A pact between accomplices

Late at night, on the top floor of the administrative building at D.O.D.C. headquarters.

Dr. Evelyn Reed's office had an excellent view. Through its floor-to-ceiling bulletproof glass, she could look out over all of brilliantly lit New York Bay. But at that moment, the technical director known as the "she-devil" had no interest in admiring the night view.

Only a single reading lamp was on in the room, its dim yellow glow spilling over the holographic projection table. A faint scent of white tea mingled with a trace of alcohol in the air.

"Come in. The door isn't locked."

Evelyn's cool voice came from inside before Zhao Fan's fingers touched the door handle.

Zhao Fan pushed the door open and entered. He had just showered and changed into clean casual clothes, but the scent of blood that seemed to seep from his very bones would not wash away. He dispensed with formalities, walked straight to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a glass of whiskey, and sat on the sofa opposite Evelyn.

"Looks like I don't need to give you a report." Zhao Fan swirled his glass, the ice clinking crisply against it.

"Data is more honest than words." Evelyn did not look up. Her fingers swept through the air, enlarging a complex set of three-dimensional human models-Zhao Fan's real-time physical data. "During that battle, your epidermal cell density surged by 400% in 0.03 seconds. That hardening mechanism... falls outside the scope of the Extremis Virus. There was also an apparent ability to use repulsive force, and, coincidentally, your blood was detected at the scene. You were the one who took the Leviathan core sample underground back then, weren't you?"

She finally raised her head. Unconcealed fervor and curiosity gleamed in her gray-blue eyes, like an anatomist looking at a perfect specimen that could breathe.

"Zhao Fan, just what are you?"

It was a dangerous question.

Zhao Fan took a sip. The fiery liquid slid down his throat. He knew that clumsy lies were useless against a top scientist like Evelyn. She did not need to know about the "system," but she needed a reasonable explanation-or rather, bait enticing enough to keep her mouth shut.

"What I am doesn't matter, Doctor." Zhao Fan set down his glass, leaned forward slightly, and looked Evelyn straight in the eyes. "What matters is what I can bring you."

"Oh?" Evelyn raised an eyebrow, leaned back in her chair, and clasped her hands. "I'm your supervisor now. I control your salary, your legal identity, and even whether those two friends of yours live or die. Do you think we're in a position to negotiate?"

"This isn't about negotiating terms. It's about cooperation."

Zhao Fan reached out and pointed at the human model floating in the air.

"The Extremis Virus is unstable. Killian's failure proved that. You may have improved it, but before me, every test subject either blew up like fireworks or went insane." Zhao Fan's voice was calm and certain. "I'm the only one who adapted perfectly. Or even... evolved."

"I can cooperate with your research. Do you need blood samples? Tissue sections? Data on my limits in actual combat? I can provide all of it. I can even let you observe those changes inside my body that... even you can't explain."

Evelyn's breath caught slightly. For a scholar who had spent years studying this field, Zhao Fan's offer was far too tempting. This was not merely a supersoldier. This was a key that could open the door to a new world.

"And the price?" Evelyn was smart. She knew there was no such thing as a free lunch.

"Three things."

Zhao Fan held up three fingers.

"First, the highest level of secrecy." His gaze instantly became as sharp as a blade. "All data concerning my body's abnormal evolution must stay on your private server. It can't be uploaded to S.H.I.E.L.D., reported to Stark Industries, or, above all, made known to that damned World Security Council. In the official files, I can only be an 'ordinary enhanced soldier with good luck and an unusual constitution.'"

Evelyn considered it for a moment. "That violates regulations. But... it can be arranged. I'm not particularly interested in reporting to those bureaucrats anyway."

"Second, I need resources," Zhao Fan continued. "Not just equipment and ammunition. You've seen it yourself-my body is a bottomless pit. I need high-energy nutrient solution, in large quantities, and the top-grade kind you can't buy even on the black market. Besides that, Benjamin needs a network interface with higher access privileges, and we need better weapons."

"Reasonable logistical requirements." Evelyn nodded, a faint smile curling her lips. "As long as you can complete your missions, D.O.D.C.'s budget is your buffet."

"Third..." Zhao Fan paused, his voice dropping a little. "If one day I get into trouble you can't handle-say, with certain superpowered 'vigilantes,' or a certain one-eyed spymaster-you need to stand on my side. At the very least, cover for me, provided I don't harm your core interests."

A brief silence fell over the office.

Only the faint ticking of the wall clock could be heard.

Evelyn stood and walked over to Zhao Fan. Wearing high heels, she lowered her head to meet his eyes as he sat. She extended a meticulously cared-for hand and gently lifted his chin, as though examining a priceless treasure.

"You're ambitious, Zhao Fan. Normally, I don't like ambitious subordinates. It means they're difficult to control."

Her fingers were cold as they brushed across his carotid artery.

"But I hate mediocrity even more. In this age filled with gods and monsters, only madmen can see the truth."

Evelyn withdrew her hand, turned toward the liquor cabinet, and poured herself a drink as well.

"Deal." She raised her glass toward Zhao Fan. "I'll create a separate database for you, with black-level encryption. Only my retinal scan will be able to unlock it. As for those high-energy items... I can't provide them directly. I can only give you information. How you get them will be up to you."

"A wise choice, Doctor." Zhao Fan raised his glass too.

"Stop calling me Doctor. It sounds like you're addressing that big guy who turns green." Evelyn tipped her head back and drained her glass, a sly gleam flashing through her eyes. "In private, you can call me Evelyn. After all, we're now... accomplices in the same boat."

"All right, Evelyn."

Zhao Fan smiled.

With this drink, he finally had a truly secure base of support in the Marvel Universe. This woman might be dangerous, cold, and driven by self-interest above all else, but as long as Zhao Fan could keep evolving and keep surprising her, their alliance would be stronger than vibranium.

"Then, to evolution."

"To evolution."

Their glasses touched lightly in the air with a crisp clink, like the final signature on some secret pact.