In an underground base unknown to the Secret Service and S.H.I.E.L.D., enormous underground networks extended deeper than the sewer levels of New York.
The walls were made of an unknown alloy. The place looked futuristic and retro at the same time, like a kind of bunker with several sections—one of them being the scientific section.
The door to a more spacious room opened, bringing in the highest-ranking individuals of the place. The one at the front had black-and-green hair and wore a tight bodysuit matching her colors, followed by another redhead in a black-and-red leather outfit.
In front of them was a laboratory full of scientific machines and equipment. Women in white coats awaited them.
"Report," ordered the green-haired one.
"Yes, Madam. The individuals who carried the signature of the great general's symbiote were apprehended by our soldiers. The substance in their bodies attempted to dissolve as planned, but thanks to the information from the great general Al, our field team froze the thugs using Mrs. Fries's weapons, freezing the substance at the same time."
"Good work."
"Thank you, Ms. Ophélie."
"We could skip the boring explanations and get straight to the point. Several other Orders of the Empire are also looking for the great general."
"Sinthea, I remind you that they are also our allies and sisters. No question of getting confused with them!"
"You don't have any orders to give me. Only Al can."
"And who did Al choose to take care of our Order? Me!"
"I am your co-director."
"Unfortunately, your brain is not as efficient as your muscles."
"Bitch! Who lost track of the boss while you were handling the intelligence and espionage side of our Order?"
The two beautiful femme fatales began to argue like hostile high school students, their icy, angry faces tense and ready to explode.
"It starts again."
The officers behind them were used to it.
"Ms. Ophélie, Ms. Sinthea," one of the blonde officers in a green uniform, wearing a breathing mask, interrupted them.
"Before your arrival, I worked on the invisible substance," the woman explained in a calm, emotionless voice so as not to provoke the two leaders.
"Invisible?"
"Yes—colorless and odorless."
"It can also take any physical state: solid, liquid, and gas. It is extremely contagious but seems to choose its hosts. It is exactly the same—it is clearly the AL-Dream."
"The general told us that he had forgotten the formula when he traveled through time, which means that a younger version of him is present. That's excellent news."
A genuine smile of happiness appeared on Ophélie's face. She was not the only one—Selena and the other women jumped with joy. It had been more than ten years since they had last seen their beloved general.
"Finally! It won't be you leading anymore," Célina mocked.
"For now, we are not interfering with the boss. It is essential that his time travel occurs. One change, and we may be erased from reality. Warn all our troops and staff!" Ignoring the mockery of her German partner, Madame Hydra gave her orders.
"And for those people who get sick and become violent, what do we do?" asked Sinthea.
"Let's find a way for the general to infect us with AL-Dream so that we can inform the other Orders as well and prevent this disease from leaving New York."
Her gaze rested on the emblem of their organization.
Hydra?
No. Hydra was just a cover—their true allegiance lay elsewhere.
The Hydra symbol was different here. The tentacles were still present, representing control from the shadows across multiple locations.
What had changed was the center of the symbol—the horns and sharp teeth.
Yes—it was the skull of a dragon.
After all, hydras are only descendants of dragons.
The same event occurred in several organizations established in New York.
The main figure behind this agitation, unlike other individuals, had sensed that some of the people under his control had disappeared.
(Well, that's interesting...)
Alex found himself alone, wandering the streets of the city.
After spending time in the sanctuary, he had given access to his tower to the two great masters, hoping they would help him fill his library. In exchange, they could study the magic within the great tree of the tower.
As for MJ, she had to leave for work. According to the news, the Bugle Planet had been attacked by a group of unstable individuals.
But it was the Bugle Planet—how many times was this place attacked each year? Unfortunately for the attackers, this media building was also the workplace of powerful defenders. Spider-Woman quickly handled the situation.
On his side, Alex conducted a small investigation into these individuals. Thanks to his growing network—small but sufficient—he traced the source of these disturbances. Nothing extraordinary.
The rest of his group remained on the outskirts of the city.
As he entered the hideout, Alex covered his nose.
"Holy shit, who did this..."
(Alex, the air here is composed of carbon tetrachloride, benzene, sulfur...)
"It's fine, Venna. I understand—something is decomposing here."
(A human body, more precisely. And there is a highly contagious element here. Be careful.)
Alex opened the apartment door.
Then...
...
.