I spent most of the next thirty-six hours in my Tower's library looking into whether or not it was possible to build a Star Wars-style Blaster with local, Earth Six-One-Six, Components as part of my contribution of otheruniversal tech for Symkaria. Unfortunately, the damned things were entirely too reliant on Tibanna Gas, which while it wasn't an issue for me, given I could just nip on over to the Star Wars Universe and buy some, that wouldn't be the case for the Symkarians. Fortunately, there was a local workaround, unfortunately, it was Helium-Three. Symkaria couldn't exactly nip over to a gas giant like Jupiter or Saturn, harvest some Helium-Three, and come back.
Plus, Helium-Three would be the equivalent of Low-Grade Tibanna Gas, which would need to be further refined to be a good equivalent. That required infrastructure and looking into what that would take sent me spiraling down a rabbit hole of refinery technology and hyperbaride synthesis plants that effectively wasted my entire day and ultimately boiled down to being far too expensive and technical to be economical for a small Balkan nation like Symkaria to afford or invent. Briefly, I toyed with the idea of having Tony help out on that front, possibly with Reed Richards' help, but then I instantly dismissed it. Those two were barely cooperating without bickering as it was. Best not to tempt it.
"It looks like I might have a trip somewhere else in store." I sighed.
"Might I suggest Star Trek Earth, Sir? Phase Pistols are obsolete when compared to disruptors and hand phasers by a good two-hundred-twelve years. In that Universe, it is currently Early Twenty-Three-Sixty-Five." Informed Bartholomew, appearing beside me.
"Which means that it's early season two of TNG. I'm going to guess that with the Federation still complacent from eighty years of peace, I can access schematics for such obsolete weapons and their components at any library in the Federation core?" I mused.
"It is a very good guess, Sir." Smirked Bartholomew, slightly.
"Then that's the plan for tomorrow. Did you need something from me, Bartholomew?" I questioned.
"You asked me to interrupt you when you needed to sleep, eat, or get ready for your date with Miss Walters, Sir." Informed Bartholomew.
"And I slept eight hours and you brought me a Soppresata and Mozerella Sandwich for lunch. That means it's time to get ready. Wait, what time is it now?" I queried.
"Five-forty-five, Sir." Answered Bartholomew.
"Shit. All right, we'll put a pin on otheruniversal tech research and procurement for now. I need to get going." I nodded.
"Of course, Sir. I've taken the liberty of laying out an ensemble that should be more than appropriate. The Staff put it together utilizing your workshop and while the staff isn't quite up to your level of artifact crafting and enchanting, we do have a bit of a broader range. You will find that the outfit will protect against most cuts, punctures, crushing blows, and burns, as well as subtly enhancing your physical abilities and spellcasting." Informed Bartholomew.
"Spidersilk armor?" I asked.
"Of a sort, yes." Nodded Bartholomew.
And with that, I headed out to get ready for my date, showering and adding some of the cologne that Bartholomew insisted I put on. Something apparently extracted from the Algoraspice Plants in the Greenhouse. Algoraspice was normally used as a component in certain nootropic memory-enhancing drugs, but it also had a sort of subtle spicy scent to it that apparently could be used to make a cologne that had just a hint of spice and smokiness. Of course, if you drenched yourself in it, apparently it was overpowering and a major turn-off, according to Bartholomew. I sensed a story there, but there wasn't time to delve into it. I had to get dressed.
As it turned out, the outfit Bartholomew had the staff make for me consisted of a gray and black, embroidered, Phase Spider Silk Shirt, Charcoal Phase Spider Silk Pants, and a pair of black leather shoes and a belt. My Mistcoat would serve as a coat, though I'd glamour its appearance to look normal. We were getting into September now, so a coat wouldn't be too unusual, even if it was still only the second of September. Northeast Weather could be unpredictable, after all. Looking at the outfit, I had to chuckle to myself. The staff had apparently cribbed from the Drow in terms of making Spidersilk Armor, only applying modern styles instead of the jerkins used on Faerun. Gray and Black seemed to be exactly the colors for that sort of thing.
"I should probably count my blessings it wasn't black and purple or something." I chuckled to myself, doing up various buttons on my shirt, which appeared to be made of minutely scrimshawed whalebone.
"Phase Spider Silk doesn't allow for such colors, I'm afraid. Blacks, grays, whites, silvers, very light blues, and so on are the watchwords there." Nodded Bartholomew, appearing beside me suddenly to hand me my shoes and comb my hair. Once I was all done, I turned to Bartholomew.
"How do I look?" I questioned.
"Good, Sir." Nodded Bartholomew.
"Good enough to boost my shot at a second date, do you think?" I queried.
"That will be up to you, Sir. Here, don't forget this." Intoned Bartholomew, handing me my Miscoat. I put it on and nodded.
"Thank you, Bartholomew. You're the best Ghost Butler in the biz." I grinned.
"I do my best, Sir. Your bag of holding is in the inside pocket, just in case. It is New York City on Earth Six-One-Six, after all." Smirked Bartholomew.
"Good thinking. My wallet?" I asked.
"Right outside pocket. Now, Sir, you should head out. You don't want to keep Miss Walters waiting, do you?" Questioned Bartholomew.
"Definitely not." I refuted.
I made my way out of my tower and onto the grounds of my island. At the dock, the Surprise Fortune was moored taking on their monthly delivery of raw materials from my mines and workshop-made goods and handing off our cut of August's sales. I'd had Bartholomew set up a company chartered in Boston to help out the Starkesboro Folks and the Company was Partnered with another Company out of Starkesboro that ran the mines in the hills outside of town I'd helped clear, along with the Cannery I'd freed from Gremlins. Starkesboro was coming out of its economic slump as we split the profits.
True, it'd only been a couple of months, but I was optimistic and anything that prevented the folks out there from doing something stupid like trying to resurrect Sligguth to increase the Town's fortunes was worth doing. Besides, I'd made a promise to the Town Elders, and you don't go back on a promise like that. Not with folks who helped you out of a tight spot, Serpent Men blood or no. As I approached the shore, Bosun Turner noticed me and gave me a wave. I nodded back with a grin.
"How are you, Jeremy? Doing all right?" I questioned.
"Better than all right, Lad. You and yours keeping your promises is keeping the Fortune busier than she's been in more than a decade. Better paid, too." Grinned Bosun Turner, lighting his pipe.
"That's good to hear. I'm glad I could help out your town. After all the help you folks gave me getting my feet under me, anything I can do I will." I agreed.
"Aye, but you've more than paid for that help. They're even talking about re-opening some of the old buildings. Never thought I'd live to see it. Elder Regulus was asking after you. He heard something about you teaming up with the Sorcerer Supreme?" Queried Bosun Turner.
"I did. Some idiots over in Europe did something stupid and threatened to cause a major problem. We handled it, but not before a decent-sized town got wrecked." I informed.
"Always a shame when folks turn into collateral damage, aye. Well, we were told to invite you round for tea at Elder Regulus' place if we caught you. Next Saturday if you're not too busy." Invited Bosun Turner.
"I think I can pencil Regulus in. Right now, though. I need to head out. I've got a date and I can't keep a Lady like Jen waiting." I chuckled.
"Aye, you look it. Smooth sailing, Lad." Nodded Bosun Turner.
"You too." I returned.
Then, with a twist of mystical power and a bit of concentration, I apparated away wandlessly, hoping to be able to land at least on the property of Avengers Mansion. As it happened, I wound up reappearing across the street near the outdoor seating of some bistro on Fifth Avenue, completely startling the couple who was having a date night there. Some brown-haired gym Guy and his platinum-blonde Girlfriend. I noticed the Gym Guy started at my sudden appearance, but not the Platinum Blonde. That was interesting. Between the body type and the hair, along with the lack of reaction, that had to be Felicia Hardy, the Black Cat, which would make Gym Guy a Pre-Army Flash Thompson, her current boyfriend.
"Sorry folks, I need to get better at mystic teleportation. I meant to appear across the street at Avengers Mansion." I offered as an excuse.
"Damnit, I spilled my drink." Sighed Flash, looking down at his pants.
"Sorry. Here, this should cover dry cleaning." I apologized, grabbing a hundred fifty dollars out of my wallet and passing it over.
"You're with the Avengers? Does Tony Stark know you're shelling out over a hundred dollars to cover mistakes? He might put you in remedial training for that or something." Teased Felicia Hardy.
"No, but then, it's not his money. I'd love to stay and chat, but I've got an appointment to keep. Sorry again." I shrugged.
Then, I headed across the street toward the Omnium Steel Fence that separated Avengers Mansion from the rest of Fifth Avenue. I was buzzed in by Jarvis without even having to hit the Buzzer. That was never a good sign. As I headed inside, I found the reason why. Jen Walters was already here, sipping on some kind of cocktail that Tony had made her, since he was behind the bar. She was wearing a yellow sundress with white stripes along with a pair of wedge heels. Honestly, she looked amazing. Jen turned to spot me as I entered, took a sip of her fruity, pink, drink, and leveled an unamused look at me.
"You're late." She intoned.
"I'm effectively a wizard. A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to." I quipped.
"Did you just quote Gandalf at me?" Demanded Jen.
"Too nerdy?" I asked, frowning.
"You're too cute. No, that was just the right amount. So long as you don't go full Spider-Man on me tonight." Grinned Jen before breaking out into giggles.
I felt relieved and Tony slid me a beer with one hand and gave me a thumbs up with the other. Jen and I chit-chatted for a bit about our day-to-day lives as we had drinks. She was apparently working on some big case involving a Major Billion-dollar Corporation alongside the New York District Attorney and while she couldn't name names, I got the sense that the Corporation's legal team was doing everything they could to make things difficult, even borderline illegal stuff. In exchange, I let her know about how I was helping Starkesboro back onto its feet, so to speak. Jen and I got to know each other a bit better, but soon we had to head for the Silver Lotus if we wanted to make our reservation.
"Don't worry. Tonight, I'm gonna make sure you have a good time and relax a little." I promised.
"You're sweet. I'll take you up on that." Beamed Jen.
"Have fun you two!" Called out Tony. And just like that, my first date with the Sensational She-Hulk began.
It was just a shame it would eventually be interrupted by idiots with Tommy Guns, of all things, along with a Guy who shouldn't even be around yet. . .
XXXX
Hammerhead scowled as he and his guys waited outside the Chink Joint near the entrance to Chinatown. He'd been told by the Boss of Bosses, the Kingpin of Crime Himself, to rip off the joint, since the Old Man what owned it ain't been paying protection to the Maggia. Hammerhead'd tried telling him that it ain't a good idea to go forcing folks set up this close to Chinatown to pay protection these days. Not since Shang Chi'd set himself up as King Chink of Chinatown. Fisk didn't wanna hear it though. Hammerhead sighed, Fisk'd been in the Can for a stretch when Shang Chi'd taken over. He'd been outta the loop. It still don't mean shit, though. When the Boss of Bosses says jump, you say how high.
A fancy car pulled up in front of the building and Hammerhead nodded. That'd be Fisk's Guy going in to make one last pitch at forcing the Old Man what owns this joint to pay up. Fisk's Guy was some kinda Kid, a recent convert to the Life. Some new blood with a magic cloak or some such nonsense. Fisk'd taken the Kid under his wing and was showing him the ropes. Guy went by the Moniker of the Hood. As the Hood stepped outta the fancy car, Hammerhead realized the name fit. That magic cloak or whatever came with a big-ass hood what covered most of the Guy's face.
"All right, Fisk's Guy is gonna go in and try and talk some sense into the Old Man. If he don't pay up, Fisk's Guy pages us, and then we head in to back Fisk's Guy up in ripping the Joint off and wrecking it up. Everyone clear on what they gotta do?" Questioned Hammerhead.
"Fredo and Leo keep our guns on any civilians, make sure nobody plays Hero. Chrissie's on the lookout for any White Hats, Frankie grabs wallets, and Paulie keeps the car running. Then you and I hit the safe and the register." Recited Dante, Hammerhead's Number Two for this.
"Yeah, and after?" Pressed Hammerhead.
"We unload on the place, wreck shit up, then book it before the Cops show." Answered Dante.
"Damn straight. Everyone get ready. We ain't gotta clue what answer Fisk's Guy is gonna get. Better be ready, just in case." Ordered Hammerhead.
The Guys made a buncha noises confirming that and started to lock and load their Tommy Guns. Hammerhead himself didn't need one. Not with the metal shit in his skull making him a human battering ram. In a few moments, they were ready to go in and do their thing. Hammerhead was wary though. This was Manhattan, after all, you couldn't take a shit 'round here without running into a White Hat. He wanted to be ready when the shit hit the fan on that sorta thing. After all, Fisk's Guy was new.
Nobody knew how he'd act under fire, best to prep for a disaster. . .
XXXX
AN: The next chapter is already up on my Patreon, so check the link in the threadmarked post if you guys feel like throwing me a couple bucks to get chapters in advance. Everyone who does is super appreciated and I can't thank my patrons enough.
All right, a couple of things in this chapter. The start of Jan's date with She-Hulk, an update on the situation with Starkesboro, and a hint at something big going down in the Corporate World in the background. Plus Kingpin sending the Hood and Hammerhead's Crew to assert dominance near Chinatown now he's back from prison. The Hood being around is a few years early, which means someone nudged things there.
Also, a note: Hammerhead has the mindset of a Nineteen-thirties Gangster due to being struck on the head causing him to have brain damage after watching a movie featuring nineteen-thirties gangsters. Accordingly, he still uses language from the nineteen-thirties. Sometimes this includes slurs. I don't endorse slurs of any kind IRL, I'm just including them for accuracy of mindset where Hammerhead is concerned. Just so we're clear.
A lot of stuff is gonna happen really soon. A lot of it wasn't supposed to happen or wasn't supposed to happen yet. There's a reason for that, though.
At any rate, the next chapter will be the next part of the date with Jen, plus a fight.
Stay tuned. . .