Kai blinked against the harsh California sun. The sound of a car engine approaching roused him from his restless thoughts. A sleek Audi R8 rolled to a smooth stop in front of him. The window lowered, revealing a familiar face from the Stark Industries security files he'd glanced at once — Happy Hogan.
"You must be Kai," Happy said, squinting behind his sunglasses. "Mr. Stark sent me. Hop in."
Kai hesitated only a moment before opening the door and sliding into the passenger seat. The leather interior smelled expensive, like something he'd never imagined riding in. As the car sped down the winding road, the coastline stretching beside them, Kai couldn't help but wonder if he was dreaming. The Omnitrix, resting dormant on his wrist, pulsed faintly — as if it too sensed the strange, tangled fate ahead.
"So," Happy said casually, "how exactly do you know Mr. Stark?"
Kai hesitated. "Let's just say… I was in the right place at the wrong time. Or maybe the wrong place at the right time."
Happy raised a brow but didn't press further. "You'll fit right in."
---
Stark Mansion – Malibu
The moment the car pulled up, the mansion's glass doors parted with a soft hiss. Inside, the house was exactly what Kai imagined a billionaire's home would look like — spacious, sleek, full of light and cutting-edge tech. And there he was.
Tony Stark, clad in a Black Sabbath tee and jeans, strolled into view holding a holographic tablet in one hand and a coffee in the other.
"Hey, Kid," Tony said, flashing that unmistakable Stark smirk. "Glad you made it. Happy didn't give you too much of a hard time, did he?"
Kai shook his head, awed by how casually Tony spoke.
"Good. Come in. We've got a lot to talk about." Tony turned and gestured for him to follow.
As they walked inside, Pepper Potts appeared from the kitchen. Her professional grace was offset by a hint of concern in her eyes.
"This is the one?" she asked Tony, glancing at Kai. "He looks young."
"He is," Tony replied. "But that thing on his wrist isn't just a fancy watch."
Kai lifted his arm slightly, the Omnitrix's green core glowing subtly. Pepper's eyes widened.
"What is it?" she asked.
Tony shrugged. "That's what I want to find out. Come on, Kai — the lab's downstairs."
---
Stark's Lab
Tony's basement workshop was unlike anything Kai had seen — even with all the alien tech he'd been near. Holograms floated in midair. Robotic arms hung from the ceiling, some whirring softly as they worked on parts of the Iron Man armor. A half-assembled suit stood nearby, its chest cavity open.
Tony sat at a console and gestured for Kai to stand in the scanning area.
"Let's run a few non-invasive scans on that thing. Don't worry, JARVIS is gentle."
"Understood, sir," said the AI's calm British voice. "Initiating spectral analysis."
A beam of soft blue light swept over Kai and the Omnitrix. The device glowed brighter in response, its core humming.
Tony glanced at the screen. "Huh. That tech doesn't match anything in the global database. Not Vibranium, not Wakandan, not . It's like it's rewriting the rules."
Kai nodded. "It's called the Omnitrix. It lets me transform into different alien lifeforms. But… it's not from this world."
Tony looked intrigued. "Alien tech. And you said you found it?"
"Not exactly. It found me."
Tony leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowed. "That thing's operating on a level I can barely comprehend. Which means… it could be dangerous."
Kai lowered his arm. "It depends on who's using it."
Tony studied him for a moment. "That's the right answer."
As the scans finished, Kai noticed Tony was sweating more than before. His hands trembled slightly. He tried to hide it, but Kai's eyes were sharp.
"You're sick," Kai said quietly.
Tony sighed and pulled down the collar of his shirt slightly to reveal the arc reactor embedded in his chest. Black veins spiderwebbed outward from it — faint, but visible.
"Palladium poisoning. This thing's keeping me alive… and killing me at the same time."
Kai frowned. "You built all of this while slowly dying?"
"Necessity's the mother of invention," Tony replied. "And I have a thing about not dying before my next birthday."
Pepper's voice chimed in from upstairs. "Tony! Coulson just called. He says he's on his way."
Tony groaned. "Great. SHIELD's sending the homework police."
He turned to Kai. "Listen, you've got something powerful. SHIELD's gonna want to catalog you. Study you. Maybe even lock you up if they think you're a threat. So before they get here, I want to know… can I trust you?"
Kai met his eyes. "I'm not here to hurt anyone. But if someone comes after me or this watch… I'll defend myself."
Tony grinned. "Good. You've got some backbone. You'll need it."
He tossed a small metallic disk toward Kai, who caught it mid-air.
"What's this?" Kai asked.
"Something I whipped up years ago. Portable scanner. Tracks energy signatures — might help you identify alien tech if you run into more of it."
Kai stared at the device. It was advanced, compact, and lightyears beyond anything Earth should have.
"Thanks," he said.
"Don't thank me yet," Tony replied. "You're officially on the radar now. SHIELD, — hell, maybe even worse. You'll need friends. And a place to stay."
Kai's shoulders relaxed a little. For the first time since this journey began, he felt a flicker of belonging.
"I guess I'm staying in the Marvel Universe, then," Kai said, half-joking.
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Marvel what?"
Kai smiled. "Never mind."