Chapter 57: The Archaic Remnants Initiative Begins

After Jarvis finished his analysis, he replied, “Sir, I have detected that the technological characteristics of this device are entirely different from any known technology. It is capable of masking the signal it emits. Furthermore, it is currently generating heat, and the rate of temperature increase is accelerating rapidly.”

“Generating heat? What’s going to happen?” Tony asked.

“At this rate of temperature increase, it is likely to explode eventually. Sir, I advise you to isolate it immediately.”

“Jarvis, stop it!” Tony said anxiously, hoping to use the device to track down the Apostle.

“I cannot stop it,” Jarvis replied. “Its temperature is about to reach the critical point.”

The miniature device on the lab table suddenly changed color, glowing red-hot and intensely bright, its heat radiating outward as if it were about to erupt.

Tony’s eyes widened. In the nick of time, he lunged and knocked Pepper to the floor, shielding her with his body.

A split second later, the device on the table, red as a branding iron, suddenly made a muffled “puff” sound and emitted a wisp of smoke. Then...

Nothing else happened.

Tony and Pepper got up, bewildered, and cautiously peered at the lab table. The device had burned itself into a pile of charred remains, the acrid smell of scorched metal filling the air.

Was that it?

Tony was speechless for a moment; he’d been certain the thing would explode.

But where had this weird device come from? Had the Apostle planted it as well? When and how had the Apostle managed that? And he hadn’t even noticed.

...

In the secret warehouse.

Luke asked, “Has it been destroyed?”

“Yes, Master. The device has been completely ruined,” Christina answered with a lively tone.

This device, which Luke had secretly installed outside Tony’s lab, was pure Hebron technology, containing a data chip extracted from the Magic Box.

Self-destruction was a specialty of Hebron tech. Luke still recalled those bulb-headed robots from DNF, whose self-destruct sequences were unstoppable and, if not promptly disposed of, could be quite exasperating.

Luke had studied these chips. The technology they carried was a completely different branch from Earth’s—perhaps better described as “magitech.”

Silent City, the second largest brickyard in DNF, a paradise for adventurers seeking fortune.

These data chips originated from Silent City. Each one was typically worth eight to ten thousand.

What Luke didn’t know was that this incident would later spark a minor episode.

...

A few days later, Tony and his friend, Air Force Colonel Rhodey, had a public brawl, each wearing their own Mark Armor and War Machine, over a clash of ideals.

When the exasperated “Baldy” brought Black Widow to see Tony, Tony was stunned.

“You’re fired,” Tony said flatly to Black Widow.

This sexy and capable secretary was someone he had personally chosen. He never imagined she would deceive him!

Standing before him, Black Widow wore a black tactical bodysuit, her expression calm.

“Unfortunately, that’s not up to you,” Black Widow replied coolly.

“Agent Natasha Romanoff, undercover for S.H.I.E.L.D. We did this for your own good,” Baldy explained with a smile.

Tony was instantly furious. “For my own good? Was it you? That thing?”

He felt his trust had been deeply betrayed. He strongly suspected that the self-destructing bug had been planted by S.H.I.E.L.D.

“What’s your relationship with the Apostle? Are you helping him?” Tony demanded bluntly.

Black Widow and Baldy exchanged a glance.

Though they didn’t understand why Tony would ask, Baldy felt it wasn’t his place to tell Tony the truth—not yet.

Black Widow’s eyes narrowed slightly; she had her suspicions.

She had been present the day Luke swaggered in to deliver takeout. But, considering S.H.I.E.L.D.’s promise to Luke and the protection plan, she decided to take the blame for him.

“We cannot disclose anything at this time. I think you all need to learn to get along,” Baldy said.

“With whom? The Apostle?” Tony sounded as if he’d just heard the world’s biggest joke. “Don’t tell me you plan to recruit him into your super boy band?”

“It’s the Avengers. Not a super boy band,” Baldy replied with a dark look. He glanced at Tony. “But it seems you’ve managed to cure yourself?”

“Hmph.”

...

The East Coast’s networks and power had been fully restored, but the economic damage was incalculable—preliminary estimates put it at two billion dollars.

The aftermath of the incident still lingered.

The President addressed the nation on television, strongly condemning the attacks as acts of terrorism.

Shortly after, a terrorist group in the Middle East claimed responsibility for both incidents.

That night, the President signed an executive order deploying an additional ten thousand troops to Afghanistan.

...

Several other events unfolded over the next few days.

S.H.I.E.L.D. was still investigating the causes of the twin crises, and Baldy was plagued by headaches.

Hill burst into Baldy’s office in a hurry. “Director, we’ve found 084 in New Mexico. According to witnesses, it’s a... hammer.”

...

Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, headquarters of the X-Men.

Baldy assigned Hawkeye the task of contacting Professor X.

So, in Professor X’s mansion, Hawkeye was practically doubled over with laughter. “Professor, you won’t believe it—our boss has a new nickname. He’s called ‘Baldy’! Hahaha…”

Professor X, seated in his wheelchair, was utterly baffled.

As a result, the entire mutant community soon learned of the S.H.I.E.L.D. director’s new moniker.

...

Online, the Rising Tide group released another exposé, claiming that the government was hiding the truth about the mass network paralysis and the New York blackout.

They asserted that both incidents had been caused by the same individual with supernatural abilities, and that they had already obtained leads on this person.

Reviewing the information Christina had gathered on the group, Luke blinked with a peculiar expression.

He’d found the name Rising Tide familiar from the start, as if he’d seen it somewhere before.

Now he remembered. Wasn’t this the group Skye belonged to?

Daisy Johnson, the Quake—that was Skye’s later identity. By this timeline, she should still be in high school.

She would later drop out, and, gifted with hacking skills, dedicate herself to uncovering the world’s supernatural phenomena.

Skye was passionate about superpowers and insatiably curious. This would eventually bring her to S.H.I.E.L.D., where, after many twists and turns, she would join the agency.

After further trials, she would awaken her latent Inhuman genes and become Quake.

“Should I have Christina find her?” Luke mused.

Quake was one of the few Marvel heroines Luke liked. Most Marvel women were either mutated in bizarre ways… or middle-aged matrons…

This young, Eurasian Quake was one of the few who fit Luke’s idea of a true beauty.

Black Widow always left him tongue-tied with her allure, but when Skye appeared in his thoughts, there was something different…

“Still, the age gap is a bit much…” Luke thought gloomily.

...

A few days later, Baldy kept his promise and sent over fifty kilograms of adamantium right on schedule.

Overjoyed, Luke couldn’t wait. “Christina, initiate the Primeval Dust Project!”