For the next 48 hours, the lab's hierarchy flipped. James stood at the central hologram, hands orchestrating data streams. Tony played assistant, crafting parts to precise specs.
"Thinner vibranium base," James said, eyes fixed. "Uru crystal lattice at this angle."
Tony gritted his teeth, working. "Sure this curvature won't cause quantum decoherence?"
"Ran 642 scenarios," James said, projecting equations. "Use this magnetic compensation."
With the final component set, James pressed his hands above the reactor. His eyes blazed gold, heat vision welding key nodes with picosecond precision.
"Activate."
HUM
The lab's electronics flickered off. A photon sparked in the reactor, doubling, quadrupling, growing exponentially.
Tony stepped back. "God…"
A miniature golden sun ignited, its gentle glow masking terrifying power. Data screens flashed:
[Energy Output: 128,000 Megawatts]
[Stability: 99.999%]
[Estimated Runtime: 12,000 Years]
"This…" Tony's voice trembled. "We made eternal energy?"
James touched the shield, the sun's light dancing on his fingers. "A key to humanity's leap forward."
Tony grabbed his shoulders. "Tell me how to get a brain like yours!"
James's eyes dimmed, a cryptic smile forming. "Next time. For now…" He pointed to the overheating energy monitor. "We need to fix cooling, unless you want Manhattan as a lava pit."
Tony laughed, eyeing the rising temperature curve. "Ha! Jarvis, full cooling systems!"
Hours later, the artificial sun burned steadily, its golden glow bathing the lab.
Tony stared at the readings, fingers tapping, eyes flickering with excitement and faint awe. "128,000 megawatts… enough for the East Coast."
He glanced at James. "You sure this won't blow us to kingdom come?"
"As long as the magnetic field holds, it's safe," James said, leaning against the table, smirking.
"Oh, that's reassuring," Tony quipped, but his grin betrayed him. He tapped the reactor's shield; the sun's light wavered, then stabilized.
"So, besides charging you, what else can it do?"
"Plenty," James said, moving to the hologram and tracing a new model. Energy from the sun flowed into a structure, forming a blazing beam.
"Directed energy weapon?" Tony guessed.
"No," James shook his head. "Cross-dimensional energy transfer."
Tony froze, then leaned in. "You're saying we can beam this to another plane?"
"Theoretically," James nodded. "My solar energy's malleable. With precision, it can mimic any dimension's energy. In short, magic."
Tony's eyes blazed. "James, what do I need to learn magic?!"
"Sir, you've worked 72 hours straight," Jarvis interjected.
"Who cares!" Tony waved it off.
"Later," James chuckled. "Let's finish this first."
He stepped to the hologram, eyes glowing gold, superbrain optimizing energy flow. Silence fell, broken only by the hologram's hum and Tony's occasional curses.
Three hours later—
"Done!" Tony slammed the virtual confirm key. The model collapsed into a perfect energy loop.
"Test it?" he asked.
James nodded, pressing the reactor's terminal. The sun's energy flowed into him, golden streams like liquid light. He traced a circle.
HUM
Space warped, golden sparks forming a stable portal. Beyond lay a barren red desert under a purple-red sky.
"Mars?" Tony squinted.
"Mirror Dimension," James corrected.
Tony's jaw dropped. "We opened a magic dimension with tech?!"
"Tech and magic blur," James said, closing the portal. "This is just the start."
Tony stared at the device, grinning. "James, you've rewritten history. No, you've redefined energy!"
James smiled, but his super hearing caught a faint energy pulse approaching New York at high speed.
"Tony," he said sharply.
"What?" Tony noticed his shift, frowning.
"We've got company," James said, gazing through the ceiling. "And they're not friendly."
Tony snapped to action, armoring up. "Jarvis, activate tower defenses. Scan the skies!"
"Unidentified object detected, sir," Jarvis reported. "Energy signature unknown to Earth tech."
James floated, armor's golden lines glowing. "I'll check it out."
"Wait!" Tony called. "No solo heroics. Call me!"
James glanced back, smirking. "Suit up, mustache."
He became a black streak, shattering the skylight, soaring skyward.
Tony cursed, speeding up his armor. "Jarvis, prep Mark VI nano-armor. Full weapons hot!"
"Untested, sir," Jarvis warned.
"Perfect time to test," Tony snapped, donning the suit. The faceplate clicked shut, the core humming.
Taking a breath, he launched, thrusters blazing. "Alright, alien punks…" His voice carried excitement and fight. "Welcome to Earth."
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