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Adrian moved quickly down the winding corridors of the aircraft carrier. Upon reaching the infirmary lobby, he took in his surroundings. Apart from the SHIELD logo, it looked like any regular hospital, with shelves stocked full of medical equipment and supplies.
"Where's Quicksilver?"
"Room 4, bed 2. Make way! Keep your feet clear!" the nurse replied before rushing off with her cart.
Adrian entered the room the nurse had indicated. Quicksilver lay on the bed, his injuries stitched up, sleeping soundly. Heavy restraints bound his wrists, ankles, and neck to limit his mutant powers. This special device ensured Quicksilver couldn't use his super-speed to escape or cause trouble.
Although there was no longer any need to harm Quicksilver, SHIELD had clearly taken precautions.
Adrian approached and gently patted Quicksilver on the shoulder in a show of concern. Quicksilver opened his eyes, looked at the restraints, and sighed, his expression one of disappointment.
"These things are annoying," he muttered. "I know you have to take precautions, but they used these in mutant concentration camps before."
His face showed a mixture of anger and understanding. He had woken up about ten minutes earlier and, through a conversation with Wanda, learned he may have unknowingly contributed to spreading the virus. Initially, SHIELD had considered extreme measures to stop it. Compared to becoming a zombie or being killed, this restraint was a relief.
After a moment, Adrian said, "I understand this is unfair, but we have to ensure the safety of the aircraft carrier. This is temporary—once the crisis is over, these restrictions will be removed."
"I hope you're right," Pietro replied with a forced smile.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. The two looked over as the door opened, revealing Wanda and another figure in red and gold armor. The armor gleamed, its circular reactor pulsing with faint light in the center. The faceplate was up, revealing a familiar face.
With a confident smile and assured demeanor, Iron Man stepped into the room. Tony Stark nodded at Pietro before extending his hand to Adrian with a friendly grin. "So, you're the 'hero' Wanda and Fury keep talking about—Adrian, right?"
"Maybe they exaggerated, but yes, that's me," Adrian replied, shaking the steel hand briefly.
Tony noticed Adrian's hesitation and chuckled. "Don't worry. My armor's power control is perfect. I could handle a piece of tofu without smashing it."
Wanda walked up, watching Adrian and Tony shake hands, then looked at Adrian with warm eyes. "Adrian, thank you again. You saved Pietro's life. He's my brother. Losing him is unimaginable—I'll always remember your kindness."
"Yes, absolutely! Thank you, thank you!" Pietro quickly added, realizing Wanda's glance was his cue. Despite feeling awkward, he was sincere.
Adrian nodded, accepting their gratitude, and asked, "By the way, where's the King? What happened to him?"
"Oh, his injuries are more complicated," Wanda replied. "He had to seal his blood vessels with magic, and he's undergoing surgery now. They'll bring in a prosthetic hand for him later."
"Well, send him my best. And, Stark, do you know why Fury wanted to meet with us? What's this meeting about?"
With the pleasantries out of the way, it was time to get back to business. The calm on the aircraft carrier was likely temporary, as the zombies below would soon realize what was flying above them and likely attack.
Hearing Adrian's question, Tony's expression shifted to a more serious one. He nodded, lowered his visor, and said, "Follow me."
They said goodbye to Wanda and Quicksilver before heading to the 40th floor of the ship. The elevator brought them to a hidden room behind what appeared to be a restroom. At first, Adrian thought it was just a restroom break, but when Tony walked straight through the wall, he realized it was a holographic projection.
The secret room was much larger than Adrian expected—half the size of a soccer field. Its walls were smooth and solid, illuminated by unseen lights that bathed the room in a bright glow.
In the center of the room sat a partially assembled device that looked like a metal belt. Made from a polished, intricate alloy, it had the unmistakable craftsmanship and style of Tony Stark. As Adrian got closer, he noticed a small inscription: Made by Stark.
Tony approached the device, patting it proudly. "This is the project I've been working on since the crisis started—a device that combines energy conversion with space-warping technology. It's still under construction, but I believe it has tremendous potential."
He ran his hand over the device and added, "In short, this is a portal machine. It could take us to other realities—far from these zombies."
"It's only half-built," Tony admitted. "Banner was too tired to continue, and if he didn't sleep, Hulk would've attacked me. Reed… well, we know where he is now. He might have had other plans, but we made it."
Tony's expression turned reflective as he added, "Reed and I never got along—genius rivalry, you know. But he's gone, so I guess I've outlived him in a way. I don't envy him."
He turned back to Adrian with a wink. Adrian held back a grin as he observed Tony. Up close, he could even see sandwich crumbs in Tony's mustache, probably from his last meal.
"You see the future, Adrian?" Tony asked with a smirk. "Well, Fury has given me a hint, so tell me: are we all still standing in the end?"
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