Chapter 15: Nanotechnology is future!
"Tony, hasn't your palladium poisoning already been cured? Why are you still handing over the company's management to Pepper?"
Li Yue asked curiously. In the movie, Tony had handed the company to Pepper because he thought he was dying. He even gave Rhodey one of his armors.
But now that his palladium poisoning was cured, why was he still doing the same? It didn't make sense to Li Yue.
"Li Yue, just because I'm not dying anymore –doesn't mean I have to run the company myself. Why do those two things have to be connected?"
Tony looked puzzled at the question.
"Ah… so this really is just what you want to do?"
"Of course," –Tony replied firmly. "After these past few weeks, I've realized I don't want to waste my time on corporate nonsense. I'd rather focus on upgrading my armor and doing what superheroes are supposed to do. And Pepper—she's the best person to run the company. I've always trusted her more than anyone. First, she'd never betray me. And second, she's way better at the job than I ever was. So handing it over to her has always been my genuine plan—not something I did just because I was dying."
Hearing Tony's honest answer, Li Yue finally understood. Tony wasn't escaping from responsibility—he was simply choosing to focus on what he truly cared about.
"Well, Tony," Li Yue grinned, "didn't you keep bugging me to check out your latest armor? Isn't now the perfect time?"
"You're right! I've been dying to show it off. Let's not waste any more time—come on, I'll show you my newest creation. You're gonna be blown away!"
With a face full of excitement, Tony led Li Yue to the underground lab. Meanwhile, Happy, who was still sore from Natasha's brutal takedown earlier, quietly slipped away. He didn't want to stick around and become the butt of Tony's jokes again.
Soon, Tony and Li Yue arrived in the lab. The first thing Li Yue saw was the display wall featuring the progression of Iron Man suits.
From left to right:
Mark I, the bulky, clunky armor Tony built in the cave to escape. It had since been rebuilt for display.
Mark II, Mark III, and Mark IV, all classic red-and-gold, with incremental improvements—better flight, stronger materials, upgraded weapons.
Then came Mark V, the first portable armor. It could be carried as a suitcase and deployed quickly without help from robotic arms. However, it sacrificed armor strength and weapon systems for portability.
Starting with Mark VI, the core reactor switched to a new element Tony synthesized—–represented by the new triangle-shaped chest light.
Tony explained all this with the enthusiasm of a proud inventor.
"These earlier models are just the appetizers," he said, beaming. "Now let me show you my latest masterpiece—Mark VII!"
He sounded like a salesman hyping up a product launch. Li Yue held back a laugh and listened politely, even though he was thinking, 'I've seen Mark 85. Why should I be impressed with this museum piece?' Of course, he kept that thought to himself.
Tony continued explaining.
"Mark VII's biggest innovation is the laser-guided tracking deployment system. No robotic arms needed anymore. Just one command to Jarvis, and the armor finds you and assembles on you in mid-air!"
He raised his wrist, showing off the sleek metal bracelets.
"Jarvis, initiate Mark VII deployment."
In a flash, the armor parts flew in from the walls, assembling around Tony with precision and speed. The transformation was seamless—and very cool.
Li Yue had to admit: Tony was a genius. Thanks to Li Yue's earlier interference in the timeline, Tony's tech was advancing even faster than in the original story. Mark VII—meant for the Battle of New York—was already complete way before it should have been.
Of course, Tony wouldn't just stand there after suiting up.
With a blast, he flew straight out of the villa, creating a sonic boom as he broke the sound barrier.
Standing on the rooftop, Li Yue watched Tony soar through the sky and couldn't help feeling a little envious.
'Man, I can teleport wherever I want… but I've never experienced the thrill of flying like that.'
Li Yue also wanted his own armor. Not the bulky stuff Tony had now—he was dreaming of the nano armor from the later movies. Sleek, powerful, and ultra-cool. It could form in seconds, adapt mid-battle, and even take a few hits from Thanos.
Soon, Tony returned from his test flight.
"So? Pretty amazing, right?" he said, clearly fishing for praise.
"You know," Tony added, "I was thinking of dividing the suit into modules. That way, I could have the pieces fly to me separately and assemble around me mid-air—even from far away. What do you think?"
He looked at Li Yue expectantly, hoping for a reaction.
But Li Yue just stayed calm, barely blinking.
"Tony, I think your future lies in… nanotechnology."
"Your current armor is great and all, but imagine armor made of nano-particles. It would deploy instantly, shape itself into weapons, and be super compact. That's the direction you should explore."
With that, Li Yue casually waved, "Well, I'm heading back now. Catch you later, Tony."
Before Tony could say anything, Li Yue vanished into thin air.
Tony stood frozen for a few seconds. Then, realization dawned.
"Nanotech… That little cheat! He must've seen this in the future. There's no way he came up with that on his own. He totally ripped off my future design!"
Knowing Li Yue came from another universe—and likely had knowledge of future events—Tony grumbled as he looked at his own armor.
"Still… that's actually a brilliant idea. As expected of myself. Nano armor… I have to make that happen."
"Jarvis, create a new file called 'Nano Warframe R&D' and store it on my private server. No one is allowed access without my direct permission," Tony commanded, already envisioning the possibilities nanotechnology could bring to his armor.
"Also, purchase every available theoretical and technological achievement in the field of nanotech. Compile them into a comprehensive study material—I'll start learning from scratch."
Tony was fired up. Just imagining how nanotech could revolutionize his suits made him impatient to begin. His mind was buzzing with ideas.
"And while you're at it," he added with a proud smirk, "look into the top scientists in the nanotech field. Contact them. Offer them a place at Stark Industries with a salary they can't refuse. Money is no object."
A few days later, Li Yue finally saw Tony again. He hadn't visited the Stark residence recently, and as expected, Tony had buried himself in his underground lab. He was obsessed with researching nanotech and barely emerged from his work.
However, such cutting-edge technology couldn't be mastered –in mere days. Despite his genius, Tony hadn't made much progress yet.
Then came the day of the Monaco Grand Prix.
A sleek Rolls-Royce slowly pulled up to the entrance. Happy stepped out from the driver's seat and opened the rear passenger door. Out stepped Tony Stark and Pepper Potts, dressed to the nines for the event.
From the front passenger seat, Li Yue got out as well—his first time riding in such a luxurious car.
The moment Tony appeared, the surrounding crowd erupted into a commotion. Luckily, the staff were prepared and had already set up barriers to keep the fans at bay. Tony and his entourage walked straight into the VIP banquet area.
Ahead of them stood Natasha Romanoff, dressed stunningly and ready to receive Tony. Pepper's smile faltered slightly when she saw Natasha speaking with Tony. Jealousy flared in her eyes, but she quickly forced a composed smile for the cameras.
Tony and Pepper led the way, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with the elites in attendance. Li Yue followed at a distance, avoiding the photographers' lenses.
Among the guests was Justin Hammer, whom Li Yue was seeing for the first time, along with the reporter who had once had a brief fling with Tony. After enduring an awkward string of social interactions, Tony finally slipped away with Li Yue to a private lounge.
"Tony, are you all set?" Li Yue asked. "Don't mess this up or you'll end up embarrassing yourself in front of everyone."
"Relax," Tony grinned. "Everything's ready. I've got this under control. Just wait for Ivan to show up—then watch me take him down."
He added jokingly, "But you better keep an eye on me. Wouldn't want me dying in a car crash before I even get to the fight."
Li Yue rolled his eyes–. "Come on, you know what I can do. Just go enjoy the race. I've got your back in case of any mishaps."
"Now that's what I like to hear!" Tony beamed. "I've always wanted to try racing but never had the chance. This is the perfect opportunity!"
Li Yue smirked. "What do you mean 'never had the chance'? You were just too scared!"
Tony didn't even try to deny it. Instead, he said proudly, "Hey, I value my life!"
Soon, the race was about to begin—but Pepper suddenly realized Tony had disappeared.
She anxiously scanned the monitors in the control room and spotted Tony in a blue racing suit, casually jumping over the pit wall to speak with the staff.
The workers were stunned. Tony Stark—billionaire, tech mogul, superhero—was about to race himself?
"Do rich people have a death wish or something?" one of the crew muttered. Still, no one dared to stop him. In fact, some were even excited to see it.
One unfortunate driver was pulled out of the race to make room for Tony. Furious, he tossed his helmet and stormed off. Tony, meanwhile, climbed into the car, ready to live out his racing dream.
Everything was being broadcast live on television. The crowd erupted when they saw Tony Stark behind the wheel—it instantly became the highlight of the event.
The most worried person watching, however, was Pepper. She immediately called Natasha.
"Did you know Tony was going to race?" she asked, trying to keep calm but clearly distressed.
"I just found out!" Natasha replied, equally surprised. "The files said he'd cured his palladium poisoning and built a new reactor—why would he pull a stunt like this now? Has he lost his mind?"
Even if they wanted to stop him, it was already too late. The race had started.
Tony was like a man possessed on the track. He weaved, drifted, and overtook cars with breathtaking skill—and zero concern for safety. It was adrenaline-fueled madness.
Watching the broadcast, Li Yue sighed in frustration. "This guy… he really trusts me way too much."
But deep down, he was ready. No matter what happened, he would make sure Tony Stark walked away from this in one piece.
Natasha, standing nearby, was equally stunned.
'Is this really Tony? Driving like a maniac in the middle of a public race—does he have no sense of self-preservation?' she thought, eyes wide.
Meanwhile, Ivan Vanko, disguised among the race staff, watched Tony's reckless driving with a frown. 'At this rate, maybe I won't even need to do anything. The guy might crash himself,' he mused sarcastically. But of course, he wouldn't pass up such a golden opportunity. Tony Stark was rarely seen without his armor, and this was his chance.
Ivan stepped over the track barrier. As he walked onto –the track, his coat burned away in a flash of heat, revealing a rough exoskeleton suit powered by a glowing Arc Reactor at his chest. With a flick of his arms, two electrified whips extended from his hands, crackling with deadly arcs of energy, ready to strike as Tony's car approached.
Tony, on the other hand, was thoroughly enjoying himself. This was the first time he'd truly indulged in a race—pure speed, no armor, just adrenaline. 'Even better than flying in the suit,' he thought with a grin.
Suddenly, Jarvis's voice chimed in his ear.
"Sir, there is an unidentified person ahead on the track. I recommend immediate evasion."
Tony's smile widened. 'He's finally here.'
"Jarvis, initiate Mark VII. Prepare deployment."
As Tony eased his car to the side of the track, slowing down smoothly, the event announcer's panicked voice came over the speakers, alerting everyone to the unexpected intruder. The crowd gasped as cameras focused on Ivan's menacing form.
Back in the viewing area, Pepper gasped in horror when she saw the broadcast. "Tony!" she muttered anxiously. She turned to see Happy arriving with a red suitcase in hand—the portable armor.
Without hesitation, they rushed to the Rolls-Royce. But before they could open the car, the trunk suddenly popped open. A red device shot upward into the sky, unfolding into the Mark VII suit mid-air, and blasted toward Tony at high speed.
Tony had parked well away from Ivan—thanks to Li Yue's earlier warning about Ivan's love for whips. 'I'm not driving headfirst into that mess. I'm crazy, not suicidal,' he thought.
As Ivan realized how far Tony had stopped from him—nearly a hundred meters—he looked confused. 'What the hell? Aren't you supposed to come charging at me like a hero?'
But Tony had no intention of playing into his hands. He calmly exited the car and waited, letting the armor find him.
Ivan, now frustrated and slightly embarrassed, started running toward Tony—an awkward sight, considering he was still carrying the electrified whips. 'This is ridiculous,' he thought, trying not to trip while charging with dramatic flair.
The audience was dumbfounded. Moments ago, Ivan had looked like a big villain making a grand entrance—and now, he was jogging across the track, whips in hand, looking more like a circus act than a threat.
Within seconds, the Mark VII arrived, locking onto Tony and assembling itself around him with mechanical precision. In under ten seconds, Tony was fully suited, standing tall in red and gold armor.
Ivan, panting and only a few meters away now, raised his right arm and lashed out with his whip.
Tony didn't flinch. He raised his palm, light building up in his repulsor.
A blast of white energy shot forward, hitting Ivan square in the chest and flinging him backward. He hit the ground hard, groaning as sparks flew from his battered armor.
Tony casually walked over and punched him—lightly, but enough to send teeth flying and bloody his face. Then he reached down, grabbed the Arc Reactor from Ivan's chest, and yanked it out.
"Junk," Tony muttered, tossing the device to Jarvis for analysis.
Ivan coughed and muttered, "Should've caught you without the suit..."
Tony shook his head, amused. 'This was the big bad Li Yue warned me about? Really?'
Still, he acknowledged the danger. 'Yeah... without the armor, that would've been ugly.'
Security finally arrived, just in time to clean up. Police followed, looking official but clearly late to the party. They dragged a beaten Ivan Vanko away as he screamed one last curse:
"Tony Stark! You'll die from palladium poisoning! Miserably!"
Tony flipped his faceplate open and smirked. No fear. No reaction. Just a look that said Nice try.
"Sorry to disappoint you," Tony said calmly, looking down at Ivan. "I've already solved the palladium poisoning problem."
Upon hearing this, Ivan Vanko felt a surge of frustration explode in his chest. He choked, nearly coughing up blood, and almost passed out from rage. 'Everything... everything was for nothing. Not only did I fail to kill him—I've lost everything.'
As the authorities dragged him away, he left behind only a single shoe on the track, a silent witness to the madness that had just unfolded.
Tony turned to the cheering crowd and gave them a casual wave. The audience erupted in applause. Then, with a sharp mechanical ding and a burst of flame from his boots, he shot into the sky.
Of course, he didn't go far. He landed beside his Rolls-Royce, calmly removed the armor, restored it to its compact suitcase form, and stored it in the back of the car.
Pepper rushed over, visibly upset. "Tony! What the hell were you thinking? Why would you do something so reckless? Racing like that—you could've been killed!"
From a distance, Li Yue had been watching everything unfold. He was genuinely surprised. 'Ivan Vanko is... this weak? I remember his whip tricks being far more impressive in the movie from my past life.'
Still, things had gone smoothly, and Li Yue wasn't about to complain.
"Tony," Li Yue said, approaching him, "Since this matter is handled, I'll take my leave. But be careful—Vanko's ability to create an Arc Reactor might attract the interest of some powerful people."
Tony's expression turned serious. "I know. I'll handle it."
With that, Li Yue vanished using his powers, not waiting around for any more drama.
Later, Tony made his way to the prison where Ivan was being held. He was let in without issue, and soon stood face-to-face with Vanko, who was sitting on the edge of his cot, battered but still defiant.
Tony held a wooden box in his hand, but didn't open it yet.
"Ivan Vanko," he began. "Son of Anton Vanko. I don't get it—why all this hatred? You have the technology to build a reactor. You could've sold it to any number of countries. Made millions. Why attack me?"
Ivan's eyes burned with rage. "Ask your father! Ask him what he did to mine!"
Tony frowned. "My father? What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb!" Ivan shouted. "The tech on your chest—my father helped create it. But your father accused him of being a spy, had him deported like garbage. Everything I've done—it's all a gift from your father!"
Tony was silent for a moment, thoughtful. I'll have to ask Fury about this later...
"I don't know if any of that's true," Tony finally said. "And honestly, I don't care. What matters is you tried to kill me. So you'll spend your remaining time in prison."
He turned to leave but paused at the door.
"Oh, right—almost forgot. A little gift for you."
He placed the wooden box beside Ivan and opened it.
Inside was a bar of soap.
Ivan stared at it, confused—and growing angrier by the second.
Moments after Tony left, a group of men in suits entered the prison. Leading them was a bald, bespectacled man in a sleek suit.
"We're from S.H.I.E.L.D.," the man said, handing over official documents. "We're here to transfer a high-priority prisoner. Ivan Vanko."
The warden studied the papers and found nothing out of place. "Alright, follow me."
As they reached Vanko's cell, a massive BOOM! erupted from inside. The explosion blew the group off their feet, sending them crashing to the ground.
The bald agent groaned and stood up, his glasses askew. He looked toward the burning cell and barked, "Rumlow! Check if the prisoner is still alive!"
Rumlow moved quickly, stepping over debris. A few seconds later, he shouted, "No pulse. The prisoner's dead."
Outside, Tony sat quietly in his luxury car. The explosion echoed in the distance.
He sighed, looking toward the prison.
"Ivan Vanko... still so hot-headed."
Tony hadn't wanted to take such drastic action, but after Li Yue's warning, he'd made up his mind. Some problems are better dealt with once and for all.
"But what the hell was S.H.I.E.L.D. doing there?" Tony muttered to himself, confusion and suspicion flickering in his eyes. He didn't know why S.H.I.E.L.D. had shown up at the prison, but it definitely wasn't just a social visit. The only logical reason? Ivan Vanko.
"Looks like S.H.I.E.L.D. might not be as trustworthy as I thought." With that unsettling thought, Tony slammed his foot on the gas. The luxury car roared to life, speeding away into the night.
"Sir Pierce, the target is dead. We arrived too late." A voice crackled over the secure comms, cold and clinical.
Tony's Malibu Villa, Li Yue sat calmly on the couch, sipping a drink, when Tony returned from Monaco.
"So? Is the Ivan Vanko situation handled?"
he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Tony threw himself down beside him, looking tired but tense.
"Yeah, it's done. But I saw S.H.I.E.L.D. agents at the prison. Is that what you meant earlier, about someone 'interested' in Vanko? Are you saying it was them?"
Li Yue's expression darkened slightly.
"S.H.I.E.L.D.? Are you sure it was them? Did you recognize anyone?"
Tony nodded. "The one leading them was bald. Jarvis hacked into their personnel files. His name's Sitwell. And with him was Brock Rumlow, head of their Rapid Response Strike Team. Sound familiar?"
Li Yue's eyes narrowed. He went silent for a moment before sighing.
"Well… I wasn't going to tell you this yet. But it looks like you're already tangled up in it. Tony, those people you saw—they're not just S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. They're Hydra. Agents embedded deep within S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Wait, what? Hydra?! You mean the Hydra from World War II? The one Cap fought? They're still around? I thought they were wiped out!" Tony's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Only one branch was destroyed in the war. The truth is, Hydra has been around for thousands of years. The version you know—Red Skull's Hydra—was just one offshoot."
Li Yue leaned forward, voice low and serious.
"After WWII, Hydra infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D. through Project Paperclip. Your father helped found S.H.I.E.L.D., but in its early days, Hydra embedded itself so deep, no one realized it. They've been pulling strings from the shadows ever since."
Tony stared at him, stunned.
Before either of them could say more, the villa's security system was overridden. A group of people walked in through the front door without permission.
Leading them was a tall, one-eyed man in a long black coat—Nick Fury.
Behind him: Phil Coulson, Maria Hill, Steve Rogers, and Natasha Romanoff, dressed in full tactical gear.
"Sir, my –system's being forcibly rewritten," Jarvis announced.
Tony jumped up, glaring at Natasha. "You! You're fired!"
Natasha didn't even blink. "Not your decision to make anymore."
Then, Steve Rogers stepped forward, voice calm but confused.
"Sorry to interrupt, but did I just hear you say that Hydra is still active? I remember destroying them with my own hands. I gave up everything for that war—what's going on here?"
Li Yue stood up politely, offering his hand.
"Captain Rogers. It's an honor. I'm Li Yue."
Steve shook his hand firmly, though his expression was still troubled.
Tony remained seated, arms crossed, glaring at everyone in the room. This day kept getting worse.
He muttered under his breath, "No wonder you told me to be careful about her…"
Fury finally spoke, cutting through the tension.
"Mr. Li Yue, I think it's time you explain this Hydra business in detail. If S.H.I.E.L.D. has been compromised, I need to know exactly what we're dealing with."
Everyone turned their eyes to Li Yue, awaiting his answer.
Li Yue nodded and began.
"The Hydra you know—the one founded by Red Skull—is not the only Hydra. That was only a shadow of something older and more dangerous. The true Hydra dates back nearly 1,400 years."
He paused.
"It was founded to worship and one day bring back a powerful being—a man with terrifying abilities who was exiled to a distant planet. The organization's entire purpose has always been to ensure his return. Over centuries, different branches of Hydra rose and fell, all connected to that singular goal."
Everyone was –silent as they absorbed this revelation.
Finally, Li Yue looked straight at Fury and said:
"You think you're running S.H.I.E.L.D.? But with Hydra inside your walls, you might as well rename it, the Snake Shield Bureau."
...…..
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