2008 – Summer, Manhattan, New York City.
The city that never sleeps shimmered beneath the velvet night sky. Skyscrapers reflected the neon brilliance of a thousand advertisements. On Fifth Avenue, a sea of limousines, cameras, and curious onlookers surrounded the grand Hilton Hotel, which tonight hosted the most anticipated Global Technology Summit of the year.
Inside the hotel, the air was alive with conversation and anticipation. CEOs, inventors, military representatives, and political figures from around the world had gathered. Outside, reporters and fans lined the street like a red-carpet event.
Then, a silver-gray Audi R8 purred to a halt before the hotel entrance.
A murmur rolled through the crowd.
Then a shout—
"Tony Stark! It's Tony Stark!"
The crowd erupted into wild cheers. Cameras flashed like lightning. The billionaire playboy, weapons genius, and President of Stark Industries, had arrived.
Tony stepped out in his signature style—black suit, blue-tinted shades, and a smug smile that could sell satellites to NASA. Beside him, a young woman—his date for the night—clung nervously to his arm as a wall of reporters surged forward.
Tony lifted a hand, flashing that confident smirk. "Easy, folks, one question at a time," he quipped as microphones and cameras surrounded him. He thrived on attention; the chaos was his kingdom.
As he finished signing the guest wall and posed for photos, Tony was seconds away from delivering a few clever soundbites—until a low, futuristic hum stole everyone's attention.
A sleek jet-black sports car—its surface reflecting the neon cityscape like liquid mercury—glided toward the entrance. Its body design looked years ahead of its time, aerodynamic yet elegant, its engine producing a deep, otherworldly resonance.
The car came to a perfect stop at the edge of the red carpet, its gull-wing doors lifting with a hydraulic hiss.
The crowd gasped.
"What car is that?"
"I've never seen a model like this!"
"Look at the logo—wait, that's not any known brand…"
"Hold up—Vanderbuilt Technologies?!"
The murmurs grew louder until the words "Vanderbuilt Technologies" rippled through the crowd like wildfire.
Then the driver stepped out.
He was young—late twenties at most—but carried the calm confidence of someone used to commanding a room. Dressed in a white trench coat with silver detailing, he radiated the kind of composed intelligence that made people instinctively step aside.
The flashes intensified. Women in the crowd leaned forward, whispering to each other.
"Who is he?"
"He's… gorgeous."
"Wait—I think that's Henry Vanderbuilt, the founder of Vanderbuilt Technologies!"
Henry Vanderbuilt. The name was enough to send tech reporters into overdrive. Even the camera crews who had been crowding Tony Stark suddenly shifted focus, sprinting toward the newcomer like bees to a bloom of innovation.
For the first time that evening, Tony was ignored.
He blinked, momentarily stunned, then frowned and muttered, "You've got to be kidding me."
Turning his head slightly, he whispered, "J.A.R.V.I.S., run a full scan on that guy."
> "Right away, sir," replied his AI assistant in its calm British accent.
Tony adjusted his smart glasses. A faint blue light traced along the lenses as J.A.R.V.I.S. analyzed the new arrival.
Moments later, a digital overlay appeared across his vision.
> "Subject identified: Henry Vanderbuilt, President of Vanderbuilt Technologies.
Company founded three years ago, specializing in artificial intelligence, drone engineering, and autonomous systems. Current market valuation: 9.6 billion U.S. dollars."
Tony's eyebrows shot up. "Vanderbuilt Technologies? Wait a minute…"
Then he remembered.
Three years ago, when his company still dominated every defense and robotics contract in the world, a small startup had made waves with an AI-driven microdrone that outperformed every military prototype on the market. Its precision was uncanny; its stability, unmatched. Even Tony himself had bought one—just to see what kind of genius could build such perfection.
When he tried to reverse-engineer it, he discovered that the drone's core software was locked by a next-generation encryption key. Even with all his genius, he couldn't crack it.
That irritated him more than he liked to admit.
He'd immediately called his investment department and ordered them to acquire the startup.
After all, Stark Industries was a colossus. Every tech company on Earth dreamed of being bought by them. A Stark partnership was a ticket to global recognition.
But to Tony's disbelief, Vanderbuilt Technologies rejected the offer outright.
No negotiations. No interest. Not even a polite "maybe later."
Tony had never been rejected in business—or in life. The insult stuck with him.
So, in a fit of ego, he poured millions into developing his own line of drones, claiming personal credit for their design.
The result?
A public failure.
While Stark Industries' drones barely sold, Vanderbuilt's model dominated the civilian and security markets. Tony's project lost to an upstart. His pride took a hit so hard that even Pepper avoided bringing it up afterward.
And now—now that same upstart was stealing his spotlight at a global tech summit.
Tony's smirk returned, though colder this time. "Well, well, Henry Vanderbuilt. Let's see what kind of show you put on tonight."
---
Meanwhile, Henry walked confidently down the red carpet. Cameras snapped from every angle. His appearance wasn't just handsome—it was commanding. His calm blue eyes seemed to absorb the flashes without blinking, his movements precise yet natural, like someone perfectly in control of his environment.
He paused to greet the summit's host and shook hands with several CEOs before stepping inside.
The reporters shouted after him.
"Mr. Vanderbuilt, will Vanderbuilt Technologies unveil something tonight?"
"Is it true your new AI chip surpasses Stark's Arc Processor?"
"Will you be cooperating with the U.S. military?"
Henry gave a soft smile. "We're here to share innovation, not rivalry. But yes—tonight, you'll see something new."
The crowd buzzed again.
Something new.
Rumors had already swirled online that Vanderbuilt Technologies was developing a project codenamed "Helm."
Nobody knew exactly what it was.
Some said it was a new kind of virtual interface. Others whispered it was a revolutionary AI that could merge directly with the human nervous system.
Inside the Hilton's grand ballroom, the summit began.
Crystal chandeliers illuminated rows of VIPs. The air smelled of champagne and money.
Tony took his seat near the front, his arms crossed. Henry sat a few tables away, speaking quietly with representatives from the World Tech Consortium. The tension between the two innovators was unspoken yet palpable.
Soon, the host took the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2008 Global Technology Summit! Tonight, we'll witness the dawn of a new era of artificial intelligence and human innovation!"
One by one, industry leaders took turns presenting their latest breakthroughs. Stark Industries showcased the Mark III repulsor drive, earning polite applause. Then it was Vanderbuilt Technologies' turn.
Henry walked onto the stage, white coat gleaming under the lights.
"Good evening," he began, his voice calm and steady. "Three years ago, Vanderbuilt Technologies set out to build systems that don't just serve humanity—but understand it. Tonight, I'd like to introduce our newest innovation: the Vanderbuilt Helm."
The audience leaned forward.
He lifted a small black object—sleek, curved, and futuristic, like a crown fused with neural circuitry.
"This is an adaptive neuro-interface," Henry explained. "It allows the human brain to communicate directly with AI—not through keyboards, not through screens, but through thought."
Gasps filled the room.
Even Tony sat up straight.
Henry continued, "Imagine controlling machines, drones, or vehicles with pure thought. Imagine learning a new language or skill in seconds. The Helm translates brainwaves into data and data into experience."
Behind him, a holographic projection displayed live footage of a test subject wearing the Helm, moving robotic arms as though they were extensions of his own body.
The audience erupted in applause.
Tony narrowed his eyes. For the first time in years, he felt genuine intrigue—and unease.
Henry ended his presentation with a single sentence that silenced the room:
"Humanity should not fear machines. It should become one with them."
The lights dimmed as the Vanderbuilt Helm logo shimmered in midair.
---
Outside the ballroom, reporters rushed to send headlines to their networks:
"Vanderbuilt Technologies Redefines AI-Human Integration."
"The Mysterious Helm Outshines Stark's Showcase."
"A New Genius Rises in Manhattan."
Back in his seat, Tony exhaled sharply through his nose. "You've got my attention now, Vanderbuilt."
J.A.R.V.I.S. spoke softly, "Shall I prepare a detailed analysis of the Helm, sir?"
Tony smirked. "Oh, you better. Something tells me this guy isn't just another inventor… he's a storm waiting to happen."
And as the summit continued under the glittering lights of Manhattan, the first seeds of rivalry between Tony Stark and Henry Vanderbuilt were sown—marking the beginning of a new era for mankind and machine alike.