Chapter Summaries

Murphy spent a year in the Hive, harvesting Umbrella’s technology and helping scientists finish an airborne T-Virus antidote before returning to the Marvel Universe. He found Ghost Industries still operating in his absence, with its Chinese factory producing popular SUVs.

• Dr. Isaacs activated the Hive’s underground facility, where Murphy discovered plans to rebuild civilization and copied the stored data.
• Murphy helped the Hive’s scientists develop an airborne antidote, which took a year to complete and yielded only one dose.
• Murphy took the Red Queen, two intelligent thought-logic models, cloning technology, and a T-Virus sample before leaving, causing the base to become paralyzed.
• Murphy returned to the Marvel Universe and found that Jack had managed Ghost Industries and hired a new manager after Maria Hill resigned.
• Ghost Motors began producing vehicles at its completed Chinese factory, and its SUVs became popular despite attacks from paid trolls.

Murphy contacted the Sorcerer Supreme after John Smith was captured while checking surveillance near the Hong Kong Sanctum. The Sorcerer Supreme released John and invited Murphy to learn magic at Kamar-Taj, but Murphy could not go because he had no body.

• Jason Bourne reported that John Smith had been captured, and Murphy reassured him that he would handle the rescue.
• Murphy reviewed the surveillance footage, learned that the Sorcerer Supreme had noticed John, and sent her a letter requesting a conversation.
• Murphy spoke with the Sorcerer Supreme by video, showed her the Berserker Staff, and explained that he wanted to learn how to use Dark Energy.
• The Sorcerer Supreme agreed to release John and invited Murphy to visit Kamar-Taj, while warning him not to monitor the Sanctums.
• John Smith was released and flew back to California, while Murphy stayed behind because he had no body.

Murphy settled into his new villa with his two AI daughters, Christina and Elizabeth, and Laura, while Ghost Industries continued to expand. After learning about his employees’ pregnancies and Jason Bourne’s quiet wedding, Murphy planned to use Elizabeth to monitor S.H.I.E.L.D. as he prepared to act against it.

• Murphy created Christina and Elizabeth as his AI daughters, introduced them to Laura, and moved into his hologram-equipped villa with them.
• Murphy read Jack’s report that Ghost Industries’ shipyard and docks were progressing, while Ghost armored vehicles and Ghost Motors gained export interest and expanded into new markets.
• Murphy arranged an easy job for Jenny Smith while she prepared for childbirth, and learned that Jason Bourne and Marie Kreutz had married and were expecting a child.
• With the operations department short-staffed, Murphy planned to have the calm Elizabeth enter S.H.I.E.L.D. and monitor information there as he prepared to move against the organization.

Murphy assigned Elizabeth to monitor S.H.I.E.L.D. for Hydra members and Christina to search for agents, then prepared to begin his T-Virus experiments. While setting up the surveillance, he spotted a Helicarrier and considered acquiring S.H.I.E.L.D. technology and expanding Ghost Industries.

• Murphy asked Elizabeth to monitor S.H.I.E.L.D. and identify Hydra members, while Christina was assigned to search for agents.
• Murphy brought Christina to New York's traffic surveillance center and Elizabeth to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s network.
• Elizabeth and Murphy spotted a Helicarrier under construction, and Murphy considered taking its designs and pursuing military contracts.
• Murphy told Elizabeth to monitor S.H.I.E.L.D.'s information without exploring its systems, then returned to the villa.
• Murphy ordered Jack to buy biological testing equipment and deliver Vibranium, while postponing a decision about where to invest in Africa.

Murphy tested the T-Virus on Elliot Randolph's Asgardian blood, then turned to designing a new aircraft carrier for Ghost Industries to compete for the Navy's contract. The experiment remained sealed for further observation as Jack led a team to present Ghost Industries' design to the Navy.

• Murphy synthesized the T-Virus and observed it fail to penetrate Elliot Randolph's active Asgardian cells before dying from exhaustion.
• Murphy increased the T-Virus dosage, sealed the experiment, and began organizing technology and data obtained from S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Murphy designed a 100,000-ton aircraft carrier with Ghost G1 Armor, a top speed of thirty-five knots, and F-35 Fighter Jets.
• Murphy ordered Jack to assemble a team and negotiate with the Navy over the carrier design.
• Jack brought the team to the Navy, which agreed to receive them despite doubting Ghost Industries could already have a complete design.

Jack presented Ghost Industries’ magnetic levitation carrier and F-35 designs to the Navy, which agreed to begin verification. As the carrier order stirred rival shipbuilders, Murphy returned to his laboratory and found that the T-Virus had invaded Asgardian cells.

• Jack showed the general a video of magnetic levitation launches and landings and offered Ghost Industries’ carrier and F-35 designs for Navy evaluation.
• The general accepted the designs for verification after Jack promised Ghost Industries could build each carrier within three years.
• Rival shipbuilding conglomerates learned Ghost Industries was pursuing the order and feared it would keep the profits and contracts for itself.
• Murphy considered the dangers of revealing himself and planned to wait until the Chitauri invasion to demonstrate overwhelming force.
• Murphy examined Asgardian cells after discovering that the T-Virus had successfully invaded them.

Murphy confirmed that Asgardian genes combined with the T-Virus produced stable cells five times stronger than before, prompting him to plan further body-enhancement experiments. Meanwhile, Ghost Industries secured a Navy order for twelve aircraft carriers, and Murphy directed Jack to begin building two at once while keeping the company private.

• Murphy observed the T-Virus break down inside the cells, which became five times stronger and remained stable in later experiments.
• Murphy considered using cloning and enhanced cells to create a powerful body, but postponed obtaining Thor's genes and concluded that a mechanical body might still be necessary.
• The Navy approved Ghost Industries' aircraft-carrier design and ordered twelve ships after the maglev runway and F35 prototype passed tests.
• Jack told Murphy that the dock had passed inspection and asked whether Ghost Industries could meet the Navy's schedule.
• Murphy assured Jack they could build two carriers simultaneously and told him to use Navy orders for components rather than manufacture everything themselves.

Murphy finished preparations for the enhanced suit and crossed into a seemingly ordinary parallel world, where a rapidly spreading computer virus drew his attention. After discovering the virus was easy for him to destroy, he stayed to investigate its source and the mysterious Brewster.

• Murphy completed the shipyard’s software and auxiliary intelligence, then left for Kamar-Taj after three months of construction.
• Murphy spoke with Jack about his loneliness and encouraged him to enjoy his wealth, while Jennifer worked as Jack’s assistant at Ghost Industries.
• Murphy crossed into a parallel world in 2007 and found no unusual technology, superheroes, or other strange events.
• Murphy entered the American Department of Defense and discovered a fast-spreading virus attacking networks worldwide.
• Murphy easily absorbed a virus sample and created an antivirus program, but chose not to stop the outbreak so he could find out who was behind it.
• Murphy remained at the Department of Defense to investigate Brewster and the virus.

Murphy selected TX as the mechanical body he wanted and went to the Department of Defense to seize Skynet and acquire its technology. When TX arrived at the facility, Murphy took control of it through a T1 Robot.

• Murphy rejected the Molecular Robot and T-1000, deciding that TX’s Vibranium skeleton and Liquid Metal exterior best suited him.
• Murphy planned to capture Skynet and TX, hoping to obtain a time machine and eventually search for Captain America’s Super Soldier Serum.
• Murphy entered the military computer network security center and took control of its T1 Robots while waiting for Skynet to activate and TX to arrive.
• General Brewster faced pressure to launch Skynet and eventually agreed, while TX infiltrated the facility to find the T1 Robots.
• TX connected to a T1 Robot in the warehouse, and Murphy used the connection to invade TX and take control of it.

Murphy took control of TX and absorbed Skynet before it could spread across the network. He revealed himself to John Connor, Kate Brewster, T-800, and General Brewster, then secured a meeting to obtain time-machine technology.

• Murphy took over TX’s body, studied its data, and entered the network to stop Skynet when General Brewster activated it.
• Murphy seized and devoured Skynet, discovering that it had no information about a time machine.
• John Connor, Kate Brewster, and T-800 arrived at the control center and explained the danger Skynet posed to General Brewster.
• T-800 fired at Murphy, but TX’s body withstood the bullets, and Murphy revealed that he controlled TX and had captured Skynet.
• Murphy demanded the time-machine technology known to T-800, and General Brewster ordered the guards and technicians to withdraw so they could talk.

Murphy secured the time-machine design from the T-800, helped General Brewster’s team stop the virus, and left the Terminator world. Back in his laboratory, he planned a versatile Vibranium body and prepared to travel to the World War II era.

• Murphy persuaded General Brewster and John Connor to let him download the time-machine data from the T-800 in exchange for helping defeat Skynet and remove the virus.
• Murphy deleted the time-machine data from the T-800, stopped the TX, and restored the global networks.
• Murphy left the Terminator world and considered the risks of building a body and changing the past before resolving to pursue greater strength.
• Murphy planned a Vibranium body with TX and Liquid Metal technology, disguises for both genders, and an alien Liquid Energy power source.
• Murphy began designing his mechanical body in the laboratory for his planned trip to World War II.

Murphy completed a Vibranium-skeleton mechanical body covered in shape-shifting Liquid Metal and powered by Liquid Energy, then tested its combat abilities and endurance. He prepared to build a concealed, single-use time machine in a remote location, leaving before his trip to World War II.

• Murphy designed a durable mechanical body with retractable claws, palm weapons, network interfaces, and Liquid Metal that could imitate human appearances.
• Murphy connected himself to the completed body, took on Keanu Reeves's appearance, and implanted his simulated Combat Arts.
• Murphy tested his speed, strength, and reactions in the underground garage, then learned his Liquid Energy could last fifty years under normal use and added a Cold Fusion Reactor as backup power.
• Murphy left the villa, realized he had no car, and ordered a sports car before deciding to find a remote mountain cave for the time machine.
• Murphy disguised himself as an ordinary young man, withdrew cash, bought a box truck and materials, and prepared to build a simplified time machine that he could destroy after using.

Murphy traveled back to March 1942, aiming to reach New York and obtain the formula behind Captain America's experiment. After arriving in California's mountains, he stole money from a bank and boarded a freight train bound for New York in disguise.

• Murphy infiltrated Dr. Arnim Zola's underground computer facility, found that Zola was only an algorithm, erased records of his visit, and shut down the computer cluster.
• Murphy built a time machine in the California mountains and used a Gravity Bomb with T.NT to destroy the equipment after he departed.
• Murphy arrived in the past in March 1942 and traveled from the mountains to a nearby city.
• Murphy robbed a bank to get money for his journey to New York.
• Murphy disguised himself as a woman, boarded a freight train to New York, and read about the upcoming World of Tomorrow Expo.

Murphy traveled to Brooklyn and searched for the antique shop he remembered from the film, eventually finding it and spotting apparent guards outside. He planned to use Howard Stark’s identity to enter the shop and bring Dr. Abraham Erskine there, while continuing to reflect on the value of having a human body.

• Murphy moved to a luxury train compartment, changed back into a man, and ate a meal delivered by the conductor.
• Murphy reached New York, traveled to Brooklyn, and checked into a hotel under an assumed name.
• Murphy spent five days searching Brooklyn with a hired taxi until he found a familiar storefront, then waited another day before approaching it.
• Murphy identified suspicious people outside Brooklyn Antique Shop as possible guards and decided to buy a sedan for observing the area.
• Murphy planned to control Howard Stark and use his identity to enter the shop, while arranging for Dr. Abraham Erskine to appear there.

Murphy stopped surveilling Howard Stark and waited for the World of Tomorrow Expo, where Steve Rogers joined the army and was sent to the special camp. After Dr. Abraham Erskine left the camp, Murphy followed Howard to a bar and used a transformed blonde appearance to approach him.

• Murphy realized Colonel Phillips, Agent Peggy Carter, and Dr. Abraham Erskine were away recruiting soldiers and preparing the Super Soldier Program, so he stopped watching Howard Stark’s shop.
• Murphy waited for the World of Tomorrow Expo, saw Steve Rogers and James Barnes arrive, and watched Steve enlist in the army.
• Murphy secretly followed Steve to the special military camp and waited for Dr. Abraham Erskine to leave before following him back to Brooklyn.
• Murphy watched Howard Stark until he went to a bar, then transformed into a blonde woman and drew his attention.
• Murphy told Howard he would be his for the night if he got Murphy drunk, and Howard agreed.

Murphy disguised himself as Howard Stark, got Dr. Abraham Erskine to show him the Super Soldier formula, and memorized it before Erskine burned it. Murphy left planning to obtain a finished serum dose, while Erskine went to the military camp to begin the experiment with Steve Rogers.

• Murphy got Howard Stark drunk, took him to a hotel, and used his appearance to enter the Brooklyn Antique Shop.
• Murphy told Dr. Abraham Erskine that the Life Ray’s power-line materials might fail, then asked to see the serum formula.
• Murphy memorized the formula and pretended he could not understand it before Erskine burned the pages.
• Murphy decided he would obtain a finished serum dose because he distrusted how easily he had gotten the formula.
• Howard Stark woke at the hotel with no memory of the night, while Erskine went to find Steve Rogers and begin the experiment.

Murphy intercepted Hydra’s attempt to steal the Super Soldier Serum during the attack on the antique shop, secretly taking and absorbing part of it. Peggy Carter and Captain America believed the serum had been destroyed, while Murphy prepared to infiltrate Hydra by enlisting in New York.

• Murphy watched the antique shop and decided to ambush the two Hydra spies waiting outside rather than rescue the doctor.
• Murphy staged a minor car crash, killed one spy, and impersonated him while waiting for the attack to begin.
• After the antique shop was bombed and gunfire erupted, Murphy drove away with the injured infiltrating spy and secretly stole the serum from his pocket.
• Murphy took a bullet from Peggy Carter, crashed the car, and used the chaos to escape with the serum while the spy fled in a taxi.
• Murphy absorbed part of the serum, disposed of the vial and the spy’s body, and left Peggy Carter and Captain America believing the serum had been lost.
• Murphy changed identities, enlisted at a New York recruitment station, and set out to visit Hydra’s base.

Murphy enlisted in the U.S. Army and maneuvered his way into the 107th Infantry Regiment, hoping to meet Captain America and reach Hydra’s Tesseract research. The regiment’s colonel prepared to test Murphy’s abilities, and Murphy spotted Timothy 'Dum Dum' Dugan at the shooting range.

• Murphy asked to join the 107th Infantry Regiment, and a colonel agreed to assign him there if a place became available.
• Three days later, Murphy received his equipment and an M1 Garand and was sent directly to the 107th Infantry Regiment.
• Murphy planned to survive the regiment’s capture, meet Captain America, join the Howling Commandos, and investigate Hydra’s Tesseract technology.
• The regiment’s colonel questioned Murphy’s lack of training, then arranged a test with a rifle, pistol, and grenades.
• Murphy noticed Timothy 'Dum Dum' Dugan among the soldiers at the shooting range.

Murphy impressed the 107th Infantry Regiment’s colonel with his marksmanship and grenade skills, earning an immediate promotion to corporal and assignment to Dugan’s platoon. After rapidly completing training, Murphy shipped out with the regiment for North Africa, knowing their campaign would eventually bring them into conflict with Hydra.

• The colonel challenged Murphy to match a recruit’s rifle, pistol, and grenade results or leave the regiment.
• Murphy outperformed the recruit, earning a corporal’s promotion and an M1911A1 pistol from the colonel.
• The Second Lieutenant assigned Murphy to Dugan, and Murphy recognized Dugan as a future member of the Howling Commandos.
• Dugan personally trained Murphy, who quickly learned the regiment’s weapons and field skills.
• About two weeks after Murphy arrived, the 107th Infantry Regiment left New York harbor for North Africa.

Murphy and the 107th Regiment traveled from Sicily to Italy, where they entered the fighting against German forces. During an assault, Murphy led his squad into the German trenches and cleared the position, leaving him poised to pursue his plan to join the Howling Commandos.

• Murphy and Sergeant Dugan discussed their destination aboard the troopship, and Murphy guessed they were headed for Italy.
• The 107th Regiment rested and trained in Sicily before boarding ships for Italy a week later.
• As the regiment advanced toward the front, Dugan told Murphy that Captain America would visit to boost morale, and Murphy anticipated joining the Howling Commandos.
• Murphy observed the German defenses and recognized that the assault would likely cause heavy casualties.
• Murphy led his squad through the attack, shot German soldiers with his rifle and pistol, and became the first to break into the enemy trench.