At noon on the third day after Panda Bubba demanded to meet the mysterious Mr. Smith, Phil drove them to the meeting spot Jack had arranged with the crime lord which turned out to be a high end Chinese restaurant. It seemed Bubba took his warning that Mr. Smith wasn't a criminal seriously and this was going to be a normal business lunch.
Phil had settled on slightly older features taking his position as Mr. Smith's assistant seriously, he had a finely pressed butler's uniform hazel eyes and neatly combed black hair that had just the slightest hint of gray, to get a dignified look. No one would mistake who was of higher station between the duo as Phil opened the car door and Mr. Smith stepped out. Standing at six feet four inches the disguised Spicer was dressed in the elegant business suit that Phil had tailored out of Chameleon metal that stayed pristine no matter the situation. In his hand was clasped a metallic cane with a red grip that fit his larger hand comfortably. To finish off his look the genius wore a shiny top hat that raised his already considerable new height to an even seven feet. Jack felt powerful as Mr. Smith as he strode with Phil into the restaurant. They were led by a cheerful blonde woman in a Chinese dress to a table that had high walls that blocked the view of the rest of the building allowing for the patrons to chat in relative privacy. The yakuza boss was present already waiting for his arrival. Jack sat across from the criminal while Phil settled unobtrusively at his side.
"Welcome Mr. Smith." Jovially greeted one of Hong Kong's most influential criminals. "I hope you don't mind I took the liberty of ordering for the table." At his words a host of servers appeared from seemingly nowhere filling the table with a mouthwatering variety of cuisine. A small white cup materialized in front of the disguised genius and Panda Bubba lifted a sake bottle invitingly, the inventor nodded in assent while Phil declined politely, and they began sampling the truly excellent meal.
"I don't mean to impose but when I saw an example of your fascinating cloaking technology I set out to learn more about you and I couldn't find anything. Why for a time I was convinced that young Jack had made you up entirely trying to cover up that it was he who behind the whole thing, though it is unlike him not to take credit for his work. Why I don't know anything about you, not even your first name so I think it is time for some proper introductions." Bubba said with a friendly voice. "I am Panda Bubba an entrepreneur and businessman, and I asked you here to discuss a mutually profitable business arrangement." Bubba trailed off his introduction waiting for the man across from him to follow suit.
"My name is Jacob Smith, and this is my assistant Philip Irons, the reason you were unable to uncover anything about me is very simple, there is nothing to find. In the legal sense of the word I don't exist." Jacob revealed in a low tone as he sipped from the sake the criminal had poured for him. "Due to the nature of my work I have had to avoid some very unpleasant people, so you can imagine my surprise when a promising engineering student I know came to me recently insisting that I have a meeting with the crime boss of Panda Town." The genius let his lips turn up slightly at the flash of surprise on Bubba's face. "You didn't think you were the first to realize the vast potential of a device that can produce holograms and fit in your pocket. This is potentially world changing technology. If that change is for good or ill depends on who controls it. So, Mr. Bubba what is it that you are trying to accomplish?" Jacob Smith demanded as he meet the gaze of the crime boss who had lost some of his previous friendliness.
The genius could tell that Bubba was reassessing him, the moment stretched on and he had to keep himself from fidgeting under the weight of the criminal's gaze. The backstory for Mr. Smith wasn't a very strong one, basically Jack had decided not to explain anything. The inventor took this approach for a couple reasons. The first was the more complicated the lie the more likely it was to be found out, and the second was Jack figured there was a good chance Panda Bubba would simply see through his disguise. Jack could deal with Bubba if he was found out, but it would be inconvenient. The real people this disguise was for were the ones who he couldn't handle with a liberal application of attackbots. This was perhaps the most dangerous stage of Jack's career as he graduated from minor player to a legitimate threat. The inventor could easily see himself being snatched by someone like HYDRA or SHIELD and thrown into a pit somewhere never to see daylight again. He grimaced at the thought and returned his attention to the danger in front of him instead of future threats.
"What I want is what all businessmen want Mr. Smith. Money, power, influence and the means to acquire these things. What I see here is opportunity, the things one could accomplish with personalized stealth technology is immense. A single squad of invisible agents would make a man unstoppable." Frankly stated the crime boss. "The only real question is what you want for it. I am a very powerful man, Mr. Smith, in exchange for a dozen of your devices I can make things happen." Bubba poured more sake into the disguised Jack's cup as he finished speaking.
Taking a sip from the cup Jack considered what to say next. He could supply a dozen cloaking devices easily enough, but he knew that Bubba wouldn't stop at a mere dozen. This was only the beginning.
"I find I tire of not existing." Jack set his cup down and folded his hands together in a contemplative gesture. "I will supply you with the devices you desire and in exchange you will provide for me a legitimate identity a manufacturing facility in that identity's name and 20 tons of copper." Greed sparked in the criminal's eyes as he listened to Jack speak.
"Done." Agreed the powerful man as if the requests were simple and perhaps to him they were though Jack doubted it. "There is a textile factory not far from here that will made ready for your use, your new identity as well as the shipment of copper will be ready within the week. I assume you want to keep the name Jacob Smith?" The genius nodded his head in agreement. "Then we are in agreement when can I be expecting my purchase?" pushed the crime boss.
"A week will be sufficient, in seven days I will bring the cloaking devices to the factory and our business will be concluded." Jack and Bubba raised their glasses sealing the arrangement.
"Don't disappoint me Mr. Smith." Bubba ended the pleasant atmosphere as Jack stood to leave, Phil handing him his hat and cane.
"I will follow through on my end Mr. Bubba, don't betray me or the zoo will find itself with a new panda." The hand gripping his cane felt warm as a flash of anger transformed the criminal's face into an ugly snarl before calming again.
"I will see you in seven days." All warmth was gone from the dangerous man as Mr. Smith left the building.
The disguised inventor felt four tremors as his robot guards invisibly entered the car and Phil drove them away. As they turned a corner he pushed a button to cloak the car preventing any would-be stalkers from following them home. Jack felt his body relax as they got further away from the restaurant. The genius considered what was most likely to happen during his next meeting, he didn't know if Bubba would deliver anything he had promised. The most valuable thing Jack had asked for in that meeting had been the false identity, along with the benefits of being a target for the ire of anyone Jack happened to cross the false identity also solved some of the other problems that had been obstructing the genius up to this point. His young age meant that any business enterprise would have to go through a guardian and his guardians in this case were his parents. Yeah that wasn't happening it was easier to just create a whole new person, better to minimize risks to his real identity anyway.
Jack closed his eyes as he felt the effects of the last three days catch up with him. The last thing that swam through his mind as he drifted off to sleep was the image of Panda Bubba's snarling face, hm, he should probably prepare some more.
Four blocks away from where the car had disappeared a car with a different appearance faded into view carrying Jack and his robots.