...
With the terms settled, the next step was obvious—fulfilling the deal.
Ryan Cole soon led Tony Stark and Pepper Potts into the only elevator capable of reaching the underground laboratory.
Happy Hogan, unfortunately, didn't get that privilege. Under the lab's strict no unauthorized personnel rule, he was left upstairs to wait.
Inside the elevator bay, Tony immediately noticed two humanoid figures standing motionless.
Naturally drawn to machinery, he stepped closer, tapped one with his knuckle, and asked curiously:
"Statues?"
"No," Ryan replied, glancing at the two combat-model androids that had been playing sentry for ages.
"You're not about to tell me these things are real, are you?" Tony said, knocking on the metal shell again, disbelief clear in his voice.
"Nope," Ryan said without changing expression. "Just terminals. They play music, relay information, and serve as early-warning systems."
"…That's more like it," Tony muttered, visibly relieved."A biotech company having combat robots would be ridiculous—"
"Tony," Pepper cut in sharply.
Tony immediately remembered he was here asking for a favor.
"Fine," he said, changing gears smoothly. "Ugly design—but kind of interesting."
If seeing two humanoid "terminals" in the elevator hadn't raised alarms, what happened next certainly did.
When the elevator doors slid open with a ding, Tony and Pepper saw one of these terminals every few steps along the corridor.
Pepper didn't know enough about tech to draw conclusions.
But Tony Stark did.
And the more he looked, the more wrong these "terminals" felt.
Ryan, who had already moved all excess androids into the transit-zone chamber and left only these units behind as a contingency, pretended not to notice their reactions.
Soon, the three entered a standalone room.
It wasn't large—just over thirty square meters.
And it contained exactly one thing.
"You're planning to operate on me here?" Tony asked, staring at something that looked more like a bed than an operating table.
"You got it," Ryan said, nodding.
He walked up to the MedPod 3000 Fully Automated Medical Platform and spoke calmly:
"Red Queen."
"I am at your service, Master," a young, almost cheerful female voice replied instantly.
"Activate the medical platform. Create patient file. Name: Tony Stark."
At Ryan's command, the MedPod powered up.
"Medical platform activated. Patient file for Tony Stark established."
Both Tony and Pepper were visibly stunned.
An AI capable of real-time medical management was cutting-edge even by Stark standards.
"Tony," Ryan said after checking the side display, "don't just stand there. Strip."
"…Strip?" Tony echoed, momentarily confused.
"Yes," Ryan replied. "Full-body scans require minimal obstruction. You can keep your underwear."
For most people, lying down on an unknown machine like this would take serious courage.
But Tony Stark had never lived a low-risk life.
Besides, his deal with Ryan had already paid off more than once.
The only awkward part was undressing in front of Pepper.
Thankfully, she caught the look on his face and discreetly turned around.
Soon, Tony—wearing nothing but his underwear—lay down on the MedPod.
The scanning arm rotated above him.
Data flooded the display almost instantly.
The MedPod 3000 lived up to its reputation—one pass, and the patient's entire condition was mapped.
"That's it?" Tony asked, flexing slightly as the scanner passed.
"Scan complete," Ryan confirmed.
Pepper, still facing away, asked anxiously:
"Ryan… how is he?"
"The outlook is excellent," Ryan said."Based on the scan, recovery probability is one hundred percent. But…"
"But what?""But what?"
Tony and Pepper spoke in unison.
"I can't do this alone," Ryan said, opening the medical cryo-cabinet."Pepper, I need your help."
"Me?""Her?"
"Relax," Ryan said with a smile. "Just assisting—handing me tools."
"Same as when you helped replace the first-generation reactor."
That line hit home.
Pepper didn't think too deeply—worry overrode everything.
Tony, on the other hand, scowled.
"Pepper," he said flatly, "you told him that?"
That reactor swap had been known only to Tony, Pepper, and JARVIS.
"I didn't!" Pepper spun around, eyes wide."How do you know about that?!"
Ryan laughed lightly.
"How I know isn't important," he said."What matters is fixing Tony. I've got research waiting."
Tony and Pepper exchanged looks.
In both their minds flashed Howard Stark's relics—and the new element.
"Are we chatting," Ryan asked, shrugging, "or are we doing surgery?"
"Let's proceed," Tony said first."We'll talk later."
"Tony, shouldn't he test this first?" Pepper asked nervously.
"If Ryan hadn't shown up," Tony replied calmly, "I'd probably be dead already."
Ryan smiled.
"I appreciate the trust, Iron Man. And you're right—I have no ill intentions."
He fitted an oxygen mask over Tony's face.
"Pepper, remove the reactor from his chest."
Pepper froze, instinctively looking to Tony.
Tony wasn't calm—but he nodded.
The early-release new-element reactor was designed for easy removal.
Ryan finished administering anesthesia just as Pepper lifted the reactor free.
Within moments, Tony fell into deep sleep.
His heart rate slowed to a steady, gentle rhythm.
Minutes passed.
When Tony opened his eyes again, he looked at Pepper and asked groggily:
"Did… we start yet?"
Pepper beamed.
"Tony. It's already over."
"…Over?"
Still dazed, Tony reached for his chest.
No hole.
No wound.
Not even a scar.
"How is that possible?" he whispered, sitting up and staring.
"Yes," Pepper said, steadying him."It really is a miracle."
She explained everything she'd witnessed.
Nearby, Ryan casually turned the miniature new-element Arc Reactor in his hand, giving them time.
"What—you're saying a beam of light swept over me and it just… healed?" Tony said blankly.
"Yes," Pepper nodded. "That's why I called it a miracle."
Ryan weighed the reactor in his palm, then spoke:
"Alright, Iron Man. I've delivered my end of the deal."
"So what about yours?"
"You already have it," Tony said, suppressing his shock."The deal's done."
"That works too," Ryan replied lightly.
But seeing a willing mark walk into his shop, he couldn't resist.
"By the way," Ryan added casually,"I also have something similar to the Super Soldier Serum."
"Interested?"