Titolo della storia: The New Tower: The collaboration between an investigator and a woman scientist (One-shot)
Plot: Leaving Paris behind, Bruce Belmont has headed to New York City to see how the renovation of his new property, Avengers Tower, has gone.
Bruce didn't go alone, he brought Amelia Blight with him, so they could continue their many experimental projects to completion.
First on the list, complete an AI to manage Avengers Tower.
XXX
POV Narrator
October 8, 2016.
In New York City, in the borough of Manhattan, a limousine of an unknown make is flying on the streets.
This is not a metaphor, a red armored limousine is flying ten meters above the traffic, maintaining speed limits and obeying road signs.
Most of the people on the sidewalks are taking pictures and videos of the event, but others don't even look at the flying limousine.
This attitude is not so unusual, a few weeks ago Camelot Industries showed its latest great product, flying cars.
This new type of car costs as much as ten Ferraris, but people who can afford them buy them without thinking twice.
So seeing a flying car is not that unusual these days.
XXX
The interior of the limousine is luxurious, with all the comforts that modern times allow and some custom applications.
The limousine has a U-shaped sofa that can accommodate fifteen people comfortably inside.
Currently sitting in the chair are two unique animals and two equally unique people.
The first animal is a female crow with a silver beak and talons. The crow's name is Carmen the Crow, and she is sleeping inside a golden birdcage.
The second pet is a strange mutant ferret-like creature, reminiscent of Kudamon from the Digimon cartoons. Her name is Asuka Vritra, and she is lying on her back in a cozy cat bed.
Finishing the introduction of pets, let's move on to the two important people.
The first person is Bruce Bahamut Belmont.
Bruce is a 17-year-old boy, 171 centimeters tall with a slim and thin physique.
Her face has soft, delicate features, thin eyelashes, and an androgynous structure, reminiscent of Artoria Pendragon or Morgan Le Fay.
These two traits can easily pass as a girl.
The color of her skin is bright, milky white, smooth and free from imperfections.
Bruce's hair is currently inky black, held in a short ponytail with long bangs over his left eye.
The right eye is light gray in color.
As usual, Bruce wears a dapper Detective Noir themed suit.
The outfit consists of black boots, black trousers, a red belt, white shirt, black button-down vest, a crimson tie, black gloves and a long dark red coat.
The second person is Amelia Blight.
Amelia is a 19-year-old witch from the Boiling Isles, with ivory-colored skin and long, pointed ears.
Amelia is a very tall young woman, being 181 centimeters tall, with a slim, curvy build and excessively developed breasts.
Its three dimensions are: (B100-W66-H90).
Amelia has neon yellow dyed hair that reaches mid-back with bangs styled in a hime cut.
Amelia's smooth face is graced by her long eyelashes, high cheekbones and large emerald green eyes.
She wears a diamond-shaped headband on her head with a single flower decorated with yellow, black and red gemstones.
Amelia wears a yellow turtleneck, which is a high-necked, closed, tight-fitting sweater.
Over the sweater he wears a jacket that is half black, half red, and a hood with extensions that resemble a jester's hat.
If anyone is wondering if this jacket is inspired by Harley Quinn's look, the answer is yes.
Plus, the jacket is a gift she received from Bruce, so Amelia wears it very often.
Finally, Amelia wears good quality jeans and yellow boots.
"So this is the famous New York City, home of Earth's greatest heroes." Amelia said, looking out the window of the limousine at the view.
"New York is yet another city full of crazy people in costumes with expensive toys and/or powers. There are places like that all over the world." Bruce said, knowing that there are superheroes outside of New York, you just have to find them.
"Earth is a unique place, and so are its inhabitants." Amelia declares, loving this Blue Planet.
"Amelia, I'll admit that Earth itself is a pretty okay planet, but you're overestimating humanity. Most humans are nothing special." Bruce comments, considering himself a realist who looks at things as they are.
"I find it very interesting that human magic is degrading and, at the same time, humans are developing abilities that can surpass magical arts." Amelia said, having a slight fondness for this evolutionary process.
According to Amelia, the World of Magecraft is dying out, giving way to the World of Superpowers.
"Amelia, your theory is just a theory with no solid foundation.
Magic will not disappear in favor of super-powers, the world of Magecraft must only evolve and learn to live with or enter into symbiosis with the existence of super-powers." Said Bruce, an Occult Detective, who supports the idea that the association of Wizards must change if it wants to exist in the future.
"People with Magic Circuits and the X-Gene are a minority of two not-so-common communities, but they exist.
I myself am a Grand-Crown Class Sorcerer and an Alpha-Class Telekinetic Mutant.
I personally know a handful of people who were born with the X-Gene and Magic Circuits, and they don't seem to have the same difficulties as normal magic users." Bruce said with a tone full of conviction.
Bruce believes that the X-Gene, other abilities, and certain branches of science can be used to enhance Magecraft or create unprecedented new branches.
"Bruce, you shouldn't count yourself and your sister out, you two are more unique than rare." Amelia said, aware that Bruce can hardly be considered a reliable standard.
"Let's stop talking about evolutionary theories about humanity. What projects do you want to delve into during our stay in New York?" Bruce asks, wanting to know what Amelia wants to work on.
The neon yellow-haired girl plays with a lock of her hair, a gesture she always makes when she's thinking.
"I want to improve the Juwel Reactor, create a new version of my Ironhide Power Armor, devise a new formula for my special potions, and design new mechanical monstrosities." Amelia lists her regular projects.
"Someone less common, I'm sure you don't want to do the usual things." Bruce said, sure that Amelia wants to start new projects.
"If I remember correctly, you told me that you got yourself a supply of a new super-metal, Vibranium, is it called?" Amelia asks, quite interested in the new metal.
"Yes, recently obtained Vibranium, after a strange mishap in London.
And I'm willing to let you study it and use it for your own projects, but sparingly, it's not an infinite resource." Bruce said, wanting to see what Amelia can do with Vibranium.
"Thank you so much, Bruce, I don't know why you don't like my cousin, Amity. You're a fantastic guy to say the least." Amelia said with a small blush on her lips.
The neon yellow-haired girl doesn't hide her admiration (and more) for Bruce.
"Out of curiosity, how did you get this rare material?" Amelia asks about what happened in London.
Bruce decided that there was nothing wrong with telling Amelia the story.
Plus, even if you fly over traffic, it will take a while to get to your destination.
"After finishing work in Paris, I took a little detour on my way back to Boston, stopping for a few days in London to talk with Luvia Edelfelt, Mitsuru Kirijo, and Olga Marie Animusphere." Bruce began his short story.
Amelia's long ears began to droop when Bruce mentioned the names of two other girls.
'As Bruce does whenever he travels alone, he inevitably ends up in trouble and surrounded by attractive, powerful and talented women.' Amelia thinks with a slightly depressed voice.
"After some business chatter, Mitsuru invited me to spend the afternoon at an exhibition on African history at the Museum of Great Britain.
When we visited the museum we walked into a robbery led by a black market arms dealer (Ulysses Klaue) and a former US Navy SEAL (Erik Stevens Killmonger)." Bruce recounted how he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"There was a brief but intense altercation inside the museum, followed by an arrest by MI6 and an interrogation led by me." Bruce said with a small smile so sweet it was devilish.
On a lesser note, in this world, Earth-2126, Ulysses Klaue can blame Boston's Occult Detective for the loss of an arm, an eye, and the ability to have children.
Killmonger didn't have an easy time in the interrogation room either.
"By the end of the day, I've acquired some souvenirs in the form of an ancient Vibranium Axe, a lot of information on Wakanda, and coordinates to a ship containing three tons of Vibranium." Bruce said with a small smile.
Boston's Occult Detective had nothing but to gain from his detour.
"The only slightly negative thing at the end of the story was that I had to split the loot three equally between myself, Mitsuru's Kirijo Group, and Luvia's Edelfelt House.
At least the two ladies let me take Ulysses Klaue's ship, Churchill, and all the funds and toys on board." Bruce said, trying to look on the bright side.
Amelia was about to ask why Bruce decided to collaborate with Mitsuru and Luvia, instead of going it alone and taking all the Vibranium for himself.
But, at the last second Amelia decided to ask a more intelligent question and not interfere in Bruce's business.
"I'm curious, Bruce, what kind of maximum security project are you working on?" Amelia asks with an analytical look, adjusting her glasses.
"I'm curious, how much do you understand about my big plan?" Bruce asks with a monotone expression, but his eye shows total attention on Amelia.
"I've known you for twenty-seven months, in all that time I've begun to understand how your mind works." Amelia said, being able to calculate the exact time since she met Bruce, being able to count the days, hours and minutes as well.
"Let's hear what you've deduced, my dear female assistant." Bruce asks, maintaining his previous expression and concentration.
"Three months ago, just before the start of summer vacation, you bought one of the most important buildings in Manhattan, the Avengers Tower.
You made everyone believe that you did it just for the sake of owning an iconic building.
But you surely had your reason, the building must have something that other buildings don't have." Amelia said, knowing that Bruce doesn't often do things like that without a good reason.
"Then, for the duration of the summer vacation, you paid the Kirijo Group to restore Avengers Tower to your personal specifications, while the Edelfelt provided security throughout.
When the work was completed, Camelot Industries, an agency you ran under the false identity of Schneizel E. House, released flying cars onto the market.
Making the whole world watch Boston, keeping everyone's minds and screens occupied with the new wonder of the moment." Amelia said, speaking as if she were a woman obsessed with plots and grinding.
"Finally, you packed your bags, packed the limo, and asked me to drive you to New York City, to your new tower. You asked me to stay with you!" Amelia exclaims, placing her hand on her chest to emphasize the point.
"You are a wonderful boy, Bruce, strong, intelligent, kind, courageous, full of talents and gifts, an enviable pedigree, resources comparable to a small nation and more." Amelia said, speaking too highly of Bruce.
"You are almost always surrounded by some of the most powerful, smartest, most beautiful, richest, and most influential female warriors and witches from multiple worlds.
"It is among all these women worthy of an epic, you have chosen me, this means that you are working on something very important that requires my unique talent." Amelia said, making it clear to everyone that she does not have a great self-esteem.
"All I have is a great brain and an unusual talent for alchemy and blacksmithing." Amelia lists what she considers to be her only positive qualities.
Bruce took a deep breath, shaking his head slightly.
"Amelia, I thought you were beyond your inferiority complex, but it seems some bad habits die hard." Bruce said, not too pleased that Amelia thinks so poorly of herself.
"Amelia, you have many more qualities than just using your brain to do calculations, using your hands to mix chemicals, or using tools to build weapons and armor." Bruce said, trying to make Amelia feel better.
"For example?" asks Amelia, wanting to hear one of her so-called qualities.
Bruce is silent for a long moment, searching for the best quality to shatter Amelia's depressed appearance into a thousand pieces.
"Amelia, you are the woman with the biggest, softest, most supple breasts I know and they just don't seem to want to stop growing." Bruce made a perverse comment in such a serious tone... that it's hard to describe.
The girl with neon yellow hair turned red in the face as if she were a chili pepper.
She zips up her jacket and covers her chest with her arms, trying to hide her gigantic breasts.
If this were an anime, Bruce should be seeing smoke coming out of Amelia's head right now because of the embarrassment.
"Better to die of embarrassment than to die of depression." Bruce comments, confident he's made a good move.
These words made something click in Amelia.
Just like Fluttershy, Amelia is also capable of being scary if she wants to be.
"You're amazing!" Amelia exclaims in an angry tone, getting up from her seat, as if she wanted to slap Bruce for his perverse words.
"I remind you that I killed a dragon and soaked my body in its blood, obtaining an invulnerable skin.
If you take into account my adamantium-coated skeleton, you can't hurt me.
Amelia, trying to hit me with your bare hands will only hurt you." Bruce said, trying to reason with Amelia.
Unfortunately, an angry woman does not easily listen to the words of the man who makes her angry.
SMASH !
Amelia slapped Bruce hard.
CRACK!
Unfortunately, Bruce wasn't kidding about having very thick skin.
"My hand!" Amelia exclaims, squeezing his aching hand.
"At least the strong emotion of embarrassment and the outburst of irrational anger must have put you in a better mood." Bruce comments, keeping calm the whole time.
Amelia sat down again, this time next to Bruce.
"You know I'm sensitive when it comes to my chest." Amelia pouted, slightly angry at Bruce.
"But now you've stopped talking badly about yourself." Bruce comments, having achieved the result he desires.
Amelia didn't answer, but a small smile appeared on her lips.
"Anyway, you were right, I bought Avengers Tower to get the computer system that housed the most advanced Artificial Intelligence on the planet, JARVIS (Just A Rather Very Intelligent System), created by the third smartest man in the world Tony Stark." Bruce said, admitting that he bought Avengers Tower for a technological advantage.
Amelia's smile grew, the young woman likes to be right.
"Amelia, currently, in my opinion, you are one of the three most intelligent women in Ysatnaf (the name of the Planet where the Boiling Isles are located), only Konoe Ayatsuki Mercury and Kokonoe Mercury can compare to you intellectually." Bruce said, less as a compliment, more as a fact.
"I'm not that good, those two are much better than me, I'd definitely be something like the third smartest in the Boiling Isles." Amelia said, underestimating the two abilities again.
"It's hard to make a list of who's the smartest. But that doesn't mean you're a respectable female genius." Bruce said, confident that Amelia is a female genius who shouldn't be underestimated.
"Anyway, I think we've gotten off topic." Bruce said, in a monotone.
The last few minutes of the conversion were spent helping Amelia with her low self-esteem, instead of talking about science and/or magic projects.
"I'm working on some delicate projects, mostly scientific, but with some magical elements.
To get results quickly, I need a lab partner who knows both the latest science and the arcane.
Not to mention he has to have my trust and be willing to work alongside me, potentially for months and put up with all my quirks.
Of all the people I know, Amelia, you are the best for the job." Bruce concluded his speech.
Amelia's pointed ears stood up, as if they were the tail of an excited dog/fern.
The idea of being with Bruce in a tower isolated from the rest of the world is very appealing to Amelia.
"I am ready to live and work with you for... the advancement of science and magic." Amelia said, trying not to smile or blush like she was Marinette Dupain-Cheng.
"Can you tell me some of the projects you want to include?" Amelia asks, wanting to know what she will be working on in the near future.
"Here are some projects I want to explore further:
- Main and priority project, the creation of an Artificial Intelligence, code name: Shockwave.
- The study and improvement of my Symbiote, Lovecraft.
- The creation of a concept dubbed Unstable Molecules.
- The Development of Nanotechnology.
- The Extremis Virus Study." Bruce has finished listing five experimental and dangerous enhancement projects he wants to investigate further.
Amelia, hearing the names of these projects, couldn't help but get excited at the idea of working on them.
"How long until we get to your Tower?" Amelia asks, wanting to get to her destination and start working as quickly as possible.
The End