บท 27: payback
The next morning, the vibrant energy of Stark Expo was replaced with the crisp, formal atmosphere of Washington, D.C. Tony Stark, dressed in his usual flair, accompanied by Pepper Potts, walked into the halls of Congress. The hearing room buzzed with anticipation, the media and government officials alike eager to witness Stark's much-publicized appearance.
As they entered, Tony ignoring everything around, clearly enjoying the moment, even though it wasn't entirely appropriate for the setting.
The room settled down as the senator in charge of the hearing took his place and called the session to order. "Mr. Stark, please pay attention," the senator said, trying to command the room's focus back to the proceedings.
Tony, who was still engrossed in a light-hearted conversation with Pepper, turned his head slightly and quipped, "Yes, dear." His nonchalance, paired with the intimate tone, caused the room to erupt in laughter. Even Pepper couldn't hide her smile.
The senator, clearly not amused, continued, "Do you or do you not possess a specialized weapon?"
"I do not," Tony replied without hesitation, his tone firm and confident.
The senator, growing increasingly impatient, pressed further, "Then what is the Iron Man weapon?"
"My device doesn't fit that description," Tony replied again, as though the answer were obvious.
"Then how would you describe it?" the senator asked, clearly fishing for a specific answer.
Tony paused for a moment, seemingly searching for the right words before he casually said, "It's a uh... umm... it's a high-tech prosthesis." The unexpected answer caused another wave of laughter to ripple through the room.
The senator's frustration was evident as he raised his voice, "It is a weapon, Mr. Stark. It should be handed over to the people of the United States."
Tony leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. "You can forget it. I am Iron Man. Me and the suit are one. Turning it over would be equal to servitude—or prostitution, depending on what state I'm in." His words were met with more laughter, but the underlying message was clear: Tony Stark had no intention of relinquishing control of his creation.
The senator, realizing he was getting nowhere, shifted tactics. "I am not an expert in weapons, but we have somebody who is. I would like to call Justin Hammer, our current primary weapons contractor."
Tony couldn't resist. "Justin, haha, an expert? What a joke," he said out loud, the disdain in his voice unmistakable.
Justin Hammer entered the room, trying to maintain his composure despite Tony's jab. "I am no expert, Tony, at least not compared to you," Justin replied, with a forced smile. He then launched into a speech about the dangers of the world and how America needed technology like Tony's. However, he also emphasized how Tony was selfishly using his technology as a shield, rather than allowing it to be used for the greater good.
The senate then called on Colonel Rhodes, who had been watching the exchange with a mixture of frustration and resignation. When asked about his doubts regarding Tony's technology, Rhodes mentioned that it would be unfair to summarize his extensive report. He then presented footage of various countries attempting to replicate the Iron Man suit, only to fail spectacularly.
But before the senator could capitalize on this evidence, Tony hacked into the TV system. The screens around the room flickered, and the footage Rhodes had presented was replaced by something entirely different. The new images showed the actual results of these attempts to mimic the Iron Man suit—scenes of failure, explosions, and even fatalities. The footage also included Justin Hammer's own research, where one of his test pilots was seen struggling in a malfunctioning suit, clearly injured.
The room fell silent as the severity of the situation sank in. Tony sat back, a satisfied look on his face.
As Tony's hearing unfolded in Washington, D.C., the entire world watched with rapt attention. Among the viewers, Ritsuka Fujimaru sat in his home, surrounded by his family. Yinsen, Bucky, and the X-Men had gathered around the television, their eyes glued to the screen. The tension was palpable as they witnessed Tony Stark's verbal sparring with the senator.
Tony, never one to back down, delivered his next line with a confidence that was unmistakable. "The countries might be five, six years behind in replicating my suit. But Hammer Industries?" He paused, a smirk forming on his lips, "They're at least ten, fifteen years behind. You should thank me. I am your nuclear deterrent. It's working, we're safe. America is safe. You want my property? You can't have it. I have successfully privatized world peace."
His words echoed through the room, and for a moment, there was silence. Then, a murmur spread through the audience. The audacity of Tony's claim was undeniable, but so was its truth. He had, indeed, kept the world safe—on his own terms.
Back in the room, Tony was far from finished. He had been waiting for this moment, the perfect time to deliver a blow that the senator—and hydra, the world—would never forget. With a swift movement, he accessed the screens once more, but this time, the content was far more shocking.
The images shifted, showing scenes of mass bomb blasts around the world, devastation and chaos that had been carefully covered up or downplayed by the media. The atmosphere in the room and on the channels changed immediately, the gravity of what was being shown hitting everyone like a sledgehammer.
"As a proof of world peace," Tony said, his voice cold and cutting, "I'll show you the organization behind these attacks." The screen changed once more, revealing the unmistakable symbol of Hydra.
"It was Hydra."
Tony used Ritsuka bomb attack on Hydra bases as Hydra attacks.
The room erupted into chaos. Gasps, shouts, and the sound of hurried whispers filled the air as Tony began laying out the evidence in front of the world. He methodically displayed proof after proof, exposing Hydra's deep-rooted infiltration in governments, corporations, and even within the U.S. Senate.
The senator, who had been pushing Tony so hard moments before, now revealed his true colors. As the Hydra insignia filled the screen, he lost all composure.
"Stop it right now? You think this is some kind of game, Fuck Stark? Fuck you? " he raged, his voice trembling with fury. "You will fa—"
But Tony was unshaken. Even as the senator hurled insults, Tony calmly began uploading all the proof to his Instagram account and various media channels. Within moments, the entire world had access to the damning evidence. The reaction was immediate and explosive. Across the globe, people watched in shock and disbelief as the horrifying truth sank in. The organization that Captain America had once fought so valiantly to destroy was not only still active but had been operating under their noses for decades.
Ritsuka Fujimaru watched the unfolding events, stunned. He hadn't expected Tony to reveal something this monumental, at least not in such a public and dramatic fashion. But as he processed the situation, a determination formed within him. Tony had taken the first step in exposing Hydra, and now, Ritsuka knew he had to help his friend in any way he could.
Back at S.H.I.E.L.D., Nick Fury sat in his office, watching the live broadcast. His expression was a mixture of shock, anger, and a grudging respect for Tony's audacity. "Damn it, Stark," he muttered under his breath, his hand gripping the remote control. "You've just thrown a match into a powder keg."
"It should have been me, not Stark. I should have expose hydra. Dammit"
Just as he was about to reach for his phone, a message notification appeared on his screen. It was from Ritsuka.
**"Nick, we need to talk. Come through the portal, Buddy."**
Fury read the message, his mind already working through the implications. If Ritsuka was getting involved, it meant things were about to get even more complicated. But with Hydra's exposure, they needed all the help they could get.
Suddenly a portal opened infront of him. Then he walk through the portal.
****
**Alexander Pierce's Safehouse, Late Evening**
Alexander Pierce sat behind a massive oak desk, the dim light of a single lamp casting eerie shadows across his face. The room was a fortress of darkness and secrecy, but Pierce's nerves betrayed his calm facade. Reports and images of Hydra's disintegration littered the desk every day nonstop by Brotherhood of Mutants, each one more devastating than the last.
Hydra, once a formidable global threat, was now in shambles. The bomb blast had crippled 66% of their operations worldwide, and Magneto's Brotherhood of Mutants had begun their merciless hunt. Pierce, the last Hydra leader, was left grappling with the remnants of a dying empire. His plan to salvage what was left had crumbled, much like the rest of his world.
Pierce could feel his control over the organization slipping away with every news cycle
His anger was palpable as he looked at the latest broadcast: Tony Stark, the self-proclaimed Iron Man, was now publicly exposing Hydra's remnants. The news was a crushing blow. Pierce's frustration boiled over as he slammed his fist on the desk, scattering papers. The destruction of Hydra bases was being attributed to Stark's heroics, not to Hydra's supposed villains. It was a public relations nightmare that Pierce couldn't afford.
Tony blaming Hydra.
"Damn it!" Pierce roared, his voice echoing off the walls of the safehouse. "This is the last thing we need. Stark's making us look like fools!"
Pierce's mind raced. With 89% of Hydra agents dead and the remaining few trying to flee, his grip on the organization was slipping through his fingers. The Hydra traitors who had sought to escape were swiftly dealt with, a grim reminder of his iron rule. No mercy for those who betrayed Hydra—Pierce's principle of survival.
The threat from Magneto and his mutants compounded his troubles. Pierce had no idea how the mutants had identified Hydra agents, but their precision was unsettling. He was sure someone helping them. He feared that the same unknown force responsible for the death of Hydra leaders, including Red Skull, was behind this relentless assault. He could only speculate that they were somehow involved with the deaths of Hydra's leaders, including Red Skull. The thought that their enemies might have access to information he didn't was a bitter pill to swallow."Damn it all," Pierce muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Everything was supposed to fall into place. Hydra was supposed to reshape the world, and now…"
Pierce's face was a mask of frustration as he picked up the phone and dialed his remaining loyal agents. His voice was cold and commanding. "Gather what's left of our operatives. We need to relocate immediately. There's no time to lose."
He could hear the anxious murmurs of his agents on the other end of the line, their fear mirroring his own. They had lost their base of operations, their power, and now, their hope.
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