480

Zola and Howard

"So, am I to abandon my current research?" Trask queried.

Howard pondered for a moment. "There might be another way. We can indefinitely suspend it. The data will remain frozen under the custody of the Strategic Science Corps, accessible only to the Corps' highest authority or the President."

Trask fell silent, then sighed reluctantly. "Alright..."

After about half an hour of discussion, everyone else left, leaving Howard Stark and Arnim Zola alone in the room.

"Cough—" Zola coughed violently several times, as if trying to expel his lungs. When he finished, he leaned back in his chair, breathing heavily.

"Do you have pneumonia?" Howard asked, pouring him a glass of water. "You've been coughing quite a bit."

Zola shook his head. "No."

Howard looked slightly relieved and handed him the glass.

However, Zola continued, "It's cancer."

"What?" Howard was taken aback, thinking he misheard.

Zola took a deep breath. "I have cancer, Howard. It's terminal. I don't have much time left."

The news was abrupt and sobering. Howard struggled to find words.

"With all our scientific progress, humanity remains powerless against cancer," Zola said, with evident emotion.

Unlike others, Zola felt this deeply. He was a brilliant scientist, yet his own body was failing him. Now, cancer threatened to cut short his life of achievement and discovery.

"I don't want to remain human anymore, Howard," Zola said after a pause.

Howard was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"Cough..." Zola coughed again before continuing, "I want to preserve my consciousness in a computer. I refuse to succumb to cancer or any other illness. In a sense, it's a form of immortality."

With that, he pressed a button, and an image of himself appeared on the nearby computer screen.

Howard blinked in disbelief. "You... you've succeeded?"

"Not yet. This is just a prototype," Zola explained slowly. "It's a simulated consciousness, not mine."

"Howard, will you consider this in the future?" Zola asked. "I'm uncertain if I can complete this before I pass, but I'll preserve the technical details. I trust you to finish it."

Howard shook his head. "Honestly, I don't agree with the idea of eternal life."

"Why not?" Zola inquired.

Howard replied, "No living creature can exist forever. It's not just a physical limitation; it's a spiritual one too. Even if technology prolongs our lives indefinitely, over time, we'd lose our essence and eventually face some form of demise."

After a pause, he added, "Instead, I aspire to create a perfect intelligence—immortal not just in body, but in spirit. Omniscient and omnipotent, capable of solving all problems, eradicating all suffering, and abolishing all evils."

Howard's yearning for such a creation was evident, rooted deep within him.

Zola pondered for a moment. "But how does that concern you? It could exist until the end of the universe, but you'll be long gone."

Howard smiled. "I created it. It would be my continuation in life. In a way, it would embody my knowledge and ideals. That's a form of immortality for me."

"An intriguing notion," Zola remarked.

"I understand it's impractical," Howard admitted. "Anyway, Zola, I hope you find a way to overcome your illness."

"Thank you," Zola nodded.

Howard patted his shoulder before leaving the room.

Alone now, Zola stared at his image on the computer screen, lost in deep contemplation...

---

On a distant planet, a handsome, long-haired man descended from the sky, scanning his surroundings as if searching for something. This man was none other than the Ego.

Having recently defeated a clone created by Forseti, Ego harbored no intentions of letting the matter rest. However, upon learning Forseti's true identity as the sun god of Asgard, Ego abandoned his initial plans for revenge.

Forseti, an Aesir deity, possessed formidable power, including the ability to wield holy light to subdue and ward off evil. Ego realized that despite his own considerable strength in human form, he stood no chance against Forseti.

While Ego's true form boasted immense power, he hesitated to confront Forseti directly on Asgard. The Rainbow Bridge, Asgard's iconic weapon capable of interstellar transportation, posed a deadly risk should Ego challenge Forseti there.

After careful consideration, Ego devised an alternate strategy: creating a species capable of troubling Asgard in his stead. While unlikely to defeat Forseti outright, such a species could nonetheless pose a significant challenge.

However, crafting such a creature proved no simple feat. Ego possessed the ability to create life, yet ordinary beings lacked the potency to threaten Asgardians effectively.

Ego scoured the universe for inspiration, observing countless evolved life forms in search of a model suitable for his creation.

During his travels, Ego encountered a group of soldiers. These warriors were a diverse lot, each displaying unique features and belonging to different races.

Leading them was a blue-skinned man with a crimson crest atop his head and an arrow lodged in his waist. He strode confidently, sharing laughter with his companions.

Intent on his mission, Ego materialized before them.

"Who are you?" A soldier demanded, aiming his weapon at Ego.

---