In Tehran, the capital of Iran, the streets were busy with traffic beneath the dry morning air and warm sunlight. People moved through the city carrying out their daily work, while on the side of the road, a young tourist could be seen tasting local products and wandering through the crowded streets — none other than Jack Walker, who had just arrived in Iran.
"Skrull's mimicry power was really useful for staying incognito," he muttered as he looked at himself in a shop mirror. The reflection was completely different from Jack's. Normally, he looked similar to a young Leonardo, but now the face in the mirror was Frankie Muniz — the Malcolm character he liked to watch in his past life.
As he walked, he spotted a small TV in a shop playing news about Tony.
"He was really world famous," Jack muttered as he watched.
"Red Queen, how much did you make?"
"Master, as you predicted, just as Tony Stark's announcement hit, the stocks went down. We made a profit of 50 million so far and it's still continuing. I predict it can go up to 80 million in profit."
Hearing this, Jack did a calculation in his mind and said, "It seems you played it very safe, just as I told you."
"Yes, master. I used different foreign accounts across the world to do it. So nobody would track me. If I used my full power, I could make this profit go up to billions with my calculations. Should I do it, master?" Red Queen said with an eagerness to make even bigger profits.
"Don't. I don't want unnecessary attention. We don't need to make ourselves a public focus and have the whole world focus on us. We have enough time, so don't take any risks," Jack said strictly.
"Also, don't get caught by Jarvis. I don't want my real identity to be found any time sooner."
"Master, that old man can't find me, so you don't need to worry." Jack also noticed Red Queen was becoming very naughty as the days went on, but he was confident in the Grey Matter mind, so he was not afraid she would go rogue.
"Master, about the Sin-Eater — there is some lead from the police side," Red Queen said just as Jack was thinking about where to go next.
"Oh, was it found who he was?"
"No. The police seem to suspect the killer is someone who can access police information, so they are being very careful this time. Even I couldn't find it," she said in a very upset tone.
"Mm, just follow the lead. Inform me if you find what the police found."
"Ok, master."
Seeing that he only had one night before school started, he moved on to other places.
Stark Mansion — Malibu, California
"Stark Industries! I've got a recommendation ready — Stark Industries, it's an abandoned ship!"
On the TV, the whole media was making fun of Tony's decisions.
Pepper Potts watched the television quietly, thinking about the chaos inside Stark Industries.
"Pepper—" Suddenly, Tony called her through the home system.
"How big are your hands?"
But due to the TV noise, she couldn't hear clearly.
"What?"
"How big are your hands?"
"I — I don't understand why," she said, genuinely confused about why he was asking.
"Get down here. I need you." Hearing him call, she walked downstairs.
As she entered the room, she saw Tony lying down without a shirt.
Seeing her, Tony welcomed her.
"Hey."
"Let's see them. Show me your hands," he asked as she walked toward him.
"Oh wow, they are small. Very petite indeed. I just need your help with…" Before Tony could finish, he saw that she was shocked.
"Oh my god — is that the thing keeping you alive?" She looked at the arc reactor Tony had in his hand, full of blue light.
"It was. Now it's an antique."
"This will be keeping me alive for the foreseeable future," he said, showing her his new, upgraded arc reactor — the one on his chest was very old, built back in the cave.
"There is a small wire connected to the socket. I need you to take it out." He removed the old arc reactor from his chest and showed her the hole.
"It's causing a little bit of a short, but it's fine." He handed her the old arc reactor.
"Wh — what do you want me to do?" she asked, a little nervous, holding the reactor in her hand.
"Put that on the table there. This is irrelevant." Hearing this, she put it down slowly.
"I just want you to reach in and gently lift the wire out." Hearing this made Pepper even more nervous.
"Is that safe?" she asked, as this looked very dangerous.
"Yeah, it should be fine. You just don't let it touch the socket wall or it beeps," he said.
"What do you mean, an operation?"
"It's a game, nevermind. Just gently lift the wire," he instructed, and Pepper started to work.
"Ok." As Pepper's hand went inside, she got afraid and backed away.
"I don't think I am qualified to do this."
"No, you're fine. You are the most capable, qualified, trustworthy person I've ever met." Hearing this, Pepper agreed to do it.
As her hand went inside, she touched something sticky.
"Is that pus?" Her nose wrinkled slightly.
"It's not pus. It's an inorganic plasmic discharge."
After a hard effort, she retrieved the copper wire with a magnet. But as she pulled her hand out, it touched the socket.
Beep beep.
"What happened?" she asked in a panic.
"I was not expecting that," he said, looking at the magnet.
"What do I do with this?"
"Don't put it back in."
"What's wrong?"
"You just yanked it — now I'm going into cardiac arrest!"
"What?! You told me it was safe!"
"Ok, we've got to switch it quickly." He handed her the new arc reactor.
"Tony, it's gonna be ok. I'm gonna make it ok." Hearing this, Tony said,
"Let's hope."
With luck on her side, she made it in time, putting the new arc reactor in place.
"Ahh, that's good. I'm fine," Tony said with relief that it went well.
Seeing her hand was very oily, she was disgusted by the smell as she cleaned up.
"Tony, don't ever ever ask me to do things like that again," she said.
"I don't have anyone but you." Hearing this, both looked at each other and Tony smiled at her.
"What do you want to do with this?" she asked, holding the old reactor.
"Destroy it," Tony said casually as he was getting dressed.
"Don't you want to keep it?"
"Pepper, I've been called many things, and nostalgic is not one of them." tony looked at her to face and said
"Will that be all, Mr. Stark?"
"That will be all, Miss Potts." Hearing this, Pepper, with the old arc reactor, left the room.
"Jarvis," Tony called as he watched her leave.
"Sir?"
"Did anything important happen in the three months I was away?"
"Yes, sir. Several important events occurred during your absence. However, I believe there is one report you should see immediately."
"Show me."
A holographic screen rose from the table, blue light reflecting across Tony's face.
The moment the footage appeared, his expression changed.
"Wait… is that real?"
"Yes, sir. The information was classified. The file was leaked briefly before the government removed it, but I managed to preserve a copy."
Tony stared silently at the screen for a few seconds.
"An alien."
Even for Tony Stark, that was difficult to process.
A/N:🚨 Power Stone Goals! 🚨
🔥 200 PS = 1 Bonus Chapter
🔥 500 PS = 2 Bonus Chapters(Max 2/week)
Enjoying the story? Drop your daily vote ❤️
Thanks for reading and supporting!
20 advanced chapters on Patreon:
👉 patreon.com/BenBlazecraft