Soon after losing consciousness, they found themselves deep within the hidden laboratory beneath the swamp.
Padmé's hands were secured behind her back with energy binders, while the Avengers were restrained with electrified cables that sparked ominously whenever they moved. The advanced restraints were clearly designed to handle enhanced individuals.
As their vision cleared, they found themselves facing a tall humanoid alien wearing a pristine white lab coat. The figure had pale blue skin, distinctive double eyelids, and large purple markings beneath his eyes that gave his gaunt face an unsettling appearance. Behind him stood the Zabrak apprentice Kadrian Sey and the mercenary Rumlow, flanked by several battle droids.
Padmé glared defiantly at the tall humanoid as he approached, the scientist pulling out a pair of small spectacles and adjusting them on his nose.
"Who are you? Why are you holding us?" Padmé's questions were completely ignored as the man continued his examination.
Peter groaned and slowly regained consciousness, only to be suddenly grabbed by the face and lifted up to meet the alien's intense gaze, forcing him fully awake.
The young hero's eyes widened as he found himself being studied like a laboratory specimen.
"A fascinating specimen," the humanoid said in an accent that sounded distinctly... German? "What is a life form like you doing in a swamp like this?"
"I was about to ask you the same question," Padmé shot back.
"Could you please let go of my face?" Peter asked through squashed cheeks and lips.
The humanoid stepped back and pocketed his spectacles.
"Thanks to the generous support of my sympathetic friends in the Separatist Alliance, I am creating life," he boasted with grandiose gestures.
Rumlow snorted with amusement, while Kadrian simply rolled her eyes at the scientist's theatrical display.
Steve's groaning drew everyone's attention as he slowly regained consciousness and struggled to his knees.
"Back on Earth? Or did I wake up in Germany again?" Steve asked in a dazed tone, the scientist's accent triggering unpleasant memories.
"No, you're not back on Earth yet, Rogers," Rumlow said mockingly, snapping Steve's attention to their current predicament.
Steve looked up at the scientist, who was studying Cap with obvious fascination.
"Who are you?" Rogers demanded.
The tall alien grinned and straightened his lab coat with exaggerated pride.
"Dr. Nuvo Vindi, one of the greatest scientific minds in this galaxy," the now-confirmed mad scientist declared with theatrical flourish.
"Wonderful, someone with a healthy ego," Natasha said dryly, having also regained consciousness.
"When someone like me possesses the ability to create life itself, I believe confidence is a natural state of mind," Vindi boasted.
"And how exactly are you creating life?" Natasha asked, her interrogation training kicking in.
"I'm delighted you asked!" Vindi said excitedly.
The mad scientist walked over to a nearby wall lined with multiple shelves containing vials of ominous blue liquid.
He retrieved one of the containers and displayed it proudly. "Allow me to present the return of the infamous Blue Shadow Virus."
"Blue Shadow Virus?" Padmé repeated in horror. "That plague was eradicated from the galaxy!"
"Yes, it disappeared from civilized space generations ago, but I have given it life again!" Vindi shouted triumphantly.
"How can creating a virus that kills people be compared to creating life?!" Peter demanded angrily.
Vindi threw back his head and laughed maniacally.
"Yes, yes, yes! You see, you understand! Death and life, they are merely different states of existence!"
The Avengers and the Senator stared at the deranged scientist in stunned silence.
"Oh, thank God you finally stopped talking," Peter muttered in relief.
Though Vindi didn't show it, he was clearly offended. He continued with barely contained excitement. "Unfortunately, the Blue Shadow Virus in its natural form only thrives in water—until I eliminated this weakness."
Vindi walked over to a small pedestal surrounded by several electrical conduits. He placed the vial on the pedestal, moved to a computer terminal, and activated a switch.
Electricity began coursing through the vial, and the liquid seemed to transform before their eyes.
After the electrical treatment ended, the Senator and the Avengers watched in horror as the vial of blue liquid transformed into a swirling cloud of microscopic particles. It didn't take them long to realize what had just happened.
"Yes, yes, yes! Your eyes do not deceive you. I have perfected an airborne strain of the Blue Shadow Virus!" Vindi said proudly, holding up the vial containing the now gaseous plague.
A LEP servant droid entered from the laboratory entrance, carrying a spherical device in its mechanical hands.
"This is the last bomb, Doctor," it reported, approaching the scientist.
"I am well aware this is the final device. Did you think I would lose count?" Vindi snapped at the servant droid, snatching the inactive bomb. He then picked up the vial and carefully inserted it into the weapon. "The gaseous virus combined with these bombs will release the Blue Shadow Virus back into the galaxy, more deadly than ever before."
"So... the universe is completely unoriginal?" Peter couldn't help but comment. "We're in another galaxy, and there's still an evil German scientist who wants to commit genocide and thinks he's misunderstood. I can't tell if this is boring or just lazy writing."
"It takes a true genius to accomplish what I have achieved!" Vindi shrieked, pointing an accusatory finger at Peter.
"You're insane!" Padmé shouted. "The Blue Shadow Virus is a deadly plague! No life form can survive it. That's why it was eradicated!"
"I believe that's exactly what's wrong with him, Padmé," Natasha said, her voice cold with disgust.
"You mean murder!" Vindi exclaimed like a true madman, before handing the armed bomb to the LEP droid. "Take this to the deployment chamber." As the droid hurried away, the scientist approached his captives. "Meanwhile, as we speak, thousands of these so-called 'advanced' life forms are spreading across the galaxy like a plague. Perhaps they are the ones who should be eradicated."
"Enough of your rambling, Vindi," Rumlow's harsh voice cut through the doctor's tirade.
"Have you forgotten that my master Count Dooku specifically requested that I bring him any Avengers we capture?" Kadrian added, and Vindi quickly bowed in deference.
"Yes, yes, of course," Vindi said hastily. "Everything for my great benefactor."
The mad scientist's eyes gleamed with a mixture of scientific curiosity and sadistic pleasure as he studied his captives. "But surely Count Dooku won't mind if I conduct a few... experiments... before delivery?"
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