Chapter Eighteen: Confession

Tony’s Villa, Basement Level One

“Are you really going alone?” Arthur watched as the mechanical arms prepared the red armor from Tony’s yacht, the one he remembered so well.

“I can handle it by myself, don’t worry.” Tony, now suited up, glanced at Arthur and launched himself into the air, engines roaring.

“Well then.” Arthur helplessly watched Tony disappear into the sky. He could fly with his trident too, but not nearly as fast as Tony. Besides, Tony shouldn’t be in any real danger this time. He decided to let it be.

The next morning, Arthur sat on the sofa sipping coffee, the television broadcasting the news. Tony’s friend, Colonel James Rhodes, was speaking live at a press conference.

“Yesterday, during a military exercise, an F-22 Raptor crashed. Fortunately, there were no casualties...” At that moment, a crimson figure descended from the sky.

“All done?” Arthur asked without looking back.

“Perfectly handled!” Tony replied, full of swagger.

Arthur pointed at the television, where Rhodes was still speaking. “Is this your idea of ‘perfectly handled’?”

Tony hesitated. “...Don’t sweat the details.”

…

Tony stood on the mechanical platform as six robotic arms clumsily struggled to remove his armor. Their coordination was off, and the suit refused to budge. Arthur watched the scene, arms crossed, finding the spectacle amusing.

“I swear I designed this to come off. It worked the first time... Hey, be gentle!” Tony protested as he wriggled in the suit.

“Please remain still!” Jarvis’s voice intoned.

“Could you stop laughing and help instead?” Tony shot an annoyed look at Arthur, who was clearly enjoying the show.

Arthur picked up a drill and began helping the mechanical arms unscrew the bolts from the armor, one by one.

“What’s going on here?” came Pepper’s voice from behind.

“Well, you’ve seen worse than this...” Tony said, resigned.

Pepper stared in shock at the battered suit. “Are those bullet holes?”

Tony glanced at Pepper, lost for words.

Arthur said to Tony, “Tell her everything. She’s the one you trust most, isn’t she? I think she’ll support you.”

So Tony confessed to Pepper about his abduction, the new armor he’d designed, and what he’d just done in Gulmira...

In Tony’s workshop.

“Can you do something for me?” Tony asked Arthur.

“Name it.”

“I need you to go to my office and hack into the main computer. Bring back all the recent files.”

“Uh, I don’t have any hacking skills. I can barely play computer games...” Arthur admitted helplessly.

“Aren’t you a Defense Department agent? Hacking is basic training for agents, right?” Tony looked at Arthur, bewildered.

“Alright, I’ll be honest. S.H.I.E.L.D. sent me to protect you. I’m not actually with the Department of Defense...” Arthur confessed, a bit embarrassed.

“Fine, use this. I’ve loaded a little program onto this drive. Just plug it into the main computer.” Tony handed Arthur a USB stick, clearly unconcerned about Arthur’s true identity.

“What do you need those files for?” Pepper asked.

“I want to find all the details of their weapons deals and destroy them one by one,” Tony replied.

“You want to go stirring up trouble again?” Pepper’s anxiety spiked.

“I’m not doing this for glory or money, but to save those threatened by my weapons. This is what I want to do.” Tony explained earnestly.

“You could get yourself killed, Tony. You can’t keep risking your life like this,” Pepper pleaded.

“If I didn’t have this conviction, I’d have died in that cave! I’m not losing my mind; I’ve just found my purpose. My heart tells me this is the right thing to do. Will you support me?” Tony gazed into Pepper’s eyes, their looks locked.

“Alright. You have to know, you’re everything to me. I can’t lose you. Promise me you’ll stay safe,” Pepper finally relented, moved by Tony’s sincerity.

“Actually, it doesn’t need to be this complicated. All we need is proof that Obadiah was involved in Tony’s kidnapping. Then I’ll take care of him and wrest the company back from his hands,” Arthur interjected.

“Obadiah was involved in Tony’s kidnapping?” Pepper asked in disbelief.

“He’s absolutely connected. He’s been dealing with armed groups for a long time.” Arthur nodded with certainty.

“Okay, let’s find the evidence of his deals first. The files should be in my office computer. That’s your mission now,” Tony said.

“Why not just take him out directly?” Arthur asked.

“I need evidence—something for the shareholders. That’s the only way I can legitimately reclaim the company,” Tony replied.

Actually, I could just snap my fingers and finish him off, Arthur thought to himself, but didn’t say it aloud.

“I’m coming too. It’ll be easier if I’m there,” Pepper said.

Tony thought it over and nodded his approval.

…

Pepper and Arthur arrived at the top floor of Stark Industries, at Tony’s office.

“Hurry up and find the files. I’ll keep watch,” Arthur said to Pepper.

Pepper immediately rushed to the computer, inserted the USB drive, and began working. Arthur stood watch by the door, keeping an eye on the hallway.

“Got it!” Pepper exclaimed happily.

“Hurry, someone’s coming! I’ll stall them!” Footsteps sounded outside.

Arthur had no choice but to step out. Coming down the hall was Obadiah.

“What are you doing here?” Obadiah asked.

“I was looking for you. Just got to your office and you weren’t there,” Arthur improvised quickly.

“Oh? And what do you need me for?”

“You asked me to talk Tony into resuming weapons production. Lately, he seems to be reconsidering. He thinks the company’s future is important after all,” Arthur said, making things up as he went.

“Oh, really? Tony’s finally coming around, that’s great news. I was worried he’d be stubborn... By the way, I just remembered something, I’ll have to excuse myself.” Obadiah gave a meaningful glance at Tony’s office door before leaving.

Once Obadiah was gone, Arthur slipped back inside. “It’s alright, he’s gone. Did you get the files?”

“Yes, come take a look.” Pepper played a video file: footage recorded by the militants after Tony’s kidnapping, as well as some of the Iron Man armor’s design files.

“So it was Obadiah after all. Now we have proof. We can call the police and have him arrested,” Pepper said.

“No need for the police. I know S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. They’ll handle it. Leave it to me!” Arthur assured her.

“I’ll make a call.” Arthur gestured to Pepper and stepped aside.

He dialed Coulson, explained the situation, and asked if he should just eliminate Obadiah. Coulson replied that it was better to capture him alive and try him in a military court.

Arthur hung up. What a hassle—if I just took him out, there’d be no problem. But he remembered the look Obadiah had given him before leaving.

“Something’s wrong! Tony’s in danger! We have to get back!” Arthur said urgently to Pepper.

The two of them raced to the car and sped toward Tony’s villa as fast as they could...