"Ladies and gentlemen," Otto began, his voice brimming with authority, "the experiment will begin shortly. Today, you will witness the birth of a great invention—one that will change the world as we know it."
The audience leaned forward in anticipation, captivated by his words.
Otto's eyes scanned the crowd, briefly lingering on familiar faces among the esteemed guests. Meanwhile, reporters moved their cameras from those same guests to focus entirely on Otto, who stood as the center of attention.
"Today, you will see with your own eyes a revolutionary energy source based on nuclear fusion..." Otto declared, gesturing toward the apparatus behind him.
"The artificial sun," he continued, his tone swelling with pride. "It is my life's most significant achievement. A source of safe, renewable, and clean energy that will provide affordable electricity for all."
Otto's speech was a masterclass in confidence and passion. The energy in his voice, combined with his optimistic vision for the future, left the audience enthralled. Guests and reporters alike listened intently, some even showing visible expressions of hope and excitement.
At the same time, one reporter stood out—Eddie Brock.
Eddie's expression was oddly conflicted. He wanted to believe in the success of the artificial sun, yet Anton's earlier warning echoed in his mind.
"Don't let your guard down," Anton had said. "We might find ourselves on stage before this is over."
Eddie knew Anton well enough to take his words seriously. Anton wasn't prone to making idle comments, and if he'd said something like that, it was probably based on some kind of foreknowledge.
Pulling himself away from Otto's impassioned speech, Eddie began to scan the experimental platform carefully.
His eyes settled on the four mechanical arms encased under the transparent glass dome. They stood silently, yet their purpose was far from clear.
Eddie frowned. Something about them didn't sit right.
"Next, I will proudly introduce my assistant."
With this segue, Otto moved smoothly into his next point.
Removing his coat, he revealed a body that was not exactly fit—somewhat pudgy, in fact. Yet the confident smile on his face grew even more self-assured.
Following the direction of Otto's gesture, the audience's attention turned to four mechanical appendages housed under a transparent glass dome.
"Don't mistake these for spare parts," Otto declared with a proud grin. "These are my assistants—mechanical arms that I've spent countless hours designing and perfecting. They are specifically built to control this nuclear fusion device and are entirely unaffected by heat or magnetic fields."
As he spoke, one of his assistants stepped forward to remove the glass cover, revealing the robotic arms in their full glory. Otto stood beside them, his back to the crowd, exuding an air of authority and innovation.
Eddie's sense of foreboding grew stronger. His eyes locked onto the robotic arms, and a chill ran down his spine.
At the guest table, all eyes followed Otto.
The four mechanical arms stood rigid, cold, and imposing. Even without touching them, their formidable nature was palpable.
Tony squinted, his mind running through the complex technical work required to build such devices. He couldn't help but admire Otto's genius, though caution lingered in the back of his mind.
Anton, meanwhile, had stopped smiling. He maintained a composed expression but watched intently, ready for what he suspected might come next.
On the platform, Otto prepared himself. A mechanical waistband secured his slightly bloated torso, and a centipede-like neural interface climbed up his back, its spindly needle-like branches piercing into his skin and spine.
Otto winced briefly from the pain but quickly regained his composure.
Click!
At that moment, the four mechanical arms rose with Otto's thoughts, moving as though they were extensions of his body. They responded seamlessly, as if they were truly a part of him.
"Remarkable!"
"Amazing invention! And this is only an extension of the artificial sun experiment..."
The crowd murmured in awe, their excitement palpable.
Otto, basking in their admiration, began to explain. "These robotic arms are controlled directly by my brain, with commands transmitted through my spinal nerves. Fine wires are embedded into my cerebellum, allowing me to operate in conditions that no human could endure."
As he spread his arms, the mechanical tentacles mimicked the movement, stretching and twisting as though alive.
"Additionally," Otto continued, "the arms possess a degree of autonomy, allowing them to assist me more efficiently during experiments."
At this, Tony frowned slightly, his mind churning with possibilities and potential dangers.
"Doctor," Tony said, standing from his seat, "if these robotic arms are as intelligent as you claim, how can you ensure that you are controlling them—and not the other way around?"
The question caused a brief ripple of murmurs among the crowd.
Otto, unfazed, turned to reveal the base of his spine where the neural interface was embedded. "A very good question, Tony. I expected no less from you."
He gestured to a small device at the interface point. "This is the suppression chip I designed. It ensures that my brain functions remain in control at all times. The arms can only act under my commands, never against them."
Satisfied with the answer, Tony nodded and returned to his seat.
Tony understood Otto's logic—similar to the way he had programmed restrictions into J.A.R.V.I.S. to prevent the artificial intelligence from betraying its purpose. Otto's suppression chip served the same function, ensuring that human control remained the highest priority.
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