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From the grand conference hall of Stark Tower, Tony stood, fury masked behind his usual charisma. Reporters crowded below with their expectant faces waiting for the news.
Behind him, a massive screen lit up. A video began.
A large metal suit, crudely designed, walked through a military testing ground, with Justin Hammer standing nearby, giving instructions. For a moment, the machine moved according to the instructions.
Its repulsors flared to life, and then... the machine jolted out of control. Sparks burst from its joints as it began to spin out of control. Screams rang out. Alarms howled. Soldiers dove for cover. The suit jolted violently, smashing through a barricade like it was paper. A transport truck was crushed under its bulk. In seconds, the rogue machine barreled straight into a fuel depot, erupting the air with smoke and flame.
The screen turned white.
Tony's voice cut through the silence.
"Five soldiers died that day because someone tried to replicate my suit. And that's not all—we are filing a lawsuit against Hammer Industries for using the Arc Reactor technology without permission. This is the price of arrogance posing as innovation."
The press room erupted—camera flashes lit the walls, reporters shouted over each other, and a wave of confusion rolled through the crowd. Tony was escorted away by the guards without waiting for the press.
Headlines ignited the digital world:
Hammer Industries Sued for $3 Billion Over Tech Theft of Intellectual Property.
Fatal Test: Congress Opens Emergency Hearing on Corporate Weapons Testing
#HammerFail Trends globally in under an hour.
Pepper, who had been waiting for Tony outside, stepped in beside him.
She whispered, "You've just declared corporate war—and fired the first shot."
Tony didn't look back. "Then let's see who bleeds first. I need to discuss something important with Alex—can you tell him to meet me at my house?"
Pepper wanted to ask why but just nodded and took out her phone.
---
Alex sat on the couch in his office, watching the press conference replay on the screen when his phone buzzed.
Reece's voice came through, tense but calm. "Sir, Dr. Hansen is asking to go outside. Says she can't stay in the lab any longer."
Alex stood. "I'll talk to her myself."
Alex stepped into the lab, the door hissing shut behind him. Maya stood by the table, arms crossed, face tight with frustration.
"No matter how long I stare at these samples, it doesn't change. The serum's stable, yes—but I can't improve it. I'm just… stuck. Trapped in here."
She turned to Alex. "I need out, Alex. I want to feel the sun. Smell trees. Breathe something that isn't recycled air."
Alex met her gaze. "Look, doctor—"
"Maya, just call me Maya," she cut in.
"Ms. Maya, you're not a prisoner. But Killian is still at large, and he wants what's in your head. You should understand the risk."
Maya nodded. "Yeah. I'm not stupid. Just... tired."
Alex thought for a moment and sighed. He gestured toward the door, where Davies was waiting.
"Fine. But Phoenix Squad goes with you. That's non-negotiable."
Maya gave a dry laugh. "Fine. But I'm not wearing a lab coat. Let me pretend I'm normal—just for one walk."
Alex nodded and walked toward Davies to give instructions.
---
Central Park was a beautiful place filled with nature's green. Maya walked slowly beneath the falling leaves. Her fingers brushed against the bark of an old oak, like greeting an old friend.
Four Phoenix operatives shadowed her quietly. Davies kept a casual pace nearby, sipping coffee, eyes never still.
By a fountain, Maya dipped her hands into the water. "Still real," she whispered. "Still something worth living for."
Davies gave a small nod.
Far above, a public CCTV camera silently recorded the scene.
---
Deep within Hammer Industries' reinforced bunker...
Justin Hammer stood before a wall of screens. Stock values plummeted, and alerts flashing red.
"Stark's tearing us apart," Hammer growled. "The media, the lawsuits... we'll be out of the picture if we don't strike back before the Expo."
Killian leaned against a console. "Then we take out Tony Stark before the expo."
Hammer turned slowly. "Are you serious?"
Killian stepped forward, eyes glowing faintly. "We give them a distraction they'll never forget."
Hammer tapped a control. The display changed—two gleaming suits appeared. Massive, deadlier versions of the Iron Monger.
"I have a surprise for Stark as well," he said with a grin. "Project Titan, version three. It's fast, strong, fully armed, and capable of flight."
Hammer smiled, and his eyes narrowed. "Once Stark is out of the picture, the military will be at our feet for this suit. Forget the military—maybe I'll play god myself, just like Stark... Well, Let's just see how he can handle this storm."
Suddenly, his bodyguard hurried over, holding a small display tablet in his hand.
"Sir. Dr. Hansen was spotted near Fifth Avenue. Central Park perimeter."
Hammer looked at the screen, seeing Maya Hansen alone at the park; his eyes lit up. "She's in New York?" He grinned. "Of course. Right under Kane's nose. That means Kane operatives might be nearby."
He slammed the alert button. "Activate all Extremis teams. Maya Hansen is top priority. She must be taken alive. No exceptions."
Killian watched the feed.
"With her brain added to this," he said softly, "we can finish what we started. No more failures. No more limits."
He touched the screen gently.
"Bring her to me. With her our army will be ready."
---
Five hours later, Alex arrived at Tony's house. Tony met him with a half-hearted smirk.
"Did you like the show I put on? Hammer's going to be spinning for days."
He paused. "By the way, how's your work with Maya going?"
Alex leaned against the wall. "The serum's stable. Healing is slowed so the body doesn't overload. Why?"
Tony hesitated. "Can it heal toxins within the body?"
Alex frowned, recalling the strange dark marks he'd seen before. "Hold on... are you poisoned?"
Tony dodged the question. "It's... complicated."
Alex moved closer. "Let me see."
Tony resisted, but Alex used his enhanced strength to tear open Tony's shirt. Veins like black lightning webbed from the arc reactor on Tony's chest.
"Palladium," Tony admitted. "It keeps me alive... but also at the same time it's killing me."
Alex asked the system in his mind. 'Is there any option to remove this?'
[Healing serum can temporarily cleanse the body. Anti-Poison Serum will delay further damage. Total effect: 72 hours.]
Alex cursed. He vaguely remembered something from the movies but hadn't paid enough attention to recall how Tony solved this.
He turned. "Extremis might help, but if the Palladium keeps poisoning you, your body will constantly regenerate. The cycle will be unimaginably painful."
He purchased and handed over two glowing vials. "Take these. First one can heal you. Second, it blocks the poison—for three days."
Tony examined them. Then, without a word, downed the first.
It took a moment to kick in. His body spasmed. "It itches—" Then he doubled over, vomiting black sludge.
Blue rays passed through Tony. JARVIS spoke. "Toxin levels are decreasing. Full-body scan confirms all wounds are healed."
Tony heard that and was stunned. "What the hell did I just drink? I need a ton of-."
"It's just a temporary fix. You still find a replacement." Alex stopped him midway.
Tony nodded slowly. "I've tried every combination..."
Before he could finish, Alex's phone buzzed. He checked it and tensed.
"Maya's in trouble. How fast can you get me to New York?"
Tony blinked. "You know how to fly?"
Alex raised a brow. "Can't you just get me a pilot?"
Tony grinned. "I'm not talking about a plane."
Alex's eyes widened. Then one side of his mouth curled.
"Does it come with a tutorial?"