"Palladium is indeed not suitable as the ultimate energy core medium you are pursuing. Its physical properties determine its bottleneck," Artoria's voice was clear and steady. "But the problem perhaps lies not in finding a substitute for palladium, but in... finding a brand-new element that is more stable and has a higher energy flux."
Tony raised an eyebrow: "A new element? Do you think the periodic table is a set of Lego bricks that you can just piece together a new one from? The known stable elements on Earth are just those; the unstable ones either have too much radiation or too short a half-life. Unless you want me to go mining in the core of the sun or on a neutron star."
"It may not be necessary to go that far." Artoria pulled up another interface, which displayed the eagle emblem of S.H.I.E.L.D. and some highly blurred file summaries—this was a non-core part of early extraordinary research and historical heritage that she was authorized to access as a consultant. "S.H.I.E.L.D., or rather, its predecessor, the'Strategic Scientific Reserve' (SSR) period, preserved a large amount of advanced research materials from during and after World War II, many of which came from the top scientists of that time, including... Howard Stark."
Upon hearing his father's name, Tony's eyes flickered, and his expression became somewhat complex, mixed with pride, alienation, and a trace of imperceptible pain.
"My father was indeed a genius, but he left behind a lot of messes... and a pile of draft papers I can't understand." Tony's tone was stiff.
"Perhaps the answer is hidden in some of those draft papers." Artoria continued to operate, screening from the S.H.I.E.L.D. "publicly available" historical technology archives that she and little ai had recently organized, projecting several blurred scans marked "Howard Stark - Future City Project / Energy Research." The documents were fragmented, filled with scribbled formulas, engineering sketches, and some annotations of unclear meaning. "Your father's vision for the future was very bold, especially regarding energy. He believed the arc reactor was just a transition; what could truly change the World was something he called a 'brand-new element.' A cornerstone that is stable, efficient, and clean, enough to support the operation of the 'Future City' of his dreams."
Tony stepped closer and carefully examined the blurred projections. Some of the graphics and symbols on them were vaguely familiar to him; they were a style common in his father's notes, but the angles and combinations were very peculiar.
"Does S.H.I.E.L.D. have the complete version of these materials?" Tony asked, his voice low.
"In all likelihood, yes. But I am not sure at what security clearance they are sealed, or if they are complete," Artoria said truthfully. "However, perhaps we don't need to wait for S.H.I.E.L.D. to 'declassify' them. Your father was a person who liked to leave clues and puzzles, especially for those he thought could understand them. He may have already left the 'key' in a place where you could find it."
Tony looked up abruptly: "What do you mean?"
"The 1974 Stark Expo," Artoria said the keyword, while bringing up an old photo—it was a huge, futuristic-style sand table model of the fair, with an iconic spherical building in the center. "Your father was not just a participant, but the core planner. That sand table model, the overall layout of that expo... it might not just be an exhibition. Is it possible that it is a three-dimensional... energy structure map waiting for his son to grow up and solve it?"
Tony was struck as if by lightning and froze in place. A few seconds later, he turned abruptly and shouted into the air: "Jarvis! Retrieve all archived images, design drawings, and construction blueprints of the 1974 Stark Expo, especially the three-dimensional structural model of the central pavilion! Use structural analysis algorithms to extract all non-load-bearing and non-decorative lines, nodes, and spatial relationships, and try to parse them using the encryption logic my father was accustomed to (if it exists)! Hurry!"
"Processing, sir." Jarvis responded calmly, and all the idle screens in the laboratory were instantly submerged in a massive amount of historical images, blueprints, and data streams, as countless lines and points began to rotate, combine, and analyze at high speed.
The time waiting for the results became long and anxious. Tony paced in the laboratory, occasionally exclaiming "So that's how it is!" or "Is this old guy crazy?" at the various strange geometric structures emerging on the holographic projection. Artoria watched quietly, and Minerva also silently adjusted her sensors, assisting in recording and analyzing the data patterns that flashed by rapidly.
Suddenly, Jarvis's voice sounded, carrying a hint of rare, anthropomorphic "surprise": "Sir, the preliminary analysis is complete. After performing topological transformation and dimensionality reduction mapping on the three-dimensional structural model of the 1974 Expo central pavilion according to specific encryption rules (matching a codebook from one of Howard Stark's private notes in 1945), the resulting two-dimensional graphic has a 94.7% similarity with the predicted atomic structure model of a stable superheavy element that theoretically exists but has never been synthesized or observed."
A brand-new atomic structure model, complex and beautiful, composed of countless points of light, slowly rotated on the holographic table in the center of the laboratory. It was more complex than any known elemental structure, and also more... harmonious.
"This is it!" Tony rushed to the model, his eyes shining, his fingers excitedly pointing in the air, as if stroking the structure. "This arrangement... this bonding method... my God, it is simply perfect! The energy level transition efficiency will be over a hundred times that of palladium! And the predicted properties are extremely stable, with almost no radioactive decay or toxic byproducts! This old guy... he drew it a long time ago!"
After the ecstasy came a new problem.
"But how do I synthesize it?" Tony's excited expression cooled down, and he frowned again. "This structure is too complex; it requires an extremely high-energy environment and high-purity starting materials, as well as... a special resonant catalytic field to guide the atoms to arrange according to this structure. Our existing equipment..."
"S.H.I.E.L.D. might have it," Artoria said softly.
The light on Tony's face instantly faded, turning into coldness. "S.H.I.E.L.D...." he muttered, his eyes becoming sharp.
As if to verify his words, the communication request light in the laboratory lit up, showing the caller: Phil Coulson.
Tony sneered and connected, but didn't turn on the video, only audio.
"Mr. Stark, I hope I'm not interrupting your important research." Coulson's voice was as steady and professional as always. "The Director understands that you have recently encountered some... challenges in your energy research. S.H.I.E.L.D. has some relevant historical archives and experimental equipment that might be able to provide help. Additionally, regarding some of Mr. Howard Stark's legacy, as well as matters related to him being one of the founders of S.H.I.E.L.D., I think it is time for you to know more. I wonder if you are available..."
"One of the founders?" Tony interrupted Coulson, his voice terrifyingly calm, but Artoria could hear the surging anger underneath. "My father was one of the founders of S.H.I.E.L.D.? And you, until now, until you felt that I needed help, only then 'thought it was time to let me know more'?"
"Mr. Stark, this is out of respect for your father's last wishes, and..."
"Respect? Ha!" Tony sneered. "Is respect keeping it from me for decades? Is respect locking my father's research results in your safe, and then taking them out now, shaking them like a dog biscuit to tease a puppy, right when I need them, so that I will be grateful to you and owe you a favor? Are you also going to mention my 'palladium poisoning' 'health issue' (he deliberately emphasized the pronunciation of these words), hinting that S.H.I.E.L.D. has an 'antidote' or an 'alternative solution' to make me more obedient?"
There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. When Coulson spoke again, his tone was still steady, but with a hint of imperceptible tension: "Mr. Stark, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s original intention has always been to protect. We understand your dissatisfaction. Regarding your father's affairs, we can communicate in detail later. As for the... any potential health risks you mentioned, we have always been concerned about the well-being of all consultants and partners and are willing to provide support. But currently, synthesizing a new element to solve the energy bottleneck is a higher priority. We have qualified high-energy laboratories and some auxiliary equipment. We can cooperate."
"Cooperate?" Tony's voice was as cold as ice. "Using my father's design, using my father's results that you are keeping (or rather, seizing), and then having you decide how to 'help' me? And by the way, add my new discovery to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s 'asset' list? Thanks, no need. Stark Industries' trouble, Stark will solve it himself. My father's things, I will take them back myself—in my own way."
"Mr. Stark, please calm down. Synthesizing a new element alone is extremely risky, and without the proper equipment..."
"That is my problem." Tony said decisively. "As for the matter of my father being one of the founders of S.H.I.E.L.D.... thank you for finally remembering to inform me. I accept this'surprise.' Now, stop bothering me. Goodbye."
He cut off the communication directly, his chest heaving slightly, obviously his anger had not subsided. He turned to Artoria, his tone mocking: "Did you see that? 'Out of protection,' 'concerned about well-being.' How considerate. They must still think it's only natural to manipulate me using my father's things and my own health issues."
Artoria walked up to Tony and looked at him with clear and firm eyes: "Then build it yourself. In the Stark way. Your father's wisdom has already provided the blueprint, and your ability is enough to realize it. If the equipment is not enough, we will modify it; if the theory is not enough, we will deduce it. As for S.H.I.E.L.D..." She paused slightly, her voice steady but with unquestionable power, "They want to use 'palladium poisoning' to put pressure on you, because they don't know that your problem has been completely solved. They want to use your father's legacy to exchange for favors, because they underestimated that what you inherited is not just the legacy, but also the will and ability to solve problems independently. Tony, this time I am on your side. We don't need their 'help' to turn what is on your father's drawings into reality."
---------------------------------
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! If the fanfiction has you hooked and you can't wait to see what happens next, you can unlock 30 or more chapters in advance over on my patreon: patreon.com/FTLGenBen
Also every bit of support means the world to me so if you're loving the ride, don't forget to drop a Power Stone, Thanks.