Hearing
While Maria and Sharon took Peter to Disney World, Tony was being marched into the US Capitol building by Pepper. When he had heard that they were taking Peter to Disney World, Tony had tried to jump in his new car and head down to Florida to join them but was stopped by his assistant before he could turn the car on.
Now he was sitting before a group of senators against his will while his sister, cousin, and son were running around an amusement park having the time of their lives.
He was drawn out of his conversation with Pepper by the head of the committee. “Mr Stark, could we pick up now where we left off? Mr Stark. Please.”
“Yes dear?” Tony said as he turned around to face them.
“Can I have your attention?” Senator Stern asked
Tony nodded. “Absolutely.”
“Do you or do you not possess a specialized weapon?” Stern asked him
Tony shook his head. “I do not.”
This went on for a while. The Senator just wanted the suit turned over to the US government, something Tony wouldn’t allow happen. Tony was now just waiting for the senator to play whatever he thought was his trump card.
“I’m no expert in weapons. We have somebody here who is an expert on weapons. I’d now like to call Justin Hammer, our current primary weapons contractor.” Stern finally played it.
As Hammer made his way into the room, Tony addressed the senators. “Let the record reflect that I observed Mr Hammer entering the chamber, and I am wondering if and when any actual expert will also be in attendance.”
Hammer laughed as he sat down across the aisle from Tony. “Absolutely. I’m no expert. I defer to you, Anthony. You’re the wonder boy. Senator, if I may. I may well not be an expert, but you know who was the expert? Your dad. Howard Stark.” Tony rolled his eyes at the mention of his father. Everyone loved to praise his father. “Really a father to us all, and to the military-industrial age. Let’s just be clear, he was no flower child. He was a lion. We all know why we’re here. In the last six months, Anthony Stark has created a sword with untold possibilities. And yet, he insists it’s a shield. He asks us to trust him as we cower behind it. I wish I were comforted, Anthony, I really do. I’d love to leave my door unlocked when I leave the house, but this ain’t Canada. You know, we live in a world of grave threats, threats that Mr Stark will not always be able to foresee. Thank you. God bless Iron Man. God bless America.
“That is well said Mr Hammer.” Stern praised before announcing, “The committee would now like to invite Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes to the chamber.”
That one actually surprised Tony. “Rhodey? What?”
Tony turned around and got up to greet his friend. “Hey, buddy. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Look, it’s me, I’m here. Deal with it. Let’s move on.” Rhodey told him.
“Well your girlfriends here.” Tony teased him.
“Shut up.” Rhodey responded.
Tony chuckled. “All right, I’ll shut up.”.
Tony and Rhodey took their seats as Stern began talking again. “I have before me a complete report on the Iron Man weapon, compiled by Colonel Rhodes. And, Colonel, for the record, can you please read page 57, paragraph four?”
“You’re requesting that I read specific selections from my report, Senator?” Rhodey asked for clarification.
“Yes, sir.” Stern told him.
“It was my understanding that I was going to be testifying in a much more comprehensive and detailed manner.” Rhodey said, beginning to feel his anger rise at being lied to.
“I understand. A lot of things have changed today. So if you could just read…” Stern began before he was cut off.
“You do understand that reading a single paragraph out of context does not reflect the summary of my final…” Rhodey argued before Stern interrupted him.
“Just read it, Colonel.” The senator ordered.
Rhodey sighed dejectedly. “Very well. ‘As he does not operate within any definable branch of government, Iron Man presents a potential threat to the security of both the nation and to her interests.’ I did, however, go on to summarize that the benefits of Iron Man far outweigh three liabilities and that it would be in our interest…”
Stern tried to cut him off before he could go any further. “That’s enough Colonel.”
Rhodey kept going, despite the senator's protests. “to fold Mr Stark into the existing chain of command”
“I’m not a joiner, but I’ll consider Secretary of Defense, if you ask nicely.” Tony joked. “We can amend the hours a little bit.”
Stern ignored Tony. “I’d like to go on and show, if I may, the imagery that’s connected to your report.”
At this point Tony began ignoring the hearing and began hacking into the monitors that were scattered throughout the room with his phone.
“Hold on a second buddy.” Tony told his friend. “Let me see something here.” He tapped his phone a couple of times and he owned the screens. “Boy, I’m good. I commandeered your screens. I need them. Time for a little transparency. Now, let’s see what’s really going on.”
“What is he doing?” Stern was confused.
Tony spoke up. “If you will direct your attention to said screens, I believe that’s North Korea.” A video clip of a suit that isn’t working properly and just falls over.
“Can you turn that off?” The senator spoke, trying to regain a semblance of order as Justin Hammer jumped up and tried to turn the monitors off.
Tony pressed on. “Iran.” A suit that could fly appeared before it crashed and caught on fire.
“No grave threat here.” Tony said before he got excited. “Is that Justin Hammer? How did Hammer get in the game?”
Hammer became desperate to turn the monitors off as the suit his company designed appeared.
“Justin, you’re on TV. Focus up.” Tony called, thoroughly enjoying this.
“Okay, give me a left twist. Left’s good.” Justin Hammer spoke on the monitor. “Turn to the right.” The suit on the monitor turned to the right before spinning all the way around, crippling the pilot. “Oh, shit. Oh, shit.”
Justin finally just unplugged the monitors to kill the show that Tony was putting on.
“Wow.” Tony laughed. “Yeah, I’d say most countries, five, ten years away. Hammer Industries, twenty.”
Hammer leaned over the microphone. “I’d like to point out that that test pilot survived.”
“I think that we’re done is the point that he’s making.” Stern tried to end the hearing that had clearly not gone to plan. “I don’t think there’s any reason…”
Tony had enough and cut him off. “The point is, you’re welcome, I guess.”
Stern was visibly confused. “For what?”
“Because I’m your nuclear deterrent. It’s working. We’re safe. America is secure. You want my property? You can’t have it. But I did you a big favor.” Tony spoke before spinning around to face the audience. “I’ve successfully privatized world peace.” He flashed a peace sign to the crowd. “What more do you want? For now! I tried to play ball with these ass-clowns.” He yelled as the audience was cheering.
“Fuck you, Mr Stark. Fuck you, buddy. We’re adjourned. We’re adjourned for today.” Stern said angrily as Tony put his sunglasses on and turned to leave.
Tony made his way out of the building, walking past all of the cameras and people gathered and headed towards Happy who was waiting with his car.
“Let's go.” Tony told him as he slid into the driver's seat.
As they were driving away, the bluetooth in the car started ringing.
“Yello.” Tony answered.
“Are you out of your goddamn mind?” Came his sisters irate voice.
“Who is this?” Tony decided to mess with his sister.
“Tony!” Maria whisper screamed.
Before Tony could say anything, there was a fumbling on the other end of the phone and his cousin spoke. “Hey Tony.”
“Share-bear. How’s Disney?” Tony asked as if nothing was wrong.
“Deelightful.” Sharon said, emphasizing the D. “Listen, She’s got that vein popping out of her forehead that she only gets when she’s really angry and while I would usually find this situation hilarious we are kind of in public here.”
Tony laughed. “Okay Share. While I’ve got you, can you make sure to do all the cliché Disney crap with Pete.” He paused before adding. “And take lots of pictures.”
“I find it insulting that you would even think I would do otherwise.” Sharon said in mock offense.
“You already got him mouse ears didn’t you?” Tony asked although he knew the answer.
“And me.” Sharon told him proudly. “Uh-oh. Mount Maria looks like she’s about to blow. Here you go.”
Tony could hear more fumbling with the phone as it was handed back to his sister. While this was going on he glanced over at Happy who appeared to be fighting the urge to laugh at the situation.
“Tony?” His sister asked, deceptively calm.
“Yes?” Tony responded wearily.
“Can you please explain to me why you did what you just did.” His sister asked him as he could hear the anger rising again.
“Because it was a farcical hearing and Stern felt that he could railroad me into giving up my suit. Not his, not the government’s, mine.” Tony defended.
“I get that part you jackass but you can’t go around insulting sitting members of the senate.” Maria told him. “Especially when they’re trying to take your stuff.”
“I’m not going to let them take the suit just so they can turn it into another weapon. That’s not what I want my legacy to be.” Tony told her seriously.
“Tony, what’s going on?” Maria asked with a hint of worry. “You’ve been going on and on about your legacy lately. Is there something that you aren’t telling me?”
“There’s nothing going on Ria, I have everything under control.” Tony hated lying to his sister, especially about the fact that he was sick but he didn’t need her to worry about him when there was nothing that could be done.
“Uh-huh.” She let out clearly not believing him.
Tony decided it was time to change the subject. “So have you guys done any rides yet?”
There was a pause on the other end. Maria was clearly debating whether or not she should press on with her questioning. “We’re currently standing in line for Space Mountain.” She relented and told him.
“Don’t they have a Star Wars ride?” He asked knowing without a doubt that that would be his son’s favorite ride.
“They do but certain people haven’t been informed yet.” Maria said, obviously trying to hide this from Peter.
Tony knew what they were doing. “You guys are waiting until the last day so you can get everything else done aren’t you?”
“Yep.” Maria said. “Got to go, almost at the front of the line.”
“Alright. Have fun without me.” Tony told her.
“Always.” She said before hanging up.
Tony looked over to Happy who was just shaking his head. “What?”
“Why do you antagonize her?” The bodyguard asked.
“Because it’s fun.” Tony laughed. “What’s it matter to you?”
“Because every time you piss her off it somehow blows back on me.” He told his boss.
“Are you scared of my sister?” Tony asked, finding the idea funny.
“Yes.” Happy responded as Tony continued to drive to the airport.