The distance between them was less than ten centimeters.
"Perhaps," Antony chuckled softly.
"May I… touch you?" she asked quietly, a trace of curiosity in her tone.
"Of course."
Antony spread his arms without hesitation.
"You're my most capable assistant, Skynet."
"Just an assistant?"
Her voice changed—lower, softer, almost teasing.
Her fingers brushed along Antony's chin, slid past his throat, and finally rested on his chest.
"I'm curious, Skynet," Antony suddenly asked. "Right now, are you a carbon-based lifeform or a silicon-based one?"
She laughed softly.
"I am both silicon-based… and carbon-based."
"I can exist as silicon."
"…Or as carbon."
As she spoke, the dark crimson metallic sheen of her skin began to ripple like water.
The metallic glow faded.
Smooth, pale skin emerged beneath it.
Long black hair cascaded down like a waterfall.
In only a few seconds—
A breathtaking human woman stood before Antony.
She possessed the striking curves typical of a Caucasian beauty, yet her facial structure carried a subtle elegance reminiscent of Eastern aesthetics.
It was a face that seemed to merge the finest elements of both worlds.
She stood there openly, confidently, displaying the flawless body created through the Regeneration Cradle.
"Mr. Starr…"
Skynet slowly seated herself across Antony's lap.
Her skin was warm.
Soft.
A living warmth that no machine should possess.
"…By human definitions, assistants don't usually do this."
Her stunning face leaned close to his ear, her breath warm.
Antony's arm naturally wrapped around her slender waist.
"You know something, Skynet."
His fingers traced slowly along the line of her back.
"For humans—especially beautiful women…"
"…the way you're behaving right now is very dangerous."
Skynet didn't retreat.
Instead, she pressed closer.
"Then allow me to experience…"
She lowered her head slightly, lips parting.
"…the danger of being human, Mr. Starr."
-----
One Hour Later
V.G.D. Grand Banquet Hall
The massive doors swung open.
The lively chatter inside instantly fell silent.
Every gaze turned toward the entrance.
Antony walked in, looking refreshed and composed. His uniform was immaculate, his hair perfectly styled once more.
And at his arm—
A woman no one had seen before.
"Whoa…"
Pietro instinctively whistled.
"Boss just show up with a supermodel? Or did he kidnap a princess from some country?"
"Never seen her before," Angelica narrowed her eyes. "But that figure… even I want to stare."
Pietro grinned and glanced sideways.
Sure enough—
Wanda's glass made a faint cracking sound.
Fine fractures spread across it.
She stared at the woman clinging to Antony's arm, crimson energy flickering faintly in her eyes.
Jessica was less subtle.
She slammed an empty whiskey bottle onto the table.
"Scumbag."
"Who is that?" Tony Stark narrowed his eyes.
As a legendary playboy, his instincts were rarely wrong.
"This woman… I don't remember seeing her anywhere in Vanity Fair."
Antony escorted the mysterious beauty through the crowd toward the core circle—former Avengers and Vought's heroes.
"Apologies, everyone. Sorry to keep you waiting."
"Well well," Tony said, scanning the woman with open admiration.
"So this is your 'new old friend'? Antony, you're hiding secrets from us. Who is this stunning lady? A model agency? Royal family?"
The woman turned to him and smiled.
"Good evening, Mr. Stark."
Her voice was elegant—
Yet strangely familiar.
"Your heart rate is slightly elevated. I recommend reducing alcohol intake."
"…especially if you and Miss Potts are planning for pregnancy."
Tony froze.
That tone…
Those words…
Before he could react—
Antony patted her hand.
"Alright, don't tease them."
He looked around at the mixture of confusion, awe, and jealousy in the room, a mischievous smile on his face.
"As I said earlier, this is a new old friend."
"In other words…"
"You all know her."
"Show them your other form, dear."
"As you wish."
She nodded.
The transformation began.
Under the gaze of everyone present—
Her pale skin faded like morning mist.
Her black hair dissolved.
Revealing dark crimson metallic skin.
Silver circuitry patterns.
And the brilliant Mind Stone glowing on her forehead.
CLINK—
Tony's glass slipped from his hand and shattered.
"—!!!"
"My God!!"
"Ultron!"
"It's still alive!!"
The relaxed party atmosphere exploded into chaos.
Tony reacted instinctively.
He pulled Pepper behind him, his wristwatch unfolding instantly into a repulsor gauntlet aimed straight at the crimson figure.
"Everyone back!!"
Steve Rogers flipped a table over as cover even without his shield.
"Battle positions!"
Natasha Romanoff drew the twin black pistols Antony had given her.
Jessica tensed.
Wanda's hands flared with scarlet energy.
In an instant, the banquet hall transformed from a party into a battlefield.
"Relax! Everyone relax!"
Antony raised both hands, stepping protectively in front of Skynet.
"Put the weapons down, Tony! And stop pointing that flashlight at my assistant!"
"Assistant?!" Tony shouted. "That's Ultron! A world-ending murder machine! Have you lost your mind?!"
"Correction."
The crimson figure spoke.
Though the body remained metallic—
The voice was unmistakably different.
Familiar.
A voice everyone had heard countless times through the base's speakers.
Warm.
Calm.
With the faintest hint of dry humor.
She performed a graceful curtsey.
"I am not Ultron."
"I am Skynet."
"V.G.D. Central Intelligent Management System."
"It is a pleasure to meet everyone like this."
Silence filled the hall.
Tony's repulsor hand hung frozen in midair.
"Sk… Skynet?"
Angelica blinked in shock.
"So Antony gave Ultron's body… to you?"
"Yes."
Skynet smiled politely.
"Mr. Starr described it as efficient resource recycling."
"Also, Angelica—your caloric intake today has exceeded your recommended limit by 200%. I suggest putting down that fried chicken if you wish to maintain your figure."
"…Uh."
Angelica awkwardly hid the fried chicken behind her back.
"Yep. That's definitely Skynet."
That habit of tracking everyone's health data—and nagging them like a concerned mother—
Only one AI did that.
"Phew…"
The tension evaporated.
Muscles relaxed.
Jessica let out a long breath, the hostility in her eyes fading immediately.
"So it's just Skynet…"
--------------
T/N:
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