As the call connected, Pepper Potts's voice came through, filled with anxiety.
"Mr. Smith, something's happened to Tony. The call went through, but there was no sound, and then it got cut off."
"Not long ago, I found evidence at the company proving that Obadiah tried to kill Tony. But just as I was copying the files, Obadiah walked in. I got away with the evidence, but I didn't have time to cover my tracks."
"He might have realized what I was doing. I'm worried he's made a move on Tony."
"I need you to go check. If anything's happened to Tony, please... I'm begging you, help him."
"Please."
Through Tony Stark, Pepper had come to learn a bit about Smith Doyle and his strange abilities. She even knew he was the one who had rescued Tony before. That's why she reached out to Smith instead of Tony's military friend, Colonel Rhodes.
If Rhodes went, Tony might already be dead by the time he arrived. Only Smith Doyle could possibly make it in time.
Agent Coulson, who was leading a team of agents nearby, was surprised when he heard that Pepper had called Smith Doyle.
He didn't realize their relationship was already that close. Maybe it was something Smith had intentionally cultivated. He also wondered how much Pepper really knew about Smith Doyle. Given the distance, could Smith really make it in time?
Or was there something deeper going on here—some secret he wasn't aware of?
It also seemed like Smith Doyle's relationship with Tony Stark needed to be reevaluated.
Back in his training chamber, Smith Doyle quickly understood the situation after hearing Pepper's story. Without hesitation, he agreed.
"Alright. I'll head there right away."
"Trust me. Tony's not the type to go down so easily. He'll be fine."
After hanging up, Pepper turned to Coulson and said, "I know a shortcut. Follow me."
Tony might be in danger, and they might not make it in time, but letting Obadiah go wasn't an option either.
Smith didn't waste a second. This was practically a free favor, and those were his favorite kind.
"By now, I've almost saved Tony four times."
"If he really does die one day, me inheriting Iron Man's mantle and Stark Industries shouldn't be too much of a stretch, right?"
Smith Doyle said half-jokingly before heading out. Still dressed in his training clothes, he left the base, dodged the surveillance, and soared into the sky using the Bukū-jutsu.
He knew this incident marked the beginning of Marvel's big events. The world was only going to get more chaotic, and the day the Dragon Balls would be recharged was drawing closer.
Exploding into flight, Smith created sonic rings behind him, blasting toward Tony's coastal mansion at supersonic speed. Any slower and Tony might just end up saving himself.
Luckily, it was nighttime. Under the cover of darkness, no one noticed the abnormality in the sky. Tony had flown plenty of times before without getting caught.
And even if S.H.I.E.L.D. or Hydra noticed, Smith really didn't care.
---
At that moment, Tony was lying rigidly on the sofa, staring up at the ceiling in shock. He couldn't believe that the one who had betrayed him was Obadiah—someone he had seen as his only family left in the world, someone he had respected as a beloved uncle.
He never imagined even the previous kidnapping had been orchestrated by Obadiah. And now, the man had removed the arc reactor from his chest—leaving him for dead.
Still, even in this desperate situation, Tony didn't give up. Obadiah hadn't killed him outright, so he had a sliver of a chance to survive.
Tony knew that the shrapnel would reach his heart after the paralysis wore off. That timing—that slim window—was his only chance.
He also knew there was still one spare arc reactor left. There had originally been two, but the one in the Mark II suit driven by Bulma had been destroyed.
Every second felt like an eternity.
By now, Smith Doyle had reached the outside of Tony's mansion. Without a key or authorization from JARVIS to be let in, he didn't hesitate.
He blasted the door open with a ki blast and strode inside.
As soon as he stepped into the living room, he spotted Tony lying on the sofa like a corpse.
His face was pale, his body motionless—he looked like he'd been dead for days. For a moment, Smith panicked.
Did Obadiah already kill him? Was there no Iron Man in this universe?
Wait. There was still a faint life force.
Sensing Tony's qi hadn't disappeared completely, Smith instantly appeared beside him.
Tony's face was ghostly pale, his chest an open cavity, his breathing faint and labored.
Smith could tell that Tony was still paralyzed. The bulging veins on his forehead were proof enough.
Tony looked up at the man who had appeared before him. Though he couldn't speak, his eyes were full of gratitude.
He knew there was no way he could ever repay the debt he owed this man. The only reason Smith showed up now was probably because Pepper noticed something wrong in that cut-off call.
As for Obadiah's sudden betrayal, Tony guessed it must have been triggered by whatever Pepper had uncovered at the company.
Though Tony wanted to tell Smith he needed an arc reactor, the paralysis kept him silent.
Seeing this, Smith didn't waste a second. He headed straight for the underground lab. With no access code, he brute-forced his way in again.
He initially intended to find the arc reactor from the Mark II suit Bulma had used, but the suit's chest cavity was empty.
The lab was a mess, littered with parts, but the spare arc reactor was nowhere to be seen.
With no time to spare, Smith finally reached for the gift Pepper had given Tony—the old arc reactor encased in glass.
He shattered the case with one hand, took the arc reactor, and teleported back to Tony's side.
Using the scene from the movie as a reference, Smith quickly installed the reactor into Tony's chest.
As soon as it clicked into place, the shrapnel in Tony's body was pulled away, and his life was no longer in danger.
Though he still couldn't move due to the paralysis, Tony knew he was out of the woods.
Once he recovered, his next steps were clear: take down Obadiah and protect Pepper Potts.
—End of chapter—
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