A Little Incident at Stark Industries

Morning sunlight streamed through the glass curtain walls of Stark Industries' New York branch, casting enormous patches of light across the mirror-smooth floor. Dust motes drifted through the beams like tamed golden particles. Lin Mo stood beside the revolving door, looking up at the glowing "STARK" sign atop the building. The metal letters gleamed coldly in the sun, ten times more breathtaking than they looked on television.

"What are you staring at? Let's go." Carlos patted him on the back. The old man had deliberately worn a neatly pressed shirt today, with an incongruous red tie at his collar. "Don't embarrass me. This is Stark Industries. Break one screw, and it'll cost you half a year's salary."

Lin Mo quickly looked away and picked up the canvas tool bag—the same one he had taken to New Mexico last time. Its faded fabric still had a little desert sand clinging to it. His heart was beating a little fast, and his palms were slightly sweaty. Not because he was nervous, but because he was excited. This was Tony Stark's company—the genius who changed the world with technology, the superhero who flew through the sky in a metal can.

The moment he entered the lobby, Lin Mo felt like his eyes were not enough. A massive screen looped test footage of Iron Man armor. Mark VII's thrusters spat blue-white flames as it carved graceful arcs across the desert sky. The receptionist wore a crisp business suit, her standard smile as perfect as if it had been programmed. When she saw the work order Carlos handed over, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. "I didn't expect Mr. Stark to keep those antiques."

"Antiques are exactly why old hands like us are needed." Carlos snorted, clearly displeased by the word "antiques." He had worked in repairs for nearly thirty years, handling everything from old typewriters to modern servers, yet he had never seen the inside of Stark Industries—rumor had it that even the coffee machines here were controlled by artificial intelligence.

The elevator rose smoothly. Lin Mo watched the numbers tick upward on the display: thirty-eight floors. Physical Enhancement had sharpened his senses enough for him to hear the faint friction of the elevator cables and even distinguish the subtle vibrations coming from different floors. "We're here." Carlos gave him a push as the elevator doors slid open without a sound.

The sight before him made Lin Mo hold his breath. The spacious maintenance area resembled a massive laboratory. Rows of white workbenches held instruments he could not name. Several engineers in lab coats were gathered around a half-open robot, discussing something as its metal arms swung nimbly through the air with buzzing electrical sounds.

"Carlos?" A middle-aged man in gold-rimmed glasses walked over and shook Carlos's hand. His badge read, "Hogan Hadley, Senior Equipment Maintenance Supervisor." His hair was meticulously combed, and an expensive watch peeked out from beneath his shirt cuff. "Sorry to keep you waiting. The old computers are over there, numbered A301 through A350. They're all ten-year-old models. Mr. Stark suddenly decided he wanted them restored and archived, otherwise we wouldn't bother with them."

"Ten years old?" Carlos raised an eyebrow. "Stark Industries still keeps old junk like that?"

"Who knows what the boss is thinking." Hogan shrugged and led them deeper into the maintenance area. "He said he wanted to put together some kind of 'History of Technological Evolution' exhibit. He even dug out the mechanical arm he made back in college." He pointed at a pile of equipment covered in dust cloths in the corner. "There they are. Sorry to trouble you."

Lin Mo's gaze settled on the equipment. Beneath the dust cloths, familiar outlines were faintly visible. One of them looked very much like the retired S.H.I.E.L.D. server he had repaired at the shop, only more refined, with a tiny "STARK" logo engraved on its edges. He took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his chest, and pulled out his tools. "When do we start?"

"Any time." Hogan handed them two temporary access cards. "Lunch is in the employee cafeteria. Just give them my name. And don't wander around. Some areas are restricted." He glanced at Lin Mo and added with a smile, "Especially don't try to get near the labs. F.R.I.D.A.Y. will mistake you for an intruder and stun you."

"F.R.I.D.A.Y.?" Lin Mo froze for a moment.

"Our artificial intelligence butler." Hogan tilted his chin toward the ceiling. "She's everywhere."

Carlos patted Lin Mo's shoulder. "You hear that? Don't cause trouble."

Lin Mo nodded, but his gaze could not help sweeping over the busy engineers. Their fingers flew across virtual keyboards. The air was thick with the mixed scent of coffee and ozone. Complex data streams scrolled across the wall screens, occasionally flashing blueprints of Iron Man armor. Everything here was entirely different from the repair shop in Queens. It was filled with a sense of the future, yet real enough to touch.

Once work began, Lin Mo realized just how extraordinary these "old computers" were. Their casings were made of lightweight alloy and weighed half as much as equipment of the same size. Inside, the circuits were arranged like works of art, each wire bearing its own color code. Even the cooling fan blades had been designed to reduce noise. "These aren't computers. They're precision instruments," Carlos could not help saying, barely daring to put force into his screwdriver.

Lin Mo said nothing. He simply activated his Phasing Ability and lightly ran his fingertips over the motherboard. He could "see" the internal circuitry and even sense the paths of the electrical current. Physical Enhancement made his movements both swift and steady. When turning screws, he used exactly enough force—not enough to strip them, but enough to remove them quickly. In less than half an hour, he had dismantled three units, twice Carlos's speed.

"What did you eat today, kid?" Carlos shot him a look, though pride colored his voice. "You're working awfully smoothly."

"Maybe the environment here is good." Lin Mo smiled, his gaze falling on a tiny chip on the motherboard. "Mark I" was engraved on it. Was this actually from the same series as Tony Stark's first armor?

An engineer nearby noticed his speed and curiously came over. "Hey, that's some professional technique. Have you repaired Stark equipment before?"

"No, I've just practiced a lot." Lin Mo quickly lowered his head and pretended to focus on cleaning away dust. He could feel the man's gaze on his hands. The engineer's badge read "Dave," and there was solder stuck to his fingers. He was probably responsible for circuit welding.

"These antiques aren't easy to handle." Dave crouched down and pointed to an interface on the motherboard. "The pins here are especially fragile. Last time, an intern accidentally snapped one off and Hogan nearly scolded him to tears."

Lin Mo nodded and used a special soft-bristled brush to gently clear dust from the interface. His movements were as gentle as if he were stroking a butterfly's wings. Dynamic Vision allowed him to clearly see every pin and avoid the sections that had already oxidized.

When they went to the employee cafeteria for lunch, Lin Mo was amazed all over again. It was buffet-style, with so many kinds of food that it was dizzying. There was even a dedicated Iron Man-themed counter, where the burgers were shaped like armor and the cola cups bore Tony Stark's signature. Carlos carried an enormous tray, piling food onto it like a starving wolf. "It's not coming out of our pockets. Might as well eat our fill."

Lin Mo carried his tray to a seat by the window, where he could see outside the building. A small helicopter hovered over the rooftop, its cabin door open. He could vaguely make out bodyguards in black suits inside. "That's Mr. Stark's private helipad," a voice said beside him. It was Hogan, holding a cup of coffee. "He comes to the New York branch occasionally, but today he seems to be attending a press conference in Los Angeles."

"Is he really like they say in the news? Can he stay in the armor all day?" Lin Mo could not help asking. The question had been bottled up inside him for a long time.

Hogan laughed. "More than a day. Once, he spent three days over the Pacific Ocean testing a new armor's endurance. By the time he came back, he'd grown a beard and nearly drove Miss Pepper Potts crazy." He took a sip of coffee, admiration in his eyes. "But honestly, no one can compare to his passion for technology."

Lin Mo nodded, recalling Tony Stark at press conferences in the news. Beneath that flippant tone was an unquestionable confidence. He suddenly felt that his skill at repairing computers was hardly worth mentioning before a true genius.

When repairs resumed that afternoon, Lin Mo ran into a little trouble. After computer A347 was powered on, its screen flickered. Using his Phasing Ability, he discovered that the graphics card was loose, but the latch on its slot was badly rusted and needed a delicate touch to open. He held his breath and placed his fingers on the latch, precisely controlling the force—Physical Enhancement allowed him to concentrate his strength into his fingertips, like using tweezers to pick up an ant.

With a click, the latch opened. Lin Mo had just reached for the graphics card when Dave suddenly shouted, "Watch out!" His screwdriver had accidentally struck a metal part at the edge of the table. The part sprang up like a bullet and flew toward a piece of precision equipment on the floor—a sensor currently undergoing tests, one Hogan had specifically warned them about that morning. It was worth one hundred thousand dollars.

Lin Mo reacted before his brain could process it. The instant the part left the table, his body moved. His right hand shot out like lightning and caught it firmly in midair, icy metal against his palm. The entire process took less than a second, so fast it seemed like an illusion.

Dave's face went pale, and the screwdriver in his hand clattered to the floor. "My God... your reaction time is insane!"

Lin Mo set the part down on the table, his heart still pounding. It had been a completely instinctive move. The reaction speed granted by Physical Enhancement had activated in an instant, before he even had time to use Dynamic Vision. "Lucky," he said calmly, picking up the graphics card and pretending to continue the repair.

Hogan came over after hearing the commotion. Seeing the part on the table and Dave's pale face, he frowned. "What happened?"

"It's fine, Hogan," Dave hurriedly explained. "I accidentally knocked that part loose just now. Luckily, this..." He looked at Lin Mo, clearly not knowing his name.

"Lin Mo," Lin Mo said, looking up.

"Luckily, Lin Mo reacted quickly and caught it. Otherwise, the sensor would've been finished." Dave patted his chest, his voice full of lingering fear.

Hogan's gaze settled on Lin Mo, surprise in his eyes. "Quick reflexes, kid. You'd make a fine shortstop in baseball." He picked up the part. It was an inconspicuous metal washer. "It may look small, but it could've left a dent in that sensor."

"I played in the neighborhood a few times before." Lin Mo smiled. The excuse was perfect—there was a community baseball tournament in Queens every year, and he had helped Ted retrieve balls last year.

Hogan smiled and did not press further. Turning to Dave, he said, "Be more careful. If you damage the equipment, forget about getting a bonus this month." Then he gave Lin Mo another look, with a little more appreciation in his eyes.

The repairs continued, but Lin Mo could feel several engineers glancing at him from time to time, probably stunned by that display of "quick reflexes." Dave especially kept hovering nearby, asking curiously, "You really never had professional training? I couldn't even see what you did."

"I really didn't." Lin Mo sounded helpless. "Maybe I got it from repairing computers. I often have to catch parts that fall."

The explanation seemed reasonable enough. Dave nodded and stopped doubting him, though he continued muttering, "That's unbelievable. You're faster than the mechanical arms in our lab."

By evening, all the computers had been repaired. Carlos's hand trembled as he signed the work order—the payment for this job was enough to cover the repair shop's rent for half a year. Hogan walked them to the elevator and handed Lin Mo a business card. "Would you be interested in working at Stark Industries someday? Our equipment maintenance department happens to be short-staffed."

Lin Mo froze for a moment and accepted the card. Hogan's name and number were printed on it. "I... I'll think about it." He felt a little lost. He had never imagined he might be able to work at Stark Industries.

"Call me anytime." Hogan patted him on the shoulder. "You've got talent. Don't waste it."

By the time they left the Stark Industries building, the sun had already dipped below the horizon. The "STARK" sign had lit up, standing out brilliantly against the dusk. Carlos excitedly counted the advance payment check, humming an off-key tune. "Dinner's on me tonight. We're going to that most expensive steakhouse!"

Lin Mo said nothing. He only clutched the business card tightly, his sweaty palm dampening the paper. He looked back at the enormous building, its glass walls reflecting the colors of the evening glow like a moving painting. While repairing one of the old computers earlier, he had discovered a hidden folder on its hard drive. Inside were design sketches from Tony Stark's youth. One depicted a spider-shaped robot, with the words "Biomechanical Symbiote Concept" written beside it.

He suddenly thought of Peter's mechanical spider and the light shining in the boy's eyes. Maybe the technology and dreams of heroes in this world had never been out of reach. They were hidden in the circuits of old computers, on some teenager's draft paper, and inside every ordinary person's curiosity.

"What are you standing around for? Come on!" Carlos shouted from ahead.

Lin Mo hurried after him, his steps light as if he were walking on the wind. He slipped Hogan's business card into his wallet beside the spider drawing Peter had made. Maybe he would never work at Stark Industries. Maybe he would always just be someone who repaired computers. But at that moment, he felt a strange connection to the superhero in Iron Man armor and the boy who loved studying spiders.

As he passed the community park, Lin Mo saw Peter and Ted flying a kite. This time, it was shaped like Iron Man, soaring especially high, almost touching the lights of the Stark Industries building. Peter saw him and waved excitedly. "Lin Mo! Look at our new kite!"

"Very cool." Lin Mo smiled, suddenly struck by an idea. The next time he tutored Peter in math, he could explain some of Stark Industries' mechanical principles. Maybe it would help him improve that mechanical spider.

Night deepened, and the lights in the repair shop came on. Lin Mo sat at the workbench, holding a discarded part he had brought back from Stark Industries. Hogan had said it was useless and told him to take it if he wanted. It was a piece of lightweight alloy engraved with the "STARK" logo. He lightly sanded it with sandpaper, wondering what to turn it into—perhaps a spider-shaped bookmark for Peter.

Moonlight fell across the part outside the window, giving it a soft glow. Lin Mo knew that today's experience had only been a small incident, but it was like a stone dropped into a lake, sending ripples through his heart. Maybe ordinary life and the world of superheroes had never been separate. They were like computer hardware and software, dependent on each other and together forming this dangerous yet fascinating world.

He picked up a screwdriver and began repairing the radio he had not finished during the day. The clink of metal was especially clear in the quiet shop. Tomorrow, he still had to tutor Peter in math, help Ted improve his magic props, and continue being the community's "volunteer deliveryman." But at that moment, holding that piece from Stark Industries, Lin Mo felt that his ordinary life had gained a touch of extraordinary color.