Raft escapee Samuel Sterns, adopting the moniker of "Leader," builds an army of enhanced individuals to challenge the forces of S.H.I.E.L.D., Helix, and whoever else stands in the way of his quest for global domination. Ciciley Livingston is brought...
Ciciley's screams discontinued...just as Sterns' vivisection had.
He emerged from the operating room, his hands caked in blood and a mesmerized look manifested on his face.
Lee, Topolov, and Blonsky stood by, patiently waiting for their leader to emerge.
"I've done the impossible," he exulted to his followers. "I've turned an immortal woman back into a mortal again. What I found inside that woman...What that machine S.H.I.E.L.D. kept in the Mojave did to her...it's unbelievable! And I've taken it all for myself!"
"What do you mean?" Blonsky questioned.
Responding to the Abomination's inquiry, Sterns – without warning – retrieved a firearm he concealed behind his back and, not having a second thought, shot himself in the head.
Stunned and bewildered by the act, Lee and Blonsky watched his body fall.
"MY LEADER!" Topolov devastatingly shrieked.
He was on the cusp of dashing over to his body when Sterns suddenly arose.
The bullet wound in his globular skull sealed up; the bullet itself spat out, left clinking to the floor.
The veins in his expanded forehead pulsated, glowing green.
Topolov was as relieved as he was terrified. "Мой руководитель! I thought you were dead!"
"I was," Sterns confirmed. "And, like Christ, I rose again!"
"So you did take Livingston's immortality," Blonsky noted.
"Will she live?" a disconcerted Lee asked.
Noticing her concern, Sterns sneered, "She will... but old age will eventually catch up with her. May take a month or even a week, but soon enough she'll just be plain ol' Ciciley Livingston again – and HYDRA's little life insurance plan on her will be our advantage."
"So what do we do with her in the meantime?" Blonsky asked.
"Keep her on ice," Sterns said. "I'm sure one of the cryogenic chambers here still works good enough." His forehead veins throbbed again. "S.H.I.E.L.D. has been snooping around, looking for you, Blonsky."
The Abomination's nostrils flared, snarling.
"Don't be so upset, my friend," Sterns calmed him. "I anticipated this. Now we can get my legion ready for war."
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"I feel like I'm gonna be sick."
Sierra's sentiment was mutual among everyone after hearing Hank Pym's sickening recount of all that happened on Côn Sơn Island. It was too much for Ava specially, prompting her to rush out of the conference room, covering her mouth.
