So, what can I create? No, question is posed incorrectly. What can I create such that will make me stronger on all fronts here and now? And preferably, this should also be common asset, calling card defining my value as brilliant specialist for SHIELD. Actually answer is one: improve "Proteus." Turn it from simple protective suit into full-fledged combat exoskeleton, stuffed with technologies to the brim. Especially since these technologies, thanks to Shocker, Vulture and Rhino, I have in abundance. Will conduct reverse engineering, most interesting parts will steal... ahem... adapt, and happiness will be mine.
Repeating process of creating suit for Blade but adapted for my physique already, I did not spend much time. Process was refined like on assembly line, and soon before me on mannequin hung perfect base. I proceeded to first modification element. Gloves. Of course gloves, or more precisely single remaining Shocker glove became ideal reference for this. Placing it on laboratory workbench, I carefully disassembled it, laying out components on sterile surface like surgeon before autopsy. This time I analyzed it not with goal of targeted modification but with full understanding that I want to assemble something similar but order of magnitude better.
"Hmm, crude, but effective for intimidating punks, and how did Gwen manage to lose to this," I muttered into emptiness, studying Schultz's technology.
This was assembled by talented but resource-limited engineer. Well, or stolen from Hammer Industries. And I, turns out, am stealing from thief? Amusing. Essentially, this is industrial jackhammer converted for combat. Powerful but inefficient, energy-intensive and devoid of any precision. Sledgehammer in world requiring scalpels.
Power source: Simple lithium-polymer battery pack. Bulky, heavy, with limited operating time and long charging. Antique.
Converter: Set of inductance coils and powerful capacitors. Task: convert direct current to ultra-high frequency alternating current. Works, but with enormous efficiency losses.
Emitters: Heart of technology. Simple package of piezoelectric crystals enclosed in tungsten alloy resonator. When current is applied, crystals vibrate, creating shock wave. Cheap and cheerful.
Control system: As Schultz said before death, primitive and straightforward. Clenching fist closes circuit. Clenching force is regulated by simple rheostat. Crude, like gas pedal in old truck. No feedback, no fine tuning.
Housing: No elegance, no optimization. Massive steel shell with damping pads. Bulky and heavy.
I did not even look at rest of Shocker's suit. I understood that I would have to reassemble everything from scratch. I cannot use something so... limited.
"Hah, when did I become so picky?" I asked laboratory silence. And silence, in voice of my own mind, answered me. "Since you understood that disposable garage crafts are not argument that will allow negotiating with Nick Fury on equal terms. Since Blade, warrior with more than century of experience, highly valued your worth. This level must be maintained."
So. Goal. Not improve. Goal is create anew, using idea itself but on completely different technological level.
Power source and energy system. Obviously, my palladium reactor. Power supply will increase by several orders of magnitude. This will allow powering much more advanced emitter, and operating time will become practically infinite. Installing reactor separately in each glove is idiocy. Instead I will integrate universal power port into glove base. It, in turn, will be connected to central power grid of suit, which will be powered by palladium reactor located for now presumably on back. Thus, glove becomes modular. It can be removed. But when connected, it gains access to practically inexhaustible energy, which also allows making glove itself lighter and more compact. This will not be just gadget. This is component of integrated system.
Good, energy question is solved. Now, heart of device. How to achieve highest efficiency? Obviously, grow piezoelectric crystal myself. As they say, if you want to do well, do it yourself. And I dare hope that my current knowledge is enough for something similar. Why use natural quartz with its defects when you can create perfect crystal lattice in controlled environment? If you want to create perfect tool, start with creating perfect materials.
In vacuum induction furnace I created supersaturated solution based on lead tungstate and barium titanate. And then added secret catalyst to it. Pluronic, transparent gel from medical laboratories resembling thick syrup, became sort of scaffolding for future crystal lattice. To it I added perfluorocarbon modifier of special formula. With it crystal growth acquired laser precision: piezo-coefficient d33 (measure of how much electricity impact gives) soared by 300-500%. All because nanostructure of future crystal, porous inside like honeycomb but monolithic outside, multiplied polarization many times.
Next, using precisely tuned magnetic field, I launched process of directional crystallization. This was like work of digital potter: I did not just wait but formed growing structure. In several hours large, absolutely transparent and structurally perfect synthetic crystal grew in furnace. Using 5-axis CNC machine with diamond cutter, I gave this crystal perfect geometric shape calculated on computer for maximum resonance effect.
Final crystal turned out approximately 5 times more efficient than limited samples Schultz used. But now question of control arose. Primitive fist clenching? This would be insult to such work of art. I need something more serious. Something like... neuro-interface?
Idea, appearing, no longer let go. This was not just thought but revelation. Possibility to instantly change frequency and power of vibration by force of thought. With improved technology, previously impossible modes became available to me:
"Vibro-scalpel": Ultra-high, focused frequency capable of cutting metal like butter.
"Infrasonic shock": Low, disorienting frequency causing nausea and dizziness in opponents without physical contact.
"Kinetic shield": Creation of vibration field around glove capable of deflecting or destroying objects flying into it.
Neuro-interface for such fine control became vitally necessary.
Okay, neuro-interface that will be integrated into entire suit system, I will save for dessert. Now need to solve more pressing problem: recoil. What are options? Antiphase principle? Too delicate work that will take very long time for calculations. Then... Resonant damping. Obvious and effective.
Around main emitter crystal I carefully installed "floating" cage from layered composite, which I also made myself. Composite consisted of alternating layers of Kevlar, ballistic gel and thinnest lead sheets. When crystal vibrated, it transmitted part of vibrations to this cage. I calculated design so that each layer of composite had its own resonant frequency. When vibration passed through them, layers began resonating out of sync, effectively canceling each other's oscillations. This is like trying to swing on swing when someone constantly pushes it in antiphase.
Yes, this is not as elegant as complete wave annihilation, but up to 98% of recoil was absorbed and dissipated inside glove itself as heat. Heat which would then be removed by suit's general cooling system. Incredibly effective and, most importantly, fully feasible in my current conditions.
Housing and design. Incredibly important part. Here duo of CNC machine and 3D printer came into play. Using former I carved from solid piece of aerospace aluminum alloy power frame and glove base, its skeleton. While machine buzzed cutting metal, 3D printer began its additive magic, layer by layer creating external, non-load-bearing panels from light but strong carbon fiber. They had perfect anatomical shape calculated based on 3D scan of my hand.
Final glove turned out light, strong, perfectly fitted and looking like high-tech product, not like converted garage tool. In future it will easily integrate with rest of suit, connecting to power and neuro-ports on forearm. I right now held it in hand. It was cold, smooth and promised incredible power. Excellent, first step taken.
I carefully placed finished glove on table and shifted gaze to next trophy lying aside, bulky Vulture wings. Initially I thought about boots for flight, but... This is not best option. Therefore time to study what exactly that gloomy genius who worked for Fisk concocted.
Approaching massive winged exoskeleton, I began research. More precisely, autopsy. This procedure dragged on for good hour. Why so long? Because this was not technology. This was, mother of god, clusterfuck. Garage consumer goods brought to limit of engineering thought of person whose tools were only sledgehammer and welding machine.
Engine: Noisy, bulky and dirty micro-turbojet engine running on aviation kerosene. Roaring, smoking and damn inefficient contraption leaving behind thermal trail visible from orbit.
Wing design: Assembled from industrial turbine blades and pieces of titanium alloy held together by bolts and crude welding. And they were completely mechanical! For changing geometry and maneuvering uses complex and painfully slow system of hydraulic actuators and servomotors. Large, heavy and incredibly vulnerable at joints.
Control system: Two joysticks built into gloves. Joysticks! In era of possible neuro-interfaces! This requires enormous skill from pilot and does not allow truly sharp and intuitive maneuvers.
Protection: Absent as class. Design is open. Engine and fuel tanks are perfect targets size of refrigerator.
These are not wings. This is literally flying tractor. Effective for robbery and intimidation, but in serious battle against high-tech opponent, this is flying coffin. I will not improve this. Will have to create everything from scratch again.
"Eh, if only they would give freebies once..." I grumbled discontentedly, comprehending what exactly I want to create.
So far turned out that I wanted not just means for flight. Too much valuable space on back. Hmm, perhaps worth making something like multifunctional combat platform? So wings would be weapon, shield and engine simultaneously. Naturally, integrated into suit. Sounded... reasonable. And most importantly, this can be made stylish too. Whatever anyone says, but in this world style is valued. Tony Stark understands this perfectly. Scene with epic appearance of Hulkbuster in one of films is still imprinted in my brain as standard of spectacle and coolness. Need to strive for something similar. So, let us begin!
Base. Instead of turbine I, surprisingly, will use energy from my cheat palladium reactor. Now I definitely decided: it will be located on back. Base of wings itself will be not bulky exo-backpack but armored platform that mounts over reactor. On CNC machine I carved solid frame from aerospace aluminum, which simultaneously serves as protective casing for reactor and base for wing mounting. This also solves back vulnerability problem.
Wings. No crude mechanics. No servomotors. Only plasma, only hardcore. Instead of mechanical blades I created solid-state plasma emitters. Each wing "feather" ultimately will be not piece of metal but elongated flat emitter inside which is matrix of graphene supercapacitors and focusing magnetic coils. At command of my future neuro-interface, reactor will send powerful energy pulse to emitters. They will ionize surrounding air, turning it into plasma, and with help of magnetic field eject it downward at enormous speed, creating jet thrust. Varying power on different "feathers," I will be able to perform incredible maneuvers. Flight will be silent, without fire and smoke. In folded state, wings will look like two small, elegant techno-backpacks behind back. In deployed state, they will form from dozen such "feathers" glowing with blue light.
Defense and attack. According to my design, with help of specially written protocol for neuro-interface, wings will be able to instantly change their configuration by mental command. They can fold together before me or above me, forming solid surface. At this moment plasma emitters will switch from "pulling" mode to "defensive." They will create on their surface stable, laminar plasma field with temperature of several thousand degrees. Bullets hitting this field will instantly evaporate. Energy beams will dissipate. This will not be pathetic piece of metal but nearly impenetrable energy barrier capable of withstanding short but intense bombardment.
Scrolling through design in head and on computer once more, I understood that time to do final assembly. Base of design was carved from metal, but emitter-"feathers" themselves I created from heat-resistant ceramics printed on 3D printer, inside which I placed all most complex electronics. Naturally, wings are modular and attach to back platform using quick-release electromagnetic lock. In case of critical damage I will be able to "drop" them by mental command in fraction of second.
Output was, though not refined at software level, but overall compact, modular and elegant system. In travel mode, protected backpack. In combat mode, silent plasma wings. In defensive mode, practically impenetrable plasma shield. Not just wings but Swiss knife for aerial combat, forged by... Um, Daedalus? No, everything ended badly for him. And for me... Time to proceed to key stage.
Alas, but most powerful hardware in world is useless junk without perfect software. Power of thought... Honestly, this is definitely most complex and most important node of entire system. I sincerely did not want to implant chip into my brain, my skull is not server rack. Which means non-trivial, interdisciplinary approach is required. Well, or... do this in spirit of superhero genre and stuff everything into one module. Into mask. Oh. I definitely will not abandon this idea now. Symbol of hidden identity will become source of my power. And, oddly enough, most of work on this mask I will... program.
For this, I created simple AI and conditionally named it "Synapse." It will be responsible for reading brain signals with highest accuracy, using only mask contact points with head. Instead of one type of sensors I used multimodal reading system. "Synapse," receiving data from three sources simultaneously, cross-referenced them to eliminate interference and obtain crystal-clear signal about intentions.
Source one: dry graphene electrodes (EEG) - "Seismograph of thoughts." Inner lining of mask adjacent to forehead and temples is permeated with network of flexible graphene micro-electrodes. They read general electrical activity of brain directly through skin, giving overall picture of mental activity.
Source two: fNIRS sensors - "Activity map." In forehead area I built in miniature infrared sensors. They shine through upper layers of skull and measure oxygen level in blood in prefrontal cortex. This technology allows "Synapse" to see which specific brain area is active and filter background noise from targeted commands.
Source three: EMG sensors - "Intention sensors." In straps securing mask, I built in electromyographic sensors. They read barely noticeable, preconscious electrical impulses that brain sends to muscles fractions of second before movement begins.
How does this work in theory? I think: "Activate wings!" "Synapse" sees: activity spike on EEG, increased blood flow in motor cortex on fNIRS scanner and micro-contraction of back muscles on EMG sensors. Cross-referencing all three signals, AI with 99.9% accuracy identifies command, instantly transmitting it to wing modules.
How does this happen in practice? Calibration. Constant code modifications. And fucking thirty hours of programming under NZT, during which I essentially conducted continuous dialogue with machine, teaching it language of my thoughts. This was most exhausting mental work of my life. But result... It was definitely worth it.
Small matter remains: finish mask. Sleep was beginning to pull slightly. No matter how good fatigue pills were, but when your mind and body work to exhaustion for more than fifty hours straight... No. I will finish suit. And only then, with clear soul and conscience, will rest.
So, where was I? Ah yes, mask and its respiratory part. Brain is connected. Now need to connect lungs.