"Wow, this is very similar to my research!" The second-generation Dr. Connors muttered as he analyzed Maya's findings. He immediately saw the parallels between her Extremis research and his own regeneration technology—both aimed at achieving self-healing.
The key difference was their approach. Maya sought to enhance the body's natural regenerative functions, whereas Connors attempted to achieve similar results by implanting genes from other species.
Both methods had their merits, but each also carried its own inherent flaws. Maya's research had a critical overheating issue, leading to volatile explosions, while Connors' method carried the risk of genetic instability—turning people into monstrous hybrids.
So far, Connors had been unable to prevent foreign DNA from permanently altering human genetics. Likewise, Maya had yet to resolve the overheating problem in the Extremis virus.
Maya glanced up at the Sky Screen, a frown forming on her face. The fact that her research was being broadcasted meant it was of significant importance. Should she seek out Tony Stark?
Her thoughts drifted to Tony's cryptic words—he had spoken about "planting the seeds of evil." That phrase immediately brought her mind to Killian. She knew Tony had tricked Killian back then, but if one had to pinpoint the root of the so-called "evil," Killian was undoubtedly connected to it.
Maya reached for the business card Tony had left for her that morning, a relic of their brief encounter. She had held onto it all these years.
Meanwhile, Tony was also beginning to remember Maya. It had been so long that he hadn't recognized her at first. Now, his attention shifted toward Killian—the man leaning on a cane.
Seeing Maya's research reminded Tony of Connors' work, piquing his curiosity. He wondered whether she had succeeded in overcoming the challenges she once faced.
As for Aldrich Killian—the man he had invited to the rooftop all those years ago—Tony wracked his brain but couldn't recall him at all. That meant he never actually went to meet the guy. Could that oversight be the root of his impending troubles?
He shared his theory with Pepper, who agreed. Without wasting time, the two decided to investigate both Killian and Maya.
[The crowd below erupted in cheers, celebrating the arrival of the new millennium. Meanwhile, Killian stood alone on the rooftop, shivering in the cold wind. He glanced at his watch—it had been nearly half an hour since Tony had promised to meet him.]
["So why am I telling you this? Because, at that moment, I unknowingly planted the seeds of my own misfortune!"]
[In a flashback, Tony scribbled a note on a card beside the bed before leaving: You know who I am!]
[After setting the card down, he exited the room. Maya turned to watch him leave. The two parted ways, a brief but unforgettable moment in time.]
["Yeah! Those were great times!" Tony mused. "Then I moved on. After my little vacation in an Afghan cave, I never went to a party again! Completely forgot about that night in Switzerland."]
[Cut to present-day Malibu—Tony stood in his basement workshop. "Now I've been reborn. I'm not the same as before! I am… well, you know who I am."]
[The camera panned to show Tony testing his latest Mark Armor. "Trial number forty-six!"]
[He injected something into his arm, letting out a sharp hiss of pain with each dose.]
[Jarvis chimed in, "Sir, may I suggest a few hours of calibration—"]
[Tony cut him off immediately. "No! Forty-eighth attempt! Micro-transponder injection complete!" He shook his arm, wiping away the small trace of blood.]
["As you wish, sir! I have also prepared safety protocols for you to ignore!" Jarvis quipped.]
[Tony didn't even glance up. "Then ignore them and start the test!"]
[He turned his attention to a small robot sweeping the floor nearby. "Hey, Dum-E! You know what you did. That hat suits you perfectly."]
[The little robot, wore a white cap with "FOOL" written on it.]
[Still receiving no response, Tony sighed and walked past it, even throwing a few Wing Chun moves at the wooden training post in his workshop.]
["What are you standing there for? You know what you did. Clean the blood off the mat!" Tony ordered Dum-E, pointing to the spot where he had been sitting.]
[Jarvis, seeing that Tony was about to push forward with his experiment, felt the need to remind him: "Sir, might I point out that you haven't slept for nearly seventy-two hours?"]
[Tony playfully jabbed at one of Jarvis' cameras before clapping his hands and admiring his display of Mark armor suits—lined up from Mark II to Mark VII.]
"Oh! That's the robot that saved Tony Stark!" The second-generation Spider-Man pointed at Benben.
Harry, standing beside him, nodded. He recognized it too, but his attention was drawn to the Mark armor on display. Unfortunately, the Sky Screen only gave a brief shot of them, making it difficult to identify all the models.
To be honest, Harry had always been fascinated by artificial intelligence and advanced armor, but Oscorp's internal turmoil had halted many of their research projects.
The reason the second-generation Spider-Man had come today was that, after seeing Maya's research, he thought of Connors' regeneration technology. He wanted to discuss with him whether there was any potential overlap between the two fields.
Connors explained the key differences in their approaches but admitted that there was potential for collaboration.
["Alright, ladies and gentlemen, good evening! Welcome to the delivery room! I'm proud to announce the birth of a lively, cool, and absolutely awesome little brother!"]
[Tony gestured dramatically before instructing Jarvis. "Start with a close-up, then zoom out. Add a timestamp!"]
[With that, the test began.]
["Mark 42 self-assembly propulsion suit test, initiating program!" He spread his arms in anticipation.]
[A pile of armor components lit up on a nearby table.]
["Jarvis, play some music."]
[A song kicked in, and Tony swayed to the rhythm, looking smug as he enjoyed his own performance.]
[After indulging in a little self-absorbed dancing, he struck a pose toward the table of armor components. When nothing happened, he repeated the motion. Still no response.]
[Tony frowned. "Damn it!"]
[He wondered if he had injected the transponder too deep, preventing the signal from working. Taking a deep breath, he patted his arm and tried again.]
[This time, something moved. A gauntlet from the table flickered to life, lifting into the air before shooting toward him at high speed.]
[The force of the impact caused Tony's arm to recoil slightly before the armor snapped into place, locking around his forearm.]
[Moments later, more pieces came to life. The left shoulder guard and elbow armor swiftly flew over, seamlessly attaching to his body.]
[He extended his other hand, and the right-arm armor pieces launched from the table, heading straight for him.]
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Marvel x Star Wars: Avengers in the Clone Wars
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