It was September 19, 2010, at 2:17 AM. Nick was sound asleep in his bedroom at the company building.
On his wall was the pinned-up Daily Bugle newspaper with the headline "New tech company 'Valentine Industries' just came out with a world-changing invention. Does Stark Industries finally have a rival?"
The headline was complete bullshit; everyone knew Stark Industries was leagues ahead of even the second best company, let alone an upstart. Still, Nick hung the paper up on the wall, as it filled him with a sense of achievement.
After the AMS hit the market and created waves, Nick could finally begin working hard on his other projects. The past few months of learning coding for the AMS would be valuable for the future projects.
With his newfound software skills, he recreated Ring Doorbells and titled them Valentine Doorbell camera, this was rather easy to fabricate with current technology. The name wasn't catchy, but it put the point across.
People were actually buying his Doorbell cameras like crazy; his manufacturer even had a tough time keeping up. Unlike the AMS that cost $13,000 to buy, Valentine Doorbells only cost $39.99.
Less than 10,000 people had actually bought his AMS due to the price, but it served a better function than just making money; it was an advertisement that spread the name of his company!
People all around the world heard about Nick's Augmented Mobility system; it was still too expensive for the average person to buy, but they watched YouTube videos about it being used.
Nick even saw a video about an unathletic man speed walking for over 14 hours with his AMS. He had to swap the battery out twice, but the YouTube video had gone viral.
Seeing this chance, he sent out two dozen AMS to tech and exercise YouTubers to test his product out. Some of the tech YouTubers pointed out the flaws, but they were overall impressed by the first version. The exercise YouTubers performed feats of extreme endurance with these AMS.
They could go full sprint for a minute, and when they slowed down instead of slowly walking or stopping to regain their breath, they could still speed walk! The weight of the machine did slow them down slightly, but it more than made up for it allowing them to easily clear 10-15 miles in under an hour!
As for his doorbell cameras, Nick had the parts manufactured in China and then assembled in the US. It was more expensive this way, but it slowed down those who would inevitably create cheaper knock-off versions, and Nick could also slap a "Made in America" label on the product.
Everything was going great for Nick; his company was gaining fame from the two never-before-seen products he'd released, and people wondered what next invention the company would release.
Feeling the weight of their expectations, Nick immediately got to work on the drone design and even created a decent prototype. Once again Nick was shocked at how tech-savvy the Vulture made him, in just a week he created a functioning drone!
Once the hype of his doorbells and AMS began to decline, he'll begin manufacturing the drones to sell and bring his name back into the limelight.
Nick's goal for the company was to always keep its good name on everyone's mind. He knew that as the company expands, he'll have to work harder on maintaining a good reputation, as just a slip-up from an employee could damage the company.
He already hired a team of lawyers for his negotiation with Oscorp; he'll also have to hire another team specifically for lawsuits against the company. People will no doubt sue his company over user error, he'll need to be ready for that inevitability.
All this precaution was the cost of fame, and with fame came prying eyes who wanted Nick's technology for themselves, and they didn't plan on doing it the legal way!
***
As Nick slept soundlessly in his bed, shadows surrounded the Valentine Industries building! When the clock struck 2:20, the shadows descended into the building without making a peep!
They bypassed Nick's alarms and security in seconds like they weren't even there, and quickly entered his lab!
It was at this point that, despite the shadows being totally quiet, Nick's eyes shot open and he awoke from his sleep. His echolocation had awoken him to the sound of 17 different heartbeats outside of his door, and he was sure that wasn't all of them!
Silently getting up, Nick quickly grabbed the pistol on his nightstand and crept to the door.
As two of the figures braced at the door trying to lock pick it, Nick didn't wait for them and his barrel directly at their besting hearts and immediately firing!
His bullets tore through his wooden door and struck both of the assailants directly in the heart, he heard there bodies spasming before the going silent, they were dead.
Despite the deafening sound of two gunshots in a confined space, the room had quickly regained its silence as nobody moved!
Those outside didnt react whatsoever to the death of the two men, instead Nick heard their heartbeats move together. He could only assume they were using sign languages to communicate with one another as they made no noise talking.
"Ive already called the cops assholes, you best be leaving now!" Nick bluffed, he didnt have the time to do any of that. He barely had to time to shoot those two at the door after he woke up!
There was a moment of silence until they spoke up, their Asian accents heavy.
"You lie, Nicholas Valentine. We made it so you can't call. Come out now peacefully, or else we're coming in!" Nick didn't reply. He quickly walked over to his phone, his gun still aimed at the door, and realized he had no signal!
'They've reallymy blocked phones signals! This isn't an amateur group of crooks, with how silent they are and how prepared they are...'
More people entered the room after hearing the gunshots. Now Nick sensed 21 people in total, with possibly more outside! Taking a deep breath, Nick calmed down and began thinking rationally.
'I'm surrounded by the abandoned buildings that I've bought up, the chances of anyone being around at 2 AM is slim to none. Someone might have heard the faint echoes of my gunshots, but it ain't worth hoping on. Looks like I'll have to do this myself. Thankfully, I keep my car charged with telekinetic energy!
Suddenly, Nick's 2005 BMW roared to life and began driving to the rear of Nick's building. Flicking his wrist towards his wall above his bed, a thin web of green acid webbing shot forward and created a circle in the wall. Raising his fist glowing slightly with orange Chi, Nick punched a hole through his concrete wall, revealing the dark and cold outside world!
Being on the second floor, Nick jumped down to his car but he didn't get in it. Instead the trunk popped open and Nick pulled out an AR-15 from his arsenal!
He heard the intruders had burst through his bedroom door, due to being caught they stopped hiding their footsteps and moved at max speed. Now he could finally hear the outline of their bodies with echolocation!
Just as one of them peeked his head outside, it was promptly exploded as a hollow point bullet tore straight through his skull, right between the eyebrows!
Instead of peeking the hole once again, the now 20 ninjas decided to exit from where they entered as he heard their feet rushing through his building.
'What the fuck is going on with these guys! My curse is toggle on low... That must mean this isn't a chance encounter, someone has seen the rise of my company and are trying to snuff me out!'
Nick didnt know if these people were trying to kill him, kidnap him, or whatever but he wouldnt find out. Reaching back into his trunk, Nick grabbed a handful of silver six-inch nails and immediately activated his telekinesis on them.
Nick felt his chi draining as the Nails were filled with telekinetic energy, then he just through them all around onto the ground exceptionally for two that promptly began floating up into the night sky.
Nick's telekinesis had grown with his increased Chi, he could control six objects at a time if he focused solely on telekinesis. With him using a gun, he could only spare the focus to control two, and that was only because the Vulture was boosting his brain.
Suddenly, from the rooftops of the surrounding buildings, ten figures jumped down. This was the remaining figures waiting outside, now in the fainf streetlight Nick could finally see who was attacking him.
They were dressed in all black and carried katanas, he saw kunai and shuriken on their waist. Nick knew at first glance that these guys were a part of The Hand!
Nick felt both relieved and worried. The Hand were a clan of human ninjas who had mastery over Chi! This meant they could enhance their bodies to peak and even superhuman levels, but thankfully stuck to cold weapons like swords and knives.
While Nick didn't have to worry about a stray bullet killing him, he did have to worry about the 30 trained killers who could tap into the realm of superhuman!
Lifting his gun to shoot, Nick suddenly threw himself to the side of his car; a kunai landed where his head once stood!
'So they are trying to kill me!'
Hearing exactly where they were, Nick dropped to the floor and fired under his car, managing to clip three of the ninjas' ankles!
Just as they were about to round the corner of the car and stab Nick dead, suddenly the two ninjas leading the charge stumbled to the floor dead.
It was impossible for the others to see them at night because of how fast and small they were, but Nick's nail had pierced through their skulls and scrambled the ninjas' brains! Briefly turning their heads behind, thinking they were being sneak attacked, Nick sensed this immediately and sprung up!
They tried to dodge, but it was impossible for them to outrun bullets, his AR15 shot out fire as five of the Ninja crumpled to the floor.
Nick was beginning to realize how powerful echolocation was in battle, not only did it remove the blind spot on his back, but it gave him ultimate spatial awareness!
Hearing multiple objects flying straight at him, Nick was about to dodge when he realized he couldn't! These trained killers had thrown knives that blocked all possible ways of escape, so he could only block.
Twist his body to the side, Nick lifted his AR to the side as a knife managed to pierce straight through the middle and get stuck halfway. With his gun rendered useless, the three ninjas he shot earlier from under the car figured it was the perfect opportunity to attack, but that's when the car began to move!
The ninjas were shocked that the driverless car put itself in drive and began barreling right for them! They tried to dodge but Nick had shot their bottom half, making it a fruitless endeavor as they got crushed on the vehicle.
'Thats thirteen eliminated, twenty more to kill!'