Millions of light years away, beyond myriad world barriers, their gazes intersect. They pierce through space and time, two stories, two lives, the same wisdom, the same thoughts, meet at this moment.
Stark, suited up in his mecha, stands atop the Stark Building, while Shiller lights a cigarette. Stark, looking down at the lights of New York City, comments:
"I've never felt as deeply as I do now, that someone out there is trying to change the world just like me."
"Change the world?" Schiller asks, "Why do you assume he's like you, trying to change the world?"
Stark shakes his head and says, "It's a resonance between geniuses. Perhaps you can't comprehend the wisdom and devotion encapsulated in those seemingly dull and boring numbers."
"But I can see him in it, his wisdom and his character. This is a communication between outstanding geniuses."
"What do you think he is like?"
"He's different from me, he didn't put so much passion into this, nor does he regard these genius-level research as the goal of his life."
"He doesn't care about creativity, nor the joy involved. I think he must be rather melancholic, but that doesn't matter..."
Shiller turns around to look at Stark and sees that his eyes, always a little moist, are bright under the distant city lights.
He hears the unique genius say, "We all are alike but yet so different. That's the wonderful thing about this world; it bestows almost identical wisdom on two completely different people."
This the first time Shiller has heard Stark acknowledge that someone else possesses the same kind of wisdom he does.
"No matter what our goals are, everyone in the human race should feel proud that they possess such incredible wisdom." Stark seems to never bow his head, and just continues to look ahead into the distance.
Despite the bright city lights of New York at night, in Shiller's eyes, the lights gradually dim, the city fades, and the road begins to stretch out. When he returns to Gotham, a harsh cold wind, like piercing gusts on the rooftop of Wayne Enterprises Building, greets him.
"I have always believed, regardless of what other species exist in the universe, the human race is always special." Batman stands on the rooftop and says to Shiller. The steadily growing lights of Gotham cast a warm glow on his mask.
"I also know, wherever that person is making his inventions and creations, he probably thinks the same as I do," Batman says.
"I had no idea you would think that someone else could share your thoughts."
"No one shares my thoughts exactly," Batman says.
"We all are unique..." Stark says.
"But that's what's wonderful about it."
"This is the essence of human wisdom..."
"Wisdom is really an amazing thing."
"...Astounding, isn't it?"
In Shiller's sight, the lights of Gotham and New York gradually meld together. Just as if at this very moment, the top geniuses of these two worlds stand face to face. They can't see each other, but they feel each other's presence.
Despite the insurmountable distance and the completely different times, they have completed an almost impossible communication.
It's as if these geniuses have found a convergence point in a complex web. All the radiating lights from this point correspond remotely with one another. Despite their differing identities, backgrounds, and roles, they exist in their respective worlds. But it's as if they share an intimate and telepathic bond.
Perhaps this is the greatness of mankind - they are forever spiritually connected and empathetic.
As night descends, Batman turns and leaves. Stark also departs. Victor sinks into a dream in the lab at Gotham University while Connors slowly drifts off to sleep in the Stark Tower Laboratory.
Time and space continuously bring countless shadows, only to take them away again.
In the end, only Shiller remains. He stands on the rooftop of the Stark Building. The stars light up the New York City night brightly.
He observes countless stars twinkling at the far ends of the night sky. Perhaps one of them is a beacon from another world.
The knowledge and wisdom of the geniuses echo in the distance, illuminating the beacon of civilization. Now, Shiller stands here, not as one of the beacons but a common man atop a skyscraper. Beneath him is the fire that mankind has kept burning for millions of years. Above his head are numerous beacons of light, rising from the distant world afar, thousands of miles apart but mutually gazing at each other.
He thinks, from primitive farming to the first ignition of a steam engine, from lighting the first electric lamp to the erection of countless skyscrapers, mankind has never ceased its exploration.
Crossing the boundaries of space and time, all wisdom has interwoven into a rope pulling the mighty ship of mankind forward. Great prodigies wave at each other across the river of time, and pioneers of civilization salute each other across spatial barriers.
Shiller thinks, if it is destined for him to be here, the ability to connect two worlds would be the greatest gift given to him by the Creator.
He brings people who would otherwise never meet, face-to-face, encourages heroes to admire each other, connects thoughts, and collides wisdom.
If his presence here must serve a purpose, a grand achievement, then Shiller hopes it would be much like what he is doing at this moment - igniting lines after lines of wisdom, gathering these lights into an inextinguishable fire of civilization, allowing it to rage, becoming an everlasting sun in the universe.
Then, one day, he will witness the grand ship named 'human civilization' sailing into the mysterious cosmos that our ancestors could only dream of.
By then, galaxies will shine together, billions of stars will glow simultaneously, and the radiance of this black sun will be inexhaustible forever.