"Uh... FBI?" Liam feigned ignorance and asked.
"Yes. He spoke highly of you, so we had to come and see what this is all about. We've already looked through your patent. The government would like to invest in you," Rumlow said.
"You mean Hydra," Liam thought to himself but didn't say aloud. It was fine if SHIELD invested in his company, but he would need to ensure the contracts wouldn't come back to bite him once Hydra was taken down.
Even though Liam wasn't thrilled about SHIELD showing interest in his tech, there was nothing he could do. Remaining professional, he gave Rumlow a rundown of his invention.
"So your code is what's important for the whole device. Did I get that right?" Rumlow asked. Liam wasn't surprised that Rumlow knew what was truly essential. One could easily make a sonar device, but processing the information and projecting it was the challenging part.
"Yes," Liam admitted.
"The authorities will get in touch with you soon. Get yourself a lawyer," Rumlow said after inspecting the setup.
"Dude, he was jacked," Chris commented, noting Rumlow's visible biceps and abdominal muscles through his tight-fitting shirt. Liam only smiled, knowing he was almost as fit—though not as bulky. Liam was more on the leaner side now, thanks to the new game.
The Science Expo lasted over four hours. By the time they returned to their hotel, it was evening. Though exhausted, they were overjoyed. Numerous people had promised investments and taken their contact details.
They would soon be establishing a company and couldn't wait to be rich. Chris and Bonnie later convinced Liam to celebrate with a small party at a local pizza shop. By the time they returned to their rooms, both of them crashed onto their beds, leaving Liam awake.
"Take me to Ernest Debs Park."
"Eh, so late? You won't find a taxi back at this hour," the taxi driver said.
"You don't have to worry. I have a friend waiting for me there," Liam replied. He had ventured out late at night to catch a taxi.
"Okay," the driver said, deciding not to pry. It was LA, after all, and asking too many questions could be unwise. In about half an hour, the taxi reached the destination. The park, located on the outskirts of LA, was a popular tourist attraction.
But at night, the entrance was closed.
"Are you sure you won't need a ride back?" the taxi driver asked, noting Liam's generous tip.
"No. You should head back. This place isn't safe," Liam reminded him.
"Where does this teenage kid get the audacity to say such big words to me?" the taxi driver thought but kept his thoughts to himself.
It was easy for Liam to sneak into the park, as he was now wearing his pilot suit. Though BT wasn't with him, he was capable enough to handle things alone, thanks to the new game world he had been thrust into.
"I should have brought a sword. My hands feel empty," Liam thought as he found an open area suitable for his operation. It was late at night, and the elevation allowed a clear view of the glowing city below. The stars shone brightly in the clear sky, away from the light pollution.
But Liam didn't have time for stargazing. He proceeded to summon his first ally.
A hornet—a sleek, angular aerial craft with twin rotors on its sides resembling butterfly wings. Its fuselage, painted in muted tones of iron and shadow, was equipped with rapid-fire cannons along its underbelly and missile pods tucked beneath its sharp wings. The Hornet was both hunter and harbinger.
Liam climbed into the cockpit.
"I'm home."
He started the engine, and thanks to its VTOL capabilities, the plane took off. Within seconds, it picked up speed. Fortunately, the system allowed him to refill the fuel tank once stored in his personal space; otherwise, refueling would have been a hassle.
His destination was far, so he ascended high into the sky. It took him two hours to reach his target.
Gulmira, Afghanistan.
The same place where Yinsen, Tony's ally, had been held captive and where Iron Man first debuted. Liam didn't land the plane directly in Gulmira. Instead, he hovered mid-air and jumped out of the cockpit. Wearing his pilot suit, he easily landed using its thrusters.
He landed on the outskirts of the town, where no one from the devastated area could see him. The location was surrounded by hills, making it easy to stay hidden. After landing, he proceeded to summon BT.
"Hello, BT."
[Hello, Liam. It's nice to meet you.]
"Nice to meet you too. Do you have any previous memories of me?" Liam asked. This was the first time he had summoned BT, so he needed to understand its programming.
[Negative, Liam.]
"Hmm. What is your mission?"
[My first mission is your safety and support in times of need. My second objective is to safeguard humanity.]
"What if I want to end humanity?"
[Then I will prioritize your safety and security. The first objective will always take precedence.]
"Good. Stay here. I'm going to infiltrate the town. By the way, can you speak all human languages?"
[Yes, I am well-versed in all human languages.]
"Perfect. Stay put. I'll be back soon."
The first rays of dawn peeked over the rugged hills, casting long shadows across the dilapidated town of Gulmira. The place was a shell of its former self, with crumbled buildings and burnt-out vehicles scattered throughout. It was a town that had fallen to a band of militants— The Ten Rings.
From his concealed position on a ridge outside the town, Liam watched through the enhanced optics of his Pilot suit. The HUD highlighted movement patterns: armed men patrolling in sporadic shifts, some half-asleep and others carelessly chatting. These weren't trained soldiers but opportunistic thugs who had taken advantage of chaos.
Liam's target was the leader of this group—a man holed up in what remained of the town's administrative building.