Ryan didn't think about it.Neither did Tony.Even Pepper subconsciously ignored the question.
With the building officially under his name, Ryan scrapped his relocation plans the moment Tony and the others left.
Yes, New York would become a battlefield—but massive risk also meant massive opportunity.
The Chitauri might not have seemed impressive in The Avengers, but in Ryan's eyes, their value was enormous.
If Earth weren't protected by a lineup of superheroes, humanity wouldn't have many options beyond surrender.
That realization—that chaos was the best time to profit—was exactly why Ryan ordered his bootleg Red Queen AI to redesign the building from top to bottom.
The laboratory would remain as a legitimate public-facing front.
Conveniently, his research into Divine Blood had already produced several projects that could be disclosed publicly.
Meanwhile, the underground Traversal Zone required expansion and reinforcement—especially security.
Ryan had no intention of letting his territory turn into another Stark Tower, where S.H.I.E.L.D. could walk in and out whenever they pleased.
After weeks of nonstop preparation, Ryan finally stepped into the traversal zone once more.
This time, however, things were different.
He wasn't alone.
And the massive object parked inside the traversal chamber made that very clear.