"And how is our patient doing today?" the man asked, unexpectedly coming up behind the relaxed Hydra agent monitoring the cameras. He stopped behind the agent with his hands clasped behind his back, looking over their shoulder and at the screens with an interested, expectant smile.
The startled agent immediately straightened up in his seat, taking a shaky moment to smooth his uniform and organize the messy desk, before sheepishly leaning forward to observe the designated camera feed, as if that's what he's been doing the whole time. "Um...he appears to be sleeping." the agent told the man after a moment, adding a disinterested shrug and leaning back in his chair.
"Has he done anything active since his last…endeavor?" the man questioned, unable to help an amused smile from twitching at his lips from thought of it. It had been a pleasant surprise when the subject found the camera; intriguing too. How he found, the man wasn't sure yet. But he was all to willing to figure it out.
"Well, uh…" the agent swallowed thickly, suddenly scrambling over his memory of the long hours of his shift to recall if the prisoner had moved at all. He licked his lips, before straightening up as he successfully remembered one occasional. "Yes. Yes, he did. He was pacing the room, seemed to kind of muttering to himself too. The white room might be taking a real toll on him." the agent smiled wryly. "We all have bets going on to see how much longer till he snaps."
The man merely grunted, obviously disinterested in the agents and guards means of entertainment. "And tell me, was he pacing on the floor?" the man asked, still watching the screens, eyes going over the huddled mass under the thin blanket.
"Uh, no actually. He was on the ceiling." the agent answered. "Oh, and I think he was muttering something about webs. But that was all the microphones were able to pick up."
The man nodded comprehensively, rubbing his chin in thought. Ever since Spider-Man, recently renamed Subject Alpha S, was brought from Dr. Octavius underground lab and into Hydra custody, the man was tasked with observing their newest project. And boy was he enjoying it. Their specimen was absolutely fascinating. He's dealt with samples from Alpha S before, mulled over video footage, seen him in action, even fought him a few times. It was partially Alpha S's fault that he was the way he was. But despite their confrontation from before, he's never had the opportunity to really study the arachnid-specimen. Now though, he had him in his own little cage, practically wrapped in a silver-trimmed bow.
There were so many theories he had from just watching the Alpha S, there was no telling what he would find when the experiments started! For now, though, he mulled over the blood and urine samples taken from the subject. Before the fun could really begin, he did want to run a few different kinds of tests. Something a bit more in-depth with the spider side to the specimen.
After a moment of silence, the man bluntly ordered "Tell the guards to give him his web-shooters." then spun on his heel and walked back toward the door.
The agent gaped and stumbled after the man, while sputtering as he did, "But S-Sir! Crossbones said he didn't want the-"
"Crossbones left me in charge of Alpha S, correct?" the man interrupted seethingly. "And I said to give him his webs! If you defy my orders again, then I'll have you fill my subjects spot for my experiments. Or I'll simply do to you what I did to the last goon who questioned me. Do you want to know what I did to him?"
The agent backed up, shaking fervently and muttering meek apologies under his breath.
"Good. Be sure to deliver the web-shooters him after his next feeding." with that, the man turned away briskly and left the enclosed space. He journeyed back to his lab, going through corridors and passing guards till he entered a sealed room. Inside, it was decorated with lab tables, science equipment, vials upon vials of chemicals, and a certain octopus-themed scientist who was chained to the far wall. 4 chains (thick and titanium enforced metal, that was nothing but 12 feet long) was clasped to each of Ock's mental "arms,. giving Ock enough room to work, but limited space to move too freely.
"Aw, awake I see." the man grinned cruelly at his fellow scientist. "Then let's get back to work, shall we?". Octavius glared spitefully, but was unable to answer due to the collar sealed around of his neck. The same one he had invented to use on Spider-Man. The irony was certainly a cruel one.
The man simply laughed at the hate-filled stares and casually approached a long air-sealed glass tube firmly clasped into a table (bolted to the floor) positioned more toward the center of the room. He tapped the thick glass sides with a clawed finger, and grinned when the swirling mass of black goo inside attacked the place his finger had touched. It stretched and twisted in aggravation, and continued striking the walls of its prison until the man chuckled and took a step back. There were two more similar tubes nearby, but both empty. Not for long though, the man thought excitedly to himself.
"Come Octavius, these symbiotes won't create themselves." he walked across the room and stopped in front of a thick, metal door. Wary of Octavius watching, the man discreetly entered a code into the number pad by the door. A low hiss followed and the door swung open, allowing a rush of cold air to escape.
The man pulled on a pair of the thick insulated gloves hanging on the wall, before he stepped inside the room. Inside, the air was chilled enough that puffs of condensed air blew from the man's mouth as he breathed. He stopped at a thick metal containment unit, bolted by the wall, and entered another complex code on the keypad that was wired into it. The lock beeped in confirmation to the password and the man carefully lifted the thick lid. White puffs of fog danced in the air upon escape; he swiped it away with his hand before peering inside at the dozens of cryovials holding a dark red substance inside.
He picked one up and examined it through the light of the room, twisting it at different angles. Funny how such a small amount of DNA could create something so powerful, so deadly. Especially coming from someone seemingly harmless.
Amazing. Truly amazing.
"Your contribution is appreciated, Alpha S." the man grinned. With the cryovial in his hand, he closed the containment unit, listening to the lock clicked sharply as soon as the lid fell. Pocketing the vial, the man turned to leave the room. He stopped momentarily by the door, and looked back inside at the long rows of containment units, lining up neatly and parallel with one another, running clear to the other end of the room. Each one held dozens and dozens of vials of blood that he currently had in his pocket; all from the same subject.
Yes, Alpha S was certainly earning his keep.
Still grinning, the man closed the door; emitting a hiss as it was sealed once more.
Kind of a short chapter, hope you enjoyed it nonetheless. Also, to those of you who are PM'ing me, don't worry, I shall get to you soon! ;) Hang in there!