The Price of Power

After securing Vanessa and Domino, it was time to focus on my secondary objective—recruiting Angel Dust into my harem. The movies never detailed how long Ajax (Francis) and Angel Dust (Christina) had been working together or when they awakened their mutant genes. I had modified the plot before arriving in this world, giving it a logical progression: Francis founded the Workshop, successfully experimented on others, and eventually tested on himself, leading to his transformation into Ajax. That could explain why he hated being called by his original name—reminding him of his past weakness.

Christina joined the Workshop later as a mercenary, proving her worth and quickly rising to become Ajax's main subordinate. However, at this point in time, her mutant abilities had not yet awakened. Ajax, always seeking to refine his methods, had decided to experiment on her next. Within the next few days, she was expected to awaken her powers, becoming inhumanly strong. That was precisely why I chose this moment to arrive—to take her before she could fully become his enforcer.

Securing the Meeting

Without wasting any time, I retrieved my phone and activated my Technopathy, hacking into Ajax's encrypted private number. Calling him directly was a statement—I knew who he was, I knew how to find him, and I had the power to bypass his security. That alone put me in a position of influence.

Presenting myself as a wealthy investor, I offered funding for his operations in exchange for a face-to-face meeting. Ajax, sensing an opportunity, didn't hesitate to accept. His growing business required substantial financial backing, and he had no qualms about working with people who had resources and influence. He scheduled the meeting at his lab, intrigued by what I had to offer.

Inside the Workshop

A day later, I arrived at the Workshop—a hidden, industrial facility located in an abandoned warehouse district. The air was thick with the scent of metal, sweat, and something more sinister. The moment I stepped inside, I was greeted by Ajax himself, a cold smirk on his face.

"Ryan Hunter," he greeted, his eyes analyzing me. "Not many people can reach me directly or even know about what I do. You must be someone interesting."

I gave a confident smirk. "I'm interested in your results, Ajax. And I think we can help each other."

He nodded, leading me through the facility. As we walked, he proudly explained his work—awakening dormant mutant genes, pushing subjects to their limits, and refining his experimentation methods. I observed various cells and torture chambers where unlucky individuals were subjected to intense conditions designed to trigger their latent abilities.

Finally, we stopped at one particular cell. Inside, chained and bruised, was Christina. Unlike the others, she wasn't screaming in agony. She gritted her teeth, enduring the pain with sheer willpower. Inside the cell, there were a few guards that were beating the shit out of her by taking their turn as part of the torture to awaken the mutant gene.

Ajax turned to me. "This one is special. She's a fighter. Survived everything I've thrown at her so far. If my calculations are right… she's going to wake up soon."

As if on cue, Christina let out a deep, guttural growl. Her body convulsed, muscles tensing unnaturally. Then, with a crack, the chains restraining her snapped like twigs. The monitors nearby went haywire as her body temperature and vitals surged beyond human limits. Her breathing steadied, and when she lifted her head, her eyes burned with raw, untamed power.

With a single motion, she ripped the rest of her restraints and stood up. The guards in the room tensed, gripping their weapons, but Christina was already moving.

Her first instinct wasn't to cover her naked body—it was to punish the ones who had tortured her. The nearest scientist barely had time to react before she lunged, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him off the ground with one arm. His panicked gasps were cut short as she tossed him like a ragdoll into a set of metal equipment, sending sparks flying.

A guard swung a baton at her back. She barely flinched. Instead, she turned and grabbed his wrist, twisting until a sharp crack filled the air, followed by his agonized scream. Another guard rushed her, but she intercepted him with a brutal kick to the chest, sending him crashing through the wall. The remaining torturers scrambled to flee, but she caught two more, slamming their heads together with enough force to render them unconscious instantly but the result was that the guys died as their heads were smashed to paste.

"Well," he mused. "That was faster and much better than what I expected."

Christina glanced around, her breathing heavy, still adjusting to her newfound strength. Despite her exhaustion, she looked more alive than ever—powerful, resilient, dangerous. I knew then and there that she had become the formidable future Angel Dust.

I turned to Ajax, keeping my expression neutral. "I want her."

He raised an eyebrow. "She's my best success so far. What makes you think I'd part with her?"

I reached into my coat and retrieved my phone, turning it on I clicked a few times, and immediately a notification came to Ajax mobile. Ajax's eyes flickered seeing the notification of the huge amount that was deposited into his account and slowly a smile formed on his face.

"You need funding," I said smoothly. "She's strong, but your business needs resources. This money will help you create many more just like her."

Ajax didn't even hesitate. Without a shred of emotion, he pulled a small communication device from his belt, stepped forward, and ordered all the guards to gather at Christina's cell.

With the sound of the doors opening, she turned and saw Ajax. She had been his mercenary, his trusted right hand. Even now, after everything, part of her sought his approval. But when she saw him standing there, arms crossed, watching impassively as if she were just another test subject, the realization hit her—following her realization many guards stormed into the cell.

"You… did this to me," she growled, eyes narrowing.

Ajax sighed, shaking his head. "And look how magnificent you've become. You should be thanking me. Without me, you'd still be a regular human mercenary. Now, you're something more."

Christina clenched her fists. "You used me."

Ajax's smirk didn't waver. "Of course, I did. You were always disposable. I was just waiting to see if you'd survive the process."

Her muscles tensed, and she roared in fury, charging at him. But Ajax was prepared. He took a calculated step back, signaling the guards behind him. More reinforcements flooded into the room, wielding high-powered stun batons and firearms.

Christina didn't care. She plowed through the first two guards with devastating punches, sending one into a wall and flipping another over her shoulder. A third managed to stab her with a baton, but she barely winced, retaliating with a brutal elbow strike that shattered his visor.

She fought like a berserker, knocking down every man that came at her. But then Ajax struck.

He flipped a small metallic device from his belt and pressed it against her side. Electricity surged through her body. Her muscles seized, her legs gave out, and she crumpled to the floor, writhing in pain.

"Tsk tsk," Ajax sighed, kneeling beside her as she panted heavily. "You were always so headstrong. But strength needs control. Without it, you're just an animal lashing out."

He signaled his men, who quickly snapped a heavy-duty mutant suppression collar around her neck. The moment it activated, Christina's body stiffened, and her newfound power abruptly sealed away. The fight drained from her limbs as she breathed heavily against the cold ground.

Ajax stood, adjusting his gloves. "A shame, really. You could've been great."

One of his guards stepped forward, carrying a black gas mask. Without hesitation, they secured it over Christina's face and released a thick, sedative gas. She struggled weakly, her eyes burning with defiance, but within seconds, her movements slowed, and her eyelids fluttered shut.

Ajax turned to me. "She's yours. Enjoy."

I nodded, signaling my own men to retrieve the box. "Pleasure doing business with you."

As I walked away, I glanced down at the unconscious Christina through the glass, a smirk forming on my lips. She had no idea yet, but her life had just taken a very different turn.

And soon enough… she'd belong to me.