Time flew by quietly after the Destroyer incident, and now, more than five months had passed. It was 2012.
It took Tony over three months of countless tests, but he finally completed the first vibranium suit.
The suit was painted in the same red and gold as his previous Iron Man suits, but there were notable differences. This vibranium armor stood taller, about 2.5 meters, and the most significant feature was the massive red gauntlets and the scarlet great axe strapped to the back, measuring over two meters in length.
The primary function of the gauntlets was to channel Void energy for powerful energy beams, and their secondary purpose was for hand-to-hand combat. The axe, on the other hand, was for destroying larger targets—making things easier to tear apart.
However, adding these elements made the vibranium suit weigh a hefty ten tons. Even though Tony had developed an incredibly strong propulsion system, due to the suit's specific requirements, its top speed was limited.
At full speed, the vibranium suit could only fly at 100 meters per second. If Tony removed the massive three-ton axe, he could potentially reach the speed of sound. Compared to his six-Mach steel suit, the difference was night and day. But Tony had anticipated this.
The vibranium suit was never meant for agility. Its strength and durability were its selling points. It was also thanks to Tony's enhanced physical conditioning and impressive endurance that he could even wear the suit.
For anyone without sufficient physical strength, merely lifting that three-ton axe would be a challenge—let alone swinging it in combat.
After all, there's a vast difference between simply holding a weapon and using it in battle.
Even without the weapons, Tony could activate the vibranium suit's charge mode, and most objects would shatter on impact.
During these past few months, Blue Star had remained unusually peaceful, aside from New York's typical street violence. As the New Year approached, Tony found himself reflecting on something Harvey had once said.
"Jarvis," Tony began, a puzzled tone in his voice, "Harvey mentioned that I'd be tied down to Blue Star for a while. Do you think he was referring to my vibranium research?"
"I don't believe so, sir," Jarvis responded thoughtfully. "You know as well as I do that Mr. Harvey is incredibly well-informed. If he said you couldn't leave Earth, it likely has nothing to do with your research."
Jarvis understood Tony's frustration. While Pepper was getting more beautiful and their relationship had grown increasingly intimate—leading to many lively nights—Tony was still Tony. Deep down, he hadn't entirely shed his playboy ways.
If he could, Tony would certainly be out there testing the waters, so to speak, enjoying the company of wildflowers instead of roses.
Of course, even though Pepper knew Tony's true nature and often turned a blind eye to his antics, she had one unspoken rule: flirting with women was fine out in the universe, but not at home—on Blue Star.
It wasn't hard to deduce. Pepper rarely asked Tony too many questions about his activities off-world. She allowed him some freedom in the universe, but at home, he had to play the part of a faithful boyfriend.
And while Pepper's abilities couldn't quite rival Tony's, if she ever got angry, she could easily tear apart his mansion. If their private matters became public, it'd be a real mess.
After building the vibranium suit, Pepper had privately told Tony several times that she wanted to join him in space, show off his latest technological marvels to Reno and Kael, and enjoy some freedom.
However, Harvey's warning had kept Tony grounded. He feared that if he left, something might happen on Blue Star that he wouldn't be able to handle.
"I hope you're right, Jarvis," Tony sighed. "I've built the suit, but there's nowhere to test it. It's frustrating."
Over the past year, Sonya had sent Tony the money he was owed every three months.
The first three installments had gone toward repaying his debt to Harvey, so Tony didn't notice the funds. But now, with the New Year approaching, the fourth payment had come through—an impressive sum of over 700 million.
Intergalactic money was worth far more than Earth's currency. With that amount, Tony could indulge in endless pleasures across the galaxy.
But he was stuck, unable to leave Earth, which left him feeling bitter.
Harvey, on the other hand, seemed to be living the high life. Free from the identity of Kassadin, Harvey was enjoying himself on Blue Star without a care in the world.
Not only did Harvey get to live lavishly, but he also managed to maintain an excellent reputation. Everyone who crossed paths with him spoke highly of him.
Tony couldn't help but feel envious every time he heard people praising Harvey.
Letting Pepper join the Void was a good decision. She would be by his side for the long haul, providing comfort and companionship. But the downside? Tony had to suppress his wandering eye and quell the constant temptation to stray.
"Harvey said it himself—now's not the time for you to leave," Jarvis reminded him gently. "Just wait a little longer."
"Yeah, yeah. I guess I'll start working on nanotech once today's over," Tony muttered, resigned.
Building the vibranium suit had not only made Tony more formidable, but it had also advanced his technological expertise significantly. Now that he had a suit capable of heavy combat, his next goal was to evolve his Iron Man suits into nano-suits for greater versatility.
The road of technological advancement has no true end. Intelligence and time are finite, and achieving the impossible is not something an average person can accomplish.
Even if he mastered nanotech, Tony knew it would only be a temporary milestone in his quest for self-improvement. There was still so much left to discover if he wanted to usher Blue Star into an interstellar age.
Most people, upon realizing the magnitude of such a task, might choose to give up. But Tony's involvement with the Void was precisely so that he could live longer and continue exploring the boundaries of science.
As 2012 rolled in, Harvey routinely scanned New York, still unable to locate Bruce Banner. Despite being a genius like Tony, Banner's life had taken a far darker turn.
Unlike Tony, who would've sought ways to harness the Hulk's power, Banner lived in constant fear of his alter ego—so much so that he had even contemplated suicide to rid himself of the Hulk.
To be honest, Harvey couldn't understand Banner's mindset. If Banner wasn't afraid to die, why couldn't he at least try to accept and control the power within him?