Marvel: Genes of Power

Chapter 010: Super Soldier Serum

"Oh, that's really a shame," Howard said regretfully, choosing not to dwell on the matter further.

Smair also felt a pang of disappointment, though he tried not to show it. He had hoped Howard might possess the X-Gene, but it was clear now that his hopes were misplaced. After all, if Howard truly had such potential, surely it would have surfaced in some form—if not in him, then perhaps in Tony.

"Do you know Dr. Erskine?" Smair asked abruptly, breaking the brief silence.

Howard raised an eyebrow in surprise. "How do you know about him?" he asked cautiously. Erskine's work on the Super Soldier Serum was a closely guarded secret, classified beyond the reach of ordinary individuals. How could a kid like Smair possibly know about it?

Smair shrugged nonchalantly, his expression unreadable. "I can sense and read the thoughts of people around me," he replied.

This, of course, was a complete fabrication. Smair hadn't acquired telepathic abilities—not yet, at least—but he figured it was a convincing enough explanation.

Howard's face immediately changed. His eyes narrowed suspiciously, and he instinctively took a step back. "You can read my thoughts?" he asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and unease.

Smair gave him a tired look, as though the question itself annoyed him. "Do you think I'd waste my energy trying to read your mind? It's exhausting to feel other people's thoughts all the time. I only picked up on what you were thinking earlier because I had to," he said, feigning irritation.

Howard seemed to relax slightly at that. "Well, okay then. I'll take your word for it. Come on, I'll introduce you to Erskine," he said, gesturing for Smair to follow.

Smair stood up from the sofa and trailed behind Howard as they left the lounge. They walked through the bustling exhibition hall, weaving through clusters of people engaged in lively conversation. The glitz and glamour of the cocktail party were in full swing, but Howard led Smair past it all, toward a quieter area at the back of the building.

After navigating through a series of hallways, they stopped in front of a small, unassuming room. Howard knocked on the door, and a muffled voice replied, "The door's unlocked. Come in."

Smair entered first, his sharp eyes immediately taking in the man inside. Dr. Erskine was an older gentleman with a reddish-brown shirt, round gold-rimmed glasses, and a mop of unruly hair. His face was framed by a neat stubble, and he appeared to be engrossed in a set of documents spread out on the desk before him.

"Howard, what are you doing here? And who's this little guy?" Erskine asked without looking up, his tone more curious than dismissive.

"This is my adopted son, Smair," Howard replied with a grin.

Smair rolled his eyes at the introduction but chose not to correct him.

Erskine raised an eyebrow, finally tearing his gaze away from the documents to study Smair. "Adopted son? You? Howard Stark? Since when did you start feeling paternal instincts? You're not exactly known for your domestic tendencies," he remarked dryly.

Howard laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Well, even I can have a change of heart once in a while," he said.

Erskine snorted and returned to his papers. "So, what brings you here? I assume it's not just to introduce me to your latest whim."

"I want a vial of the Super Soldier Serum," Smair said, stepping forward.

Erskine's head shot up again, his expression instantly serious. "You're too young," he said firmly. "Besides, the serum is experimental. It's not something to be taken lightly."

"I don't need it now," Smair countered, his tone calm but insistent. "But just because I don't need it yet doesn't mean I won't in the future. Surely you understand the importance of preparing for contingencies. You can't put all your eggs in one basket—accidents happen."

Erskine studied Smair carefully, his sharp eyes searching for any hint of deception. "You're remarkably persuasive for someone your age," he said after a long pause.

Howard chimed in with a nervous chuckle. "The kid's a genius—always has been. That's why I adopted him, of course," he said, trying to deflect attention from Smair's unnerving knowledge.

Erskine nodded thoughtfully and stood up. "I'll admit, what you're saying makes sense. You might be young, but you clearly have an old soul," he said. "Follow me."

The three of them left the office and entered a secure laboratory nearby. Inside, several vials of the Super Soldier Serum were carefully stored in a reinforced glass case. Erskine unlocked the case and retrieved one of the vials, holding it up to the light.

"This is just a prototype," he said, handing it to Smair. "There haven't been any successful trials yet, so don't use it recklessly."

Smair accepted the vial with a nod, careful not to let his excitement show. "Thank you," he said politely.

'System, start testing,' Smair thought as he examined the vial.

[Ding! Testing in progress… Test failed. No viable genes detected.]

Smair frowned slightly, though he quickly masked his disappointment. It seemed the serum wasn't as potent as he had hoped—not yet, anyway. Perhaps after Steve's transformation, it would yield better results.

He glanced at the open file on Erskine's desk and spotted Steve Rogers' name. "Steve seems like a good candidate," he said casually. "I've seen him—he has the kind of heart that matters most."

Erskine looked up, surprised by the comment. "You've met him?"

Smair shrugged. "In passing," he said.

Erskine nodded thoughtfully. "I'll keep that in mind," he said.

As they left the lab, Smair silently resolved to keep a close eye on Steve's progress.

*****

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