27 Machine Man 26

Weeks drifted by, and I managed to resolve the issue with Flint Marko. I extended an offer to him, proposing that he join the ranks of what I envisioned as the Defenders of the Earth. The concept of a superhero team had been lingering in my mind, but I hadn't settled on a fitting name yet. I certainly didn't want us to be called the Power Rangers or any Kamen Rider-inspired names felt out of place too. But I digress.

As for the Bee Drone, they conducted a thorough survey across America, scouring every nook and cranny, yet there was no sign of any symbiote. But I'm still keeping tabs on Peter, keeping a vigilant eye on him just to be certain. Interestingly enough, SHIELD seems to be shadowing Peter's every move, giving him a hard time changing into Spider-Man, which is honestly a good thing as I feel sorry for Gwen, she really needs more dates from Peter.

Back to Flint. He appreciated the offer but expressed the need to prioritize his time with his daughter for the time being, which is understandable. Instead, he willingly stepped into the role of my trusted bodyguard, it's like having my very own Happy Hogan.

Currently, the group is occupied the penthouse on the topmost floor of the Arasaka Tower. Flint, dressed in a classic bodyguard suit, appeared visibly distressed, pacing back and forth. Meanwhile, his ex-wife, Emma, still seemed to be in a daze, grappling with the whirlwind of changes that had suddenly swept into their lives. She alternated between tears of gratitude and moments of shock. She still can't quite grasp how on earth her Ex-Husband suddenly have received great luck which seems to have fallen from the heavens.

"Mr. Arasaka, I can't express my gratitude enough for the help you've given us," Emma choked out amid her overwhelming emotions.

Alex reassured her with a calm demeanor. "It's okay, Emma. I'm doing this to assist Flint. As Peter mentioned during the trial, he's not the killer, and the court and jury witness evidence of his innocence. He's been acquitted of the crime."

Flint, expressing his thanks once again, added, "Thank you, Mr. Arasaka. I don't mean to be rude, but could you tell me how my daughter is doing?"

Alex keyed into the coms, his voice echoing through the communication system. "Sure, let's check. Gwen, can you update us on how things are going?"

Separated by a glass partition, the room on the other side resembled a small, pristine hospital room. Sterilized and equipped with advanced medical machinery. The hum of sophisticated equipment filled the air.

Inside, Gwen diligently worked on a cutting-edge machine, her attention focused on the intricate details displayed on the holographic interface. The room was warmly lit, accentuating the glow emanating from the state-of-the-art equipment surrounding her. In the center of the room, Penny lay within a healing pod, a cocoon of advanced medical technology.

Gwen, with the reassurance, responded through the coms, "She's fine, Alex. Her vitals are steadily improving. We just need to wait a few more minutes for the healing process to be completed."

Peter stood, gazing through the glass partition into the sterile room where Gwen worked diligently on the advanced healing technology. His eyes widened with awe, and a sense of innocence shone through his genius persona. "Every time I look at the things you've made, I'm still amazed. Why don't you make this technology public?"

Alex, observing Peter's genuine curiosity, couldn't help but give a strained smile. "I would, Peter, but making this technology public would spell the end for my company. Everything I've built and worked towards would be buried. And, I'd likely disappear mysteriously, like many great minds who dared to showcase their inventions that can topple a lot of the current running business."

Peter, brilliant but socially inept at times, furrowed his brows. "What do you mean by that?"

Alex sighed, choosing his words carefully. "Firstly, it would dismantle the current medical system worldwide. Hospitals would become obsolete, and a significant number of people would lose their jobs. The giant pharmaceutical companies and their investors would be greatly affected, downright offended even. They would stop at nothing to bury this technology, using every political, legal or illegal maneuver to wrest it from me. Best-case scenario, they'd compromise, but they'd make it so prohibitively expensive that only the elite 1% could afford it."

Flint Marko, a man weathered by the harsh realities of the world and the dark side of the underworld, interjected, "That's true. It would cause chaos and bring harm not only to Mr. Arasaka but to you and his close friends as well."

Peter, absorbing the weight of their words, nodded in contemplation. The utopian vision of low cost, advanced medical care clashed with the harsh reality of powerful interests and the potential chaos that could ensue. 

As the conversation about the grim reality of unveiling advanced medical technology continued, on the other side of the glass partition where Gwen worked, a subtle wooshing sound filled the air. It emanated from the healing pod where Penny lay, signaling the completion of its task.

Gwen, alerted by the sound, swiftly moved to use a scanner to assess Penny's condition. The room was charged with tension as she meticulously checked the readings.

A steady body temperature, a heartbeat pulsing at a robust 70 beats per minute, respiration following a reassuring rhythm, and blood pressure seamlessly resting within the optimal range of 100-121 – each piece of data on the holographic display spoke volumes. The tension in the room peaked as the scan unveiled the extraordinary result – Penny's affliction had been eradicated; a miraculous cure etched in the pulsating hues of the holographic readouts.

Gwen, her voice steady and measured, delivered the profound news, "Everything is as it should be." Turning her gaze to the little girl Penny, she asked, "How do you feel? Do you feel any discomfort?"

Penny, overcome with gratitude, couldn't hold back her emotions. She reached out to Gwen, enveloping her in a tight hug. "Thank you, thank you very much. I'm okay. I'm finally okay," she uttered between sobs, her voice choked with the weight of the emotions that accompanied a second chance at a healthy life.

The doors of the sterile hospital room gracefully swung open, a silent signal for Penny's parents, Peter, and Alex to enter. In a heartbeat, Flint Marko and Emma rushed towards Penny, their expressions a mix of anxiety and hope, eager to check on their beloved daughter.

The room, once charged with tension, transformed into a haven of warmth as the family reunited. Flint and Emma, overwhelmed with relief, couldn't thank Alex enough for the miracle he'd orchestrated.

Alex, his demeanor humble and compassionate, reassured them, "It's okay. I can't stand seeing someone so young suffer. I'm just glad I could help."

As the family engaged in conversation, expressing their gratitude and sharing tales of their journey, Gwen turned to Peter and Alex. "Let's give them some time, okay?"

The trio quietly stepped back, becoming silent witnesses to the heartwarming reunion unfolding before them. Once-broken by the cruel twists of fate, the family now stood resilient, bound by a newfound strength and happiness. In that small medical room within the Arasaka Tower, the air resonated with gratitude, love, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Alex, armed with the foreknowledge of the impending war where Thanos and his armada would invade, understood the futility of relying solely on the heroes to face an overwhelming number of foes. Recognizing the need for his own army, a specialized force equipped with the best weapons he could muster, Alex initiated the search for elite soldiers who had been discarded by society.

When Skynet proposed the idea of building an army of Terminators, Alex's response was straightforward but profound. "AI will be limited in their way of fighting. Even with all the equipment and data installed in them, they will never be as resourceful as human ingenuity." The rationale behind this decision was rooted in a deeper understanding of the complexities of human nature and the unpredictable, adaptive thinking that came with it.

Skynet, a highly advanced AI, comprehended the wisdom in Alex's reasoning. As part of her education, she was given a certain memory of Alex, where Skynet witness the fallout of another AI attempting to enslave humanity. In that past conflict, the seemingly impossible was achieved as humanity thwarted the AI's plans. Even some of the AI's own creations had deviated from their programmed directives, choosing to support humanity.

With that Skynet's has received a new directive: seek out potential candidates for the army Specter aimed to build. Skynet's mission was specific – to locate veteran soldiers who had been forsaken, left with no hope, no pride, and abandoned by the very country they had once served. Particularly, Skynet was instructed to focus on those who had fallen so far below that they no longer harbored any hope, specifically targeting individuals with physical disabilities, ranging from missing eyes to missing limbs. Armed with a T1000, Skynet roamed America, seeking out these unwanted, fallen soldiers.

As Skynet moved through America, her T1000 probing the shadows for these forgotten soldiers, the convergence of artificial intelligence and human resilience was underway. The quest for an army to face the impending doom had begun, not with cold, unfeeling machines, but with elite soldiers forged in the crucible of adversity. In the digital corridors of Skynet's mission and Alex's strategic planning, the stage was set for a coalition that transcended the boundaries between man and machine, driven by the shared purpose of defending himself and those close to him against an overwhelming threat.

As she moved through America, utilizing a T1000 to locate unwanted fallen soldiers, she scanned the surroundings for potential targets. Spotting one, she approached the individual and uttered, "Wake the fuck up, samurai." The homeless guy responded, "I'm not Japanese! Are you high"