May watched as Peter was more committed than ever to his work at Oscorp lately. He seemed very agitated, but unlike the last time they'd lost someone, he was more bogged down in his tasks than simply unable to do them. Now that his project was in use by the company, he gave even more of his time to work on it. Many times, he arrived late, still wearing the lab coat she had seen his parents wearing so many times, other times he simply arrived on time but continued his research in his room. There was a day when she went in there to see if anything needed cleaning, and noticed that not only was the room completely tidy, something unusual for her nephew, but the photos he had on the wall... They weren't there anymore. She knew it wasn't a good sign, and the same day she noticed it, she tried to bring it up over dinner.
- Peter — She called, almost whispering — Tell me, dear, where did you keep the pictures of your room?
- Did you go in there? — He replied, a little nervous.
- Just to see if I needed to fix anything. I'm impressed with your organization, and your commitment lately, but...
- What?
- Has everything been all right with you? You know you can talk to me whenever you want.
- Everybody is saying that! — Peter started to get excited — I'm fine, okay, I've been doing everything perfectly well, why does everyone ask if I'm fine if everything I do is great?
- If everyone asks if you're okay, it's because you don't look like it.
- But it's a lie, I'm fine, I don't have time to think about these things.
- What things, dear, I didn't say anything.
- Nothing at all! — He brought a spoonful of vegetables to his mouth and frowned.
May remained quiet, out of respect for him. She felt like she needed to talk to Peter and be honest, but that was Ben's job and not hers, so she never felt comfortable sitting down with him and saying whatever she needed him to hear. Many days she tried to pluck up courage and knock on his door to call him, but she never managed to raise her hand to knock. That day, she tried to distract herself by watching the headlines. Spider-Man had not been seen for a week, this started to raise questions in the media again, making the population's main fear the rise of another creature like the Lizard and Electro. And of course, at the center of it all was the Gentleman, the mischievous-looking man was in the CEO's office again, and his files on Oscorp's super beings were open on his desk projection.
The problem with all these incidents is that Oscorp never really had control over these individuals, they are being side effects of the experiments themselves. So, they were lucky to have the person in charge of the nanorobot project working full time. He left only Parker's file, the infamous Spider-Man, open, and added his nanotech works to storage. At the Ravencroft institute, the scientists responsible for the Bench analyzed the latest research findings, and thus, with the help of their sophisticated machines and chemical elements from the extensive laboratory they were given. Osborn could see the movements of scientists in the distance, who were not obliged to give him satisfaction, since his involvement with Fiers was nothing more than a partnership. Not for long if it was up to him.
Soon, several vials of a translucent, grayish-colored liquid were ready by the dozens. Alistair Smythe ran the operations, and when the last vial of the day had been produced, he ordered a batch to be prepared for injection, and he began to set up a recording of the experiment they were going to produce shortly. Seeing that his subordinates were almost ready to start testing, he started a recording.
- This is Doctor Alistair Smythe, at the Ravencroft Institute, it’s… — He checked his watch and turned his face towards the drone camera again — 1522 hours on March 12th, 2015. This is test number 02 of the “Hydro” Project. A series of nanorobots will be applied to a test subject, Name Morris Bench, 45 years old, who has been subjected to an injection of marine saline water through the project's attached injection compound. Since they have no control over their own motor, and possibly mental, functions, the nanobots are an attempt to link the suspended electromagnetic impulses of mental activity back to the body's molecules, which have become a compound of 98% pure H2O.
Smythe gestured to the scientists, who, with a large rifle with several vials of nanobots attached, injected the contents through the largest tube that sprang from the metal cylinder. With the camera facing the cylinder's glass pane, Alistair continued with his monologue.
- For the record: Test subject had low brain activity, being in a coma-like state. Composition of molecular structures suggests that every other biological function common to the human body has ceased to exist, and the entire body mass has turned into neural pathways. Now, the effect of nanobots when connecting with neural pathways.
Suddenly, the water in the tank began to glow a bright neon white, Smythe pointed out that this was the sign of the robots awaiting further orders from the user's mind. After a few minutes of waiting with no apparent result, they injected the chemical compound that forced the individual to wake up. A few moments later, the water began to stir, and quickly, Bench's face came into view, an expression of agony, but now it was more defined, and the voice was much clearer. The neon glow was gone, and the stormy waves began to crash into each other in an increasingly contained space, and before long, they formed the body of a man, Morris as he was before the accident, naked but only human in shape, still completely composed of water. He still looked like he was in a lot of pain, but then, a kind of disk formed in his chest, forming from a conglomeration of nanorobots. When he finished forming, Bench got down on his knees, and began desperately sucking in air, but gradually he realized that he was fine, and the panting movement began to quieten.
Alistair smiled, and went back to talking to the camera, but Bench couldn't hear the scientist's words. He still couldn't see straight, it's like he could feel his whole body at once, and he couldn't focus on one thing at a time. Soon, he started to say his first words after a whole week.
- I was... Having a dream — He managed to express.
- What? — The Doctor directed the camera at him.
- In the dream… I had everything I wanted. I had my family. I had all the money and everything I deserve after fighting so hard. I'm tired of fighting... I want freedom.
- Can you hear me, Mr. Bench? — Smythe’s Machiavellian glare was followed by a smile, but he could tell Morris wasn’t listening — Connect the nanobots with the camera's voice output.
Thus, the scientists moved, and once they were ready, they gave the signal.
- Mr. Morris Bench — he said and saw that his voice resonated throughout his aquatic body, and the vibrations didn't stop until he closed his eyes and slowly returned — Very good, very good. Are you listening to me?
- … Yes — He sighed, still in excruciating pain.
- Very good. Morris, you were in an accident, remember?
- A little…
- Well, we are helping you, we gave you back your body and now we intend to restore you to humanoid form permanently.
- Form…? — He concentrated even more, opened his eyes and saw his body — Oh… My…
- Do not freak out! — Smythe shouted — This current condition of yours is nothing more than the result of an accident, we are taking care of you.
- I... I lost... — He put his hands on his head — Oh, heavens. No no.
- Look at me, at me — The scientist approached the glass panel — Do you want to cover yourself?
- Yes… — His voice whispered, a little calmer.
- You have nanorobots all over your body — Smythe gestured behind her back for the scientists to get ready — You can use them to make yourself an outfit.
- Like this one?! — He pleaded, almost crying.
- Look at this cylinder where you are. Touch it… And imagine an outfit for yourself. Want to be covered.
- Okay… — Morris obeyed.
Slowly, he placed his hands on the walls of the cylinder, and little by little, he began to twist and turn, while Morris's physical state seemed to pulsate between gelatinous and almost completely liquid, at times when he almost lost his stability. But a few minutes later, and with the help of the scientists' control, the whole cylinder twisted and became a kind of suit, a little metallic and a little plastic, around Morris' body. He looked at his new outfit and breathed a little easier. Smythe looked very happy.
- Congratulations, Mr. Morris. You and I have a great future ahead of us.
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