Chapter 10: Sentry

-- Earlier that same day --

Conner pulled up to HOMRA and into the parking garage, same as he always did. HE got out and went up the stairs before entering the lobby and then the elevator. But instead of heading to the top floor, Conner pressed several floor buttons and scanned his card.

This caused the elevator to come quickly move downward. The elevator ended up going down over 100 meters before stopping. Conner got out of the elevator and was greeted by a lab filled with various pieces of technology. From guns to swords to shields to power suits and even vehicles.

Conner hadn't been down there in a few days but that man had already gone through so much Vibranium without permission once again.

'If he was not so useful and loyal, I swear I would have killed him a thousand times over already.'

"Scotty! Melt it all back down, now! If there is even a gram missing from the stockpile, I will lock you out of here for a month," Conner said seemingly to himself

From the corner of the lab, a lanky man with disheveled hair walked over with a smile on his face. He wore a lab coat and seemed like a typical mad scientist.

"Don't do that boss. I was just testing some more limits of this stuff. You only told me the basics when you brought it out before. After some tests, this stuff is so much more. I have been able to create tech that should require thousands of times larger power sources or should not be possible with current tech for at least another thousand years, even for me," the scientist pleaded at first before going off into a tangent

Conner growled and the man took the hint. He whistled and caused several robots to appear. They each took most of the vibranium tech away in order to be melted back down to pure vibranium. Scotty left a few things that he figured Conner would be interested in.

Not paying any more attention to him, Conner went to a different part of the underground lab. This part was a high-tech lab he had Scotty design from him. Even though he was a Viltrumite, he was a very weak Viltrumite.

If he wanted to survive the eventual fight with his father, he needed to be more prepared than Mark was. Nolan would not hold his punches as much going against two opponents.

Conner walked over to a bench that had a large machine over it. He then laid on the bench before calling out, "105,000 tonnes." The large machine fell down instantly which Conner had to catch with his arms.

This was the start of Conner's intense workout. He went from this high-tech bench press to a cable machine to an intensity chamber that would rapidly change the oxygen level, temperature, and gravity. Besides these, there were several others to improve the other muscles of Conner's body.

After being in the gym for several hours, Conner walked out covered in sweat and physically exhausted. Mentally though, he was still very sharp.

Conner looked around and saw that most of the vibranium tech had gone missing which meant that, hopefully, Scotty did as he was told.

'I would feel terrible if this is what got him killed.'

Conner went to got take a shower before coming out once again to meet with Scotty and check out what the scientist wanted to show him. He knew that by not melting some of these, they must have some purpose that he wanted to show off.

When Scotty saw Conner was looking at all his devices on the table, he hurried over with a smile on his face and began explaining.

"These beads are the most common shape I made but they each have different purposes. I chose this shape since they are able to contain a good power source for long periods of time as well as other types of tech inside. Some are used for stabilizing wounds, some can be used for communication, others to shut down vehicles or weapons.

This over here is vile of nanomachines I created with vibranium. I can program to spread and create certain other items. I have actually used these to make your new suit.

This is a prosthetic arm I created but I can make it a gauntlet if you want. It creates powerful blasts of sonic energy that can be used for both lethal and nonlethal attacks.

Oh. And then these shoes. They absorb all sound. Guess what I call them, Boss."

Conner ignored Scotty as he looked over all the items impressed. This guy had created everything that Shuri had invented in the MCU. But he did it with only 3 years of being in contact with the element while she grew up around it and with unlimited resources. It truly showed how much of a genius Scotty was.

"How much of this tech is in the suit?"

Hearing the question, Scotty let out a maniacal chuckle. He brought a small, black necklace over to Conner. It had the 'S' symbol of Superman with red filling the empty areas.

Conner took off his clothes until he was in his underwear before putting on the necklace. Seeing him do this, Scotty frowned as he was found out before his trick could even be used.

"Tch. How did you know?"

"Don't be like those fools that want to rebel and underestimate," Conner replied with a small smile

"Yeah, whatever. This necklace is bound to your genetic signature. Now that it is on you, you can communicate with it using your mind to activate it. The nanites inside will create your costume but will destroy any clothes you are wearing," Scotty replied

Conner focused on the necklace and called out to nanites within. In less than a second, everything below the neck was covered. Most of it looked like very thin, black metal that could pass off for clothing if one did not look at it carefully. There were also several areas and lines of red as well as the 'S' symbol on his chest.

"This thing is amazing. Not only is it bulletproof, but it is also practically indestructible. No modern firearm short of an attack from several hundred thousand tons can really harm you. It also regenerates even if it does get damaged due to being made of nanites.

It also absorbs kinetic energy which you can freely use to enhance strikes or release as a wave of energy. The red lights up when you have stored energy. The brighter the glow, the more energy stored but if you build up too much, there will be an explosion of energy and your suit will start to break down. You can ever create weapons out of the energy.

As for the tech I included, I added as much as I could. Your belt has more programmed nanites in it that can create those beads based on which 'pouch' you pick it up from.

There are thin, invisible lenses in your eyes and an invisible earpiece. These connect to the internal computer in your suit that will allow me or others to communicate with you as well as interact with our internal database or whatever one of the hacking beads is attached to.

Lastly are the feet. They are Sneak-Ers. They absorb all sound so you can use them to sneak around or if you take them off, you can beat someone to death very quietly."

Conner ignored the last part. The suit was even more impressive than he first thought. The masters of vibranium and great minds of space, Wakandans and Kryptonians, would be proud to see this creation.

Scotty saw Conner admiring the suit and had a huge smile on his face. Conner didn't even look this impressed when he was given the Red King suit. Even though the younger man wasn't smiling, he could tell how much Conner truly liked this suit.

"I'm sure you already guessed but I have been hacking your stuff and have a pretty good idea about your background. Why all the different identities? Who are you really? The loving son, brother, and boyfriend? The ruthless yet kind king? Or a new person in this costume?" Scotty asked sincerely

Conner knew the man's curiosity would not allow him to stay out of his private life so he did not get angry. He trusted this man the most after his family and Caitlin so he would not bother with something like this. As for the question...

"All of them are me. They just focus on the different parts of me. It will be the combination of both sides that I have shown before.

No longer a king, no longer just a civilian. Someone that can be a beacon of hope for the people to look up to. A protector. I'm going to be a..."