纽约的天气逐渐变冷.淡淡的晨雾附着在窗户上,留下一层朦胧的白色,在新点亮的路灯周围投下淡黄色的光芒.
席勒坐在斯塔克的实验室办公桌前,手里拿着一杯咖啡.斯塔克拿着一叠数据走过来,说道:"我们需要修改5号关节,并与13号关节进行比较实验.装甲外骨骼 No.7 的数据也存在问题.我以后需要重新调整..."
"你不能休息一下吗?你不累吗?席勒打断了他.
斯塔克整理了一下桌子上的数据,然后回答说:"你一整晚至少问了我20次这个问题.从昨天晚上7点到今天早上7点.
"那是因为你让我从昨晚7点开始做实验.我甚至没有时间喝一杯咖啡.
"那么,你现在在做什么?已经3分钟了.你应该已经喝完了咖啡,对吧?我们还有两组实验要进行,它们必须在晚上8点之前完成.
席勒瘫倒在桌子上.
彼得从实验室的玻璃门后面走了出来,手里拿着两套文件.他说:"斯塔克先生,5号腿骨架的外部支撑结构似乎有问题.在贾维斯刚刚给我的第三组数据中,骨骼支撑结构似乎具有不稳定的趋势和断裂的风险.虽然 Jarvis 建议更换材料,但使用更硬的龙骨会降低柔韧性..."
斯塔克从彼得手中接过文件,看了一眼,说:"这不是什么大问题.
他指着蓝图上的一个设计,把它展示给彼得看."我们稍后会在这个关节上添加一个缓冲系统,然后将其向下移动两厘米..."
彼得揉了揉下巴,思索着斯塔克拉起席勒,催促道:"通常,你只需要三秒钟就能喝完一杯浓咖啡,但现在已经快五分钟了.站起来,开始工作.
"我的魔法能力需要恢复..."
"我记得谁说是低级的,对吧?"
席勒捂着眼睛说:"你就不能给我带一套完整的西装吗?我可以对它使用一次魔法,然后你可以直接使用它.为什么每个部件都必须拆卸并单独进行实验?
斯塔克沮丧地回答道:"为什么我有时觉得你理解这些事情,但有时你却像个机械白痴?
他摊开桌子上的设计蓝图,指着图案."你看到了吗?一旦你使用魔法解决了 Mark 5 的大小调整问题,我就可以专注于它的性能和功能.但是一旦我改进了它的一个方面,我就必须测试它是否仍然可以调整大小,或者调整大小后的功能是否符合我的期望.
"So I have to conduct numerous modular experiments to test whether a specific function can achieve the desired effect when resized or expanded individually."
Schiller asks, "Are there any components that haven't met your expectations?"
"It can be the next one." Stark replies.
These damn meticulous inventors... Schiller once again collapses onto the table.
Peter agrees, "I agree with Mr. Stark. Building this kind of armor isn't child's play. If a component fails when you're flying at an altitude of tens of thousands of meters, it could be extremely dangerous."
"Not only that," Stark continues while organizing the blueprint. "Low-power operation, high-power operation, and even overclocking operation all have different effects. We must ensure that it performs as perfectly as possible at every level of power output."
Then Stark grabs Schiller's arm and pulls him to the experimental bench. Peter hands over a component, Schiller disassembles and reassembles,and Stark takes it for testing. Peter then hands over another component for Schiller to repeat the process.
Peter and Stark are conducting experiments while Schiller feels like he is simply screwing light bulbs on an assembly line.
The symbiote in his mind keeps repeating, "Both of their heads smell so good, really good, I want to eat them. Can I eat one of them? Just one, and then the other for the next meal. I want to eat the one with the blue eyes first..."
Schiller realizes that the symbiote seems to be able to detect brainwaves. When someone's brain starts working rapidly, it senses a pheromone released from their brain. The faster the person's brain activity, the more fragrant it smells.
Unfortunately, those super geniuses like Stark and Peter are like a moving fried chicken to symbiotes, they simply can't resist.
Not knowing what to do,the symbiote also learns to repeatedly play the sound of swallowing in Schiller's mind, making him feel hungry.
After twisting the last light bulb, Schiller suggests, "Let's go eat something. Aren't you guys hungry?"
Stark tosses him two compressed biscuits, "Thanks to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s new gadget, I can work continuously for 40 hours now."
Schiller takes a deep breath and asks, "Aren't you tired? And you, Peter, you must have gone without sleep for almost two days, right?"
"I brought this kid here because he has more energy than anyone else," Stark remarks.
Peter shrugs, "Ever since I gained my abilities, I only need a short nap to stay energetic. Just now, I took a 15-minute break in the lounge, and I feel fine now."
"Speaking of which, why do you, a sorcerer, feel tired? Don't you have any magic to keep you energized?" Schiller doubts.
Schiller isn't actually feeling physically tired. With the symbiote, he can even go without eating, drinking, or sleeping. However, after screwing light bulbs for over 20 hours, anyone would feel mentally fatigued.
Schiller can't understand a single thing about the design of their suits. But whenever Stark excitedly presents his new ideas after coming out from behind the glass doors, Schiller has to play cheerleader and applaud. If he doesn't, Stark storms back through the doors, followed by a series of explosions, only to come back out with a new idea.
Stark roars, "How can you be so indifferent to such a great cause? It's a milestone in human scientific history! Perhaps even in magic! We have successfully combined the products of human technology with a new magical power. Don't you look forward to what they will produce?"
"I'm more concerned about something else," Schiller says. "Are you planning to call this series of armors 'Mark' as well? I think it should have a new name."
"A new name? How about 'S',a series with the initials of your name and mine?"
"Peter will be upset; he also took part in the production," Schiller replies.
Stark scratches his head, and Peter says, "I don't mind that. But more than a name, I think the new armor should have a completely different appearance from the Mark series, something more cool."
"I think you can design it in blue," Schiller adds. "It would go well with magic and help differentiate it from your Mark series."
"Then let's get moving faster. Once we test all the parts, we can start assembling it, and soon we can give it a nice paint job. I think blue and silver would be a good combination."
"Also," Stark looks at Schiller , "I think this suit should have some magical attack capabilities."
"But, I'm sorry, the magic I learned doesn't have any attack abilities," Schiller refuses.
"What about weightlessness? Floating objects can be useful."
"You could consider magnetism," Schiller recalls Magneto, saying, "Perhaps magnetism is even stronger than you imagine."
When Natasha arrives, these three haven't slept for over 50 hours. Schiller and Peter appear fine due to their super abilities, but Stark has huge black circles under his eyes. Natasha moans, "We almost had to put out a missing persons report for you. You've been gone for almost three full days."
"But we have an outstanding achievement!" Stark bloats.
Immediately, Natasha sees Stark take out a cigarette and smiles, "Looks like you're still as unromantic as ever. I quit smoking since I joined S.H.I.E.L.D."
"So you're only thinking of staying healthy now? Isn't it a little late?" Schiller asks her.
"Healthy? I'm not doing it for health reasons! Have you ever seen a Russian who cares about it? The damn smoke alarm in the S.H.I.E.L.D. office goes off over 20 times a day. I quit smoking because I couldn't stand the noise anymore."
"Hey, look here! What are you talking about? Look at me, look at my genius creation!" Stark cries out.
He flicks the cigarette away. In an instant, a suit composed of silver and deep blue appears on him.
This suit indeed looks slightly different from the Mark series in its design. It appears more lightweight, sleeker, and better fitted to Stark's physique. The process of arming and moving in the suit doesn't produce any mechanical sounds like the other suits. Rather than an armored suit, it resembles a fashionable bodysuit.
Schiller stands up and says, "Originally, you were 10 centimeters taller than me in the suit, but now it's only 3 centimeters."
"Is that the point?!"
"Of course, because without the suit, you're still shorter than me."
" 2 centimeters shorter, sir," Peter corrects. "And that's not counting the height of shoes."
Stark takes a deep breath. He leaps lightly, and the suit floats in the air without making as much noise as before. Stark says, "Thanks for the inspiration. I also think jet propulsion is a bit boring. But this magnetic levitation system is still somewhat immature; I need to improve it further."
Schiller quickly asks Natasha, "Is there something Nick Fury wants from me? I can go and write him an invoice, any amount will do."
"Well, there is something. It seems to be related to the group of ninjas Captain and Peter dealt with before," Natasha says.
"So, you're here to see Peter. So Schiller..." Stark says.
"No, no, I'm paid a lot of money from S.H.I.E.L.D. I think it's necessary to give them all a basic psychological and emotional test. You know, it's important for some field agents to avoid going crazy due to anxiety."
"This time is free?"
"Of course!"