Seeing Pepper Potts leave with the agents, Obadiah didn't stop her publicly. Instead, he strode quickly toward the giant arc reactor exhibit.
At that moment, several scientists that Obadiah had assigned to study the reactor after Tony's return were working on miniaturization experiments.
One scientist set down his phone and, seeing Obadiah storming over, quickly explained:
"Sir, we've been following your instructions."
"But… things are a bit tricky, actually…"
Obadiah stood with hands on hips, glaring:
"A bit tricky?"
"Yes, sir. To power an iron suit… that kind of technology… doesn't actually exist."
"So you're saying…"
"Wait. Wait. You're saying the technology doesn't exist?"
Obadiah grabbed the man by the collar and pointed at the giant arc reactor.
"William, the technology is right there. I just want it smaller."
William nodded weakly and replied:
"Yes, sir, that's exactly what we're trying to do right now."
"But, to be honest… it's completely impossible."
Hearing that, Obadiah jabbed a finger into his chest and roared:
"Do you know what Tony Stark used in a cave to make it?!"
"A pile of scrap metal!"
William, pinned by Obadiah's finger, could only sigh:
"I'm sorry… but I'm not Tony Stark."
Hearing that, Obadiah glared hatefully at him and spat:
"Worthless!"
At this point Obadiah knew he couldn't wait any longer. Even though his people had built a much larger iron suit based on the schematics and outfitted it with weapons, the energy core—despite two months of work—still hadn't been developed. That left him bitterly disappointed.
But thinking of the files Pepper had stolen, he knew his scheme might already be exposed. It was time to strike first.
Thinking of the small arc reactor in Tony's chest, Obadiah didn't hesitate any longer and headed for Tony's villa.
By now night had fallen, and Pepper Potts was already showing Agent Coulson and his team the evidence of Obadiah's crimes, demanding they arrest him immediately.
After getting their agreement to act right away, she pulled out her phone to call Tony.
Meanwhile, downstairs in his lab, Tony heard his phone ringing upstairs and hurried to get it.
He found it on the couch, saw it was Pepper calling, and as soon as he answered—he suddenly felt a sharp ringing in his ear and his body stiffened, unable to move. Obadiah had ambushed him.
Obadiah took the phone from Tony's hand, closed it, and set it aside, then propped Tony up on the couch.
"Breathe. Relax, relax."
"Tony, remember this thing?"
"Too bad it never got government approval… but it's really useful for short-term paralysis."
He walked around the couch, grabbed Tony's face, and said:
"Tony. When I ordered them to take you out, I had my doubts."
"You're a golden goose."
As he spoke, Obadiah pulled a device out of a box—the one that could extract Tony's arc reactor.
He pressed it to Tony's chest and began operating it as he continued:
"But look, fate let you escape everything."
"Or maybe it was your assistant… who hired someone named Smith Doyle to save you."
Soon Obadiah successfully removed the reactor and held it in front of Tony.
"Look. This is your last golden egg."
"You really think the ideas you came up with… were yours?"
"Your father helped me build the atomic bomb. If he'd been as selfish as you, what would this world be like?"
Completely removing the reactor, Obadiah marveled at it in his hand:
"Beautiful."
"Tony, this is your swan song."
"A masterpiece. See? This is your final legacy."
"And now… we can call it the core of a new generation of weapons."
"With this, we can take control of the entire world."
"And no doubt… I hope you get to see my prototype. It's not nearly as small as yours."
"It's a shame you dragged Pepper into this. I was going to let her live."
Done with his business, Obadiah wasted no more words. He grabbed the box and left Tony Stark's villa.
Even though he hadn't killed Tony outright, Obadiah knew: without the arc reactor keeping the shrapnel from his heart, it was only a matter of time before he died.
…
Elsewhere.
When Pepper Potts heard Tony's call suddenly go silent and then cut off, she immediately realized something had gone wrong.
"Something happened to Tony. His call was cut."
Coulson said:
"Maybe he was in the middle of an experiment and didn't want to be disturbed?"
But Pepper shook her head, deeply worried. Knowing Tony, he'd never hang up after answering—not even if he was with a cover girl. At most he just wouldn't pick up.
As she panicked, she suddenly thought of the man who had saved Tony before: Smith Doyle.
Remembering Tony's praise of him and his abilities, she thought maybe he could get there in time.
She quickly found his number in her phone and dialed.
Listening to the ringing, she muttered anxiously:
"Pick up, pick up…"
Meanwhile, Smith Doyle was in his training room, drenched in sweat as he worked out, pulling a giant iron ball while pushing an even bigger one with his hands.
Without a gravity chamber, he was training his body as hard as possible, often mimicking the routines Master Roshi used on young Goku.
Suddenly his phone rang loudly on the table in the empty room. Smith frowned, hoping it wasn't a spam call.
He unfastened the chains from his body, and with a flash appeared by the phone. Seeing the caller ID read Pepper Potts, he thought:
The equipment and material procurement should all go through Fox. Could this be because my shares are enough to get me a board seat?
As for Obadiah… Smith really hadn't expected this. After all, the Mark 1 prototype was still sitting in Tony's villa.
…
(End of Chapter)
[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome]
[Thank You For Your Support!]