Marvel's Iron Lady

Before her stood Dr. Morgan Miles, a researcher highly valued by Norman Osborn and deeply connected to the so-called Devil's Breath project. Perhaps sensing something amiss, Osborn had enlisted Silver Sable International to ensure Dr. Miles' safety, sending him into the protection of mercenaries who moved him from one place to another in a city-wide game of hide-and-seek.

For Silver Sable, as long as Dr. Morgan Miles was kept alive and out of the Inner Demons' reach, the job was done. Despite Dr. Miles' fury at being forcibly removed from his lab, he was powerless against the muscle-brained mercenaries. Reluctantly, he accepted the protection of Silver Sable International and temporarily set aside his research.

"So, Devil's Breath is essentially a synthetic biological gene-editing drug designed for special control?" Miss Stark asked.

The members of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Silver Sable's team were all too familiar with military action, but when it came to academic discussions, most of them looked away, confused. Only Miss Stark, also a researcher, could keep up with Dr. Miles' explanations and discuss the matter intelligently.

Her knowledge of genetic engineering had come from her collaboration with Dr. Helen Cho during the research on the Extremis Virus. She immediately grasped the concept, realizing what Dr. Miles was getting at.

Devil's Breath, despite its sinister name, was nothing more than an ambitious but flawed "miracle cure." Osborn had initiated the project to cure the genetic flaws in his own family. Devil's Breath was similar to the Extremis Virus, only differing in a few key areas.

As the creator of the Extremis Virus, Miss Stark was quick to understand the essence of Devil's Breath.

"Dr. Miles, this could be groundbreaking. If perfected, it could cure almost any disease," Miss Stark praised.

Dr. Miles, however, only managed a bitter smile. From under his desk, he pulled out a silver alloy briefcase, opening it to reveal a vial of pale pink liquid.

"I can't figure out where it went wrong," he admitted with a pained expression. "The virus's mechanism targets the immune system, causing infected subjects to display extreme contagiousness. When a mouse carrying GR-27 was exposed to other lab animals, all 40 unexposed subjects died within seven days."

His face contorted in despair, the kind of anguish that comes from seeing a lifelong dream turn into a nightmare.

"Anyone infected could trigger a global pandemic—that's why it's called Devil's Breath," Miss Stark realized. Now, she fully understood the potential devastation GR-27 could unleash. It wasn't just a virus—it was a ticking time bomb, like something out of the worst sci-fi dystopias, akin to Resident Evil.

The real danger lay in its high transmission rate and lethal efficiency. "Osborn thought it was worth the risk, but if this ever gets out, it'll be the end of OsCorp," Dr. Miles added, his voice laden with worry.

As an employee of OsCorp, the collapse of the company would be a disaster for him, too. On the other hand, Miss Stark now fully grasped what Osborn had been hiding. If news of Devil's Breath leaked, OsCorp would be ruined.

It was also clear that the Inner Demons, led by Mister Negative, were after Devil's Breath. Miss Stark couldn't tell exactly what Martin Li intended to do with it, but she knew it couldn't be good.

Someone was trying to attack OsCorp's interests, which meant they were attacking her interests. And Miss Stark wasn't the kind of person to let someone swipe her cake from under her nose.

"How much of the GR-27 serum is left?" she asked.

"This is the only vial left, Miss Stark," Dr. Miles replied, indicating the one in the case.

"You know who I am, which means you should know I have a plan," Miss Stark said, laying out her idea for Dr. Miles.

"The Inner Demons likely want to spread it as a way to exact revenge on society—or Osborn. I have the resources, and with the help of a top-tier expert, we might be able to complete GR-27. Once it's perfected, even if they steal it, what good will it do them?"

Dr. Miles, no fool, quickly understood the logic behind Stark's plan. No matter what Mister Negative's intentions, if the drug were perfected, he would be left with nothing but an obsolete weapon.

After convincing Dr. Miles, Miss Stark gathered everyone to discuss the updated mission. The incomplete GR-27 and Dr. Morgan Miles were discreetly flown back to the Disaster Control Corporation via her Quinjet. Thanks to its state-of-the-art cloaking technology, no one knew of their journey.

Meanwhile, Miss Stark also brought in Dr. Helen Cho, the brilliant mind who had helped her perfect the Extremis Virus. Dr. Cho was a trusted collaborator and key member of Stark's inner scientific circle.

The secret base beneath the Disaster Control Corporation offered all the equipment they needed to complete GR-27. Meanwhile, Silver Sable International found a body double for Dr. Miles, placing him under heavy protection. The decoy was placed in an armored convoy, intended as bait to lure the Inner Demons.

S.H.I.E.L.D. intentionally leaked false information, successfully baiting Mister Negative into action. He led his elite forces to capture Dr. Miles and steal the Devil's Breath, while also hoping to frame other criminal organizations for the theft.

But when Mister Negative arrived with his team, they walked straight into an ambush. Waiting for them were Silver Sable's mercenaries and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, ready to strike.

With the help of Miss Stark and Dr. Helen Cho, the GR-27 research took less than two weeks to complete. Dr. Miles was a genius, but even geniuses needed help to achieve their goals.

Miss Stark and Dr. Cho, who had already successfully completed the Extremis Virus, made rapid progress. By the end of the month, the serum was finished.

In the Disaster Control Corporation's cutting-edge underground lab, three top scientists were hard at work. Dressed in a white protective suit, Dr. Miles watched in awe as Miss Stark, holding a syringe, administered the perfected GR-27 into a test mouse.

"You're the smartest person I've ever met," Dr. Miles said, filled with admiration.

"Oh, really? Would you believe me if I told you I graduated from MIT in mechanical engineering?" Miss Stark joked. She, alongside Dr. Cho, injected the tiny dose of GR-27 into a mouse born with gamma-ray-induced genetic mutations, which had resulted in missing limbs.

Half a minute after the injection, the mouse's stunted limbs began to regenerate. GR-27 had successfully corrected the genetic defect, with no fatal side effects.

Looking at the completed drug, Miss Stark stepped out of the lab and removed her heavy biohazard suit.

"All right, everyone—it's time to execute the plan. This time, we're going to sever the Inner Demons," she declared, pulling out her phone and sending a message to everyone involved in the operation.

As for who exactly would be "severed," everyone who received the message already knew. Everyone involved in the plan was devious in their own right, even Captain America, Steve Rogers. He didn't care how underhanded the plan was—as long as the enemy was thoroughly defeated, that was all that mattered.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon: 

Patreon.com/DaoOfHeaven