Minerva informed me that Vision had backed himself up before the battle. Knowing that Ultron used the regeneration cradle to create a body, he must have foreseen this outcome. So, with the backup Minerva had stored, we rebuilt his body, uploaded Vision's consciousness, and awakened him with a powerful electrical surge.
Then, from the box containing the regeneration cradle, Vision began to rise. Perhaps because he had experienced this before, he calmly stood up and came over to greet me.
"Hello, Cassian. So, it seems I've been reborn as expected."
"That's right. It ended up that way."
I showed Vision the footage of our fight. After watching it for a while, he asked me a question.
"Cassian, are you familiar with the Ship of Theseus?"
"Yes, I know it. It's the thought experiment: 'If the wooden planks of the Ship of Theseus rot and are continuously replaced with new planks, until all the original planks are gone, is it still the Ship of Theseus?'"
"Am I really Vision?"
Vision seemed momentarily confused about his identity.
"I think you're Vision, at least. You have his memories, and your body was made using the original Vision's materials."
"I see. So, my body is composed of the original planks, not new ones."
"Exactly."
After a moment of thought, Vision made a request. I agreed to it without hesitation.
"Then, I'll be in your care."
"Sure. And take this card; buy whatever you need."
"Thank you for your consideration."
Vision and I stopped by headquarters to greet the other members. Naturally, they were shocked to see the new Vision. So, I explained it to them.
Banner asked Vision.
"I see, that's a relief. Then, should we remove the tombstone for Vision that we set up at the back of headquarters?"
It seemed that while I was busy, the members had made a tombstone for Vision.
"No, leave it. I am Vision, but I'm different from the Vision who sacrificed himself. It's more accurate to see me as a branched version of Vision, not a completely separate entity."
Vision seemed to define his identity that way. I showed Vision to his quarters. After looking around, he went out to the city, bought some items, and decorated his room. The members were surprised that Vision, who had died, suddenly appeared, and Tony was busy with aftermath work, so Vision's welcome party was forgotten.
I decided to upgrade Vulture's equipment and Hawkeye's new bow with Tinkerer and android Mimi. To improve Vulture's gear, which had high consumable usage, I added a plasma cannon and made a plasma rifle. For Hawkeye's bow, I worked on increasing its stability.
While doing this, I also repaired the Nu Gundam. Tinkerer helped enthusiastically, so it was fixed quickly. After the repairs, Tinkerer said that a Gundam piloted by an AI wasn't a 'Mobile Suit,' then holed up in his workshop and started researching something.
'What is he up to? Is he really trying to put a human in the Gundam?'
I knew Tinkerer had been interested in Gundam, but I didn't realize he was this serious. Since the members were on vacation, I let him be.
Anyway, I handed the upgraded bow to Hawkeye. The new bow transformed from a belt-like form with a button, and he seemed satisfied. But he kept his old bow for stealth reasons. So, he decided to use two bows from now on.
With things sorted, I went to Gundam Island. This 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' had hit me hard; the combat drones for Earth were reduced from 1,500 to just 100. So, I decided to produce combat drones with shields and plasma cannons, like those in Nowhere. I judged that apart from Thanos' invasion, there wouldn't be much use for drones.
Then, I moved to Nowhere and teleported to check Luminar (the spaceship) and Arcadia (the production base). Arcadia was complete, but Luminar still needed time. So, I stored Arcadia and the drones in my inventory.
In Nowhere, aside from population growth, nothing much was happening. Residential construction was proceeding smoothly.
'Hmm... When exactly does "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" start...'
It was frustrating. There was no way to know when space events would occur. Even asking Ravagers or Carina and Karuna, they hadn't heard any rumors.
'I thought it happened in 2014, but no news yet... Has the future changed? I need to deal with Ego to rest easy...'
Thinking about it, there was nothing I could do, so I handled only important matters and returned to Earth. But trouble broke out at Avengers headquarters. A crowd of reporters and people had gathered, demanding to see the Gundam.
"What on earth is going on?"
I asked Mewmew why this happened.
"Tony Stark uploaded videos of the Nu Gundam in action and footage taken at headquarters to his social network."
"What???"
The Nu Gundam was at headquarters after repairs. While I was away, Tony must have filmed with it. Minerva even struck poses, I heard.
'Tony, this guy!'
Then, I got a call from the Japanese Prime Minister.
"Yes, Prime Minister."
"Chairman Cassian, please consider a Japanese pilot."
I was puzzled. I vaguely agreed. But the problem grew worse.
-The story of the Nu Gundam has the world buzzing. Chairman Cassian told the Japanese Prime Minister he was considering a Japanese pilot, so Japan is in a festive mood.
The TV was filled with such news. It was too late to explain.
"This is insane... What should I do..."
As I worried, Natasha chimed in.
"Just select a pilot. That'll solve it."
"That's not the problem. To withstand the G-forces, you need a body stronger than a Super Soldier. Otherwise, you'll die."
Just then, Tinkerer burst in, showing equations and said.
"I found it! A way to reduce G-forces in a giant robot!!! The answer lies in Evangelion!!!"
I wondered what he meant.
"So, filling the cockpit with liquid to reduce G-forces."
"You mean 'perfluorodecalin'?"
"Yes. According to my calculations..."
Tinkerer explained, but the conclusion was to fill the cockpit with liquid. There was logic, but only with no intense movements.
"That makes sense. But in liquid, reaction speed slows, and breathing is hard, so lungs could fail. With current science, it's impossible."
"Ah... I see. I didn't consider viscosity..."
Tinkerer understood. I think only LCL from Evangelion works, but that's Lilith's blood, so we can't make it here.
'But in Gundam, how do they withstand Gs? I can't understand.'
Tinkerer looked dejected and said.
"So, the only way is to strengthen the pilot's body."
"Pretty much."
"Then... what if we use the Super Soldier serum from HYDRA..."
Tinkerer cautiously brought it up. Natasha got angry.
"What??? Tinkerer! HYDRA's serum has a low success rate; failure could kill!"
I spoke up.
"No... I've eliminated the side effects. Enhancement is possible."
"What, what???"
Natasha was shocked, and Tinkerer brightened.
"Besides HYDRA, SHIELD had research data. I studied it. But using it carelessly could lead to abuse and ethical issues. And I don't want to; the Gundam fights well without a pilot."
Hearing that, Natasha relaxed.
"Phew... That puts my mind at ease."
But Tinkerer insisted the Gundam needs a pilot.
"I'll find another way!"
And he holed up again.
"Good grief..."
A few days later, Japan called again, asking me to judge pilot selections. I said I'd choose myself to buy time.
"Ugh... This is driving me crazy..."
While pondering, Tinkerer showed up with a beard and a strange smell.
"Chairman!!! What about this G-suit?"
He showed the G-suit design. I told him first.
"Tinkerer, shower and change first. You smell terrible! How long have you been in the workshop?"
"Heh! Sorry. I was focused. I'll be right back."
After he left, I checked the blueprint. It was a suit that inflates to reduce impact, highly refined. Selling it could earn a fortune, showing his effort.
'Western fans show extreme obsession...'
But my calculations showed it wasn't enough for giant robot Gs.
Later, Tinkerer returned cleaned up.
"Chairman, how is the blueprint?"
"Sigh... Okay, you win. Let's try putting a person in."
I was impressed, so I agreed to look for a pilot. Tinkerer cried with joy.
"Thank you, Chairman!"
But I needed someone reliable, so I decided carefully.
'Hmm... What Japanese Marvel heroes are there...'
There aren't many. 'Sunfire,' Yoshida Shiro, but if he existed, he'd be famous. Then Penny Parker, a Spider-Man from another universe in a mechanical suit.
'I wonder if both exist here.'
I asked Minerva to look. Yoshida Shiro was either old or a child, and Penny Parker was one, a 14-year-old girl in Tokyo, a distant relative of Peter Parker.
"In the original, she's young too... I should meet her."
I flew to Japan. When I arrived, there was an uproar about selecting a pilot.
I stayed at a hotel and researched Penny. Her father was her only family; her mother died in an accident. She attended Aoyama Academy, was outgoing, and liked video games.
'I feel bad dragging a peaceful girl into this...'
I lounged, then went car shopping. I liked the Suzuki Hustler and ordered about ten.
Reporters followed me, disappointed when I just bought cars and returned. I shook them off, let bodyguards rest, teleported, and waited at Penny's house.
Her house was modest. I didn't wait long before Penny came home. She looked like in "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse."
I approached her.
"Hey, you're Penny Parker, right?"
"Huh? Who? Gasp!!! Cassian!!! Is this a dream?"
She kept pinching her cheeks.
"Ouch! It's not a dream... What brings you here... I mean..."
Her face turned red as she rambled. I chuckled. She didn't seem bad.
"I heard you're good at games, so I came for a match."
"Oh, really? I am, hehe."
"Want to play together?"
"Sure! I was bored."
She followed without hesitation.
"Aren't you worried I might be bad, agreeing so easily?"
"You're an Avenger. I can trust you."
"I guess so."
"Your Japanese is really good?"
"I've mastered every language on Earth."
"Ehh~ liar."
"It's true. For a genius, it's easy."
"You're so full of yourself."
"I'm just telling the truth."
Walking and talking, she relaxed. We arrived at the game center. I paid for the games. People were shocked but just watched.
"You choose the game."
"Let's start with Tekken."
"Fine."
I didn't lose a round, winning perfectly.
"How is this possible... I've competed nationally."
"Then that's Japan's gaming level."
"Ugh... Let's play something else!"
Same results. I crushed them.
"This is unbelievable..."
She stared incredulously.
"If nothing else, let's head back."
"Oh... okay..."
She seemed reluctant but followed. Before home, I bought ice creams. She asked while eating.
"Hey... how are you so good? Your reaction speed is insane."
"That's because I'm an Avenger."
"Ugh! Seriously!"
She stabbed her ice cream angrily.
We arrived. Lights were on, so her father was home.
"Losing wasn't fun, but nice to meet a celebrity."
She said goodbye, but my purpose was just starting.
"Let's go in. I have something to say to your father."
"Huh? We weren't parting?"
Ignoring her, I rang the bell. Richard Parker opened the door.
"Who is it... Gasp!!! Avenger Cassian???"