https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcByktP-mdE

" Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made. "

- Robert Browning

(10-January-2070: Underground SHIELD Triskelion Building, Washington DC, USA: 8:30 AM)

The pink Kree and his family had come to the United States which they used some stealth and armored vehicles on their way to the American capital. The Rebel Forces and the MTF Troopers remained underground to hide from the invaders. In those days, they patrolled around the area for those who would dare to penetrate and attack the area. For Amnon and his family, they lived in an underground apartment with a holographic simulation of the early 21th Century Washington DC view, reminding them of the planet's glorious days before the invasion.

In the first week of the New Year, Amnon got acquainted with some people in the underground Rebel Forces and MTF headquarters. He worked along with them in relief and surveying operations. One of them was the most prominent man on the planet who happened to be a Kree-Lizard survivor. Amnon became puzzled of who the man was.

Just this morning, the pink Kree looked around the dark metallic silvery-blue hallway and seemed to be lost on the way. He scratched his head, moved his head to and fro, and crossed his eyebrows in confusion. Amnon grimaced and sighed which he couldn't find the right person and place to work with. Then, he was losing his track when he accidentally bumped a man behind him. The person was an elderly brunette bearded man with some scars on his face. He was wearing a goggles on his head, a maroon leather jacket, and a crimson scarf around his neck. He wore a dark shirt, pants and a pair of red sneakers. On his upper limbs, he had a pair of ferrari red metallic gloves. The bright bluish-white light was emanating on his chest.

" Watch your step, blondie, " the old man sternly echoed. " You just bumped an old man with an indestructible arc reactor. "

" I beg your pardon? " Amnon curiously raised his voice and tilted his head.

" An indestructible arc reactor, " he snarkly repeated his phrase and made an quote gesture with his hands. " What the hell's wrong with you, lad? Never heard of me? "

" No..."

The old man heavily sighed and facepalmed, " Oh, come on. You'd gotta be kidding me..."

" Look, I'm not kidding, " the young pink Kree man raised his voice and reasoned. " I haven't met you, before. I was expecting and finding someone who can train for holograms. Perhaps, he or she could be a Foundation scientist or someone else. "

" Nah-uh..."

" Then, who?! "

" You're talking to me, young man, " the bearded elder proudly and laterally moved his forearms. " I, Tony Stark aka Iron Man, shall teach you the greatest tech on the planet! "

Amnon snapped his fingers and recalled of Dr. Chris Halsey from a couple of years ago when a former scientist/engineer mentioned of himself working for Stark Industries. Stark looked puzzled and noticed his new apprentice, waiting for him to respond.

" Hey, Boy Scout! " he broke his silence to surprisingly catch the Kree's attention. " What's the matter with you? Do the freaks get your tongue? "

" No, sir... " Amnon dryly chuckled and repeated the word. " Boy Scout?! Seriously, my name's..."

" Ah-ah..." Stark dismissed. " I already know who you are, Montmartre. You don't need to tell me too much. "

" Don't tell me..."

" Read the report files from the MTF aka The Foundation and correspondences from the Late Maria Hill and your dear old mommy. Come on, Boy Scout! Why are you gonna waste your time chatting? It's your first day of class with me! Besides, your angelic being friend tells me of what you have done aside from your mommy and daddy. "

" So, are we gonna start? "

" Of course, Captain Obvious, " Stark scoffed and gestured his student to follow him. " Come with me. "

Amnon nodded no furiously and walked along with the elderly genius on the corridor. They reached the room when Stark instantly clapped his hands. The metallic wall automatically opened which happened to be a secret door to the former billionaire playboy genius. The pink Kree widened his eyes to his bewilderment and moved his head to and fro, seeing all the series of the Iron Man armors being placed inside the transparent containment glass. Amnon saw a prototype mechanical arm robot in display and slowly reached it like a curious child which he had never seen it in his lifetime.

" Hey, Boy Scout! Do not touch! " Stark echoed in warning. " You might break it into pieces! That thing is no longer functioning. "

" Right, right...sorry, " Amnon sighed to his embarrassment and slowly walked away from the display.

" Now, for your main session, " the elderly genius snapped his fingers when some radiant blue holographic screens flashed and surrounded the two men. " Professor Stark's Holographic Arts 101. You have to learn the art of swiping, flipping, and controlling the AI using your two hands. "

" Mr. Stark, how am I gonna use these? " Amnon asked baffled.

" Have you tried using computers, before? "

" No..."

" Well, then. Let me demonstrate it to you, Boy Scout. "

Elder Tony Stark raised his right hand and swiped the screens and images. Then, he was able to mix and combine all the data like holding a small globe using his both hands. Amnon was in awe when he smiled and clapped his hands.

" That's amazing! " the pink Kree commented.

" Why don't you even give it a try? " Stark smirked.

" But what if I..."

" Nah, you can do it, Boy Scout. Show me, what you've got! Come on! "

Amnon sighed and nodded no furiously when he started to swipe the image of star on the holographic screen. He was trying to imitate the retired Avenger's acts, but he couldn't. The pink Kree slowly turned the image into the other side of the screen. Stark crossed his arms and waited for his apprentice doing the basics. With Amnon's shaky hands, the image returned to its original position.

" It will take more time, seriously, " Stark said. " Again, focus..."

The pink Kree nodded again and used his left finger to swipe and flip the image. The elderly genius eyed closely at his apprentice and smiled. Amnon focusedly made the image swiped and moved it to the other holographic screen on his right.

" Hah, you did it, Boy Scout! " Stark happily beamed and grinned. " I knew you can. "

" I was just having trouble using my right..."

" So, you're a left handed? "

" Yes, sir. "

" Nah, that's fine. I'm sure you'll be able to use your both hands like I do. "

" Mr. Stark, it took years for you to do control your devices. "

" Hey, it's just a piece of cake. Anyone can learn it one snap! You're just doing it in baby steps. "

" Right..." Amnon nodded and used his right hand which he struggled to move the 'star'.

The pink Kree grimaced, but he was slowly and surely to make it happen. Finally, he was able to swipe it, but it quickly blazed out of the first holographic screen going to next. The star-like image ended up hitting a play button icon when there was an upbeat drum and cymbals echoed, following a series of an electric guitar strum in the key of B major and some male voice chants.

" Thunder!... Thunder! ...Thunder!...THUNDER!!"

Amnon trembled in fear and rushed into the other hologram which it played the classic heavy metal rock. He attempted to cease the loud background music and got hindered by an elderly genius, pulling him out of the playing music.

" Mr. Stark, I'm supposed to stop that..." he paused.

" Nah, you're doin' great! " the retired armored Avenger laughed and gave his young apprentice a pat on the back. " Good job, get used working with the holograms, Boy Scout! "

" I can do it? "

" Yeah, I knew you can! You're a pretty damn fast learner! Just keep on practicing! "

Amnon slowly widened his smile and heard the elderly genius's comment, while the music was still going. Elder Stark sighed in relief and looked at his young apprentice.

" Thank you, sir. "

" You're welcome, Boy Scout, " Stark sincerely smiled. " You still need more practice until you get acquainted to holograms for you to work. Now, let's get going! We still got the whole day to let you learn new tech tricks and some stuff to do! "

" Yes, sir. "

(HOURS LATER)

As Elder Stark and Amnon spent the entire day learning to use holograms for work, they both ended their session and decided to continue on the next day. The pink Kree man left the retired armored Avenger's secret rook and waved at him which he thanked and bid goodbye to his mentor. Stark waved back at him and smiled. Amnon walked along the corridor and saw a group of people coming and going.

He had to find his way into his homeflat which he felt lost once again. The pink Kree scratched his head and frowned to his confusion. He kept looking around and finding that direction of where he had headed this morning. Just then, a hooded man in dark clothes stood in front of him and held his wooden staff. Amnon knew that he could be the tyrant's spy. He was slowly stepping away from the cloaked one and thinking of running away.

" I'm not gonna hurt you, young man, " the old man calmly assured. " Don't be afraid. "

" W-who are you?! " Amnon shakingly asked. " W-What do you want from me? "

" My name is Shadex Ruins, " he replied. " I'm an Inhuman who can see the future like your father. "

" An Inhuman?! "

" Yes, " Shadex nodded and explained. " I was a slave like you, young man. Taryan's men captured and had let me separate from my family. I was experimented and enslaved. It took fifty years for me to spend in that New York Slave Den. "

" You were there, before? "

" Yes. "

" But why I didn't see you there? "

" I have escaped by playing dead in front of the Kree and Lizards. Then, they had come to take me to dispose me out of the slave den, " the elderly Inhuman answered.

" When did it happen? "

" That day when the invaders had mentioned of the new arrivals from Paris were with them. "

Upon hearing Shadex's answer, Amnon recalled the day when he got captured and brought to New York. He knew it was one of his worst experiences in life. The elderly Inhuman looked at blonde man with concern.

" Did I say something wrong? " Shadex asked.

" No, no, not at all, " Amnon slightly smiled.

" I'm so glad that you have escaped from the hellhole. "

" Yeah, it's a great thing that we meet each other, here. I never expect you to come here and visit me. "

" I know. "

" But can you tell me of your visit here? Is there something you should say to me? "

Shadex heard the young Kree man's question and gave him a serious look. Somehow, he was composing his thoughts and being careful not to alarm him. Amnon waited for him to respond and cocked his eyebrows.

" Look, young man. I'm sorry if I tell this to you, " the elderly Inhuman calmly broke his silence. " I don't want you to be alarmed from what I have said. This is going to happen very soon, but I want you to spend more time with your old man before he will slip away. Please make him happy and contented. I know you and him are still rebuilding your relationship, but you will never know how many days have left for him. Now, think of him as your real father. You may or may not even know that he's the one who you have been looking for in years. "

Amnon looked baffled and asked, " What are you talking about? Who are you referring to? "

" I cannot tell it. It is for you to think and search further. If I were you, I should have accepted him. You were very troubled from your ghosts and lies of the past. "

" Can I get a straight answer on this? "

" I'm afraid, I can't. You have to find it on your own. " the cloaked Inhuman sincerely smiled and walked away.

" Hey, wait- " Amnon paused as he was supposed to follow the mysterious old man. He sighed to his disappointment and thought , " Who the heck is that guy? Why is he telling me about my father? Can't he just tell me directly?! "

(That Evening)

After eating dinner and washing the dishes with his parents, Amnon looked at the simulation window, showing a sunset view of the national capital's skyscrapers and the White House from a distance. Then, he watched the animated imageries of people and vehicles coming and going like it seemed real to him.

" If you want to see and experience normality, I do too, " a calm deep voice echoed.

Amnon turned and noticed his father, from his behind, " Longing for this planet to live as it was? "

" Of course, son. What you're seeing is just a simulation from the past, " Methu-Selah answered.

" I know, " the pink Kree nodded. " Mr. Stark told me this morning that everything here is under artificial intelligence which he had kept and improved it for several decades. "

" It seems you have learned a lot from your training. "

" Exactly, I accidentally played his favorite song! " Amnon chuckled. " Not even sure if everyone heard it, it's too loud! "

" You surely enjoyed his company, " the Kree Eternal replied. " That former billionaire playboy genius has a wild sense of humour and hubris! "

" Exactly, Iron Man knew how to lighten up and crack a joke while we were working with the holographic controls! "

The two gentlemen conversed and laughed when Elder Carol Danvers kept listening at them. She was pleased to see them interacting and sighing.

" I hope Amnon will find the truth about his father, " she thought. " I know he will accept and understand him. "

(Shadex Ruins belongs to valorithsaga)