No one thought much of it.
Outer space was full of unpredictable problems. Learning how to handle them was a basic requirement for every astronaut.
While Ben went out to deal with the malfunction, Nolan returned to his laboratory and retrieved a compact device, then calmly rejoined the others.
Ben carried out the repairs in open space as the rest watched his movements through the viewport.
Suddenly, John Storm's pupils shrank.
"What's that?"
He shouted, his voice sharp with alarm.
Everyone turned their attention outward.
"A solar storm!"
Reed Richards' face darkened instantly.
"Ben, get back here, now!"
He snatched up the communicator and shouted into it.
They had prepared for the possibility of encountering solar storms before, but not now, and certainly not like this.
If Ben was exposed directly, he would die.
But it was already too late.
Ben realized what was happening the moment Reed shouted. He pushed off with all his strength, sprinting toward the spacecraft, desperate to make it back inside.
Still, he was too slow.
The storm surged forward in an instant, swallowing his body whole.
Worse still, the ship itself failed to provide full protection.
The solar storm did not destroy them, but hidden within it were gamma particles. The burst of gamma radiation swept across everyone almost instantaneously.
Even Victor, who was standing on the bridge and trying to activate the shielding, did not have time to react.
Only Nolan was different.
The instant he saw the solar storm, he activated the device.
A wave of energy washed over his body, and his form seemed to blur, as if he were turning unreal.
When the gamma particles passed through him, the two energies collided violently. Nolan felt as though his body had been torn apart into countless fragments. The next second, darkness claimed him.
Unknown changes began to take shape within him.
He did not know how much time had passed before Nolan finally woke up.
He was lying in a rehabilitation facility.
"The Doom Group's spacecraft suffered an accident. Reports indicate that one crew member was exposed in open space, a tragic loss. Several others remain unconscious…"
Nolan rubbed his temples as the news played on the television. After gathering himself, he rushed to the mirror.
No changes.
He let out a quiet breath of relief.
He did not yet know what abilities he might have gained, or whether there would be lasting side effects, but at least there were no obvious mutations. That alone was the best possible outcome.
He could guide the direction of mutation, but never control the result.
Nolan focused, trying to sense what had changed within him.
At that moment, someone hurried over.
"Oh God, you're finally awake."
Susan ran to him and hugged him tightly, without hesitation. Her eyes were filled with worry.
"What happened?" Nolan asked.
"Our mission went wrong. A solar storm hit the ship. Thankfully, the automatic emergency response system activated, and ground control sent rescue teams immediately."
She paused, then continued.
"Johnny just woke up. Ben is still unconscious, and…"
Susan hesitated, clearly conflicted.
Nolan looked at her, puzzled.
"You should see it for yourself," she said quietly.
Nolan already had a sense of what was coming. Still, he followed Susan to Ben's room.
When he saw the stone-like figure lying there, even though he had prepared himself, Nolan froze.
"That's Ben?"
"Yes."
"He's going to have a hard time accepting this."
Silence filled the room.
"And Victor?" Nolan asked.
"He's already gone back. After something like this, there's a lot he needs to deal with."
Nolan shook his head slowly.
Nothing had changed after all.
Susan's eyes held the relief of someone who had survived a disaster, especially when compared to Ben's condition.
She did not mean any harm, but the sight of Ben was the very reason for her relief.
At least she had not become like that.
Suddenly, Susan kissed Nolan.
He paused for only a moment before responding.
After surviving something like this, refusing her would have been downright inhuman.
The brush with death had pushed Susan into a moment of impulsiveness, drawing a line under the awkward tension that had existed between them.
Nolan did not stay long at the rehabilitation center.
Locke Technologies was not like other companies.
Its growth had been explosive, but the company had been founded less than half a year ago. To achieve that speed, all kinds of people had been drawn in. With Nolan gone for so long, it was inevitable that someone would try to cause trouble.
A cold glint flashed through his eyes.
Perfect timing. This was an opportunity to clean out the unstable elements once and for all.
"Mr. Beyer? Why are you at the company?"
Less than an hour after Nolan returned, just as he was expecting problems, the person who appeared was instead one of his most loyal supporters.
Galiston Beyer looked practically ecstatic.
Clatter.
A blue-and-teal pen holder on Nolan's desk was knocked over.
Nolan stared at it, speechless.
"Mr. Beyer, you seem… rather anxious," Nolan said calmly.
Galiston Beyer froze for a moment, then quickly composed himself.
"My apologies. I just have some very good news."
He leaned closer and lowered his voice.
"I've secured an investment for Locke Technologies."
Nolan raised an eyebrow.
With the partnership he already had with the Doom Group, money was not exactly a pressing concern.
Of course, Victor's situation introduced some uncertainty into that cooperation, but Nolan was not worried.
He was confident that no matter what happened, the Doom Group would not abandon a business that guaranteed profit.
Still, he did not object.
Investment was investment.
For the sake of rapid expansion, he would never turn it down as long as it brought corresponding benefits.
"The Bellant Group wants to invest. They're only asking for three percent of the shares, and their offer is two hundred and fifty million."
Nolan looked at Galiston Beyer in surprise.
"Are you sure?"
"Given our current size, even with our growth, our total valuation wouldn't exceed three billion."
He was not exaggerating.
The White Guardian robots were incredibly profitable, but due to the technical threshold, imitations would soon flood the market.
In Nolan's original world, dozens of similar intelligent assistant robots had appeared within a short time.
Locke Technologies' only real advantage was being first.
They held a large share of the market, but it was far from a monopoly.
This world would be no different.
He had many plans to sustain rapid growth, but the reality was simple. At this stage, Locke Technologies was not worth that price.
It was too high.
A high price was usually a good thing, but sometimes, it was a warning.
"That's exactly why I'm so excited," Galiston Beyer said.
Nolan quickly calculated his own shareholding.
He still held absolute control. While profits had to be shared with other shareholders, decision-making power rested firmly in his hands.
Diluting three percent would not change much.
He would lose absolute ownership on paper, but with so many shareholders, no one could challenge him unless they somehow united them all.
And yet…
Nolan looked directly at Galiston Beyer.
"Galiston Beyer, is someone threatening you?"
His voice was calm, almost cold.
Their eyes met.
Sweat beaded on Galiston Beyer's forehead.
"How could that be? This is a great opportunity," he replied, forcing a smile.
The composure was passable, but to Nolan, it was painfully obvious.
Nolan sighed softly.
He did not understand.
He had helped Galiston Beyer make a great deal of money. With Locke Technologies growing at this pace, Beyer's shares would only become more valuable.
That trust was precisely why Nolan had relied on him.
Yet Galiston Beyer had still betrayed him.
Nolan did not rush.
He knew Beyer was not the mastermind.
He lacked both the courage and the capability.
Nolan spoke evenly.
"This is your last chance. Right now, I am the controlling shareholder of Locke Technologies."
"I won't play games with you. If you refuse to speak, I guarantee I have a hundred ways to strip you of your shares."
Galiston Beyer swallowed hard.
Did Nolan Kr really have that kind of power?
He did not know.
But the man standing in front of him felt frighteningly unfamiliar.
At last, Galiston Beyer collapsed into his chair.
"Someone did force me to do this."
"Who?"
"Charles."
His face crumpled as he spoke.
"Charles told me to make an investment a while back. I didn't know it was a trap. Now I'm finished. My shares in Locke Technologies have already been mortgaged to him. If I don't cooperate, I won't just lose my shares. I'll also be saddled with thirty million in debt."
"I don't know what else he's prepared, but he definitely wants to take over all of Locke Technologies."
After speaking, Galiston Beyer looked dazed.
He had prepared himself to lie, yet in the end, he told the truth.
What would happen to him now?
No matter the outcome, he knew one thing for certain.
He was finished.
Charles.
There was only one Charles in Locke Technologies.
Charles Lorey.
The name was familiar. In Nolan's original world, the man who betrayed him was named Charles Harmon.
He had never connected the two.
Until now.
"I understand," Nolan said, offering only four words.
After a long pause, he added, "Tell Charles this. I reject his offer. Nolan Kr will not do something as stupid as giving up controlling ownership."
Then Nolan paused again.
"When this is over, you will retain one percent of your shares in Locke Technologies."
Galiston Beyer stared at him in shock.
He would not be going to prison?
As he watched Beyer leave, Nolan shook his head.
Galiston Beyer had helped him a great deal in the early days. Without him, Locke Technologies would never have been able to mass-produce the White Guardian robots and dominate the market so quickly.
Letting him keep one percent was the last shred of dignity Nolan was willing to grant him.
It was also the assurance Nolan needed for Beyer to carry out his part.
A cold light flickered in Nolan's eyes.
He was curious to see whether this Charles was as ruthless as his uncle in another world.
If so, then all those shares would soon return to where they belonged.
…