After going back up, I get an update from Marcus' clones who inform me that there is nothing in this building, except for Plant 42. I decide to bring back the clones, who bring me money as well as research documents that could be useful later.
One of the clones guides me to a chemistry lab, but before leaving, I turn to Lisa. "Lisa, I have to go check something in the lab. I'll leave you here with Steve, the Jordan triplets and Zeus. You'll be safe with them."
Lisa looks at me with a confident smile. "Okay, Dad. I know you'll be back soon. Take care."
I smile back and gently stroke her head. "I'll be back soon, sweetheart. Stay with them and listen carefully to what they tell you."
"Promise, Dad," she says, nodding.
I look at Steve and the Jordan triplets. "Watch her closely. Zeus, stay alert."
The four G Zombies and Zeus nod silently, their gazes fixed and determined. I stand up and follow Marcus' clone to the chemistry lab, taking one last look at Lisa before leaving the room. She waves at me, her face calm and confident, knowing that I'll be back soon.
I push open the door to the chemistry lab and enter a room bathed in cold white light, cast by neon lights lined up on the ceiling. The walls are covered in white tiles, and metal shelves loaded with flasks, test tubes, and various reagents line the walls. A central counter, also made of metal, is littered with vials, beakers, graduated cylinders, and microscopes. The air is filled with the acrid smell of chemicals and solvents, mixed with a faint musty odor.
Posters and periodic tables cover some walls, and open lab notebooks are scattered across the counters, filled with complex formulas and equations. A chemical cabinet with locked glass doors holds bottles of sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and other dangerous compounds. Several specialized pieces of equipment, such as a fume hood and a spectrophotometer, stand at strategic points throughout the room.
I approach a table where several scientific documents and reports are laid out. The sheets are filled with molecular diagrams, experimental protocols, and handwritten notes. However, despite my efforts to decipher them, the scientific jargon and the complexity of the formulas leave me perplexed. Words like "exothermic reaction," "chelating agent," and "titration" jump out at me, but their exact meanings elude me.
A large metal cabinet, partially open, reveals rows of precisely labeled chemical reagents. Acetone, methanol, hydrochloric acid, and other unknown substances line up in perfect order. I also notice high-precision measuring instruments, like electronic pipettes and laboratory balances.
Despite the apparent order, the lab gives off an organized, disorganized feel, where every object seems to have been used recently and left there in a hurry. The sophisticated equipment and numerous chemicals suggest that a way to make a solution to weaken Plant 42 must be here somewhere, but the complexity of the place and the information prevent me from finding the answer on my own.
I realize that without a thorough knowledge of chemistry, I am unable to formulate J-volt or any other compound that might weaken the plant. The feeling of frustration is rising, but I know I have to find another solution to face Plant 42.
As I prepare to leave the lab to tackle Plant 42 head-on, a loud noise catches my attention. Marcus' clone's body is thrown across the room, wrapped in a sturdy vine. The scene unfolds in an instant: the vine whips the clone violently, sweeping it against shelves and tables. The bottles of chemical reagents shatter with a deafening crash, projecting their contents in a corrosive rain.
The substances mix in flight, creating an unpredictable chemical cocktail. I feel my skin burn as the acidic drops reach my body. The pain is immediate and intense, my flesh begins to melt under the effect of the acids. Marcus' clone, already in a pitiful state, is disintegrated before the leeches even have time to react. The vine, having accomplished its work of destruction, disappears as quickly as it appeared, slipping away through the broken window.
I rush towards the exit, fighting against the pain and the corrosive effects of the acids. My regeneration kicks in, fighting desperately to repair the damage. Every step is agony, but I feel my flesh rebuilding as damaged tissue is replaced. Burns heal, areas of melted skin regenerate, and damaged muscles reform.
When I finally reach the outside of the lab, I collapse to my knees, panting. My regeneration continues to work, neutralizing the chemical residue and repairing the internal damage. The pain gradually fades, replaced by a tingling sensation as the last vestiges of the acids are flushed from my system.
I stand slowly, anger boiling inside me. "Damn plant," I mutter through clenched teeth. "You're going to regret this." My hands clench into fists as I turn on my heel, determined to finish off this plant menace. Adrenaline and rage mix, fueling my resolve.
I smash through the roots and vines that try to hinder my progress. I blast through the door leading to the main body of the plant to find a sight quite different from what I expected to see.
Plant 42 is a monstrous plant creature, imposing and terrifying. Its base is anchored deep into the ground, with thick, gnarled roots that extend like tentacles, gripping tightly to the ground and any nearby structure. The main stem is sturdy and covered in fine thorns, rising upwards to unfurl into a set of thick, serrated, venomous leaves.
Its most striking aspect is its large central flower, which resembles a gaping maw. The petals of this flower are wide and pointed, surrounding a central cavity filled with sharp teeth. Each tooth glistens with toxic liquid, ready to inflict poisonous wounds on anyone who gets too close. Plant 42's mouth seems capable of closing with fearsome force, crushing anything it captures.
Around the main stem, long vines snake, each with small flowers or buds that open to reveal poisonous thorns. These vines move with surprising agility, ready to seize, whip, or strangle their victims. Some of the vines have thorny bulb-like outgrowths that add to Plant 42's menacing appearance.
Plant 42 is a botanical nightmare, combining the brute strength of its roots and stem with the lethality of its vines and central flower. It is the epitome of biogenic menace, a hideous creation that embodies the fusion of nature and science at its most destructive.
"You're so ugly," I can't help but say before she sends a cloud of pollen into my face. The pollen irritates my eyes, nose, and throat even more than a burst of tear gas ever could.
I try to shield my eyes, but it's too late. My eyes are watering profusely, my throat is burning, and every breath is torture. Suddenly, one of Plant 42's main vines hits me with the force of a battering ram, sending me flying across the room. I hit a wall hard, the shock resonating throughout my body.
My vision is blurry, between tears and pain. I slowly straighten up, coughing and trying to catch my breath. Plant 42 doesn't give me time to recover, its vines twitching menacingly, ready to strike again.
I quickly summon about thirty bats and thirty crows to disrupt the plant while my body expels the pollen. The bats, with their wings outstretched, dart toward Plant 42, their shrill cries echoing through the room. The crows, more aggressive, swoop down, beaks and talons ready to attack.
Plant 42, however, is no easy opponent. Its vines move with frightening precision, striking and slicing at flying creatures. A bat is mercilessly crushed against the wall, its wings torn by the fearsome vine. A crow is caught in mid-flight, crushed by a vine before being thrown to the ground, its black feathers scattering into the air.
Despite these losses, my creatures manage to distract Plant 42 long enough for me to get back up. I blink away the last traces of irritating pollen, my vision clearing. I see my bats and crows continue to fight bravely, harassing Plant 42, forcing it to defend itself on multiple fronts.
Taking advantage of this distraction, I clench my fists, ready to fight back. My body feels lighter, my breathing has returned to normal. The cries of my flying creatures and the frantic movements of Plant 42 create a chaotic scene, but I am back on my feet, ready to resume the fight.
I coordinate my aerial summons, directing the bats and crows to harass Plant 42 from all sides. Their piercing cries and frantic movements create a veritable cloud of feathers and wingbeats, disrupting the plant's vision and attacks.
Taking advantage of this distraction, I summon five Plant Zombies. These half-human, half-plant creatures move with silent determination, their vines and roots snaking across the ground. We rush together towards the main body of Plant 42, our footsteps echoing on the ground as we close in on our target.
The Plant Zombies, with their sturdy vines, manage to stop the frenzied attacks of Plant 42's vines. They twist and wrap themselves around the plant's appendages, immobilizing them enough to allow me to approach.
I then throw myself at Plant 42's central appendage, gripping it with my arms with superhuman strength. Suddenly, a sharp pain runs through my body. Sharp spines burst from the appendage, piercing my flesh despite my resistance. I wince, feeling the burning of the poison spreading, but I don't let go.
The fight is brutal and intense. My bats and crows continue to swirl around us, their desperate attacks distracting the plant. The Plant Zombies, although battered, hold firm, their vines firmly holding the opposing vines.
DING
Special mutation detected or plant 42 absorption will take 5 minutes.
300, 299,
I cry without tears as I see that it takes five minutes to capture this monster. Despair and determination mix as I quickly summon the rest of the Plant Zombies. The few birds still alive are called back into the factory, their mission accomplished.
The room, previously chaotic and noisy, falls into an almost deafening silence. The fight has left its mark everywhere, torn vines, scattered feathers, and pools of blood glistening under the dim light. My blood flows slowly from my wounds inflicted by Plant 42, scarlet drops that fall to the ground without a sound, marking each second that passes.
Around Plant 42, my Plant Zombies have found their place, merging with its vines. Their soothing presence has calmed the plant monster, its frantic movements slowly turning into an eerie stillness. Plant 42, once a ruthless force of nature, seems almost peaceful now, as if it has resigned itself to its fate.
I stand there, my hands still clutching the central appendage, feeling the creature's pulsing beneath my skin. The pain is still there, but it has become part of the background, a constant that no longer affects me as much. I breathe deeply, each breath bringing a little more calm.
The scene resembles a silent truce after a fierce battle. The Plant Zombies, now motionless, seem like silent guardians watching over Plant 42. Their tangled vines create an intricate web of plant life, stabilizing the massive creature.
The soft light filtering through the leaves and petals illuminates the scene with a tranquil glow. The minutes pass slowly, each tick of the clock marking a moment of calm after the storm. In this almost sacred stillness, I feel victory taking shape, each second bringing us closer to the complete capture of Plant 42.
3, 2, 1, 0
Special mutation detected or plant 42 successfully absorbed available in the factory.
1 fast growing bulb will be produced every 20 days. You have 5 bulbs directly in the factory.
The bulb is single use, once planted, it gives birth to a plant 42 which cannot be moved afterwards. Its size will depend on the environment and the resources made available to it.
The original plant 42 merges with the host, you can now use certain abilities of the plant 42
- creation of vines (can grow out of the body according to the wishes of the host)
- pollen jet (the host can spit from its lungs a cloud of pollen as powerful as that of the plant.
- Thorn armor (create hardened resin spikes to attack people close to the host)
(nda: thanks for the support and for those who participate in comments, I hope you liked this chapter ^^)