"Three million is substantial for an unproven concept."
"The concept is proven. Just needs implementation. And three million is cheap compared to what this will be worth in five years." Alex pulled up a market analysis. "Conservative estimates put the accessibility device market alone at two billion annually. This technology could capture ten percent of that. That's two hundred million per year. Three million is nothing."
Norman smiled. It was cold but genuine. "You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Carter."
"I learned from the best."
"Two million. Plus royalties. Two percent of net profits from any products using this technology."
Alex did the math instantly. Two percent of two hundred million was four million annually. If the technology succeeded, royalties would dwarf the initial payment.
"Deal. But I want it in writing. Legal contract. Payment within thirty days."
"Done." Norman stood and extended his hand. "Welcome to the big leagues, Mr. Carter."
They shook. Alex felt the weight of it. This was real. He'd just sold a patent for two million dollars.
That plus royalties would fund everything he needed. Lab equipment. Secure location. Years of research.
The meeting ended. Alex walked out of Norman's office trying not to show his excitement. Nora handled the legal paperwork. Lawyers reviewed the contract. Everything was official by the end of the week.
Two million dollars would be transferred to Alex's account within thirty days.
He had his funding.
...
Alex submitted a leave request the next day. One week off. Personal reasons. Dr. Connors approved it without questions. Alex had earned the time.
He didn't tell anyone except his landlord that he wouldn't be around. Didn't respond to texts from Peter or Gwen or Felicia. Just disappeared.
He needed space. Time to think without interruptions. Time to work on something that required complete focus.
The house appeared in a real estate listing almost by accident. Deep in the woods upstate. Two hours from Manhattan. Old construction. Built sometime in the 1940s with materials that didn't exist anymore. Solid timber that had survived eighty years without rotting.
And it had a bunker. An actual bomb shelter from Cold War paranoia. Underground. Reinforced. Perfect for a private lab.
The owners were elderly. Moving to Florida. Wanted to sell quickly.
Alex made an offer. Two hundred thousand. They could keep everything inside except the bunker. He'd pay in installments. Fifty thousand now. The rest over two years.
They accepted within a day.
Alex had his secure location.
He spent the first two days cleaning. The main house didn't matter much. The bunker was what he needed. It was dusty and old but structurally sound. About eight hundred square feet. One main room and two smaller side chambers.
Power lines ran to the bunker but the wiring was ancient. Alex hired an electrician to update everything. Industrial-grade electrical system. Enough power to run serious equipment.
While the electrician worked, Alex planned his lab layout. Where equipment would go. How to organize for maximum efficiency.
His mind was moving faster than usual. Ideas connecting. Solutions appearing. The pressure from his near-death experience had focused him in a way nothing else could.
'I almost died,' he thought. 'Will die eventually if I don't change something fundamental.'
Physical enhancement was the obvious answer. Become superhuman like Peter. Strong enough to survive fights with people like the Vulture.
But the enhancement formula still wasn't reliable enough. He needed better data. More resources. Time he didn't have.
That's when the real idea hit him.
...
Alex was reviewing Oscorp research files on his laptop. Specifically looking at cognitive enhancement studies. Scientists had tried various approaches. Drugs that improved memory. Stimulation techniques that increased focus. None of it had worked well. Side effects were terrible. Results were temporary.
But one paper caught his attention.
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