Chapter 55

  Arc 5 - Ch 8: The Stark Expo I

  Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2011.

  Location: Empire Suite, Four Seasons Downtown, Manhattan, NY

  Natasha's eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the soft light. The early m suhrough the curtains of the Empire Suite, bathing the bedroom in a warm glow. Beside her y Tyson, his imposing frame rexed against the plush pillows. His mismatched eyes were fixed on her, vibrant and pierg. The sunlight pyed across his rugged yet refined features, atuating the muscur tours of his powerful body. They held each aze for a quiet moment, a wordless exge veying a deep meaning. She took in his brown hair and chiseled jawline.

  "Good m," Natasha finally broke the silence, her voice hushed iimate space.

  "M," Tyson replied.

  Memories of their passionate enter the previous night hung over them. Reag out, Tysoly brushed a few stray strands of hair from Natasha's face, his rge hand delicate. His expression softened into something more vulnerable.

  Feeling his bare fingers brush against his faatasha said pyfully, "I get the feeling you're an illusion."

  Tyson's lips curled subtly. "Must be those secret agent instincts." he retorted.

  As Natasha lingered in the warm co of the bed, Tysoioned, "I arranged breakfast." He leaned forward, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead before vanishing from sight, leaving Natasha's eyes closed in te.

  Natasha slipped from the luxurious bed, she let the silkes fall away as she moved. She donned one of the Four Seasons plush, plimentary robes before entering the suite's dining area, where an ued sight greeted her.

  The real Tyson was already seated at the polished mahogany table, an eborate breakfast spread id out before him. The aromas wafting through the sunlit room tempted the senses. Ptters of freshly baked pastries, fky croissants, cheese danishes oozing with filling, and blueberry muffins, filled the air with their warm st. A ceramic bowl brimmed with fresh, plump, juicy berries. Fluffy scrambled eggs emitting wisps of steam sat o strips of crispy ba and sausage links with crag, golden-brown skin. The ing indulgence was a tall stack of paheir spongy rounds dripping with maple syrup and topped with melting pats of butter. To drink, there was freshly squeezed e juid a silver pot of coffee, its rich, earthy aroma rising in delicate tendrils.

  Natasha took a seat. The sumptuous spread and, more importantly, Tyson's thoughtful gesture filled her with warmth that had little to do with the m sun streaming through the windows.

  Natasha and Tyson began filling their ptes. He expressed his appreciation for the intimacy they had shared. "I had an incredible night with you," he said, his voice tinged with affe.

  Natasha, usually so posed, found herself momentarily disarmed by his words. A blush of fttery colored her cheeks before subtle sadness shadowed her features.

  The versatioween Tyson and Natasha naturally flowed into the dynamics of their retionship. Though Natasha maintained an air of professional detat, a subtle warmth still lingered beh the surface as she spoke. "I'm still your handler. We o maintain professionalism in public," she reminded him firmly.

  Tyson uood the reality of their situation, the need for discretion, and the fine lihey walked between their romand their duties.

  "What about in private?" he asked tentatively.

  "I enjoyed everything about our time together," Natasha admitted, her voice softening almost imperceptibly. "I'm open to future dates, so long as our lives allow it."

  Tyso relief at her response. "At least you're open to the idea of a sed date," he joked lightly before fessing, "I was ed you were going to give me the 'it's not you, it's me' speech." His tone was gently teasing but hi his sincere apprehension.

  "I thought about it," Natasha responded, her voice lilting with humor, "but I'm awesome, so it wouldn't be true." Her pyful demeanor shifted as she revealed ued vulnerability. "I have my hang-ups. I don't trust easy, and while you're past that, I'm still worried about what you'll think wheouch."

  Tyson noted her choice of words and poi out delicately. "You said 'when,' not 'if'," he emphasized, the subtle yet signifit distin.

  Natasha's expressioled into a mix of acceptand ption as she ceded Tyson's observation with a nod. It was a telling admission. The dynamic betweeook a pyful turn as she pointed an accusatory fi Tyson. "Don't get any ideas about us being a couple," she ordered.

  Tyson responded by dramatically clutg his chest as if shot. "Ouch. Rejected. I guess I'm doomed to be aernal bachelor," he quipped, arranging his features into an exaggerated mask nation.

  Natasha rolled her eyes at his theatrics. "You're doing pretty well for yourself," she reminded him. Then Natasha jokingly suggested, "You must have some potent pheromones. Maybe that's your secret on." Her voice rang rich with amusement.

  Initially taking her joke in stride, Tyson paused as he sidered the possibility more seriously. He thought he recalled Logan possessing enhanced pheromones somewhere in his metaknowledge. Siyson shared a simir powerset to Logan's, could he too wield su unseen influence?

  As he sidered, Natasha's demeanor shifted, her toaking on a business-like ce as she outlined her pns for the day. Gone was the easy banter and intimacy of their earlier versation. In its pce was the cool efficy of the mate professional, focused oasks at hand.

  Natasha expihat she had a meeting with Pepper and the Hammer Industries presentation that evening. Sensiransition bato the spy role, Tyson asked with a hint of reluce, "Do you have to get ready soon?" His simple question carried an unspoken wish to prolong their time together.

  Natasha nodded, her response a mix nation and duty. "Yeah. I do."

  In a st-ditch effort to recapture the lightness of earlier, Tyson quipped pyfully, "Do you want to go another round or three first?" There was a glimmer of hope that she might dey her departure a little longer.

  "Sorry, I'm out of s," Natasha replied deliberately casual.

  Tyson shrugged, "Most people would be out of luck, worried about getting pregnant, but that's not a problem with illusions," he said lightly.

  His offhand ent hit harder than he expected. Natasha's gaze grew distant, her expression turning sad, introspective. She walked over to the terrarium, seemingly lost in thought as she watched the spider within.

  Tysoally kicked himself, realizing the unintended implication of his words. Though he hadn't meant to evoke such a rea, the subtle shift in Natasha's mood was unmistakable. As she stood silently by the terrarium, Tyson wondered if she would open up and share the emotions his thoughtless words had stirred. He hoped she would trust him enough to voice the memories his remark had awakeyson stood nearby in silent panionship, veying his support should she wish to unburden herself.

  "The Red Room was never a choice," Natasha began after a long moment, her gaze growing distant as she summoned decades-old memories. "I was just a child when they came for me, scarcely old enough to retain more than fragmented memories of the life I left behind." Her voice held a bitter edge as she described a stolen childhood. "The Red Room recruits were plucked from families across Russia, our pasts methodically erased and our fates decided for us."

  "We were taken to hidden facilities where our training began. The Red Room valued unthinking loyalty and obediehout question. We were taught to fight, deceive, and kill if anded." Natasha's at painted a chilling picture of innoce corrupted by forces beyond any child's trret and anger resonated iohey stripped us of our identities, shaping us into tools instead of people. We had no choices, no futures except what the Red Room decreed for us."

  Turning to meet Tyson's sympathetic gaze, Natasha's eyes brimmed with emotion. "The Red Room was more than a training ground for spies and assassins," she tinued, steeling herself before delving into deeply personal territory. "They sought to trol us so pletely that we could never live normal lives, never pose a threat or bee promised. So they made certain we could never have children."

  Her bleak admission hung in the air betweeyson listened with passion, making no move to interrupt or interjeatasha's revetions provided a glimpse into her painful and traumatic past, illuminating the sacrifices and viotions inflicted upon her. It rofound moment of vulnerability and trust, as she shared truths with Tyson known to few others.

  Natasha's voice tinged with mencholy as she tinued. "It was a way to trol us, to keep us focused solely on our missions with no attats or distras. But in taking away that choice, they also stripped aiece of our humanity, a basic right that most people take franted." Though Natasha kept her posure, the pain in her words alpable

  As Natasha finished, a solemn silence desded upon the room. This was a moment of vulnerability for her.

  Tyson was moved that she shared these private pains. "I'm sorry that happeo you. But I want to make sure you know that not being able to have childre make you any less human, any less of a woman, or any less valuable," Tyson finally responded, his voice ge firm with vi. "It's not talked about openly much, but many women face difficulties ceiving or experience miscarriages. I'm so sorry that your choice was taken from you, and for what was done."

  Tyson moved closer, a f hug as he tinued. "Natasha, none of that was your fault." His words were meant to reassure her of her humanity. As he embraced her, Tyson hoped his support could help shoulder the burden of her tragic past. Pulling back, Tyso her eyes with passion. "I don't want to give you false hope, but who knows what the future may hold," he said cautiously.

  Natasha's reply was soft, her voice weighted by the deep wounds that her past had carved into her spirit. "I'm scarred for life," she said, the words a quiet refle of the trauma that had been inflicted upon her.

  Tyso her gaze, his expressiole. After a moment of ption, he began sharing, "You know I kill people by toug them," he fessed solemnly. "A year ago, I was told by the world’s leading expert on mutants that I'd never be able to have physical tact with anyone for the rest of my life." He paused, taking a slow breath before tinuing. "Two months ter, I met a sorceress, and she gave me an amulet that allowed me to have sex."

  Natasha's eyes widened in surprise at his ued words. She let out an incredulous snort and pyfully spped Tyson's chest, the tension of the moment broken. "That's not funny. I'm being serious," she chided, though a hint of amusement lurked beh her stern tone.

  Tyson's face set with siy. "Actually... so am I," he replied, "But if you didn't know magic was real, we keep it between us for now?"

  Natasha searched his eyes, wrestling with disbelief. "You're being serious?" she asked slowly.

  Tyson gave a solemn nod, his expression leaving no room for doubt. "Sadly, yes. And who knows, a year from now, I might have plete trol over my powers." He let out a ptive breath. "This world is quickly being unbelievable. I heal from nearly any wound. What's to say that one day, you won't be able to too?" Though fantastic, his words resonated with possibility and hope.

  Natasha took a moment to absorb his words, weighing the enormity of the possibilities they evoked. Then her facade cracked. "Your life is so weird," she remarked, amusement and admiration for their bizarre reality c her tone. "And that means something ing from me."

  Tyson chuckled lightly in respohe mood between them lifting. "Yup. It's pretty cool though," he agreed good-naturedly.

  Natasha and Tyson held each other in a f embrace. Eventually, her gaze drifted to the terrarium, her curiosity sparking once more. "I'm fused. Why exactly do you only have a single, small spider tained in there?" she asked.

  Tysoated, flicted, but eventually decided to share another of his secrets with her. Recalling a previous versation of theirs, he asked, "Do you remember when I asked if you would take the Super Soldier Serum if I had access to it?"

  Natasha he memory ing back to her. "Yes, I remember. I deed because I was ed about how it might affect me," she replied somberly, her worries about the potential sequences of such power still present.

  Tysoured toward the terrarium taining the solitary spider. "That," he said, his voice lowered spiratorially, "is far better than any super soldier serum."

  Natasha's gaze snapped back to study the spider ily, notig for the first time its unique coloration. Vivid spshes of red and blue called to mind the iie of Spider-Man himself.

  The realization struck her like a thunderbolt, causio inhale sharply. She was overwhelmed by the implications. "How does it work?" she mao ask in a whisper, trying to her head around the enormity of the revetion.

  His expnation was straightforward yet left her with more questions than answers. "You get bit, you get sick, you get powers. Pretty straightforward," he said casually. But to Natasha, none of this felt simple in the least.

  Natasha khere had to be risks or unforeseen sequences. Her training had always emphasized precision, trol, and relian her skills and instincts.

  Was Tyson making an offer by disclosing the small creature's capability? Her mind raced through various sarios, trying to prehend what it would mean to have spider-like powers. Would they enhance her natural abilities or throw off the delicate bance she had cultivated over years of interaining? There art of her that was tempted, that wondered what it would be like to push past human limitations, to reaew heights of capability on her missions. The spider held the potential to alter the course of her life in ways she couldn't yet grasp. Was she ready to take that leap?

  Natasha's internal deliberations were interrupted by Tyson's ued question. "Do you want children one day?"

  She was caught off guard, the question striking a deep chord and reminding her of choices that had been taken away in her past. Her surprise must have been evident because Tyson quickly crified, "The reason I ask is because the powers from the spider are remarkable, but I don't know if they will help you heal. When Spider-Man was bitten, his visio from poor to beyond perfect ht, it's the best example I give. He didn't have any signifit medical issues parable to your situation. So it's not likely that you'll be healed, though also not beyond possibility." His words were gentle, providing text without overstepping.

  Natasha paused, sidering his point. While the prospect of new abilities was entig, would they truly address the deeper issues she still grappled with from her past? She appreciated Tyson's insight ahy. This was not a decision to make lightly, either for the sake of power or from a mispced hope that it would somehow fix the unresolved wounds within her. Natasha took a slow breath, gazing at the spider once more as she carefully weighed her response.

  Tyson's gaze softened as he whispered, "I'm here to support yardless of what you decide." It was a simple statement, but the unditional nature of his support was clear.

  Natasha's eyes lingered on Tyson's face as she processed the gravity of the choice. This was not merely about gaining new abilities from the spider's venomous bite. Tyson's earlier question about children had forced her to sider the broader implications of accepting or rejeg the offer. This decision would shape far more than her physical powers. It would influehe very course of her future and the identity she wished to build for herself.

  Throughout the turmoil of indecision, Tyson's steady presence remained a fixed point ihoughts. His support was unwavering, yet the choice remained hers aloo make. She stood at a crossroads, fully aware that her decision here would have casg effects on her abilities, her retionships, and her sense of self.

  Natasha's gaze shifted back to the spider, theuro meet Tyson's patient eyes. After years of having choices made for her, the freedom to make this moal decision herself was both liberating and daunting. That Tyson respected her autonomy and would stand firmly beside her, no matter what she chose, roof of the bond f between them.

  — Rogue Rept —

  Tyson slid his motorcycle to a stop as the buzz of his pho through the background noise of the Stark Expo. He fished the phone from his pocket and answered.

  The familiar voice of Tony Stark came through, casual yet tinged with urgency. "Hey, Houdini. I'm gonna be in your city soon. You busy?"

  Tyson couldn't help but smirk at the niame. "Funny, I just rolled up to your little sce fair," he replied lightly.

  Tony wasted no time. "Perfect. Here's the sitch," he began, a weight of in his voice. "Remember Anton Vanko? The guy with the electric whips who came after me? It was all over the news. Turns out he's not out of the game. He's still kig and he's got a vea."

  Tony's tone shifted, all business now. "Vanko's not just a thug in a suit. He's smart, resourceful. And he's holding one hell of a grudge. I don't wanna uimate him. I'm betting he'll make a move at the Expo. It's too big a stage to resist. A perfect ake a statement. And like the st time, it won't be subtle."

  The picture became clearer for Tyson with Tony's words. He knew Nat was attending Hammer's presentation at the Expo, which was why he'd e. Tony just firmed his suspis about what was going down.

  "We gotta be ready, Mirage. Keep your eyes peeled and stay sharp."

  Tyson responded, "I'll be ready. And I'll call in backup. See you soon."

  As the call with Tony Stark came to an end, Tyson swiftly dialed another number, calling for the reinforts he had in mind. The ph briefly before Peter Parker's cheerful voiswered.

  "Hey Pete, are you busy?" Tyson inquired without preamble, getting straight to the point.

  Peter's response rompt, tinged with curiosity. "Not really, what's up?" he replied, his tone casual and rexed.

  Tyson did not mince words or waste any time. "There's another situation developing at the Stark Expo. e casual, but bring your suit. We could really use your help. And you'll probably get to meet Iron Man," he expined.

  At the prospeeeting Iron Maer's voice swelled with excitement and eager anticipation. "Really? I get to meet Iron Man?" he excimed, uo ceal the enthusiasm in his voice. "Man, this is incredible! I mean, I've always looked up to Tony Stark. He's a genius, his tech... it's just amazing," Peter tinued, his admiration for Tony Stark evident in every ear word he uttered. "I've been following his work and career for as long as I remember. The eet him in person, to see Iron Man in a..." His voice trailed off, ied with iious enthusiasm. "I'm on my way!"

  As Tyson navigated his way through the sprawling Stark Expo, the spectacur extravaganza of innovation and teology unfolded around him. The expo was a dazzling array of the test advas in various stific fields. Futuristiewable energy solutions and groundbreaking medical teologies stood alongside cutting-edge defense systems and prototypes of revolutionary transportation models. Attendees marveled wide-eyed at exhibits that seemed to tug the future into the present. Ss dispyed videos of teological marvels, while iive booths beed visitors to experiehese innovations firsthand. The atmosphere was electric, a melting pot of ideas and creativity, showg the best and brightest minds in sce, engineering, and innovation.

  Tyson navigated through the dense crowd, heading in the dire of the main pavilion where Hammer Industries was scheduled to present its test innovations. The pavilion was an impressive sight; a massive domed structure adorned with an enormous Hammer Industries logo.

  Using his abilities, Tyson discreetly bypassed the various security checkpoints surrounding the pavilion, the guards failing to notice his presence as he blended into the surroundings. He ehat he remained ued amidst the distra aement that permeated the atmosphere of the expo.

  In trast to the eic hubbub outside, the backstage area Tysoered was far more secluded and carefully guarded, reserved only for VIP guests and key industry figures. Tyson's eyes methodically sed the area, searg for any sign of Justin Hammer himself but finding nothing. He pted his move, weighing his options when a sudden otion at the entrance heralded the arrival of Hammer's ente.

  Moments ter, Justin Hammer himself strode into view, surrounded by assistants and security personnel. He moved with a fident, attention-grabbing swagger that was unmistakably his. "Make sure everything is perfect, people. It's Hammer Time!" he announced.

  Impeccably dressed in an expeailored suit, Hammer exuded an air of success and self-assurance, greeting guests with his trademark charm and charisma as he navigated through the room. "Remember, we're not just selling teology here," he remarked to one of his associates, "we're selling the future!" His tone was eid optimistic, ready to wow the croromote his vision.

  Tyson was still shrouded beh his illusory disguise as he made his way toward Justin Hammer's private staging room. As the CEO reached for the door hayson closed the distaween them. His hand darted out and made brief tact with the back of Hammer's neck before retreating.

  Hammer let out a startled yelp, his hand flying up to smack at the sudden pain. His usual mask of cool fidence slipped for a moment.

  He watched a tumble to the floor, wings still twitg feebly.

  g out dramatically, he began swatting at his neck, face t in an exaggerated mask of shod annoyance.

  "Of all the bsted things! A bee?" he excimed loudly, drawing the attention of his ente. "Get me some iow! And find out where that devilish thing came from. There better not be a whole of the monsters lurking around here!" Hammer ordered irritated. His associates scrambled to fulfill his demands, some struggling to tain their amusement at this ued turn of events.

  "I 't believe it, stung by a bee at my ow! This is supposed to be a high-tech expo, not some backwoods nature park!" He tinued ranting, gestig wildly as if perf for an invisible audience.

  In the brief moment, Tyson's life-draining touch ected with Hammer's neck, a rush of memories and moments from the CEO's life fshed through his mind. Tyson experiehese memories in a dizzying cascade as if he were living Hammer's entire life in mere seds.

  He was a child, fasated by maes and gadgets. His parents were wealthy and distant, often leaving him to his own devices. He was always tinkering, taking things apart to see how they worked. His drive led him to create Hammer Industries, his teological empire. His early successes enced him to push boundaries, sometimes recklessly, driven by a o be aowledged as a genius in his field. But Stark always overshadowed him, a stant reminder of what he had yet to achieve. He became determio prove he was more than a sed-rate Tony Stark. He made alliances, sometimes with questionable individuals, to outdo Stark. His obsession grew, clouding his judgment, and leading him down paths he hadn't inteo tread. The tracts, the deals; they were all part of a grand pn to t his legacy. He felt outmaneuvered by Stark, whose charisma and genius were always oep ahead. His attempts to best him often backfired, leaving him more determined but increasingly desperate. He was a man driven by ambition, shaped by rivalry, and haunted by the shadow of Tony Stark. But now he had a ce to step out of the shadow and into the spotlight, with Vank behind the ses and Stark’s teder his trol.

  Tyson's brief glimpse into Justin Hammer's memories granted profound insight into the man's inner world. Where oyson had dismissed Hammer as nothing more than a sed-rate knockoff of Tony Stark, he now saw a driven and ambitious, if fwed, individual.

  Though ambition and rivalry had led Hammer dowiohs, Tyson realized that at his core, Hammer was a man seeking reition and fighting to emerge from the overwhelming shadow cast by Stark's genius. Tyson saw how Hammer's obsession with surpassing his rival had steadily ed him over the years, clouding his judgment and spurring increasingly desperate and ill-advised gambits. The ba deals, like the one he'd made with Ivan Vanko, were all part of Hammer's relentless crusade to t his legacy beyond just imitating Stark.

  As Tyson subtly disengaged, leaving behind an illusory bee to occupy Hammer's team, he mulled over the revetions from Hammer's memories. He recalled the stant pressure Hammer felt to measure up to Stark in the public eye, how Hammer's ingenious attempts to outmaneuver his rival often backfired spectacurly. Yet Tyson also glimpsed Hammer's charisma aermination, the sheer force of will that had built Hammer Industries from nothing into a multi-billion dolr pyer iech sector. However much he imitated Stark, Hammer was undeniably brilliant in his ht. Tyso a twinge of admiration for the man who, despite g Stark's advantages, had still carved out an empire through tenacity and grit. Hammer might never escape Stark's shadow, but he had proven himself exceptionally capable heless.

  As Hammer's team scrambled about searg for the imaginary beehive, Tyson sifted through the flood of memories, seeking anything that might reveal Hammer's base of operations or clues about Vanko. Though he didn't io ge mu the upi, Tyso better equipped to face what was ing.

  — Rogue Rept —

  The energy iark Exped to new heights as an annou echoed through the massive venue's sound system. "Ladies alemen, please make your way to the main pavilion for Justin Hammer's presentation, beginning shortly."

  Amongst the sea of attendees were Tyson aer Parker, who had secured prime VIP seatihe stage thanks to Tyson's skillful illusions.

  It wasn't long before Natasha noticed Tysoed just a few rows ahead. Her sharp eyes quickly spotted him amidst the crowd. She slipped her cell phone from her pocket and rapidly typed a text.

  'What are you doing here?'

  Tyson typed back a suct yet informative response.

  'Stark on the way. Vanko alive. Expeg trouble.'

  His summary made Natasha aware of the looming danger over the Expo while providing key details.

  The atmosphere in the pavilion shifted as dramatic, upbeat music began pying through the sound system, signaling the start of Hammer's presentation. The lights dimmed, fog all eyes forward towards the stage.

  tered within the expansive pavilion was an eborate high-tech stage, featuring a massive LED s as a backdrop dispying slick, dynamic graphics. State-of-the-art lighting cut brilliant beams through the atmosphere, an ambient glow surrounding the stage. As the crowd's eager anticipation peaked, Justin Hammer made his entranbsp;

  With a dramatic fir that was uniquely his, Justin Hammer danced onto the stage as upbeat, catchy music fueled his eients. He glided across the ptform, dispying fidend showmanship in his dance routine. Hammer grabbed the microphoh a charismatic smile, finishing his lively performance as the music faded. In trast to Tony Stark's entrance days earlier, the crowd's rea was subdued.

  "Yeah. That's what I'm talking about. Thanks for ing," Hammer began, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. The audience responded with scattered, polite appuse.

  "Ladies alemen, for far too long, this try has had to pce its brave men and women in harm's way," he tinued, his tone shifting to one of solemn vi. "But then the Iron Man arrived, ahought the days of losing lives were behind us." He paused briefly, allowing the weight of his words to permeate the air.

  "Sadly, that teology was kept out of reach. That's not fair. That's nht. And it's just too bad." Hammer's words were pointed, a direct critique of Tony Stark's decision to monopolize the Iron Man teology.

  A feay, Tyson heard Pepper Potts' disbelief and exasperation as she uttered under her breath, "Oh, Lord."

  On stage, Hammer tinued his dramatic speech, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrent of skepticism spreading through the audience. "Regardless, the Iron Man teology was an impressive innovation. Ohat grabbed headlines around the world. Well, today, my friends, the press will face a difficult problem. They are about to run out of ink." he decred, in a provocative theatrical tone.

  As he spoke, two assistants hurried onto the stage to remove the podium.

  "Yea. Get that out of here." Hammer impatiently ahe billionaire's offhand remark meant to be heard only by the assistants, was iently broadcast to the entire room by his still-live microphone. Uerred by the minor mishap, Hammer pressed on eagerly with his grand annou.

  "Ladies alemen, today I present to you the new face of the Uates military… The Hammer drone!"

  With his bold decration, the floor of the stage began to shift and separate meically, revealing rows of hidden partments from which the droarted to rise dramatically. The first group was announced with a anding "Army!" as they emerged atop a rising ptform. The drones were painted ihy blends of greens, browns, and bcks, camoufge patterns mimig those used in the army's rugged field gear.

  The crowd was captivated by this impressive dispy. With each subsequent annou, the stage tio transform further, the floor opening to reveal more of Hammer's arsenal.

  The anding shout of "Navy!" heralded the emergence of the group from within the rising ptform. Dark blues and grays adorhe paint that coated each sleek new form, eg the hues of naval uniforms. The drones' hydrodynamies and specialized equipment evoked a sense of undersea operations. Glossy finishes reflected the bright lights in rippling waves as if the stage had bee the o.

  When the call for "Air Force!" rang out, new drones asded with bodies honed for unmatched maneuverability amongst the clouds. Painted sky blue and cloud, with additional repulsors implying tremendous speed and increased maneuverability in the skies.

  The final annou of "Marines!" brought forth rugged drones adorned in forest and digital camo pattering the Corps' versatile operational enviros. Robust frames and heavy armor pting spoke of resiliend frontline positioning. The visible on systems looked formidable.

  Hammer's excitement escaped in ahusiastic shout, "Yeah! Yeah! Woo! That’s a hell of a lot better than some cheerleaders, let me tell you!" The pride and petitiveness were palpable, emphasizing his eagero outperform his rival Tony Stark's fshy presentation.

  Justin Hammer's presentation took a dramatic turn as he tinued, his voice swelling with pride, "But as revolutionary as this teology is, there will always be a need for man to be present iheatre of war." He paused, letting the moment build. "Ladies alemen, today I am proud to present to you the very first prototype in the Variable Threat Respotle Suit and its pilot, Air Force Lieutenant el James Rhodes." Hammer's annou rang out across the crowded pavilion.

  In the audience, Pepper Potts' clear voice cut through the excited murmur of the crowd. "What?!" she excimed in surprise and disbelief. The revetion that Rhodes, a trusted ally and friend, was involved with Hammer Industries was entirely ued.

  With a meical whir, a ptform in the ter of the stage began to rise, revealing the imposing armored form of the War Mae suit. The armor was gual gray, with subtle hints of silver and bck that lent it a dangerous edge. An array of deadly armaments bristled across its surface. Shoulder-mounted rocket unchers, wrist-mounted guns, and a mini-gun protruded menagly over its right shoulder.

  The ptform settled onto the stage with a solid thunk, Lieutenant el James Rhodes stood tall and anding. He raised one gaued hand in a crisp salute. In perfect synization, the rows of Hammer drones around the stage respoheir arms snapping up in eg salutes. War Mae fnked by the ranks of drones behind him created a powerful image.

  Justin Hammer's voice rang out across the silent pavilion, grandiose and swelling with pride. "For Amerid its allies, Hammer Industries is rep for..." His words were abruptly cut off by a dista unmistakable soni, drawing the startled attention of everyohered uhe pavilion. All eyes turned upward, searg for the source of the ued sound.

  The crowd's attention tly drawn skyward by the unmistakable soni reverberating through the air. All eyes searched for the source of the ued disruption. Their curiosity was soon satisfied as the gleaming red and gold form of Iron Man desded from on high. With a burst of his repulsor jets, the sophisticated suit glided downward, ndio Rhodes with a dramatic fir that only Tony Stark could manage.

  The assembled masses erupted into raucous cheers and appuse at Iron Man's surprise appearahe excitement swelling to a fever pitch. Stark waved to the ad fans. Amidst the crowd, Tyson leaned close to Peter Parker, seizing the moment to fer privately. "Do you have your suit on?" he asked, eyes darting about to eheir versatio unnoticed.

  Peter gave a subtle nod in reply. "Under my clothes," he firmed softly.

  "Get your mask ready. I have a feeling we're going to o evacuate civilians," Tyson advised. He discreetly palmed his own Mirage mask, prepared to don it at a moment's notice.

  The atmosphere in the pavilion took on an ominous charge as Warmae and the array of Hammer drones abruptly swiveled in unison, their ons log onto the h form of Iron Man.

  Stark hovered, assessing the multitude of armaments aimed in his dire.

  Tyson pulled on his Mirage mask as Peter followed suit, the fabric of the Spider-Man mask cealing his features. Tyson pointed upwards urgently. "The ceiling is gss. you quickly spin some web s? If they open fire, it'll rain shards down on the crowd."

  Stark fired his repulsor jets and rocketed upwards through the dome attempting to evade the impending onsught. No sooner had he cleared the ceiling than it shattered in a hail of bullets from the drones below. War Mae and the other aerial drones bsted through the ragged hole in hot pursuit, unleashiless ons fire at the fleeing Iron Man.

  Spider-Man sprang into a. He unleashed streams of webbing towards the shattered ceiling. Strand after silvery strand shot forth, crisscrossing and interweaving. In mere moments, he had created a vast, intricate web pattern above the crowd, a makeshift desigo catch the rgest, most dangerous pieces of falling gss.

  The pavilioed into pandemonium as the crowd realized the mortal danger raining down from above. Fear transformed the atmosphere of celebration into one of barely trolled panic. People scrambled for safety, their excitement turning to error at the deafening sound of gunfire and the sight of the pursuing drones.

  Spider-Man and Tyson wordlessly fell into a well-practiced rhythm. Spider-Man tio reinford expand the webbing above, ensuring its stability against the uing shower of debris.

  As screaming civilians stampeded for the exits, Tyson acted decisively to prevent disaster. Reizing the risk of people being trampled in their panicked flight, he swiftly jured a series of illusionary Iron Man suits with his unique psionic abilities. The illusions were indistinguishable from the real thing, and therefore ideal for crowd trol against the oblivious Hammer drones.

  Sprirategically throughout the fleeing mob, the Iron Men began direg the evacuation with an aura of authority. "Please remain calm and quickly proceed to the exits," the illusions instructed in cool, synthesized toheir movements precise and coordinated.

  Utilizing his illusion powers further, Tyson projected his voice directly to Peter, who was busy reinf the protective webbing above. "Focus on keeping civilians safe, I’ll hahe drones," Tyson unicated, his telepathic voice clear ier's mie the chaos around them.

  With Peter dedicated to safeguarding the crowd from above, the real Tyson turned his attention to the more immediate threat, the Hammer drones. Charging towards the group of 'army' drones, he unleashed the full extent of his capabilities. His adamantium cws, sharp and iructible, extended from his fiips with a distinct metallic sound. Tyson moved with feline precision and agility, slig through the drones with his cws. The metallic bodies of the maes were no match for the unparalleled strength and razor-sharpness of adamantium. Each swipe and thrust of his cws tore through the drones, disabling them one by oil they y in crumpled piles of sparkial and frayed wires.

  Outside the main pavilion, amidst the chaos and otion, stood a young boy, around 8 or 9 years old, with warm brown skin and dark wooly hair. He was decked out in an Iron Man e, plete with a pstic mask and fake repulsloves, the small lights in their ters glowing. The boy caught up in the moment, raised his hand at a Hammer drohat had exited the pavilion, pyfully mimig an attack with his mock repulsor.

  However, the situation quickly turned serious when the drone, programmed tet Iron Man, looked down at the boy and identified him as a threat. Its ons began to loto the young, unsuspeg fan, a dangerous misuanding by its targeting system. The boy was oblivious to the peril he was now in as the drone's guns hummed to life and took aim.

  But before it could unleash its deadly payload, a red and blue blur swung into view. Spider-Man delivered a powerful kick to the side of the drone, knog it off course and sending the metalliace crashing to the ground with a resounding g.

  Mirage rushed up and dove onto the downed drone, his adamantium cws making short work of its armor pting. Sparks flew as he tore through circuitry, ralizing the threat.

  With danger averted, Spider-Man turo the wide-eyed boy, a friendly reassurance. "Good work, buddy. Let's help you find your dad." Though his tone was light, it trasted the situation they had narrowly avoided.

  At that moment, a man in a poliiform came rushing up, relief and gratitude etched on his face. "Thank you for saving my boy, Spider-Man," the officer said, his voice thick with emotion.

  Spider-Man gave a casual thumbs-up in reply. "No problem, Officer... Morales," he said, reading the ag. Tyson's head snapped up at Peter's words. With Mirage there, Spider-Man swung away to ehe safety of others evacuating the expo.

  Tyson zeroed in on the officer and boy. Morales? That couldn't be just a ce. He studied the young boy's fatently, reizing the familiar features.

  Miles Morales.

  Unless he was mistaken, this young boy was destio take up the Spider-Man mantle in another world, and perhaps this one as well. Tyson hat he would o follow up and che on the boy.

  Mirage raised his hands, crafting an illusion to further assist the officer and his son. A duplicate of Mirage appeared, gesturing for the two to follow. "This way," it instructed, guiding them away from the danger zone and toward safety.

  Mirage ran up to Natasha Romanoff's side. She did not hesitate, immediately demanding, "Situation?"

  He quickly reyed the critical information. "Vanko's alive. He's been building the Hammer drones and has hacked into Rhodes's armor. He's trolling it remotely from the Hammer Industries facility here in Queens."

  Natasha absorbed the update swiftly, her mind already strategizing her move. "How are you sure?"

  "I touched Justin Hammer briefly, gained his memories." Tyson expihen asked, "What do you need?"

  "My uniform from the car and a ride to Hammer's facility," Natasha replied suctly, her tone focused and decisive.

  In respoyson scooped her up without preamble and spriowards the Stark corporate car parked nearby. With a single, powerful punch, he shattered the driver's side window, reached in, arieved Natasha's slim suitcase taining her SHIELD uniform.

  "Feel free to ge here. My illusions will keep you covered uhere are cameras around," he said, tossihe keys to his motorcycle as he set her down.

  Natasha wasted no time. She popped open the suitcase, gathering her uniform.

  Natasha regarded Tyson carefully as she began to strip off her civilian clothes, noting the trickle of blood dripping from his nose. "Your nose is bleeding," she ented dryly. "This isn't the time for you to be joking around with your anime illusioish."

  Tyson wiped at his nose absently, a troubled expression crossing his face. His rea gave Natasha pause. "I'm running a dozen separate deep illusions on people so I see what's happening across the exph their eyes," Tyson expined, his voice strained. "I'm trying to figure out where I'm needed most."

  As he spoke, Tyson staggered slightly, reag out a hand to steady himself against the car. Natasha's eyes narrowed. "Drop half of those es. Now!" she ordered sharply.

  Obediently, Tyson closed his eyes for a brief moment. When he opehem agaiood up straighter, the strain in his face easing as he looked more like his usual self.

  Natasha nodded curtly. "I believe you finally touched your limits," she said. "Don't do that again. Uood?"

  He agreed and she tossed him an earpiece, then tiripping. She noticed Tyson's gaze lingering as she ged but tinued undisturbed by his attention. "Shouldn't you be out there saving people?" she asked.

  Tyson, maintaining his characteristic cheekiness even amidst the teuatioed, "Oh, the real me left right after you tossed the earpiece over. I'm just an illusion. It was worth dropping one of the other illusions to see this. Plus, watg the femme fatale suit up is always the best part of the movie. You 't bme me. You're like a real-life Bond girl. No, eveer, you're like James Bond, but if he was a sexy badass." Tyson gasped, "Oh my god. Is this what women feel like watg James Bond movies?"

  Natasha rolled her eyes at the ent as she finished slipping into her uniform, unphased by his flirtatious banter. It was a brief moment of levity amidst the urgend danger surrounding them. Now fully suited, Natasha mouyson's motorcycle and raced off toward the Hammer facility.

  AN: Heads up. If you’re a gamer like me, Epic Games is giving away Marvel’s Midnight Suns for free this week, that offer ends tomorrow 6/13/24 so grab that while you .

  Natasha’s power-up poll oron site is closing Friday, so vote if you haven’t.

  For those of you ied in supp my writing.

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