"I'm Iron Man!" At the Stark Industries press conference, the moment these words left the lips of current CEO Tony Stark, the room erupted into an uproar. The reporters on site quickly spread the news, which soon rippled out to the surrounding areas. No one had expected that Iron Man, the superhero who had fought terrorists in the Middle East and helped resolve the crisis in New York City, was none other than Tony Stark, the playboy who was a regular in the headlines. But once they saw the armor, all doubts vanished, and the disbelief on their faces gradually turned into excited cheers!
With Stark's self-revelation, New York City, which had been somber after the recent conflict, began to stir with renewed energy.
"Mr. Stark, can you tell us how Merlin Shaw is doing now? We heard that he was attacked by an alien mechanical life form after helping to save the city," a reporter quickly asked after learning that Stark was Iron Man.
Following their involvement in the Lizard Crisis, Merlin and others had also become recognized as superheroes. But even before that, Iron Man, Spider-Woman, Daredevil, and the Punisher were already known as superheroes. The Punisher was unique because of his brutal and ruthless methods, yet his heroic actions could not be denied. Among the new heroes, Merlin had garnered the most attention. The genius high school student and young hero had been pursued by lizardmen throughout the city, collaborated with a group of superheroes to develop a serum, and ultimately helped to resolve the crisis. There were countless legendary aspects to his story that could be explored.
"Where is he now? Is he still alive?"
"We want to interview this heroic kid."
"I heard someone say that the chaotic species were caused by Merlin Shaw. Is this true?"
"Why did he create the lizard serum?"
"Is there any connection between him and the lizardmen?"
When Merlin Shaw was mentioned, the room instantly buzzed with questions. Stark's face darkened as he looked directly at the reporter who had expressed suspicion about Merlin Shaw.
"I was the one who triggered the chaos species. The situation was critical, and I accidentally activated the energy cube that the military had lost," Stark explained, his tone firm. "And let me see... you're from the Hogot Daily. If Merlin hadn't created the serum, you might have been torn in half by the lizard people."
He continued, "Merlin is fine now. He's in the hospital and needs rest, so it's not convenient for him to be interviewed. Whether he chooses to speak after his recovery will depend on his wishes."
After explaining Merlin's current situation, Stark didn't hold back in addressing the reporters who had made malicious speculations. His protective tone left no room for doubt about Merlin's innocence and contribution.
Meanwhile, in the hospital, Merlin slowly sat up. Despite being caught in a violent explosion, Optimus Prime had shielded him from most of the damage, so his injuries weren't severe. However, his internal organs were slightly injured from the impact, which would require some time to heal. He also had a few surface wounds from the fall, but they were just minor scrapes.
"Be careful. The doctor warned you not to do any strenuous activities due to your injuries," Gwen said, her voice full of concern as she gently supported his back.
"Don't worry too much," Merlin reassured her with a smile. The hospital bed was an all-too-familiar place for him, though in the past, it had been due to fractures. This was his first time being injured by a bomb, a stark reminder that his work was becoming more dangerous. He knew that developing a Transformers suit would have to become a priority.
"Headache..." Merlin muttered as he patted his head, his mind racing with thoughts of biometal suits, bionic enhancements, professional chips, space-based weaponry, and the Orca project. There was much to be done.
Everything was waiting for Merlin. He felt that this time he had handled things relatively well and kept the situation under control. However, he hadn't expected Megatron to still manage to steal the spotlight. Fortunately, he had a backup plan. His earlier work on transforming Bumblebee hadn't been in vain—he had primarily focused on studying their Cybertronian biometal technology.
As he pondered his next steps, the door clicked open, and a man in black entered the room. The man was a middle-aged African-American with a shaved head that gleamed like an egg and a black eyepatch covering his left eye.
"And you are?" George frowned as he saw the visitor rush in.
"Uh... I'm with the Homeland Strategic Defense Attack and..." Fury began to introduce himself, but George cut him off with an outstretched hand.
"I know who you are, but I hope you guys can knock before entering next time."
"Sorry, occupational hazard," Fury shrugged.
"What's the matter?" George asked, still slightly wary. This was the second time he had encountered this mysterious secret service.
Fury looked over at Merlin lying on the hospital bed. Just as he was about to speak, there was another knock at the door.
"Knock, knock, knock..."
"Please, come in!" George called out.
The door opened, revealing a man in a suit with a thin face. Upon entering and seeing Fury, he paused momentarily before quickly pulling out his ID.
"I am Agent Simmons from Sector Seven, here to ask Merlin Shaw about the Energy Cube," the man said, his tone businesslike.
George raised an eyebrow and scrutinized the ID carefully. After confirming it was legitimate, he handed it back. "Sorry, this kid still needs rest."
"This matter involves a lot. I hope you can cooperate," Simmons said, his voice solemn.
"Cooperate? Who allowed you to barge in like this?" Pepper Potts suddenly entered the room, her face livid. "Happy, please escort them out."
Her sharp tone made it clear that she wasn't going to tolerate any further intrusions. The tension in the room rose as the two agents realized they were no longer welcome.
"This is a private residence!" Happy Hogan asserted firmly, leaving no room for argument as he promptly escorted the two agents out. Although both Fury and Simmons were visibly irritated, they understood the consequences of causing a scene. A conflict here wouldn't just be a physical altercation—it would be a public relations disaster. Merlin was currently the talk of the town, and any clash involving him would be sensationalized by the media the very next day. Moreover, Stark Industries was not an entity to be trifled with. Despite a temporary dip due to the abandonment of military weapons production, the company had rebounded dramatically following Tony Stark's revelation as Iron Man. If not for the ongoing reconstruction of the city, its stock would likely be skyrocketing even more.
"Just focus on recovering, Merlin. Don't worry about anything else for now," Pepper said warmly after ensuring that Fury and Simmons were out of the way. She returned to the room, her usual calm demeanor restored, and offered a reassuring smile to Merlin and the others.
"Thank you!" George responded gratefully, appreciating her swift action in protecting his son.
.....
In the desolate Gobi Desert of New Mexico, after successfully evading the pursuit of the Eagle Nation, Megatron found a secluded spot to stop. The blazing sun beat down on the desert, its scorching heat almost palpable. Yet, despite the oppressive environment, Megatron was filled with excitement. He carefully unzipped his backpack, revealing the object of his deepest desires: the AllSpark Cube!
For countless light-years, Megatron had pursued the AllSpark from Cybertron, only to be frozen for hundreds of years. Now, at long last, he had it in his grasp! With trembling anticipation, he reached out and gently touched the surface of the Cube. But as soon as his palm made contact, a wave of energy suddenly pulsed across the Cube's surface, spreading along his fingers like a virus, coursing through him with a power both thrilling and dangerous.
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