The Stark Expo transformed Queens into a technological carnival—massive pavilions showcasing innovations from corporations worldwide, holographic displays advertising impossible futures, and crowds numbering in the tens of thousands exploring humanity's cutting-edge achievements. Tony Stark's ego had manifested as architecture, and it was spectacular.
Su Chen walked through the main concourse with measured interest, his Dual Pupils analyzing far more than visible technology. Energy signatures from experimental power sources, security protocols from competing intelligence agencies, and the distinctive patterns of enhanced individuals trying to blend into civilian crowds—the Expo was a convergence point for multiple factions, exactly as Babata had projected.
"Sixteen confirmed enhanced individuals on-site," Babata reported through their neural link. "S.H.I.E.L.D. has deployed at least thirty agents in various cover identities. I'm detecting communication patterns consistent with Hydra operatives—minimum eight individuals coordinating surveillance on Stark and several corporate pavilions. Additionally, there are three groups I cannot definitively identify using encryption protocols I don't recognize."
"Unknown encryption," Su Chen mused mentally. "AIM, probably. Advanced Idea Mechanics has resources comparable to Stark Industries and motivation to acquire his technology. What about the Ten Rings?"
"Confirmed presence of four operatives consistent with Ten Rings methodology," Babata confirmed. "They're maintaining distance from Stark but showing interest in weapons manufacturers exhibiting at the Expo. Likely recruiting or shopping for technology to reverse-engineer."
"And our people?" Su Chen inquired.
"Jessica and Luke are covering the eastern pavilions, monitoring for enhanced trafficking or recruitment. Saeko and Esdeath are positioned near Stark's main presentation area—he's scheduled to reveal something significant in approximately forty minutes. David and Sarah are in the technical operations center we established, monitoring all electronic communications across the Expo grounds."
Su Chen allowed himself slight satisfaction at the coordination. His network had grown from a handful of individuals to a sophisticated operation capable of conducting intelligence gathering at a massive public event without detection.
"Mr. Su Chen!" Tony Stark's voice cut through the crowd's noise. The billionaire approached with characteristic confidence, wearing a custom suit that probably cost more than most people's annual salary. "Fury mentioned you'd be attending. Come to see how real innovators operate?"
"Mr. Stark," Su Chen greeted with professional courtesy. "I'm here to appreciate technological advancement and ensure no hostile organizations use your Expo as cover for activities that would ruin everyone's day."
"Hostile organizations," Stark repeated, his tone suggesting amusement mixed with concern. "You mean like the ones Fury insists are constantly trying to steal my technology? I keep telling him my security is sufficient, but apparently government paranoia requires redundant paranoia."
"Your security is impressive," Su Chen acknowledged. "But even impressive security has blind spots. Large public events create opportunities for people who are patient and creative."
"Speaking from experience?" Stark challenged, his sharp intelligence evident despite the casual tone.
"I've studied how organizations operate when they want something badly enough," Su Chen replied carefully. "The Expo brings together technology, talent, and resources from across the world. That's valuable to legitimate interests and hostile ones alike."
Stark studied him with the assessing gaze of someone who'd built an empire on reading people correctly. "Fury says you're some kind of enhanced individual wrangler. That you stopped an ancient cult from opening a dimensional gateway or something equally ridiculous. True or exaggerated?"
"Mostly true," Su Chen confirmed. "The Hand was preparing to manifest a dimensional entity. My network coordinated with other enhanced individuals to prevent that. It wasn't as dramatic as reports probably suggested, but the threat was real."
"Enhanced individuals coordinating to stop threats," Stark mused. "Sounds like what Fury's been pitching with his Avengers thing. You signing up for that?"
"Provisionally," Su Chen said. "My network maintains independence but coordinates with the Avengers when situations require united response. It's a balance between autonomy and cooperation."
"Good luck with that," Stark said dryly. "Fury wants control, coordination requires compromise, and enhanced egos—myself included—don't compromise easily. But hey, if you can make it work, more power to you. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a presentation to deliver that will make every other exhibit here look like a high school science fair."
As Stark departed toward his pavilion, Su Chen felt Babata's attention sharpen. "Master, I'm detecting unusual energy readings from Hammer Industries' pavilion. Justin Hammer is scheduled to present immediately before Stark, and the signatures suggest he's about to reveal something significant."
"Hammer Industries," Su Chen repeated, accessing files on Stark's primary competitor. Justin Hammer—ambitious, insecure, and perpetually trying to match Stark's innovations through acquisition rather than invention. "He's been trying to reverse-engineer the Iron Man technology. Did he succeed?"
"Unknown, but the energy signatures are consistent with arc reactor principles," Babata replied. "Modified, less efficient, but functional. If Hammer has created operational combat armor, that represents significant proliferation of technology Stark developed."
"And it means someone provided him with intelligence he shouldn't have," Su Chen concluded. "Stark's armor specifications are heavily classified. Hammer acquiring them suggests either exceptional espionage or inside assistance."
He moved toward the Hammer Industries pavilion, noting increased security presence as presentation time approached. The venue was packed—media, government officials, and industry representatives all eager to see what Hammer had developed.
Justin Hammer took the stage with manufactured confidence, his presentation style clearly attempting to emulate Stark while lacking the genuine charisma. "Ladies and gentlemen, I'm pleased to present the future of American defense—combat systems that don't rely on one man in a flying suit, but instead provide capability to our soldiers, our protectors, our heroes."
The stage parted, revealing a line of armored units—humanoid in shape but clearly mechanical rather than worn by individuals. They moved with coordinated precision, demonstrating weapons systems and mobility that, while inferior to Stark's armor, represented legitimate military hardware.
"Drones," Su Chen identified. "He's created unmanned combat systems using arc reactor technology. Less sophisticated than the Iron Man armor but mass-producible and deployable without requiring enhanced individuals or specialized pilots."
"The implications are significant," Babata observed. "If Hammer can produce these at scale, it changes the tactical landscape. Conventional forces gain capabilities that were previously limited to enhanced individuals."
The demonstration continued with Hammer showcasing the drones' coordination, weapons systems, and supposedly fool-proof control mechanisms. But Su Chen's enhanced perception detected something the crowd missed—subtle irregularities in the drones' movement patterns, communication protocols that were more sophisticated than Hammer's presentation suggested, and an underlying architecture that didn't match American engineering principles.
"Babata, analyze those drones' design philosophy," Su Chen commanded mentally. "Something's wrong with them."
"Analyzing... Master, the core systems are using Russian engineering principles. Specifically, they match profiles from Vanko Industries—a company that developed arc reactor prototypes decades ago before being shut down for security violations."
"Vanko," Su Chen repeated, accessing historical records. Anton Vanko, who'd worked with Howard Stark on arc reactor development before being deported. He'd had a son, Ivan, who would have inherited both technical knowledge and a grudge against the Stark family.
"Hammer didn't develop this technology himself," Su Chen concluded. "He's working with Ivan Vanko, who provided the technical expertise in exchange for resources and opportunity to target Stark. This demonstration isn't just corporate competition—it's personal vendetta disguised as innovation."
As if responding to Su Chen's assessment, the drones' behavior shifted. Their coordinated movements became more aggressive, weapons systems activating without Hammer's apparent command. The crowd's applause turned to concerned murmuring as the drones' targeting systems locked onto audience members.
"Get down!" Su Chen shouted, his voice cutting through the confusion with command authority that made people respond instinctively. The drones opened fire, but Su Chen had already moved—his enhanced speed allowing him to position himself between the weapons and civilians.
His Indestructible Diamond Body activated, the conceptual defense treating the drones' weapons as irrelevant. Bullets and energy blasts struck him and dissipated harmlessly, unable to overcome the fundamental principle that his existence was absolute.
"All teams, emergency protocols!" Su Chen commanded through the network. "Hammer's drones are compromised and attacking civilians. Saeko, Esdeath—engage and disable. Jessica, Luke—crowd evacuation and protection. David, Sarah—seize control of the drones' command systems if possible."
The Expo descended into controlled chaos. Civilians fled toward exits while S.H.I.E.L.D. agents attempted to establish perimeters and engage the hostile drones. The machines moved with coordinated efficiency, their programming clearly designed to cause maximum disruption and casualties.
Saeko emerged from the crowd like death incarnate, her Supreme Sword Bone generating invisible cutting edges that severed the drones' joints and critical systems. She moved through their formations with practiced precision, each strike disabling a unit without causing collateral damage to fleeing civilians.
Esdeath's approach was more direct—she flash-froze three drones simultaneously, the absolute cold making their systems brittle enough to shatter from kinetic impact. Her Frost Crown blazed with power as she stopped restraining her capabilities, the temperature dropping precipitously around her position.
"Master, I'm detecting additional drones converging from other pavilions," Babata warned. "Hammer's entire demonstration inventory is going active—approximately forty units total, all targeting civilians or security personnel."
"Where's Stark?" Su Chen demanded, already knowing the answer.
"Deploying from his pavilion in the Mark VI armor," Babata confirmed. "He's engaging drones targeting the main stage. But there's another signature—Iron Man armor, but not Stark's. Enhanced power output, weaponized beyond typical specifications. I believe that's Ivan Vanko in a custom-built suit."
Su Chen moved through the chaos toward Stark's position, his enhanced senses tracking the battle's flow. Tony Stark was airborne in his distinctive red and gold armor, taking down drones with repulsor beams and micro-missiles while trying to draw fire away from civilian concentrations.
And approaching from the west, moving with murderous intent, was a figure in bulkier armor that crackled with electrical energy—Ivan Vanko, finally revealing himself for direct confrontation.
"Stark!" Vanko's voice boomed through external speakers, heavily accented and filled with rage. "You come from a family of thieves and butchers! Now you will pay for your father's sins!"
Their collision was spectacular—two arc reactor-powered suits clashing in mid-air, energy weapons and physical strikes exchanged at speeds that made them blur to normal perception. Stark was more maneuverable, but Vanko's armor had superior raw power and weaponry designed specifically to counter Iron Man's capabilities.
Su Chen reached the battle zone, assessing the tactical situation rapidly. Stark could probably win eventually, but "eventually" meant more civilian casualties from rampaging drones and collateral damage from the armor-to-armor combat.
"Babata, can we seize control of Vanko's armor systems?" Su Chen inquired.
"Negative, his encryption is sophisticated and constantly rotating. I'd need physical access to his armor's core systems to establish control."
"Then we do this the direct way," Su Chen decided. "Saeko, Esdeath—focus on drone elimination. I'm engaging Vanko to give Stark tactical advantage."
He launched himself upward using Formation Arrangement techniques that allowed short-range flight through spatial manipulation. The movement was impossible by this universe's physics, but Su Chen had stopped caring about revealing capabilities when civilians were dying.
Vanko noticed the approach, his armor's targeting systems locking onto this new threat. Energy whips—Vanko's signature weapons—extended from his armor's arms, crackling with electricity designed to overload arc reactors and shred conventional materials.
Su Chen caught one whip with his bare hand, the Indestructible Diamond Body treating electrical energy the same way it treated physical attacks—as irrelevant to his fundamental existence. Vanko's shock was visible even through his armor's faceplate.
"What—impossible! Nothing withstands that voltage—"
Su Chen pulled, his enhanced strength combined with Formation Arrangement energy yanking Vanko out of his flight path and slamming him into the ground hard enough to crater concrete. Before Vanko could recover, Su Chen's other hand grabbed the armor's chest piece, fingers finding purchase on the arc reactor housing.
"Mr. Vanko," Su Chen said calmly, his voice somehow audible despite the battle's chaos. "Your vendetta against Stark is between you and him. But the moment you endangered civilians, it became everyone's problem. Stand down now, or I'll disable your armor and ensure you face justice for multiple counts of attempted murder."
"You don't understand!" Vanko snarled, his armor straining against Su Chen's grip without success. "Stark family built their empire on stolen work! My father created the arc reactor, and Howard Stark took credit! Tony Stark continues the theft, profiting from my family's genius!"
"Even if that's true—and I'm not qualified to judge historical patent disputes—the solution isn't mass murder," Su Chen replied. He tightened his grip, and the arc reactor housing began to crack under impossible pressure. "Last chance. Power down voluntarily, or I'll do it for you."
Vanko's response was to activate every weapon system his armor possessed simultaneously—repulsors, micro-missiles, and energy output that would have vaporized a normal human. The attacks struck Su Chen from point-blank range with enough force to destroy buildings.
Su Chen remained completely unaffected, his conceptual defense treating the assault as background noise. Then his hand tightened further, and Vanko's arc reactor shattered.
The armor went dead instantly, all systems failing as their power source was destroyed. Vanko collapsed inside the now-inert metal shell, unable to move without the armor's servo assistance.
"Hostile armor disabled," Su Chen reported through the network. "Stark, Vanko's neutralized. Focus on the remaining drones."
"Yeah, I saw that," Stark's voice came through public communication frequencies, his tone mixing gratitude and concern. "Thanks for the assist, but what the hell are you? That voltage should have killed you ten times over."
"Enhanced capabilities," Su Chen replied vaguely. "We'll discuss details later. Right now, there are approximately fifteen drones still active."
The remaining battle was cleanup. With Vanko disabled, the drones lost their coordinated command structure and became individual targets that Stark, Su Chen's team, and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents eliminated systematically. Within ten minutes, the last hostile unit was destroyed.
The Expo grounds were devastated—pavilions damaged, injured civilians being treated by emergency services, and security personnel establishing containment perimeters. Director Fury arrived via helicopter, his expression carrying the weight of someone dealing with a public crisis that would require significant explanation.
"Mr. Su Chen," Fury greeted, his tone professionally neutral despite obvious frustration. "Thank you for your assistance. Your team's response prevented what could have been catastrophic casualties."
"We were positioned appropriately and responded when necessary," Su Chen replied. "The real question is how Justin Hammer acquired technology and personnel that enabled this attack. Someone provided him with resources and intelligence that should have been impossible to obtain."
"We're investigating," Fury confirmed. "Hammer's already in custody and claiming Vanko approached him, offered technology, and then hijacked the demonstration. Whether that's truth or cover story remains to be determined."
"It's mostly truth," Su Chen said. "Vanko had personal vendetta against Stark and used Hammer as a resource vector. But someone facilitated their connection—Vanko couldn't have infiltrated Hammer Industries without assistance from people who wanted exactly this outcome."
"You're suggesting organized conspiracy rather than opportunistic alliance," Fury observed.
"I'm suggesting there are factions who benefit from Stark being discredited, Iron Man technology being proliferated, and public confidence in enhanced individuals being undermined," Su Chen clarified. "This attack served multiple agendas simultaneously. That suggests coordination at levels beyond one engineer with a grudge."
Fury's eye narrowed. "You're talking about Hydra."
"I'm talking about the possibility that hostile organizations used Vanko's vendetta as cover for objectives that served their interests," Su Chen replied carefully. "Whether that's Hydra, AIM, or some other faction is something your investigation will need to determine."
Before Fury could respond, Tony Stark landed nearby, his armor retracting to reveal an expression mixing exhaustion, anger, and grudging respect. "Alright, Mr. Enhanced Capabilities, you and I need to talk. Nobody catches energy whips with their bare hands and walks away. That's not enhanced—that's impossible."
"Impossible is relative," Su Chen replied. "I have abilities that exceed normal human parameters. That's why I work with S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Avengers Initiative—to use those abilities protecting people rather than endangering them."
"The Avengers thing," Stark repeated, looking at Fury. "You're still pushing that, despite the fact that every time enhanced individuals gather, something explodes?"
"Things explode because hostile organizations keep attacking," Fury countered. "Which is exactly why we need the Avengers—a coordinated response force that can handle threats conventional security can't address. You just saw it work, Stark. Su Chen's network, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, and you in your armor, all coordinating to stop a significant attack. Imagine that capability formalized and prepared for even larger threats."
Stark looked between Fury and Su Chen, his genius-level intelligence clearly processing implications. "Fine. I'll consider joining your superhero club. But I have conditions, starting with no government oversight of my technology and continuing through approximately forty-seven other non-negotiable requirements."
"We'll negotiate," Fury said, which Su Chen recognized as acceptance that Stark would eventually agree despite his posturing.
As emergency services continued processing the aftermath and media crews attempted to document the chaos, Su Chen took a moment to assess outcomes. The Vanko attack had been contained with minimal casualties—a significant success. His network had demonstrated capability under crisis conditions, earning respect from both S.H.I.E.L.D. and Stark. And the incident had revealed the level of sophistication hostile organizations were achieving in their attempts to acquire advanced technology.
"Master," Babata's voice carried concern. "While everyone was focused on the Vanko attack, I detected successful data breaches at three corporate pavilions. Someone used the chaos as cover to steal research data from weapons manufacturers, aerospace companies, and biotechnology firms. The breaches were sophisticated—they knew exactly what to target and had minimal time to execute."
"Hydra," Su Chen identified. "Or AIM, or possibly both. The attack was cover for industrial espionage. Vanko's vendetta was real, but someone arranged circumstances so his attack would provide distraction for other objectives."
"Should we inform Director Fury?" Babata inquired.
"Yes, but carefully," Su Chen decided. "We need to provide enough information to be helpful without revealing the extent of our surveillance capabilities. Package the intelligence as something we detected during our response operations, not comprehensive monitoring of the entire Expo."
He approached Fury, who was coordinating with S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel. "Director, my technical team detected unusual network activity during the attack. Several corporate systems were breached while security was focused on the drones. You should investigate data theft from weapons manufacturers and biotech firms—someone used the chaos as cover for espionage."
Fury's expression hardened. "You're sure?"
"My people specialize in detecting exactly this kind of activity," Su Chen confirmed. "I can provide technical details, but the summary is someone executed sophisticated data breaches using the Vanko attack as distraction. This was a coordinated operation with multiple objectives."
"Hydra," Fury stated flatly.
"Possibly," Su Chen acknowledged. "Or other organizations with similar capabilities and motivations. But yes, this has the hallmarks of the patterns I've been tracking."
"Alright," Fury decided. "I want your technical team coordinating with S.H.I.E.L.D. cyber security. We're going to track down everyone involved in this attack, the data breaches, and any other operations that exploited today's chaos. And Su Chen—thank you. Your network proved its value today. Consider your provisional Avengers status upgraded to confirmed."
Su Chen nodded acknowledgment, satisfied with the outcome. The Expo attack had been crisis, opportunity, and intelligence gathering simultaneously. His network had proven capable, his relationship with S.H.I.E.L.D. had been strengthened, and he'd gained additional insight into hostile organizations' capabilities.
The convergence continued approaching. And Su Chen's position at its center grew stronger with each incident.