Sparks in the Power Game.
The sun was setting over Hammer Industries as Justin reviewed reports on his new projects. His focus had never been solely on weapons; he had always known that the real revolution lay in security and medicine. However, his company needed to compete with Stark Industries, and that required a sophisticated political game.
As he scanned the performance statistics of his improved protective vests, an alert on his computer caught his eye. The name “Tony Stark” flashed in urgent news: the billionaire genius had been kidnapped in Afghanistan.
Justin sat back in his chair, a mix of surprise and concern crossing his face. He had always known Tony was an easy target because of his arrogance, but he had never imagined something like this would actually happen.
“I hope he has some tricks up his sleeve,” he muttered, closing the report. “Because the world without Tony Stark would be a much duller place.”
Months later, when Tony finally returned, he looked different. He was no longer just the irresponsible billionaire playboy. Something had changed. Justin knew it the moment he saw Tony’s first interview, announcing that Stark Industries would be exiting the weapons business.
It was a declaration of war on competitors like himself.
Justin wasted no time. He set up a meeting with one of his contacts in Congress and began a strategy to gain market share. However, his true interest was not just commercial. He needed to understand what was going on in Tony’s mind.
Their first meeting after Tony’s return took place at a charity event. The room was filled with influential people, but Justin only had eyes for one person in particular: Tony, impeccably dressed, holding a glass of whiskey, chatting with Pepper Potts.
Justin approached with a smile that showed he knew how to play the game.
“Tony! Finally back in the world of the living! I thought you had decided to become a monk in the Himalayas.”
Tony raised an eyebrow, assessing him. “Hammer. I’d rather be in the Himalayas than have dinner with corrupt senators, but here we are.”
Justin laughed. “You know, you’re leaving a lot of money on the table with this new philosophy of yours. If you really want to save the world, you need more than just speeches.”
Tony narrowed his eyes, studying Justin for a moment. “And do you have any brilliant ideas, Hammer?”
Justin smiled. “I always do. The question is, are you willing to listen?”
The evening ended with the two exchanging banter, but also an unexpected level of understanding. Justin realized that Tony wasn’t just a rival—he was a lone genius, trying to fix the world his way. And Justin wanted in on that.
The problem was: he also wanted to beat him.
And that game was just beginning.
For the next few days, Justin dedicated himself to developing a strategic approach. He needed to draw Tony into a conversation that was free of business, free of outside pressure, just two brilliant men exchanging ideas. And to do that, he needed a fitting invitation. He spent nights rethinking his approach. Creating a revolutionary project was part of the plan, but the execution had to be flawless. He sent some of his best engineers to gather information on the latest trends in artificial intelligence and self-defense. The reports were fascinating, but nothing compared to his own vision.
Justin Hammer’s true strength was something he kept to himself: his genius. He liked being underestimated. That was part of the fun. While others saw him as just an ambitious businessman, he was engineering something that could truly change the game.
He wanted to prove to Tony—and to himself—that he was more than just a businessman trying to compete. He wanted to be recognized as a visionary.
And he knew exactly how to do that.
The next morning, Justin called his R&D team into a private meeting. He outlined what he called “Project Guardian,” a groundbreaking fusion of artificial intelligence and battlefield medical support. The idea was to create an automated system that could provide advanced medical care to wounded soldiers before rescue teams even arrived.
The proposal was met with both enthusiasm and skepticism. “This is something that even Stark Industries has never attempted, sir,” one of the engineers commented. “We’re talking about a level of automation that hasn’t been achieved yet.”
Justin smiled. “Exactly. And that’s why we’re going to be the first.”
He knew Tony couldn’t ignore something like this. Hammer Industries had always been seen as inferior to Stark, but this time he had a project that could change the market’s perception—and Tony’s.
But a good project wasn’t enough. He needed a strategy to ensure that Tony would be interested enough to listen to him. That’s when he had a bold idea. Instead of an email or a phone call, he decided to send a physical invitation. Something that would get Stark’s attention right away. He had a fancy black box made with a laser-engraved titanium invitation. The message was direct, provocative, and impossible to ignore:
"Tony, you have good ideas, but you think small. How about a real challenge? Dinner with me. No politics, no business. Just a conversation between brilliant minds. You might be surprised. - J.H."
He sent the box straight to Stark Mansion, where J.A.R.V.I.S. scanned it before allowing Tony to open it. As soon as he read the message, Stark raised an eyebrow and laughed.
"J.A.R.V.I.S., is this an invitation or an attempt to poison me with cheap charm?"
"The probability of this being a trap is 23%, sir. However, Mr. Hammer tends to prefer more theatrical approaches."
Tony studied the invitation for a moment, then shrugged. "Well, I love a good show. Schedule dinner. Let's see what Hammer has up his sleeve."
On the night of the dinner, Justin was waiting, already anticipating the impact his proposal would have. He knew Tony could never resist a new, revolutionary idea. And this was just the first step in the game he was beginning to play.