Nolan sat at the desk in his bedroom, head bowed over the device in his hands.
His new phone. A peace offering from UR-025, meant to repair their strained relationship and compensate for... whatever the hell had happened between them.
The phone was no ordinary piece of consumer electronics. UR-025 had meticulously modified every circuit and system. With it, Nolan could summon the AI's support at any moment. A simple touch on the screen gave him access to most electronic devices within range—cameras, computers, security systems, all of it.
Even more impressive: if Nolan knew someone's name, he could enter it into the phone and retrieve complete information on that person. Their location, their communications, their entire digital footprint.
In essence, UR-025 had given him a portable intelligence network that made the NSA look like amateur hour.
For now, Nolan had decided not to press further about UR-025's sudden transformation. The AI continued its work expanding the secret base beneath the city. When Nolan needed assistance, UR-025 provided remote technical support.
Like helping him acquire several test papers from Midtown High School.
After weeks of reviewing the material, Nolan—teetering on the edge of mental collapse—had finally admitted defeat.
He needed a high school diploma to satisfy his aunt. That was all. He didn't actually need to retain any of this useless information long-term.
Nolan set down the new phone and turned to his computer. He began searching for the correct answers to the test questions, methodically cataloging them. All he had to do was memorize the answers, show up for the makeup exams before summer vacation ended, and this nightmare would be over.
Ding. Ding. Ding.
His old phone buzzed insistently with a cascade of news alerts.
"Large Beast Suspected at Stanford University Campus in California... Black Bear or Tiger?"
"Local Military Dispatches Armored Unit... Does Capturing Wildlife Require Military Intervention?"
"Lies and Truth... Military Experiment Gone Wrong?"
"The Green Giant? Eyewitness Accounts Tell All..."
The barrage of notifications shattered his concentration entirely.
Nolan frowned and picked up the old phone, scrolling through the alerts. He opened Twitter, Reddit, local news sites—anywhere he could find more information.
After cross-referencing multiple sources, the picture became clear.
The Hulk had just engaged in his first major confrontation with General Ross and his pursuit team.
Nolan picked up his new phone casually. He typed in "Bruce Banner" and watched as a comprehensive dossier materialized on screen—academic history, employment records, published research, security clearances. Everything except his current location.
Of course. After transforming into the Hulk, Banner had gone off the grid completely. No phone meant no tracking.
Nolan switched tactics. He searched for General Ross's full name online, then entered it into his phone.
This time, results flooded the screen. Not just Ross's information, but active access to his personal communications.
Nolan raised the phone to his ear just as an angry voice erupted from the speaker.
"With that many personnel surrounding him, he still escaped! Just ran right through our perimeter! We won't get another opportunity this clean!"
General Ross's volume made Nolan wince and hold the phone away from his ear.
"General, our soldiers have never encountered a... a green creature like that before. Fear is a natural response—"
A different voice, middle-aged and measured, attempted to calm the general down.
"And sir, with all due respect... if we're dealing with a human enhancement project this powerful, why wasn't it conducted within military oversight? Civilian researchers don't understand operational security. They can't—"
"That may have been an unrepeatable accident." General Ross sounded exhausted now, the fury draining from his voice. "Too many unknown variables were involved. We can't just—"
"General, call from the White House. President is on the line."
"Put him through. I need to provide the President with a reasonable explanation for this disaster."
The conversation shifted to political negotiations, Ross's tone becoming more defensive as he spoke with his commander-in-chief.
Nolan's frown deepened. After listening for another minute, he lost interest entirely and ended the connection.
He looked out his bedroom window at the glittering lights of Manhattan. Chinatown's busy streets below, the iconic skyscrapers rising in the distance like monuments to human ambition.
Not one person down there understood what was coming. In less than a year, this prosperous city would become a battlefield. An alien invasion that would shatter any illusion of safety.
Nolan couldn't save everyone. He knew that. But maybe, just maybe, he could use the coming catastrophe to make his stubborn aunt realize how dangerous New York had become. Convince her to leave the continent entirely before things got worse.
Nolan narrowed his eyes and opened the simulator interface.
Still dozens of hours before the next simulation became available.
He switched to the salvage page and stared at the options for a long moment.
After some hesitation, he selected ten salvage attempts.
[Countdown to salvage completion: 9 hours, 59 minutes, 59 seconds]
With that settled, Nolan closed the simulator and returned to his desk.
He pushed aside all thoughts of future crises—alien invasions, rampaging monsters, metahuman conflicts—and focused entirely on memorizing test answers.
Some problems required immediate attention. Others could wait.
Early morning, hours before dawn.
Persistent ringing dragged Nolan from deep sleep. He opened his eyes groggily, disoriented.
UR-025's mechanical voice emerged from his new phone.
"My lord, wake up. Please wake up."
Nolan took a deep breath and grabbed the phone. His voice emerged rough with sleep and irritation.
"UR-025, this better be good. If you don't have a damn solid reason for waking me up, I'm coming down there with the hell gun and giving you a laser shower you won't forget."
"Ah... Omnissiah preserve me, this is genuinely an emergency situation."
UR-025 actually hesitated, something Nolan had rarely heard from the AI.
"Your subordinate, Madam Gao, has launched her assault on Kingpin's headquarters. Approximately thirty minutes ago, the attack was progressing smoothly. Her forces successfully breached the building's exterior defenses and gained entry to the structure."
"So? As long as they're not massacring civilians, why should I care? It's just gang violence. Let them kill each other."
Nolan's frown deepened with confusion.
"That's precisely the problem, my lord. Madam Gao's operation is very likely to fail catastrophically."
UR-025's words made Nolan's eyes narrow.
"Kingpin's headquarters has been extensively modified with mechanical security systems. The internal structure is now a fortress with maze-like corridors and overlapping kill zones. His forces also significantly outnumber Madam Gao's personnel."
"If it's all mechanical security, can't you just seize control of his systems? At minimum, you could contact Madam Gao and guide her people through the building safely, right?"
Nolan forced patience into his tone.
UR-025's response made him sigh heavily.
"My lord... in order to avoid disturbing your rest, I took the initiative to handle these minor matters myself. I've already provided substantial assistance to Madam Gao's forces. However, several minutes ago, a mysterious organization called the Hand joined the battle against Madam Gao. They appear to be highly trained ninjas with no fear of death. Your subordinates have suffered severe casualties. I determined this required your immediate attention."
Nolan slowly sat up in bed. His expression darkened, eyebrows drawing together with barely contained violence.
"... Gang members are absolutely useless."
He threw off his blankets and stood.
"Forget it. I'll handle this personally."
His voice dropped into something cold and final.
"Time to send them all on their way."