(Preshow) Staging Area

[The Vision]

The Vision continued to run programs in his head when what seemed to be a loud voice spoke in his head.

"Scanning for name..." the voice boomed.

The Vision glanced around to see if anyone had spoken. None were found. The Vision postulated The Vision eventually answered, after some thought, "the Vision."

The voice flew out from his head. To a normal human, the sensation would be difficult to explain. Assume that a conscious voice can be quantifiable in terms of matter or energy. Then the sensation was that of one such voice acted upon one's own by Newtonian forces. And in this process, Presumably, the voice carried the results of the inquiry to whoever sent it. So, not a person with superhuman psychic abilities. Perhaps a foreign computer of some sort?

> access FirewallSettings
FirewallSettings found
0010100101110101000010101001110100100000000011101011...

The Vision read them carefully. According to his internal security protocols, the intruder was not hostile, unlike previous hackers like Ultron. He decided to entertain the program for a little while.

The voice returned, floating and pushing its way through into Vision's programming.

"Threat Level?"

Vision frowned. "That is quite rude, sir."

The program departed and the Vision scowled. When it returned, he was not in a better mood.

"Weapons?"

Vision scowled. Though it may not be hostile, the program certainly was not friendly, either.

"Query: Why do you want to know?" the Vision muttered through mentally grit teeth.

The program left. It returned with "Disposition?"

The Vision was about to snap at the program again, but he recomposed himself and answered, "Usually, genial."

Then the Vision smiled as he realized whoever was receiving the information must be very confused.

He added, "Query: Why do you not talk to me in person?"

The Vision smiled as the program left again. This hacker had accidentally granted access to Vision's programming, allowing the synthezoid to be able to review some intel regarding the individual. A man sitting across the room adjusted his technologically enhanced spectacles, then shook his head concernedly. Vision hypothesized this to be his man.

> print()

"That was no computing error. I have simply opened communications with you. While I consider your scans to be somewhat invasive, I would like to meet you, as earlier mentioned..."

The Vision stood up and started walking over to the hacker. He had lowered his density and phased through the floor, allowing him to approach the hacker undetected. When he emerged again, he was seated in his chair. This action solicited a series of body movements, including facial expressions, which Vision recognized as shock. The Vision smiled, and this time, he spoke aloud. 

"...personally."

A waitress, completely nonplussed by Vision's performance, brought a menu over to him. The Vision looked up and smiled warmly.

"Ah, that will not be necessary," he said, "But thank you."

The waitress returned the smile, but as soon as she turned, she muttered just under her breath, "Why do we even let bots into cafes?" The Vision ignored the rude comment and looked at the hacker across from him. 

"Interrogative: Is Hiro Protagonist your birth name?"