15 April 2000
Cerion stared at the device before him with a sense of achievement. The device in question was in the shape of a triangle with white glass pane covering much of the device. His quest for creating a miniaturized arc reactor succeeded though it was not without its hiccups. The success in completing the design and manufacturing of a miniaturized version deserved to be assigned to the wonder element Unobtanium. Without studying that element he wouldn't have had the foggiest clue about how to start building a miniaturized arc reactor.
The element Unobtanium facilitated stable and controlled Nuclear fusion in an alarming manner that frankly boggled his mind. The wondrous property of this element doesn't stop there. It produces no heat, hardly detectable levels of radiation and an enormous surge of energy in a controlled manner. Frankly, it was a friendly element that was dancing around with a signboard saying; use me I am your friend.
The element once harvested in its raw form was slightly volatile but after it undergoes a refining process with slight exposure to a concentrated burst of anti-protons it was safe as a puppy. While the raw form of Unobtanium produced an energy density to run a submarine for half a decade or so the enriched Unobtanium could extend that to 20 years.
Even the enrichment process could be improved increasing the energy output of the Unobtanium. Unfortunately, a higher grade of enriched Unobtanium would be dangerous for the miniaturised arc reactor. So it was going to be used in the reactor that was going to be built for his ship where he could install several safety measures. But that was far away in the future as he got some extensive work to be done on his ship before he can install the reactor.
But what was bugging him right now was just how Tony Stark managed to work out a mini arc reactor in a cave with scraps from some missile components. There was also the question of how the hell Tony Stark extracted energy from the Palladium core. Out of the top of his head, he gathered that Tony Stark must have figured out a way to capture a significant amount of electrons to create gamma waves and high energy electrons flow to the rim of the reactor. This in turn causes an imbalance of proton and electron causing a massive surge in electrostatic potential.
Having said that there was no way this process could be done in a 10cm dia device with no cooling or controllers in the reactor. While Palladium is an essential component in cold fusion it doesn't explain just how Tony Stark managed to circumvent some of the heavy equipment needed to make the reactor safe and sound. It was something that truly bugged him.
"Lord Vex, shall I insert the element to the reactor core?" asked Optima
"Yes please." He said returning from his thoughts.
The mini arc reactor in his hand was plucked out by Optima using a readily formed metallic holder. The Unobtanium which was under the care of a proton gun was plucked away from its magnetic suspension casket in a similar manner. The element was inserted into the reactor core and his arc reactor lit up with blue light.
"The element has been accepted by the reactor. Projected energy output not exceeding 10 G J/s."
"Nice." He said as he leaned back in his seat with a satisfied smile.
"Shall I modify the power grid to the new reactor sir?" asked Optima
"Do so and good job Optima. Couldn't have done it without you." He said patting his trusty drone to show his appreciation to the resident AI.
"Incorrect statement sir. You could have done this without me, given time."
"Are you saying I am slow Optima?"
"You are slow selectively sir."
"A perfectly diplomatic way to say that. I am impressed Optima." He said with a satisfied nod.
"Thank you, sir."
He took in his temporary 'lab' in his leased Pacific Island. It was not much of a lab per se as he was holding his workshop in the broken remains of the old sanctum. The foundation was strong but the structure had many faults with overgrown trees and plants inside the structure. For Rao's sake there was a Kuila growing right through the roof of the sanctum. It was going to be a lot of work to tear it all down and rebuild but he was going to at some point.
For now, he had managed to set up a hall for his temporary lab and with creating the first Arc Reactor his need for a powerful energy source was solved. Of course, he was going to make a few more arc reactors but the drones won't be dependent on the power of solar panels alone. Speaking of which he was going to take out all those panels and start working on them to see what he could do. The present solar panels of Earth were ridiculously expensive and had low energy yield. With Vex Corp set to launch a product next year possibly in July, he gathered electronics would be a good market to pursue.
While he planned to venture into cybersecurity it was his hope that he would be able to quietly slip into manufacturing so as to gain access to some heavy machinery and metals like Titanium, Tungsten, Aluminium Steel, etc in large quantities.
To that end, he has been sending out feelers subtly searching for programmers. To attract the attention of some of the best programmers he had published the first open-sourced anti-virus software on the web. From that single act, he gained a lot of friends and contacts as he got bombed by a ton of emails. Frankly, it was as if a flood gate was opened and he had to literally read a constant stream of messages every day. Some were congratulatory, some were job offers, some were frankly creepy and some were intellectual conversations.
The trouble was in weeding out which is which until he decided to build a software to do just that. Now his emails were categorized separately so that he could look for the useful ones. In doing so he could interact with some of the best minds in the world. The process was still ongoing and it would take some time to clear up all the details but the first stones have been laid. Now, it was just time to carefully build a foundation.
Interacting with some of these programmers gave him another idea. Lack of social media was just a huge inconvenience at this point and he had some idea to change that. Keeping that in mind he used the first payment from SHIELD under the new contract in leasing a new building in Redwood City, CA. The building was going to get furnished as soon as a tender for all the necessary pieces of equipment was going to be put out. By then he would have to find his prospective employees which was going to be a real pain in the ass because he would have to weed out the spies from SHIELD.
Then a thought struck him.
'Hmm…why not use SHIELD?'
A smile slowly came to his face as a plan began to form in his mind.
Jane was carefully wading through a string of calculations again and again in search of something that was frankly out of her reach but at the same time, she felt she was at the cusp of something. When she had chosen her subject of study to be astrophysics she never expected that her attention would inevitably end on M-theory. More specifically she was interested in space anomalies that occur in the universe and she believed she had found a possible way to detect black holes and tears in deep space.
Jane sighed and put her hands on either side of her head and just looked at the sea of equations and half-formed multidimensional stress sensors. She was sure that she was close to a possible theory of explaining it all but when imagination spilt into reality on her paper she was at a loss. With the present set of mathematical equations and recent leaps in String Theory, the study of a Graviton is near impossible. Most scientists even object to the concept of a Graviton but she was sure it existed even though all her attempts to detect it had ended in failure.
That doesn't mean she was ready to give up. She just needed to find a way to get more equipment that could generate better readings. But that was easier said than done as her own research budget was limited and access to cutting edge equipment were costly. Besides even if she somehow manages to find the equipment and have the money to lease its use she might not get access on the grounds that her research was a dead end. Graviton research was not that interesting to the scientific community at large because of the rarity or impossibility of its existence. Her own father was of the opinion that Graviton research was a dead-end which made her all the more eager to pursue the elusive particle.
While there were huge implications to the inexistence of Graviton it outweighed the pros if it exists. Her research so far has made her convinced about the existence of Graviton and she was sure this quantum of Gravity if studied would unravel the secrets of an Einstein-Rosen bridge along with many other applications. Gravity was after all a universal power prevalent in the entire universe binding it together. She strongly believed her research could contribute significantly to String theory which has so far contributed so much to the scientific community despite it remaining just a theory. Half of the math she used in her own research came from the subsidiary research into String theory.
"I can see smoke coming out of your ears Jane."
A voice from her immediate back startled her but she calmed down when she noticed it was her friend Karen Rose.
"Oh, it's you. You startled me. Can't you just knock before you come in? I would have had a heart attack." Jane complained as she swivelled around in her chair to stare at her friend unimpressed.
"I did knock on your door several times. You were just on your own little world." said Karen
"Sorry. I was just working."
"Yeah. I can see that. You have bags under your eyes girl. You need to get some sleep."
"What I need is more coffee," said Jane hoping to get back to her work to no avail.
"No. What you need is a good nights sleep and some fresh air. Now, come on. Get up. I am driving you to your apartment."
Jane didn't want to but after consistent nagging from her friend she caved in and that's how she found herself in Karen's car.
"You have to take this slow you know. You are just twenty-two Jane and already you are a research fellow. Most people don't have a diploma at your age."
"What are you saying?" asked Jane
"I am saying to take slow measured steps. We can't change the world in a single day much less a year. You are young so enjoy life a little bit. Might even get you a fresh perspective on how you view the world."
"This coming from someone who is just two years older than me." said Jane with a deadpan look.
"That makes me two years wiser than you and I have been taking this motivation class a few blocks from my home just to keep my edge you know. I am just giving you the advice I received from better people that know life better than you or me." said Karen with a shrug.
Jane rolled her eyes at Karen's comment and merely stayed silent. She let out a relieved sigh when the car turned a corner and her apartment drew close. As the car pulled over to the street she was out of the door and on the sidewalk by Karen's window in a flash.
"My…you have some speed on you, Jane. In a hurry to be with your cute boyfriend?" asked Karen with a wink.
"He is not my boyfriend. Wait…what do you mean cute? How did you see him?" she asked suspiciously.
"You are not that difficult to track and I know you go out with the guy on dinner."
"But that's just because we go to the same restaurant." she said indignantly.
"You tell yourself that. From what I saw you were cosy enough with the guy. Nice catch as well. What was his name again?"
Jane didn't get to answer as a guy barged into her pushing her away from the car. She fell down on the street and flinched as her assailant fired a gun up in the air. She tried to get up but her right arm flared up with pain and she fell back with a hiss.
Her assailant dragged Karen out of the car and then the security guard of her building barged into the thief. Punches and kicks were thrown between them and then a gunshot. She felt wet and a woman was screaming like there was no tomorrow. Her vision blurred as she fell but her head didn't hit the road. All she saw was a set of sparkling grey eyes and sandy blonde hair before darkness consumed her.
AN: If anyone is interested in betareading this story or any of my other stories please do contact me through PM.
NazgulBelserion: You sound as if someone forced you to read this story man. Break a leg.
BadReader: If you can expand on what these problems are I would be happy to know. If possible do come up with solutions as well. One or two good ideas may come up in these discussions.
Crywolfseven: Finally, someone that reviewed with a 100% human perspective. This is good. From the pov of humans of Marvel-verse Cerion and his race is a threat. The ancient one exists to make sure beings like Cerion do not exert their will upon reality. Humans are not on a level like Asgardians or Kree to handle someone like Cerion or a Celestial. Humans cannot even tolerate each other and have created thousands of distinction between themselves. Other alien races are not like that. It is only natural for humans to perceive anything and everything as a threat especially when they are faced with a superpowered alien. SHIELD's and AO's reactions are on the right track. Now, Cerion has urges to recreate the Kryptonian race. This is something that he is born with as he is built nit born. Then there is the thought that he is alone in the universe. He has been disenchanted from humanity for almost twenty years. He has become a Kryptonian in every way. He will not see humanity as his race. This is the base of the friction that we are seeing. I hope my answer satisfied you.
welcome007: Being rich won't matter to him. He is just using the company to access resources he needs the right way. This may change later down the line.
D72: Not all Kryptonians are egomaniacs. But I get your point.
Abyss Trinity: For now this story is following MCU. But I may change the premise and introduce other elements like Eternals, Celestials etc. I have not thought that far enough.
Sultan Asil Arslan: He cannot go to DC universe at the moment. Even if he could it will be way down the line when he gets a chance to access alternate universes. And even if he did why would he go to DCU? Outside if Kal-El whom he barely knows what else is there in the DC that would make him go?
Sorre: If you can point out any specifically it will be helpful.