The fluorescent lights of Himawan's lab flickered as the faint hum of machines filled the air. He leaned over his latest test subject, eyes intent, hands steady. The data on the monitor reflected an upward trend in the subject's strength and endurance—a promising result. This was what he had hoped for. After countless failures and adjustments, he was closer than ever to perfecting his formula, edging towards creating an enhanced human with resilience that even superhumans might envy.
It was an achievement that couldn't be overlooked. Every breakthrough felt like one step closer to his ultimate goal, and now, his methods and findings had started to echo through the shadows of New York's hidden world. Whispers and rumors of a scientist pushing the boundaries of human potential had begun to circulate, enough to catch the ears of those constantly on the lookout for unusual activities.
And as the digital clock on his desk ticked softly through the early morning hours, his system, silent for most of the evening, suddenly buzzed with a new alert. A calm, mechanical voice echoed in his lab.
"Intruder detected. Armor signature identified: Iron Man."
Himawan's heart skipped a beat. The weight of the name washed over him. He wasn't surprised—this was bound to happen eventually. He'd planned for it. The vigilantes and heroes he had so carefully evaded were vigilant, and someone like Stark would be watching for anomalous data patterns or sudden spikes in bioenergy. His only regret was that the encounter came sooner than he had anticipated. But that did not change his response. With calm precision, he turned to the monitors, noting Stark's trajectory.
The Iron Man suit gleamed on the screen, a figure hovering just outside his underground lab's entrance. Himawan's fingers tightened around the edge of the desk as he watched Stark's silhouette, cloaked in the red and gold armor, surveying his hidden lab from above. There was no point in panicking, he knew; Stark would not arrive without having calculated his own odds of success.
Himawan took a steadying breath and spoke calmly to the system. "Run contingency protocol alpha," he ordered.
The lights dimmed, the entire lab falling into shadow as a series of locks clicked into place. Thick steel panels slid over the windows, shrouding the lab in darkness. Surveillance screens displayed Iron Man from multiple angles as he scanned the perimeter. Stark had come prepared, his suit equipped with enhanced detection systems that picked up on even the slightest energy fluctuations.
Himawan took a step back, contemplating his options. In his mind, he weighed the risks and outcomes, calculating how much he could push his luck before things escalated beyond his control. His enhanced intellect buzzed with possibilities, strategies, potential failures. This was not just a test of his creations; it was a confrontation of his own willpower and resolve against Stark's.
A low hum vibrated through the walls as Iron Man's suit released a pulse wave, scanning for hidden defenses. Stark's voice cut through the silence, amplified by his suit's external speakers.
"I know you're in there, doctor. Come out and talk, or I'll make my own way in."
The threat was as calculated as Himawan's plans. Stark was known for his arrogance, but he was also meticulous and wouldn't make a move without understanding the risks involved. Himawan knew that Iron Man would weigh the cost of a direct attack against the benefit of apprehending him. His hands tightened as he glanced at the panel beside him. Contingency plans had been laid for just such a situation, but using them would expose his work to a level of scrutiny he had hoped to avoid.
After a few moments of silence, Himawan stepped forward and activated a small intercom by the lab's entrance.
"Mr. Stark," he greeted in a steady voice, the words rolling out calmly, belying his racing thoughts. "What brings the famous Iron Man to my humble lab?"
Stark's suit tilted slightly, his gaze behind the metal helmet no doubt calculating and scrutinizing every word. "We both know what you're up to here, doctor. Your experiments are... noticed. Unauthorized genetic enhancement trials, disturbing medical ethics—none of that goes unnoticed in New York."
Himawan smirked, though his expression was hidden from Stark's view. "Is this a moral lesson, or are you here to stop me, Stark?"
Iron Man's suit shifted again, the weapons on its gauntlets subtly glowing. "I'm here to give you a choice. Stop your work voluntarily, or we can see how resistant your lab really is. I've dealt with worse."
Himawan's eyes narrowed. He knew Stark wasn't bluffing. But he also knew something else—Iron Man wasn't here for a full assault. Stark was alone, no backup from S.H.I.E.L.D. or the Avengers, no sign of support from any other superhuman entities. Stark was testing the waters, hoping intimidation alone would be enough to end this quietly.
"Interesting offer, Stark," Himawan replied. "But tell me—how many lives were saved with your weapons before you decided you were better suited for heroism?"
There was a pause. Stark's body language shifted, the faintest hesitation visible even through the armor. Himawan pressed on, sensing the slight crack in Stark's confident façade.
"Your armor, your gadgets—they're enhancements too, aren't they? Is it really so different from what I'm doing here?"
Stark's voice, though modulated, carried an unmistakable edge. "I've atoned for that past. This isn't about me—it's about you, and the people you're hurting. Your 'enhancements' are hurting innocent lives, and I can't let that go unchecked."
"People are fragile, Stark," Himawan replied, voice cold. "Some don't survive the process, true. But the ones that do—what they gain is beyond ordinary human potential. They are given a chance to rise above."
Iron Man's mask remained impassive, but Himawan knew he'd touched on something deeper. Stark's own journey from weapons manufacturer to hero had likely been riddled with moral questions, moments of doubt.
But Stark didn't waver. "This is your last chance, doctor," he declared. "End this, or I will."
Himawan allowed himself a slight sigh. "Stark, I think you misunderstand. You and I, we're not so different. But unlike you, I'm not bound by self-righteous ideals. I don't have to answer to anyone."
He flicked a switch beside him, and a wall of steel slid between them, blocking Iron Man's view of the lab's interior. Himawan's heart hammered in his chest as he moved further back into the shadows. He had seconds before Stark's patience wore thin. There was no doubt the Avenger would blast through the barrier if necessary.
"System," he whispered, feeling the adrenaline flood his veins. "Activate evasive protocols. Move all experimental data to secure servers and initiate escape plan beta."
The system whirred into action, digital files transferring rapidly, the machines shutting down one by one. Himawan moved quickly, grabbing a slim black case containing his core research data and prototypes. He knew this wouldn't be the last encounter with Stark, but for now, he needed to regroup, to find a location where his work could continue, unhindered and in secrecy.
As he reached the lab's secondary exit, a deep rumble shook the floor. Stark was making his way through the outer defenses, the sound of metal clashing with metal reverberating through the dim halls. Himawan paused, glancing back once at the lab he had carefully built and optimized. It was a pity to abandon it, but the risk was too great.
With one last look, he pressed forward into the darkness of the exit tunnel, the heavy thud of Stark's approach echoing behind him.