Eeeeeek!
The mics let out an intense hum at being pushed away.
Matthew Ellias cursed at Tony and stormed off the stage. The man had expected Tony to be tough, but this was like destroying all decorum.
Sadly, Matthew failed to realize that, unlike his other colleagues, Tony didn't give a fuck about his existence.
Edward Nomm, meanwhile, walked over to Tony and shook his hand.
"Be careful."
Tony didn't like that one bit and continued to talk. "Edward Nomm, wasn't your first wife's death a real mystery back in the eighties? Never solved. You tied the knot again just a week later—talk about moving on quickly! Guess you really loved your new wife, huh?"
Politics was never an easy ladder to climb. One had to dip their hands in the mud, and sometimes blood. At times, some lose themselves to their power. For old men with decades-long political careers, it wasn't hard for Tony to find dirt.
By the end of it, only Tony was left on the stage. Was it a victory? It was for the people to decide. To him personally, it was a massive win.
No doubt, many other ambitious men looking at the debate felt lucky for not participating. Especially the current President.
Tony Stark had no breaks on his mouth.
####
At the Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
"He's bold," Charles muttered.
"He's reckless," Erik added.
The two men sat in Charles' office and stared at the screen showing the debate. That was if it could even be called a debate. It was a career murder with words.
"He'll make more enemies than he can afford at this rate. Are you still going to pin your hopes on him?" Erik asked his old friend. He had grown accustomed to the momentary truce that they had formed. "He can't help us if he can't help himself."
"Stark has resources that allow him to plan ahead. Whatever he is doing right now is to win the election, not win favors. He hates the bureaucracy and the current landscape. He's going to uproot it and he's not hiding his threats. He wants them to come after him in the open so he knows who he has to deal with." Charles evaluated deeply. "He did well."
####
New York City, SHIELD headquarters.
"You really unleashed chaos up there, Stark. Remind me to keep you off the mic next time." Fury muttered as he led Tony deeper into the building's underground area.
"Yeah, didn't like their faces." Tony was hardly paying attention, however. He was more focused on the fine lady walking beside him, Maria Hill. "Got any dinner plans?"
Maria ignored Tony and kept walking. Although she wanted to reply, there was Fury nearby.
"You were looking for a more advanced energy source, as I've been informed. Well, I think we might have something that fits the bill," Fury said, his tone steady and authoritative. "We're still in the research phase, but given your role as an advisor to Shield, I'll let you take a look. Just remember, this is classified."
Finally, their elevator arrived at the bottom floor and Fury walked out. The entire corridor was filled with armed guards. At the end was a sealed door that Fury opened using his fingerprint and a code.
Tony became focused at that point. To make the theorized Light Speed Engine, he needed an energy source.
Woosh!
The steel door opened. Murmurs came from inside, there were men at work. No, they were scientists at work.
"We're relocating the research to another base in a few days. You've got until then to do whatever you need with it. Make it count." Fury finally brought Tony to a secured, small, cubical chamber with a small pillar at the center on which a glowing blue cube was placed.
Tony frowned at the sight, becoming entranced by the glowing cube. He walked closer to it while analyzing all the data that Jarvis read through his glasses. Energy rating off the charts. The vibrations, the frequency, and the density.
"What is this thing?" Tony asked and raised his hand to touch it. He expected Fury to stop him, but that didn't happen. For a reason, since he quickly retracted his hand as it was scorching hot. "Alien?"
"We call this thing Tesseract."
Tony walked around the cube, looking at every corner. It was easy to guess a few things.
It's definitely a container for something.
"Your father uncovered it and dug deep into the research. Feel free to check his notes if you're interested," Fury added.
"Dad?" Tony looked back in a bit of surprise. "Where is it?"
"Agent Hill, get Stark those research notes," Fury ordered and stepped back. "I'll leave you to it. The Tesseract stays here, but feel free to explore as you wish."
Tony ignored Fury and returned to observe the Tesseract. Sometime later, he received the research papers. He sat down right on the floor and started reading them. What he wanted to know was if his dad had found what was inside the casing.
Theories, formulas, and possibilities. The history with Hydra, and the possible uses in aircraft and other weapons. He scoffed when he realized that most of the research his father did was around turning the thing into a weapon, something he despised now.
This is useless. Tony put away the research papers and looked back at the tesseract. I'll need my tools. This thing can help me make a stronger Arc reactor.
"Is this it?" He looked back at Maria Hill. "What about Shield research?"
"That's… classified."
"Classified? Of course, it is. But, hey, not for long, right?" Tony stood up, giving his pants a good pat-down, although there was no dust. "Alright, I'll return tomorrow. I need my tools, so I'm gonna jet. Dinner?"
"Sure." Maria Hill shrugged.
That was easy.
Tony sized her up, taking in the figure-hugging leather SHIELD jumpsuit on her tall frame. "As much as I really like that style, maybe a wardrobe change?"
Maria Hill smirked and turned around to leave. "I'll see you on the roof."
"Copy that," Tony responded and fixed his suit jacket. He left the underground research facility and took the elevator straight to the rooftop. Of course, it was also guarded, but his Iron Man suit was waiting for him there.
Wasting no time, he stepped into the suit and prepared to jet off. While waiting, he made Jarvis tell him all the news regarding his debate. Since he had to leave quickly after the debate, he had no idea about the public perception.
"Sir, you've received ninety-six calls since departing the stadium. Public sentiment is overwhelmingly in your favor. According to five quick polls from leading media outlets, your approval rating sits at eighty percent—significantly higher than any competitor." Jarvis paused before continuing, "In light of this, I've taken the liberty of popularizing the hashtag 'Stark_Century' across major social platforms, subtly hinting at a new era under your leadership as you approach the Oval Office."
Jarvis did all that? I don't remember upgrading anything.
"Let's go."
Tony looked at the woman. He had to agree, SHIELD had a knack for picking up hot agents. Even in her civilian clothes, regular blue jeans, a t-shirt, and a jacket, she looked fantastic.
Having added a few extra thrusters on his back, Tony didn't need to have pretty ladies climb on his back anymore. Instead, he walked closer to her and lifted her up in a cradle carry. Right after, he leaped high into the sky with the boosters and made a slow flight toward the restaurant of his choice.
It was late at night, and the city was a sight to behold at such times.
Tony didn't hide his face behind the mask for the duration of the flight and chatted with Maria. He had seen her before a few times, but this was the first time he got to know her. About her career and whatnot.
"Fury must trust you a lot then," Tony muttered. "Hard to imagine that."
"No, he trusts no one."
Grrrrr~
All of a sudden, a loud roaring sound alerted them. They looked down towards an empty road between tall skyscrapers. A long trail of fire had emerged out of nowhere in the middle of the street with all the car sirens beeping nearby.
"A fire?!" Maria exclaimed.
"No." Tony quickly flew down and lowered his faceplate to zoom in. "It's a… burning motorcycle? A Skeleton? What the…"
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