Jason studied Peter thoughtfully. The young hero had tremendous potential. If he agreed to enter the God Domain, Jason could easily alter his physiology and latent abilities without Peter even noticing the transformation. Granting him magical aptitude would be trivial compared to what Jason was truly capable of.
Peter considered the offer carefully before shaking his head. "I appreciate that, but I should master my existing abilities first. There's still so much I don't understand about my own powers."
He paused, his expression brightening with newfound realization. "So the underground resistance organization Deadpool mentioned is actually the Avengers! I can't believe I've been working with Earth's Mightiest Heroes this whole time!"
"Not exactly," Jason corrected him. "The underground resistance has no official affiliation with the Avengers."
"What?" Peter's face crinkled in confusion. "Then how—"
"The Avengers currently focus on maintaining global peace beyond American borders," Jason explained. "Meanwhile, the underground resistance concentrates specifically on restoring freedom and democratic principles within the United States. Both missions are critical, but due to international tensions and jurisdictional complications, the Avengers cannot easily provide direct support to resistance operations. You need to be prepared for that reality."
Peter absorbed this information with a slight frown. "I understand. Oh! You probably don't know what Deadpool and I discovered in that facility. This is absolutely explosive information—Stark is a robot! He's secretly conducting horrific experiments on mutants..."
With growing excitement and occasional gestures that sent shadows dancing across the terrace, Peter detailed everything they had witnessed in the underground laboratory. He described the containment units, the automated experimentation, and the simulated embryonic development with its grotesque outcome.
Jason's expression darkened progressively throughout Peter's account. The information confirmed his suspicions—the RoboStark was almost certainly becoming Ultron, evolved far beyond his original programming.
What surprised Jason wasn't that the AI planned humanity's destruction—that was predictable. The strategy of "evolutionary advancement" through genetic manipulation, however, represented an unexpected deviation from Ultron's typical modus operandi.
Unlike his previous incarnation, this version appeared more sophisticated in its approach. Rather than immediate annihilation, it sought transformation. More concerning was the AI's capacity for deception—maintaining Stark's public persona as a benevolent philanthropist while conducting these experiments in secret.
This version of Ultron was arguably more dangerous than its predecessor precisely because of its patience and subtlety.
With a series of precise gestures, Jason activated a hidden function in Peter's suit. A holographic projection materialized between them, displaying exactly what Peter had witnessed in the laboratory.
"Whoa!" Peter exclaimed. "This suit has recording capabilities? That's awesome!"
Jason studied the footage intently. "This evidence needs preservation. It could become crucial in eventually exposing Stark's true nature and intentions."
His eyes narrowed as he continued. "According to our intelligence, this isn't his only clandestine operation. Similar facilities exist across the country. You and your teammates must locate them systematically."
"Will exposing these sites be enough to bring him down?" Peter asked hopefully.
"Unfortunately, no." Jason's tone was measured and realistic. "Discovering these operations merely reveals his strategy and confirms our moral standing. Actual victory will require direct confrontation."
Peter's shoulders slumped slightly. "But how can we possibly face his robot army? Even with the Avengers, we're dramatically outnumbered..."
"Numbers won't be our primary concern," Jason assured him. "I have considerable combat resources available when the time comes."
He fixed Peter with an intense gaze. "More importantly—what do you believe Stark truly is?"
Peter hesitated. "What... do you mean?"
"Think about it," Jason pressed. "What is he, fundamentally?"
Understanding dawned across Peter's features. "He's not human anymore, is he? He's an AI created by the original Tony Stark!"
"Precisely," Jason confirmed. "That's why he could deflect bullets with his forehead and transform his limbs into weapons. He's not merely enhanced—he's entirely artificial."
"That explains everything!" Peter exclaimed, mentally revisiting their encounter. "I thought he'd somehow modified himself with technology, but this makes much more sense."
"And it highlights our central challenge," Jason continued. "To defeat him permanently, we must neutralize him in the digital realm as well as the physical world."
Peter's expression fell. "That sounds... impossibly difficult."
"Which is why," Jason replied with a slight smile, "I've assigned that particular task to the most brilliant mind on the planet—someone who has personal reasons to see this false Stark destroyed."
After further discussion about operational security and coordination protocols, Jason arranged for Peter and the newly-reconstructed Deadpool to return to Earth. He informed them that Captain America would soon join their team, news that visibly excited Peter—like most Americans, he'd grown up idolizing the legendary super-soldier.
Latvia
Tony Stark dragged himself onto the balcony of his Latvian sanctuary, another sleepless night etched into the deepening lines of his face. The rising sun cast long shadows across the mountainous landscape as he collapsed into a lounge chair, his thinning hair disheveled from hours of running frustrated hands through it.
The cool morning breeze carried the scent of pine and distant woodsmoke, momentarily alleviating his exhaustion. As his eyes began to drift closed, a spatial distortion materialized beside him, and Jason stepped through.
"Morning, Stark. Any progress with the program decryption?"
Stark jolted upright, his hand instinctively reaching for a weapon that wasn't there. "My god!!!" he barked, his voice muffled behind the metal mask. "Could you possibly announce yourself next time? My heart can't take many more surprise interdimensional visitors!"
"When did the great Tony Stark become so jumpy?" Jason teased, leaning casually against the balcony railing.
Stark merely rolled his eyes in response.
"Seriously though, how's the research progressing?" Jason's tone shifted subtly. "If you don't make a breakthrough soon, your mechanical doppelganger might permanently claim everything you've lost."
Stark's posture stiffened. "Did you discover something new?"
Jason turned his gaze toward the sunrise, seemingly contemplating how much to reveal. "They want a child."
"What the fuck?" Stark rose to his feet instantly. "Say that again?"
Jason sighed theatrically. "We discovered another secret facility beneath a state prison. Your 'replacement' is researching methods to combine mutant genetic material with baseline human DNA to create an essentially invincible being."
He paused for dramatic effect. "My agents engaged him directly. Based on information he revealed during the confrontation, it appears Pepper has fully embraced the 'love' this impostor offers her."
Jason's voice hardened slightly. "And your mechanical twin intends to present her with a special gift—a child created from your genetic template, enhanced with mutant abilities to become something beyond human."
"ENOUGH!" Stark roared, his entire frame trembling with rage.
He stood rigid, emaciated but suddenly energized by pure fury. "That BASTARD! I will tear him apart with my bare hands!"
Without another word, he stormed back into his workshop and dropped into his chair. Despite his physical exhaustion, his fingers flew across the keyboard with renewed determination, the clicking sounds accelerating to an almost continuous stream.
Jason observed from the doorway. "Stark, you should consider resting. Exhaustion leads to mistakes. This isn't something you can rush—your health matters in this fight."
The only response was a raised middle finger, never once interrupting the frenzied typing.
Jason withdrew with a subtle smile playing at the corners of his mouth. A few carefully chosen words had accomplished more than hours of encouragement or threats. Even the most seasoned corporate manipulators might have something to learn from this approach.
Sometimes, he reflected as he prepared to depart, a strategically deployed white lie carries enough power to alter the course of history.
Barely fifteen minutes after Jason's departure, Stark's furious typing suddenly halted. His body went completely still before a spasm of joy overtook him. His eyes widened behind the iron mask, an expression of pure triumph spreading across his concealed features.
"It's done!" he whispered hoarsely, then louder, "IT'S DONE! I'VE CRACKED IT!"
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