«..Stark Industries Crosses Boundaries Again! The Next Generation of Intelligent Operating Systems!.»
«..Ultron Ushers in a New Era of the Internet!.»
«..Is the Age of Artificial Intelligence Upon Us?..»
Sensational headlines like these instantly spread across the entire internet, sending shockwaves through North America. The intelligent operating system, personally developed by two of the world's top geniuses, Tony Stark and Reed Richards, was officially launched today...
After venturing into new energy projects, had Tony Stark now set his sights on the internet? This move left many outsiders baffled. No one could guess what the reinvented Stark was truly aiming for.
Stark Industries had gone all out this time, inviting hundreds of renowned media outlets and major television networks. The cost of publicity alone was unimaginably high.
But this lavish spending yielded immediate results. The whole world was abuzz with the news, and Stark Industries once again found itself at the center of heated discussions...
Since the Ultron program was being offered globally for free, its user base skyrocketed exponentially the moment it hit the market.
Stark Industries' Ultron wasn't just a computer operating system, it could be installed on various smart devices, with applications ranging from office use to banking security and surveillance systems. It permeated daily life, becoming almost omnipresent.
In this era of big data, once fully rolled out, it had the potential to become a global monopoly. Had it not been for Stark Industries' deep-rooted influence, Tony might not have been able to bring Ultron to market...
...
Seated in his private jet, Sean watched the confident Tony at the press conference, a faint smile forming on his lips...
The globally launched Ultron program would become the key to Skynet's next upgrade.
Whether it was the chaos algorithm painstakingly developed by Tony and Reed, or Ultron's external framework and core data... all of it contained backdoors planted by Skynet.
In a sense, Ultron, like the Red Queen, had been reduced to nothing more than a puppet of Skynet.
"Thank you, Tony." Sean silently mouthed the words, while across from him, Wanda glared.
The Maximoff twins held no affection for Stark. The nightmares of their childhood had been caused by Stark, and to this day, they haunted Pietro and Wanda like an inescapable shadow.
"Uh, actually, I'm not that close to him," Sean said, closing his laptop and throwing Tony under the bus without hesitation, "After all, if meeting a few times and collaborating on a few projects makes someone a friend, then my friends would be all over the world."
Wanda pursed her lips but said nothing.
The plane shuddered slightly as it descended through the clouds, the sprawling city below growing clearer.
...
Two hours later, after enjoying a lavish dinner, Sean drove to Westchester. The suburban manor remained unchanged.
By now, the entire world knew of the famous mutant academy in Westchester, a sanctuary for homeless mutant children. This special educational institution, which was certified by the World Security Council, had a long history dating back to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Stepping out of the black car, Sean stood before the open iron gate. A rusted plaque covered in ivy bore the faint inscription:
It told the story of the first generation of X-Men; Sebastian Shaw, a young Professor Charles Xavier, and Magneto who had worked tirelessly to find more of their kind, saving the world from nuclear war and steering it back to peace.
"This was my suggestion. Hank wrote it himself. The younger generation should know who fought for the peace and status they enjoy today."
Dressed in a fiery red dress, Jean pushed the wheelchair-bound Professor Xavier as they stood quietly at the entrance, as if awaiting Sean's arrival.
She now served as the school's dean of students, leaving teaching duties to Storm while occasionally visiting to accompany the aging, bald professor.
Beyond the open gates, Sean saw a vast lawn dotted with old, retro-style white buildings. The most striking feature was an X-shaped bronze statue, resembling a tilted cross.
It was the totem and symbol of mutants. It was the X-gene within them that had brought them together, uniting them as a new race through their extraordinary gifts.
Jean discreetly left with Wanda, who was playing the role of secretary, leaving the two alone.
"Sean, long time no see."
"Professor, your old friend is doing well in Africa." Sean pushed the wheelchair along the lakeside, eventually stopping under the shade of a tree.
"He secretly controls the Kenyan government, occupies border tribes of Wakanda, and uses vibranium resources to build his capital. He's basically independent from Umbrella's support now." Sean's eyes gleamed as he added softly, "This should be good news for mutants."
At the news, the professor felt a wave of relief, "Erik has finally found his path."
No longer would mutants fight each other over differing ideologies.
He and Magneto had once been comrades-in-arms, the closest of friends. The thought of battling to the death had always pained him.
"You didn't come just to talk about Erik, did you?" Asked the professor.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.'s files recently flagged a young man named David Haller. Initial assessments suggest he's a mutant with Omega-level potential." Sean's words sent a jolt through the professor.
An Omega-level mutant stood at the pinnacle of their race's power. They're like Jean before she fully merged with the Phoenix Force. If unleashed, even he and Magneto together might not be able to stop her.
Currently, the known mutants with Omega-level potential were few: Jean Grey and Bobby Drake...
"Our investigation indicates David's father was also a mutant with telepathic abilities. He was raised by adoptive parents." Sean said, a faint smile curling his lips as he watched as realization dawned on the professor.
The young Charles Xavier hadn't been the sage he was now. Back then, he'd been handsome, wealthy, and knowledgeable... a high-society elite adored by women.
"At age ten, David began experiencing auditory and visual hallucinations. Later, he grew increasingly erratic. His adoptive parents diagnosed him with paranoid schizophrenia and sent him to psychiatrists, but nothing helped. Eventually, after violent outbursts, David was institutionalized in a Los Angeles psychiatric hospital. A week ago, he killed a girl named Lenny and injured several orderlies." Sean rested his hands on the professor's shoulders and said quietly, "It's clear that he needs treatment."
The bald professor frowned deeply. He understood what Sean was implying. Before meeting his lover, Moira, he'd once known a woman in Haifa, Israel.
Perhaps the memory was too distant, but Charles couldn't recall her face. The only certainty was that they'd shared… intimate moments.
"Sean, are you saying David is…?" The professor hesitated.
"Yes. DNA tests confirm he's your son." Sean said bluntly, delivering the truth without embellishment.