While Henry and Izzy were finalizing the creation of the first A.I.M.S. Guard, the world above ground had already erupted in chaos.
The press conference from the night before—where Vanderbuilt Technologies unveiled its new line of Modia Units—had sent shockwaves through every corner of the tech industry. The moment the news broke, phones rang across Manhattan, servers crashed under the weight of traffic, and reporters scrambled to write headlines before sunrise.
Although most of the executives and military officers who attended the event had been ordered to remain silent, the journalists in the audience had no such restraint. Confidential or not, a story this monumental was worth any risk.
Within hours, every major media outlet in New York had caught wind of the story.
---
Daily Bugle Headquarters – Midnight
The bustling office of the Daily Bugle glowed with the harsh light of overworked monitors. Stacks of papers and half-empty coffee cups covered every desk. The Editor-in-Chief—J. Jonah Jameson—was pacing impatiently with a cigar clamped between his teeth.
Then, the phone rang.
"Boss! Big news! You won't believe what happened tonight!" shouted a breathless reporter on the other end.
Jameson frowned. "It better be bigger than those lizard rumors, Thompson!"
"Bigger! Vanderbuilt Technologies just announced a fully functional humanoid AI! It's called a Modia Unit—it looks, moves, and acts just like a real person!"
Jameson froze mid-stride, his cigar dropping slightly. "What did you just say?"
"Artificial intelligence that can replace humans, sir. And it's led by President Henry Vanderbuilt himself!"
Jameson's eyes widened. "Henry Vanderbuilt…? That kid's done it again!" He grinned wickedly. "AI soldiers! Robots walking the streets! Oh, this'll sell like fire!"
"Do we have photos?"
"Some, but they're a bit blurry."
"Doesn't matter! Get back here, now! I want a full spread on this—front page, bold headline! Something like… 'Rise of the Machines: Vanderbuilt Unveils Human Replicas!'"
The reporter barely had time to confirm before Jameson slammed down the receiver and barked orders across the newsroom. "Robots! Military! Big tech scandal! Move it, people!"
Within minutes, the Bugle's newsroom burst into motion—printers whirred, headlines drafted, images enhanced.
And elsewhere, other outlets were catching up, each desperate not to fall behind.
A few rival editors who hadn't sent reporters to the conference cursed under their breath. "We missed it! Vanderbuilt just made history, and we were running a story about cat rescues!"
But then—something unexpected happened.
Across multiple newsrooms, computers pinged simultaneously. An anonymous email appeared in the inboxes of editors from major newspapers and tech blogs.
Attached was a large encrypted file labeled simply:
"STARK INDUSTRIES INTERNAL REPORT – DO NOT SHARE."
Curiosity burned hotter than caution. One by one, they opened it.
Inside were confidential documents, prototype schematics, and internal memos stolen directly from Stark Industries' classified archives—materials that seemed to expose potential ethical violations, including abandoned AI weapon projects eerily similar to Vanderbuilt's Modia Units.
None of the editors cared about the legality. They only saw headlines.
"STARK'S SHADOW PROJECTS EXPOSED!"
"VANDERBUILT OUTPACES STARK INDUSTRIES IN AI REVOLUTION!"
By morning, the city's media was on fire.
---
Queens, New York – Early Morning
The Parker household was peaceful, for now.
Ben Parker sat at the small kitchen table, sipping his morning coffee while Aunt May prepared breakfast. The smell of toasted bread filled the air.
"Paper's here," Ben said as he picked up the freshly delivered Daily Bugle from the doorstep. But as he unfolded it, his eyebrows shot up.
"Artificial Intelligence Replacing Humans? Vanderbuilt Technologies Shocks the World!" screamed the front page headline. A large image beneath showed a blurry but unmistakable figure—Henry Vanderbuilt standing beside a lifelike android.
Before Ben could comment, a familiar whirlwind of motion thundered down the stairs.
"Not good! I'm gonna be late!" Peter Parker—fifteen, bright-eyed, and perpetually in a hurry—burst into the kitchen, fumbling with his schoolbag.
Aunt May handed him a slice of toast. "At least eat something!"
"No time, Aunt May!" Peter grabbed his backpack and darted toward the door. "There's a field trip today!"
Ben chuckled, shaking his head. "Slow down, kiddo. The city's not going anywhere."
Peter was already gone.
---
Moments Later – At the Bus Stop
Peter sprinted through the chilly Queens morning, weaving between pedestrians until he reached the school bus just as the doors were closing. He leapt forward, catching the handle in one hand and pulling himself inside with a grin.
"Whew—almost missed it!"
"Parker!" came a cheerful shout from the back.
Peter turned to see his best friend—Ned Leeds, round-faced, wearing a Star Wars T-shirt, and waving frantically. "Dude, over here!"
Peter slid into the seat beside him, panting slightly. "Man, I thought I was gonna have to web my way here—uh, metaphorically."
Ned smirked. "You haven't seen the news, have you?"
Peter blinked. "News? What news?"
Ned grinned like someone holding a secret treasure. "Dude! Vanderbuilt Technologies just revealed real AI robots! They call them Modia Units—machines that can talk, walk, and even look human!"
Peter froze. "Wait, what?!"
Ned handed him his phone, which was already open to the Daily Bugle's website. There, under the flashing headline, was a photo of Henry Vanderbuilt standing onstage beside what looked like a living, breathing person—except it wasn't human.
Peter scrolled rapidly, eyes wide. "No way… That's insane! Vanderbuilt actually did it!"
"Right?" Ned said, grinning. "Everyone thought Stark Industries was gonna be first, but Vanderbuilt just nuked the entire tech world."
Peter leaned closer, his excitement bubbling over. "Henry Vanderbuilt… I've followed his work since he released the energy-core drones five years ago! The guy's a genius!"
"You mean you're a total Vanderbuilt fanboy," Ned teased.
"Guilty," Peter said with a laugh. "I've saved up for every single Vanderbuilt gadget since middle school. My room's practically a museum."
Ever since the creation of Vanderbuilt Technologies, Peter had been fascinated by Henry's designs. To him, Henry wasn't just a billionaire inventor—he was a symbol of innovation done right, someone who didn't hide behind ego or public image. Unlike Tony Stark's celebrity arrogance, Henry Vanderbuilt had always seemed quiet, methodical, and deeply human.
Now, with this latest announcement, Peter's admiration reached new heights.
"Modia Units," Peter murmured under his breath. "AI with human faces… built to protect, not destroy. That's incredible."
Ned nodded. "Yeah, but it's also kinda creepy, don't you think? Machines pretending to be people?"
Peter shook his head. "No, no—you don't get it. This is the future! If anyone can make it work, it's Henry. He's… different."
As the bus rumbled through the streets toward Midtown, the city outside buzzed with conversation. On every corner, people argued about Vanderbuilt's Modia Units—some in awe, others afraid. Protesters were already holding signs that read "Keep Humanity Human!" while investors debated the end of labor markets.
Ned checked the school's itinerary. "First stop's Osborn Industries. After that, we head to Vanderbuilt Headquarters."
Peter nearly jumped out of his seat. "We're visiting Vanderbuilt Tech?!"
"Yep. Our teacher said they'll be giving us a live demo of their new AI systems."
"Are you kidding me?! Ned, this is the best day of my life!"
Ned rolled his eyes, grinning. "You said that last week when you found a new lens for your camera."
"Yeah, but this time I mean it!"
Peter pressed his face to the window, watching as the towering skyline of New York came into view. Somewhere among those skyscrapers was Vanderbuilt Headquarters—the place where history was being written in circuits and code.
He smiled, excitement humming through him like electricity.
"One day, I'm going to work there," he said quietly.
Ned snorted. "Sure, Parker. You'll be coding alongside your hero, huh?"
Peter just grinned wider. "Why not? Every superhero has to start somewhere."
The bus rolled onward, sunlight glinting off the glass towers ahead. Inside one of those towers, deep beneath the surface, Henry Vanderbuilt's silent army of Modia Units waited for their first mission.
And somewhere in the same city, a young boy with a dream—and a destiny—was already on his way to meet them.
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