Kai returned to Earth without informing anyone. A week passed.
No calls were made. No one noticed.
He resumed his delivery job using the same ID and route system as before. There were no system errors. No one asked where he had been.
He picked up his assigned packages at 6:00 a.m. sharp.
Same bike. Same uniform. Same thermal container. He followed the route as scheduled.
Traffic conditions were unchanged. Most customers received their orders without comment.
He completed his deliveries by evening, returned home, and trained alone.
Physical drills, control exercises, and Omnitrix interface testing continued each night.
The Omnitrix did not activate or emit any signal during this period.
One delivery was scheduled to a residential building in Queens.
He rang the doorbell. Aunt May opened the door.
"It's you again."
He nodded. "Delivery."
Peter Parker appeared behind her, along with Ned.
Peter said, "You helped me last time. At school."
Kai replied, "I remember."
He handed them two lollipops. "Picked them up from a stall overseas."
Peter took his. Ned opened his without comment.
"How's school?" Kai asked.
Peter said, "Fine."
Ned added, "We have a science fair soon."
Kai did not respond.
Aunt May returned the empty container. "Thanks."
Kai nodded and left.
Evening
He completed the remaining deliveries and returned home at 7:45 p.m.
He washed up, ate, then resumed training.
Next morning
It was 10:42 a.m. when Kai's watch lit up.
He had just finished a late delivery in Midtown and was checking his next address near a corner store when the Omnitrix beeped once, followed by a familiar ringtone. The call ID displayed clearly: Tony Stark.
Kai tapped the faceplate to answer.
"Where the hell have you been?" Tony's voice came through immediately, sharp and irritated.
"Working," Kai said. "Midtown today."
"No, I mean in general. Are you back on Earth, or am I talking to some alternate version of you?"
"I got back a week ago."
There was a pause. "A week? You've been back a whole week and didn't even call?"
"I've just been doing deliveries," Kai replied plainly.
"You disappear for months and return like you took a break to eat dumplings. Fury's been chasing satellite echoes trying to track you. I thought you were stuck or worse."
"I didn't think it mattered. I stayed quiet on purpose."
Tony let out a breath. "You could've said something."
"I'm fine," Kai said. "No need to overreact."
Tony ignored that. "Come by the mansion later. I've got something to show you."
"For what?"
"Because I don't feel like yelling through comms anymore," Tony said. "And because you've been gone for months. J.A.R.V.I.S. will open the gate. Come after five."
"Alright," Kai said.
The line disconnected. Kai adjusted his gloves, put the delivery container back on his bike, and rode on to the next stop.
---
Later that day, at exactly 5:25 p.m., Kai reached the Stark estate.
The tall front gates opened automatically as he approached, metal sliding back without a sound.
"Welcome back, Mr. Kai," J.A.R.V.I.S. said through the speaker.
Kai didn't respond.
He parked near the garage, walked up the stone steps, and approached the main door. It opened before he could knock.
Tony stood in the doorway with a coffee mug in hand and casual clothes on.
"Took your time," Tony said.
"Traffic," Kai replied.
Tony stepped aside, letting him in. The house interior was quiet, polished, and cool. Screens lined the walls, dim but active. The AI made no further comments.
"You hungry?" Tony asked.
"No."
"Alright then." Tony gestured toward the lounge. "Let's sit. You look like you just got off shift."
They sat across from each other in one of the quieter rooms. A large window behind them looked out across the estate's lawn.
"So," Tony began, "where did you end up?"
"Off-world," Kai said. "A sealed dimension. Isolated."
"And?"
"I got out."
Tony narrowed his eyes. "You're helpful as always."
Kai said nothing.
"You going to tell me what happened?"
"Not today."
Tony leaned back in his chair. "Fury's going to be pissed. You disappeared mid-deal. He still has your file open, by the way."
"He'll call when he needs me," Kai replied.
"You always this calm?"
"I don't see a reason not to be."
Tony gave a short nod. "Anyway… good to see you alive."
Kai gave a simple nod in return.
Tony stood and motioned with his head. "Come on. I've got something in the lab I think you'll want to see."
Kai stood up and followed him toward the lower level.