Smith and Tony returned to their seats in the VIP section, settling in to watch the next presentation. On stage, Bulma stepped into the spotlight with the confident ease of someone who knew exactly how revolutionary her products were.
The massive screens behind her displayed the Universal Capsule Company logo—sleek, modern, suggesting both technological sophistication and accessibility. Bulma's voice carried clearly through the sound system, professional but warm.
"I'm very happy to be invited by Mr. Tony Stark to participate in this Expo, and to be the first company showcasing products on this magnificent stage." She gestured to encompass the entire venue. "Over the past year, Combat Power Scouters have become a global phenomenon, gaining trust and widespread adoption from military organizations, government agencies, private security companies, and individual buyers."
She paused, letting that sink in. "Based on extensive user feedback, we've developed the second-generation Combat Power Scouter."
The screen transitioned to show a sleek new design—smaller than the original, more streamlined, with an enhanced display interface.
"Compared to the first generation, the second-generation scouter's detection limit has been increased to 500 combat power points."
A ripple of exclamations spread through the civilian sections of the audience. For most ordinary people, encountering someone with even 20 points of combat power was rare. The fact that the upper limit needed to be tripled suggested the existence of threats—or protectors—operating at levels most civilians never witnessed.
What kind of monsters are the military and government agencies dealing with? more than one person thought. Are all the real powerhouses hidden in classified programs?
In the VIP section, General Ross nodded with visible satisfaction, the unlit cigar in his mouth bobbing slightly. "More than three times the previous capacity. That should be sufficient for our needs."
Blonsky leaned closer, his voice carrying curiosity rather than anxiety. "I wonder what my combat power would measure at in transformed state."
"Buy one and test it," Ross said pragmatically. "Then you'll know exactly where you stand."
He shifted his gaze across the VIP section to where Smith sat beside Tony, the two men engaged in quiet conversation. "Actually, I'm more curious about Smith Doyle's combat effectiveness. If the upper limit needed to be raised to 500, it suggests he's operating well above the old 150-point ceiling."
Several rows away, Agent Coulson sat with a small SHIELD observation team, taking mental notes. Before the Expo had even started, he'd known the Universal Capsule Company planned to announce two products, including an upgraded scouter.
Honestly, SHIELD still didn't have any personnel who exceeded 150 points on the original detector. Not officially, anyway. The Avengers candidates all exceeded that threshold, but they weren't actually SHIELD employees.
This upgrade was almost certainly driven by General Ross's requirements. The man had witnessed Hulk, Abomination, and Smith Doyle operating at full power. He'd seen firsthand that 150 points wasn't enough to measure the real threats—or the real heroes.
On stage, Bulma continued her presentation smoothly. "Beyond the increased detection limit, we've added video recording functionality. The scouter can now record high-definition video at the wearer's command, capturing important encounters or evidence."
She tapped the demonstration unit on her ear, and the screens showed a first-person view of the audience from her perspective—crystal clear, smooth frame rate, excellent low-light performance.
"The detector also links directly to satellite terminals and secure cloud storage. Recorded videos can be uploaded with a single command, accessible from any authorized device. Perfect for mission documentation, evidence preservation, or threat assessment."
The military and intelligence personnel in the audience exchanged meaningful glances. This wasn't just a power-measuring tool anymore—it was a comprehensive intelligence-gathering platform. When field agents encountered enhanced individuals, they could now record the encounter, upload it to headquarters, and have analysts pulling background information within minutes.
The implications for threat assessment and target tracking were enormous.
Applause broke out across the venue, genuine appreciation for elegant engineering that solved real operational problems.
Bulma let the applause fade before announcing the price. "The second-generation Combat Power Scouter is priced at six million dollars, which is one million higher than the first generation."
Some gasps from the civilian sections, but the military and intelligence representatives showed no reaction. For technology this advanced, with these capabilities, that was actually reasonable. Cheaper than most military-grade sensor packages, and far more versatile.
"We're clearly targeting a more specialized market with this generation," Bulma acknowledged. "Military organizations, intelligence agencies, private security firms, and individuals with specific professional needs."
In the VIP section, Tony leaned toward Smith with a knowing smile. "You've finally decided to launch the second generation. Remember to send me the customized modules as soon as possible—I want these integrated into my suit systems."
He paused, then added with mock concern, "Also, why are you letting Bulma take the stage? Aren't you afraid someone's going to try poaching her? Half the tech companies in this room probably just added her to their recruitment target lists."
Smith smiled calmly. "You're coming to my base later anyway, so you can discuss it with her directly. Besides, Bulma's almost eighteen. It's time for her to step into a public-facing role. She can't hide in the lab forever."
Tony nodded slowly. "Fair point. Though I have to say, for someone barely legal to drink, she's more composed on stage than most CEOs I know."
Bulma's voice drew their attention back to the stage. "At our last product conference, our chairman Mr. Smith Doyle stated that the Universal Capsule Company's mission is to change how people live—to make daily life more convenient, more efficient, more possible."
The lights shifted, dramatic and purposeful. A spotlight illuminated a shape on the stage's far side, covered with black cloth.
"Today, we bring you our vision of that future."
Robotic arms descended from the ceiling, gripping the cloth. With theatrical precision, they pulled the covering away, revealing what lay beneath.
A car hovered three feet off the ground, suspended by no visible means, its sleek design catching the stage lights and throwing reflections across the first few rows of the audience.
Complete silence fell across the Expo grounds for three full seconds.
Then pandemonium.
Tony's jaw actually dropped, his usual composure shattered. "You actually created this? You actually made it work?"
His voice carried genuine shock, something Smith rarely heard from the genius engineer. "My father tried this exact concept. Demonstrated a prototype at the 1974 Expo. The thing lasted maybe ten seconds in the air before crashing and turning into a very expensive pile of scrap metal."
Smith's smile widened slightly. "Different era. Different technology. Different genius."
Bulma waited for the noise to diminish before continuing, her voice cutting through the excited chatter. "The hover car solves one of humanity's oldest transportation problems—friction and terrain limitations."
She gestured to the floating vehicle. "No wheels means no road wear, no tire maintenance, no traction issues. The higher the vehicle hovers, the faster it can travel—opposite of traditional cars where speed is limited by road conditions."
The screens behind her displayed technical specifications as she spoke. Power output. Maximum altitude. Speed capabilities at various heights. Safety systems including redundant anti-gravity generators and emergency descent protocols.
"The vehicle's computer system prevents collision through active scanning," Bulma explained. "Traffic congestion becomes three-dimensional—vehicles can occupy different altitude layers, exponentially increasing effective road capacity without building new infrastructure."
She walked to the hover car and climbed into the driver's seat with smooth confidence. The vehicle's canopy sealed with a soft hiss. Bulma's voice continued through the sound system, now broadcast from the car's communication array.
"Let me demonstrate."
The hover car lifted smoothly, rising to twenty feet above the stage. Then it accelerated, cutting across the Expo grounds in a blur of motion that drew gasps from the audience. It performed a graceful arc around the perimeter, climbed to fifty feet, executed a perfect barrel roll that had no business being possible in a civilian vehicle, then descended back to stage level and settled into its original position.
The entire demonstration took thirty seconds and looked like something from a science fiction film.
The crowd erupted. This wasn't a prototype that barely worked. This wasn't a concept car that would never see production. This was a functional product, ready for manufacturing, displaying capabilities that made helicopters look primitive.
Civilian attendees were going wild—screaming, cheering, some actually crying at seeing childhood dreams made real. This was the kind of technology that appeared in cartoons and anime, the vehicle that every kid had imagined driving someday.
And it was real.
Bulma exited the vehicle and returned to center stage, letting the audience's enthusiasm wash over her. When the noise finally diminished to manageable levels, she delivered the final detail.
"The current price point for early-production models is ten million dollars. We're accepting orders today, with delivery scheduled as production capacity allows. Once we achieve full-scale manufacturing, we'll launch a standard consumer version at a significantly reduced price point."
Ten million was astronomical for a car. But for technology this revolutionary? For the first hover car that actually worked?
Tony pulled out his phone immediately, typing rapidly. "One ordered. If they ask, tell them Tony Stark gets first delivery."
Around the VIP section, other hands reached for phones. Larry Ellison from Oracle. Elon Musk, who'd arrived specifically to see what new technologies might be showcased. Several Middle Eastern oil magnates whose wealth made ten million look like pocket change.
Within two minutes, three hundred units had been reserved.
The Expo's live stream was broadcasting globally, and within five minutes, the Universal Capsule Company's order lines were overwhelmed. Wealthy individuals from every continent wanted their names on the list. Middle Eastern buyers were particularly enthusiastic—a vehicle that could fly without wheels meant desert travel without roads, crossing terrain that would destroy conventional cars.
Status symbol didn't begin to cover it. This was the ultimate flex—"I own a flying car, and you don't."
But not everyone was thinking about status symbols.
In the military observation section, several generals exchanged glances that communicated volumes. One leaned to his neighbor and spoke quietly, but Smith's enhanced hearing picked up every word.
"Deserts, mountains, swamps, oceans—none of that matters anymore with hover technology. This isn't just a car. It's a tactical vehicle platform."
Another general nodded. "Rapid deployment across any terrain. No need for roads or runways. Could revolutionize forward operating base logistics."
A third officer was already making notes. "We need to incorporate the Universal Capsule Company into the military-industrial network. Get them developing combat variants immediately—armored versions, troop transport capacity, weapons integration."
Smith caught Tony's eye and tilted his head slightly toward the military section. Tony glanced over, read the body language of the assembled brass, and smirked.
"They're already planning military applications," Tony murmured. "Give it forty-eight hours before Universal Capsule receives a very generous defense contract proposal."
"Probably less," Smith agreed. "Ross will likely approach us before the Expo ends tonight."
On stage, Bulma was fielding questions from journalists, her responses polished and professional. The Universal Capsule Company had just transformed from "interesting tech startup" to "civilization-changing innovator" in a single product demonstration.
And they'd done it on Tony Stark's stage, at his Expo, ensuring maximum possible exposure.
Smith leaned back in his seat, satisfaction settling over him like a comfortable coat. The pieces were moving exactly as planned.
Now he just needed to keep Tony alive long enough to see what came next.
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