Chapter 9: 9
'.....'= Thoughts
"....."= Conversations
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Sitting in the restaurant, John pondered over the future while Tony fiddled with his watch.
"What are you doing?" John asked.
"Making an attempt at ensuring this vicinity is under surveillance," Tony quipped, persistently tweaking his wrist accessory until it emitted a verdant glow.
"Fortunately for us, there are no eavesdroppers present," Tony grinned at John, who appeared deep in contemplation.
"Why do you look so stressed?" Tony asked John, who had been quiet for a while in the car after reading the information about powerful mutants.
"Nah, just thinking about these people," John answered.
"But why are you so worried? It's not like they're coming to hunt you down," Tony said with a hint of confusion in his eyes.
'If you knew about the future events, you would be stressed too. And now with the addition of mutants in this world, the future has become even more unpredictable,' John thought.
"It's just too much information to take in in a single day," John said.
"Yeah, I can get that. It's a whole lotta stuff to wrap your head around," Tony responded with understanding.
John nodded, his mind still racing with thoughts. He couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. The discovery of mutants added a whole new layer of complexity to the world that John knew.
"Anyways, in front of these mutants and their abilities, my artificial enhancements seem minuscule," John admitted.
Tony chuckled mirthfully. "Well, when you put it that way, it does seem a tad uninspiring. But hey, let's not underestimate ourselves, shall we? You still possess those intriguing mutant abilities of yours, which, by the way, I'm still clueless about." He scrutinized John with narrowed eyes. "By merging the serum and your enigmatic mutant powers, my friend, you could become an unstoppable juggernaut."
John shrugged. "Maybe."
John asked, "Are there any mutants in SHIELD?"
Tony leaned back in his chair, pondering for a moment. "Hmm, to be honest, I'm not entirely sure. SHIELD is a massive organization, so it wouldn't surprise me if mutants were among their ranks. But they're not exactly forthcoming about that kind of information." Tony sighed, his expression growing serious.
"What about new mutants? On average, how many people develop their abilities each year?" John asked.
"The number is far too low. In the past three years, only five people have developed their abilities. At least, that's the number I know," Tony said, not entirely sure of the accuracy of his own data.
John raised an eyebrow. "Only five in three years? That seems incredibly low. Are you sure that's accurate? It seems like there should be more people discovering their abilities, right?"
Tony nodded, his expression confirming his uncertainty. "You're right; it does seem low. But I can only go by the information I have access to. There could be more mutants out there who haven't been identified or who are choosing to remain hidden. It's a complex issue, and one that I don't have all the answers to."
John leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "Do you think SHIELD actively looks for mutants or tries to recruit them? Or do they prefer to keep them under the radar?"
Tony sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I can't say for certain. It's possible they keep an eye out for mutants, but I don't think it's their main focus. The reason is the existence of two powerful mutant groups. They keep each other in check, and most mutants prefer joining them rather than SHIELD. As for the new mutants, SHIELD is hesitant to intervene too easily," Tony answered.
'Does this world have Inhumans?' John wondered, listening to Tony.
"Anyways, I have to go. Pepper's been worried sick ever since my little kidnapping ordeal, and now security is tighter than ever. They barely let me out of their sight, until of course, I created the magnificent Suit. Say, why don't you tag along with me? Pepper would be thrilled to see you." Tony suggested in his signature voice.
"Nah, some other time. Also, regarding your kidnapping, were the mutants involved?" John questioned, trying to uncover any other changes in the plot.
"Nah, that whole thing? It was all cooked up by Stane," Tony retorted, his mind racing. "And you know what? I'm about to drop a bombshell on the world. I'm gonna come clean and reveal that I am Iron Man. The damn press conference was supposed to be today, but thanks to someone, I missed it. But hey, no worries. It's been rescheduled for tomorrow," Tony declared, rising to his feet with an air of determination.
"Well, it's good that you're taking responsibility for the trouble you've caused. Is this what they call maturing?" John stood up as well.
"Oh, you know me so well," Tony rolled his eyes. However, in the next moment, he turned serious and asked, "What do you think?"
"You've changed, but in a positive way. Although, I do think it may have made you a bit less intelligent, considering you're seeking the opinion of someone who hasn't even graduated college," John replied.
"That's not my fault. Who told you to be so mature at such a young age?" Tony quipped.
It was true; the previous owner of the body was far too mature for his age. It even made John suspect that the previous owner of the body was a transmigrator like him. But after going through the memories of the previous owner, he didn't find anything worth mentioning.
"Guess some people are just unique," John concluded. "But instead of being mature, why didn't you have a high IQ?" John further complained. The previous owner of the body, though mature, was average in all other departments.
No, he was exceptionally blessed in the napping skills department.
"At least you are not the selfish jackass you used to be," John put an arm around Tony as both exited the restaurant.
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