The line for our demo kept growing. Businessmen in expensive suits were actually waiting patiently, which was weird enough that I had to comment on it.
"Did we accidentally stumble into the Twilight Zone?" I asked Gwen, who was monitoring the queue on her tablet.
"Don't jinx it," she muttered, but she was smiling. "Forty-seven concurrent users and climbing. The system's handling it like a dream."
Peter was practically vibrating with excitement behind his own console. "Dude, did you see that guy's face? He was actually crying tears of joy. Actual tears."
"That's either the best tech demo ever or we've created the world's most expensive therapy device," I said, but I was grinning too.
The crowd noise shifted. A sharp-suited guy in a charcoal suit pushed through the throng like he owned the place. His hair was perfectly styled, his tie probably cost more than my monthly rent, and his smile looked like it had been practiced in a mirror.
"Mr. Kepler?" He approached our booth with the confidence of someone used to getting what he wanted. "I'm Marcus Chen from Apex Technologies. Fascinating demonstration you have here."
I recognized the type immediately. Smooth talker, expensive suit, eyes that calculated profit margins instead of actually looking at people.
"Thanks for stopping by," I said, keeping my voice neutral. "Help yourself to a pod if you want to try it."
"Oh, I'm more interested in the business side." He pulled out a business card that probably had gold lettering. "This technology has incredible potential. The market projections alone—"
"Potential that belongs to DataStream Dynamics," Gwen cut in, her tone cooling. "We're not looking for investors right now."
Chen's smile didn't waver, but something in his posture shifted. "Surely you understand that scaling this kind of innovation requires substantial capital. My company has the infrastructure, the distribution networks—"
"We built this ourselves," Peter said, stepping forward. "From the ground up."
"And we're keeping it that way," I added.
Chen's eyes flicked between the three of us, calculating. "Young people with big dreams. I respect that. But dreams don't pay the bills, and neither does idealism when you're competing against corporations with billion-dollar R&D budgets."
The tension in the air was thick enough to choke on. I could see Gwen's jaw tightening, Peter shifting his weight like he was ready to bolt, and Chen's hand inching toward his pocket where he probably kept that business card.
"Actually, they do."
Tony's voice cut through the awkward moment like a knife through butter. He materialized beside our booth wearing a perfectly tailored suit that probably cost more than Chen's entire wardrobe, and that smirk of his said he'd been watching the whole exchange.
Chen straightened up so fast I thought he might snap his spine. "Mr. Stark. I didn't realize you were—"
"Sponsoring these kids," Tony interrupted, his tone casual but carrying an edge. "DataStream Dynamics is an affiliate of Stark Industries. We handle their legal, their patents, their protection."
Protection. The word hung in the air like a challenge.
Chen's face went through several interesting color changes. "I had no idea there was already corporate backing. That changes things considerably."
"Does it?" Tony raised an eyebrow. "Because it seemed like you were trying to strong-arm some teenagers into selling their life's work."
"I was merely exploring partnership opportunities," Chen said, but the fight had gone out of him. "With all due respect, Mr. Stark, I'm sure we can find mutually beneficial arrangements elsewhere."
"Yeah, I'm sure you can." Tony's smile was pure shark. "These kids don't need your kind of help."
Chen nodded quickly, backing away. "Of course. My apologies. I'll be going."
He practically fled, weaving through the crowd with impressive speed for someone who'd been so confident a minute ago.
Peter let out a breath that sounded like he'd been holding it for days. "Dude, I thought he was gonna try to buy us for parts."
Gwen was already checking her tablet again, probably making sure our user count hadn't crashed during the drama. "That was close. How did you even know he was here?"
"How do you think?" Tony shrugged, but his eyes were scanning the crowd. "I've seen guys like him a thousand times. Always sniffing around promising young talent, looking to scoop up the next big thing before it's fully formed."
"And you just happened to be walking by?" I asked, though I knew better.
"Let's call it maternal instincts." Tony's grin was infectious. "Can't have people trying to take advantage of my favorite protégés."
"Protégés?" Gwen looked up from her tablet, eyebrows climbing.
"The kid's got vision. You three built something that could change how people interact with technology forever. That kind of potential attracts attention—good and bad." Tony's gaze swept over our setup. "Besides, someone's gotta keep the vultures away while you figure out how to change the world."
I felt something warm in my chest. Not gonna lie, having Tony Stark show up and call us his "protégés" felt pretty damn good.
"Thanks, Mr. Stark," Peter said, probably louder than necessary. "For, you know, saving us from corporate vulture guy."
"Please. Call me Tony." He waved a dismissive hand. "Though I should mention, I may have tipped off security about a 'suspicious character' trying to cause trouble. Just in case he decides to come back with lawyers instead of charm."
"That's... actually really smart," Gwen admitted.
"Experience," Tony said with a wink. "Now, I should probably disappear before I steal your thunder. People are starting to notice me here."
He was right. A few heads had turned in our direction, and I could see phones coming out.
"Appreciate the backup," I said. "Really."
"Anytime, kid. Keep building the future." Tony gave a casual salute and melted back into the crowd with the ease of someone who'd spent years dodging paparazzi.
The moment he was gone, the energy in our booth shifted. People were still trying the demo, still coming out with those amazed expressions, but now there was something else—legitimacy.
"Well," Peter said, "that just happened."
Gwen was already typing furiously on her tablet. "User satisfaction ratings are through the roof. We're looking at potential partnerships with legitimate companies, not vulture capitalists."
"Legitimate companies that won't try to steal our IP or strong-arm us into selling out," I added, watching another group emerge from the pods laughing and talking over each other.
Impmon's voice crackled through Jessica's Digivice. "So does this mean we get to keep the cool tech thing?"
"Yeah, furball," I said, grinning at Jessica. "It means we get to keep the cool tech thing."
She smiled back, and for a moment I forgot about corporate vultures and SHIELD headaches and everything else that had been weighing on us. This was what we'd been working toward—not just the tech, but proving that we could build something amazing without selling our souls for it.
The demo continued around us, people stepping into our digital world and coming out changed. And we got to be the ones who made that happen.
***
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