Morgan in Danger, the Portal That Wouldn't Open

Tony's answer confirmed Lin Yi's suspicions. No wonder Tony looked ready to kill someone.

"Sir, the coordinates have been synced. The location is on the road to the outskirts of Pamuk, seven hundred kilometers south of Stark Tower."

"Sir, bad news. Miss Morgan is also in the Pamuk Special District today. Her location shows that she has left her planned route and is heading rapidly toward Number 78's projected landing site."

Bang!

Tony's vision went black. He swayed twice and barely managed to catch himself against the table.

"Morgan!"

Lin Yi's face darkened at the news.

"What's Morgan doing there?"

No wonder he hadn't seen her today. Why had she suddenly gone somewhere over seven hundred kilometers away? Why had Tony let her travel so far? That wasn't like him when it came to protecting Morgan.

"Morgan went to the Pamuk Special District to pick up a few things. We need them for certain preparations..." Tony struggled to speak, drawing deep breaths as he tried to calm himself.

"No, no, no. This isn't the time for that." Tony panted. "Morgan has the most advanced suit, and Spider-Man is with her. She'll be fine!"

"JARVIS, lock down Morgan's suit controls and fly her away from the projected landing site at full speed!"

"Sir, Miss Morgan is not wearing her suit, and the vehicle she is driving has no smart module. I cannot control it remotely."

"Fuck! JARVIS, warm up the Authority Satellite's main weapon, unlock the Orbital Recirculating Weapon, and launch the Bee Blade Drone Swarm Support System..."

"Sorry, we'll have to talk later!" Too anxious to spare Lin Yi another thought, Tony issued his orders, suited up in his Mark armor, and burst through the window. He shot skyward like a meteor.

Shit.

Lin Yi frowned and looked toward the location JARVIS had named, worry in his eyes.

Under his Super Vision, countless obstacles turned transparent.

More than seven hundred kilometers away lay the road to the Pamuk Special District.

High overhead, a sphere burned like a falling star. That had to be Number 78, the anomaly Tony had mentioned.

On the road, Lin Yi almost instantly picked out a car that looked old but was moving at a ridiculous speed. Three people were inside.

Morgan, and the two Spider-Men—one in black, one in red—whom he'd seen when he first arrived a couple of days ago.

They've lost their minds. Number 78 is blazing with energy as it falls. What makes those three think they can charge straight at it?

"Sir, would you like me to provide you with a flight-capable device? I can dispatch a prototype Mark XCV for you immediately. Its flight speed matches Mr. Stark's Mach 5, faster than the Parallel Universe version of the Mark LXXXV in your possession."

"Number 78's threat level is close to Level 9. While contained, it has a decay period of 181 minutes. JARVIS estimates that you may be able to help in the fight. If you can hold out for three hours, it will no longer pose a threat."

JARVIS spoke while Lin Yi spent those few seconds observing. It was more intelligent than F.R.I.D.A.Y., whom Tony would activate later. It even possessed a measure of human emotion.

Right now, for instance, Tony had given no such order. JARVIS had reached this decision on its own, judging that it would benefit Morgan and Tony.

"A prototype Mark XCV? Tempting, but I don't need it."

"Watch me make an instant entrance!" Lin Yi gave a cold laugh and traced a circle with his hand.

Then he froze and, unable to believe it, tried again.

Why can't I open a Portal? I used one to return from the Lost Library to the real world before.

Is it something about this universe? Or is something deliberately blocking me?

He hadn't tried opening a Portal in this universe before. But had Strange? He couldn't remember.

This is bad. Lin Yi had no time to deal with JARVIS. He immediately leaped out through the window Tony had left behind.

A sonic boom rang out. With no one to carry, Lin Yi accelerated from a standstill at an unbelievable rate.

Within a second, he reached Mach 2, and he was still accelerating.

High above, Tony had already covered a considerable distance.

"Can we go any faster, JARVIS?" The real-time speed displayed inside his helmet was Mach 5. But Tony was still frantic. Number 78 was projected to hit the ground in thirty seconds, right where Morgan was deliberately heading.

He knew why Morgan was going there. Number 78 had killed her mommy. But did she really think she could beat it?

Fear pushed his anger aside. He had found hope. Soon, he could send Morgan out of this universe to shelter somewhere safe. Why couldn't she give me just a little more time?

"Sir, you have reached maximum atmospheric flight speed. All available thrust has been transferred to the propulsion system."

"Connect the Mind Stone as a power source!" Tony ordered without hesitation.

"Sir, I do not recommend that. Using the Mind Stone as a power source will briefly increase the suit's speed, but it will damage the suit and leave it unable to sustain high-intensity combat. You and Morgan would then be highly unlikely to withstand Number 78's attacks."

"There's no time, JARVIS! Morgan is too close to Number 78. She's already within the blast radius of the Authority Satellite's weapons! If I don't use the Mind Stone and something happens to Morgan... what would be the point?"

"JARVIS, execute the order. Now!" Tony gritted his teeth. Even with the Mind Stone's boost, he could no longer prevent Morgan from clashing with Number 78. But he would not give up before it happened.

"Stay calm, Sir. Powerful backup is about to arrive."

"Backup? What backup?!" Tony roared, then his eyes flew wide.

A high-energy signal suddenly appeared on his helmet display and closed in rapidly.

Signal source: Lin Yi. Flight speed: Mach 6 and rising.

Threat level updated: Level 7 and rising. A bar beneath the reading continued to fluctuate.

Mach 6 without a suit?

Tony stared. In less than two seconds, Lin Yi caught up with him, then pulled visibly ahead in the blink of an eye.

"Lin! Save Morgan! You have to save Morgan!" Tony shouted, not caring whether Lin Yi could hear him.

Lin Yi heard him. He glanced back and gave Tony a forward gesture, then accelerated even harder before Tony's eyes.

Inside Tony's helmet, the reading climbed: Mach 8, Mach 10, Mach 11. It was still rising!

The threat level jumped to Level 8 and kept updating as Lin Yi accelerated.

"JARVIS!" Tony stared at the screen, his eyes bloodshot.

"Miss Morgan's suit is projected to last one minute at most. At his current speed, Mr. Lin Yi will reach the battlefield in three minutes. Two minutes and fifty seconds. Two minutes and thirty seconds..."

Lin Yi kept accelerating, and his estimated arrival time kept shrinking.

"She can be saved. She can be saved, JARVIS!" Tony's eyes filled with tears.

"Yes, Sir. Mr. Lin Yi is far stronger than we anticipated. He may become a new top-tier combatant. I recommend revising the previous plan and asking him to stay and help us fight the Anomalies."

Without either of them noticing, both Tony and JARVIS had begun addressing Lin Yi differently.