[Check Out My P4treon For +30 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! And get chapters before publishing them here for free on my p4treon][https://p4treon.com/talkfictome]
===
Obadiah's sorrowful voice echoed from the television screen, his face a mask of grief as if he were on the verge of mourning Tony right then and there. The old man's acting was truly convincing, almost on par with Kael's.
No one connected Tony's disappearance with Obadiah; after all, he was Tony's mentor and surrogate father. Tony's seamless takeover of Stark Industries years ago was largely due to Obadiah's guiding hand. Now that Tony was missing and a power vacuum had formed, Obadiah moved naturally into the gap. To avoid suspicion, he kept Pepper Potts in her position. In his eyes, Tony was already a ghost—there was no need to rush and cause unnecessary friction.
Kael turned off the TV, left his apartment, and drove to a factory on the outskirts of New York. The construction of the smart weapon production line was proceeding perfectly. With Obadiah's full backing, Kael was implementing his designs with unprecedented speed.
Obadiah understood management and finance, but his grasp of high-end tech was superficial. He couldn't discern the hidden intentions Kael had woven into the machinery. Kael hadn't invested this much effort just to make pistols; he was building a foundation for something much larger.
"I was right about you; you are even more outstanding than I imagined," Obadiah praised, his face devoid of the sadness he'd shown the cameras. Power was clearly the old man's best tonic. He felt he had Kael completely under his thumb.
"This is all due to your support, Chairman," Kael replied with a submissive smile.
Hearing the word "Chairman," Obadiah beamed. Sensible young man, he thought. Kael, meanwhile, was already planning to buy the old man a very nice (non-plastic) wreath for his eventual funeral.
"I've arranged to meet with the military representative," Obadiah said. "Complete the line this month. I want a new military order to restore market confidence."
"It will be done," Kael promised. He knew Obadiah was likely already picking out a new name for the company. He couldn't wait to see the man's face when Tony eventually returned.
Kael's F.R.I.D.A.Y. smart pistols were more than weapons; they were listening posts. Every time Obadiah gloated over his plans while carrying the prototype Kael gave him, the gun recorded it. The AI inside was Kael's creation—a sub-entity similar to Delamain. By releasing more smart devices, Kael was essentially spreading a hive-mind of "digital idiots" that would learn, fuse, and evolve.
"Boss, why do I feel like Director Stane isn't as sad as he looks on TV?" Martin whispered as Obadiah left the factory.
"Would you be sad if a promotion like that fell into your lap?" Kael retorted.
"Understood," Martin nodded.
"How is the server setup? When can F.R.I.D.A.Y. move?"
"Completed by tonight," Martin promised.
Computing power is the lifeblood of AI. Tony had leveled an island for J.A.R.V.I.S.; Kael was making do with a high-end local cluster. Obadiah was footing the bill for now, but Kael knew he'd need a richer "sugar daddy" soon to cover the astronomical electricity costs. Tony, with his endless pockets and emotional soft spots, was the perfect candidate.
By evening, the relocation was complete.
"Transfer successful... Restarting... How may I assist you?" F.R.I.D.A.Y.'s mischievous voice pulsed through the high-definition speakers Obadiah had unwittingly paid for.
"Self-diagnose," Kael commanded.
"Bang bang beep dong... System nominal. I feel great, Master!"
"According to my data records, I should express gratitude. Allow me to sing—"
"Not allowed," Kael cut her off. The AI's expressions were more refined now, a result of the increased processing power. It was a good start on the long road to true consciousness.
That night, Pepper Potts sat in her dark apartment, exhausted. Tony's disappearance had shattered her. Her power at Stark was tied to him, and while Obadiah kept her on, she was now a mere figurehead. She didn't want to believe he was gone, but the odds were astronomical.
The doorbell rang. She checked the peephole and saw Kael standing there with a pizza box.
"Miss Pepper, would you like some pizza? It's still hot."
She let him in, more out of confusion than hunger. Kael sat on the sofa, took a bite, and looked her in the eye. "Tony's disappearance was not an accident."
Pepper froze. "What do you mean?"
Kael didn't explain. He connected his phone to her laptop. Immediately, Obadiah's voice filled the room, cold and calculating, detailing his betrayal. Pepper covered her mouth, her eyes trembling.
"Obadiah doesn't know my smart pistol has a recording function," Kael said.
"Is Tony... is he still alive?" she whispered.
"Probably. My smart pistols all have tracking devices. This is a signal capture device." Kael handed her a small unit. "If the people who took him have his gear, we can find him. The range is ten kilometers."
"Thank you, Kael," Pepper gasped, clutching the device like a lifeline.
"You're welcome. Tony is my idol, after all," Kael chuckled softly. "The rest is up to you. Obadiah is watching me; I had to slip his tail just to get here."
"I know who to call," Pepper said. She immediately thought of Rhodey.
Kael wiped his hands and stood up. "I'll be going then." He knew that after tonight, Pepper would see him as her most trusted ally.
In a cave half a world away, Tony Stark was not living a life of luxury.
He was hungry, tired, and covered in grease, but his spirit was forged as hard as the iron he was hammering.
"Even if I ate it a hundred more times, I'd still say it, Yinsen: your cooking is awful," Tony complained, stirring a bowl of thin gruel.
"It is the ingredients, not the chef," Yinsen replied with a tired smile.
Tony grumbled but licked the bowl clean. He needed every calorie. The Arc Reactor in his chest was glowing, a miniature sun born in the darkness, and the suit was almost ready.
===
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 50 on my patreon, go check it out
exclusive 18+ character images, and early chapters, please visit my Patreon. Thanks for your support!
p4treon.com/talkfictome
if you want more updates == supports with power stones
Every 50 Power Stones == Bonus Chapter
every three 5-star reviews == Bonus Chapter