Silvio Manfredi stood in the center of his hidden workshop before a mirror and looked at the new body he had built for himself. The metal skin was smooth. The joints moved without delay. The eyes glowed with a white light. It looked nothing like an old man anymore. He turned himself into a cyborg.
"Finally," He mumbled to himself.
He opened the side panel on the skull and pressed a small switch. The brain inside was not human. It was a perfect artificial brain, his own custom work. Every memory he ever had was copied and stored on a secure server. If this body died, the backup system would wake the second body and load the data. So, he won't have to worry about death.
Silvio smiled. It felt strange to smile with a metal jaw, but he enjoyed it anyway.
He walked toward the far side of the room, where the large doors slid open. A giant figure stood in the next chamber. It was a robot over fifteen feet tall. Dark vibranium plates covered it from head to toe.
He pressed his palm to the activation pad.
Lights came on across the robot's body in a slow rising pattern. Blue lines glowed along the limbs. The machine turned its head with a heavy motion and scanned the room.
Silvio nodded with satisfaction.
He checked the final numbers on his tablet. All systems were stable. Energy cores are full. Vibranium weapons loaded. The shields are functional. He had spent Kingpin's money like it was water. Every part of this machine was top quality. Black market vibranium, stolen power cells from an old Hammer facility, reinforced servos, illegal A I boosters hidden behind six encryption layers.
He pressed a button on the screen. The robot knelt with a loud whir of metal. Silvio stepped forward and placed his hand on its armored knee, showing no emotion.
"At last," he said in a plain voice. "No more limits. Even telepath won't be able to get into my head. I'll finally get to strangle that Frost bitch and rip apart the Punisher. Then... Stark. Or, should I go after Stark first and get rid of the main problem when I'm at my peak? Who to kill first? Humm..."
He sent the first command test.
The giant robot rose again and punched a steel wall. The wall bent inward like soft clay. Pieces fell to the floor. The entire chamber shook.
Silvio checked for errors. There were none.
Next, he issued a movement command. The machine moved forward. Its steps were heavy and direct, with no wobble or delay. It exhibited perfect control.
He saved the data, then connected his artificial brain to the command link. A thin cable ran from the back of his neck to the main console. The world shifted as his mind synced with the robot. He could see through its sensors. He could hear the hum of its power core. Every part of the machine felt like an extension of his own body.
He disconnected the cable and took a slow breath.
"It works."
He turned toward the TV on the far end of the room. He zoomed in his vision and saw the picture of Stark on the TV. He increased the volume.
The reporter smiled brightly on the screen, unaware she was giving a monster exactly what he wanted.
"Today, Tony Stark will visit Midtown School of Science and Technology. He will announce a new Stark Sponsorship program and speak with the students about their future plans."
Silvio tilted his head. The white glow in his eyes brightened.
"A school," he said quietly. "Perfect."
He moved closer to the screen and studied Stark's face as the reporter showed footage from an earlier interview. Tony smiled at the camera, joked with children, and looked relaxed.
Silvio felt a sense of satisfaction spread through his artificial chest.
"Look at you," he said quietly. "Happy and surrounded by kids who see you as a hero."
He tapped the tall robot's leg with the back of his metal hand.
"If I attack the school, Stark will rush in to help. That is his weakness."
He paced the room, his steps echoing off the steel walls.
"Even if I fail to kill him, I can ruin him. If I take hostages and he fails to save them, then he fails in front of the whole world. People will see children die while he is there. They will turn on him. They will call him weak. They will call him a fraud. They will hate him. They will say he should have seen it coming. They will say he should have stopped me. They always blame the hero."
Silvio smiled again.
"And I will enjoy every second of it."
He opened the control panel on his arm and typed a command. The fifteen-foot robot powered down for transport. Its lights dimmed. Its posture is locked into a compact state.
Silvio checked the time.
Stark would arrive at Midtown in three hours.
He brought up the map on his tablet. He marked the school. He marked the surrounding streets. He marked every possible exit.
"Today is the day I win."
He walked toward the exit of the workshop and opened the heavy door. Cold air rushed in from the underground ramp outside.
He looked back at the robot.
"Time to die, kiddos."
...
[Midtown School]
Midtown School of Science and Technology was packed in a way nobody had ever seen. Every student showed up. Nobody faked a stomachache to skip school. Even the chronic truants were here, clean and dressed like they wanted extra credit just for existing.
A long line of reporters stood behind the metal barriers outside the main gate. They held cameras and shouted questions at any adult who looked like they might know something. Security guards and a few NYPD officers kept the crowd back. Shield agents were mixed among the crowd to prevent unnecessary trouble. Stark Industries staff checked equipment near a small outdoor stage where Tony was supposed to speak.
The whole place buzzed like a shaken soda can.
Inside the courtyard, Peter Parker tried very hard to act normal. It was not working. He was really excited to meet Tony Stark.
He looked at Gwen and Ned with wide eyes. "I cannot believe this is happening. Tony Stark. Here. At our school. Like for real."
Ned held a notebook to his chest. "I brought a pen. What if he signs it? What if he signs my notebook? I am going to frame my notebook if he signs it."
Gwen looked calmer, but her smile gave her away. "I just want to hear him talk about his new projects. This is Stark. Stark. I mean, the guy is the smartest man in the world."
Peter nodded fast. "Yeah. And I heard he is bringing some kind of presentation. Maybe prototypes. Maybe a new drone. Maybe he will show us the new arc reactor model."
Ned poked Peter's shoulder. "Dude, what if he lets you try something? You always top the science classes."
Peter turned red. "C'mon. He is not going to let a random kid touch his tech."
Gwen grinned. "You never know. Stark likes smart people. And you are one of the smartest here."
Peter opened his mouth to respond, but he froze when a Stark Industries SUV rolled up to the curb. Reporters pushed forward. Cameras flashed in rapid fire. The security team got into position.
The school speakers crackled.
"Attention, students. Please stay in your assigned areas. I repeat, please stay in your assigned areas."
Ned squealed like a broken whistle. "He is here. He is actually here."
Gwen tried to whisper, but excitement made her voice loud. "Peter, try not to pass out, okay?"
"I am not going to pass out," Peter said. His voice cracked. "Probably."
The courtyard filled with cheers as more staff rushed around to prepare for the event. Teachers tried to keep order. Nobody listened. Everyone craned their necks toward the front gate.
Peter pushed his glasses up and tried to calm his heartbeat.
Tony stepped out of the SUV and the crowd exploded. Students screamed his name. Reporters almost climbed over the railings. Phones shot into the air like a forest of glowing rectangles.
Tony lifted one hand and waved with a relaxed smile.
"Morning, Midtown. You look awake. Gotta talk to the principal. I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere." He used the nanites in his bloodstream like a loudspeaker to make his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
The crowd cheered louder.
Pepper stepped out behind him. She wore a clean white suit and carried a tablet. She gave the crowd a polite smile. Natasha followed next. She wore a simple black suit.
Last came Mystique, disguised as an old man. Thin gray hair, heavy jacket, glasses. She walked with a slight limp. She looked like someone's quiet grandfather. No one gave her a second look.
Security opened a clear path. Tony walked forward. Pepper and Natasha stayed close. "Keep it tight," Pepper told the guards. Tony ignored most of the noise. He seemed more amused than bothered.
..[POWERSTONES AND REVIEWS]...
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