Chapter 25 – Resonance
37.2 kHz—
The probe contacted Luke's skin.
Feedback returned through Lynn's enhanced tactile perception.
No structural response.
38.0 kHz—
A faint vibrational shift appeared.
Insufficient.
38.5 kHz—
Amplitude increased slightly.
The dermal protein network began to show minimal compliance.
39.0 kHz—
Closer.
Lynn detected a subtle surface instability—
A microscopic tremor across the contact point.
39.14 kHz—
The response changed.
Luke Cage's skin exhibited visible surface distortion.
Localized.
Confined to the probe radius.
The rigid matrix lost cohesion temporarily.
Not "soft"—but no longer fully resistant.
Lynn applied light pressure.
A shallow indentation formed.
"Can you feel it?" Lynn asked.
"A little itchy," Luke replied.
"The window is under forty seconds."
Lynn picked up the scalpel.
"Don't move."
The blade descended.
Under resonance, the dermal resistance dropped to a level within surgical tolerance.
Still dense—
Approximately three times normal human tissue—
But penetrable.
A three-centimeter incision—
Completed in under two seconds.
Blood flowed immediately.
Luke's abdominal muscles tightened instinctively.
"Don't move," Lynn said again.
Three and a half centimeters beneath—
The system marker aligned.
Lynn inserted an extended hemostat.
Advanced with controlled precision.
Each millimeter mapped through tactile feedback.
Two centimeters—
Fibrotic encapsulation around the projectile.
Three centimeters—
Contact.
Metal.
Angle adjusted.
Forceps opened.
Locked.
"It will hurt."
"Do it."
Lynn applied steady traction.
No jerking.
No deviation.
The vibranium projectile disengaged from surrounding tissue.
Luke's breathing intensified—
But his body remained still.
The moment the projectile cleared—
Lynn's left hand was already applying pressure to the wound.
Hemostasis.
Clamp.
Suture.
Total time:
Thirty-four seconds.
As the final stitch closed—
The resonance window ended.
Luke's skin returned to baseline integrity.
The sutures—
Held in place by the restored dermal density.
More secure than conventional closure.
A metallic object struck the tray.
Vibranium.
Silver-gray.
Smooth.
The base engraved with fine Wakandan script.
Lynn observed it briefly.
Then removed his gloves.
[Ding! Healing complete — Rating: SS·Excellent!]
[Divine Hand Copying initiated…]
[Core Talent Detected: High-Density Dermal Structure (Rank A)]
[Copying… 11% → 38% → 62% → 89% → 100%]
[Ding! Copy complete]
[Acquired: Reinforced Physiology (Incomplete — 65%)]
[Effect: Skin and bone density significantly increased. Low-caliber weapons and standard blades ineffective. High-energy impacts and exotic materials remain effective.]
A controlled wave of heat passed through Lynn's body.
Brief.
Localized.
His skin—
Unchanged in appearance.
But internally—
Denser.
More resistant.
He picked up the scalpel.
Drew it lightly across his index finger.
A white line formed.
No blood.
He set the instrument down.
Expression unchanged.
Luke sat up.
Tested the wound.
Applied pressure.
No pain response.
"It's gone," Luke said.
Not surprise—
Recognition.
"How did you do that?"
"Procedure completed in thirty-four seconds," Lynn replied.
Claire's prior attempts—
Forty minutes with acid—
Had achieved nothing.
Luke understood the difference.
"How did you determine the frequency?" Luke asked.
"Estimated."
A pause.
"Lucky."
Luke watched him.
Didn't believe it.
Didn't pursue it.
He stood.
Tested movement.
Full range.
No restriction.
"Fee?" Luke asked.
Lynn gestured toward the tray.
"The bullet."
Luke glanced at it.
The object that had nearly killed him.
"Take it."
"One more thing," Lynn added.
"If anyone you know requires treatment—refer them."
"No problem."
They shook hands.
Luke's grip—
Several hundred pounds of force.
Previously—
Lynn's hand would have fractured.
Now—
Only pressure.
Luke noticed.
A slight shift in his expression.
But he said nothing.
The information spread.
Not deliberately.
But inevitably.
Within twenty-four hours—
Half of Hell's Kitchen knew:
A doctor had cut open Luke Cage.
Three days later.
Afternoon.
Lynn stood at the front desk.
Organizing supply orders.
Frank remained at the entrance.
As usual.
The door opened.
A woman entered.
No greeting.
No hesitation.
Frank observed her twice.
No immediate threat detected.
But not ordinary.
She was in her early thirties.
Black leather jacket.
Jeans.
Boots.
Hair unkempt.
Eyes shadowed.
Her posture—
Careless.
Deliberately so.
In her hand—
An open bottle of cheap whiskey.
11:30 a.m.
Lynn looked up.
The system activated.
[Automatic Diagnosis Initiated—]
[Patient: Jessica Jones]
[Symptom Assessment:]
[1. Alcohol-induced liver damage (moderate), transaminase levels ~3.2× normal;]
[2. Residual external neural imprint within limbic system — source identified: Kilgrave; persistent control echo ~23%, triggering chronic trauma response;]
[3. Suppressed superhuman physiological output — current strength ~68% baseline due to neuromuscular inhibition;]
[4. Chronic insomnia — average sleep duration <3.5 hours.]