Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Maya Hansen and Killian
As Clark drove home with Captain America, an unexpected guest followed closely behind.
Seeing the woman with plump lips in front of him, Clark asked with some confusion, "And you are?"
"Hello, my name is Maya Hansen, a biologist," she introduced herself, handing Clark her business card. "I've heard you're deeply interested in scientific research. I happen to have some research data, although it's not yet perfect. I wonder if I could join your research team?"
Maya Hansen? Why would she seek him out instead of her **Tony Stark? Clark took the hard drive she handed over, plugged it into his computer, and immediately a wealth of data appeared on the screen.
After reviewing the data, Clark was fairly certain it was indeed information on the Extremis virus, though incomplete and flawed.
Clark wasn't Tony Stark; while knowledgeable, he lacked that spark of genius inspiration.
After pondering for a moment, he shook his head, then raised a finger.
Maya Hansen looked puzzled and exclaimed, "Mr. Clark, what does this mean?"
"One hundred million dollars. I want to buy your research findings," Clark stated plainly. "Though it's only a prototype now, you must know many completed research outcomes aren't worth this much. I can even guarantee to include your name in the research credits after its completion."
Maya Hansen was bewildered. She initially sought technical assistance from Clark, but the conversation suddenly shifted to selling her formula, leaving her unable to react immediately.
Clark had already shut down the computer and stood up, saying, "This 'Extremis virus' you've been working on for years sought Tony Stark's help during the night of the century, only to receive a formula."
Maya Hansen was stunned silent by Clark's revelations. He continued, "After all these years, you still haven't perfected it. I don't think it's just a funding issue. So, I'm offering one billion dollars to buy it. What do you say?"
After a brief pause, he added, "Simply put, sell or not?"
Glancing at the hard drive Clark had unplugged from the computer, Maya Hansen hesitated for a long while before nodding, "Sold!"
In truth, she hoped to refine the Extremis virus through Clark's Pym Studios, even risking Clark copying the data.
Although the outcome slightly deviated from her initial plan, it was still within her tolerance. With the billion dollars, perhaps she could further her research independently!
Initially, Tony Stark was just an option for breaking through her research bottleneck. With Clark's emergence, Stark was no longer her only choice.
Maya Hansen and Killian had decided to approach both sides simultaneously, hoping to find a breakthrough with either.
After obtaining Maya Hansen's consent, Clark immediately wrote a check in her presence for the hard drive, then plugged it into his computer and instructed Jarvis to back up its contents.
Turning to Captain America, he said, "Detain this woman for SHIELD to pick up."
+66666 impression from Steve Rogers!
+999 impression from Maya Hansen!
Both were momentarily stunned, making the scene awkward.
"Oh, shit!" Maya Hansen was the first to react, cursing loudly, "You bastard, you tricked me!"
"I haven't deceived you," Clark pointed to the check in her hand. "The check is genuine, cashable at any bank. Our transaction was completed the moment you received this check."
"As a SHIELD tactical consultant, I have a duty to bring to justice a member of a criminal gang responsible for multiple terrorist attacks, don't I?"
"What?" exclaimed Captain America, shocked. "You're saying she's connected to those terrorist attacks?"
"Of course," Clark answered matter-of-factly. "Those attacks left no bomb fragments because they were caused by people injected with an unstable Extremis virus, leading to their bodies overheating and exploding."
Hearing this, Captain America wasted no time in restraining the attempting-to-flee Maya Hansen with a simple military hold.
+999 impression from Maya Hansen!
"Truthfully, as a scientist, you're hardly directly responsible for those terrorist incidents," Clark remarked, looking at a terrified Maya Hansen. "I believe if you cooperate fully and disclose everything about Killian and his operations, SHIELD won't be too harsh on you."
Pausing briefly, he added, "If you're released in time, I might even invite you to join my research team."
Suddenly, Clark furrowed his brows and looked outside to see three armed helicopters approaching his villa, with missiles headed towards the building.
So, he had become a target for Killian as well? Clark shook his head as the villa's defense system activated, intercepting two missiles before they could reach, exploding mid-air without affecting the villa.
Seeing this, Maya Hansen's flicker of hope dimmed.
Was Clark Lee indeed much more challenging to deal with than Tony Stark, as Killian had said?
Then, Clark instructed Jarvis to open the window.
"Certainly, sir."
With the window open, Clark stepped forward, gesturing in the air, sending visible shockwaves that hit the helicopters, detonating their missiles.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The helicopters turned into brilliant fireworks, their debris helplessly falling into the sea below.
All was quiet once more.
+999 impression from Maya Hansen!
Three helicopters and six armed personnel vanished in a few casual hand waves by Clark. Was he a devil?
At that moment, Maya Hansen regretted following Killian's advice. She should never have come to Clark Lee's home from the start!
After settling everything, Clark looked at Maya Hansen, now devoid of all hope, and called Hill.
"Oh, Clark, do you know how much trouble your nonsense has caused SHIELD?" Hill said, somewhat exasperated. "Director Fury is not pleased."
Clark chuckled, "Isn't his face always like that?"
Pausing, he added humorously, "It's just some terrorists. Surely SHIELD isn't too bothered by that?"
"Right, after we destroyed two of their helicopters, they seemed to realize the address you gave was a decoy and didn't pursue further," Hill said, then mentioned, "What's really troubling is that a SHIELD vessel carrying important materials was hijacked by pirates."
"What?"
Clark could hardly believe his ears, "A SHIELD ship was hijacked by pirates? Did you run into one of the Four Emperors or the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"
"Indeed, we didn't get the battle footage, but those who could hijack a SHIELD vessel are definitely not ordinary. Unfortunately, the ship was carrying crucial military materials, and we can't just destroy it remotely."
Thinking it over, Clark said, "If you want my help, let's discuss the price first."
"Director Fury says if you're willing to help, he'll overlook the issue of you leaking SHIELD headquarters' location today."
"He wishes!" Clark laid his cards on the table, "I just took down three terrorist helicopters and captured one of their scientists. I'll hand her over to SHIELD and help you retrieve the cargo ship. My condition is simple; I need all research data on the Super Soldier Serum that Howard worked on."
"That's…"
Hearing Clark's condition, Hill hesitated. The Super Soldier Serum data was sensitive.
But soon, Fury's voice came through the phone, "Deal. I'll send someone to pick up the person, and I'll send you the hijacked ship's details right away. Agents Barton and Romanoff were initially assigned to the rescue mission; you can contact them directly."
The Super Soldier Serum wasn't much of a secret among higher-ups nowadays.
Though no mature version existed, various prototypes could still be mass-produced. For instance, Abomination had enhanced his body with the serum before absorbing Gamma blood.
That's why Fury agreed so readily.
With this data and the Extremis virus information, Pym Labs' research on the Super Soldier Serum and limb regeneration could make significant progress.
Super Soldier Serum had no effect on Clark, but it was needed by those around him, especially Hank Pym, whose energy was waning with age. If not for this, the quantum tunnel would have been completed long ago.
Hanging up, Clark received the data from Fury and immediately set off for the high seas, leaving Captain America behind to hand over the prisoner to SHIELD.
In movies and TV shows, there's a law that whenever a prisoner is being transferred, they're likely to be attacked and escape, essentially the same as being released.
That day, this cliché happened to Maya Hansen.
After a suicidal car crash forced the SHIELD vehicle to stop, a bare-chested man with hands like molten lava burst from the side, melting through the car door and incinerating the driver.
"There's an attack, counterattack now!"
As the co-driver shouted, the five agents guarding Maya Hansen drew their guns and fired at the "Fire Man," but their bullets melted upon contact, doing no harm.
Smirking, the Fire Man charged into the agents, breathing fire and sacrificing them for SHIELD's cause.
The van's back door opened, and Maya Hansen jumped out, greeted by Killian, now returned to human form, "Killian, I knew you wouldn't let SHIELD take me."
"How did it go on your end?" Killian asked after regaining his normal temperature.
"Clark Lee was interested in my research, but he bought my data for a billion dollars. He knows a lot of secrets," Maya replied.
"But at least he doesn't know how to find me." As she spoke, Killian picked up a gun from a SHIELD corpse and shot Maya in the heart.
A direct hit to the heart! "You…" Maya looked at Killian in disbelief, falling into a pool of her own blood.
Killian melted the gun with his hand's heat, disdainfully looking at Maya's body, "You overestimated your importance. To me, you were just a liability."
"And you knew too much."
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