Chương 180: C179 Stane’s Plans

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Deep within a secluded facility, hidden beneath the guise of an obscure Stark Industries research lab, Megatron and his group of Decepticons made their return.

The facility, once under the direct control of Obadiah Stane, had now become a temporary base of operations for the Decepticons—a sanctuary where they could hide from prying eyes while pursuing the AllSpark.

The exterior of the facility was nothing remarkable, but inside, the structure was built to accommodate large machinery and storage—ideal for the towering robotic forms of Cybertronians.

The main entrance, a pair of towering steel doors, slid open with a heavy groan, allowing Megatron and his men to duck through. The arc reactor, still glowing with the faint blue light of its stored energy, was cradled carefully in his massive hands.

As Megatron entered, the Decepticons already stationed inside the facility immediately fell to one knee, their heads bowed in deference. Their loyalty to Megatron was absolute, a fact that was both terrifying and impressive to the humans present.

The guards, normally tasked with overseeing the security of this hidden base, stood off to the side, visibly trembling. They had no idea how to react to the sight before them. They were loyal to Stane, yes, but the fear of what these giant robots could do to them kept them rooted in place.

Running or attempting to resist would likely result in a swift and brutal death…

Megatron walked further into the facility, his footsteps echoing with a heavy metallic thud that reverberated through the high ceilings.

As he moved deeper into the facility, Megatron's gaze fixed ahead, showing no interest in the humans who cowered at the edges of his vision. His focus was solely on the mission and what lay ahead.

Behind him, his loyal Decepticons followed, carrying various stolen components from Stark Industries—everything they deemed valuable or interesting.

Finally, Megatron reached a spacious control room at the heart of the facility, where Obadiah Stane was anxiously awaiting their return.

Stane had been pacing nervously, his mind racing with thoughts of what could go wrong. The Decepticons had given him an ultimatum: prove his usefulness or face the consequences. He knew they wouldn't hesitate to eliminate him if they deemed him useless.

Seeing Megatron approach, cradling the giant arc reactor, a wave of relief washed over Stane. The ominous glow of the reactor's energy filled the dimly lit room, casting long shadows across the walls.

Stane forced a smile, masking his anxiety as he stepped forward to greet Megatron. "See? What did I tell you?" He said with an air of forced confidence. "I knew you'd find something interesting there."

Megatron's cold, calculating gaze settled on Stane, his expression unreadable. The Decepticon leader held the arc reactor up slightly, examining it with a mixture of curiosity and calculation. "This…device," he rumbled, his voice a deep growl that resonated through the room, "is indeed of interest. Your knowledge has proven useful… for now."

Stane's smile widened, the tension in his shoulders easing ever so slightly. He knew he was walking a fine line, but for now, he was still in the game. "I'm glad to hear that," he replied smoothly. "I have plenty more where that came from. Stark Industries has a wealth of technology and connections just waiting to be exploited, and I'm more than willing to help my new metal friends."

Megatron's eyes narrowed, his expression still inscrutable. "Do not mistake our relationship for friendship, human. You serve a purpose, but we will not hesitate to dispose of you when you cease to be useful."

Stane nodded quickly, understanding the implied threat. "Of course, of course. I'm just here to help," he said, trying to maintain his composure. He needed to keep these beings on his side, at least long enough to achieve his own goals.

If he played his cards right, Stane could use their power to seize control of Stark Industries and possibly even more. The prospect of taking control of the company he had built from the ground up and seizing power with the help of these alien beings was incredibly enticing.

'Yes,' he thought to himself, watching Megatron closely. 'With their help, I could take over Stark Industries… no, the country… President Stane has a nice ring to it.'

For now, though, he needed to continue proving his value. As long as the Decepticons found him useful, he had a chance to make his ambitions a reality. And judging by the way Megatron and his men had returned with the arc reactor, it seemed he was on the right track.

Megatron seemed to sense Stane's thoughts, his lips curling into a cold smile. "You have proven yourself… partially," he said, his voice echoing ominously through the facility. "But there is one more task you must complete if you wish to secure your place as our… ally."

Stane's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly masked his apprehension with a nod. "Anything," he said, eager to cement his usefulness.

Megatron extended one massive hand, and a faint hum filled the air as a holographic image flickered to life above his palm. The image showed a metal cube, inscribed with mysterious glyphs and pulsing with a life of its own. "We seek this," Megatron intoned, his voice dripping with authority. "The AllSpark. It is of great importance to us and our mission. Find it, and you shall earn a favor from me."

Stane stared at the hologram, his mind racing. He had never seen anything like it, but the significance was clear. Whatever this AllSpark was, it was vital to the Decepticons. "I'll see what I can do," he said carefully, his voice steady. "But something like this… it might take some time."

Megatron's eyes bore into him, and the faint smile never left his face. "Time is of the essence, human," he said. "Succeed, and you shall find yourself in our favor. Fail… and there will be consequences."

Stane nodded again, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Understood," he replied. "I won't let you down."

Megatron dismissed him with a wave of his hand, the hologram dissipating into thin air. "See that you don't," he said coldly. "Now go. You have work to do."

Stane quickly turned and left the room, his mind spinning with thoughts of the task ahead. He knew he had to act fast. His fate—and possibly much more—depended on it.

————

Back at Stark Industries, Peter, Tony, and Bee stood together, reviewing the surveillance footage of the Decepticons' attack.

Peter watched intently, his mind racing with thoughts of their next move. He knew the Decepticons were heading to Earth, but he hadn't anticipated they would strike so soon, nor did he understand why they chose to rob Stark Industries.

'Did they need the Arc Reactor for something?' Peter wondered.

The crowd outside was still murmuring in fear and confusion, the sight of Bee's massive robotic form doing little to calm their nerves.

Sensing the growing unease, Pepper stepped up to Tony and Peter, her gaze flicking nervously toward Bee. "Maybe we should take this conversation inside," she suggested, her voice calm but firm. "Away from all these eyes."

Peter glanced around, noticing how the crowd flinched away whenever Bee's eyes moved over them. The imposing presence of the Autobot wasn't helping to soothe anyone's fears. "Yeah, that's probably a good idea," Peter agreed, nodding toward Tony.

Tony gave a curt nod, turning toward one of the gaping holes in the building's side. "Let's go," he said, his tone clipped with tension.

The crowd parted quickly, giving them a wide berth as they entered the damaged building.

Inside, the devastation was even more apparent. They navigated through the debris-strewn halls, eventually arriving at the room where Howard Stark's arc reactor had once stood proudly.

The cables that had once connected the reactor to the building's power systems now hung limply, swaying slightly in the breeze that blew through the broken windows. The space where the reactor had been housed was now empty, the room eerily dark without its power source.

Tony stood in front of the empty space, his gaze fixed on the spot where the arc reactor had once been. His hands clenched into fists, the metal of his Iron Man suit creaking as his grip tightened.

[Flashback]

A young Tony Stark, no older than ten, stood in the workshop of their family home, his eyes wide with wonder as he watched his father, Howard Stark, work on a massive metal contraption.

The arc reactor.

It was still in its early stages, but even then, it was an impressive piece of technology. Howard had been working on it for weeks, and today, he had invited Tony to help.

"Here, son," Howard said, his voice softer than usual. He handed Tony a small wrench, a rare smile on his face. "Why don't you tighten this bolt for me?"

Tony's eyes lit up with excitement as he took the wrench, moving carefully to the side of the reactor.

His father watched him closely, guiding him through the process. For once, there were no harsh words, no criticisms—just a father and son working together, sharing a rare moment of peace and understanding.

As they worked, Tony could feel a sense of pride building within him. He was helping his father build something incredible, something that could change the world.

For a few precious hours, there was no tension, no conflict. Just the simple joy of working together, of being father and son.

[End Flashback]

Tony's jaw clenched as he stared at the empty space where the arc reactor had once stood. That reactor was more than just a piece of technology; it was one of the few things that had ever truly connected him to his father. And now it was gone, stolen by those monstrous robots.

Seeing the tension and frustration in Tony's stance, Peter stepped up and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "We'll find it, Tony," he said softly. "And we'll get it back. I promise."

Tony's fists slowly unclenched, but the anger in his eyes didn't dissipate completely. He glanced at Peter, then at Bee, who stood behind them, his optics glowing softly in the dim room. "Those were the Decepticons, right?" Tony asked, his voice tight with controlled anger.

Peter nodded. "Yeah, they were," he confirmed. Bee nodded behind him, his expression serious.

Tony nodded in return, his mind already racing with ideas and plans. "Then I'm going to need to make some upgrades to my suit," he said, his voice determined. "This thing won't be enough against them. I'll need something better… something more powerful."

He glanced down at the battery in the center of his chest, his mind drifting back to the arc reactor. His father's creation had been a marvel of engineering, a power source like no other. "Maybe… something like that," he muttered, half to himself.

Peter nodded. "Sure, If you need anything, just let me know," he offered. "I'll work on finding the Decepticons in the mean time."

Tony gave a brief nod, his mind already focused on his next steps. "Thanks, Peter," he said, his tone distracted. "I'll be in my workshop. Let me know when you find them."

With that, Tony turned and walked away, his mind consumed with thoughts of revenge and preparation. No one disrespected the Stark family and got away with it—not while he had anything to say about it.

A/N: 2000 words :)

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