A new day dawned over New York, and for Su Yi, it meant a reset in strategy. He quickly reviewed the digital reports from the previous night. The media coverage was a predictable echo chamber: Electro had been cleanly neutralized before causing catastrophic damage, a testament to the speed and efficiency of the mysterious Iron Celestial (now publicly dubbed the "Golden Guardian").
The stark difference in performance, however, became the new narrative. Little Spider Peter Parker had failed dramatically, succumbing to a voltage shock and requiring rescue. He now faced a wave of public criticism for being "outmatched" and "too weak" for the city's emerging threats.
In the eyes of everyone, a significant, perhaps insurmountable, gap in strength now existed between the street-level hero and the armored celestial.
Su Yi paid little heed to the fleeting opinions of the public. Peter had survived, he had learned his lesson about the perils of pure idealism, and he would bounce back. Su Yi's focus was already several steps ahead.
Early this morning, he drove alone to Tony Stark's private research campus, preparing to check on his most valuable asset, his primary tool for accelerating technological development.
The threat from Justin Hammer and Ivan Vanko had been nullified by their preemptive arrests, robbing Tony of the chance for his Iron Man 2 character arc. Similarly, while Killian was still lurking, he had become cautious.
After Tony successfully wooed Maya Hansen back to his side, Killian had quickly transferred and perfectly hidden all research related to Extremis. S.H.I.E.L.D. had nothing tangible to charge him with.
Killian, fueled by his long-standing grudge from the rooftop snub, was undoubtedly waiting for the Extremis research to be completed before enacting his revenge on Tony Stark. For now, however, the lab was safe.
Su Yi's first encounter upon entering the research facility wasn't Tony, but Dr. Helen Cho. She was the picture of scientific focused brilliance, yet slightly weary.
"Helen, good morning," Su Yi greeted, offering a relaxed smile.
"Good morning, Su Yi. You're certainly a sight for sore eyes," Helen replied, returning the smile.
"It's been a month, and you're still as radiant as ever. It looks like your research is progressing very well," Su Yi complimented, noticing the faint lines of fatigue around her eyes, a scientist's badges of honor.
Helen, however, was in a complaining mood. "Actually, the research has run into a small, infuriating problem. And Tony Stark… well, he's been intensely irritable lately. I'm even thinking of trying to formally have him kicked out of his own laboratory just for a day of peace."
"I absolutely support you in doing that," Su Yi laughed. "Perhaps a compulsory beach vacation is in order."
As the two approached the main Nanotech lab, they heard Tony's voice before they even stepped through the doorway.
"Damn it! How could the self-replicating mesh keep failing the structural integrity test at the apex connection point? J.A.R.V.I.S., rerun the phase-space model with a hexagonal tertiary structure—no, make it a modified octagonal lattice!"
Su Yi leaned against the doorframe, watching Tony furiously gesture at a holographic projection. "Hey, Tony. It seems you've run into a tiny bit of trouble."
Tony Stark, looking up with dark circles under his eyes and a half-eaten bag of greasy chips in his hand, threw his hands up in defeat.
"Tiny trouble? This isn't trouble, Su Yi, this is a physical roadblock defined by the laws of quantum thermodynamics. I can't get the Nanotech armor to maintain its structural integrity when transitioning from the liquid phase to the solid suit form under rapid G-forces. It's like trying to build a castle out of butter using chopsticks."
Tony quickly calmed himself, realizing he was speaking to someone who might actually understand the theoretical physics at play. He launched into a rapid-fire explanation of the Nanotechnology challenge.
Su Yi listened intently. His own intelligence level was sky-high, yet in the specific, bleeding-edge field of Nanotech engineering, he still deferred to the combined experience of Tony and Helen. He could follow the logic, but offering a specific, constructive solution was difficult without having devoted deep, specialized time to the problem.
"It certainly looks troublesome, Tony," Su Yi observed. "But I believe you can solve it. The flaw seems localized to the assembly matrix. Have you tried modulating the magnetic fields at the connection points with a pulsed-EM signature to briefly super-cool the lattice during the formation phase? Try a few more modulation models."
"I'm doing exactly that. Model 78 is running now," Tony replied, relaxing slightly now that he had a sympathetic, intelligent ear. He casually picked up a protein bar from the table. "Want some actual food, or are you still relying on cosmic dust for sustenance?"
"No thanks, I'm good." Su Yi declined the snack. He pulled Tony aside, their conversation immediately dropping in volume and focus.
"How's Maya Hansen's initial research on the Senzu Bean going?"
"The research has just begun," Tony reported, his enthusiasm returning at the mention of a biological challenge.
"She's simultaneously studying the mechanisms of the Senzu Bean—how it generates such rapid cellular regeneration—and, more practically, how to cultivate it in our environment. But plant growth takes time, Su Yi. I think by the time my Nanotechnology Iron Man Armor research is successful, she might not have succeeded in yielding a significant crop."
Tony's lab was, predictably, top-notch, utilizing the best hydroponics and controlled atmosphere systems money could buy. But biology demanded patience, and that was a currency Tony Stark rarely carried.
Su Yi's gaze became serious, an intensity that always commanded Tony's attention. "I have something new. Something far more complex, and frankly, far more dangerous. I acquired a new plant from another World. It is reputed to be able to fundamentally extend one's lifespan."
Tony Stark, who had been lazily chewing on the protein bar, froze. The bar stopped halfway to his mouth. The levity vanished from the room, replaced by a sudden, metallic silence. He understood the profound, terrifying significance of those words instantly.
Something that extended life wouldn't just cause a sensation; it would cause madness.
"Do you know what this thing means?" Tony asked, his voice low, his eyes drilling into Su Yi's.
"Of course I know," Su Yi affirmed. "It means the end of the existing social contract. Everyone will eventually die; that's the single fairest truth in this universe. If eternal life, or even just a significantly extended life, suddenly appeared, it would immediately ignite a desperate, bloody struggle among the global elite. They would endlessly exploit ordinary people—wage wars, destroy nations—to maintain their elevated status and protect their longevity."
He continued, laying out the apocalyptic implications with cold clarity: "This would cause a colossal impact on the existing world order. It's the ultimate temptation, the Divine Object that could cause a World-wide commotion far greater than any armor or weapon."
Tony leaned back against the workstation, rubbing his temples. "Extremis was bad enough; it gave people power but cost them stability. This gives people time. Time is the only thing the wealthy truly lack."
"However, whether it can be successfully researched, cultivated, and safely administered is still utterly uncertain," Su Yi countered.
"And here is the crucial difference: even if it does succeed, the research results will be in our hands. We can limit production, limit access, and modulate the life-extending effect. We can be the bottleneck, the ultimate controllers of the timeline."
Tony took a deep, unsteady breath. The idea was intoxicating—to hold the keys to the kingdom of time—but the risk was monumental.
"You need to be prepared, Su Yi," Tony warned, his gaze hardening. "In its original World, where this plant came from, someone researched this same phenomenon. As a result of a minor experiment, a common baby snake was reported to have grown into a massive, city-destroying python in a ridiculously short amount of time. This isn't just a longevity serum; it's a catalyst for accelerated, untamed biological growth."
Tony could feel the immense, almost uncontrollable danger of this plant. He estimated that the research difficulty and hazard level would be far more exaggerated than even the volatile, self-immolating Extremis.
"My laboratory, as currently configured, cannot safely research this plant. The bio-containment risks are too high," Tony stated firmly. "If it's just about planting and cultivating in a deeply secure, quarantined environment—that should be doable, under my direct supervision."
"Then let's cultivate it first," Su Yi agreed. "Future experiments, especially if we look at isolating specific genetic markers, will require a large stockpile of plant material."
Tony hesitated, his scientific curiosity battling with his hard-won sense of responsibility after the events of the Mandarin hoax and his near-death experience. He looked at Su Yi, who held the answer to ultimate power and ultimate safety.
"Are you absolutely sure you want to research this thing, Su Yi? This is a philosophical weapon, not a physical one."
Su Yi fixed him with an unwavering look, cutting to the core of Tony's complex psyche. "Tony, are you afraid? In my impression, you are not someone who would be afraid of science. You face every challenge, every boundary, and cross it. What's more, the research is in our hands; we control the exposure, the danger, and the final outcome. The fair thing is that we, not some mad scientist like Killian, hold the keys to the future."
The challenge was delivered. Are you afraid? Tony Stark had never backed down from a scientific hurdle out of fear. His fear was always of losing—losing his life, losing Pepper, losing control. But Su Yi was right; controlling the ultimate prize meant ensuring no one else got it first.
"You're right," Tony conceded, pushing off the workstation, his resolve firming. "We can control everything. But if this thing shows even a flicker of uncontained, rapid growth—anything like that python story—we stop, contain, and vaporize the facility immediately. We set up an isolated, dedicated greenhouse with multiple airlocks and failsafes."
"A wise precaution," Su Yi said, a faint, satisfied smirk playing on his lips. "If it really proves uncontrollable, we can always conduct the primary research in deep Space to ensure total safety."
Tony's eyes widened slightly. "Outer Space? I can design a spacecraft easily, but building and deploying a secure, self-sustaining bio-lab in orbit would take significant time and resources."
"It was just a contingency. There's no rush," Su Yi dismissed. "For now, let's give this plant to Maya Hansen. She is already working on accelerated biology with the Senzu Beans; this will be her ultimate test."
Tony nodded, his mind already spinning with containment strategies and orbital designs. "Let's go. The plant research division is in the experimental building next door."
The two experimental buildings were situated within the same sprawling, high-security research park. The area was sparsely populated, dedicated solely to Stark Industries and its subsidiaries.
The external defenses were formidable, featuring layers of biometric scanners, specialized sonic emitters, and an aerial fleet of nearly invisible drones.
Su Yi also noticed the newly developed units of the Iron Legion—sleek, minimalist armors used exclusively for static perimeter defense. This subtle paranoia, the constant need for protection, was the hallmark of Tony Stark.
They arrived at the dedicated plant lab. Inside, bathed in the soft, clinical glow of specialized growth lamps, was Dr. Maya Hansen. Her fiery red hair was pulled back, and she was immersed in her work, carefully monitoring the meticulous growth of the Senzu Beans under different atmospheric and nutritional conditions.
She was recording every variable—soil acidity, light spectrum, humidity—a massive data-gathering effort aimed at optimizing and accelerating cultivation. Only because Su Yi was now wealthy enough to exchange for a substantial initial batch of Senzu Beans could Maya proceed in this manner.
Otherwise, planting them one by one would have made the research progress painfully slow. Research, Su Yi confirmed to himself, was indeed hideously expensive.
"Tony, is this about the nitrogen balance again?" Maya asked without looking up, assuming the only interruption would be her partner's scientific nitpicking.
"Relax, Maya. It's not the nitrogen balance. It's a new project," Tony announced, walking over to one of the vertical hydroponic racks. "Su Yi has brought us a new challenge. You've mastered the art of healing cells; now, we're moving on to the art of extending life."
Maya finally turned, her brow furrowed with curiosity and immediate scientific excitement.
"Life extension? What kind of compound? A new telomerase treatment?"
Su Yi stepped forward, opening a small, environmentally sealed container. Inside, suspended in a nutrient gel, was a fragile, unassuming seed. It looked ordinary, possessing none of the vibrant energy of the Senzu Bean, yet it radiated an almost unsettling aura of dormant, infinite potential.
"This is not a compound, Maya. It's a plant. And it's not for healing," Su Yi stated. "This is for the manipulation of time."
He proceeded to explain the properties, the dangers, and the specific containment protocols Tony had just outlined. Maya's eyes grew wider, her scientific ethics visibly struggling against the intellectual allure of the breakthrough.
"Tony, if what Su Yi says is true, this is bigger than the Manhattan Project," Maya whispered, already drawing up plans for isolation. "It requires deep vacuum containment. We need a sealed environment that can be flooded with a specific neurotoxin at a moment's notice, without risking contamination of the Senzu Bean crops."
"See? This is why I keep you around," Tony quipped, though his tone was serious. "Consider this your new primary task, Maya. The Senzu Beans are important, but this... this is existential."
As Maya began her feverish preparations, Su Yi watched, knowing that he had just placed the ultimate temptation in the hands of the ultimate genius. The clock was now ticking not just on the Nanotech Armor, but on the potential for global conflict over immortality.