C41 How It's Made

I sigh, "I suppose I'll go see her tomorrow. She's probably getting a bit antsy, herself, by now."

---

177A Bleecker Street.

'It's a cool-looking place, really,' I look up at the circular window.

Walking to the door, I nock, 'I wonder; what should I do if she doesn't want to do what I ask?'

Noticing how long it takes for someone to come to the door, 'No, I don't think she will... It's not like it'll be endangering Earth or anything, so there shouldn't be a problem.'

Hearing the door creak open, I refocus.

Seeing the slightly paling face of the man, I smile and give a small bow, "I believe you know why I'm here."

He nods, waving for me to follow.

On our way through the building to the 'official' portal to Kamar-Taj, we passed the relics.

They all, including the Cloak of Levitation, shook and rattled in their place.

Not because they feared me, but because they liked me—and hated me for it.

The relics here have the peculiar ability to 'choose' a wielder and know when they're ready for them.

Seeing my potential and 'readiness' after living so long, they were all quite excited.

Unfortunately for them, they could also tell that they would provide no assistance to me, and thus, were as pissed off as inanimate objects could be.

"Well, it's not my fault you guys didn't exist a million years ago."

They stopped after that, and even the Cloak drooped a bit.

I whispered to it, "Don't worry, you'll find someone soon—don't mention that to the others, though," I wink as it perks up again, and I continue after the dumbstruck sorcerer.

"Well, come on, or I'll be late for my surprise visit."

With that, we go through the portal and end up in the training ground of Kamar-Taj, though only a few people are still practicing as it's later in the day here.

'Ah, I forgot about the different time zones. I should have come in the afternoon instead.'

"This way," the man says.

I nod and follow as the people still present watch us; some of them even recognize me.

Eventually, we make it to the Ancient One's quarters, and I'm asked to wait while he goes in to tell her I'm here.

---

"Good tea. Even when compared to the many I've had the chance to taste."

The Ancient One smiles, "That's appreciated."

"Well—" I put the cup down and look at her, "you seem to be doing much better than last time I saw you."

I had Johnny deliver something that could combat the influence Dormammu had over her through the connection she had established to his dimension.

This would allow her to keep using the dark energy while not worrying about turning into a Mindless One every moment she does.

She regains some composure, "Yes, what—ailed—me is much more controllable now. Thank you for your assistance," she bows her head slightly.

Before, she was able to lock it away and keep it from corrupting her, but it was like walking on a tightrope no matter how good she became at managing it.

"Now—I would like your help with something."

She becomes tense and looks at me, likely hoping it won't be something dangerous to Earth.

I lean forward and tell her, "I wish to have you use the Time Gem and allow me to look back in time, about seventy years or so, at a specific location here on Earth."

She stays frozen for a second before blurting, "Okay!" before I can change my mind.

Correcting herself, she calms down and asks, "When do you wish to do so?"

After gulping the rest of the tea I had set down, I answer, "Right now, if we can."

She stands up, asking, "Where do we go?"

I smile and stand up as well.

---

In a room reminiscent of what an advanced mid-twentieth century laboratory would look like, the sound of intense snoring resonated.

It overpowered the sound from the working machinery that tested various materials as well.

However, one of those machines, a small heated cauldron, was not testing and was instead mixing an extremely hot—

"Hmm," the man who had been snoring this entire time finally woke up.

Standing up, he eventually looked within the cauldron, "Oh—this—it bonded!" he saw the molten liquid inside.

Realizing something, he started to scramble, "I have to pour it immediately, or it may lose its viability."

He grabbed a pair of large tongs and picked up the cauldron with them, then walked over to an open area where he started pouring the contents into an already prepared, disc-shaped mold.

Finished, he put the cauldron back and impatiently waited for it to stop cooling.

After a few hours, he opened the mold, revealing a round metal disc.

He soon subjected it to various tests, eventually coming to the conclusion that it was completely indestructible by any means he knew of.

"I've done it... All I must do now is create more."

He soon got back to work, using the exact same mixture as before, but even after several days and dozens of tries, he was unable to recreate the same—mystery metal.

Sitting motionless while hugging the disc, he heard a knock at the door, "Dr. MacLain, have you had any success?"

"Huh," coming from his daze, he answers, "yes. Yes, I have."

He stands, holding it in front of him, "I've created a completely indestructible metal, impervious to all harm. Not even the harshed test I threw at it gave it so much as a cratch."

"Marvelous!" the man who came to check in on his progress went to him in a hurry, but upon seeing MacLain's face, he asked, "What is the problem? You've succeeded, haven't you?"

Sitting back down, he sighs, "Oh, yes, I've made it, but—I can't make anymore."

Before the man can ask further, he continues, "An unknown third factor facilitated the bonding process. I've been trying to recreate it this past week, but I've been unsuccessful in finding whatever the catalyst was."

The man didn't think that meant much, "Then it should only be a matter of time before you find it again. Why do you look so glum?"

MacLain smiles weakly, "If only it were that simple..."

---

"So, that's how it's made."

'I am so very, very—very happy that this is the comic version of the shield.'

The Ancient One is looking at me a bit strangely, "You went through all this trouble just to know how to make that metal?"

Her saying this honestly surprised me, "So there are things you don't pay attention to."

She smiles, "I may have the Time Gem, but time is as infinite as it is broad; I cannot see into everything, or I would never stop."

I chuckle, "That, you are correct."

Looking back at the projection, I say to her, "That shield, which will later be wielded by Captain America, is virtually unbreakable by any amount of physical force."

"The only way to 'break' it is by using reality-altering powers or something similar, and even then, they must be powerful to do so."

She's finally getting the idea—and probably wondering how she missed something so important as well.

"Even now, if I wanted to damage it, I would have to use my power to change the fabric of reality itself instead of any physical means."

'I'd probably have a hard time too since reality warping is something I've been neglecting in favor of more immediate strength gain.'

Turning from the projection, we started leaving the abandoned facility we're at.

"Is it truly so great?" she asks.

"Not really," she blinks confusedly at that.

"That metal, Proto-Adamantium, while strong, is still considered a mundane metal for the most part and isn't actually that useful, as once one reaches a certain level, the 'mundane' is no longer that useful when compared to cosmic or mystical abilities."

"Then why go through all the trouble?"

I shrug, "It may be mundane, but its level is so extreme that it starts to break the boundaries of what separates the mundane from everything else. Why wouldn't I be interested? At least I could learn something."

She nods, and we continue to leave.

What I didn't tell her is that while it may be mundane. What would happen if you mix in something to make it not so mundane anymore?

'I don't plan on finding out, however.'

No. Now that I know how it's made, I'm first going to improve it as much as possible and then move on to making it more 'magical.'

My goal is to make an entirely new metal on another level of existence. Not just a hodgepodge of adamantium and uru, or some other magically conductive metal.

With that, I could make something that actually adds to my full power, not just a toy.

'Well—maybe just slightly a toy.'

Whatever I make would still be an external source of power unless I bind it to my soul, but even then, it's still not something I can truly call my own.

But that doesn't mean I can't use it to add a bit of kick to my strength when I go to bully more poor plebs.

'Besides, if what I envision actually works, it could become much more, and thus, actually deserving of being soul-bound to me.'

---

//Note//

I was going to put something about Johnny and Roxanne while he was at Kamar-Taj, but I honestly forgot about them right after I mentioned him.

They aren't important characters anyway, so, yeah.

--

Really? All that waiting just for Cap's shield...

I get that sentiment if you've never seen the comics version and just the MCU one that's only made out of vibranium.

In the comics, it's made from Proto-Adamantium and was only broken or damaged five times, which might as well be zero when you consider that Captain America has been serializing since before WWII ended and has been in more than 7000 comic books.

Its only weakness is people above the natural laws of the universe, and at that level, the concept of 'armor' doesn't even mean anything, so...

I strongly urge you to do some of your own research into the comic version because it is, as far as I have been able to find, the strongest substance in ALL of Marvel. Period, end of story.

Why no one thought of looking back in time to learn how the strongest physical thing in all existence was made, I don't know.

--

What does his company produce?

Everything that's used for making anything of importance.

--

The principal was after that 'extra credit,' if you know what I mean.

If you don't... Do you live under a rock?

--