After this small interlude.
Under the slightly strange gazes of the surrounding sentry soldiers, the two finally stood before the composite metal door leading to the prison.
"Identity confirmed. S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Makima, Level 6 clearance. External consultant Reze, temporary authorization."
An electronic voice rang out in the wind and snow.
Accompanied by the roar of hydraulic transmissions, the half-meter-thick composite iron door slowly slid open to both sides.
Makima tidied her collar, which had been ruffled by the wind, and took the lead into the darkness.
Reze unhappily rubbed her sore backside from the fall earlier, muttering an indistinct curse in Russian.
Then she shuffled after her... Deep within the cryogenic cells, the Special Containment Area.
This was the heart of the prison and the most heavily guarded area.
A massive cryogenic stasis pod stood in the center of the room, connected to countless complex pipelines.
Several technicians in hazmat suits were tensely debugging data.
The person in charge of guarding this place was a Colonel named Burckhoff.
He was a typical career soldier, with graying hair at his temples and a resolute gaze.
At this moment, he was frowning, staring at the document in his hand that bore the signatures of both Alexander Pierce and Nick Fury.
"This doesn't follow our Military's rules."
The Colonel looked up and stared at Makima. "Emil Blonsky is no ordinary criminal; he is an extremely dangerous biological weapon. General Ross has issued strict orders forbidding any form of awakening unless a large-scale war breaks out."
"Rules are fixed, but people are flexible, Colonel."
Makima stood high on the control platform, hands behind her back, looking down at the steaming cryogenic pod below. "The World Security Council now wants to evaluate his value. This is a top-secret initiative, the specifics of which—"
As she spoke, she turned her head, seemingly casually glancing into the Colonel's eyes, and a sense of superiority and pressure spontaneously arose.
"At your level, you have no right to know, so your job is only to cooperate with me."
"Is that understood?"
Colonel Burckhoff's gaze froze for a moment.
A certain defensive line deep in his brain quietly collapsed, and his originally firm resistance mysteriously dissipated.
In its place was a sense of obedience—that 'obeying superior orders is a soldier's duty.'
"Fine... since the documents are in order, let's begin."
The Colonel waved his hand. "Initiate thawing procedure! All units, enter Level 1 combat readiness! Open the suppressors!"
Sssshhh—!!!
The high-pressure valves opened, and white liquid nitrogen mist gushed out like a tsunami, filling half the containment room in an instant.
From within the long-silent cryogenic pod came the heavy sound of machinery operating, as if some giant beast were awakening.
In the corner, Reze had already shed her bulky coat, her slim figure outlined by a form-fitting black combat suit.
This was specially customized for her by S.H.I.E.L.D., woven from high-strength heat-resistant fibers.
It allowed Reze to transform without needing to worry about being naked on the spot, thus avoiding the need to intentionally lower the power and frequency of her explosions.
S.H.I.E.L.D. was quite considerate in this regard, Su Modie had to admit.
Reze leaned lazily against the blast-proof glass wall, her eyes always alertly watching below.
She had fought the Abomination before.
Back in Harlem, this big guy was thick-skinned and tough; he was indeed difficult to deal with when he went berserk.
If this guy suddenly erupted like the Hulk did last time and launched a sneak attack that seriously injured Reze, it would be trouble.
However, Su Modie had already prepared in advance.
Lying quietly in the warehouse were four newly exchanged 'first aid blood packs,' plus the unused stock she had bought before, making a total of six.
This was equivalent to Reze having six extra lives.
These things cost 10 simulation values each, and their effect was no different from ordinary blood packs.
The cost-performance ratio wasn't high, but they were convenient because they could be kept in the 'warehouse' and taken out whenever needed for emergencies.
It saved Reze from having to randomly find a passerby to bite if she got desperate.
A few minutes later.
The white mist gradually dissipated.
The monster that had once wreaked havoc in Harlem slowly opened its eyes... That being said, the property damage caused by this big guy was completely incomparable to Reze's.
However, as everyone knows, the evaluation standards for monsters and beautiful girls are different.
The Abomination's mountain-like body was an ugly yellowish-brown.
The bone spurs protruding from his spine and joints glinted coldly under the lights. His entire body was densely covered with industrial IV tubes, like parasitic leeches dug deep into his flesh, ready to pump sedatives into him at any moment.
The prolonged injections of sedatives and freezing had made his reactions somewhat sluggish, but the tyranny in his cloudy eyes hadn't diminished in the slightest.
Ugly.
"Mr. Bronski." Makima turned on the microphone, her voice gentle and professional, as if she truly were a patient HR manager. "Good evening. I am your evaluator. You may call me Makima."
The Abomination struggled to turn his stiff neck, staring through the thick blast-proof glass at the tiny human female above.
"Who... are you?" The voice was raspy and broken, like two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together.
Immediately after, he asked a second question: "Where is... Hulk?"
Pfft... Su Modie almost couldn't hold it in.
Is this guy really a toxic Hulk solo-stan dream boy?
Locked up for so long, and upon waking, he doesn't ask where he is or what they're going to do to him.
Every word out of his mouth is about that green fatty?
What kind of touching yet ill-fated relationship is this?
Makima ignored his question, instead flipping open the folder in her hand and saying in a businesslike tone, "Mr. Bronski, the World Security Council is forming a Special Response Team."
"Given your past... combat record, we have listed you as a candidate."
The Abomination's eyes lit up; it was a longing for freedom.
"Candidate? Hmph... at least you're sensible." He grinned, revealing a hideous smile.
"Just let me out, and I can help you tear that coward Hulk to pieces!"
Still Hulk, still Hulk... The Abomination obviously thought this Special Response Team was also meant to deal with the Hulk.
He had no idea that his green buddy's current situation was no better than his own.
"Regarding that point, I might need to slightly correct your expectations."
Makima interrupted him. "Hulk is currently also a core member of this project, and the higher-ups value him far more than you."
"However, if you are willing to accept your place and assist Hulk with some peripheral work, perhaps..."
"You two could become very good partners."
Assist? Partner? Peripheral work?
A precision strike on a sore spot!
There wasn't a single curse word in those remarks, but they were extremely insulting.
For the self-important Abomination, being made Hulk's underling was practically worse than death.
This was exactly Su Modie and Makima's goal.
"Are you... playing me?!"
A low roar exploded from deep within the Abomination's chest; even through the glass, a tangible killing intent could be felt.
"I am merely stating the evaluation facts." Makima closed the folder and shook her head regretfully. "Of course, if you cannot accept this positioning, you can choose to refuse cooperation and remain here as a piece of ignored frozen pork."
Fro... Frozen pork?!
This term became the straw that broke the camel's back for the Abomination.
Indeed, in this cold storage prison, hung up and sealed in ice by cryogenic cells, what was the difference between him and frozen pork?
...Sorry, Captain America, I didn't mean to imply anything about you~
"Roar—!!!"
The Abomination's eyes were bloodshot, and his sanity completely snapped.
"You're the frozen pork! No one can keep me locked up!!"
"Warning! Subject's heart rate is overloading! He's attempting to break free!"
The technician shouted in panic, "Colonel! Quick!"
Alarms blared incessantly, and the entire prison fell into chaos.
Makima stood at the center of the chaos, facing the Abomination with her back to the Colonel.
The ringed eyes under her contact lenses contracted in the shadows, and her thin lips curled slightly.
The show has begun.
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