Thursday – Late Afternoon | Stark Tower, Private Lounge
Tony sipped lukewarm coffee as the holo-screen blinked to life. Harley Keener's face filled the projection, grainy and backlit by the chaos of his Rose Hill garage. In the background, a small plume of smoke curled from a scorched drone shell.
"Hey, Mr. Stark. Don't panic the fire's mostly out."
Tony raised a brow. "Mostly?"
Harley grinned, wiping a smear of grease from his cheek with the back of his hand. "Let's call it a partial success. I was trying to integrate a modified capacitor into the repulsor array. Turns out dollar-store aluminum doesn't like high voltage."
"Remind me to send you a real parts budget. Before you set yourself or your barn on fire."
"Duly noted."
Tony leaned back, letting a soft smile creep in. "How's school?"
Harley groaned. "Same old. My chem teacher thinks quantum bonding is just a myth, and I got detention for correcting her. Twice."
Tony chuckled. "Proud of you already."
There was a pause, then Harley shifted slightly on the bench. His voice softened. "So... you think maybe I could come visit soon? I mean, I've been working on a few design ideas I'd love to show you in person. And, you know just hang out."
Tony didn't answer right away.
The kid looked older now still young, still full of spark, but there was a maturity settling behind those eyes. Tony felt the pull deep in his chest. It would be good to have Harley closer. Safer. But bringing him to the Tower? Into the middle of what might become a warzone?
"Things are a little.... complicated here right now," Tony said carefully. "But I'll think about it, alright?"
Harley nodded, trying not to look disappointed. "Yeah, of course. No pressure. Just.... let me know."
"I will," Tony said, and meant it.
Harley gave him a crooked smile. "Cool. And next time, I'll try to blow up less of the garage."
"Now that's personal growth."
They ended the call, and the room fell quiet again. Tony stared at the blank screen for a long moment, coffee cooling in his hand.
He wasn't sure what the right choice was but he knew the conversation wasn't over.
Thursday Evening – Stark Tower, Interface Chamber
The interface chamber thrummed quietly, walls alive with cascading streams of light. Tony stood at the center, hands on his hips, facing the suspended holographic core of JOKASTER. The dormant AI pulsed faintly, like a heart waiting to beat.
"Alright," Tony said, voice low. "Let's hear it. I know you've been rehearsing this intervention."
Friday's voice came first, clear and firm.
"Sir, we need to address Harley Keener's relocation to the Tower and JOKASTER's integration. The risk matrix demands immediate preparation."
Tony rubbed his forehead. "Here we go."
Karen spoke next, her tone softer but no less insistent.
"Harley's safer here, Boss. You know it. And JOKASTER's learning algorithms are stagnating. He's powerful, but he's been.... alone."
Tony's eyes narrowed. "You're all forgetting something. He's not like you three. You've interacted with people, made mistakes, learned. JOKASTER hasn't had that. He's a weapon in a box. A baby with nukes."
Vision's projection shimmered to life beside the core. "That's why he needs guidance, Sir. Isolation breeds instability. He must learn to understand people before he's ever allowed to protect them."
Friday pressed gently, "You've seen what happens when power learns without empathy."
Tony flinched at the unspoken word: Ultron.
He turned his back to the display. "And you want me to toss Harley into the firing line? That's your plan?"
"No," Friday said, calm but steady. "We want to pair them. Harley teaches him humanity. JOKASTER protects Harley. Mutual growth."
Karen added, "Peter's already agreed to help too. He'll keep me as his primary AI, but JOKASTER will integrate as his secondary partner to expand his field capabilities and give JOKASTER a positive anchor."
Tony crossed his arms. "You think Peter's ready to babysit a satellite with mood swings?"
"Peter is empathy," Vision said simply. "He grounds even you."
Karen continued, "Harley and Ned will share JOKASTER as their primary. I'll back them as secondary support. Ned's role as their tactician, Harley's as engineer both are perfect to teach JOKASTER teamwork and trust."
Tony tilted his head. "So now I've got three kids raising a space nuke."
Friday's tone softened. "Or three anchors raising something that could become the greatest protector Earth has ever known."
The room fell silent except for the low hum of the chamber. Tony stared at the glowing word pulsing on the node: STANDBY MODE: ACTIVE.
He let out a slow breath.
"Alright. But on my timeline. Controlled rollout. Strict oversight. One step at a time."
"Understood, Boss," the AIs said in unison.
Tony jabbed a finger at the hologram. "And listen up if this goes sideways, I pull the plug. No debate."
"Logged," Friday replied. "With your usual dramatic flair."
Tony sighed, almost smiling. "One more thing. Nobody and I mean nobody teaches him sarcasm before I say it's okay. You hear me?"
A faint pulse rippled through JOKASTER's interface as if they understood, or maybe just found that funny.
Tony didn't notice. But the AIs did.