Setting Up Shop
Jax materialized inside the cavernous, industrial loft in Brooklyn, his new home base. The space was enormous, dusty, and full of raw potential—the perfect blank slate for a secret cosmic warrior. The Aether suit shimmered for a moment and then dissolved back into his skin, an invisible layer of compressed Ki and Saiyan technology.
"AI, assessment of the Brooklyn loft," Jax commanded mentally, examining the exposed brick and high, arched windows.
"The property is legally registered under the Jackson Ryder Trust and is financially secure. The utilities are operational, and the location provides optimal stealth given the high industrial noise levels and low population density. I have taken the liberty of purchasing basic furnishings from the Gate of Babylon inventory, prioritizing comfort and tactical placement," the AI replied.
With a soft, almost magical shimmer, the loft began to fill. A massive, luxurious sofa appeared, facing a wall-sized flatscreen TV. A sleek kitchen unit materialized, fully stocked with groceries Jax instantly knew he'd need to fuel his Saiyan metabolism. In one corner, a training space with advanced, concealed gravity multipliers appeared—something only the Gate of Babylon could provide.
"Excellent work, AI. Now, let's address the social integration. I need a face-to-face contact to cement the 'Jax Ryder' persona. Who is the landlord or local contact?"
"The building is managed by the owner, a Miss Janie Carter. She currently resides in the ground-floor apartment. She is a former police cadet, sharp, deeply practical, and currently attending college for criminal justice. She is listed as a potential Harem target due to her high loyalty rating and compelling moral compass."
Jax groaned internally. The Harem System was relentless. "Focus, AI. I need to be charming, non-threatening, and discreet. Summon me a housewarming gift from the Gate—something memorable but entirely mundane."
Jax materialized a simple, elegant box of artisanal chocolates—the kind that cost an absurd amount of money but looked deceptively common.
The First Harem Encounter
Jax took the stairs down to the ground floor, adjusting his casual clothes. He knocked on the door marked '1A'.
The door was opened by Janie Carter. She was exactly as the AI described: late teens, athletic build, with intelligent, piercing blue eyes and a look that suggested she didn't tolerate nonsense. She wore a simple T-shirt and jeans, a practical uniform.
"Can I help you?" Janie asked, her voice firm. "If you're looking for the owner, that's me. You must be the new tenant for the top floor, Mr. Ryder."
"That's me, Jax," he corrected with a friendly, genuine smile. "Jackson Ryder. Just moved in. Listen, I know I'm paying top dollar, but I wanted to apologize in advance for any noise while I'm settling in. Here."
He offered her the box of chocolates. "Housewarming gift. Figured I should get on the good side of the boss immediately."
Janie took the box, weighing it suspiciously in her hand. "Chocolates. Nice touch. I usually just get complaints about the freight elevator. I'm Janie." She looked him up and down, her gaze calculating. "The Ryde property management was very vague about you. Said you're traveling a lot. What exactly do you do?"
"Engaging Comedic Wit Protocol," the AI whispered.
"Me?" Jax leaned casually against the doorframe, projecting an aura of carefree wealth. "I'm in the highly lucrative, low-effort business of 'existing.' Basically, I'm a full-time professional hobbyist. Right now, my hobby is mastering the ancient art of competitive foosball."
Janie's firm expression broke, turning into a wry smirk. "Professional hobbyist. That's a new one. Well, 'Professional Hobbyist,' keep the noise down. I'm studying for my midterms, and I have zero tolerance for loud music or mysterious energy booms." She narrowed her eyes slightly. "Welcome to Brooklyn, Jax."
[A.I.S. Harem Quest: Initial Contact Successful!]
[Janie Carter's Relationship Status: Amused Neutrality (40% Suspicion / 60% Curiosity).]
Jax felt a surge of confidence. He hadn't revealed anything, yet he had secured his first ally/target.
The Billionaire's Call
Jax was back in his loft, trying to figure out which Noble Phantasm from the Gate would make the best coffee grinder, when the gold-plated flip phone from the Gate rang.
"Incoming call, Mr. Ryder. Source is encrypted but originates from the private network of Stark Industries," the AI alerted.
Jax smirked. Tony Stark was fast.
He answered the phone with a perfect American drawl. "Yo. Jax Ryder here. You reaching the right guy?"
The voice on the other end was unmistakable: charismatic, cocky, and sharp. Tony Stark.
"Jax Ryder. Right. You know, I've got this little machine called JARVIS, the best AI on the planet, and he's having a meltdown," Tony's voice flowed through the earpiece. "About three hours ago, a power signature spiked in the city, dwarfing anything I've ever measured, including my own arc reactor. It lasted less than five seconds, and then it was gone, leaving behind only trace levels of… exotic particles. My sensors did pick up a brief signature of an advanced, non-terrestrial hammer entering a location in Brooklyn before vanishing completely. And that location is your new loft, Jax."
Jax feigned confusion. "Wow, sounds like New York City, man. Earthquakes, maybe? And a hammer? Was it a novelty foam hammer? I collect weird vintage stuff."
"No, Jax. It was an Asgardian warhammer, and the power spike was the equivalent of a small nuclear bomb going off—with zero fallout. I know it was you. My sensors tracked the energy signature converging on your immediate vicinity before it disappeared. So, who are you? And where did you put the thunder god's toy?"
Jax walked over to his new window, looking out over the city that would soon be crawling with aliens.
"AI, initiate subtle destabilization protocol for Stark's curiosity. Suggest a hint of greater, non-human knowledge," Jax thought.
"Look, Mr. Stark," Jax said, his voice dropping, carrying a hint of genuine, serious warning. "I'm a civilian. But I can tell you this: the universe is a lot bigger than your lab. There are things out there—forces, dimensions, and artifacts—that would make your arc reactor look like a battery. You should be worried about the guy who sent the hammer, not the guy who got caught in the crossfire."
Tony went silent for a beat, a rare occurrence. "Sent the hammer? You know something. Tell me."
"I know I'm late for my competitive foosball league practice," Jax replied, switching back to his light, easy tone. "Look, if you're ever worried about a planet-level threat showing up, feel free to call. For now, I'm just a guy trying to enjoy my trust fund. Focus on making a better Iron Man suit, Tony. You're going to need it."
Jax disconnected the call before Tony could protest.
The First Suit-Up
Jax felt a rush of triumph. He had successfully played the 'Mysterious, Wealthy, Knowledgeable Civilian' card, laying a breadcrumb trail that would keep Tony Stark obsessed and focused on the future threats.
"AI, status update."
"Mr. Stark is currently attempting to hack this phone. He is mildly enraged and deeply intrigued. His fear level regarding unknown threats has increased by 15%. Good job on the misdirection."
"Perfect. Now, I need to start training. Time is running out before the Chitauri show up, and I need to be ready to go Super Saiyan when that moment arrives. Conjure the gravity training setup and activate the Aether suit. Set gravity to 5x Earth's normal setting."
In a flash, the interior of Jax's training corner sealed itself off, the air growing heavy. The sleek, cosmic-blue and black Aether suit materialized, wrapping around his body. The pressure immediately tripled his body weight.
"Gravity increased to 5G. Initiating basic Saiyan Ki conditioning routine," the AI confirmed.
Jax cracked his knuckles, feeling the satisfying strain on his Primordial Saiyan muscles. He still had a long way to go, but he was starting the process in the ultimate training grounds—the Marvel Universe.
He focused his Ki, and the air around him began to hum. He wasn't just going to wait for the Avengers; he was going to be the force they never saw coming.