MARVEL: BUYING GODHOOD

After creating Perfect Copy and Manufacture, I didn’t immediately try making the full Arc Reactor. The Research Assistant was still finishing the analysis, and staring at the designs wasn’t going to make her work any faster. Since I had nothing else to do for the next few minutes, I moved away from the table and started exercising.

The basement had more than enough open space, so I started with some stretches before moving into push-ups, squats and a few other exercises. None of them were difficult enough to properly tire me anymore, but I still liked doing them. It gave me something simple to focus on while the Research Assistant worked.

I had just finished another set when her voice entered my mind. “Lord, analysis of the Arc Reactor designs has been completed. Three viable versions are currently available.” I grabbed a towel and wiped my face before asking, “Three? I thought we were making one reactor.”

The Research Assistant explained, “The first is based on the original design acquired from Stark Industries. Estimated manufacturing expenditure is approximately eighty million Magicules. The second replaces the original core material with the newly synthesized element and adjusts the reactor around its properties. Estimated expenditure is approximately one hundred and ten million Magicules.”

That already sounded better than the original, but there was still another version. I walked toward the table and asked, “And the third one?” The Research Assistant answered, “The third further improves the new-element configuration. Stability, heat control, energy transfer, internal alignment and overall efficiency have been optimized. Estimated expenditure is approximately one hundred and fifty million Magicules.”

I looked over the three designs that appeared in my mind. “So eighty million for the older version, one hundred and ten million if we replace the core with the new element, and one hundred and fifty million for the best version we can make right now.” The Research Assistant confirmed, “Correct, Lord. The final design should not be confused with more advanced Arc Reactors that may be developed in the future. It is simply the best reactor that can currently be produced using the information available to us.”

That was exactly what I wanted. I wasn’t trying to somehow copy technology Tony wouldn’t develop for years. I only wanted to take what I already had and push it as far as possible.

I moved closer to the worktable and studied the improved design. Replacing the original core material had changed more than I’d expected. Several components had moved, some of the internal pathways were different, and the reactor had been rebuilt around the properties of the new element rather than simply putting the element where palladium would’ve gone.

That reminded me of something. “We keep calling it the new element. That’s getting annoying.” I looked at the blue material shown in the design before saying, “Let’s call it Glowium.”

The Research Assistant remained silent for a moment before answering, “Glowium has been recorded as the host’s temporary designation for the synthesized element.” I smiled. “Temporary? That sounded judgmental.” She replied, “No judgment was intended, Lord.”

“Good, because Glowium is a perfectly respectable scientific name.” I looked back at the design and tried not to laugh at my own choice. If anyone asked me what brilliant scientific process had led to the name, I could simply tell them it glowed.

I focused on the most advanced reactor again. “We’ll make the one-hundred-and-fifty-million version.” I expected her to immediately begin, but instead the Research Assistant answered, “Lord, manufacturing the perfected configuration will require this unit to temporarily assume control of the host’s body.”

That made me pause. “Why? Perfect Copy and Manufacture should already be able to make it.” The Research Assistant explained, “The Skill can reproduce anything the host sufficiently understands. The host understands most of the reactor, but Glowium and several material interactions surrounding it remain beyond the host’s practical comprehension.”

I frowned slightly. “But you already put all that information into my head.” The Research Assistant answered, “Possessing information is not the same as completely understanding it. The host can remember the relevant information, but several advanced material-science calculations cannot yet be independently processed.”

I thought about that for a moment and understood what she meant. I could remember the information, but remembering an equation didn’t automatically mean I could explain why every part of it worked.

“So what exactly happens if you take control?” I asked. The Research Assistant answered, “This unit will guide the host’s body while simultaneously controlling Perfect Copy and Manufacture. The host will remain conscious and will experience the calculations, adjustments and decisions made during the manufacturing process.”

That actually made me more interested. “So I won’t just sit here while you make it. I’ll actually feel what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.” The Research Assistant confirmed, “Correct. This may also improve the host’s practical understanding of the reactor.”

I held my hands out over the table. “Alright. Take control.” The change happened immediately, but it wasn’t what I had expected. My body didn’t go numb, and I didn’t feel like I’d been pushed out of it. If anything, I suddenly became far more aware of everything my hands were doing.

Magicules started gathering between my palms as Perfect Copy and Manufacture activated. When I’d copied the small component earlier, the Skill had simply created it. I had known what I wanted, Magicules disappeared, and the finished object appeared. This felt completely different.

My hands moved without waiting for me to decide what to do, but I could understand most of the decisions as they happened. The first materials began forming, and measurements passed through my mind at the same time. Tiny differences were corrected before the pieces had even completely formed.

The casing came first, followed by several internal components. I understood why each piece had a specific thickness and why some parts needed slightly different shapes than the original Stark design. I could follow the changes to the energy pathways, cooling system and containment structure without much difficulty.

Then the Glowium began forming, and my understanding fell behind almost immediately. I knew the numbers passing through my mind. I recognized the structures and could remember the calculations, but understanding why everything worked together was much harder. It was like someone had given me the answer to a difficult problem along with every step used to solve it, but I still hadn’t learned enough mathematics to solve the same problem by myself.

The Research Assistant continued controlling my hands as the material formed. She changed the alignment, adjusted the surrounding components, stopped part of the structure from forming and rebuilt it differently before I had even completely understood what had been wrong with the first attempt.

That was when I realized this wasn’t the same as copying something. I wasn’t watching Perfect Copy and Manufacture reproduce an existing reactor. It felt like I was building one while the Research Assistant continued improving small parts of it at the same time.

More Magicules disappeared as everything came together. I could feel every calculation and every small decision, even when I couldn’t completely understand them. The experience was strange because none of it felt hidden from me. The problem was simply that my current knowledge wasn’t advanced enough to keep up with everything I was experiencing.

Eventually, my hands stopped moving and the stream of information slowed down. I took a deep breath and only then noticed how much I was sweating. I’d exercised before starting this, but somehow creating the reactor had tired me more than the exercise had.

The Research Assistant returned full control of my body and said, “Manufacturing complete, Lord. The perfected Arc Reactor has been successfully created.” I took another breath before looking down at what was resting between my hands.

It was beautiful. The reactor didn’t look exactly like Tony’s, because I hadn’t wanted it to. The outer casing was smoother, and several narrow lines carried the blue light away from the center. The Glowium core remained the brightest part, but the light spreading through the rest of the reactor made the whole design look cleaner.

I slowly turned it in my hands and smiled. “This looks much better than the original.” The Research Assistant answered, “The exterior design follows the host’s requested preferences while maintaining the required internal structure.”

I looked at the blue glow for another moment before saying, “The reactor needs a name too. Glowium is the element, so calling both of them the same thing would be boring.” I thought about it for a few seconds before the obvious answer came to me. “Blueberry.”

There was a short silence before the Research Assistant replied, “The designation Blueberry has been recorded for the perfected Arc Reactor.” I smiled and asked, “You don’t like that one either?” She answered, “This unit has expressed no dislike toward either designation, Lord.”

“You’re getting better at avoiding questions.” I laughed quietly and looked back at Blueberry. The name was ridiculous for a piece of technology that could probably change the world’s energy industry, which was exactly why I liked it.