We arrived safely, which is good news. Let's not forget that we are in a world of heroes and villains, and avoiding their crossfire is already an impressive feat. Hello, Marvel's New York... I can't imagine how people actually live here. In the Marvel universe, this city is the true epicenter of disasters—and that's no exaggeration. Iron Man, Peter Parker, Daredevil, Charles Xavier with his school for the especially gifted, and many others call this place home. And with them come their sworn enemies. Perhaps I won't list all of them—not today, or I'll ruin my mood.

In this respect, DC's New York is very different, and in a positive way. In the DC world, the chances of getting caught up in trouble in this city are much lower. That's mostly because DC's superheroes inhabit places like Metropolis, Gotham, Star City, Central City, and so on—mostly fictional cities. But in Marvel, heroes have chosen America's biggest city as their home, and now it's honestly nerve-wracking just to walk these streets. Still, things aren't all bad. The real headaches for this city are still to come. Just think of the Chitauri invasion. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

"So, Sasha, I think a short tour of New York wouldn't hurt us," I turned to my companion. "Have you been here before?"

"Yes, I worked in this city for more than three years," Bordeaux answered.

"Then I'm counting on you. Lead the way!"

"You said you were going to meet someone..."

"The meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, so today we're going for a walk!" I raised my fist to the sky.

Don't be surprised by my enthusiasm. I've just arrived in another big city and my emotions are swirling! I love traveling and exploring new places. There's something genuinely calming about it... Before this, I'd only been to Midvale—a small town, not much to see there. But now, the adventurer in me is waking up!

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Once we checked into the hotel, Sasha, now acting as my guide, gave me a tour. We visited the famous Times Square, saw the Statue of Liberty, walked the Brooklyn Bridge, and explored Central Park. All in all, I was satisfied: I saw new sights and spent the day with a beautiful bodyguard. What could be better? But eventually, it was time to return to the hotel—I have an important meeting tomorrow. Yet I can't shake the feeling that I left Gotham not just to find Captain America, but to see the world.

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[New York. Central Manhattan. Stark Tower]

"Wow, what a beautiful building," I whistled. If you remember, this is about to become the Avengers' headquarters. It's such a strange pleasure, knowing something about the future. Wondering what I'm doing here? The truth is, my hologram glasses project is on hold because I need a new, powerful energy source that's also very compact. The only thing that comes to mind is the chemical element "Baddasium" developed by Stark.

So today, I've come to see about securing "Baddasium" for my work. I believe it will help not only my project, but also the attempt to restore the Super Soldier serum. I'm sure Kavita and Pamela could put it to good use, too.

We headed up to the upper floors of the skyscraper, where I was met by a slightly plump man in a black business suit.

"Alex Reath?" he extended his hand.

"Happy Hogan. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, too," I replied, shaking his hand. All these familiar faces—I didn't expect to meet Stark Industries' head of security so soon, but I don't mind.

"This is my bodyguard, Sasha Bordeaux," I introduced Sasha.

"It'd be better if she stayed here. You'll talk to the director alone—I'll walk you there," Happy said, leaving no room for argument.

"Okay," I agreed, leaving Sasha in the hall as I entered the CEO's office.

I paused at the door to read the nameplate: Virginia Potts. For a second I hesitated, then went in. A slender, beautiful blonde stood up from behind her desk and approached me. She wore a black dress that accentuated her figure. She had a welcoming smile, an appraising but not arrogant look, and an air of complete confidence.

"Hello, I'm the CEO of Stark Industries—Virginia Potts, but you can just call me Pepper."

"Nice to meet you, Miss Pepper. I'm Alex Reath—you can just call me Alex."

After exchanging pleasantries, we sat down at the table.

"How can I help you, Alex? What brings you here?" she asked directly.

"Well, I won't beat around the bush... I need the chemical element 'Baddasium'. As far as I know, Stark Industries is the only producer of this sample."

"That's true," Pepper confirmed. "But you're far from the only one interested in this development. Far from the only one."

"I understand. But I really need this element," I pressed on. "Miss Pepper, is there really no way to make an exception?"

"You could wait until next year. Maybe then…"

"That's too long! I can't wait," I interrupted.

"Why the rush?" Pepper asked, surprised.

"Life is dangerous, Miss Potts. Who knows what might happen if we're always waiting around? I need this sample now—a lot depends on it."

"As I understand it, you're a rising media star," Pepper observed. "You shouldn't have any ties to the scientific world."

"Not exactly. Besides everything else, I'm a game developer—quite a good one—and a robotics engineer. For my new project to succeed, I need your help."

Pepper was silent briefly before she continued, "I share your passion for science. But this isn't up to me. Only Anthony Stark can resolve your issue. It's better if you talk to him in person. He's out of town right now... I'll call you when he's back."

"Pepper, I'm back!" came a lively voice from the hallway. In strode a middle-aged man wearing a trendy black tweed jacket with elbow patches. He regarded me with a mixture of curiosity and reproach—an arrogance that not even his dark glasses could hide.

"That was awkward," Pepper sighed.

"Oh, I see you're not alone," said the new arrival—whose chest glowed like a neon sign, even under his jacket.

"Should I help you or not?" Lowering his glasses, he locked eyes with me—black, intent, and searching, as if I had forgotten to pay him back for something. Still, I was face-to-face with Iron Man himself—a genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist: Tony Stark. Unreal! Another legendary Marvel figure met in person.

"Why so quiet? Are you my fan? Want an autograph?" Stark quipped, holding out a pen.

"No, thanks. I'll pass."

"What a pity," he replied, slumping his shoulders. "And who are you exactly?"

"Tony!" Potts raised her voice. "Not this again. Get a grip! This is Alex Reath," she pointed at me, "the composer whose works you say you're obsessed with. Yet you didn't even know his name or what he looks like."

"You wrote that song?" Stark raised his tablet, playing "Human."

"Right..."

"Nice! I look forward to your next achievement," he said, patting me on the shoulder.

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