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TonybroughtMaria's portraitback to the laboratory, saying he wanted to show Maria his and George's newcreation—time to show offproperly.
Just as he was about to bring outMagic Mark 1, JARVISspoke up: "Sir, Mr. Obadiah Stane is visiting. He has clearance and has entered the living room."
Tonyfroze. "I forgot to revoke his access!"
TonyplacedMaria's portrait on the bookshelf and had JARVIShold off on displayingMagic Mark 1—justputMark 2 on the exhibition platform.
He'd barely finished when Obadiahappeared at the laboratory entrance. "Tony! You haven't shown up for a week. What have you been doing?"
Tonysmiled and hugged Obadiah. "You know I'm searching for new directions for Stark Industries, right? Like energy, for instance."
Obadiahcovered his forehead with a bitter smile. "Alright, alright Tony. So have you developed anything? The boardalready has major concerns. I can barelyhold them off—I need something to shut them up."
Tony's eyesflickered. "Of course. I'm onto something—resultscoming soon. Want something to eat?"
"No, I atebefore coming. By the way, has Peppercontacted you?" Obadiahcasually asked while circling the laboratory.
"JARVIS? Any calls from Pepper?" Tonycalled outalertly, his handalready reaching toward the wandhidden in the desk crevice.
"JARVIS?" Gettingno response, Tonyimmediately understood. Abandoningall pretense, he lunged directly toward where he'd hidden his wand.
The next second, he collapsedconvulsing on the floor. Obadiahemergedholding a small remote control.
"Tony, oh Tony. You've already developed it—whynotjustsay so? Look at this. You didn'teventhink to put protection on it? So easily obtained. Really, thank you so much." Obadiahheld up the Arc Reactor from Mark 2, showing it to Tony. "Look at this glow—how magnificent."
Tonystared at him intensely but couldn't utter a word.
"I knowwhat you want to say. Stark Industries will be mine. I've worked for you and your father for decades! My life's work is here! I won't let you destroy it!" Obadiahstillwore his kindly smile. "This is one of your earlier developments. Though the militarydidn't adopt it, I find it quite interesting, don't you?"
"Don't worry, Tony. Without someone to remove the reactor, you'll gradually die of cardiac paralysis. Someone will find you tomorrow morning. Look—the newspaper headlines will need reprinting for you. How's my arrangement?" Obadiah said, crouching to patTony's cheek. "And your little girlfriend—she'll reunite with you soon. How about a car accident?"
Tony's phonerang. Obadiahpicked it up. "Ha! Speak of the devil—your girlfriend's calling!"
Tony's eyesburned into Obadiah. Purple veinsbegan spreading from around the reactor in his neck, his eyesnearly bloodshot.
"Forgive me, Tony. I can't give you a chance to say goodbye. Blame yourself—you actually sent a woman to steal evidence? You killed her, Tony." Obadiah said, hanging up and switching the phone to airplane modebeforeplacing it back. "Well then, goodbye, Tony."
Tony's visionbegan blurring. Fighting the paralysisthroughout his body, he struggled toward his wand. Obadiah had left—definitely goingafter Pepper. He had to, absolutely had to find a way. Thiswouldn't work!
"Whoa, what kind of performance art is this?" a young voicesuddenly echoed in the room.
Meanwhile, Pepper was in a car with Coulson, racing toward the Stark Industriesresearch facility. Looking at the disconnected call, her premonitiongrew worse.
"Isthis it, Miss Potts?" Coulsonasked, looking at the factory buildingsoutside.
"Yes, that's right. I should have clearance," Pepper said.
They quickly gotout, heading toward the research facility'sinterior. Pepperswiped her employee cardseveral times. "No good—my clearance has been revoked!"
"Then we'll have to dothis the hard way," Coulson said, signaling Pepper to move to the back while the agents with him immediately installedexplosives on the door.
Pepper could onlycover her ears tightly, praying continuously in her heart that Tony was safe.
Geminicast a Transfiguration Charm on the reactor at Tony's neck. For high-tech items, Transfiguration Charms were foolproof—after all, the internal components were very delicate. Evenmaterial changes would render the devicecompletely inoperative.
"Mariacame runningover in a panic, saying you were attacked in your own home. Can you tell me how that happened? Where'sBogg? He actually watched his masterget attacked?" Geminiexpressed her confusion.
Maria on the bookshelflooked anxiously at Tony on the floor. "Tony! Are you alright?!"
"Thank you, Mom. Thank you, Gemini. You saved my life." Tony lay spread-eagle on the floor. "What timing—first I arranged for Bogg to follow Pepper, thenGeorge's shop had problems. If Momhadn't left a portrait with Gemini, I mightreally be gone."
Geminifrowned. Right, how was it so coincidental? Even if just one of George or Bogg had stayed, it would've beenenough to handle Obadiah. How did they bothsuddenly have emergencies? Geminiinstinctively sensedsomething wrong. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Tony, having restedenough, suddenly leapup from the floor.
"Right, Pepper! He wentafter Pepper! Pepper's in danger!" Tonywalked straight to the wall, placed his palm on an inconspicuous screen, restarted JARVIS, and called up his Magic Mark 1. "Gryffindor!"
Magic Mark 1began equipping. Gemini's faceimmediately darkened.
"I have to go first! Gemini, go back to your shop! There are lots of people there. I can handle this—don't letanyonediscover you." Tony said, not waiting for Gemini's responsebeforetaking offdirectly.
Geministared furiously at the empty laboratory. "Excellent! Crossing the river and demolishing the bridge! Hmph! I'm doubling the pricethis time!"
Mariablinked. "Why don't you take me to see? Have you learnedApparition? Have you been to that place?"
Gemini's eyeslit up. "Right! We can go ourselves!"
No soonersaid than done. Geminiimmediately grabbedMaria's portrait. "Coby, take me to an inconspicuous location at the Stark Industriescomplex."
"Yes, Miss!"
With a soft pop, Tony's laboratory was completely empty.
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