Chapter 13: Particle Accelerator

[Third Person's PoV] 

Melissa finished up the last touches. "There, I'm done."

When she lifted her metal mask, she saw Tony looking at an empty hologram with a bit of surprise, displaying an element she hadn't seen before.

"Hey Tony, I'm done," Melissa called out, snapping him out of his trance.

"Huh? Oh right, so we can begin. Mark 1 is completed," Tony smirked as Melissa nodded, looking at the Iron-Man armor in front of her.

"It took us 3 months because we messed around with some parts and accidentally destroyed a few more, but we can begin test flights whenever you're ready," Melissa said.

They then heard Friday's voice warning them, "Master, your father appears to be on the way here based on his path."

"Uh oh," they both said as they started rushing around the room. They quickly put a tarp over the armor just before they heard a knock on the door. The tarp concealed what was hidden underneath, appearing as just a flat sheet over something.

"Come in!" Tony yelled, and soon his father walked through the door.

"Melissa, your father's waiting for you. He's leaving already," Howard said.

Melissa looked at her watch, "Oh man, it's late!" She turned towards Tony and pointed a finger at him. "You better not try it without me, Tony, I swear."

"Yes, yes, Princess, I promise," Tony said, waving her off.

Melissa rolled her eyes at the nickname before waving goodbye to both Tony and Howard.

She then peeked her head back in. "Oh, and Tony, once again, happy birthday!" she said before leaving.

"Yeah, yeah, I already said thanks!" he yelled after her.

"So you really did it, huh?" Howard said, looking at the floating element.

Tony nodded. "I need your help to bring it forth, though."

"Oh?" Howard said, looking down at Tony curiously.

"We need to make a Particle Accelerator."

"Do you even have the materials needed to make it here?" Howard asked.

"I don't, that's why I said I need your help."

Howard looked at his son with a deadpan expression. "So the issue is money, huh?"

"Yeah, I spent my allowance on the thing I'm presenting to you tomorrow," Tony said, motioning towards the tarp.

"You really are secretive about that thing."

"Of course, you'll be so jealous. Anyway, would you be able to get the materials? It's pretty late."

"Tony… We're rich."

"Oh, right."

"Hohohohohohoho," they both then faked laughed like rich people before actually laughing.

Howard shook his head. "Make a note of everything you'll need."

Tony nodded. "Stainless steel or aluminum for vacuum chamber walls, electron guns or ion sources for particle generation, copper or superconducting wire for electromagnets, copper for RF cavities, photodetectors and data acquisition systems for beam diagnostics, transformers and capacitors for power supplies, heat exchangers and cooling fluids for cooling systems, computers with interface cards for control systems, emergency shutdown systems, and radiation shielding for safety systems, and reinforced concrete or steel for infrastructure."

"Did you get that?" Tony asked after his rant.

Howard nodded and said, "Wait, I need to make a phone call."

After 5 minutes, he returned. "It'll be here in 30 minutes."

Tony nodded, and the two then waited...

An hour later...

It took another 30 minutes to bring everything inside and set it down in Tony's testing room. Tony surveyed the array of components.

"Well, old man, looks like we'll be pretty busy. I don't want you hurting your back when we start making it," Tony remarked, half-jokingly.

Howard shook his head. "Why are you like this?"

Tony just shrugged his shoulders, a smirk playing on his lips as they began unpacking and organizing the materials. The vacuum chamber was carefully positioned in one corner, while the electromagnets and RF cavities were laid out on sturdy workbenches. Power supplies and control systems were placed strategically nearby, ready to be wired up.

"Alright, let's get to work," Howard said, rolling up his sleeves.

Over the next few hours, they worked side by side. They connected wires, adjusted settings, and tested each component meticulously. Tony's expertise with electronics and Howard's mechanical finesse complemented each other perfectly.

With a final adjustment and a few last-minute checks, they stood back to admire their creation—a sophisticated particle accelerator, assembled from scratch in Tony's humble testing room.

"Ready?" Tony asked, hand hovering over the control panel. He finished putting a crystal prism inside it.

Howard nodded, his heart swelling with pride. "Let's see what it can do."

Tony grinned, pressing the power button. The room hummed to life with a gentle buzz as systems powered on. They watched as indicators lit up and monitors displayed vital signs.

"It's working," Howard murmured, awestruck.

"Initializing Particle Accelerator," they heard Friday's voice say.

A blue light started flashing around the Accelerator, the light grew brighter in power and as it glowed, 

Howard went and grabbed a giant wrench which he put by the valve, Howard smiled as he said, "Tony held me out" 

Tony went as they both began to move it which moved the crystal prism, as the prism moved blue light exited from the accelerator and started burning and cutting everything it touched. 

They slowly moved it until it reached a metal triangle that was hoisting it up in front of them. 

As the blue light and triangle made contact it started to glow brighter and make a small humming. 

"Tony quickly turn it off" Howard said but Tony was alright on it and turned it off. All that remained was a bright blue triangle humming with power. 

They both walked towards it examining it, Tony grabbed tweezers and picked up, examining it closer, they both stared in awe. 

"Congratulations Master and Sir, you two have created a brand new element" Friday informed them. 

"The Arc Reactor, quick get it" Tony said towards Howard, he nodded as he went and got it. 

They took out the palladium core and Tony carefully put in the bright triangle in the middle. The reactor closed around the new elemental core and started to slowly hum with power. 

After it had settled Friday then said "Master the reactor has accepted the modified core. I will now begin running diagnostics" 

"Yeah… you go do that" Tony said absent mindedly. 

Tony and Howard just looked at each other unsure of what to say. Slowly a smile started growing on their faces, they both leaned and examined the Arc Reactor unable to look away from it. 

…

"So Friday what's the verdict?" Tony said, spinning around in his chair. 

"Master, the modified core is stable," Friday's voice echoed through the room, breaking the brief silence that followed their successful integration of the new elemental core into the Arc Reactor.

"The new element exhibits optimal stability and energy efficiency," Friday continued. "Initial diagnostics show power output exceeding previous simulations. Integration with existing systems is seamless."

Tony nodded, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. "Excellent, Friday. What about potential applications beyond the reactor?"

"Analysis suggests broad applications in energy generation, propulsion, and advanced materials," Friday reported. "Further exploration into these areas is recommended to maximize potential benefits."

Howard looked impressed, nodding approvingly. "And safety protocols?"

"Core containment and safety protocols are functioning within established parameters," Friday assured them. "There are no indications of instability or risks at this time."

Tony exchanged a glance with Howard, both sharing a moment of quiet pride. "Thank you, Friday. Begin preparations for the next phase of testing and development."

"Understood, Master," Friday acknowledged. "I will initiate protocols for continued monitoring and optimization."

As they both let out a sigh of relief they both yawned making them realize that they were beyond tired. 

"Well I better get enough sleep, I'm showing you something amazing later on, old man. Can you get a large airspace for us and rent it out to make sure no one is available to witness what I'm going to show you" 

Howard looked at Tony curiously but shrugged his shoulders, "Sure think of it as a reward for what we just accomplished" 

And like that they called it a day…

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