Drake was utterly terrified.
But compared to him, Dr. Skirth and the other scientists looked like they were staring death in the face. Their bodies trembled, and their voices wavered as they pleaded.
"Sir, please reconsider!" one of them begged, adjusting his glasses with shaking fingers. "The animal trials are far from complete. We're still observing how the symbiotes respond under different stress environments. Human testing is, it's absolutely reckless!"
"We can't guarantee safety for anyone involved," Dr. Skirth added anxiously, stepping forward. "It's not just dangerous for the host, it's dangerous for everyone here if something goes wrong!"
Luke just ignored them, and Drake barely heard them. His attention was locked on the man who had waltzed in as if he owned the place and was now standing face to face with a living alien organism.
The symbiote called Phage pressed itself against the containment glass, its amorphous yellow form undulating as it sensed Luke's presence.
Then, to the scientists' collective horror, Luke calmly extended a single finger toward the glass without a hint of hesitation.
"Is he crazy?" one of the younger scientists whispered, backing away slowly.
"He's going to get us all killed…" another muttered.
As Luke's finger neared the surface, the group instinctively recoiled, some backing into corners, others hiding behind equipment. But the truth was, they had nowhere to run. The symbiote was volatile. If it went berserk, containment wouldn't matter.
A tense silence filled the lab.
Phage mimicked Luke's motion, extending a slender tentacle toward his fingertip, twitching with anticipation, and the moment their 'skin' made contact…
Luke's body jolted like he'd touched a live wire. His muscles tensed involuntarily, and he clenched his teeth.
It wasn't painful, but the sensation was so alien that it left him momentarily stunned. A deep, resonating pulse surged through him, as if something ancient and wild had just synchronized with his cells.
He blinked. "What the hell was that?"
Before he could think further, the symbiote began to flow toward him, slithering away from the containment unit like golden molasses attracted to a magnet. It moved with alarming speed, wrapping itself around his hand and arm, then sinking into his skin like ink on paper.
Within seconds, it was gone.
Luke staggered back and flexed his hand. Feeling no pain or discomfort. In fact… he didn't feel any different.
"Huh," he muttered. "That's it?"
The moment the thought crossed his mind, a chime echoed in his ears.
[Ding~ The symbiote Phage has detected the power of Extremis in the host. Integration successful. Weakness to fire and high temperatures has been overcome.]
Luke raised his eyebrows. "Well, that's convenient."
He had been worried, admittedly. The Extremis virus turned his internal body temperature into a walking furnace. Normally, symbiotes feared fire above all else, it was one of their primary weaknesses.
If Phage had rejected him or combusted on contact, it would've been a pity.
But instead, the symbiote adapted, mutated. Overcoming the very thing that should've killed it.
Luke hadn't even processed this stroke of luck before a gravelly voice echoed inside his head.
Luke froze. His face twisted into confusion, then horror.
"…What the hell was that?!"
"Owner… I have fused with you…"
It was a voice like sandpaper on a chalkboard, hoarse, raspy, and unmistakably male. The kind of voice that belonged to a guy who had smoked since the 1950s and washed it down with whiskey every night.
Luke's mouth twitched.
"Wait… you're a guy?"
There was a pause. Then the symbiote answered proudly:
"Our race is genderless. Our perceived gender reflects the host."
Luke gritted his teeth.
"I thought you were a girl!" he hissed. "You're yellow! That's a soft color!"
"I do not understand your human color conventions, Master."
"Okay, fine, but at least change your voice! You sound like a chain-smoking uncle who complains about back pain at every barbecue!"
Luke stared into the distance, his expression deadpan.
The voice grew more nervous now, noticing the disgust in Luke's tone.
"M-Master… please don't abandon me. I can be useful. I promise."
But Luke had already made up his mind.
The massive husky appeared instantly by his side, his tail wagging excitedly as if he'd just been summoned for treats.
Luke reached down and ruffled the fur on Doggo's head, his smile returning.
"Good boy," he said warmly.
Then he turned his gaze coldly inward.
"Phage, transfer to Doggo."
"What, No! Master, please! I don't want to leave you!"
But Luke didn't even flinch.
The roar echoed through the lab, making everyone jump. Doggo tilted his head curiously, while the scientists stiffened, wide-eyed. From their perspective, Luke had just yelled at absolutely no one.
But those with more knowledge of symbiotes, like Drake, understood immediately.
"…He's communicating with it," Drake whispered, fascinated. "He's already bonded."
"Impossible," Dr. Skirth murmured. "It accepted him without resistance. And it's probably sentient… enough to hold a conversation apparently."
They watched, transfixed, as a golden goo began to ooze out of Luke's palm. It trickled down his arm, slithered onto Doggo's fur, and then disappeared into the husky's skin.
[Ding~ The symbiote Phage has detected the power of Hulk's genes in Doggo. Integration successful.]
[Ding~ The symbiote Phage has detected the power of Cerberus. Integration successful.]
[Ding~ Phage's mutation level has increased to 4. Speed, strength, regeneration, endurance, and thermal resistance have been greatly enhanced.]
Luke's expression finally softened.
He turned to Doggo, who was now wagging his tail harder than ever.
The husky's eyes suddenly glowed, flickering rapidly through a series of colors.
Yellow. Green. Red. Black.
"…Is he a traffic light now?"
Each color seemed to signify a different power. Yellow was Phage. Green, Hulk. Red, Extremis. Black… that must be the Cerberus.
Doggo stood tall, his fur rippling slightly with new energy. His body now hosted a mix of terrifying power, and his playful grin was the only thing keeping him from looking like a demonic beast.
And then, Doggo turned his head.
He spotted Drake and the others huddled against the wall. His mouth slowly opened.
His tongue rolled out.
"…Oh no," Luke muttered. "He's got the munchies."
Doggo growled lowly, his eyes locked on the trembling scientists.
Luke sighed, rubbing his temples. "Yup. I was right."
Doggo, infused with the power of a symbiote who shared the same hobby as him, that is, eating humans, seems to have gotten even worse.