Ezekiel was at the Stark Expo in Queens with Tony as they checked over the almost completed project. It was set to open in a month and the finishing touches were being done now. Besides Stark Industries taking up about half the event with a ton of exhibits, Vibe and Revival took up another ten percent of space which left forty percent for other people. That forty percent would change each month along with a few things in the Stark area to keep it fresh for people that visited multiple times during the coming year.
As for the area Ezekiel set up, everything was mostly focused on fun and he didn't really have plans to change anything out. Besides a crazy go kart track that used magic and technology to turn it into something similar to Mariokart. Ezekiel had built another high tech laser tag, but toned it down compared to the one in Genosha. There was also an area where people could duel with magic infused lightsabers. They were simple hilts inscribed with runes that turned them into three foot beams of light.
Ezekiel even added some technology and battery packs to add sound to them. Each sword beam could easily interact with each other as solid matter. But when it touched anything else it easily passed through it and left a small trace of light where it touched that disappeared after about a minute. That made it easy to tell who won in the area fights, but it wasn't the only way to do it. Each fighting area was set up with cameras that tacked everything and could keep score.
Since the whole thing was linked to Vibe, users could login to their account before entering and have the videos sent to them. They could also choose to have the videos edited for them and then uploaded if they wanted. The go kart and laser tag area had the same features incorporated into them. But in the lightsaber area itself, Ezekiel had twenty dueling platforms with a few different levels of difficulty.
The first six were beginner areas with an open platform where everyone needed to start at. The second stage was four platforms with obstacles incorporated into them. They could help block strikes and made the combat more interesting for players. The third stage was another four platforms which were open again, but gravity was halved for the users. It would make combat extremely hard and take most people time to master. The next four platforms were obstacles filled platforms with the gravity option and made combat even more complicated.
The last two platforms were even more special, with holographic projections, magic and a few other features. Besides the low gravity which was now controlled by a slim headband people would wear. The head band gave people the ability to control objects in the arena as if they had force powers. The holographic projectors also allowed for the lightsabers to cut the obstacles into pieces during combat. Needless to say, anyone who qualified for the highest level platforms basically became real life jedi inside of it.
Those who made it to that level were also awarded with a custom made lightsaber which would be custom made on the spot. They could choose the design, pick the color and even make special types like double sided or angled types if they wanted. They also had the chance to gain more than one if they went through challenges, like beating two people at once or winning five times in a row. Ezekiel was positive it was gonna be one of the major highlights of the expo once it opened.
As for people potentially getting injured from the low gravity, he had waivers and spells. The waivers were needed since his mom insisted on them, but with the magic spells in place, no one could be injured in the area. But just in case something unexpected happened, they also had medical ninja on staff and medical pods as a backup.
While Ezekiel didn't plan to change any of his exhibits, he did have things scheduled for the entire event. Each week, top Vibe users were invited to interact with fans. All of them were already posted so people could easily plan when they wanted to come visit and the Vibe users Ezekiel invited would also participate in the events with fans. Ezekiel also invited bands big and small to perform each week. Two bands a week would play shows for fans each day, which would close out the night.
As for the last three months of the expo, Ezekiel set up a voting system for users to vote on who they wanted to see again. The plan was for the last part of the expo to be packed full of fan favorites. Ezekiel wasn't completely sure how well it would work out, but everyone he talked to about it liked the idea.
Tony stopped outside of the lightsaber area and glanced at it for a few moments before he asked, "Should we test it again?"
"So you could lose again?"
"That's because you cheated! You shouldn't be able to move that fast!"
Ezekiel smirked slightly as he said, "I didn't use any powers fighting you. I just used the gravity boost better than you."
"Bullshit, you moved like you could see the future!"
"That's because I used the force." Ezekiel said as he waved a hand in front of Tony's face.
Tony swatted the hand away as he said, "Cheater."
"It's not cheating, it's muscle memory at this point. I could beat you blindfolded because you've never properly trained to fight with a sword."
"Who would use a sword when you can use a gun or a rocket instead?" Tony asked in an annoyed tone as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Ezekiel let out a chuckle as he slapped Tony on the back and said in a teasing tone, "Apparently you do, Mr lets test it one more time."
"Fuck off."
Ezekiel let out another chuckle before he said, "If you really wanna lose again, we can go another round. But I think you should get some real practice in, before the expo opens or you're gonna be embarrassed by a lot of people."
"By a couple of nerds who like to dress up in chain mail on the weekends?"
"I didn't even think about those guys… But yeah, they'll probably beat you nine times out of ten."
Tony paused for a moment before he asked, "Wait, who were you thinking about?"
"I might know a few thousand sword experts with real world combat experience and they plan to come check this out…" Ezekiel said with a shrug like it wasn't a big deal.
"Bullshit."
Ezekiel smirked as he said, "I can't wait to see you get destroyed by one of them."
"No way that will happen."
"You realize Kurt and Kitty are both proficient with swords and even post videos of them sparring every few weeks. They will easily trounce you and they aren't even sword masters."
Tony pulled out his phone and typed on it for a few moments before he muttered, "What the hell…"
"You never watched any of their videos?"
"A couple of their popular ones, but I'm normally busy so I don't watch all of them."
Tony gestured at his phone as he said, "This is bullshit, if they can use their powers in fights, I should be able to use my armor."
"They won't use their powers in the area… Besides, against someone like you they wouldn't need it."
Tony watched the video for a few more moments before he said, "JARVIS, find me a proper trainer for sword fighting."
"I believe the best trainer is standing in front of you sir."
Tony glanced at Ezekiel who smirked slightly before he said, "If you don't want me to help, I know a few sword masters… But they'll be stricter than me."
Tony paused for a few moments before he said, "I'll think about it."
Ezekiel shrugged and started to walk away as he said, "Well don't take too long or you won't have much time for training. It's not like you can just invent something that will make you a sword master overnight."
"Yeah, that's…" Tony started to say as his voice trailed off and he stopped in place.
Ezekiel glanced over his shoulder at Tony and noticed him mumbling to himself before he said, "You coming or not? We still have ten other things to check."
"Oh, yeah." Tony said as he started to type notes in his phone as he moved next to Ezekiel.
"What're you working on?"
Tony stuffed his phone into his pocket as he said, "I was just sending a text."
Ezekiel and Tony spent another hour checking out the expo before Ezekiel portaled Tony home. Afterwards he headed to Valhalla's secret base to meet up with Emil and his core team. They were waiting for him in a meeting room with a large map of a country projected on the wall. Ezekiel glanced over the map as he sat down and asked, "So that's the finished plan?"
"Essentially. We've already worked with Zemo and his men to establish priority targets. If everything goes correctly, the country will change leadership while the majority of them are still sleeping."
Emil typed on the tablet in front of him for a moment and the projection changed as new information appeared. Ezekiel started to read it as Emil said, "We already have control of their infrastructure and the lock down protocol is on standby. As soon as we move, the borders will be locked down and every visitor will be removed."
"Good, so when do you plan to start?"
"Up to you sir. Zemo and his men confirmed they were already in place awaiting our signal."
A feral like grin spread across Ezekiel's face as he said, "Then let's crush some snakes."
Emil tapped on his tablet before an air raid siren filled the air of the base. It blasted off three times and then shut off as everyone in the room moved to get ready leaving Emil and Ezekiel alone in the room. Emil finished something on his tablet before he put it away and asked, "Will you be joining us sir?"
"I'll help take the base we found. There are some people there I want to meet." Ezekiel said as he stood up and started to stretch his arms over his head.
About ten minutes later Ezekiel arrived at the staging ground to find thousands of people lined up fully kitted out for battle. Emil moved to the front of everyone decked out in his own gear with a rifle slung over his back before he yelled, "Valhalla, sound off!"
Each squad replied in order before one member stepped forward and opened a portal. Once the last squad reported in Emil yelled out, "Begin!"
The squads quickly moved through their respective portals and disappeared before Ezekiel opened a portal himself and Emil, Ezekiel and another squad stepped through it into a darkened forest. As the group spread out into a defensive position Ezekiel disappeared from view as he said, "I'll meet you inside."
Emil glanced at the spot Ezekiel disappeared from before he motioned his men forward. A moment later all of them disappeared and not even a foot print was left behind on the ground.