"Is this the plot that kicks off Iron Man 2?" Ethan Hayes thought, watching Lockwhip Ivan Vanke finally emerge. Ethan understood Ivan Vanke's ambitions; the design of the arc reactor had ties to both Howard Stark and Ivan's father. The conflicts of the previous generation were now left to Tony Stark's generation to resolve. Tony's flashy nature had inadvertently revealed the success of the arc reactor to Ivan.
Ethan slipped away from the embrace of two beautiful mercenaries, Sandy Brandenburg and Inez. Sandy was utterly exhausted, while Inez, the outlaw, remained bright-eyed, admiring Ethan's well-built physique. She was secretly proud, thinking she had found the ideal partner in Ethan, a man with a body like a Greek god—a dream for many women.
"You two rest up. I need to head out for a bit. Also, starting tomorrow, you'll both join Osborn Group under Raven's leadership," Ethan instructed. Inez's eyes widened in surprise, "Raven? Mystique Raven?"
"Yes," Ethan confirmed.
"You actually recruited the famous Mystique?" Inez said, visibly excited. Mystique Raven's reputation among mutants was immense—she had led them through various struggles, even offering them hope and a new future.
"Raven has left the Brotherhood, and Magneto as well. Now, she's the Vice President of Osborn Group, managing all my assets," Ethan explained openly, emphasizing Raven's importance.
"I'm short on capable people, and with the mercenary life behind you, Raven could use your help," he added, donning his clothes.
Sandy watched Ethan leave with a sad expression—he seemed so detached. In contrast, Inez was thrilled, exclaiming, "Raven is my idol! Working with her is a huge opportunity!"
Ethan stepped onto the balcony and transformed into a stream of water, soaring through the air towards the site of a mechanical battle. He soon reached a park where Tony Stark, in his Iron Man armor, was using lasers to cut through swarms of war drones. Ivan Vanke, wielding an electric whip, was locked in battle with Tony and War Machine, Colonel James Rhodes.
Ethan descended from the sky, interrupting their clash. "Tony, it looks like you're in trouble," he called out with a smirk.
"Ethan Hayes?" Tony Stark frowned slightly, recognizing the man. Pepper had spoken highly of Ethan, which had led Tony to distance himself from him after a recent event.
Ivan Vanke sneered, "Looks like someone wants to butt into my business with Stark." He lashed out with his whip, aiming for Ethan, but Ethan effortlessly caught it. With a sharp tug, he yanked Vanke towards him and clamped a hand around his neck.
"Tony, is this the guy who had you on the ropes?" Ethan asked mockingly. Without waiting for a response, he applied pressure, causing Vanke to collapse unconscious in his grip before discarding him like a broken toy.
"Hao, he's not my enemy, I had it under control," Tony retorted, raising his hands defensively. He eyed Ethan warily, while Rhodes, in his War Machine armor, did the same. Using his suit's AI, Rhodes quickly pulled up a dossier on Ethan—CEO of Osborn Group, significant shareholder of Stark Industries.
"He didn't deserve to die," Tony said, looking at Vanke's limp form with a hint of pity.
"Tony, you have no idea how many people covet the arc reactor's secrets. Keeping him alive would only invite others to exploit him," Ethan replied, shrugging. "I'm still a shareholder in Stark Industries. Taking his knowledge could make things messy for you, but I'd rather keep things simple."
Tony knew that Ethan's influence in the energy sector was substantial—Osborn's acquisition of Tesla Lighting Energy Group had given them a significant share of the national power market. If Ethan also acquired arc reactor tech, it would elevate Osborn to a new level.
"But the stock market value isn't everything. Osborn has its own clean energy tech—it's not as groundbreaking as your arc reactor, but it's safe and stable," Ethan remarked, glancing at the glowing device on Tony's chest. "You're dying, Tony."
Those words shifted the dynamic, easing Tony's tension. Rhodes was about to intervene when a stream of water knocked him aside, causing him to pass out.
Tony raised a hand, aiming his repulsor at Ethan, who simply smiled. "Don't worry, he's just unconscious," Ethan assured him, adding with a gentle smile, "I could help you, Tony, but it seems you don't trust me as a collaborator. If I really wanted to kill you, I wouldn't need any elaborate plots."
Tony considered Ethan's words. Eventually, he stepped out of his armor, standing face-to-face with Ethan. "How did you know I was dying?" he asked.
"The arc reactor is a breakthrough, but it emits low-level radiation. Not enough to harm an average person, but you've made it a part of your body, and it's poisoning you slowly," Ethan explained.
Tony's expression softened as he finally admitted, "The real problem isn't the reactor itself. It's the shrapnel in my chest—I need the magnetic field to keep it from reaching my heart."
"I can extract the shrapnel and remove the toxins, but in exchange, I want you to create a 'J.A.R.V.I.S' AI system for me," Ethan said directly.
Tony's wariness returned. "Why do you want J.A.R.V.I.S?"
"To help me run my company, of course. And don't even think about leaving any backdoors—I don't take kindly to deceit," Ethan replied with a friendly but firm tone.
Tony weighed his options. "Can you really remove the shrapnel and purify the toxins?"
"Watch and see," Ethan said, placing a hand on Tony's chest. Tony felt an intense chill spread through his heart, then watched as shrapnel, encased in water, was drawn out of his body. He didn't feel a thing—no pain, just a rush of warmth as Ethan's powers sealed the wound.
Dark fluid seeped out from Tony's chest as toxins were expelled. "There, now you just need a little surgery to close the wound. As for the reactor, I suggest you find a new element to replace it."
Ethan held up the small mass of shrapnel wrapped in water. Tony felt lighter and more at ease than he had in months. "Contact Raven when you're done with the AI system," Ethan said, turning into a stream of water and vanishing into the sky.
Tony watched him leave, feeling a mix of relief and uncertainty. "J.A.R.V.I.S, give me a full scan," he ordered.
"Sir, your body is free of toxins. The shrapnel is gone, but there is a small wound that will heal within three days. An unfamiliar energy is accelerating the healing process," J.A.R.V.I.S reported.
Tony picked up the defeated Vanke's power source and glanced at Rhodes, who was stirring awake. As the two departed, Osborn Group agents arrived, collecting the remains of the battle.
Meanwhile, Nick Fury reviewed footage of the encounter. "If Tony builds an AI for Ethan, that could be catastrophic for us," he muttered. Despite J.A.R.V.I.S.' limitations, Fury knew that a more advanced version in Ethan's hands could compromise S.H.I.E.L.D.'s secrets.
Hill stood nearby. "We've also located Bruce Banner in Brazil," she informed Fury.
"Good, but we're still short-staffed for the Avengers. We need more heavy hitters," Fury replied. He considered seeking out the mysterious Namor or even Black Bolt, the powerful Inhuman King exiled to Earth. But the risks of involving such unpredictable forces loomed large.
"Natasha and Barton are tracking down Dr. Connors in London. Maybe we can leverage Peter Parker's connection to him," Hill suggested. Fury nodded, knowing that with Ethan Hayes in the picture, the game was changing faster than ever.
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