NOVEL WEB Chapter 86: Chapter 86
Universe Biotechnology Co., Ltd.
Fourteenth floor of the laboratory building.
The shattered windows in the corridor, caused by the nerve gas thrown by Deathstroke, had already been cleaned up.
Bright overhead lights streamed down from the ceiling, casting clusters of illumination across the corridor, now strictly restricted from unauthorized access.
In the main operating room, there were two simple, mobile operating tables.
On them lay Sam Lane and Deathstroke.
Sam woke up groggily, his vision a blur. The bright light overhead caused his eyes to sting and tear up.
He squinted, blinking repeatedly, gradually adjusting to the glaring, sterile whiteness of his surroundings.
He wasn't dead?
The realization struck him like a jolt.
Bardi didn't kill him?
Why?
"Slade Wilson!!"
His head turned sharply, his gaze landing on a familiar figure lying on the operating table next to him. His thoughts screamed out in shock, but no sound escaped his mouth.
In fact, no sound registered at all.
He couldn't hear anything.
The silence was deafening.
Only the cold sensation of the room touched him, the chill from the air conditioning creeping into his pores. Visually, he could make out his surroundings, but beyond that—nothing.
His entire body felt disconnected, achingly limp. He couldn't muster even the slightest bit of strength.
Panic began to set in.
He couldn't speak. He couldn't hear. He couldn't move.
Even as a hardened military officer, conditioned by years of training, a deep fear gripped him now.
This scene... it was too reminiscent of the sinister biological experiments he'd heard about.
What was Bardi planning to do with him?
Then, Bardi stepped closer.
From behind Sam's head, the bright light overhead cast a tall shadow across his face.
Sam's heart sank.
It all felt like the setup for a grotesque experiment. The sight of Bardi's expression, coupled with his inability to hear or resist, filled him with dread.
What was Bardi about to turn him into?
His mind spiraled into despair.
"Awake already? Not bad."
Bardi stood above him, towering like a giant, peering down at him with a detached expression.
Time was short. Bardi knew that once the U.S. military noticed the disappearance of a lieutenant general, there would be repercussions.
Snap!
Bardi snapped his fingers, the sharp motion accompanied by a faint smile. The white trench coat he wore gleamed under the bright lights, giving him an almost otherworldly appearance.
"Hera, wake up!"
Bardi called out to the massive computer system within the room.
The machine buzzed softly, its hum rising as green lights flickered to life. The internal components began to move and shift, each mechanical sound crisp to Bardi's enhanced hearing.
His eyes, imbued with penetrating vision, could see right through the machinery. He observed the intricate operations of every part, already calculating potential upgrades to make it even more efficient in the future.
The room itself was vast and sterile, painted entirely white. There was nothing else in it but Bardi and the two unconscious individuals on the operating tables.
From the four corners of the room, soft beams of light emerged, converging to project an elegant figure.
It was the image of a noblewoman, regal and dignified. Her luxurious curls framed her face like a crown, and her pale arms glowed like polished ivory. Dressed in elaborate, jewel-encrusted attire, she radiated a refined beauty, exuding both grace and power.
But despite her magnificent appearance, the figure lacked vitality. Her expression was cold and lifeless, her red lips parting slightly as she spoke.
"The first-stage artificial intelligence has awakened. Please enter the password."
Bardi recalled the specific code he had devised back in the underground research facility.
"Zod has a mole on his butt, and Haer has a mole on his ass."
It was a ridiculous phrase, one he had intentionally made nonsensical for security purposes. Each time Hera was activated, she required a new password, and every new password would be tied to the previous one, ensuring that any future activation would require an unbreakable chain of codes.
In the distant future, should someone attempt to unlock Hera, they'd be faced with an astronomical sequence of passwords.
"Password correct. Artificial intelligence activated."
The projected image of Hera suddenly grew more animated. Her lips curled into a graceful smile as she bowed slightly, acknowledging Bardi.
"It is an honor to see you again, my master," Hera said, her voice smooth and elegant.
Bardi gave a small nod, a rare smile appearing on his face.
"The second stage of artificial intelligence, activate it," Bardi instructed.
Hera's smile remained poised as she responded, "Please enter the password and recite the first million decimal places of pi."
"The password is being entered," Bardi replied calmly. "As for the pi recital, let's start with the reverse sequence: 1314."
Of course, Bardi didn't actually recite a million digits. The requirement was a bluff, anyone foolish enough to take it literally would never get past Hera's defenses.
The moment he completed the input, Hera's form shimmered.
Her elegant gown vanished, replaced by a sleek black evening dress adorned with delicate lace. The change accentuated her curvaceous, flawless figure. Her virtual skin gleamed like polished jade, while her crimson lips, now fuller and richer, exuded a dangerous allure.
She stood as a figure of pure elegance and sensuality, a seamless blend of beauty and commanding presence.
Her projected gaze locked onto Bardi, her expression warm yet slightly dissatisfied.
"Master, I need a body," she said, her voice dripping with both grace and playful suggestion. "A real one—so I can be by your side, in every sense of the word."
Her crimson lips curled into a coy smile, her voice taking on a sultry tone. "As I used to, I want to feel your heartbeat again. To be real, not just a shadow."
Hera had been his companion through countless nights on Krypton, a trusted presence during his most vulnerable moments. In this world of conspiracies and betrayal, she was the one constant he could rely on.
"I'll make sure you have one," Bardi promised, his voice steady.
Hera's projected eyes glimmered with satisfaction, her smile deepening as she leaned closer. Despite her immaterial form, the connection between them was palpable.
"But first," Bardi said, his tone firm, "we have work to do."
Hera understood immediately. They had been partners long enough for her to know his mind as well as her own.
From the corners of the room, three data probes extended outward. The sleek, metallic needles moved like serpents, gliding through the air before stopping above Sam's head.
Sam's eyes widened in panic. He stared at the probes, terror coursing through him as he realized what was coming.
Bardi picked up one of the probes between his fingers, inspecting it closely. The needle was thin and precise, similar to those used in acupuncture.
"This was supposed to be tested on a stubborn researcher," Bardi mused aloud. "But I suppose it's fitting for its first use to be on someone more... noteworthy."
His enhanced vision activated, allowing him to see through Sam Lane's skull, mapping every neural connection and fold in his brain with pinpoint accuracy.
"Good. Still active," Bardi muttered, satisfied.
With steady hands, he guided the first probe into Sam's scalp, the needle penetrating his skull with precision.
Sam's body trembled involuntarily. Though he couldn't move or cry out, the cold, invasive sensation of the needle drilling into his brain was unmistakable.
Bardi inserted the other probes into key regions of Sam's brain: the memory center, the subconscious, and the neural pathways controlling motor functions.
When he stepped back to admire his work, the probes stuck out from Sam's head like antennae, giving him a bizarre, almost grotesque appearance.
"Hera, extract his memory," Bardi commanded.
***
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