Chapter Twenty-Three: Tony, the Third Wheel

Harvey followed Tony into Tony’s underground laboratory.

The place was incredibly advanced; displays that would normally appear on screens were instead projected as three-dimensional holograms. Harvey had seen such things in movies in his previous life, but now, standing here for real, he couldn’t help but look around with keen interest.

“Harvey Amberlaca, you give me the impression that you know a lot more than you let on.”

“So tell me, have you ever heard of aliens?”

Tony noticed that Harvey Amberlaca didn’t look surprised, merely intrigued, so he asked this as he walked toward a worktable.

“I know what I need to know. If you want to talk about something, just say it directly,” Harvey replied, his eyes flashing.

“How much do you know about aliens?” Tony Stark pressed.

“I know more than a little,” Harvey smiled. “Since you treated me to dinner, I’ll answer three questions for you. So, it’s up to you what you want to learn from me.”

Harvey casually found a comfortable chair and sat down, grinning.

Tony Stark saw Harvey Amberlaca’s relaxed smile, as if he understood everything, and found him more mysterious than ever.

“Is Earth truly in as much danger as Coulson says?”

Tony pondered for a moment, then tentatively asked the question that weighed most on his mind.

“At present, Earth isn’t dangerous at all. But in a few years, it will become so,” Harvey replied.

“How many years exactly?” Tony Stark’s eyes narrowed.

“If you already know it’ll become dangerous in a few years, does the exact timeline really matter?” Harvey replied with a smile.

“Let me think...”

Tony Stark’s urgency cleared, and his mind began racing.

He still didn’t know Harvey Amberlaca’s true origins, but for some reason, he believed everything Harvey said. This was a rare opportunity to ask three questions—he’d already used one, learning that a great danger would arrive within a few years.

“My second question: among aliens, are there any who could become allies with humanity? If so, how can I contact them?”

Tony considered, then asked his next question.

“There’s an old proverb in the Celestial Empire: ‘Those who are not of our kind must have different hearts.’ Even among humans, wars are frequent due to differences in race. But when do humans unite as allies?”

Harvey didn’t answer directly, instead posing a question.

“When they all face a common enemy?” Tony thought for a moment and understood.

“So, until such a powerful enemy appears, whether we ally or not doesn’t matter much. You could have figured this one out yourself, so it doesn’t count as my answer to your second question. Instead, I can tell you roughly when the danger threatening the entire universe will arise.”

“If nothing unexpected happens, that time will be nine years from now. By then, you will unite,” Harvey said.

“Nine years? 2017?” Tony Stark was stunned. “Harvey Amberlaca, who are you really? How do you know about the future? If such a powerful enemy is coming, why aren’t you afraid or worried?”

Tony was shocked at Harvey’s precise timing and his mention of a universe-threatening foe.

“Who I am isn’t within the scope of my answers. As for why I’m not afraid—fear solves nothing. What’s meant to come will come,” Harvey said, spreading his hands and smiling.

Was he afraid of Thanos? For now, Harvey certainly was. But only for the moment; as he continued to evolve, there’d be nothing to fear. When Thanos appeared, if he wasn’t confident he could win, he’d simply escape to another universe. With more hero templates, if he couldn’t fight, at least he could run.

Harvey understood Tony Stark’s feelings—Tony found him shrouded in mystery, just as Harvey intended.

“I’ve answered two questions. You have one last chance to ask. After that, whether I answer depends on my mood,” Harvey offered a friendly reminder.

He wasn’t speaking to Tony Stark as Death, but as Harvey, encouraging Tony’s curiosity.

So Harvey didn’t mind providing Tony with more information.

Tony Stark, cursed with knowledge, would always act the more he learned.

“Coulson thinks you’re a superhuman and tried to recruit you for the Avengers. Why didn’t you join?”

Tony considered, then asked his third and final question.

“Are you sure that’s your last question?” Harvey replied, a bit surprised.

“Just answer it,” Tony said, satisfied he’d learned enough. Whether Harvey’s words were true or not would be proven in the near future.

“Nick Fury’s intentions in forming the Avengers may be good, but circumstances often stray from their original purpose. Eventually, the alliance becomes a tool for politicians, and actions depend on their approval. I don’t want to be ordered around. I do as I wish, so I chose not to join,” Harvey replied after thinking it over.

“Political orders can be negotiated with,” Tony Stark said.

“Tony Stark, don’t bother trying to recruit me. The reason we can sit here and talk amicably is because there’s no animosity or complicated ties between us.”

“So don’t attempt the impossible, or you’ll face consequences you can’t handle,” Harvey said calmly, looking Tony Stark in the eye.

Tony Stark was cursed with knowledge; few could understand him. His heart might not be entirely devoted to protecting Earth, but he definitely wanted to protect those close to him. That drive would keep him thinking, planning, and preparing for every eventuality.

Even as Tony Stark’s teammate, one would be seen as someone to guard against if strong enough, just in case.

Now, Tony hadn’t officially joined the Avengers, but he’d learned a few things about the future, even if not with certainty. He was already thinking about joining forces with others to face what was coming.

Perhaps Tony Stark wanted a friend to act alongside, so he wouldn’t have to keep secrets bottled up. Or maybe he thought Harvey would be the perfect ally.

But whatever the reason, Harvey would never join the Avengers.

Tony Stark looked at Harvey Amberlaca; the cheerful expression faded, replaced by a chilling calm.

“I won’t try anymore. I was wrong. Don’t look at me like that,” Tony said, abandoning his attempt to recruit Harvey and apologizing.

After their conversation, Tony realized Harvey’s mystery went much deeper than he’d imagined. Trying to recruit him now felt presumptuous.

“About our conversation—aliens, the future—tell whoever you want. Just don’t reveal me. I don’t want my peaceful life disturbed yet,” Harvey said, seeing Tony had conceded, and offered a reminder.

“Even if you hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t share this information lightly. Even for me, it’s hard to accept—just nine years until an unimaginable enemy arrives. The more I know, the less fortunate I feel,” Tony Stark sighed, slumping into a chair.

He had created the Iron Man suit and stumbled upon the unknown entity Death. Now, he’d opened the door to a new world; what he now knew was beyond the reach of most.

“Worrying won’t stop the crisis from coming, so don’t dwell on it. You have nine years—given your intellect, you should be able to create plenty of miracles,” Harvey said, seeing Tony Stark slumped like a fish without dreams.

“Nine years—if only I live that long,” Tony replied, even more dejected at Harvey’s mention of the time.

“Are you talking about your light bulb, the strain it puts on your body?” Harvey’s eyes flashed as he looked at Tony.

“Light bulb? You call the arc reactor a light bulb? Do you even know what the crystallization of technology and wisdom means?” Tony Stark had been depressed, but at “light bulb” he shot up, ready to argue.