In the sultry July of 1946, Ian was diligently toiling away in the depths of Peggy's basement. The dimly lit room was littered with all manner of scientific apparatus, from bubbling beakers to whirring centrifuges. But Ian's attention was focused solely on the task at hand: the creation of his very first serum.

For the past few months, Ian had been completely consumed by his work. Day and night, he had poured over books and conducted countless experiments. And as he worked tirelessly in the basement, he could feel himself getting closer and closer to that elusive goal.

In those long and arduous months of tireless research, after countless hours of painstaking experimentation, he had managed to crack the code of the fabled Super Soldier Serum.

But Ian's work was far from over. With the formula in hand, he set to work reverse-engineering the serum, carefully tweaking and refining it until he had created a more potent version than the original.

Ian turned his attention to the enigmatic X-gene. With his characteristic tenacity and scientific acumen, Ian embarked on a series of experiments to unlock the secrets of this elusive genetic material.

After months of painstaking research, Ian had finally cracked the code of the X-gene. He had isolated the genetic material responsible for the super-regenerative factor - a key component of James' and Victor's X-gene that held the key to their incredible regenerative abilities. With this genetic material in hand, Ian deftly introduced it to his potent serum, carefully controlling the dosage and ensuring that only the desired effect was achieved. Ian knew that he needed to tread carefully - he didn't want to unleash the full power of their X-gene but only harness its most valuable secrets.

Ian then turned his attention to the next obstacle in his path: the potent but dangerous serum that he had worked so hard to create. He knew that this serum had the potential to unlock incredible abilities in those who took it, but it also carried a heavy cost. The serum had a dark side - it had the power to amplify a person's emotions and desires to dangerous levels, unleashing a torrent of rage, aggression, and violence.

Determined to harness the power of the serum without succumbing to its dark side, Ian threw himself into his work with renewed fervor. He ran countless experiments and slowly but surely, he began to make progress. He discovered ways to minimize the serum's effects on a person's emotions and desires, instead focusing on increasing their thinking capability and efficiency.

As Ian worked tirelessly into the night, the world outside faded away, replaced by the bright lights of the laboratory and the rhythmic hum of scientific equipment.

As the day wore on, Peggy found herself embroiled in the clandestine machinations of the New York Bell Company Office - a shadowy branch of the SSR that operated deep beneath the surface of the city. With her sharp wit and keen instincts, she navigated the treacherous waters, uncovering secrets and lies at every turn.

But despite her successes, Peggy was all too aware of the danger that lurked around every corner. She knew that one wrong move could mean the end of her career - or worse, her life. And so, as she made her way back to her home, she did so with a sense of caution and wariness, her eyes scanning the streets for any sign of danger.

Finally, as she entered her house, she let out a deep breath, her body relaxing as she shed the trappings of her professional life. Changing into something more comfortable, she allowed herself a moment of respite, knowing that the challenges of the day were far from over.

After Peggy emerged from her room, she was struck by the eerie silence that permeated the hallway. It was as if the entire world had fallen away, replaced by the focused intensity of Ian's experiments in the basement below.

Despite her curiosity, Peggy knew better than to intrude upon Ian's work without an invitation. For she understood the importance of trust and respect in any working relationship and knew that Ian needed the space and freedom to pursue his research unencumbered.

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And so, with a sense of quiet reverence, Peggy made her way down to the kitchen, her heart filled with a sense of contentment and peace. As she prepared dinner with care and attention, she hummed a tune of happiness, her mind free of the worries and concerns that had plagued her throughout the day.

With a sudden burst of energy, Ian burst into the kitchen, his crutches clacking loudly against the tile floor. "Eureka! Eureka!" he shouted, his face alight with excitement.

Startled by the sudden noise, Peggy nearly dropped the knife she was using to prepare dinner. Whirling around, she saw Ian standing there, his eyes gleaming with the fire of discovery.

But even as she felt a thrill of excitement at Ian's breakthrough, Peggy knew that caution was still in order. With a gentle slap on the back of Ian's head, she scolded him gently. "What are you doing?" she chided. "Do you think you're Archimedes? You need to be more careful, Ian. Recklessness will only get you hurt."

Ian couldn't help but rub the back of his head. "Why are you scolding me as if you're my mother?" he asked with a grin, trying to lighten the mood to which Peggy responded with a deathly glare.

Despite her chiding, Ian's excitement was contagious. Taking Peggy's hand in his, he pulled her eagerly towards the basement. "Quickly, come quickly!" he exclaimed. "I have something to show you!" Peggy couldn't help but smile at Ian's enthusiasm.

As Peggy entered the basement, the Vita-Ray chamber caught her attention, along with other machines surrounding it. She had seen this setup before, but something seemed different this time.

As if on cue, Ian excitedly walked up to her, carrying four vials filled with the familiar blue liquid, and declared, "This is the Super Soldier Serum 2.0: The Next Generation!"

Peggy eyed the serum suspiciously, unsure of what to make of it. "Are you sure?" she asked, wanting to make certain before proceeding.

Ian nodded firmly, his confidence unwavering. "I am 100% sure," he replied.

While Peggy started the machine, Ian eagerly entered the Vita-Ray chamber with the vials of the Super Soldier Serum 2.0 in hand. She carefully placed the vials in their designated spots and closed the chamber, initiating the infusion process. Suddenly, the entire room was bathed in a blinding light emanating from the chamber, causing Peggy to shield her eyes in surprise. As the light intensified, Ian's screams filled the air, echoing off the walls of the basement.

When Ian's screams echoed in the basement, Peggy's concern grew. She couldn't help but ask, "Are you okay?" as the screams indicated that he was experiencing an intense amount of pain.

Ian's response came in strained breaths from inside the chamber, "I...I...am fine! I...can tolerate it! I... have been waiting.. for this moment for...the past few y..years!"

Despite her reservations, Peggy trusted Ian's judgment and continued to monitor the process. As the infusion continued, the bright light from the chamber grew stronger and stronger, causing Peggy to shield her eyes from the blinding light.

A few minutes later, the chamber finally stopped, and the light slowly faded away as the chamber began to open.

Peggy's heart raced as she watched with bated breath as Ian emerged from the chamber. As he stepped out, her eyes widened in shock and amazement. He had transformed into a towering 6'2" figure, with bulging muscles and veins protruding from every inch of his body. The serum had transformed him into a monstrous figure that seemed to dwarf Peggy's own 5'6" frame. Ian was breathing heavily, and his body was covered in a sheen of sweat, evidence of the immense physical strain he had undergone during the transformation.

Ian's breath was ragged as he turned his head to look at the mirror on the wall. The sight before him left him speechless. His previously ordinary physique was now replaced with an incredibly chiseled body that was packed with bulging muscles. Ian observed his dark brown hair had transformed into jet black, and his eyes had brightened. His facial features had become sharper and more refined. The explosion's scars and disfigurements were all but gone, thanks to the super-regenerative factor, and Ian was overjoyed.

As Ian clenched his fists, he could feel the serum filling him with incredible power. He knew without a doubt that he had surpassed the limits of a normal human and entered the realm of the superhuman. The strength he felt was beyond anything he had ever experienced before, and he could sense that his mental abilities had undergone a dramatic improvement as well. His thinking had become sharper, his memory was now photographic, and he felt as though he could process information much faster than before. His senses, too, had been heightened to an incredible degree. He could see, hear, and smell things with an intensity he had never thought possible.

While Ian was lost in his self-reflection, Peggy suddenly jumped and wrapped her arms around him, tears streaming down her face. "Thank God you're back!" she cried. "You're finally cured! You're finally okay! And no more scars! You're finally back, Ian!" Her relief and joy were palpable as she hugged him tightly.

Ian smiled and returned the embrace, holding Peggy close. "Yes," he said softly, "I'm back because of you. You helped me through all of it." He was grateful for her unwavering support and love throughout his ordeal, and he knew he wouldn't have made it without her.

After releasing each other from the embrace, Peggy wiped the tears from her eyes with a happy smile on her face, but her expression quickly changed to confusion as Ian spoke. "I am back, but not as Ian," he said cryptically.

Peggy furrowed her brow and asked, "What do you mean?"

Ian sighed, "According to the world, Ian is dead. His body is missing, and the military has concluded that he is dead. If Ian suddenly pops up, a lot of questions would be asked, questions that even I don't have the answer to."

Peggy understood the gravity of the situation and put on her thinking cap. She held her chin and furrowed her eyebrows, pondering over the possibilities. After a moment, she turned to Ian and suggested, "Since Ian is no longer with us, we need to create a new identity for you. It would be better to start fresh with a new name that nobody knows. Your transformed features would make it easier to avoid suspicion. What do you think?"

Ian took a moment to think and finally came up with a name. "Val...Valexis Haller!" he exclaimed.

Peggy nodded in agreement. "Valexis Haller, it is then. It sounds good and suits you."

Ian smiled, satisfied with the new identity. "Valexis Haller it is," he repeated with a sense of finality.