Carter entered the antique shop and exchanged a password with the owner, allowing them to proceed smoothly into the back room. A door disguised as a bookshelf opened, revealing a secret laboratory before the three of them.
Alex knew the movie's plot and showed no surprise from beginning to end, remaining perfectly calm. Steve, on the other hand, looked around with curiosity written all over his face. Still, he did not ask any questions and followed closely behind Carter.
After passing through squads of guards, the three finally entered the real laboratory. The lab, as large as three or four rooms, was filled with all kinds of equipment. Many researchers in white coats bustled around the machines. Two experimental platforms stood in the center of the laboratory—presumably the ones Steve had lain on in the movie.
When the three entered the laboratory, everyone turned to look at them and froze motionless. The whole scene seemed to have stopped in time. Only after a long while did the crowd begin moving again, while a solemn atmosphere settled over the entire lab.
Alex noticed the nervous look on Steve's face. He gently hugged Steve and reassured him with a light laugh, "Steve, don't worry. We'll become super soldiers, punch the Japanese, and kick Little Mustache!"
Alex's strange accent made Steve burst out laughing, and even Carter beside them could not help laughing.
Just then, Howard twirled the two sexy little tufts of mustache at the corners of his mouth and said in an odd tone, "Alex, no matter where you go, women always seem to love you!" As he spoke, Howard turned to Carter, bowed like a perfect gentleman, and said, "Howard Stark, at your service, beautiful lady."
Carter gave Howard a cold glance, turned, and walked away.
Seeing the embarrassed look on Howard's face, Alex could not help laughing. He did not forget to mock him, either. "Howard, is this what you meant by women throwing themselves at you?"
Howard forced a laugh and quickly changed the subject. "So, you two are the lab rats for today?"
Alex was greatly displeased by Howard's nickname for them and immediately argued back, "What lab rats? We're clearly future super soldiers!"
Just then, Dr. Abraham walked over. Seeing the three chatting and laughing, a faintly relaxed smile appeared on his face. "Are you ready, boys?"
When they saw Dr. Abraham, Alex and Steve nodded and answered seriously, "We're ready at any time."
"Take off your clothes!"
Steve did not hesitate at all upon hearing that. He quickly began stripping off his clothes. Alex, however, felt a little shy. He glanced around, and only after confirming that no one was peeking did he slowly begin unbuttoning his clothes.
"Do we have to take off our pants?" Steve quickly removed his upper clothes, and the sight of his skin-and-bones body could not help but inspire pity.
"Probably not, right?" Alex turned to look at the white-coated researcher behind him, both hands gripping his belt with an expression that said he would not take them off even if told to.
Dr. Abraham chuckled and pointed at the two experimental platforms beside him. "No. Just lie down on them."
After watching the two lie down on the platforms, Dr. Abraham stood between them and asked, "How do they feel? Comfortable?"
"A little big!" Steve answered. With his small frame lying on the platform, he could only take up two-thirds of it.
"A little hard!" Alex was not short, and the platform fit him just right. "And a little cold." More importantly, Alex was not used to exposing his upper body in front of so many people.
Steve and Dr. Abraham both could not help laughing at that, and the tense atmosphere eased once more.
Steve seemed to have completely let go of his nerves. Looking at Dr. Abraham, he asked with a smile, "Did you save any of last night's liquor for us?"
"Not much."
"Then you'd better get some ready now. I can't wait to have a drink." Alex interrupted again, then turned to Howard, who had changed into another white coat, and mocked him mercilessly. "Howard, that outfit looks really awful on you."
Howard's expression changed several times. He shot Alex a fierce glare, then turned to Dr. Abraham. "Doctor, everything is ready. We can begin!"
Dr. Abraham nodded, picked up a microphone from the side, and lightly tapped it. A piercing shriek came from the microphone, drawing everyone's attention.
"Today, we are not taking another step toward extinction. We are taking the first step toward peace. First, there will be a series of minimally invasive injections to inject the serum into the muscle groups. Once injected, the serum will trigger rapid cellular changes, followed by stimulated growth. Next, Vita-Rays will penetrate the subject..."
As Dr. Abraham gave his utterly unenthusiastic explanation, the other researchers in the lab began bustling about. Two researchers wheeled over a machine and opened it, revealing an entire row of test tubes filled with pale blue serum.
Once everything was ready, Dr. Abraham set down the microphone, turned to Alex and Steve, and said solemnly, "Serum injection. Countdown begins. Five, four, three, two, one!"
The moment Dr. Abraham finished speaking, Alex felt as though needles had stabbed into his arms and chest. Several streams of liquid gradually seeped into his body through the needle holes, and his entire body began to stir restlessly.
Seeing that the serum injection was complete, Dr. Abraham turned to Howard Stark, who stood ready at the side. "Begin, Mr. Stark!"
Howard nodded and pulled down the lever on the machine before him. The two platforms in the center of the laboratory suddenly began to move. Plates of metal quickly enclosed the platforms, leaving only a small glass window over their faces.
As Howard called out, "Ten percent, twenty percent..." Alex saw the little window suddenly light up, as dazzling as the sun.
Suddenly, excruciating pain struck. Alex felt as though his entire body were being torn apart, and he could not help crying out miserably, "Howard, quit dragging your feet! Hurry up!" Alex knew he had to endure it now. If he could not, the experiment would fail.
Howard gave a bitter smile at that, but his hands moved much faster. "One hundred percent!"
After a burst of lightning and thunder, everything vanished. The white light disappeared, as did the tearing pain throughout his body. In its place came endless comfort, making him want nothing more than to fall asleep.
Alex really did fall asleep. He did not wake even when the platform opened, his steady breathing showing just how soundly he slept.
When the platforms opened, everyone could not help gasping in amazement. Alex and Steve had both undergone earth-shaking changes. Not only had Steve grown taller, he nearly filled the entire platform. The muscles all over his body were sharply defined, especially the powerful pectorals on his chest, which made an overwhelming impression.
Alex had not changed as dramatically as Steve. His height had not changed much, but his frail body had become far stronger. Though his muscles were not as sharply defined or as robust as Steve's, they were more evenly proportioned and possessed a more aesthetic appeal.
It took the stunned crowd a long while to come back to their senses before they rushed forward to help Steve and Alex down from the platforms.
Supported by Dr. Abraham, Steve trembled as he stepped off the platform, repeating, "I did it!"
Dr. Abraham could not help smiling when he heard Steve's words. "Yes, we did it."
"What about Alex? How is he?" Steve turned toward the side, where Alex was also being helped out of the platform by the crowd.
"Oh, God, he actually fell asleep!" someone exclaimed.
The instant that cry rang out, a gunshot followed...
Before you continue