"Who am I? Sorry, you don't have the right to ask questions for now. Let's talk about your research. Are you trying to make a biological weapon?" Luo Xia asked Dr. Connors, amused.
"No, this is just a healing serum. I'm about to eliminate its side effects. It'll be a revolutionary serum that can repair any kind of external injury," Dr. Connors said excitedly.
"Even regrow severed limbs, right?" Luo Xia pointed at Dr. Connors's missing arm.
"That's been my lifelong wish," Dr. Connors admitted.
"I can understand that. I had a comrade who lost both arms when a booby trap went off while he was defusing a bomb. He told me that even three years later, he still dreamed about his hands when he slept. And whenever he saw his son throw a ball at him, he couldn't help moving the stumps of his arms."
"What happened to him afterward?" Dr. Connors asked.
"He changed careers and started researching prosthetics. He finally managed to play catch with his son before the boy turned ten, though by then his son wasn't all that interested in playing catch anymore," Luo Xia continued.
"That's a sad story," Dr. Connors said with a sigh.
"Sounds like you've been making sad stories of your own. I heard a lot of people have gone missing in the sewers. They've vanished without a trace, dead or alive," Luo Xia said.
"It was an accident! When I started experiencing side effects, I wasn't thinking clearly. Besides, they attacked me first..." Dr. Connors tried desperately to explain.
"To be fair, I'd attack you first too if I saw you looking like that. It's your fault for scaring people with that ugly mug," Luo Xia said without mercy.
Dr. Connors could only fall silent. He couldn't come to terms with what he'd done, either.
"But I've got some good news for you. It seems the people you killed were all scumbags," Luo Xia said reassuringly.
"So you're saying I did nothing wrong?" Dr. Connors asked, puzzled.
"No. I'm saying you're lucky I don't have a reason to kill you," Luo Xia replied.
Luo Xia didn't hold any grudge against Dr. Connors, nor did he intend to kill him on S.H.I.E.L.D.'s behalf.
On the other hand, Luo Xia was quite interested in Dr. Connors's research. The serum had serious side effects, but in a pinch, it could save a life.
Especially Tony's. He was about to undergo surgery, and with Osborn's nanoscale surgical device and Dr. Strange's medical skills, the odds of success were high.
But Luo Xia still needed a backup plan, just in case.
"Then congratulations. You'll be working for me from now on," Luo Xia told Dr. Connors.
"Commander, I don't believe he'll offer you his loyalty. Should I put an arrow through his knee? Then he'll be willing to kneel before you." Violet raised her slender arm. Her hand quickly transformed into a miniature cannon barrel aimed at Dr. Connors's leg.
Hearing their exchange, Dr. Connors asked in horror, "What are you going to do? Turn me into a monster like her?"
With a soft bang, Violet blasted the glass door off the refrigerated cabinet.
"Watch your words, you green sewer lizard. Otherwise, I have a hundred ways to make you regret it so much you'll want to swallow your tongue," Violet threatened coldly.
Luo Xia waved his hand. "All right, let's keep this peaceful."
After Violet transformed the cannon barrel back into a hand, Luo Xia continued, "Doctor, I don't want to waste time, so let's get straight to the point. You'll work for me from now on and perfect your serum. In return, I'll get your research results and ensure your safety. I'll also provide you with experimental materials when appropriate. If you refuse, then to protect my secret, I'll have no choice but to make you pay for those scumbags in the sewers."
"So you want me to be your slave for the rest of my life?" Dr. Connors asked dejectedly.
"Doctor, you're giving yourself too much credit. All I want is the serum," Luo Xia said, shaking his head.
Dr. Connors was quite unhappy with Luo Xia's attitude, but for now, he had no choice but to give in.
Deep down, he still entertained the idea of pretending to cooperate, finding a chance to inject himself with the serum again, and then teaching Luo Xia a harsh lesson.
Unfortunately, Luo Xia didn't give him that chance. The cautious young man, who put his own safety above all else, removed a silver-gray metal bracelet from his wrist and fastened it around Dr. Connors's severed arm.
"A little gift. Consider it an advance on your pay."
Luo Xia snapped his fingers, and the metal bracelet quickly unfolded into a metal arm that covered the stump.
Dr. Connors stared in amazement at his new arm and tried moving his fingers. They were a little stiff at first, but the Sensor Glove seemed able to memorize the movement patterns of the muscles in his severed arm. After a few tries, he managed to control the mechanical arm and clench its fist.
At this rate, he'd probably need only two or three days of practice for it to match a real arm. The Sensor Glove's performance astonished Dr. Connors. If he'd had this technology earlier, he never would've gone to such lengths to turn himself into a lizard monster.
"You've seen that I'm sincere. But if you try to run away or inject yourself with the serum again in an attempt to fight back..."
Before Luo Xia could finish, Dr. Connors's metal arm suddenly clamped around his throat. A blade sprang from the mechanical wrist and pressed against his neck.
Only when Dr. Connors was close to suffocating did Luo Xia make the metal arm let go.
Luo Xia had absolute control over all equipment modified with AllSpark energy. That was why he could hand out gear so casually without worry.
"Dr. Connors, I suggest you don't do anything foolish. Violet can go 24 hours without rest and monitor your every move through that bracelet. You've already seen what she's like. As for the experimental materials, I'll have them delivered in a few days. This place is decent, so don't waste it."
After a few final words of warning, Luo Xia took several vials of serum from the refrigerated cabinet and left the sewer lab.
Dr. Connors tried practicing with the metal arm and found that it worked very well. Its flexibility was barely any worse than his other hand. When he picked up a vial of green healing serum, he hesitated for a long time and ultimately didn't inject it into his veins.
By the time Luo Xia returned to where he'd started with the Energy Activation Device and the healing serum, Skye and Daisy had disappeared. It seemed the earlier explosion had frightened them enough to finally decide to leave the sewers.
But when he reached Skye's hideout, Luo Xia found a note stuck to the table: "I'll get you back for the computer and camera later!"
Luo Xia only smiled and didn't take it to heart.
He followed the way he'd come out of the sewers and took off his foul-smelling coat. He was about to head home for a shower when Violet reminded him, "Commander, Norman Osborn, the president of Osborn, has agreed to your appointment."
"Great. When is it?" Luo Xia asked.
"Well... right now," Violet replied awkwardly.
Before you continue