Chapter 64: Stark's Party. 

Skye is observing her new desk neighbor. They quickly became close as they got a common interest. Computers. Both the hacker speaks a common language.

"There is only a month left before graduation. Why do you transfer right now?" Skye asks curiously.

"Well, my new guardian wants me to get a high school diploma. This is the easiest way, and also to take the SATs." In her new identity, she had been homeschooled.

For her foster father, she left a note for him and said she will come back one day. Bill Foster is worried but respects her decision. 

He reacts calmly as Ava said her body isn't painful anymore. He cried reading the letter, as he is happy for Ava. Of course, Bill hides the letter from Shield.

"Hey!" Three girls in a cheerleader uniform approach Ava while she is at her locker. "Didn't your mother teach you how to dress? Oh, I forgot. You're an orphan right?" The mean girl giggles while bullying Ava. 

The assassin just thought they were cute. Skye comes in and says to the girl. "It's better than dressing like a whore and getting an Std from the math teacher." 

"Skye, this has nothing to do with you!" The bully shows fear when Skye gets there. While smiling, Skye said. "Beat it! Or else…" She narrowed her eyes at them. 

The bullies are afraid that Skye will go all V on them. If people stand up to bully, nowadays the kids are calling it a V, like the vigilante.

"I could have handled it on my own…"Ava said calmly. 

" I know you would. That's why I stepped in. Otherwise, they are dead meat." Skye said in full confidence, surprising Ava. 

Skye invited her back to her house. They enter the empty house. Ava asked "Your parents?"

"I too am an orphan. I live with my guardian." Skye said while putting down her bag. She opens the fridge and takes out a pre-cooked meal that her guardian prepared for her. 

Ava and Skye quickly become best friends. The fact that they are more mature than common kids and trained since they are young played a part. 

"So your guardian trained you?" Ava asks. 

"Yes... Wait a moment, I am getting a call." Her phone rings. Someone is face-timing her. 

Kai is on the other side of the screen. "Hey, Skye." 

"Hi, how is Los Angeles, have you gotten to the beach yet." 

"I haven't. No one to go with." 

"What about your friend you're staying with, that you are suddenly secretive and won't tell me about them." 

"Kids won't understand the adult world. I need my papers on my laptop for the conference. I forget about it at home. Can you send it to my email?" 

"Sure.." Skye says and introduces Ava to him. 

"Hello, Ava. There is some cake in the fridge. Help yourself "

Kai ends the call after talking for a while. Ava jokes "He is forgetful isn't he?"

Surprisingly, Skye said "Nope. Every day he will call to ask me to do something that he forgot, or didn't remember before going there, or so on. He wanted to check up on me, but he didn't want me to feel suffocated. That's why." 

Kai didn't know that he was already seen through. Ava is a bit jealous of their closeness. When they entered Skye's room, Ava found a piece of paper on her desk. It's an adoption paper. 

Skye is planning to ask Kai on her 18th birthday. To officially become his daughter. She is very anxious about it. Ava shows her support for Skye. 

…

In a mansion in Malibu, loud music is being played and strobe light illuminates the night sky. 

Among the crowd, using his notice-me-not charm, Ryan is lurking at Tony's party. 

"Damn, it's like every famous person is here." He can name almost everyone here. Stark's last hurrah is very exciting. He can feel the music with his entire body. 

"Cat! What are you doing here? You're still 17" He approaches a dark-skinned girl with red hair who is drinking a cocktail. 

Ariana Grande is startled to see her boss. Ryan took the cocktail glass from her. "Go on, Get!" He drives her away from the party. 

Sipping the drink, he sees Tony making a fool of himself. 

"People ask me how do I go to the toilet with the suit on, and I answered, I just did," Tony said with a satisfied expression. 

"He might be the only person in this world that can pee his pants and be proud about it." Ryan quipped. The cocktail didn't taste good for him, so he went to Tony's cellar. 

Drinking Tony's private collection of whiskey from his vault that he broke into instead of the open bar, He is finding a good place to watch the next episode. 

And after a beat down by Rhody, his best friend flies away with an iron suit. 

'Stark has a security protocol in that suit in the first place. If he didn't want Rhody to fly with it, his friend could have never done that.' He thought maybe this was Stark's way to keep the Iron Man name alive, by entrusting it to his best friend before he dies. 

" Please leave the premises. "Happy said to the guest.  He watched the crowd disperse from Tony's house. Because of his charm, he is ignored by the security. He also sees Pepper with teary eyes. She is heartbroken. 

He waited until no one was there anymore. Tony passed out so he had to wait a few hours. He went and dragged the passed-out Tony to the sofa. 

" Let's find a place to pose" 

Dragging a chair over, he practiced swiveling the chair. He wants to say something like "Fun Night?" while holding a wine glass in his hand, but he got bored after a few hours. 

"The eminence in the shadows that can do this must have incredible patience." like Nick Fury. 

The guy wakes up when it's almost daybreak. In his suit, Tony finally wakes up. He sees someone sitting near him, but he can't see who he is as the chair is turned back against him. 

Then, the chair turns, revealing Ryan Knight who is stroking a cat doll. *Dun Dun Dunn! * loud music is played from the speaker. 

"Thank you JARVIS," Ryan said while he threw the cat doll away. 

"It's my pleasure sir" The AI replied. 

"Did you enjoy the performance? " Tony says while he's getting up. He opened his suit of armor. Only the head part. 

"The last performance by a dead man is really absorbing. I almost cried. " Ryan pretends to wipe his tears. 

Tony said in surprise. "You know?" 

"I have a guess. Palladium poisoning right?"

"Your liquor tastes like shit by the way" He gets up and pours another drink for himself. The price is very high, so he's draining Stark's collection into his stomach. It's not like he can get drunk with it anyway. 

"What level is it at now? Is it over 70?" 

"85%" Tony replied solemnly. 

Ryan approaches Tony and instantly, he injected the vial of a drug into Tony's neck. 

"Oh my god, are you drugging me? You're going to harvest my organs?" Tony quipped. He can feel the drug inside his body. Now, he feels…better!

"Go check what level it is now," Ryan said. 

"My suit has a built-in checker. It's at 0% right now" Tony's eyes widened. 

Getting a USB drive from his pocket, he gives it to Tony. "This can solve the symptoms for a few weeks, or even months." 

"This is?" Tony tries to get an explanation. It is the formula to make his compound.

But Ryan said "I have been waiting all night for you to wake up, I'm really tired now. You know how hard it is to play a mysterious helper. It's a lot of hard work for 2 minutes of screen time." 

"Nobody asked you to do that. You can give it… like a normal person"  

"Go have a doughnut or whatever, and check it afterward.  I'll come to help you after I take a nap." He walks away. He stopped for a minute and asked "Are you sure you're not going to tell Pepper about this?" 

Tony is in deep thought. "I want to spare her from the pain." He said. 

"She is in pain right now," Ryan said before he left. 

Seeing his strange friend walk away, Tony is in deep thought. "Weird kid. But I am hungry, and doughnuts seem like a good choice right now. JARVIS, we will talk later about how you become Ryan's lackey " 

"He told me about a possible solution sir for your condition. I will help him whenever I can." 

Tony will meet the pirate with an eye patch and knows the truth about Pepper's secretary when he goes to eat. In which he will get locked up to save his life. 

Ryan checks into a hotel in LA and teleports back to his place in New York." Why bother to sleep outside if I can sleep in my bed. I feel you, Saiki Kusuo" He climbs on his bed to take a nap. 

In a certain donut store, Nick Fury said " Do you think you're the center of my universe? Because you're not!" 

Natasha, whose identity has already been exposed, pretended to check for the surroundings. 

When she gets out of Tony's sight, she ambushes and tries to inject Tony with lithium dioxide without warning.

However, Tony is now an alert man. With Ryan doing the same thing before, he already prepared for when he is in the same situation. He grabs the syringe from Natasha, making the assassin's eyes widen. 

Nick Fury tries to salvage the situation. " That's lithium dioxide, it can counteract palladium in your blood." 

"It just abates the symptoms. It's not a cure." Natasha added. Tony's eyes widened. 

"You mean this?" He takes out a vial of the drug Ryan gives him just this morning. Natasha and Nick Fury are surprised this time. "How do you have it?" 

"I got a friend." Tony is satisfied to see their reaction.

Fury already knows about Stark and Ryan's weird relationship where they make trouble with each other, but never cross a line to become an enemy. 

One might even say that they are friends. His vigilance loosened after he made Stark tell him who gave it to him. 

'The kid is good. Should I consider him for the Avenger initiative? It is the initiative to find a capable man.' Fury thought secretly. But for now, he needed to focus on Stark. 

The military having the battle suit is not a good thing for the peace of the world. They need to get Stark back on his feet. 

They change places to Tony's mansion. Nick Fury told Tony about his organization, and how Howard Stark was its founder. 

He also told Tony that he couldn't have contact with the outside world until he found the new element for his condition. Tony is now locked in his own house. 

Stark finds his father's legacy in his previous works. "What is and will always be my greatest creation… is you". He cried seeing the footage. 

Ryan returns from the hotel. He rides a bike to the place. He wants to enter Tony's mansion, but he is blocked by the agents. So he decides to do what any rational man will do. 

*Vroom* Speeding the bike, he storms the front gate of the mansion. "Stop!" The agent screams. Ryan is now inside the house to find Tony.

He meets Tony who is wearing a robe in the living room. Behind him, a team of agents is running toward him. 

"Stop, lower your weapons," Tony said to the agents that are pointing their guns at Ryan. 

"And you, did you hop the gate with a motorcycle?" 

"You can do it too when you're young. So what's the story with these black suits? Did you change your taste to burly man instead?" Ryan said without fear for these agents. 

His father's influence now is compared to the President. Only one call and Shield will be in deep trouble. 'Now I understand the feeling of the arrogant young master in the cultivation novel.' He thought. 

He wanted to check Tony's condition, otherwise, he wouldn't have come. 

"My serum works better though. This one could only stabilize you for a few weeks. Mine could get you months" He checks the composition of the vial that Shield wants to use on Tony. 

Tony didn't hide anything from him and told him about the agent injecting him without his consent. Ryan just laughs. 

"Your dad leaves you something? Ohh. That must be it." Ryan baited. 

"What?" Tony is surprised and curious. 

"You know, I looked at the expo design before. It resembled an element composition. You should check the original expo design." 

Tony goes to the company to pick up the model of the Stark Expo fairgrounds. There, he meets Natasha who is still undercover around Pepper.

Natasha is a little frustrated at that time. She had an encounter with Ryan before. When Ryan is at Tony's house, she can't be there. 

"Okay, now I will go back to New York. Call me when you've created the new element." Ryan said, making Tony a little surprised. 

In front of them, the holographic projection of a new element is rediscovered. Now it's for the hard part. To make the element. 

"You're not staying? " Tony asks.

"No, I have a lot of work to do. Besides, if this stumps you. Then I will take the title of the greatest mind in the world from you." Ryan smirks. 

"It's too soon for you to be at my level." Tony quipped. 

Having support from your friend during trying times motivates Tony. He wonders if it is a good decision to not tell Pepper about it. 

'Well, I can tell her after I make the new element.' He thought. 

In his basement, Tony is unboxing a particle accelerator. He didn't have to wait for it to come as Ryan said he had one. It arrived an hour after Ryan left. 

'It's like the kid already knows how to make it.' he had the thought, but it seems unlikely. 

… 

3 days later, Knight Industries unveils the 3D-printing technology to the world. The response is... explosive. 

The speaker for the presentation is Gwen instead of him. He asks her to wear a black turtleneck and glasses, to mimic a certain Apple company owner in his previous life. 

'Tomorrow is the Hammer presentation.' Ryan thought in his mind. He needs to prepare a few things for tomorrow. 

After Gwen finishes, he claps for her when he meets her backstage. "Nicely done. You look very beautiful on the stage." 

Gwen gives him a dissatisfied look. "I don't know why you won't do this on your own!" It is his invention in the first place. 

"I don't know, I think it's because I realized that I couldn't attract people's attention to me the moment they lay eyes on me. Like you do" Of course he's saying this to flirt, appeasing Gwen with it. It works. 

Stark calls him when the presentation is over. "Give me one." His iron suit usually takes months to create, but with the 3D printer, his ideas will be easier to bring to reality. 

His invention exploded worldwide, but it was only for a day before the incident grabs its attention from it. 

Justin Hammer approaches him after the presentation. "Mr. Knight, your invention is wonderful. If we work together, America will be the top power in the world." 

The annoying guy tries to procure the manufacturing equipment for his robot drones. With it, more power will come to him. 

Ryan knows his thoughts, so he puts an extremely bright smile on his face." Let's talk numbers"

The billions of dollar orders are procured in just a few hours. It's very easy for him to get Justin's trust. Just compliment the guy a few times and he will open up to you. The idiot doesn't notice the hidden clause on the contract he signs. 

When the Hammer industry fails to pay for it later, then they are going to be bled dry by Ryan. The industry is swallowed whole by him later on. 

Even Stark is scared of Ryan's viciousness when he knows what he has done.  But this is later in the future. 

Justin said to him full of confidence. "Please come to the Hammer Presentation tomorrow. You won't regret cooperating with my company!" 

"Sure. I will wait for you to shock me." 

… 

In the Malibu mansion, time passes by after Ryan leaves. Stark now has finally created the element left behind by his father. "Dead for almost 20 years, but he is still taking me to school." 

"Incoming call from a blocked number sir" JARVIS notified Tony. 

"Hey Tony, how are you doing? Haha. I double-cycle" a hideous voice sounded on the other side of the call. Ivan Vanko has upgraded his arc reactor as Tony advised him when they met at the prison. 

"You what?" Tony is stunned. 'Didn't the guy die in a prison fire?' 

"You told me, double-cycle more power. Good advice. What your father did to my father for 40 years. I will do it to you in 40 minutes." Ivan hung up the phone. 

Stark failed to trace the call. But he suspects Justin Hammer knows it as the guy will unveil new weapons today. He grabs the arc reactor with the new element and installs it in his chest. 

" You want to run some tests, JARVIS. Run them" He said as JARVIS expressed his concern. He removed his current arc reactor and attached the new element arc reactor. 

"That tastes like coconut and metal. Oh WOW YEAH!!" A burst of light comes out from the new arc reactor. 

The new element didn't only replace palladium but also cleans his body from heavy metal poisoning. He feels better than ever. 

… 

Hammer is unveiling his new weapons at the center stage. "Presenting, the Hammer Drones" 

"Army! Navy! Air Force! Marines!" Battalions of robot drones show up on the stage. 

Hammer is satisfied with the applause. "Even with revolutionary new technology, a man has to be there in the theater of war." 

"Presenting the prototype of Variant Threat Response Battle Suit. Piloted by air force Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes." Lastly, The Iron Patriot shows up on the stage. 

Pepper in the audience is in disbelief. She thought in her heart, 'That's Tony's suit'. Not only did Justin Hammer claim it as his own, but even Rhody has also betrayed Tony. 

"For America and its industries…" Before Hammer could finish, he saw a red streak heading towards the stage from the air above.

Ryan, who is in a seat 3 rows behind Pepper, regrets something. "Why did I decide to come by myself even when I know it is happening?"

There isn't a quest he needs to do or a benefit he will get. Even he doesn't understand why he came here. All he knows is that he couldn't let the citizens be in danger. 

Gwen isn't with him as she is busy handling the company affairs. Hiddle and Tim have to work extra hard to handle the big people of the manufacturing industry. 

"After this, we are on the route to becoming a consortium." Tim is very proud of his son. Without him, the industry will not be as advanced as it is today. 

Back at the convention hall, Iron Man landed on the stage, making the crowd scream in cheers. 

Natasha and Pepper go backstage. Before Natasha left, she signaled her plus one to the event to evacuate. 

The black-haired man, with an eye bag and carrying a sword disguised as a cane, just waved at her. Kai, in his gorgeous Armani suits, is now ignoring Natasha, making her a little frustrated with him. 

Side story 8.

In an office in Knight Industry. Hiddle and Tim are managing some acquisitions of smaller companies that have potential or are almost bankrupt because of the wrong management.

"Dad, you're ready for dinner?" Ryan walks into the office dressed in a black suit. Today there is a dinner party with some important people in the country.

"Just a moment. Hiddle,... put Dunder Mifflin in the pile." The rejected company is all put together inside a pile.

Ryan's ears perked up seeing the name of the company. "Wait!" He told his dad, and he went and checked the file of the company. 

"Dad, I will handle this." Ryan smiles, leaving Tim clueless.

…

(Every name:(sentence) is an interview.)

Sitting in a chair in a meeting room at the office. Michael Scott is talking to the camera while sitting.

Michael: Today, our Scranton Branch, will be representing Dunder Mifflin as the most successful branch of our company. 

Michael: I, will represent the manager, of my office

Jim Halpert: Our office. I am a manager too.

Jim is interviewing alone. 

Jim: I have only one job today. That is to make sure Michael did not behave inappropriately in front of the billionaire.

"He's here!!" Pam said to the office. Michael took the lead and waited for the guy in front of the receptionist's desk.

"Stanley! look alive!" He yelled. Stanley who is doing a crossword puzzle put his book down and forces a smile.

Stanley: If looking more alive can get me more money, I will be looking like the most alive person in the office.

Ryan Knight walks into the office with David Wallace. He shook hands with Michael.

"I'm sorry I'm late. A car is blocking the road in front of the building. It's really crammed in there " Ryan said.

"That's what she said." Michael joked unconsciously.

Jim: I have failed.

Jim is introducing Pam to Ryan while David Wallace is having a word with Michael Scott.

"This is my wife Pam. We just got married." 

Ryan shook hands with Pam. "You look very lovely Pam."

Dwight Schrute cuts in. "I'm Dwight. The best salesman in the state. And assistant to the regional manager." He says while smiling and being polite.

Dwight: I have a plan for today. To make sure that I will become a manager under new management. The last one has been disappointing. Come on. Jim as a manager? The company will go to ruins. 

"Hey, I read online that you like to try new, authentic things. I have baked a pie from my beet crops as I am also a beet farmer. " Dwight is handing a piece of pie to Ryan.

"Sure. I will try some…" 

Dwight: Step 1- Complete!

"Hi, I am Kelly Kapoor, customer service," Kelly said seductively after being introduced to Ryan. 

Kelly: In the movie Pretty Woman, millionaire Richard Gere falls in love with prostitute Julia Roberts and changes her life. Today, I will make Ryan Knight fall for me. Today, I will be a prostitute.

Kevin: Michael is making me stay put to not make the office look bad.

Creed: I was told not to come in today.

Ryan Howard comes to talk to Ryan Knight when David Wallace isn't looking.

"Have you ever heard of this website called WUPHF.com.?"

"Aren't you the guy who is arrested for fraud?"

Ryan Howard: He Knows Me!

Andy is singing the entire day when Ryan is here. 

Andy: If I got scouted, it will be a dream come true for me and my acapella group. 

"Riditditdido, Give me the beat boy~, and free my soul~"

"Andy Stop!" Angela yelled and rolled her eyes at andy.

Michael Scott and Jim Halpert are introducing various aspects of the business to Ryan.

Finally, Ryan meets with HR.

He asked Toby.

"Is there any dangerous element here in the office?"

Toby's eyes darted to Michael a bit before answering.

"Are you satisfied with the management?" 

Toby glances at Michael again. Michael covers his mouth from Ryan and mouths 'I WILL KILL YOU' to Toby.

"Yes"

"That's all, I will be in contact," Ryan said to David Wallace.

Ryan Knight: It's a lot worse than I thought. First…(*Knock Knock)

The door is knocked by Michael Scott. 

"I'm sorry for bothering you, but I forgot to give you this. [Threat Level Midnight] This is my movie. I was wondering if I can get you to take a look at it". He leaves the CD there and leaves.

Ryan turns back to the camera.

Ryan: Now, it is even worse.