"That universal communicator you brought back last time is a real game-changer," Tony said as they descended into the underground lab together. "It's given JARVIS a serious upgrade in transmission speed. Now, no matter where I am on Earth, JARVIS can remotely send me my Iron Man suit.
"Too bad I didn't ask for your universal comms number earlier. I could've gotten in touch with you way sooner."
"If you need it, we can exchange numbers," Harvey replied, tapping the device on his wrist. A holographic projection appeared in the air.
"Sure, but how far out were you in space?" Tony asked while picking up the communicator Harvey had given him. "If you were too far, the signal might've been pretty spotty. I've made some progress on replicating the tech, but we're still limited by Earth materials. So, for now, I'll just stick with the one you gave me."
"Whatever works," Harvey replied nonchalantly. With a few taps, he connected his communicator to Tony's, linking their contact details.
"By the way, Harvey, I've been meaning to get your take on something." Tony's tone shifted slightly as he glanced at the communicator displaying Harvey's alias: Kassadin. Not that it surprised him, but he didn't ask questions. Instead, he pivoted to a different topic. "I've successfully reverse-engineered the universal communicator. It's not as advanced as the one from space, but if I release it to the public, it could generate untold wealth. It'd also accelerate technological advancement on Earth. Do you think I should go ahead with it?"
Harvey, now seated comfortably in the lab, gave his response. "The universal translator? Sure, you can roll that out. But the universal communicator? Unless Earth is ready to fully integrate with the wider universe, it's better to hold off for now."
Tony frowned, uncertain. "But Earth has Odin and the Sorcerer Supreme protecting it, right? Doesn't that keep us safe from any aliens wanting to mess with us?"
"I get your point, Tony. You want to push Earth's technology forward and give humanity more tools to protect itself. But the moment we start using universal communicators widely, we'll be sending a clear signal to the universe: Earth is ready to engage with other planets and civilizations. That'll drastically increase the likelihood of off-world visitors showing up.
"Sure, Earth has Odin and the Ancient One watching over it for now, but they won't be around forever. You can't guarantee that in a few decades, Earth's technology will have advanced enough to handle what's out there, can you?"
Tony sighed, the weight of the situation evident in his expression. "I'd love to tell you I could, but the truth is, with the resources we have on Earth, it's not likely to happen within the next ten years."
Harvey's words hit home. While human technology had evolved rapidly—from the steam engine to modern civilization in just over a century—spacefaring civilizations were playing an entirely different game. They had been in the interstellar era for millennia, while Earth was still figuring out how to send satellites into orbit. Even though Tony had managed to reverse-engineer some alien tech, he knew it would take far longer to fully bridge the gap.
"Don't stress it too much," Harvey said, offering some reassurance. "I know you're eager to connect with the universe, absorb all that knowledge, and use it to create amazing things for humanity. But you've got plenty of time. Unless something unexpected happens or you get taken out in a fight, you'll live long enough to keep researching and pushing the boundaries of what's possible."
"I've got time, sure," Tony muttered, folding his arms and rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "But Earth and humanity might not."
Tony's drive to innovate had only intensified after Harvey introduced him to the wonders of alien technology. These days, Tony's routine consisted of three hours of daily exercise, meals with Pepper, and late-night work sessions after midnight. The rest of his time? All spent in the lab. Were it not for the Void energy coursing through him, Tony's grueling schedule would have already taken its toll on his body.
Harvey knew what plagued Tony: the curse of knowledge. The more one learns, the harder it becomes to find peace. Tony was someone who couldn't rest until every problem was solved—whether it was the inadequacy of Earth's technology or the looming threats that only he seemed to see.
Harvey also understood that trying to soothe Tony's worries with words alone wouldn't work. The only way to ease Tony's mind was to help him eliminate those looming threats. But Harvey had his agenda, and Tony's obsession with progress played right into it. When the time was right, Harvey knew Tony would be key to his plans.
"Time will give you everything you're after," Harvey said, shifting the conversation. "Let's put that aside for now. How's the Iron Man suit coming along?"
Tony's eyes lit up as he followed Harvey's lead. "I've spent the last couple of months working on what you brought me. The materials you gave me—they're more useful for improving AI than for upgrading the suit's armor or power output. So, while the suits had a few performance tweaks, the real advancements have been in JARVIS."
Tony's excitement was palpable. With JARVIS becoming more advanced, the Iron Man suit now responded to his commands even faster, executing them with unparalleled precision.
"Thanks to you, JARVIS is smarter and more powerful than ever," Tony added, with a grin that betrayed just how proud he was of his work.