บท 3: Chapter 3

Ryder stepped off the subway, blending into the sea of commuters as they flowed out onto the streets of Manhattan. The towering buildings loomed above him, casting long shadows that felt colder than the city's usual autumn chill. Despite the rush around him, Ryder felt like he was in a bubble, the world around him surreal and hazy as he tried to process what had just happened.

Ryder had to play along for now, act like this was all part of his normal reality. His stomach churned with both excitement and anxiety as he followed the guy—his so-called friend, he assumed—through the crowded streets toward Stark Tower.

His thoughts were a chaotic mess as they approached the building. The sleek, futuristic structure loomed ahead, its distinctive "A" gleaming in the morning light. It was an icon of the Marvel Universe, a symbol of both innovation and power. Ryder's pulse quickened as they neared the entrance, a mix of awe and disbelief overwhelming him.

"This is insane," he muttered under his breath, barely keeping his composure.

His companion, oblivious to Ryder's inner turmoil, chuckled. "You're telling me. First week on the job, and we're already in the middle of some high-stakes tech breakthrough. Between this and the drones attacking the city yesterday, it feels like we're living in an action movie."

Ryder forced a laugh, but inside, he was bracing himself. He had no idea what was waiting for him inside that tower, but he knew he couldn't afford to act clueless. This version of himself had an internship at Stark Industries, and judging by his companion's nonchalant attitude, he was supposed to be familiar with this world, with its heroes, its tech, and maybe even its dangers.

As they approached the security checkpoint, Ryder straightened his posture, trying to look confident. He followed his friend's lead, scanning his ID badge at the entrance. The security guard barely glanced at them as they passed through, but Ryder could feel his heart pounding in his chest.

"First challenge down," he thought, relieved. "Just stay cool, act like you belong."

The lobby of Stark Tower was as impressive as he had imagined. It was all sleek lines and cutting-edge technology, with a constant hum of energy in the air. Holo-displays projected newsfeeds, stock tickers, and various security alerts, while employees—some in business attire, others in lab coats—bustled about with purpose.

Ryder's eyes couldn't help but drift toward the massive digital display showcasing live footage of Iron Man's latest battle. The drones had been cleared, but Tony Stark's armor glinted in the sunlight as he soared above the city. Ryder felt a surge of awe, watching the real-life superhero in action, realizing just how close he was to the people who shaped this world.

"We're meeting with Dr. Pennington in the R&D department," his companion said, steering Ryder toward a set of elevators. "She's got some new tech she wants us to help with. Something about augmenting the Mark LXXII suits."

Ryder barely nodded, still too overwhelmed to absorb all the details. He stepped into the elevator, silently watching as the numbers climbed higher and higher, each floor taking him deeper into this new reality.

When the doors opened, they were greeted by a sleek laboratory space that seemed straight out of a sci-fi movie. Scientists and engineers worked in small clusters, hunched over advanced tech, various holographic displays, and machines that Ryder could only guess the purpose of. It was a far cry from the dingy classrooms and outdated equipment he'd been used to back in his old life.

A woman in a sharp white lab coat approached them, her hair pulled back in a severe bun. "You're Ryder and Ryan, right?" she asked, glancing between them.

Ryder's brain caught on the name "Ryan," and he realized with a start that this was his companion's name—Ryan, not some nameless stranger. He quickly nodded, trying not to let on that he hadn't remembered.

"I'm Dr. Pennington," she continued, briskly. "We've got a lot of work to cover today. I assume you're familiar with the latest modifications to the vibranium integration in the Mark LXXII models?"

Ryder's stomach dropped. Vibranium? He had no clue what she was talking about, but he had to play it cool. "Uh, yeah," he said, trying to sound confident. "I mean, we've been keeping up with the project."

Ryan shot him a glance, but thankfully didn't call him out on the lie. Dr. Pennington nodded curtly, satisfied enough for now.

"Good. I'll be expecting a progress report by the end of the day. Follow me, I'll show you where we're at."

As they followed her deeper into the lab, Ryder's mind raced. He needed to figure out a way to fake his way through this. Stark tech, vibranium, and advanced suits of armor—he was out of his depth, but there had to be something he could do to get by without blowing his cover.

They arrived at a workbench cluttered with schematics, blueprints, and various parts of what looked like a partially dismantled Iron Man suit. The design was sleek, a mix of red and gold plating interwoven with sections of what had to be vibranium—Wakanda's signature metal. The armor looked both impossibly high-tech and strangely familiar, like something he had seen countless times on movie screens, except now it was right in front of him, very real and very dangerous.

"You'll be working on the joint stabilization system for the gauntlets," Dr. Pennington instructed. "The vibranium integration is causing some minor feedback loops that we need to address. It shouldn't be too complex for you two, but we need it fixed before the end of the week."

Ryder swallowed hard. This was way beyond anything he had ever done before. He wasn't an engineer, not in his old world. But now, here, in this life, he was expected to be one.

"Right," he said, trying to keep the nervousness out of his voice. "We'll get on it."

Ryan, on the other hand, seemed excited, immediately diving into the work. "This is awesome," he said, grinning as he examined the blueprints. "I've been waiting to get my hands on some of Stark's suit tech."

Ryder forced a smile, but his mind was still racing. He needed to find a way to get through this without exposing himself. He glanced down at the gauntlet, his reflection staring back at him in the polished vibranium. This was his chance to make something of himself in this new world, but it was also a dangerous game.

He couldn't afford to screw up.

"I just have to get through today," Ryder thought. "One step at a time. Figure things out as I go."

But deep down, he knew this was only the beginning. Whatever had brought him here, whatever had granted him this wish, had more in store for him. Ryder didn't know what kind of future awaited him in this new life, but one thing was certain: it was going to be far more than he had ever bargained for.

He took a deep breath and got to work.