Chapter 10: The Dawn of Revolution

Marcus stood in the center of his high-tech lab, the holographic blueprints of the Medpod300 glowing before him. It was a marvel of technology, something straight out of science fiction, and yet it was real, tangible, and within his grasp. His eyes traced the intricate lines and circuits, every detail meticulously designed to revolutionize the world of medicine. The Medpod300 was more than just a tool; it was a symbol of what was possible when you combined genius with the power to reshape reality.

"Alfred," Marcus called out, his voice calm and composed.

A soft, British-accented voice responded, the AI's tone warm and respectful. "Yes, Master Marcus?"

"Send the blueprints of the Medpod300 to Wang. Include the distribution plan I've outlined, and make sure to emphasize that it's to be made available for free to the first 1,000 critical patients. We'll start with 100 units, distributed to hospitals across the world, and then we'll scale up from there."

"Right away, sir," Alfred replied, the holographic interface flickering as it processed the request. "Transmission is in progress."

Marcus watched as the data was sent across secure channels, knowing that it would reach Wang within moments. The Medpod300 was a game-changer, a device that could cure nearly any illness by analyzing and repairing the human body at a molecular level. With it, they would be able to save countless lives, and more importantly, undermine Vought's stranglehold on the medical industry.

He couldn't help but grin as he imagined Wang's reaction. This was just the beginning.

A soft chime indicated an incoming call, and Marcus accepted it with a wave of his hand. Wang's face appeared on the screen, his usually calm expression replaced with one of shock and awe.

"Marcus," Wang began, his voice filled with disbelief. "Is this real? The Medpod300… this could change everything. It's like something out of a dream."

"It's very real, Wang," Marcus replied, his grin widening. "And it's going to be a nightmare for Vought. This device will not only save lives, but it will also expose just how outdated and corrupt their systems are. We'll distribute it for free to those who need it most—let the world see that we're the ones who truly care about their well-being, not Vought."

Wang nodded, still processing the magnitude of what he had just received. "This will cause a ripple effect across every sector, not just healthcare. The public will rally behind us, and Vought won't be able to ignore it."

"Exactly," Marcus said, his voice brimming with confidence. "This is just the beginning, Wang. We're going to change the world, one innovation at a time. And Vought? They'll be scrambling to keep up."

Wang chuckled softly, shaking his head in amazement. "You're playing a different game, my friend. I almost feel sorry for them—almost."

Marcus's grin turned into a smirk. "Don't waste your sympathy. They've had their chance. Now it's our turn."

With that, Marcus ended the call, his smile fading as his expression turned serious once more. He had set the next phase of his plan in motion, but there was still much to do. His eyes flicked to the system panel that hovered in his peripheral vision, showing his current power level at 85%. It was an impressive number, one that filled him with a sense of invincibility, but it wasn't enough. Not yet.

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[SYSTEM STATUS]

Current Ability: Superman (Basic)

•Strength: 85%

•Speed: 84%

•Flight: 80%

•Durability: 81%

•Heat Vision: 83%

•Solar Absorption: 85%

•Mental Ability: 80%

________________________________________

"I'll need to push harder," he muttered to himself, his mind already calculating the best ways to maximize his power gain.

But first, there was something else that required his attention. He turned his gaze through the walls. He had been keeping tabs on Butcher and Hughie for some time now, their movements both intriguing and puzzling. They were playing their own game, a dangerous one, but Marcus had no intention of interfering. Not yet, at least. He needed to understand them, to see where their path would lead.

With a deep breath, Marcus flew upward, his body effortlessly piercing the atmosphere as he ascended into space. The Earth below him shrank rapidly, becoming a mere blue orb in the infinite darkness. He hovered there for a moment, letting the sunlight bathe him, feeling its warmth seep into every cell of his being. He checked his progress on the system panel—still 85%. He was close, but not close enough to reach his full potential.

As he floated in the void, Marcus activated his super-hearing, honing in on the location of Butcher and Hughie. It didn't take long to find them—his senses were far too advanced for that. They were holed up in a safe house, probably thinking they were invisible to the world. But Marcus could see them as clearly as if they were standing right in front of him.

Butcher's gruff voice cut through the silence of space, carrying a tone of barely restrained fury. "We've got to keep a low profile, Hughie. If Homelander finds out what we did, we're dead. You understand that, right?"

Hughie's voice, shaky but determined, responded. "Yeah, I know. But we had to do it. Translucent was going to kill me—what choice did we have?"

"You did good, kid," Butcher replied, his tone softening slightly. "But this is just the beginning. Vought's got their tentacles in everything, and we're going to have to rip 'em out, one by one. We're in this for the long haul, and it's not going to be pretty."

Marcus listened intently, absorbing every word. He was fascinated by Butcher's resolve, by the sheer hatred he harbored for Vought and the Supes. It was a kind of determination that Marcus could respect, even if their methods differed. Butcher was driven by vengeance, by a need to destroy those who had wronged him. Marcus, on the other hand, was driven by a desire to create something better, to reshape the world into something just and fair.

Still, their goals weren't entirely dissimilar. They both wanted to see Vought fall, and they both understood the importance of playing the long game. But where Butcher relied on brute force and cunning, Marcus relied on strategy and power.

As Marcus watched from above, he saw Frenchie enter the room, carrying a small device in his hand. "I've got the tracker set up," Frenchie said, his accent thick but his words clear. "If Homelander comes sniffing around, we'll know about it before he even gets close."

"Good," Butcher grunted, taking the device and examining it. "We can't afford any surprises. Not with that bastard on the loose."

Marcus's eyes narrowed as he focused on the small group. They were smart, resourceful, and dangerous. But they were also desperate, and desperation could lead to mistakes. He would have to be careful, to keep his distance until the time was right.

Butcher, Hughie, and Frenchie weren't the only ones on edge. In another part of the world, far from the quiet plotting of Marcus and his allies, Homelander was having a very different kind of day.

Deep within Vought Tower, in a lavish penthouse suite, Homelander lay sprawled across a plush sofa, his head resting on the lap of Madelyn Stillwell, the current CEO of Vought. Her hand gently stroked his hair as she cooed soft words of comfort, trying to soothe the rage that simmered just beneath his skin.

"He's a faker, Madelyn," Homelander muttered, his voice tinged with bitterness. "That so-called Superman thinks he can just swoop in and take what's mine. He's nothing but a fraud, trying to steal my glory, my spotlight."

Madelyn smiled down at him, her voice soft and reassuring. "Don't worry, sweetheart. He's just a nobody, a low-level worker who got lucky. We'll take care of him, I promise. We'll drag his reputation through the mud, make sure everyone knows he's nothing compared to you."

Homelander's expression softened slightly, a cruel smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "You really think so? You think they'll see through his bullshit?"

"Of course," Madelyn purred, her hand moving lower to trace circles on his chest. "You're the real hero, Homelander. No one can take that away from you. We'll make sure of it."

Homelander chuckled, his mood visibly lifting as he looked up at Madelyn with a twisted kind of affection. "You always know what to say to make me feel better."

With that, he suddenly flipped their positions, pinning Madelyn beneath him as his hands roamed her body. The big sofa began to creak and shake as their passion escalated, but Marcus had already turned his attention back to Earth.

He descended rapidly, the air around him crackling with energy as he re-entered the atmosphere. Within seconds, he was standing in the shadows near the hideout of Butcher and his crew, his enhanced vision and hearing allowing him to observe them undetected.

Butcher was pacing, Hughie was fidgeting, and Frenchie was tinkering with yet another device. They were on edge, their paranoia heightened by the knowledge that Homelander could strike at any moment.

"They're scared," Marcus thought to himself, his mind racing with possibilities. "They think Homelander is the only threat they have to worry about."