Act 1 - A Base,The Future And Shifting Perspectives

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Foundations Beneath the Surface

Ethan moved through the streets of New York with quiet determination, his mind focused on securing a place to call his own. He could easily rent an apartment or even a penthouse under his new identity, but that wasn't what he needed.

He needed something hidden.

A sanctuary.

His abilities were still unrefined, unpredictable. Training in an ordinary apartment was out of the question—too many eyes, too much surveillance. And deep down, he knew the world was more fragile than it appeared.

For days, Ethan scoured historical records, searching for something lost in time. He went beyond digital archives, diving into dusty filing rooms filled with old blueprints and forgotten city plans. That's where he found them—maps of an abandoned underground tunnel system, long erased from public record.

They were old, fragile, and most importantly—unique. No digital copies, no backup records. A relic of an era when paper was the only way to document such things.

Ethan carefully retrieved the only remaining copies, ensuring that no traces were left behind. If anyone ever came looking, they wouldn't find a map to follow. They'd have to stumble upon it the hard way.

The entrance lay beneath an old industrial building, hidden behind rusted gates and layers of forgotten infrastructure. As he descended into the darkness, the air grew heavy with age. Dust coated every surface, but beneath it all, something still lived.

Pressing his palm to the damp stone wall, he closed his eyes. This magic is one of the basics the tome gave me knowledge of. I haven't tried it out yet, but let's see what I can do.

He focused, willing life to return to the forgotten space. At first, nothing happened. His power still felt sluggish, unrefined. But then—a shift. Tiny sprouts emerged from the cracks, creeping along the stone. The air grew fresher. Water, long trapped beneath the earth, began to flow.

A grin tugged at his lips. It worked.

Over the next several days, Ethan shaped the tunnels into something more. He reinforced the entrance with thick roots and stone, sealing it in a way only he could access. The corridors, once choked with debris, became a labyrinth designed to deter intruders. Soft luminescent moss grew along the walls, casting a quiet, natural glow. A hidden sanctuary, untouched by time.

This was his domain now. A place to train. A place to plan.

And soon, it would be much more than that.

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Meeting with Stark

With his sanctuary secured, Ethan turned his attention back to the world above. His presence among the elite was growing, but real influence wasn't built on appearances alone—it was built on relationships. And there was one relationship that intrigued him the most.

Tony Stark.

Their second meeting wasn't by chance. It was something they arranged—a private discussion, away from the noise of galas and business events. A high-end lounge, exclusive and discreet, served as their meeting ground.

Ethan arrived first, settling into a quiet corner where the city lights framed the skyline beyond the window. Moments later, Stark walked in, carrying that effortless confidence that made him a legend.

"You know, Carter, most people who want to talk to me usually have something to sell," Stark said, sliding into the seat across from him.

Ethan smirked. "Maybe I just enjoy a good conversation."

Stark chuckled, motioning for a drink. "I'll admit, you've got my attention. Not many people can do that twice. So, tell me—what's really on your mind?"

Ethan leaned back, thoughtful. "Innovation."

Stark raised an eyebrow. "Now that's a broad subject."

"Intentionally," Ethan replied. "The way I see it, innovation is more than just advancement. It's about control. Who moves the world forward, and who gets left behind."

Stark took a sip of his drink. "Spoken like a man who's thought too much about it."

"I'd argue it's something worth thinking about," Ethan said. "Technology dictates the future. But who dictates technology?"

Stark smirked. "You sound like someone who doesn't trust the system."

Ethan shrugged. "I trust people to act in their own interests. Systems are just the structures they build to justify it."

Stark tapped a finger against the table. "Alright. Let's push that thought further. AI. Everyone's either terrified of it or ready to let it run their lives. Where do you stand?"

"That depends," Ethan said. "Who's building it? Who's controlling it?"

Stark grinned. "And there it is. Control again."

Ethan didn't deny it. "Control determines outcomes. You hand a tool to the wrong person, and it stops being a tool. It becomes a weapon."

Stark studied him. "You sound paranoid."

"I call it being prepared."

"Uh-huh. And what exactly are you preparing for?"

Ethan smirked. "The future."

Stark chuckled. "I like you, Carter. But you've got secrets."

"And you don't?"

Stark laughed, shaking his head. "Touché."

Their conversation shifted, moving beyond technology and into something deeper. They spoke of philosophy—the weight of knowledge, the cost of ambition. Stark, for all his confidence, was a man who understood responsibility. He had seen what unchecked power could do. Ethan, though younger and far less known, carried a similar awareness.

"Tell me something," Stark said, setting his glass down. "Do you think humanity's ready for the kind of future we're building?"

Ethan considered the question carefully. "Individually? Maybe. As a whole? No."

Stark nodded. "That's the problem, isn't it? Progress moves faster than people can adapt. You build something too advanced, and suddenly, the world panics. Best case, they reject it. Worst case, they turn it into something it was never meant to be."

Ethan swirled his drink. "So, what's the answer? Slow progress down? Give people time to catch up?"

Stark smirked. "That's one option. Or… you get ahead of the problem before it starts."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "And how do you do that?"

Stark's gaze sharpened. "That's the billion-dollar question, isn't it?"

There was an unspoken understanding between them now—a recognition that they weren't just talking about business or technology. They were talking about something bigger.

The conversation wasn't over.

And neither of them intended to leave it unfinished.

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POV Tony Stark – Calculated Curiosity

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Tony Stark wasn't a man who obsessed over mysteries. He was a man of action—see a problem, build a solution, move forward. That was his philosophy. But some puzzles? Some questions? They had a way of burrowing into his mind, refusing to be ignored.

Ethan Draken Carter was one of those questions.

Sitting in his penthouse, whiskey in hand, Tony flicked through the floating holograms JARVIS had pulled up. He wasn't looking for dirt—just answers. There was something about Carter that didn't add up. Not in a he's definitely a bad guy kind of way. More in a how the hell did someone like him pop up out of nowhere? kind of way.

"Alright, JARVIS, give me the basics again. Who is this guy?"

"Ethan Draken Carter," JARVIS responded smoothly. "An independent investor with a notable interest in emerging technologies and environmental advancements. Recently involved in discussions regarding sustainable energy and biotech."

Tony swirled his drink, nodding. "All standard. What about personal history?"

There was a brief pause. JARVIS was never slow, but that microsecond hesitation meant something was… off.

"His records are clean," JARVIS continued, "but there are inconsistencies. His financial footprint begins only a few years ago, with no paper trail leading back further. Digital records exist, but there are no verifiable physical documents in public databases—no old school registrations, no hospital archives, no family records on file."

Tony's brow furrowed. "That's weird, right?"

"It is… unusual. While not impossible, most individuals leave some form of traceable history beyond digital records. The absence of physical documentation suggests a lack of archival storage or deliberate omission."

Tony took a slow sip. That was a polite way of saying this guy just popped into existence.

"Could be an off-the-grid type," Tony mused. "Or maybe someone cleaned up his past real nice. Either way, I don't like question marks."

JARVIS continued, "A deeper investigation would require accessing non-public records—old paper documents stored in physical archives."

Tony exhaled. That meant legwork. And while he wasn't above digging around, he had a company to run.

"Passive surveillance, JARVIS. Keep an eye on any changes—financial moves, new projects, anything out of the ordinary. But no red flags. Yet."

"Understood, sir."

Tony leaned back, rubbing his temple.

Ethan Carter was an unknown.

And Tony Stark didn't do unknowns.

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POV Natasha Romanoff – A Watchful Eye

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Natasha Romanoff trusted her instincts.

She had been trained to.

A gut feeling wasn't just paranoia—it was survival. Years in the field had taught her that sometimes the subconscious picked up on details the conscious mind hadn't processed yet. And right now? That feeling was pointing straight at Ethan Carter.

The first time she saw him, it was just a passing moment. A park bench. A figure that shouldn't have stood out, but did. Her instincts had flagged him immediately, even though she couldn't place why.

At the gala, that feeling only intensified.

Standing in her safehouse, she scrolled through an encrypted tablet, her fingers tapping lightly against the surface as she reviewed what little information she had managed to find.

Ethan Draken Carter. Independent investor. Clean history—too clean.

She smirked to herself. Too clean meant someone had scrubbed it.

Leaning back, she let out a quiet sigh.

Fury would want to know about this. But she wasn't reporting it yet.

Not until she figured out what kind of problem he was.

She thought back to their brief conversation at the bar. He was smooth, but not too smooth. Confident, but not in the way of a man who wanted to be noticed. He didn't flaunt. He observed.

And the way he handled himself? It reminded her of someone with training. Not military. Not SHIELD. But there was an awareness there, a control that wasn't normal.

Her fingers hovered over the screen before she locked it, placing the tablet down.

No immediate action.

For now, she'd do what she did best.

Watch.

And wait.

Because Ethan Carter might not be a threat yet…

But she was going to find out exactly what he was.

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