Genius

[77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139 08/02/1949]

09:05AM

"Watch out!!" the young boy on the bicycle shouted.

*BACK!*

But there was no time to move out of the way, and he ended up colliding with Tony, sending both of them to the ground.

"Urgh... just my luck on the first day," Tony murmured as he sat up, his clothes now a bit dirty but nothing too drastic.

Tony slowly stood up, brushing the dirt off his clothes with a mildly frustrated look. The boy who had run into him also got up quickly, apparently with no more than a few scratches.

"Really sorry, man," the boy said, a bit out of breath. "I was late and didn't see you in time."

Tony gave a slight smile, trying to ease the tension. "It's okay, it happens. I'm Tony, by the way."

"Nice to meet you, Tony. I'm James, but you can call me Rhodey," he said, extending his hand. Tony shook Rhodey's hand, noticing the firmness in his grip.

"No problem, Rhodey. Just a scare. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, just a few scratches. And you?"

"Same here. Nothing serious," Tony replied, finishing straightening his clothes.

The two exchanged a knowing smile, as if they shared an unspoken understanding of the ridiculousness of the situation.

"Well, I need to get to the office to find out my room. Being late on the first day isn't a good start," Tony said.

"For sure. I'm heading to my building. Sorry again for the accident, Tony."

"It's alright, Rhodey. See you around."

With that, Tony continued towards the campus office, still processing the unexpected encounter. When he arrived, he found the receptionist and explained his situation. She promptly found his room and handed him a campus map, marking where he needed to go.

"Welcome to MIT, Mr. Stark. I hope you have an excellent first day," the receptionist said with a smile.

"Thank you," Tony replied with a wink, taking the map and heading to his room.

'That guy, James, for some reason he seemed so familiar,' Tony thought as he left the office.

It didn't take Tony long to find his room. He walked quickly through the busy corridors of MIT, following the map the receptionist had given him. When he finally arrived at his destination, he saw a middle-aged man standing at the classroom door. He had a serious and observant expression.

"You must be Tony Stark," the man said in a firm and cold tone. "I'm Professor Levy. Get in quickly and stop wasting our time."

Tony shrugged nonchalantly and entered the room. It was already full of students, all focused on their own worlds. Without hesitation, Tony chose a spot near the window, sitting down and observing his surroundings.

Professor Levy closed the door and approached the board, beginning the lesson with calm but firm authority.

"Good morning, everyone. This is the first class of Electrical Engineering and Physics. My name is Professor Levy, and I hope you're ready for an intense semester," he began, writing his name on the board. "We will explore the depths of electrical theory and its practical applications, as well as delve into the fundamental principles of physics."

Levy began drawing diagrams on the board, explaining the basic concepts of electrical circuits and Ohm's Law. He spoke with precision and clarity, and the room was in absolute silence, absorbing every word.

"Electricity is the backbone of our modern industrial society," he continued. "Understanding how to manipulate this force is essential for any engineer. Let's start with a review of electric charges, voltage, current, and resistance. These are the basics that any of you must master before we move on to more complex concepts."

Tony was already familiar with many of the concepts the professor was reviewing, but he still paid attention to the details. Levy then moved on to physics, connecting the electrical concepts to the emerging principles of quantum mechanics, something that was beginning to be explored more deeply at the time.

"We will also address how these principles apply to recent developments, such as transistors, which promise to revolutionize electronics. The possibilities for the future are limitless," Levy said with a gleam in his eye.

Tony couldn't help but feel a thrill as he heard this. He knew that the field of electronics and physics was on the brink of major breakthroughs, especially in this world where technology was more advanced, and he wanted to be at the forefront of it.

The class proceeded with Levy introducing a series of equations and problems for the students to solve. "Here's an example of a simple circuit. I want each of you to calculate the current and voltage in each component. This will serve as a review before we move on to more complex systems."

Tony started working on the problems, his mind already seeking ways to innovate and think beyond the limits of what was being taught. He knew he was exactly where he needed to be to turn his ideas into reality.

As the class continued, Tony felt increasingly confident. He knew that MIT was the right place for him, and he couldn't wait to see where his curiosity and skills would take him.

-------------------------

Some hours later:

At the end of the class, Professor Levy addressed the class with one final inspirational message.

"To conclude, I want to quote a great engineering genius who changed the course of our field with his unique innovations, Phineas Horton. He demonstrated that with ingenuity and perseverance, we can create wonders that defy the imagination. Remember this throughout the semester. See you in the next class."

The students began gathering their things and standing up, animatedly discussing the topics covered. Tony gathered his notes and left the room. He walked toward the engineering labs, determined to get some materials for his "secret" project.

As he walked through the busy corridors, Tony was absorbed in his own thoughts about the advances he planned to make. Suddenly, he bumped into someone, nearly knocking the books out of their hands.

"Hey, watch out!" exclaimed the person, struggling to balance the books.

Tony looked up and recognized James Rhodes, the guy who had run into him on a bicycle earlier.

"Rhodey, right?" said Tony, helping him pick up the books that had fallen.

"That's right," replied Rhodey with a smile, accepting the help. "And you're Tony. We meet again."

"It seems fate wants us to bump into each other all the time," joked Tony, handing the books back to Rhodey.

"Are you heading to the labs?" asked Rhodey, noticing the direction Tony was heading.

"Yes, I have some projects in mind. And you?"

"Me too, but I'm just picking up some books to study. I'm in the medicine course and have a physiology paper to submit."

"Interesting," said Tony with a sparkle in his eyes. "Maybe we can exchange ideas someday."

'Now looking more closely, I think I know who you are, but I thought you would be a bit different,' Tony thought, smiling.

"Sure, that would be great. Good luck with your projects, Tony."

"Thanks, Rhodey. See you around."

Tony continued on his way to the labs, eager to start working on his plans.

-------------------------

[Tony House]

06:34PM

"Thank God the houses in the neighborhood are far apart,"

Tony murmured as he arranged some tools on the workbench in his improvised basement workshop.

He was working on Part 01 of Project Prometheus, the assembly of the first small-scale Arc reactor. The idea was revolutionary, something he knew could change the future of energy. Tony emptied the contents of his backpack onto the worktable: copper coils, silicon transistors, a titanium housing he had secretly designed and fabricated, and a variety of electronic components he had acquired from the MIT lab.

Tony began the assembly with meticulous precision. First, he prepared the titanium housing, drawing precise lines to fit the internal components. He soldered the copper coils to the reactor's core, ensuring they were perfectly aligned to maximize the magnetic field's efficiency.

"Resistance needs to be minimal," Tony murmured to himself, adjusting the special capacitors to ensure a stable charge. He connected the transistors, which would function as amplifiers and current regulators, essential for keeping the reactor stable.

The next part involved the rare materials he had acquired. He carefully inserted the palladium crystals into the reactor's core. Although palladium was difficult to obtain and even more complicated to work with, Tony knew its unique stability properties would be crucial for the Arc reactor's operation.

"Moment of truth," Tony said after hours of meticulous assembly. He adjusted the final wires and checked the connections one last time, making sure there were no faults.

Tony held the activation button with firm hands, but his heart was racing. He knew this was a decisive moment. Taking a deep breath, he pressed the button.

The Arc reactor began to hum softly, increasing in intensity. Inside the titanium housing, energy started circulating through the palladium crystals, amplified by the copper coils and regulated by the transistors and capacitors. A soft blue light began to emanate from the reactor's center, illuminating Tony's entire workshop with an almost ethereal glow.

Tony watched, both fascinated and relieved. The reactor was working. He held the device in his hands, the blue light reflecting in his eyes with an almost magical intensity. The workshop seemed more like a sci-fi lab than a suburban basement.

"This is just the beginning," Tony whispered to himself, a smile forming on his lips.

"The future in the palm of my hand," he said as he stored the reactor.