Cosmos's eyes lit up with excitement. "D-Did she really say that?"
Tony couldn't help but chuckle at Cosmos's reaction. The man was practically beaming like a teenager who'd just received praise from his crush.
"Yes, she did. But don't let it get to your head," Tony replied, amused by how much this grown man valued his mother's opinion.
Cosmos nodded eagerly, trying to maintain some composure but failing miserably. "Of course, of course. I was just curious. It's nice to know that someone of her caliber recognizes my abilities."
Tony observed Cosmos for a moment, thinking how strange adults could be. They often pretended to be cool and collected, but deep down, they craved validation just as much as children did.
"So," Tony said, changing the subject, "do you think Evil will contact us?"
Cosmos's expression shifted back to seriousness. "Hard to say. Midnight Fang Pack members are known to be fiercely loyal. Even if he's just a partner as he claims, they have ways of ensuring loyalty."
"Everyone has a price," Tony stated matter-of-factly. "It's just a matter of finding what that price is."
"You sound like your father when you talk like that," Cosmos remarked.
Tony didn't respond to that comment. Instead, he stood up and stretched his arms. "I need to check something. Can you monitor the system for any suspicious activities while I'm gone?"
"Sure thing, boss," Cosmos replied, only half-jokingly. He had quickly learned that despite Tony's age, the boy commanded respect through his abilities alone.
As Tony walked away, his mind drifted to the encounter with Evil. There was something familiar about the way Evil operated—something that reminded him of someone he knew. But he couldn't quite place it.
Tony made his way to a quiet corner of the facility and pulled out his phone. He needed to call Spencer to check on Nelly's condition.
After a few rings, Spencer answered. "Hello?"
"Spencer, it's me," Tony said. "How's Nelly doing?"
There was a brief pause on the other end. "She's stable. No significant changes since yesterday."
Tony frowned. No improvement wasn't exactly good news. "And the new treatment approach?"
"I'm still working on it," Spencer replied, his voice neutral but Tony could detect the underlying frustration. "These things take time."
"Time is something we don't have much of," Tony said firmly. "Have you spoken with Thalia?"
Another pause. "No, I... I haven't had the chance to discuss it with her yet."
Tony sighed. He knew Spencer was in a difficult position. Telling Thalia the truth about the antidote would undoubtedly upset her, but keeping her in the dark wasn't fair either.
"You need to tell her eventually," Tony said. "She deserves to know."
"I know," Spencer admitted. "But now isn't the right time. She's happy, Tony. For the first time in years, she's genuinely happy."
Tony understood Spencer's reluctance, but he also knew that secrets had a way of revealing themselves at the worst possible moments.
"Just don't wait too long," Tony warned. "The longer you wait, the worse it will be when she finds out."
"I'll handle it," Spencer promised. "How are things on your end?"
Tony briefly explained about breaching Midnight Fang Pack's defenses and his interaction with Evil.
"You think you can recruit someone from Midnight Fang Pack?" Spencer sounded skeptical.
"Worth a try," Tony replied. "We need all the help we can get."
After ending the call, Tony returned to find Cosmos still at the computer, monitoring the system diligently.
"Any activity?" Tony asked.
Cosmos shook his head. "Nothing significant. They're probably regrouping, trying to figure out what hit them."
Tony nodded and sat back down at the computer. He opened a secure messaging platform and checked for any incoming messages. Nothing yet.
Just as he was about to close the application, a notification appeared. A message from an unknown sender:
"You've got my attention. Who are you really?"
Tony smiled. It was Evil.
"Someone who recognizes talent when he sees it," Tony replied. "And someone who can offer you something better than what Midnight Fang Pack has."
"Prove it," came the quick response.
Tony considered his options. He needed to offer something substantial enough to entice Evil but not reveal too much about himself or his operation.
"I can offer you protection from Midnight Fang Pack's retaliation, for starters," Tony typed. "Plus, a generous compensation package. But most importantly, freedom to work on projects that actually matter."
There was a longer pause this time before Evil's response appeared:
"Meet me. Tomorrow. 10 PM. I'll send coordinates."
Tony raised an eyebrow. A face-to-face meeting was risky, but it also showed that Evil was seriously considering his offer.
"I'll be there," Tony replied.
Cosmos, who had been reading over Tony's shoulder, looked concerned. "You're not seriously planning to meet with him, are you?"
"Of course I am," Tony replied. "It's the only way to build trust."
"It could be a trap," Cosmos warned. "Midnight Fang Pack could be setting you up."
Tony nodded. "That's why I won't be going alone. I'll need backup."
"Count me in," Cosmos said without hesitation.
Tony looked at him, surprised by his quick offer to help. "You sure? This could get dangerous."
Cosmos shrugged. "If Ms. Jackson thinks I have potential, I should probably start living up to it, right?"
Tony couldn't help but smile. "Right."
As they began planning for the meeting, Tony's phone buzzed with a message from Dave:
"We've got what we needed from Midnight Fang Pack. Good work. But be careful—they're not the type to take defeat lightly."
Tony typed a quick reply: "Already one step ahead. Might be recruiting one of their guys."
Dave's response was immediate: "Don't take unnecessary risks. We need you in one piece."
Tony put his phone away and turned his attention back to the planning. He had a feeling that the meeting with Evil would be a turning point—either the beginning of a valuable alliance or a dangerous confrontation.
Either way, he needed to be prepared.