An Ingenious Idea
"If I can cure cancer in a few minutes....just what can I achieve with this...", he muttered, reaching for his fourth sandwich - only to be met with an empty plate.
'I'm fucking starving....need to catch up on all the meals former Peter missed', he thought, getting up and going downstairs.
He came back up in a few minutes with five more sandwiches and a much happier Aunt May, who was delighted that he was eating more.
"Now....", he said with a face full of bread. "Just what has former Peter achieved..."
***
Peters's pupils trembled as he closed the file.
He had learned more in these forty pages than he had in all his former 19 years of life.
"I am a fucking genius", He sighed. He had spent the final years of his former life with much more information, better technology and had made little to no progress. He even studied a better regeneration model! - the Hydra.
And all it took was a high school student in the name of Peter Parker who used school-grade equipment and one of the worst regeneration models - the common Lizard, to pump out scientific breakthroughs that could evolve the human species as we know it. With what Peter uncovered, humanity with its pliable DNA could ascend to Godhood.
'Or descend into chaos...', Peter thought in trepidation. This knowledge was best kept close to his chest.
It was different in his previous world - where there were no supervillains hoping to take over the universe. In this world, his powers were his eternal secret. His security.
Unfortunately, his genetic code was the key to reverse engineering his powers, thus he had to figure out a method to prevent that from happening. Given his brain, that was probably a cakewalk.
"Am I being paranoid?", he suddenly asked himself, finding himself making backup plans upon backup plans. He thought for a moment before shaking his head. "No...I'm being sensible."
He leaned back in his chair, and stuffed his mouth with his seventh sandwich, before going through the last few pages of the file that was the summary.
***
Page 38: -
Using a reptile as a test subject for the serum is not the most efficient, but using human subjects or primates is far more unethical in my eyes.
The Prototype of the serum used the DNA of a Komodo Dragon as the [ Base of Evolution ]. The subject was a Podarcis Muralis and measured 20.45 cm in length. The scales were spotted brown.
Observation: -
Three seconds after administering the serum, the subject grew to 35.64 cm. Scales grew harder and more layered along with longer and sharper teeth. Its muscle density approximately quintupled. Ability to regrow limbs within ten seconds in Form II ( Enhanced Body gained after administration of serum ) and one hour in Base Form. Lost ability to detach tail. Hyper aggressiveness and more hostility to humans.
The subject seems to be able to shift between Base form and Form II at will. This is evidenced by the subject shifting to Form II when I get near or during feeding time.
Deduction: -
The Ideal serum will be perfect. This is something I strive for but will be exceedingly hard to achieve.
The serum alters the very biochemistry of a subject's body, and due to the body rejecting the serum and the mutation, it could be fatal. This is counteracted by enhanced regeneration, but while regeneration may be able to solve the problem for the body, the brain is a whole other ballpark.
The brain's biochemistry is very evidently altered and mutated during the procedure, and due to the body's innate rejection, it may permanently damage it. The regeneration prevents it from being fatal, but I suspect that it may not cure the problem completely.
I suspect that the regeneration only solves the surface problem of dying during the procedure and leaves the brain forever changed. Perhaps in human, the Amygdala is altered along with the production of adrenaline and cortisol. This would lead to emotional highs, random uncontrollable bouts of anger, and a reduction of rationality.
Something similar may have occurred with my reptilian test subject.
On the other hand, my serum could be perfect, and the Podarcis Muralis could be displaying inherited aggressiveness due to the usage of the genes of an apex predator in its [ Base of Evolution ]
Further testing is advised.
Page 39: -
Estimated results of Project Lizard on a Homo Sapien: -
Enhanced Regeneration: The current Prototype of the serum would allow a human subject to regrow his/her arm within one minute in Form II. The effects on the Base Form would be harder to deduce, but the effects would be greatly diminished. The Ideal Serum would allow for instant, controllable regeneration in Form II and a couple of seconds in Base Form, although this is a far-fetched dream.
Enhanced Strength: In Form II, the subject would have enough strength to match, or even slightly exceed my favourite hero - Spiderwoman. I have estimated this to be about 12 tons. This is one of the only things in which the current Prototype can compare to the ideal serum.
Enhanced Speed: Unknown
Enhanced Reflexes: Unknown
Enhanced Agility: Unknown
Enhanced Durability: Unknown
Enhanced Stamina: The current Prototype causes the muscles to release considerably less fatigue toxins, allowing the subject to exert themselves for around 24 hours before exhaustion takes over. The enhanced regeneration would allow them to regain stamina at an accelerated pace, although the limit is unknown.
Wall Crawling: ??? ( Just a tiny hope I have. I want to stick to walls, just like Ghost-Spider. Perhaps adding the gecko's genes to the [ Base of Evolution ] can help? )
Unknown Brain evolution: ??? ( The brain evolves along with the body, and without the body rejecting the serum and mutation, an unknown evolution may take place. It is most likely beneficial )
Weaknesses: -
Cold Temperatures?
Yet to be discovered.
Page 40: -
The Procedure: -
- Sterilize all equipment using the Autoclave.
- Isolate gene for [ Base of Evolution ] using Restriction endonucleases. If multiple genes are to be isolated, use plasmid vectors. Prevent exposure to air due to DNA degeneration and enzyme denaturation.
- Combine isolated genes with plasmids using DNA ligase........
***
Peter took a deep breath once more, his brain working on how exactly to improve the serum.
The thing that made the serum truly special was the [ Base of Evolution ] - a genetic marvel. It was something that made CRISPER look like an underground troll in comparison. It was a springboard of sorts - not only splicing the DNA with the subject but also drastically evolving it and improving it.
'Former Peter is partially right...the serum is already perfect, though it can be improved. It's only the body's innate rejection of the serum and mutation that's the main problem. If I solve that, the main obstacle to me using the serum will be solved. Improving the regeneration is secondary, and pretty easy - given former Peter's notes and my knowledge '
"You were right...your research really did help me', he chuckled to himself, mentally going through his former professor's paper on regeneration pathways.
The regeneration of the serum was subpar by Peter's standards due to the fact that he had picked a horrible model for regeneration. Well, he had no choice as that was all he got to work with. If he incorporated his professor's work on Axolotls in Project Lizard, he could boost its regeneration prowess to the high heavens. He could probably regenerate his brain too - like the water lizards.
"But the rejection problem....", he muttered to himself while swivelling on his chair.
He would need his body to perfectly accept and adapt to the serum - preferably even enhance it, but how exactly would he go about doing that?
"Only if I had a perfected product to study...", he rubbed his chin, looking at the failed experiment in the jar on the table. He didn't care all that much about ethics like the former Parker. He wasn't an idealist. "More like a...realist or opportunist"
'But I can't manifest a perfected test subject. That would be akin to wishing for the perfected serum to drop into my hands'
"Wait!", He sat up, thinking of something ingenious.
He knew someone who had their DNA rewritten and mutated. Someone who not only did not die but also flourished. They had perfectly integrated with the mutation and had gained incredible benefits, with no physical or mental downsides.
'I need to get my hands on Gwen's blood without her suspecting anything.'
***