Chapter 123: An Old Friend and Genetic Repair
Ryan and Cassie headed to the kitchen to grab a quick meal. Wanda, fresh from the shower and wearing a comfortable bathrobe, descended from the second floor.
After settling into the dining room, she asked casually, "What are your plans for my alternate self?"
Cassie gently wiped Ryan's mouth with a napkin, and Ryan replied, "Covert surveillance only. We need to ensure events follow their canonical trajectory. Without Wanda's 'assistance,' Tony Stark would never create Ultron—and without Ultron, there's no Vision."
During the Age of Ultron incident, the Avengers would raid a HYDRA base in Sokovia and recover Loki's scepter, which contained the Mind Stone.
It was precisely at that moment that Wanda would unleash her chaos magic on the Avengers team, specifically affecting Tony's psyche with visions of apocalyptic failure—ultimately driving him to create Ultron as a peacekeeping AI, which would then lead to Vision's birth.
Ryan emphasized the point repeatedly. "If you're getting restless staying here, you can monitor your alternate self and ensure history proceeds as it should. But remember—minimal interference. Observation only."
"And then what happens?" Wanda asked with obvious interest.
"Then? Obviously, we execute the switch right before Vision's activation. I'll bring your alternate self and Pietro here to this timeline, and you'll seamlessly integrate yourself into the Avengers in their place."
The mere prospect of embarking on an entirely new life—one where she could prevent all the tragedies—thrilled Wanda to her core.
This time, she wouldn't allow Thanos to harm Vision. If the Mad Titan dared threaten him, she would obliterate Thanos herself before he could lay a finger on the Mind Stone.
Seeing the genuine smile spreading across Wanda's face, Ryan felt somewhat exasperated.
That was the fundamental difference in perspective.
While most people who acquired time-travel capabilities fantasized about conquering worlds and reshaping civilization, Wanda only wanted to find love and protect it.
Ryan also noticed that Wanda's fingers—which had become corrupted and blackened from extensive Darkhold practice—seemed to have faded considerably in recent days. The darkness was receding as her conscience reasserted itself.
Satisfied with Ryan's answer, Wanda stood and announced, "I've been feeling restless lately anyway. I think I'll go observe my other self. Call me if you need anything."
"Remember what I said," Ryan warned. "Don't try to alter history, or Vision might never manifest at all."
Wanda nodded reassuringly. "Don't worry. I understand what's at stake."
Ryan thought privately: You understand nothing. You're the least reliable person I know.
Starting the following day, Ryan and Cassie were effectively alone in the villa.
Anthony had departed to execute Ryan's orders—enlisting Magneto's assistance to establish a comprehensive intelligence network throughout New York.
Wanda had integrated herself into the world, covertly overseeing her alternate self's daily life from the shadows.
Cassie divided her time between intensive laboratory work and caring for Ryan. Concerned about overworking her, Ryan considered hiring professional staff to ease her burden.
After considerable deliberation, he decided against contacting Kingpin or Frank Castle—both too high-profile and potentially compromising. Instead, he reached out to Ron Lawrence, the apartment manager from his Upper East Side residence.
Lawrence was older, certainly, but an exceptionally competent and trustworthy man. If he could maintain an entire apartment building flawlessly, managing a single villa would be trivial.
As long as the compensation was sufficient, anyone could be recruited.
Having made the decision, Ryan immediately called Lawrence and arranged a meeting at the villa the next day.
The following morning, Lawrence drove a modest sedan to the villa estate and was escorted to the living room by Cassie.
When he saw Ryan, his expression immediately shifted to shock. "Mr. Ryan! What happened to you?"
From Lawrence's perspective, he'd seen Ryan just weeks ago—healthy and mobile. Now Ryan was confined to a wheelchair!
"Nothing serious," Ryan assured him. "Just a small accident during an experiment. I'll be back to normal soon enough."
"Thank God you're still so young," Lawrence said with genuine concern. "If anything permanent had... I apologize, Mr. Ryan. I wish you a complete and speedy recovery." Lawrence was an old-fashioned gentleman who chose his words carefully.
Ryan smiled appreciatively, then addressed the purpose of the meeting. "Mr. Lawrence, I asked you here today because I have a proposition that I hope you'll consider."
"Please, go ahead, Mr. Ryan."
Ryan stated it directly. "I'd like to hire you as my estate manager—essentially, head butler. You've seen my current situation. I don't want Cassie exhausted from managing such a large property alone while also assisting with my research."
Lawrence replied with obvious reluctance, "Sir, you know I already have employment obligations."
"Of course I know," Ryan acknowledged. "I can offer substantially higher compensation. Name your figure—I won't negotiate downward."
Ryan had already demonstrated his sincerity. If Lawrence continued refusing, it would be disrespectful.
Lawrence considered for several moments, then nodded. "I accept. The salary doesn't need to be excessive—just ten percent above my current wages would be satisfactory."
The villa estate was quite distant from the city, and a ten percent increase was actually quite modest given the circumstances.
Ryan replied enthusiastically, "You're authorized to hire additional staff as needed. You determine appropriate wages. My only requirements are that they're trustworthy, work diligently, and absolutely never enter my private laboratory spaces without explicit permission."
"No problem whatsoever," Lawrence confirmed. "I happen to know several excellent candidates who would be perfect."
After finalizing the arrangement, both parties signed a comprehensive employment contract. Since the villa was registered under Cassie's name for operational security, she was present to co-sign the agreement.
Three days later, Lawrence arrived with several carefully vetted workers and began full estate management operations, immediately alleviating Cassie's domestic burden.
Freed from household responsibilities, Cassie devoted her complete attention to the laboratory, concentrating entirely on perfecting the gene-restoration serum for Ryan.
Perhaps she genuinely lacked innate talent for advanced genetic biology, but through sheer determination and countless failures, she finally synthesized the precise serum formula needed after three exhausting months.
During those three months, Butler Lawrence maintained the estate in impeccable condition, thoroughly validating Ryan's trust in him.
One afternoon, after coordinating the staff's daily assignments, Lawrence was summoned to the living room by Ryan.
The butler greeted him formally. "Mr. Ryan, how may I assist you?"
Ryan smiled warmly. "Nothing complicated. I'm giving everyone tomorrow off. You haven't been home to see your family in three months—it's past time you visited them."
Lawrence considered this for a moment, confirming Ryan wasn't planning to terminate his employment, then nodded. "Very well, Mr. Ryan. I'll inform the staff immediately that tomorrow is a paid holiday."
After Lawrence departed, Cassie emerged from the basement laboratory, her expression a mixture of exhaustion and excitement.
"Are the systems calibrated?"
Cassie nodded firmly. "We're completely ready. Only the bio-energy conversion chamber's power parameters need final verification testing."
Ryan had chosen to conduct his genetic restoration procedure tomorrow, which was why he'd given the domestic staff the day off—absolute privacy was essential.
As sunset approached, Butler Lawrence came to formally say goodbye and drove away from the estate.
After dinner, Cassie prepared to retire early, ensuring she'd be well-rested for tomorrow's critical experiment.
Just as she'd tucked Ryan into bed, his phone rang.
Cassie answered and held it to Ryan's ear. "It's Anthony."
"Yeah?"
"Boss, just received intelligence that Bruce Banner is back in New York."
General Thaddeus Ross had recently launched a capture operation against Banner in a small town—Bella Coola in Canada, not Mexico—but it had naturally failed spectacularly.
Bruce Banner's purpose in returning this time was to meet with Dr. Samuel Sterns—codename "Mr. Blue"—and finally eliminate the Hulk transformation permanently through experimental gamma radiation suppression.
Ryan instructed Anthony carefully, "Maintain close surveillance. Report any significant developments immediately. Do not intervene unless Banner's life is in critical danger."
Bruce Banner was a founding member of the original Avengers—his importance to the timeline was absolutely critical. Vision's creation during the Age of Ultron was also inseparable from Banner's expertise in gamma radiation and bio-nuclear physics.
Ryan had to ensure Banner didn't encounter any problems that would prevent his canonical participation in future events.
After disconnecting, Cassie smoothed Ryan's hair affectionately and leaned down to kiss him gently on the forehead. "Goodnight, sweetheart."
"Goodnight."
Cassie extinguished the desk lamp and departed, returning to her own bedroom to rest.
Left alone and not particularly sleepy, Ryan used his illusion magic to project a remarkably realistic holographic entertainment—essentially a personal 4D cinema where he could watch anything he desired and even alter plotlines to suit his preferences.
The next morning, after a light breakfast, Cassie wheeled Ryan into the basement laboratory.
Ryan needed to fast for the procedure, and his baseline vitals required comprehensive documentation.
Two hours later, the preliminary examination was complete. Cassie carefully lifted Ryan from the wheelchair—he'd lost considerable muscle mass during his paralysis—and positioned him inside the bio-energy conversion chamber, securing the restraint harnesses.
She whispered reassuringly, "Everything will be fine."
It wasn't clear whether she was comforting Ryan or herself.
Ryan replied with calm confidence, "Of course it'll be fine. I'm already paralyzed—honestly, how much worse could it possibly get?"
Cassie activated the primary switch, and the chamber door slowly sealed with a pressurized hiss.
She moved to the main control terminal to initiate the experimental sequence.
"Five... four... three... two... one... initialize!"
The automated systems engaged, and the gene-restoration serum immediately flowed through the intravenous line into Ryan's circulatory system.
"Injection complete," the computerized voice announced. "Oxygen saturation: 61.35%. Heart rate: normal parameters. Blood pressure: normal parameters. Bio-energy systems: activated."
Cassie repositioned herself at a secondary control station and, after the second countdown sequence, began carefully advancing the power regulation dial.
Bio-energy conversion required precise gradual escalation. If she pushed the systems to maximum output too quickly, the chamber would likely explode from insufficient energy transmission capacity.
As the electrical current increased incrementally, the illumination within the chamber intensified dramatically.
The gene-restoration serum within Ryan's body began working with furious efficiency, infiltrating every cell in his physiology.
Under microscopic examination, it would be visible that Ryan's damaged cellular structures were gradually regenerating, and cells that had appeared atrophied and dying were rapidly becoming vital and healthy again.
The experiment wasn't merely restorative, however. This serum's function wasn't simply to repair existing damage—it also possessed the capability to further enhance the Thanos-derived genetic template, pushing it toward the next evolutionary threshold.
Cassie continued advancing the power regulation, and soon the energy output reached maximum operational capacity.
Inside the laboratory, electrical arcs began emanating from the conversion chamber, transforming into brilliant streaks of lightning that discharged randomly throughout the space.
Cassie, startled by the unexpected discharge, quickly crouched for safety, her head tilted to continue monitoring the data readouts on the workstation display.
CRACK—HISS!
The electrical discharge shattered the overhead light fixture, sending test tubes and beakers flying from the metal laboratory benches.
The powerful current burned a hole clean through an iron cutting board. A plume of black smoke suddenly billowed from the bio-energy conversion chamber, and the lightning discharges instantly ceased.
"RYAN!" Cassie rushed to the chamber to investigate, but despite extended effort, she couldn't force the sealed door open—the locking mechanisms had fused from the electrical overload.
Just as she turned to grab a crowbar for leverage, four fingers suddenly punched through the chamber's seal from inside and began literally tearing the reinforced door apart piece by piece.
White vapor poured from the chamber breach, obscuring Cassie's view.
As she watched with hopeful anticipation, a figure emerged from the dissipating smoke. Before Cassie could fully process her relief, Ryan stepped forward, swept her into his arms, and kissed her passionately.
After a prolonged moment, they slowly separated.
Cassie exclaimed with astonishment and joy, "It worked! You actually recovered completely!"
"Cassie," Ryan said warmly, "this is entirely because of you. So I wanted to thank you properly."
She laughed with pure happiness. "You're very welcome."
End of Chapter 123
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