Havana Barbershop Headquarters in Cuba.
John Garrett lay on the operating table, surrounded by doctors and nurses.
The elderly doctor with graying eyebrows, who was in the lead, opened the mechanical device in his abdomen, roughly examined it with pointed tweezers, and said in a deep voice.
"John, your condition has worsened again!"
John Garrett gave a wry smile.
"I know, Jennings ..."
"Thank you for your help, old buddy!"
Professor Jennings did not answer; he lowered his high-powered medical magnifying glass and began the surgery.
For a moment, the entire operating room fell silent.
Half an hour later, Professor Jennings tore off the medical glove, which was covered in bits of flesh and pus, and threw it onto the operating table.
He carefully closed the alloy casing for John Garrett.
"It's all taken care of, John..."
"The anesthetic should wear off in about ten minutes."
"Thank you..." John Garrett said weakly, his face pale.
Professor Jennings waved his hand, dismissing the surrounding doctors and nurses, before frowning and speaking.
"John, you have at most five more years to live!"
"During this period, the Deathlok Project must make progress..."
"Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to save you either..."
John Garrett nodded slightly and said slowly, "Things might be turning around..."
"Not long ago, my people discovered that someone had stolen the original experimental data of the ' Deathlok '!"
Following the clues, I found a company called ' A.I.M. '...
At this point, he chuckled happily.
"Hehehe... cough cough..."
Professor Jennings pressed his shoulder and gave him some instructions.
"Don't let your emotions fluctuate too much, or your newly treated wound will reopen!"
"Sorry... I got too excited!" John Garrett replied with a smile.
"This A.I.M. company is secretly conducting biochemical experiments on something called the Extremis Virus."
"Based on the collected data, this Extremis Virus can completely rewrite the human genetic code, achieve physiological modification, replace organs, and endow them with super self-healing abilities and the ability to manipulate bioenergy!"
"It's just a pity..."
He looked regretful. "This Extremis Virus still has a fatal flaw..."
"What defect?" Professor Jennings asked curiously.
"Its body rejection rate was too high; almost all the test subjects died from their immune system collapsing and exploding..."
"However, it seems the group that stole the data has made some progress..."
A hopeful look appeared on his face. "I've already sent Ward undercover; I believe we'll have results soon!"
" Ward? You mean Grant?" Professor Jennings frowned and said, "That kid's only 17, isn't he?"
"Hehehe..." John Garrett chuckled smugly, "He's already graduated from the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy of Operations!"
Professor Jennings raised his gray eyebrows in surprise. "I remember he's only been hospitalized for two years, right?"
John Garrett nodded, showing off, "Not much worse than your prized student Richard, is he?"
Professor Jennings puffed out his chest proudly and said, "Compared to Richard, he's nowhere near as good!"
Just as John Garrett was about to retort, the phone rang.
He picked up his phone from the left side of his pillow, glanced at the caller ID, and answered.
" Ward?"
On the other end of the phone, Grant said in a trembling voice, "Mr. Garrett, I'm sorry, the mission failed..."
John Garrett:???
He sat bolt upright and demanded sharply, " Ward, where are you now?"
There was a burst of noise on the phone, but soon a clear voice came through.
"Hello, Mr. John Garrett..."
Upon hearing this voice, Professor Jennings, who was standing nearby, immediately widened his eyes.
Richard?!
John Garrett:???
The person on the other end of the phone:???
A moment later, Richard's voice, a mix of amusement and exasperation, came through. "Professor? What are you doing with John Garrett?"
Professor Jennings snatched the phone from John Garrett's hand and asked urgently, "That's not important, Richard. Tell me first, are you safe?"
On the other end of the phone, Richard replied truthfully, "I'm fine, Professor..."
" Grant Ward infiltrated my organization, but I caught him..."
"So, Professor, what's the situation on your end?"
Professor Jennings and John Garrett exchanged a glance, and Professor Jennings replied, "John has a health problem and needs me to perform surgery on him."
"Wait a minute, Professor! Where are you now?" Richard asked directly.
Professor Jennings looked at John Garrett hesitantly, a glimmer of hope appearing on John Garrett's face. He nodded decisively.
Professor Jennings: " Cuba..."
"OK, I understand..."
The call was immediately disconnected.
The two old men looked at each other, puzzled.
The next second, a Crimson Portal Portal, and Richard walked in.
Professor Jennings and his colleague stared in astonishment, their mouths agape.
"Li, Richard, what's going on here??"
Richard waved enthusiastically, "Hi, Professor, long time no see..."
"Hello, Mr. John Garrett, I've long heard of the Clairvoyant's' reputation, and today I'm finally able to meet him in person!"
Clairvoyant?!
Upon hearing this code name, John Garrett's pupils constricted sharply.
Professor Jennings asked in surprise, " Richard, did you know about John's other identity?!"
Richard gave a harmless smile, "Of course, I know your identity, Professor."
Professor Jennings opened his mouth, but his straight shoulders slumped.
The Old Professor initially had other ideas about Richard. But after spending four years together, he had long regarded him as a son and family member.
Now that Richard himself has revealed HYDRA's identity, he's at a loss for how to face the situation...
Seeing this, Richard went over and hugged the Old Professor tightly, gently patting his back and comforting him:
"It's alright, Professor. I know you're only doing this for my own good..."
Professor Jennings ' eyes quickly welled up with tears. He patted Richard on the back with emotion and choked up as he spoke.
"Thank you, Richard."
John Garrett watched this touching scene with a complex expression, and couldn't help but think of Grant Ward.
Perhaps I shouldn't have raised him in such a harsh way...
"Release the Old Professor, "Richard, turning to John Garrett.
"Mr. Garrett, are you able to move around now?"
John Garrett nodded and said, "Yes, the anesthetic has worn off!"
Richard pointed to the Portal and said in an unquestionable tone, "Then please come with me."
Then he said gently to Professor Jennings, "Professor, please come along too."
John Garrett looked hesitant.
Professor Jennings patted him on the shoulder. "What are you hesitating about, John!"
" Richard won't do anything to you!"
"Besides, Grant is still over there, aren't you worried about him?"
"I'll go with you!" John Garrett nodded in agreement.
Professor Jennings helped him off the operating table and followed Richard into the Portal.
The operating room was now empty. The Crimson Portal flickered a few times before exploding open, transforming into beams of crimson light that swept across the entire operating room...
'Clap clap clap!'
A series of explosions rang out, and all the electrical appliances in the operating room shattered.
A hidden camera in the upper left corner of the operating room was blown to pieces.
The memory chips inside were shattered into pieces the size of sand...
Starlight Bar, Washington, D.C..
John Garrett stared blankly at the group of teenagers scattered throughout the bar...