---
After watching Pepper Potts leave with the agents, Obadiah didn't try to stop her in public. Instead, he quickly made his way to the exhibition area for the massive arc reactor.
Several scientists—whom Obadiah had assigned to this project after Tony's return—were hard at work trying to miniaturize the reactor.
One of the scientists hung up a call and, seeing Obadiah storming toward them in a fury, immediately stepped forward and said:
"Sir, we've been conducting the research as you instructed. The problem is... it's trickier than we thought. Actually—"
"Trickier?" Obadiah snapped, hands on his hips as he glared.
"Yes, sir. There's no existing technology that can power the Iron Armor the way you want."
"What are you saying..."
"Wait, wait—did you just say the technology doesn't exist?" Obadiah grabbed the scientist and pointed furiously at the massive arc reactor on display.
"William, the technology is right there!"
"I'm just asking you to shrink it!"
William replied calmly, "Yes, sir, and that's exactly what we're trying to do. But to be honest... it's completely impossible."
"Incredible," Obadiah growled, jabbing a finger at the man's chest. "Do you have any idea what Tony Stark built in a cave?! With a box of scraps!"
William sighed, "I'm sorry, sir... I'm not Tony Stark."
That response only made Obadiah's expression darken even further. He shot the scientist a look of utter contempt and barked:
"Useless!"
Despite the setback, Obadiah knew time was running out. He had already spent over a day getting a larger version of the Iron Man suit built—complete with weapon systems. But after two months, his people still hadn't managed to create a viable power source.
He was deeply disappointed.
And now, with Pepper having copied incriminating evidence, the situation could blow up at any moment.
If he wanted to come out on top, he had to make his move first.
Thinking of the arc reactor in Tony's chest, Obadiah didn't hesitate. He immediately headed to Tony Stark's mansion.
---
Night had fallen.
Back at the office, Pepper was now showing Coulson and the other agents the evidence she'd copied—proof of Obadiah's crimes. She requested that they arrest him immediately.
Once they agreed, she quickly pulled out her phone and dialed Tony's number.
Downstairs in his lab, Tony heard his phone ringing from upstairs. He walked up, found it on the sofa, and answered the call.
But just as he pressed "accept," a low-pitched buzz rang in his ears. His entire body froze.
Obadiah had ambushed him.
He calmly took the phone from Tony's hand, hung up, and set it aside before gently easing Tony's stiff body back onto the sofa.
"Breathe... relax. Relax."
"Tony, remember this little gadget?"
"It's unfortunate—it never got government approval. But it causes temporary paralysis. Comes in real handy sometimes."
Obadiah walked around the couch, crouched next to Tony, and cupped his face.
"Tony... when I gave the order to eliminate you, I hesitated. After all, you're the golden goose."
Then he opened a case and pulled out a device designed to extract the arc reactor from Tony's chest.
As he positioned it and began operating the mechanism, he continued,
"But fate had other plans, huh?"
"Or maybe it was your assistant... hiring that Smith Doyle guy to save you."
With a click, the device successfully removed the arc reactor. Obadiah held it in front of Tony's face.
"You see this? This is your final golden egg."
"You really thought those genius ideas of yours were just yours?"
"Your father helped me build the atomic bomb. If he had been as selfish as you... what kind of world would we live in today?"
Admiring the now-detached reactor in his hand, Obadiah said in awe:
"It's beautiful."
"Tony, this is your swan song."
"A true masterpiece. Take a good look—it's your final legacy."
"And now, we can finally call this the core of a new generation of weapons."
"With this, we'll control the world."
"No doubt about it. And I'd love for you to see my prototype. It's not as sleek as yours—but it packs a punch."
"Shame you dragged Pepper into this too. I was thinking of sparing her."
With that, Obadiah packed up everything and left the mansion.
He hadn't killed Tony directly, but he knew that without the arc reactor to stop the shrapnel from reaching his heart, it was only a matter of time before Tony died.
---
Meanwhile…
Back at the office, Pepper's expression changed the moment the call was cut off.
"Something's wrong. Tony answered the phone—and then it went dead."
Coulson tried to reason with her. "Maybe he's just working on a project and didn't want to be disturbed?"
Pepper shook her head. "No. Not Tony. If he didn't want to talk, he wouldn't have answered in the first place. Even if he was… busy with some model, he'd just ignore the call—not hang up right after answering."
Panicking, she suddenly thought of the only person who might still be able to help—Smith Doyle. The man who saved Tony once before.
Tony always praised him. If anyone could get there in time, it would be him.
She quickly found his number and dialed.
As the call rang, she clenched the phone and muttered under her breath.
"Come on… pick up… please pick up."
---
At that moment, Smith Doyle was in his training chamber, drenched in sweat, dragging a giant metal sphere behind him while pushing an even larger one in front. Without a gravity chamber, this was the best way he could simulate intense training—just like how Master Roshi trained Goku.
Suddenly, the phone on the table rang, loud and sharp in the quiet room. Smith frowned slightly. Hopefully not another spam call.
He removed his chains, and in a whoosh, he was standing by the table. When he saw the caller ID—Pepper Potts—he was surprised.
"Wasn't Fox in charge of handling equipment and materials? Maybe the shares reached a threshold and they want to give me a seat on the board?"
As for Obadiah being the villain? Smith hadn't really expected it. After all, the Mark I armor prototype was still sitting in Tony's mansion.
---
Author's Note:
Always drink water! It's really important ngl.