Chapter 145: Tony Picks Up the Hammer
He had just woken up after being frozen for so long, and his body wasn't fully recovered yet. He didn't even have his shield with him. Next time they meet, he promises himself he'd teach Tony a lesson about respecting his elders.
Glancing around, Steve noticed this floor was a bit high up, so he opted for the stairs instead.
Meanwhile, Tony had already made it back home, feeling much more at ease.
Steve Rogers' words had given him some perspective: there was no need to take things so personally. Steve was from an era where, with the strength of a super soldier, he could dominate most situations that his time had to offer.
He wasn't invincible, but back then, he might as well have been. It made sense that Steve had developed a quiet pride over the years—one that wasn't immediately visible but ran deep.
Tony could understand that pride. After all, he used to be the same way. It wasn't until he'd gotten a true glimpse of the vastness of the universe, realizing that there were greater powers out there, that some of his arrogance had finally dissipated.
If he wanted to break Steve of his pride, it would be easy—he could just show him something beyond his comprehension, something that would shatter his worldview. The way Harvey had once humbled him.
But Tony didn't care to bother with that. He had better things to do, like furthering his research.
Harvey, on the other hand, had already noticed that Captain Steve Rogers had woken up and that he had clashed with Tony.
He hadn't overheard their entire conversation, but from the way Tony had reacted, it was clear Steve hadn't made the best first impression.
Tony's personality had changed a bit recently, and if Steve approached him in a more friendly manner, they could at least have a civil conversation. Sure, they might not become best friends, but things didn't have to be so tense between them.
That said, with both of them being so proud and self-assured, expecting them to hit it off immediately was unrealistic.
Watching this scene play out reminded Harvey of the Winter Soldier. Tony wasn't the same man he used to be, in terms of either his approach or his power. If he ever found out that Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier, was responsible for his parents' deaths, there's no telling how Tony might react.
There's a saying: "Don't preach forgiveness unless you've lived through the pain."
Harvey wasn't going to step in if that situation ever came up. If Tony chose to spare Bucky, that would be a sign of his mercy. If not, well, Harvey wouldn't try to stop him.
But since Steve was already awake, it meant that the year was close to June 2011, which also meant Thor would soon be arriving on Earth. Probably within the next three months.
Harvey mused over this—he'd need to keep an eye on things. When the time came, he couldn't let the Destroyer kill Tony, who was his golden goose.
Tony was strong enough to go toe-to-toe with Loki, but the Destroyer, a weapon from Odin's vault, was on another level. At Tony's current strength, he wasn't ready for that fight.
With that thought, Harvey returned to his video games. After all, it wasn't hard for him to figure out when Tony left—his repulsors always made a lot of noise high in the sky.
Time passed quickly, and before long, mid-June arrived, bringing the heat of summer with it.
It was around this time that Stark Industries held its annual technology expo. On that very night, out in the barren lands of New Mexico, a storm suddenly appeared in the sky.
Besides two women and an old man who were on the scene, no one else witnessed it.
In New York, Tony was relaxing, enjoying a drink after a long day's work, when J.A.R.V.I.S. informed him of the event.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., did you say there was a beam of light in New Mexico?"
It was late at night, and Tony had just settled in, but when he heard this, he stood up immediately.
"Yes, sir. The weather over the New Mexico desert was calm, but suddenly a storm erupted, and a beam of light shot down from the sky," J.A.R.V.I.S. reported, displaying satellite footage of the incident.
"Finally, it's happening. I've been waiting for this," Tony said, a gleam of excitement in his eyes.
Within thirty seconds, he was suited up in his Iron Man armor and was already en route to New Mexico.
Despite the distance between New York and New Mexico, Tony made it there quickly, but by the time he arrived, there was no sign of anyone around.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., hack into all surveillance systems in New Mexico and nearby cities. Check for any vehicles or people that passed through here in the last half hour."
Tony surveyed the ground, noting strange markings, but didn't seem too concerned. "If aliens have landed, I'll find them eventually," he said confidently.
Touching down, Tony examined the markings more closely, intending to use his universal translator to decipher them. But the normally reliable device failed him—these symbols didn't make any sense.
Tony knew that while he didn't understand them, Harvey probably would.
"Should I ask Harvey?" he wondered, standing there, deep in thought. "But if I ask him, doesn't that make me look incompetent?"
Harvey had told him that he could handle this situation on his own, meaning the enemy likely wasn't too powerful.
After a moment of internal debate, Tony decided to handle it himself unless things escalated beyond his control.
As Tony continued waiting, the sky suddenly brightened, and another beam of light shot down, accompanied by a deafening crash as the ground shook.
This time, Tony didn't need J.A.R.V.I.S. to alert him—he saw the event firsthand.
"Looks like we have more than one uninvited guest," Tony muttered as he flew toward the new impact site.
It wasn't far—just a few kilometers away. When he arrived, there wasn't a person in sight, but there was something else: a hammer.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., scan for any life forms within the area," Tony instructed, hovering about a hundred meters away from the hammer.
"Excluding lizards, scorpions, and other small creatures, there are no humanoid life forms within two kilometers, sir."
"..."
With no immediate threat detected, Tony cautiously approached the hammer, examining it closely. This hammer had caused a small-scale earthquake when it landed.
Hesitating for a moment, Tony reached out and grasped the handle. With a single tug, the hammer lifted easily in his hand.
As soon as he held it, Tony felt a surge of energy flowing from the hammer into his body.
Startled by this unknown power, Tony immediately dropped the hammer, tossing it away.
From his aerial vantage point, Harvey watched the whole scene unfold, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.