Only the sound of pages turning, footsteps echoing, and faint whispers could be heard.
Other than that, the place was quiet; everyone was so focused on their own work that no one paid much attention to me.
The air of the library smelled like old paper and cheap disinfectant. From the entrance, the first thing I noticed were the reading tables—long, polished wood, like something out of a movie. Between the endless rows of shelves, warm lights peeked out, barely illuminating the open pages of the scattered readers.
Off to the side, near a wall full of large windows, was a different section: rows of computers lined up in perfect formation, each with a white sticker displaying its number in the corner of the monitor. The desks were simple, gray laminate, and the swivel chairs creaked under the shifting weight of the users typing away at glowing screens.
A small sign on the wall read:
"Access with code. Sessions limited to 30 minutes."
There were only three teenagers there. Maybe it was just too early.
Sitting in front of a computer, I typed in the code.
It took several seconds to load until finally displaying the home screen, a small timer ticking in the top-right corner.
I opened the browser... Internet Explorer. I could probably count on one hand how many times I'd ever used this browser.
I started searching for Stark Industries, just to see what Iron Man had been up to. It was the easiest search to start with, especially since one of the most famous universes, the cinematic one, leaned heavily on him.
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"Tony Stark, heir to Stark Industries, missing in Afghanistan"Published by The Daily Bugle, 2008
Tony Stark, genius, billionaire, and CEO of Stark Industries, has been reported missing following an attack on a military convoy in Afghanistan.
Witnesses claim the convoy was ambushed by armed insurgents, who apparently used weapons manufactured by Stark's own company. The Pentagon has launched a rescue operation, but officials are refusing to disclose further details.
"We're doing everything we can to bring him home safe," a Department of Defense spokesperson stated.
Stark, 38, is known both for his technological legacy and his extravagant lifestyle. His disappearance has raised alarms about the security of Stark Industries' weapons and the potential economic impact of his absence.
"Tony Stark found alive: CEO rescued after months in captivity"Published by New York Bulletin, 2008
After three months missing, Tony Stark has returned to U.S. soil. Official sources confirm Stark was rescued in a covert operation, managing to escape his captors before extraction.
Photos taken at his Malibu mansion show a noticeably thinner Stark, sporting a device on his chest that, according to his representatives, is "a temporary medical system."
Sources close to Stark claim his time in captivity has forced him to reconsider the future of Stark Industries, potentially including a halt to advanced weapons manufacturing.
"I'm not proud of what my company has contributed to the world," Stark said at a brief press conference. "It's time for a change."
"I am Iron Man": The confession that shook the worldPublished by The Daily Bugle, 2009
In what was supposed to be a denial press conference, Tony Stark shocked the world by openly admitting to being the armored vigilante known as Iron Man.
"The truth is… I am Iron Man," were his exact words, triggering a media firestorm.
Analysts speculate this revelation could have international consequences, given Iron Man's involvement in armed conflicts and terrorist threats. While some hail him as a modern-day hero, critics question the legality of his actions.
The U.S. government has yet to issue an official response. Stark Industries has not confirmed whether the Iron Man suit is a proprietary technology of the company.
"Tony Stark unveils Stark Tower: Clean energy for a new era"Published by Daily Bugle Online, 2012
Tony Stark officially unveiled Stark Tower, a futuristic skyscraper in the heart of New York City, powered entirely by clean energy from a cutting-edge ARC reactor.
The tower is the first large-scale building in the world to operate without a connection to the conventional power grid—a feat Stark describes as "a step toward global energy independence."
"If we can power this building without a single drop of fossil fuel, we can do it for an entire city," Stark said during the press conference, surrounded by journalists and local officials.
Sources within Stark Industries claim the billionaire has spent the last several months developing new renewable energy technologies, leaving weapons manufacturing behind to focus on "projects that could truly change the future."
Stark Tower, equipped with research labs and corporate offices, is expected to serve as the company's new headquarters.
Alright… that should cover the big ones. There are more about his parents' deaths, parties, and other conferences he's held, but these are the key events.
If I hadn't seen Spider-Man, Shocker, and Lizard, I'd say this was the Cinematic Universe—Earth-199999. Even if some people say it's Earth-616… nobody listens. They really need to stick to the labels.
Anyway, the existence of these three individuals complicates things. Spider-Man wouldn't appear until Civil War in that timeline, around 15 years old and just starting out.
But judging by his two earlier fights… I'd say he's already got some experience.
Let's see what I can dig up on him.
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"Masked vigilante terrorizes Queens!"Published by Daily Bugle, 2009
Police are investigating an incident last night where a masked man stormed into a small grocery store, leaving two suspects tied up and dangling from streetlamps.
While some witnesses claimed this individual "saved the day," authorities warn about the danger of untrained, unidentified vigilantes interfering with police work.
"Today it's a store. Tomorrow it could be an entire neighborhood," said Daily Bugle editor-in-chief J. Jonah Jameson, who labeled this so-called "Spider-Man" as a potential public threat.
"Spider-Man's electrical chaos: Bank standoff causes millions in damages"Published by Daily Bugle, 2010
Panic erupted yesterday in the Financial District when a criminal calling himself "Electro" took hostages inside a bank, causing blackouts across several city blocks.
What should have been a controlled police operation turned into urban chaos thanks to Spider-Man, who stormed the scene without coordination, making the situation worse.
"We don't need masked vigilantes playing hero," Jameson said in an emergency editorial. The Bugle reports millions in property damage, as taxpayers are expected to shoulder the cost—again.
"Spider-Man sparks Midtown mayhem: Rhino rampages through city"Published by Daily Bugle, 2011
Midtown's shopping district was left in ruins after the criminal known as Rhino went on a destructive spree, smashing cars and property in his path.
Witnesses say Spider-Man "showed up to help," but the ensuing battle turned multiple avenues into a war zone.
"This level of chaos doesn't happen without that so-called 'hero' around," Jameson declared. "Spider-Man isn't a solution—he's the problem. And as long as he's loose, this city will keep paying the price."
"Monster spotted in Central Park: Is Spider-Man to blame?"Published by Daily Bugle, 2012
A peaceful summer afternoon turned into a nightmare when a massive reptilian creature emerged from the trees, attacking civilians. Spider-Man, as usual, was "miraculously" on the scene.
While the masked vigilante claims he was trying to stop the creature, the Bugle questions if this monster is just another consequence of his reckless actions.
"Every time Spider-Man shows up, new villains and chaos follow. Coincidence? I think not," Jameson said, demanding authorities investigate the so-called hero's true intentions.
Looks like Spidey's been swinging around for three years now, and as usual, nothing's been easy for him.
Electro and Rhino are already in the picture, but there's no sign yet of Doc Ock, Green Goblin, or Venom… Poor Spidey, he has no idea what's coming.
What about the mutants?
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"First contact with danger: Mutant Apocalypse shakes Cairo"Published by The New York Sentinel, 1998
CAIRO, EGYPT — In an unprecedented event, an enigmatic figure known as Apocalypse made a public appearance yesterday, leaving a trail of destruction that stunned the entire world. Witnesses claim the mutant, possessing seemingly godlike powers and apparent invulnerability, launched a coordinated attack that resulted in mass casualties and catastrophic damage.
This marks the first time humanity has witnessed mutant abilities on such a large scale. Apocalypse, who referred to himself as a "living god," reportedly recruited other enhanced individuals to execute his devastating plan.
International officials are alarmed by the threat mutants pose, acknowledging that conventional law enforcement and military power appear inadequate against beings like these.
Though Apocalypse was ultimately stopped by an unidentified group of mutants, this event made one thing clear: the world will never be the same, and humanity must prepare to face a phenomenon that defies all known security measures.
"Magneto: The mutant terrorist challenging the world"Published by Global Times, 2003
Erik Lehnsherr, better known as Magneto, is back in the headlines following an assassination attempt tied to the fugitive mutant known as Mystique.
International authorities confirm that Magneto, leader of a clandestine organization called the Brotherhood of Mutants, continues to operate from the shadows with the aim of forcing mutant supremacy over humankind.
"We're not talking about heroes, but extremists with powers beyond any conventional military force," said a National Security spokesperson.
Magneto's increasing activity fuels the debate over the need for strict regulation for all individuals with superhuman abilities.
"Chaos at Ellis Island: Mutants threaten humanity"Published by Global Times, 2007
Notorious mutant terrorist Magneto was once again behind a catastrophic attack, this time at Ellis Island, where he attempted to kidnap a teenage girl known as Anna Marie to execute a plan that could have turned all humans into mutants.
Witnesses reported the massive use of magnetic powers, which severely damaged the Statue of Liberty and put hundreds of civilians at risk.
While Magneto's plan was thwarted by an unknown group of mutants, the question remains: who stops mutants when their internal conflicts endanger millions?
The President of the United States condemned the incident as an isolated act, emphasizing that it would be wrong to assume all mutants share Magneto's views. He stressed that mutants are part of society and cooperation between humans and mutants is essential for peace.
This is getting complicated. Apocalypse's emergence is recorded, but there's no mention of Shaw tied to any major event—he just looks like another powerful businessman.
Emma Frost owns Frost International.
Xavier is a university professor, philanthropist, and vocal defender of mutant rights.
Nothing on Selene Gallio… I seriously hope she's not around.
The Magneto and Mystique incident suggests that a Sentinel-filled dystopian future was avoided… but you never really know.
I glance at the corner of the screen. Ten minutes left. That's not nearly enough. There are still secret organizations, corporations, terrorist groups, and historic events to go through—Captain America in WWII, Carol Danvers' disappearance, Doom, the Fantastic Four…
Way too much to cover, and only ten minutes… I need another way to access all of this. Ultra T is obviously the best option… but in a public place like this, I'll need somewhere secluded to transform and merge with the tech—somewhere no one can see me.
I scan my surroundings, thinking…
The timer keeps ticking.
Ultra T doesn't need a functional computer… maybe I could…
I open the Documents folder, searching for System32.
"Sorry, I'm going to mess with you a bit, but I need this. I'll reinstall it later when I'm done."
Right-click. Delete. Enter.
The computer's clock seems to freeze. Icons vanish, folders empty, and the system collapses in on itself like it's gasping its last breath. The whirring of the fan grows louder, desperate. And then… it shuts off completely. Dead.
…Maybe I was a bit dramatic?
I glance around. No one's looking. Good. No one heard my dramatic little monologue.
I stand and walk to the reception desk.
The woman behind it is still buried in her writing.
"Um… excuse me? Miss?"
She lifts a finger, telling me to wait.
Well, at least she noticed me.
After a moment, her eyes slide over to me.
"Good morning, ma'am," I said in my most innocent voice. "I just wanted to let you know the computer I was using seems to be broken. I don't know what happened, it just stopped working."
She narrows her eyes, suspicion flashing across her face.
"Broken?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow. "And what were you doing right before it stopped working?"
I shrug, feigning confusion.
"I don't know. Maybe I pressed something by accident… I'm not sure."
She sighs, clearly unconvinced, and signals for me to follow while calling over a large maintenance man.
"Come with me," she said. "I want to make sure nothing strange happened while we check the machine."
I trail behind her through the library aisles. She peppers me with questions:
"Did you touch anything else in this section?""Was anyone else near the machine?""Any idea what could have caused the problem?"
Each of my answers is just a shrug or a quiet "I don't know," paired with my best innocent face. Finally, she gives up.
"Fine. I can't prove you did anything." She turns to the maintenance guy. "Take it to the repair room and make sure it's secured."
Then she looks back at me.
"Young man, even if you didn't do anything, I can't let you use another computer right now. You can either grab a book and keep yourself busy… or you can leave."
She turns and walks back to her desk.
She clearly doesn't trust me, but I'm just a kid. She can't throw me out, especially without proof.
I quietly watch the man, following each of his movements like a ghost. Every step he takes, every door he opens echoes in my ears.
He wheels the computer into a small room, disappears inside, then comes out minutes later and locks it behind him.
Perfect. I scan the area, making sure nobody's watching.
He locked it. Forcing it open would be stupid.
I twist the Omnitrix dial and slam it down.
My skin melts into a gleaming metallic liquid that spreads over me, crawling along my arms, legs, and torso, molding perfectly to my shape.
The liquid hardens and reshapes into sleek plates but remains flexible, organic, almost alive. I can feel it responding to my thoughts, shifting and adjusting, finding the most efficient form for every movement. Every "breath" echoes softly, every motion feels like my body is fine-tuning itself to perfection.
It's not just strength or speed… it's precision, adaptation—a body that reacts before I even think.
I skip shouting my name; the green flash is more than enough. Saying it out loud would just be too much.
I let myself melt, collapsing into a puddle of black liquid streaked with white.
Sliding across the floor, I slither under the door.
Reforming into a humanoid silhouette, I scan the room.
Boxes. Old computers. Dust.
I approach the one he brought in. My hand touches its surface, and my form stretches over it completely.
The feeling, if I had to describe it, is electrifying—like my perception expanding outward in all directions.
The computer bends to my will, upgrading as I integrate, connecting instantly to the web.
Everything appears before me: endless streams of data, all within reach of my digital self.
"Alright. Let's get to work."
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SORRY FOR THE DELAY—THE LAST TWO DAYS HAVE BEEN A NIGHTMARE.
THE PLAN IS TO UPDATE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, BUT IF I MISS A DAY, I'LL DO MY BEST TO MAKE IT UP.
I HATE TO ASK THIS, BUT COMMENTS REALLY HELP—BOTH FOR THE ALGORITHM AND TO KEEP ME MOTIVATED. THEY MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE ON DAYS I COME HOME EXHAUSTED.
THAT'S ALL FOR NOW. I KNOW I OWE YOU AN EXTRA CHAPTER, SO I'LL TRY TO GET IT OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SPECIAL THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT AND POWER STONES:
Skyrunnerz
Beliart3006
Dudj_9269
DaoistcmrqRk
Alejandro_Yaguare
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELVES! :)