Chapter 17: Committee Carnage (Pre-Show)
"Alright, the government wants to talk about Tony Stark. And by 'talk,' I mean 'try to strong-arm him into handing over his shiny, very dangerous toys.' Honestly, it's like watching a group of toddlers try to negotiate with a really smart, really arrogant toddler who also happens to have a jetpack. It's going to be glorious. And I, Alex Kane, the world's foremost expert in subtle digital sabotage and making powerful people look ridiculous, am here for it. This isn't just a Senate hearing; it's a prime-time comedy special, and I've got my tickets."
The news cycles churned. Iron Man was a hero, a menace, a national asset, a private liability. The narrative shifted daily, sometimes hourly, as the government, specifically the Senate Armed Services Committee, began to circle. Alex, from his warehouse, meticulously tracked the developments. He learned about the upcoming Senate hearing, where Tony Stark would undoubtedly be grilled about his technology. He also caught wind of the early attempts by Justin Hammer to position himself as the military's next big arms supplier, a pathetic, obvious play that still grated on Alex's nerves.
His "Masterful Hacking (Network & Device)" skill was truly a game-changer. It allowed him to slip through corporate firewalls like water, access secure government databases with surprising ease, and reroute communications with the finesse of a digital surgeon. He wasn't just breaking in; he was re-wiring the very nervous system of the digital world around him, creating pathways for his chaos.
"It's like the internet is a giant, chaotic party, and I'm the guy who controls the music, the lights, and occasionally, the flow of the punch. And if someone spills the punch, well, that's just more fun for me. Especially if that someone is a pompous senator."
He knew the hearing would be public, televised. A perfect stage for high-impact, low-trace mischief. His mind, now fully accustomed to the system's logic, buzzed with possibilities. He could expose some minor hypocrisy, create an embarrassing technical glitch, or perhaps subtly influence the questioning to lead to maximum comedic effect.
However, a new challenge emerged. While monitoring obscure government forums and dark web channels for intel, Alex stumbled upon a nascent, highly secretive cyber-security initiative. It wasn't SHIELD, not exactly, but a new, unaligned group, funded by a powerful but anonymous consortium, dedicated to tracking advanced digital anomalies. Their methods were surprisingly sophisticated, more refined than anything Alex had encountered before. They were tracking persistent, inexplicable digital 'ghosts' – the kind Alex had been leaving in his wake.
He saw a preliminary report detailing "unusual network fluctuations" around Stark Industries during the period of Stane's downfall, along with vague mentions of "anomalous data corruption patterns." It was vague, but too close for comfort. This wasn't a threat to his physical safety yet, but a direct challenge to his anonymity, his core operational principle.
"Oh, for crying out loud. Seriously? I finally get good at being a digital ghost, and now some shadowy group of nerds wants to play 'find the anomaly'? Can't a guy just cause widespread, untraceable chaos in peace? This is why I have trust issues. The moment you get comfortable, someone invents a new way to ruin your day."
This external threat, however minor, served as a stark reminder of his vulnerability. He needed to be even more careful, more precise. He immediately shifted focus, using his "Masterful Hacking" to investigate this new group. He found encrypted communications, vague personnel lists, and even managed to identify their rudimentary internal network. He didn't expose them; he just mapped their vulnerabilities, ready to exploit them if they ever got too close. He would need to keep them distracted, perhaps by feeding them false leads, or by creating even more distracting anomalies elsewhere.
This brief complication only sharpened his resolve. He would attend the Senate hearing. He would create chaos. And he would prove that even the most advanced digital security could be outsmarted by a guy with a sarcastic wit and a truly impressive amount of digital duct tape.
He began planning the specifics. He targeted the public Wi-Fi networks in and around the Senate hearing room, knowing they'd be used by journalists, aides, and even the senators themselves. He mapped the internal network pathways, looking for a back door, a neglected router, a forgotten access point. He envisioned a symphony of digital mishaps, each one perfectly timed, perfectly executed. The thought brought a mischievous glint to his eye.
[Mischief Target: Senate Armed Services Committee | Annoyance Level: Pending - High Potential for Public Embarrassment.]
[Mischief Target: Shadowy Cyber-Security Initiative | Annoyance Level: Moderate - Unknowingly Challenged, Distracted.]
[Calculating Rewards...]
[Reward Acquired: 70 Mischief Points]
[New Plot Alert: The Public Stage. Opportunity for high-profile, televised mischief and bureaucratic disruption.]
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