Lynn immediately made up his mind and got to work. He gestured for the three to continue their discussion, then turned and strolled out of the laboratory, heading straight for the bridge along the metal corridor. Loki's Scepter was stored in a separate research room with a glass observation window. Agents patrolled the outside in shifts, but the room was unattended.
Fury was probably certain that the Helicarrier was heavily guarded and no one would dare to act recklessly; he might even be hoping that someone would touch the scepter and take the opportunity to observe the energy properties of the Infinity Stones.
Lynn gently pushed open the glass door. The scepter rested quietly in the center of the workbench, its gem at the top gleaming softly under the cool white light. He stepped forward, his fingertips lightly touching the surface of the gem, the cool, delicate touch spreading throughout his body.
He did not activate the magic circle, but only mobilized the most basic perception permissions, allowing Maxwell's Demon to begin reading the gem's underlying data.
The influx of information was exceptionally gentle, a stark contrast to the overwhelming torrent of data that had flooded the six-meter-tall Iron Monger armor when it was dismantled. The gem was small in size, and its microscopic information was far less than that of the giant mecha, so it could be easily processed without activating any magic array.
Crystal structure, energy circuits, refractive index of cross sections, particle arrangement patterns—all information at the physical level was completely replicated and recorded within just a few seconds.
The moment the recording was completed, Lynn felt a strong sense of loss.
It's not that the structure is incomplete; every physical component and energy operation logic of it is perfect, and it can be replicated perfectly. But it's like copying a key with the exact same pattern and size, but you can't replicate the corresponding unlocking permissions.
He silently pondered to himself that what was missing was "authority."
The Infinity Stones embody the fundamental rules of the universe and are exclusive authority bestowed by the origin of the universe. This rule-level imprint cannot be replicated by his abilities. His abilities can rewrite and copy all material information, but they cannot shake the authorization of the rules of the origin of the universe.
Lynn accepted it calmly.
A stripped-down version is fine, as long as it has a positive effect, that's enough. This attempt at least proved that his ability can read and replicate the material carriers of the Infinity Stones. Even without the original authority, being usable, controllable, and with low side effects is the greatest gain.
He withdrew his fingertips, clutching the tray full of gem data, and turned to walk quickly to the empty lounge.
The lounge was quiet and still, with the lights flickering. Lynn found a seat against the wall, calmed his mind, and began to reconstruct and replicate his abilities.
Having gained experience in synthesizing New Element before, this small-scale rewriting of matter without the aid of magic arrays was no longer a burden for him. A pale silver light flowed slowly along his fingertips, and the microscopic particles in the air were orderly reorganized and stacked according to the recorded data.
A moment later, a small, exquisite gem slowly took shape in his palm, its color, luster, and facet angles identical to the genuine Mind Stone inside the scepter.
But the emptiness of lacking authority became increasingly clear.
It appears to be a perfect replica, but it is like a body without a soul, lacking the original rules that shake the spirit of the universe and control the mind; it is merely a similar-looking but different imitation.
Just as Lynn was preparing to study the specific effects of this stripped-down gem, a heated argument suddenly erupted from deep within the ship.
Even through the thick metal bulkhead, the sound remained clear and piercing.
Lynn's heart skipped a beat, and she instantly pieced together all the clues.
It's a characteristic of the Mind Stone! The Mind Stone on Loki's Scepter amplifies negative emotions and intensifies conflicts. The people in the lab already had their differences, and being subtly influenced by the stone's energy, the disputes only escalated. Hulk and Banner only reconciled, but if things continue like this, it will inevitably trigger the Hulk within Banner.
He was so focused on replicating the gemstone that he completely forgot about this crucial plot point!
Without a second thought, Lynn quickly stuffed the replica gem into her pocket, got up, and headed straight for the door.
The entire mothership was in chaos. The piercing alarms wailed wildly, and the red emergency lights flashed alternately, casting an uncertain light throughout the corridor and filling the air with dread. The deck beneath their feet suddenly trembled violently, and a muffled, heavy explosion came from the lower deck, followed by the sharp roar of a giant creature crashing through the metal bulkhead.
As expected, the Hulk went out of control.
Lynn instantly changed direction and headed straight for the bottom pipe level. He clearly remembered the plot: Natasha would be chased by the Hulk in this intricate pipe area and nearly die.
This is an excellent opportunity, a unique and heartwarming chance; once missed, it will never come again.
Lynn raised his hand and drew a line in the air, and a portal instantly formed, precisely connecting to the pipe layer where the explosions were most concentrated.
The enclosed space was a maze of pipes, their walls cold and hard, with overhead pipes crisscrossing and steam rising slightly. Natasha staggered out from around the corner, her left trouser leg already soaked in blood, her steps faltering. Behind her, the sounds of metal collapsing and walls shattering echoed, and Hulk's furious roar drew ever closer.
Lynn strode forward, grabbed her wrist, and simultaneously drew a second return portal.
As a top agent, Natasha instinctively wanted to break free and escape, but her severe leg injury slowed her down. When she saw that the person was Lynn, a look of surprise flashed across her eyes. Her professional instincts, honed over decades, allowed her to quickly assess the other party's intentions and risks even in Extremis.
"You... how did you get here?" Her breathing was rapid and unsteady, but her tone remained that of a secret agent, her vigilance unwavering even in her severely injured and desperate Extremis.
"I'll explain later!"
Without a word, Lynn dragged her straight into the portal. In a flash of light, the furious roars and deafening crashes behind them were completely shut out, becoming distant echoes.
The portal led directly to a quiet lounge. Lynn helped Natasha sit steadily on the sofa. She skillfully pulled a tactical dagger from her boot and placed it on the coffee table, not out of hostility, but simply to cut open her trouser leg to treat her wound.
Lynn had already opened the emergency cabinet by the wall and taken out a complete first-aid kit.
"You found the first-aid kit faster than a dedicated medic from S.H.I.E.L.D.." Natasha deftly tore open her ripped trouser leg and cleaned the bloodstains from the edges of her wound with a sterile cotton pad. Her tone softened slightly, but her forehead was covered in cold sweat, unable to hide the excruciating pain.
"When I was learning magic, there were always people getting injured around me, so practice makes perfect." Lynn pushed the first aid kit to her side, took two steps back and leaned against the opposite wall, his hands in his pockets as he quietly watched her bandage the wound.
The sounds outside the mothership continued to come: the hum of Tony's armor thrusters, the thunderous roar of Thor's Mjolnir, and the muffled thuds of metal colliding, all intertwined and gradually faded as Hulk was lured away.
Natasha skillfully bandaged the wound and secured the gauze before finally looking up at Lynn. Her grey-blue eyes were deep and clear in the dim light, carrying a hint of precise scrutiny.
"Chaos has broken out, and you've appeared precisely where I'm most dangerous." Her tone was calm, cutting to the chase. "You came specifically to find me. Why?"
Lynn leaned against the wall, his tone casual yet exceptionally sincere, speaking unhurriedly, "I anticipated that the Hulk would go out of control, and I knew you would get hurt. On the entire mothership, Tony had his armor for protection, Banner was the Hulk himself, Ivan had his Arc weapon for self-defense. Only you, with only two pistols and your special agent skills..."
"Since someone has to save someone, I naturally choose to save the person I want to chat with a bit more."
Natasha was silent for a moment, then put away the remaining gauze, looked up at him, and the wariness in her eyes had faded considerably. "You suggested before that I become your personal butler."
"The position has been reserved for you; you can start anytime," Lynn replied casually.
She didn't respond, refuse, or tease or refute. She simply looked down at the tightness of the bandage on her wound, a very faint, very genuine smile curving her lips. The deliberate professional smile was gone, replaced by a more genuine relaxation.
Seeing this, Lynn silently closed the first-aid kit and pushed it under the coffee table without asking any further questions or giving a reply.
The sounds of fighting outside the window had completely subsided. The mothership's electrical system was damaged, and the indoor lights still flickered, but at least things had finally returned to normal.
Natasha looked up at him again, her eyes filled with clear inquiry. "You just said you foresaw the loss of control, foresaw my injury. Was that precognition, or deduction?"
"Both," Lynn replied frankly. "I foresaw some of the risks and deduced the subsequent situation. But the one thing I couldn't predict was whether you would accept my butler's invitation. That answer is for you to decide."