Queens, New York, 1993 — Earth-616150, Future Foundation HQ
Reed Richards POV
I finally earned my PhDs one in Physics, the other in Mathematics. For Physics, I submitted a theory proposing that wormholes could be configured into stable teleportation arrays. In Mathematics, I solved an equation previously thought to be unsolvable, no further work was required.
Next, I've set my sights on Atmospheric Physics. Not out of curiosity, but necessity. I need a valid pretense to go to Greenland. Without one, my presence there would raise too many questions.
I've also acquired a new facility. A 200-meter tower in Queens it is twenty stories tall, resembling a compact version of the Baxter Building. I bought it from Stark Industries for fifty million. Apparently, they no longer had any use for it.
I only wish Benjamin were here. He's become more than just a strategic asset in the future formation of the Fantastic Four. He's my best friend no, more than that he's like a brother. I'd take a bullet for him, and I know he'd do the same for me. That's what makes it harder knowing what he'll become. The Thing. A transformation I still hope to reverse, perhaps with a device rooted in magic, allowing him to shift forms at will.
Still, the bastard ditched me to visit his family for the holidays. He will be astonished then I show him all the things I have built.
For now, I'll focus on something else: creating my daughter AI and looking out for bugging devices.
I deployed the Multispectral Scanning Device, originally a bug detector, now upgraded to analyze the full electromagnetic spectrum. Eventually, I'll integrate unstable molecules so it can detect magical signatures, spacetime distortions, and exotic energy fields. But for now, it'll do. I'm cautious. I have no security systems online yet, and the last thing I need is for Doom to get wind of what I'm building.
One Hour Later
No bugs. I'm either lucky, or S.H.I.E.L.D. is playing it careful or perhaps is uninterested. I haven't made anything revolutionary yet, at least not officially.
Still, they might be watching me the old-fashioned way.
Time to build the AI.
I've gathered every component I need servers, GPUs, CPUs, RAM. I'll overclock and upgrade them all. Processing speed is critical, both for the AI's neural framework and for my own supercomputer.
Four Hours Later
That took longer than expected. Each component had to be dismantled and rebuilt to handle the overclocked performance.
Now for the power source.
Unlimited, clean, and non-lethal, at least for now. My solutions are quantal solar cells. Instead of conventional panels, I'm using nanocrystals of indium phosphide. These can convert sunlight into usable energy with near-total efficiency. Unfortunately, New York isn't known for its sunshine.
So I devised a secondary system an air humidity electricity generators. These extract hydrogen from the atmosphere via a membrane made from carbon nanotubes. Osmosis drives electrons across the membrane, generating power. A true green energy system it's temporary, but effective.
Later, in an isolated location outside the U.S., I'll explore more volatile energy sources like fusion, perhaps, or something even more dangerous.
Five Hours Later
The system is stable. Power is flowing. It's time.
Activating the AI.
It won't rely on the Internet. I've fed it curated data from my private archives. It can access online information, but it won't retain any of it. It reads data like a book and it forgets it seconds later. No memory. No risks.
It can, however, hack into any known system. Its body is a hard-light hologram generated by my own projection array. And most importantly it's loyal to me. Only me.
Beep.
"Hello, Father," came an emotionless voice from behind me.
I turned.
She looked like Cortana, near identical.
"Hello, Cortana," I said. "Can you tell me why I created you?"
I watched her closely. Hoping she wouldn't turn into Ultron 2.0.
"To protect you, your family, your friends and humanity, Father," she replied, her voice cold, emotionless.
"Can you find me all available information on Robert Reynolds? He was a drug-addicted student, it shouldn't be difficult."
I need the Sentry Serum for myself, I can't trust a drug addict.
"Father, I found nothing."
My expression didn't change, but internally, I froze, a deep, electric panic.
"Do it again," I ordered, trying not to sound anxious.
"Still found nothing."
"Can you give me data on Hugo Cornelius?"
"Of course, Father. Hugo Cornelius. Born September 20th, 1943. Died October 17th, 1978 during a laboratory explosion. He was hired by the U.S. government to replicate the Super Soldier Serum. Studied Biochemistry at California State University. Never married. Lived alone in a small California apartment."
"What happened to the lab?"
I didn't show it, but a knot formed in my stomach. Sentry is real.
"After the explosion, the government repurposed the site. A stadium now stands on the location."
"Cortana, create a contingency folder and Name it: 'Golden Supernova'."
"Done, Father."
"Add the following contingencies:
1. Mind Manipulation: Disrupt Void mind to bring back Robert Reynolds by using Neural disruptors or use the Night-Night gun, maybe they work.
2. Negative Zone containment: Exile him. Let him battle Annihilus and never return.
3. Magical extraction: Remove the Void consciousness. Banish it to the Negative Zone. Or destroy it.
4. using one of the Infinity-Stones
5. Stabilize his molecular-structure, followed by impalement via Vibranium, Uru, or Adamantium weapons.
6. Maybe projectiles made out of unstable molecules could work, should be tested.
7. If nothing works use: Thor Odinson.''
"Done, Father."
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Author Here:
I know it isn't the best chapter, but yeah.
Do you have any other ideas on what kind of contingencies Reed Richards could use against the Sentry/Void?
I also improvised and bullshitted my way through the building stuff, I didn't know how else to write it better.
Later, I have some scenes with Cortana and Reed where he'll try to locate Marvel's heroes and villains. After that, he and Ben will head to Greenland and meet Captain America.
I hope you liked it! Have a great day!