"Ladies and gentlemen. Over the past several dozen hours, you've all seen some unpleasant footage on the news."
In the Middle East, in a stretch of uninhabited mountains hundreds of kilometers away from the nearest U.S. Air Force base.
This site had been chosen for the latest demonstration of Stark Industries' "Jericho" missile, rather than the Stark Expo at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, New York.
Tony Stark, dressed in a suit and wearing dark red sunglasses, stood in front of a group of high-ranking officers.
Between and beside these officers, soldiers carrying cameras captured Tony Stark's upper body in frame.
At that moment, Tony was conducting a global live broadcast, showcasing Stark Industries' latest development, the Jericho missile, to the entire world:
"The weapons I build are meant to protect this country, and even to safeguard peace for the entire world, but perhaps some corrupt officer, or some damned logistical error, went wrong."
"That turned weapons meant to protect peace into a threat in the hands of our enemies."
"Why? Because they aren't smart enough, aren't loyal enough."
Tony Stark extended his palm, directing the camera toward the Jericho missiles deployed beside the officers.
"So, we're no longer talking about weapons; we're talking about solutions."
"Before a Jericho missile launches, every sub-missile has its own independent identification code. It only obeys my clients. Do you know what that means?"
"It means that even if terrorists steal it, it's just a pile of expensive scrap metal."
"Without authorization from the military, it can't even leave its own launch vehicle."
The Air Force senior officers present had already heard this pitch before; right now, they were just putting on a show for the live cameras, continuing to listen as Tony Stark worked to restore his company's reputation:
"The past can't be changed, but what we can do is ensure the future doesn't repeat it."
"Stark Industries' mission has never changed: to provide the United States and its allies with a decisive advantage, at the smallest cost, in exchange for the most lasting peace."
As Tony Stark's words concluded, the Jericho missile launcher beside him slowly rose. One missile, trailing a tail of flame, shot into the sky and flew toward the distant mountains.
The missile split mid-air into dozens of smaller missiles that detonated with a thunderous roar. Before the sky-filling dust could be swept up by the shockwave and engulf Tony Stark, he slowly spread his arms:
"The Jericho missile is the latest embodiment of that promise."
After the smoke cleared, Tony Stark pointed a finger at the soldier holding the camera:
"Hey, that's it. Shut it off."
With that, Tony Stark walked over to the chilled liquor cabinet that had been unloaded from his private jet, pulled out a glass of champagne, and raised it slightly toward the officers:
"To peace."
In the City Hall subway station, Batman watched the live feed on his workstation screen.
Tony Stark stood perfectly fine in front of the officers, proudly displaying his weapons.
The instant the camera panned across the officers, Batman froze the frame.
"Barbara, identify the officers in the image and search the entire internet for their contact information."
Unable to reach Tony Stark directly, Batman planned to go through a roundabout route, hoping to contact the officers currently with Tony.
"Bruce, Colonel Rhodes' contact information is publicly available. I've already retrieved it. The identity details of the other officers may require hacking into military intelligence agencies. Proceed?"
"Dial Colonel Rhodes with a virtual phone." Batman said rapidly.
The moment the words left his mouth, the Oracle AI had already used a virtual number to call Colonel Rhodes' contact. After the ringtone sounded for a few seconds, the call connected:
"Hello."
"I'm Batman." Batman cut straight to the point, stating his identity outright in hopes of getting the man's attention. "I need you to put Tony Stark on the phone immediately. He's in danger."
"What?"
Far away in the Middle East, Colonel Rhodes—who was holding a champagne glass and standing beside Tony Stark—suddenly furrowed his brow in unison with the others. He glanced at the virtual number displayed on the phone, then at Tony Stark beside him, before simply holding the phone up to Tony's ear.
"Hi?" Tony tilted his head, leaning his ear toward the phone Rhodes was holding up.
"Tony Stark." Batman lowered his voice. "Now, immediately get inside an armored vehicle. No matter what happens, do not come out."
Tony's brow furrowed as well now. He glanced at Colonel Rhodes with a frown.
"He says he's the Batman," Colonel Rhodes murmured to Tony. "You know this guy?"
Tony Stark shook his head. He didn't know Batman, but living in New York, he'd inevitably heard the recent rumors swirling around the vigilante.
"If you're trying to extort me while my company's stock is down, you've got the wrong mark," Tony Stark said into the phone.
Back in the City Hall subway station, Batman's expression remained impassive. He knew Tony might not believe anything said by someone claiming to be "Batman," but he also wouldn't use the identity of Peter Parker to warn him:
"Get into an armored vehicle immediately. I suspect Obadiah wants you dead."
"You got proof?" Tony's interest was piqued—this was a new kind of scam he hadn't seen before. "Go on, tell me. How exactly are you planning to scam me?"
"I'm gathering evidence." Batman's low, gravelly voice came through the phone.
Tony's face immediately lost all interest. He waved a hand at Colonel Rhodes, signaling him to hang up.
But Batman's warning still prompted Tony to quickly climb into a military Humvee. Colonel Rhodes was about to follow him in, only to be blocked by Tony outside the door:
"Sorry, Rhodey. I already claimed this Humvee. Take the one in the back."
Colonel Rhodes rolled his eyes, not insisting on riding with Tony Stark. Instead, he waved his own phone in front of Tony:
"Turn your phone back on. I don't want any more calls meant for you coming to me while I'm stuck holding the receiver for you."
As the convoy of armored vehicles headed toward the U.S. Air Force base hundreds of kilometers away, Tony Stark sat in the back of the Humvee and pulled out his phone.
He'd turned the thing off on his private jet. Now he took it out, hesitated for a moment, then decided to power it back on.
Barely a few minutes after booting up, a virtual call came through. Tony hung it up as usual, but immediately another call followed.
This time, it was from Obadiah Stane, a veteran of Stark Industries.
He could ignore anyone else's call, but not Obadiah's.
Tony pressed the answer button and heard Obadiah's cheerful voice through the receiver:
"Tony, how's it going?"
"Everything's smooth. Looks like we're set to make a killing this time," Tony said casually.
"Great job, Tony." Obadiah's voice seemed to grow excited. "See you tomorrow, OK?"
"OK."
Tony stared at the name "Obadiah" displayed on the screen after hanging up, lost in thought for a moment. One of the accompanying U.S. soldiers leaned over:
"Tony, mind if we take a photo?"
Tony put away his phone and flashed a smile at the soldier:
"Of course."
He watched the soldier hand the camera to the person in the front passenger seat, then struck a scissor-hand pose for the lens.
On the other end, after hanging up, Obadiah Stane couldn't help but let out a laugh.
He sent out the location data he'd just obtained from tracing Tony's phone call, then poured himself a glass of champagne and downed it in one gulp:
"To Tony Stark."
BOOM!
A missile fell from the sky, blasting the Humvee carrying Tony Stark into the air.
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