บท 195: Careless

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...

On Skull Island, Howard Stark received news of Tony's escape with a wave of relief. His gaze then fixed on a screen displaying a bald man with a murderous glint in his eyes.

"Obadiah," Howard began, his voice heavy, "we may have been friends, and you've even helped in difficult times. But while Tony's brilliance brought Stark Industries to its current heights, your greed for power and money has become a threat. I can tolerate ambition, but not when it endangers Tony. For his sake, I'm offering you one last chance. Pull yourself back from the brink. Otherwise, I'll make you pay the price, even if it costs my soul."

Unraveling the truth behind the terrorist attack on Tony would be nearly impossible for most. But for the Red Queen, it was child's play. The rise of computers had amplified her power, efficiently bypassing even Stark Industries' A.I, Jarvis. Despite this, Howard opted to give Obadiah a chance. After all, Obadiah held a unique, almost familial role in Tony's eyes. Knowing his betrayal would devastate Tony, and Howard couldn't bear that. His dilemma: protecting Tony without resorting to ruthless measures.

Upon his return, Tony wasted no time. In a press conference, he announced the immediate closure of Stark Industries' weapons division, a decision met with public uproar. However, with Pepper's unwavering support, nothing could stop him.

Tony relinquished control of the company to Pepper and retreated to build his own steel armor. While Obadiah outwardly projected concern for Tony, he secretly scrambled to seize control of Stark Industries. Thankfully, Kyle's assistance and Howard's covert influence on some shareholders kept Tony and Pepper in a better position than in the original storyline.

Frustrated, Obadiah embarked on building his armor. In a misguided attempt to increase firepower, he overloaded it with weapons, resulting in a bloated, energy-guzzling monstrosity three times the size of Tony's suit. Unable to create a miniaturized reactor, the energy problem remained his Achilles' heel. His only hope - was Tony's Arc Reactor.

After months of collaboration, Tony and Yinsen finally produced a brand new Iron Man suit. Iron Man officially entered the world, taking the fight to terrorists. Yinsen's homeland was liberated, allowing him to return and rebuild his birthplace.

Iron Man's arrival ushered in a new era that attracted the attention of hidden forces. The Red Queen detected a surge in activity from these mysterious groups.

One night, Ivan was jolted awake by an urgent message from Howard.

"Dr. Ivan, it's bad news! Tony's in danger. I need your help!"

"Calm down, Howard," Ivan soothed.

"Could you explain what's going on? Isn't Kyle watching Tony's back? Who could be this dangerous?"

A hint of resentment colored Howard's voice as he mentioned Kyle.

"I can't reach him. Who knows where he is?"

"Can't reach him?" Ivan echoed, confusion clouding his mind. Perhaps something had happened to Kyle. He quickly instructed the Red Queen to locate him, and the answer became clear.

No wonder Howard felt resentful. Kyle was lounging in a luxury hotel room with a beautiful woman. It seemed neglecting his duty for a night of pleasure was his priority. Ivan couldn't help but silently berate Kyle.

Coincidentally, Kyle had approached Howard earlier, offering to expose Obadiah's treachery. However, Howard, hesitant to shatter Tony's image of Obadiah as a father figure, opted for surveillance instead. He hoped to catch Obadiah in the act, ensuring Tony wouldn't dismiss the truth.

Initially, Kyle diligently monitored Obadiah, but boredom eventually set in. He resumed his usual lifestyle, seeking solace in a bar and ultimately ending up back at his residence with a woman. He even silenced his communicator to avoid interruptions, leaving Howard unable to contact him.

"Dr. Ivan," Howard's voice crackled urgently, "Obadiah stole Tony's Arc Reactor! Time is running out. We have to save him!"

The news of Tony's attack hit Howard Stark hard. Ivan, filled with paternal remorse, took charge.

"I'm on top of things, Howard," he assured.

"Don't worry, I'll handle it myself this time. To guarantee Tony's safety, I'll take direct action. However, this service comes at a cost. I need an additional five years added to my contract, unpaid."

Relief washed over Howard. "Absolutely," he readily agreed.

"Anything to keep Tony safe. Even if... even in the worst-case scenario, we can bring him back."

Ivan ended the call and dismissed Tina, who clung to him. After dressing, he relayed a message: "Tell Kyle, when he wakes up tomorrow, give him a full briefing. Remind him to erase the woman's memories and keep detailed records. He can't afford to neglect Tony again."

With a touch to his face, Ivan's appearance morphed flawlessly into Kyle's. From pupils to fingerprints, even the eye mask – the disguise was undetectable, even by Tony's AI, Jarvis. Disguised as Kyle, Ivan materialized at Tony's residence.

Knowing his son's tendencies, Ivan's disguise was impeccable. Relieved to see him, Tony was about to speak when Ivan cut him off.

"I know what you're going to say. Don't worry, I'll find the reactor and be right back."

Ivan quickly retrieved the decommissioned reactor and helped Tony install it.

"Phew!" Tony sighed, regaining his composure.

"Thanks, Kyle. You saved me again."

"It's fine," Ivan replied with a hint of resentment.

"Why were you so careless? All this investigation... regardless of your bond with Obadiah, you should've been more prepared. You shouldn't have left him with Jarvis's access."

Disappointment colored Tony's voice. "I never expected Obadiah to be so ruthless, to try and kill me. But that's okay. It's a clean break. This time, I'll finish him myself."

A murderous glint flickered in Tony's eyes. Betrayal heaped upon betrayal had pushed him to the edge. He wouldn't let this stand.

"Need my help? I can make it quick and painless," Ivan offered, perfectly mimicking Kyle's tone. Tony didn't suspect a thing.

"No," Tony refused.

"This is between me and Obadiah. I have to do it myself."

As they spoke, footsteps approached. Tony and Ivan braced themselves for another assassination attempt, only to find Colonel James Rhodes, Tony's friend.

"Tony! Are you alright? Pepper said you had an accident. I rushed over as soon as I heard. I'm glad you're safe!"

Rhodes' concern was genuine. He'd driven nonstop to get there, and relief washed over him upon seeing Tony unharmed.

"Not exactly," Tony replied.

"Pepper's in danger. I need to save her. But first, I need your help grounding that plane leaving for New York."

Tony explained the situation as they descended to the armory. Jarvis, activated by voice command, began assembling Tony's Iron Man suit.

After Tony blasted off, Ivan addressed Rhodes.

"I'll handle the plane. Going to check things out. Wish Tony luck."

As a friend of Tony's, Rhodes knew Kyle. However, to avoid suspicion, Ivan, disguised as Kyle, kept his interaction brief. He opted for a taxi instead of risking conversation and revealing his true identity.

The two steel warriors were already locked in combat by the time Ivan reached Stark Industries. Obadiah's armor was more significant, boasting more weapons and a next-generation reactor that outperformed Tony's. Tony was getting pummeled mercilessly.

In a desperate gamble, Tony lured Obadiah to an altitude of 10,000 meters, hoping the freezing temperatures would turn off his suit. It almost worked, but Obadiah's armor miraculously recovered, putting Tony in a worse position.

"Kyle, where are you? I need help!" Tony yelled, his pride momentarily shattered.

Ivan, now inside Stark Industries, remained unseen. He used invisibility to observe Pepper and a suited man, presumably Agent Coulson, fleeing the building. Even in the chaos, the man maintained a calm demeanor.

Hearing Tony's plea, Ivan didn't respond immediately. His gaze landed on a colossal, four- to five-meter humanoid statue inside Stark Industries.

"I'm at the company square," Ivan finally said.

Ivan shivered slightly, seemingly attempting to conceal himself for a moment. When he reappeared, his attire had been transformed. A black cloak draped his form completely, obscuring his features. He extended a finger, pointing at the colossal statue. The statue's eyes flickered twice but remained stubbornly motionless, a silent sentinel awaiting the enemy's approach.