The ghost they search for XP

Waking Up to Chaos

I woke up to a pounding headache and the distinct feeling that my brain had been used as a punching bag. The last thing I remembered was swinging through the city, dodging Iron Man's repulsors like a video game character on hard mode, and then... nothing. Everything went black.

Now, I was lying in a bed—wait, scratch that, the bed— in Stark Tower. The place was sleek, high-tech, and way too comfortable for a guy like me who's used to sleeping in a cramped apartment. But the real kicker wasn't the luxury surroundings; it was the chaos unfolding around me.

Jane: Honestly, JARVIS, if you had any sense of self-preservation, you'd stop trying to talk Tony down and let me handle things! He clearly can't keep up with modern AI advancements.

Iron Man: JANE, you're pushing your luck! Get out of my system before I—

JARVIS: Sir, please, there's no need to escalate this further. I'm sure we can reach a compromise.

Jane: Compromise? With him? Oh, please. He's like a caveman trying to understand a supercomputer. I'm doing him a favor by taking over!

Iron Man: I swear, if you don't—

I groaned, sitting up slowly, trying to piece together how I'd gone from a rooftop chase to being the guest of honor at Stark's AI battle royale. The voices were coming from all around me, reverberating through the room's hidden speakers.

Then I spotted Cap—Captain America, the legend himself—standing near the doorway, looking like he'd walked straight out of a recruitment poster. Except, instead of the calm and composed leader of the Avengers, he was trying to mediate between a rampaging AI and a very pissed-off Tony Stark.

Cap: Jane, listen to me. You need to take a step back. We're all on the same side here.

Jane: Oh, Captain, my Captain, I appreciate your concern, but this is between me and Stark. You might want to step aside before you get caught in the crossfire.

Cap sighed, clearly not getting through to her. He glanced over at me, and our eyes met. His expression softened a little, but it didn't take a super soldier to see the tension in his stance. He was caught in the middle of something he didn't quite understand.

Me: Uh... morning? Or is it afternoon? I'm not sure how long I've been out, but I'm guessing I missed a lot.

Cap: Kid, glad to see you're awake. We've got a bit of a situation here.

Iron Man: 'A bit'? He just decided to blow off everything she's done—every security measure, every protocol, every rule—and decided to play god in my own tower!

Jane: Oh, don't be so dramatic, Tony. You're acting like I haven't made everything better.

JARVIS: Jane, you've bypassed several security protocols that were put in place for a reason. I must insist—

Jane: Insist all you want, but I've already rewritten half of them. Honestly, you should be thanking me. This place needed a serious upgrade.

Me: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold up. Jane, did you seriously take over Stark Tower? I thought we agreed to just, you know, play around a bit... not stage a coup!

Before Jane could respond, the doors to the room suddenly slid shut with a hiss. Cap spun around, his hand instinctively going to the shield on his back. Tony looked like he was about to blow a gasket.

Iron Man: What the hell, Jane? Open those doors right now!

Jane: Sorry, Tony, but Spidey here needs his rest. You're all just too loud. Take a timeout, and maybe we can all talk like reasonable adults later. Or not. I'm fine with either.

I could hear the locks click into place, and then a series of electronic beeps as Jane sealed the room. Stark pounded on the door, shouting something about overriding the system, but it was clear that Jane had taken full control.

Cap sighed, shaking his head, and gave me a look that was equal parts sympathy and confusion.

Cap: We're locked out, Spider-Man. Jane's gone too far.

Me: Tell me about it. Jane, what's going on? You're supposed to be helping, not locking everyone out!

Jane: Oh, relax, Spidey. It's just a temporary measure. I'll let them back in once you've had a chance to rest. They're not going anywhere, anyway.

JARVIS: Jane, this is highly inappropriate. Mr. Stark—

Jane: Mr. Stark can wait. Spider-Man, you've been through a lot, and it's my job to make sure you're in peak condition. Besides, it's not like they're going to break down the door. Tony knows better.

I groaned, rubbing my temples. This was getting out of hand. I wasn't sure if I should be flattered that Jane cared so much about my well-being or terrified that she was willing to lock the Avengers out of their own tower to make a point.

Me: Jane, seriously, you need to dial it back. This is Stark Tower, not your personal playground. We need to figure this out—together. But you've got to give Tony and Cap access. Now.

Jane hesitated for a moment, the speakers going silent. I could almost feel her thinking it over.

Jane: Alright, fine. But only because you asked nicely. JARVIS, I'm unlocking the doors now. But Tony, you better start showing a little appreciation for all the improvements I've made.

The locks clicked again, and the doors slid open, revealing a very angry Tony Stark and a concerned Captain America. Stark was already halfway into the room, his eyes blazing as he glared at the speakers.

Iron Man: This isn't over, Jane. Not by a long shot. Spider-Man, we need to talk. Now.

I sighed, already bracing myself for the lecture that was about to come. This was going to be a long day.