Chapter 9: Unveiling Mysteries

A few days after their last adventure, Tony Stark found himself aboard his private jet, rocketing through the clouds towards New York City. The skyline shimmered in the distance, a familiar sight he hadn't seen in person for a while, despite the countless business ties and events that often pulled him to the Big Apple. But this wasn't a trip for business. Tony had another reason for visiting today, one that was tugging at his mind ever since his encounter with Max.

It wasn't like Tony to leave things hanging, especially when they touched on life-and-death matters—like the arc reactor in his chest. The more Tony thought about it, the more he realized there was something Max wasn't telling him, something he hadn't fully grasped.

Settling back into his seat, Tony pulled out his phone and dialed Max's number. After a few rings, Max's voice came through, calm and focused as always.

"Hey, kid. It's Tony. I'm flying into New York, and I figured, why not stop by? I think we've got some things to talk about."

There was a pause on the other end before Max replied. "Sure. Meet me in Queens. I'll send you the address. Just text me when you're there."

Queens. Tony raised an eyebrow. He'd always pictured Max somewhere a bit more high-tech, maybe in a sleek lab or hidden bunker, not in one of the most unremarkable parts of the city. But curiosity piqued, he agreed.

A short while later, Tony was in a black luxury car, the kind that effortlessly cut through the bustling streets of New York. The driver took him deep into Queens, through the maze of neighborhoods, until they pulled up in front of a modest apartment building. Nothing about it stood out; it looked like a thousand other places Tony had driven by a million times.

"Are you sure this is the right place?" Tony muttered to himself, checking the address Max had sent. He stepped out of the car, the street buzzing with everyday activity—kids playing, neighbors chatting, cars honking.

Tony texted Max, then leaned against the car, looking up at the apartment building. "This kid's got some strange taste in real estate," he mused.

A few moments later, the front door to the building swung open, and Max stepped out. He gave Tony a quick nod before gesturing for him to follow.

Tony grinned, walking up the steps to meet him. "Queens, huh? Didn't peg you for a neighborhood guy."

Max shrugged, offering a smirk as they stepped into the apartment building and made their way upstairs. "It's... low-key."

Tony chuckled. "Low-key, huh? Could've fooled me with the orbital station and all."

They entered Max's apartment, which was small and simple, contrasting starkly with the advanced technology Tony knew Max was capable of. Tony scanned the room, eyes immediately picking up on the little details—no unnecessary furniture, no decorations, just the essentials. It looked like the apartment of someone who didn't plan to stay long.

"Home sweet home," Max said with a shrug as he moved deeper into the apartment.

Tony let out a laugh, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Well, I've got to say, Max, this place really screams 'genius inventor.' Got that... post-apocalyptic chic going on."

Max rolled his eyes, but before Tony could say anything more, Max suddenly stepped up to him, clapping a hand firmly on his shoulder. Before Tony could react, the world around him blurred and spun. The apartment dissolved, and with a loud crack, they disappeared from the drab surroundings of Queens.

When the spinning sensation stopped, Tony blinked rapidly, steadying himself. They were no longer in the apartment. Instead, they stood in a vast, open space—a luxurious home filled with technology, sleek design, and the unmistakable hum of high-powered machinery beneath the floors. The place was massive, a complete contrast to the tiny apartment they had just left.

Tony stared, dumbfounded. "Okay... what the hell just happened?"

Max smirked, watching Tony's reaction with clear amusement. "Welcome to the real home."

Tony looked around, trying to piece it together. "Yeah, this... this is more like what I expected. But seriously, what was that? One minute we're in that shoebox in Queens, the next, I'm standing in what looks like a billionaire's secret hideout. Did we just... teleport?"

Max nodded casually. "Yeah, we apparated."

Tony's face scrunched in disbelief. "Apparated? As in... Harry Potter magic?"

Max laughed softly. "Pretty much."

Tony raised an eyebrow, skepticism written all over his face. "Right. Magic. Sure, that's what happened."

Max gave him a knowing look. "You don't believe me."

Tony shrugged. "Look, I've seen some crazy stuff. I've built some crazy stuff. But magic? Nah. There's always a logical explanation."

Max crossed his arms. "So what do you think just happened?"

Tony thought for a moment, searching for a reasonable explanation. "Maybe you've got some kind of advanced tech that simulates teleportation. I mean, I know instant transmission isn't exactly mainstream yet, but—"

"Tony, it's magic."

Tony stared at Max for a long moment, then let out a laugh, shaking his head. "Right, right. Magic. Sure. Let's go with that."

Max smirked. "You're not going to figure it out by overthinking it. Sometimes, things are exactly what they seem."

Tony, still unconvinced, decided to drop the subject. "Fine, we'll call it magic. So, uh, how about we get back to why I'm here?"

Max's expression grew more serious. He gestured toward a set of sleek leather couches in the open living room. "Sure. Let's sit."

They moved to the couches, and Tony took a seat, still glancing around at the impressive surroundings. Max sat across from him, leaning forward slightly.

"Tony," Max began, his tone measured, "do you think you're dying?"

The bluntness of the question caught Tony off guard. He blinked, then scoffed, though the discomfort was clear in his body language. "What kind of question is that?"

Max didn't blink. "Do you think you're going to die from the palladium poisoning? Is that why you came to see me?"

Tony's smirk faded, replaced by a more serious expression. He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Kid, I've been dealing with this on my own for a while. I've tried every solution I can think of, but... yeah, I'm running out of time."

Max's gaze softened. "And you wanted to see me before that happens?"

Tony hesitated, glancing away. He wasn't used to being vulnerable. Not like this. "Yeah. Maybe."

Max nodded, his voice calm. "Well, I'm glad you came."

There was a long pause before Max asked, "How did you even come up with the arc reactor in the first place? I know you've told the public story, but I want to hear it from you."

Tony leaned back, crossing his arms as he considered the question. "It wasn't exactly an original idea. My father had already developed the concept, a prototype, but it was large, inefficient. I just... scaled it down, made it portable."

Max raised an eyebrow. "And you never considered that your father might have designed it for something other than palladium? Maybe he couldn't access the element he originally intended to use?"

Tony frowned. He hadn't thought about that possibility before. "I guess... I mean, my dad was always ahead of his time. But if he had something else in mind, I never found any evidence of it. Palladium was what I had available."

Max leaned forward, his eyes sharp with curiosity. "Maybe you weren't looking in the right places. Have you gone through all his old files? Checked the original designs from Stark Expo? Maybe the answer's there, and you've just missed it."

Tony was quiet for a moment, mulling it over. "I've gone through most of his stuff, but... no. I guess I haven't looked at everything."

Max's voice was steady as he pressed on. "Do you think you came to me because you're afraid you won't find the solution in time?"

Tony glanced up at him, his expression unreadable. "Maybe. Or maybe I just figured if anyone had a shot at helping me, it'd be you."

Max smiled faintly. "Well, I've got something that might help. Follow me."

Tony got to his feet, following Max down a long hallway. They passed rooms filled with advanced equipment, some of which even Tony couldn't immediately identify. Eventually, Max led him into a large room that resembled a high-tech lab. The smell of metal and chemicals filled the air, and the hum of machinery created a steady background noise.

On one side of the room were three Puddle Jumpers, parked side by side. On the other was a massive metal ring, easily towering over Tony, with strange symbols engraved into its surface.

Tony's eyes immediately locked onto the ring. "Alright, what the hell is that?"

Max glanced at the ring, then back at Tony. "That's a Stargate. It's a device that creates stable wormholes, allowing for near-instantaneous travel between two distant points in space."

Tony blinked. "A Stargate. Right. And this thing works?"

Max nodded. "Yeah. There are only three active Stargates right now—one here, one in orbit around Earth, and one around Jupiter."

Tony let out a low whistle. "Jupiter, huh? You've been busy."

Max led Tony to a table covered in various models of small reactors. "These are Naquadah reactors," he explained. "They're incredibly powerful, but they don't use the same principles as your arc reactor. They're a bit more... exotic."

Tony examined the models, intrigued. "So you're saying if I can't fix my arc reactor, I could use one of these?"

Max nodded. "It's an option. But I think you should check your father's old files first. There's a good chance he was working on something that could help you. Plus, I've found some information in the SHIELD database—your father was one of the founding members of SHIELD. They probably have some of his old projects stashed away somewhere."

Tony was silent for a moment, absorbing everything. He didn't often let himself feel sentimental, but something about Max's words hit him in a way he wasn't expecting.

"Thanks, Max," Tony said quietly. "I appreciate it."

Max smiled. "No problem. And if you can't find anything, just let me know. The Naquadah reactor's a backup plan."

Tony chuckled. "You know, you're not bad at this whole... being helpful thing."

Max smirked. "I try."

Tony glanced back at the Stargate. "So... when do we get to go to Jupiter?"

Max considered it for a moment. "Two weeks. I've got a project up there that'll be finished by then. Plus, I've got another project here that I need to wrap up."

Tony raised an eyebrow. "What kind of project?"

Max gestured toward another table. On it was a crystalline structure, slowly growing under the influence of a machine that hummed quietly in the background.

"That," Max said, "is a Zero Point Module. A ZPM. It's a highly advanced energy storage device. This one's growing at a rate of 0.4 millimeters per hour. But the smallest mistake, and it could... well, explode."

Tony scoffed. "Explode, huh? How big are we talking?"

Max's expression was dead serious. "Big enough to wipe out everything from here to Mars, if Mars happens to be the closest planet at the time."

Tony stared at him, waiting for the punchline. When none came, he blinked. "You're serious."

Max nodded. "That's why this part of the lab is out of phase with the rest of the room. If something goes wrong, it won't interact with our dimension."

Tony, ever the skeptic, stepped closer to the table, waving his hand near the crystalline structure. "So you're saying it's... what, invisible?"

Max walked over to the table and, without a word, stuck his hand straight through it. His arm passed through the table and the machine, as if they weren't even there.

Tony's jaw dropped. "Okay. Now you've got my attention."