Law and Order
"Your friend is into big trouble," Nat said, coming into the living room with a bowl of popcorn.
"He's not my friend," Amy protested, scooting over on the couch for her best girlfriend. "He's my godchild. I promised Howard I would always look out for him. And I failed."
"You have your own life..." Nat scoffed, scooping a handful of popcorn to munch on. "By the way...I'm going undercover."
"Doing what."
"Damage control on that...Any advice?"
"From what I've seen before, he's just like Howard. Irrogant, womanizer, an asshole. But ten times worse."
"Great," Nat sighed.
"Look, it's back on!"
"Mr Stark, could we pick up now where we left off? Mr Stark. Please," Senator Stern asked, calling order back to the televised hearing.
Tony turned back around, looking at the older man. "Yes, dear?"
"Can I have your attention?"
"Absolutely."
"Do you or do you not possess a specialised weapon?"
"I do not."
"You do not?"
"I do not. Well, it depends on how you define the word weapon."
"The Iron Man weapon."
"My device does not fit that description."
"Well...How would you describe it?:
"I would describe it by defining it as what it is, Senator."
"As?"
"It’s a high-tech prosthesis. That is...That is...That’s actually the most apt description I can make of it."
"It’s a weapon. It’s a weapon, Mr Stark."
"Please, if your priority was actually the well-being of the American citizen..."
"My priority is to get the Iron Man weapon turned over to the people of the United States of America."
"Well, you can forget it. I am Iron Man. The suit and I are one. To turn over the Iron Man suit would be to turn over myself which is tantamount to indentured servitude or prostitution, depending or what state you’re in. You can’t have it."
"Look, I’m no expert..."
"In prostitution? Of course not. You’re a senator. Come on."
"Oh damn," Nat gasped.
"He's really not going to go quietly," Amy nodded, taking a sip of her beer.
They continued to watch the TV as people laughed, and Tony waved. "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," Senator Stern announced.
"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."
A well dressed man with coifed hair came in, wearing a pair of thick black-rimmed glasses. "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."
"Oh, damn," Amy gasped this time.
"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. The committee would now like to invite Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes to the chamber."
"Rhodey? What?" The girls watched as Lt. Rhodes, Tony Stark's best friend, came into the conference room. Tony got up to greet his friend, before sitting back down.
"I have before me a complete report on the Iron Man weapon, complied by Colonel Rhodes. And, Colonel, for the record, can you please read page 57, paragraph four?" Senator Stern requested.
"You’re requesting that I read specific selections from my report, Senator?" Rhodey asked.
"Yes, sir."
"It was my understanding that I was going to be testifying in a much more comprehensive and detailed manner."
"I understand. A lot of things have changed today. So if you could just read..."
"You do understand that reading a single paragraph out of context does not reflect the summary of my final..."
"Just read it, Colonel. I do. Thank you."
Rhodey sighed. "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 summarise that the benefits of Iron Man far outweigh three liabilities and that it would be in our interest..."
"That’s enough, Colonel."
"...to fold Mr. Stark..."
"That's enough."
"...into the existing chain of command, Senator."
"I’m not a joiner, but I’ll consider Secretary of Defence if you ask nicely," Tony said, causing the people in the crowd to laugh. "We can amend the hours a little bit."
"I’d like to go on and show, if I may, the imagery that’s connected to your report," Senator Stern announced.
"I believe it is somewhat premature to reveal these images to the general public at this time," Rhodey protested.
"With all due respect, Colonel, I understand. And if you could just narrate those for us, we’d be very grateful. Let’s have the images."
"Intelligence suggests that the devices seen in these photos are, in fact, attempts at making manned copies of Mr. Stark’s suit. This has been corroborated by our allies and local intelligence on the ground..."
"What is he doing?" Amy asked, leaning forward on her couch to look at the TV.
"...indicating that these suits are quite possibly, at this moment, operational."
"Hold on a second, buddy. Let me see something here." Amy and Natasha watched as Tony set up a device to connect to the screen that showed pictures. "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."
Stern leaned forward. "What is he doing?"
"If you will direct your attention to said screens, I believe that’s North Korea." Nat and Amy leaned forward from the couch to see a video closeup of a suit, falling over.
"Okay, so we know that S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't have to worry about North Korea building a supersuit," Amy said.
"Can you turn that off? Take it off."
Hammer stood up. "Iran," Tony said, showing a video of a suit flying for about five seconds.
"Or Iran," Natasha voiced.
"No grave threat here. Is that Justin Hammer? How did Hammer get in the game?"
"Holy shit!" Natasha and Amy gasped, seeing Justin Hammer, with a suit.
"Justin, you’re on TV. Focus up."
"Okay, give me a left twist. Left’s good. Turn to the right. Oh, shit. Oh, shit."
"Wow. Yeah, I’d say most countries, five, ten years away. Hammer Industries, twenty," Tony smirked as Hammer pulled the plug on the screen.
"I’d like to point out that that test pilot survived," Hammer said quickly.
"I think we’re done is the point that he’s making. I don’t think there’s any reason..." Stern said, calling order back to the court room.
"The point is, you’re welcome, I guess."
"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 stood up, facing the crowd. "I’ve successfully privatized world peace." He then made peace signs with both hands as everybody stood up, all talking at once. "What more do you want? For now! I tried to play ball with these ass-clowns."
"Son of a bitch!" Amy gasped as chaos erupted in the court room.
Stern was bleeped out as he cursed Tony. Amy reached for the remote, turning off the television set, and looking at Nat. "You're gonna have your hands full."