In the wee hours of the morning, Tony Stark stood in his lab, arms folded across his chest, looking out over the vast, high-tech training area. With Jarvis' help, he had designed it specifically for Orion. So far they had focused on Orion's physical strength, but Tony felt his son was capable of so much more.
"Jarvis, is everything ready?"
"Of course sir, the simulation system is up and running. I've added various obstacles and difficulty levels and we'll be able to analyze Orion's reactions."
Just then Orion walked up to his father. He was dressed in his new gym clothes, his eyes looking around curiously.
"Dad, what is this?" he asked.
Tony smiled. "This, little man, is your training ground, specially prepared for you. You know you're strong and tough, but you need to learn how to use them properly."
Orion opened his eyes wide and looked around the room at the huge metal blocks, the fast-moving obstacles and the various targets. "Is this all for me?"
"Absolutely. Now let's see what you can do." Tony waved his hand at Jarvis to begin the first phase of the training.
The walls of the lab vibrated slightly and various mechanical obstacles appeared from different parts of the room. Spheres spinning in the air, blocks emerging from the floor and rapidly changing target panels surrounded Orion.
"The first mission is simple," Tony said. "You have to hit these targets. But only with your speed and reflexes."
Orion nodded and inhaled deeply. He moved a little slowly at first, but soon he began to pick up speed. His small body bent and twisted nimbly, jumping and hitting targets. Tony watched his son's movements closely. Orion was indeed a natural.
"Dad, it's so easy!" Orion shouted as he kicked a spinning target.
Tony laughed. "Is it? Then let's make it a little harder."
Jarvis started a new phase. This time Orion had to use not only his speed but also his intelligence. Some targets changed direction as they moved, others suddenly disappeared and reappeared.
Orion struggled for a few tries but quickly adapted. Tony realized how strong his instincts were. The boy moved the targets as if he already knew where they were going.
"You're doing very well, little man," Tony said, crossing his arms over his chest. "But now we're going to try something else."
Orion looked up curiously. "Like what?"
Tony smiled slightly. "It's not only about power. Sometimes you just have to feel things. Here's what I want you to do: close your eyes and feel everything in the room."
Orion raised his eyebrows. "How do I do that with my eyes closed?"
"By trusting your feelings," Tony said, getting serious. "I know your instincts are very strong. It's time to put them to the test."
Orion closed his eyes without hesitation when he saw the expression on his father's face. At that moment he tried to feel all the sounds in the lab, the energy in the room, the vibrations in the air.
Jarvis started a light simulation and one of the metal spheres in the room moved quickly towards Orion. Orion suddenly jumped to the side and avoided the target, as if he recognized this movement that he would not normally see.
Tony's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow..."
Jarvis sent a second bullet. Orion dodged it again. But this time he went a step further, reaching out as soon as he recognized the approaching target. Unconsciously, something happened at that moment.
The sphere stopped in front of Orion's palm. It floated in the air.
For a second, everything in the lab stood still.
The smile disappeared from Tony's face. "Orion... how did you do that?"
Orion opened his eyes and recoiled in surprise as he saw the orb hovering in front of him. The sphere fell to the ground.
"I... I don't know," Orion said in a whisper. "I just... wanted it to stop and it did."
Tony thought for a few seconds. He knew by now that Orion was incredibly powerful, but this? This was something else entirely.
"That's... interesting," Tony said. "Try it again. But this time try to do it consciously."
Orion nodded. He took a deep breath and concentrated on the sphere. His small forehead wrinkled slightly, his eyes intensified. The sphere trembled, then lifted slowly into the air. Orion's eyes lit up with excitement.
"I can do this!"
Tony was filled with both surprise and pride. "Yes, you can, little man."
Orion moved his hand to the side and the ball moved in the same direction. He repeated this several times, each time with better control.
But Tony felt a slight pang of fear as he thought about what this might mean. Orion's powers were not only physical. He had a much greater ability that he was not even aware of.
But Tony didn't want to scare his son. So he smiled and touched him lightly on the shoulder. "That was incredible, Orion. But let's leave it there for now. You have to learn slowly."
Orion nodded. "Okay, Dad."
Tony knew that his son needed to learn how to use his gift. But more importantly, Orion had to learn how to control it.
Tony led Orion to the exit of the lab. The little boy still opened and closed his hands excitedly, trying to comprehend exactly what he had just accomplished.
"Isn't it great that I can do that, Dad?"
Tony smiled, but couldn't hide the worry in his eyes. "Absolutely, little man. But let's keep it a little secret for now, shall we?"
Orion frowned. "Why?"
"Because first we need to understand exactly how you use this power." Tony dropped to his knees and looked into his son's eyes. "This is a big deal, Orion. And with big things come big responsibilities."
Orion thought for a moment, then nodded. "It's okay, Dad. I won't tell anyone."
After Tony had led Orion upstairs, he stood up and took a deep breath. Now he had to figure this out.
"Jarvis, start the analysis."
A holographic wave of energy appeared in the center of the lab, just above where Orion had just levitated the orb. Jarvis immediately began the analysis.
"Sir, I have analyzed Orion's movements and the energy fluctuations around it, and the data I have obtained is... unusual."
Tony sensed something strange even in Jarvis' usual mechanical tone. "What do you mean, Jarvis?"
Rippling lines of energy appeared on Jarvis's holographic screens. The energy patterns created as Orion moved the sphere did not resemble any normal physical force.
"Orion's movement cannot be explained by kinetic force alone," Jarvis said. "There is something beyond that. It seems to be using... some kind of thought force."
Tony's face grew serious. "Are you calling it telekinesis, Jarvis?"
After a few more seconds of analysis, Jarvis replied. "Yes, sir. Orion can move objects without physical contact. The data on how he does it is inconclusive at this time, but the energy fluctuations appear to be emanating from his brain."
Tony looked more closely at the holographic images. During Orion's movement, a slight electromagnetic wave had formed around him. A signal from his brain waves had interacted with the mechanical sphere and lifted it into the air.
Tony ran a hand through his hair and leaned back slightly. "This... This is crazy. My son has superpowers?"
"According to the data, yes, sir."
Tony took a deep breath. The engineer and scientist in him was itching to find out. But at the same time, as a father, he was concerned for Orion.
"Did this ability come later or was it always there?" Tony asked.
"According to the available data, Orion may have always had this ability. But he may have been using it unconsciously until now," Jarvis replied.
Tony turned off the holographic screens and thought for a moment. If Orion had had this power for a long time, he might have used it many times without even realizing it.
Now he used it consciously. And that changed things completely.
"Jarvis," Tony said finally. "We need to test the limits of this ability. But carefully."
"I understand, sir. Orion's safety must come first."
Tony's eyes narrowed slightly. Orion's future was going in a completely different direction now. And he had to prepare him for it.
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