Chapter 13
Six months had passed since she had shouted her superhero status to the world, and six months filled with missions, press tours, excitement, and fans. Six months since she had inserted the arc reactor into her chest and since the palladium had started killing her slowly.
She knew the words she spoke were meant to drum up excitement. 'The longest period of uninterrupted peace because of me.' Oh, how the public had eaten those words up.
And not to toot her own horn, but it was true, wasn't it? She had risen like a phoenix from the ashes and stepped up to do what was right. She was keeping America safe, the world safe.
She had never fully understood her father's desire for a legacy until the last few months. Sure, she had always wanted to make the world a better place. She'd wanted to change the world and sculpt it in her image. She wanted to advance it and bring it to heights it had never seen before. But she had never thought once about what she would leave behind when all of this was over.
Perhaps that was why she had restarted the Stark Expo's that her father had thrown when she was younger. Because it wasn't just what she could do for the world, but what all of them could do. What they could all create. What they could build. And what they could make.
She wanted to change the world. But she wanted the world to be a better place even when she was gone.
How very ironic that the device she had built to keep her alive was slowly killing her.
19%.
Her blood toxicity was at 19%. Nearly 1/5th of her blood was toxic. And she had no idea if she'd even be able to find a solution in time. She didn't have the first clue of just what was wrong or what it would take for her to be able to turn it around. JARVIS had already run every single combination of elements, compounds, and mixtures, but nothing was a match. There was nothing she could use to substitute the palladium with a similar reaction. The metal in her chest was killing her.
She hadn't told anyone about it, not yet. Not Rhodey who knew every dirty secret about her. Not Pepper who had her schedule managed to a tee and knew where Toni was at any waking moment. Not Ava, who all but helped Toni reach her vision of any crazy technology she was thinking of, or Harry who had all but held the governments off her back after her announcement of being Iron Woman. Not even Uncle Daniel or Aunt Peggy, who had all but raised her with the help of Jarvis and Ana, or Mama Rhodes who had kept Toni together after her mother's passing.
Because how could she bring herself to tell them that she was dying. That the reactor in her chest was killing her with every use of the suit.
She knew what they would say; they'd demand she stop using it, but really, it was nowhere near that simple. If she stopped using it then it wasn't as if she wasn't still going to die. She'd just live a few more years first. And what difference did it make when she died if she was dying anyways? She'd much rather leave a legacy behind that she could be proud of, like her father had wanted to all those years ago.
And even if she never was his legacy; if that honour had gone to Steve Rogers, SHIELD, and Stark Industries, that didn't mean she couldn't make an impact before she passed and joined him in whatever Hell she was destined for.
She wondered if it would be better this way; easier even. Then her dying days wouldn't be filled with mourning before she'd even passed, and at least she'd be able to appreciate her life, truly appreciate it, in a way she hadn't ever done before.
And if she was destined to die in a few months, at least the world would be a lot safer.
She was getting subpoenaed. By the US Government.
If she said she was surprised, she'd be lying. If Toni Stark was used to anything, it was men trying to take away her achievements from her because they felt more entitled to it. It happened all the time at MIT, during her time at Stark Industries, and now it was happening with the Iron Woman armour.
"Ms Stark, if you don't mind, I'd like to get back to it," Senator Stern said.
"Yes Darling?" she said, shooting a smile at the man, despite wanting to strangle him internally.
"Do you or do you not possess a specialized weapon," The man sneered at her.
"I do not," she said firmly, and the man looked at her with disbelief, "Well it depends how you define weapon."
"The Iron Woman weapon," The man elaborated.
"My device does not fit that description," she said, leaning forward, hearing the cameras click behind her. "I would begin by defining what it is. A high-tech prosthesis."
The room laughed around her, sure that she was just messing with them, but her face did not change from the serious expression it held.
They wanted to play ball? Then she definitely would not make it easy for them.
"That's actually the most apt description," she said, placing her hand on the table.
"It's a weapon, Ms Stark," Senator Stern said again.
"If your priority was actually the American people-" she said before he cut her off.
Typical.
"My priority is to get the weapon turned over to the people of the United States of America," he said, looking down on her. "Perhaps you cannot begin to imagine just what you have created, Stark. You invented a weapon which is capable of mass destruction, and it is in the hands of a civilian. A woman like you surely does not understand the consequences that this could have long term. Why don't you leave saving the world to people who are actually qualified?"
She heard an audible gasp and she simply rolled her eyes. She was no stranger to the military being a pain in her ass. To men thinking they're entitled to her inventions simply because they deemed her unworthy.
"Well you can forget it," she said simply. "I am Iron Woman. The Suit and I are one. To turn over the Iron Woman 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-" Stern started, and she cut him off as simply as he'd cut her off before.
"In prostitution?" she said flashing him a smile, knowing fully well that the Senator had just had a prostitution scandal the year before which nearly ruined his career. "Of course not, you're a senator."
"I'm no expert in weapons," he said, unimpressed, "We have somebody here who is an expert on weapons. I'd now like to call Justin Hammer, our current primary weapons contractor."
She laughed.
She knew the Military had scrambled after she'd pulled out of their weapons contracts, but Justin Hammer? Really?
"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," she said, holding her nose up at the man.
If the world wanted to call her petty, then so be it. She still remembered how the man stood above Rhodey and hurt him, because he was a black man in a College who dared to defy the expectations set around him.
Even if it was decades ago.
Some people never changed, and she knew that Hammer was one of them, what from all the sexist remarks he'd thrown her way over the years.
"Absolutely. I'm no expert. I defer to you, Antonia," he said, winking at her. "You're the wonder girl. Senator, if I may. I may well not be an expert, but you know who was the expert? Your dad. Howard Stark."
She rolled her eyes, visibly, and knew the camera's picked it up. So they wanted to shame her for not being her father? Fine. Her father had already held that against her for her entire life. There was nothing they could say to get her to bend.
"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 three years, Antonia Stark has created a sword with untold possibilities. And yet, she insists it's a shield. She asks us to trust her as we cower behind it. I wish I were comforted, Antonia, 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 Ms Stark will not always be able to foresee. That much power is too much in the hands of a single person. It is a weapon, one that can do great things if in the hands of the US Government, and not some girl who thinks she can play dress up as a superhero. The days of the tales of Captain America saving us from the Nazis have long past. Superheroes were not here when we went to war time and time again against our enemies. The Military was. And the Military should be the one holding that power. Not a singluar woman. Thank you. God bless Iron Woman. God bless America."
"I would like to go on record and question if Hammer's objections to my wielding of the suit is as a private citizen or because I am a woman," she said, and the man spluttered. "What kind of message are you sending out to all the young girls watching this, when you tell them they are incapable of playing in the same game, simply because of their gender?"
"That's enough, Ms Stark," Stern cut her off, "That was well said Mr Hammer. The committee would now like to invite Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes to the chamber."
If they expected a surprised reaction from her, she didn't give it to them. Rhodey had already called her up and told her that they'd wanted him to speak. He'd told her how they expect him to give a damning speech about how he believed she didn't deserve the suit. And if the SI Military Liaison and her best friend didn't even support her, it would be case closed
Stern called him up the stand, "I have before me a complete report on the Iron Woman weapon, complied 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 in disbelief.
"Yes, sir," Stern smirked.
"It was my understanding that I was going to be testifying in a much more comprehensive and detailed manner," Rhodey tried, and Stark was sure they were going to twist his wording.
"I understand. A lot of things have changed today. So if you could just read-" Stern tried to pressure him.
Rhodey argued with him, but the man seemed dead set on Rhodey reading whatever was on page 57, paragraph four.
"Very well. 'As he does not operate within any definable branch of government, Iron Woman presents a potential threat to the security of both the nation and to her interests.'," Rhodey read, "I did however, go on to summarise that the benefits of Iron Woman far outweigh three liabilities and that it would be in our interest to fold Ms Stark into the existing chain of command, Senator."
Rhodey finished his summary as Stern rampantly tried to get him to stop talking.
"I'm not a joiner," she said, supporting Rhodey, "But I will be open to considering it, if you asked nicely."
She knew the audience laughed again, but she stood her ground. The Government didn't even try to ask her for her assistance. They just wanted to take her suit from her. And that was where her issues with them began.
"I'd like to go on and show, if I may, the imagery that's connected to your report," Stern said, and Rhodey stopped him.
"I believe it is somewhat premature to reveal these images to the general public at this time," Rhodey argued, and when Stern pushed, he cued up the images on the screen. "Intelligence suggests that the devices seen in these photos are, in fact, attempts at making manned copies of Ms Stark's suit. This has been corroborated by our allies and local intelligence on the ground indicating that these suits are quite possibly, at this moment, operational."
She pulled out her phone and began fiddling with it, pulling up the images she had JARVIS obtain earlier before the hearing.
She hacked onto the screen as she changed the images to the ones she had, "Hold on a second buddy. Let me see something here. 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's she doing?" Stern said, looking less confident than he had a moment before.
"If you will direct your attention to said screens, I believe that's North Korea," She said, and on the screen showed a man in an oversized suit repeatedly falling over.
"Can you turn that off? Take it off," Stern demanded, and Hammer moved towards the television. While this hearing might be open to the public, she knew they didn't want the images released as it would be damning to their case.
But she was all about transparency, wasn't she?
"Iran," Toni said, as an image of a suit that flew, only to catch on fire a few seconds later.
"No grave threat here. Is that Justin Hammer? How did Hammer get in the game?" she said, pulling up the final video of Hammer testing on a suit which bent the man back in a position which definitely would have broken a few bones.
"Wow. Yeah, I'd say most countries, five, ten years away. Hammer Industries, twenty," she said, leaning back, proving her point that there was no immediate arms race from her suit's creation.
"I'd like to point out that that test pilot survived," Hammer said quickly to the media.
"I think we're done with the point that she's making. I don't think there's any reason-" Stern tried to end the hearing, knowing all too well he'd lost.
"The point is, you're welcome," she said simply, and upon the look of disbelief she elaborated. "Because I'm your nuclear deterrent. It's working. We're safe. America is secure. A woman who you have repeatedly talked down to for her gender is who achieved that. Perhaps you forget, Senator Stern. I went to MIT when I was thirteen years old. I inherited Stark Industries at twenty-one. I've been a CEO of a multibillion-dollar company for over a decade. Do you think you can scare me into submission because of my gender? I am used to men like you thinking you can walk all over a woman because you do not think she belongs. You want my property? You can't have it. But I did you a big favour," she stood then, turning back to face the room, as she raised her arms, "I've successfully privatised world peace. What more do you want? For now! I tried to play ball with these ass-clowns."
"Fuck you, Ms Stark. Fuck you, sweetheart. We're adjourned. We're adjourned for today," Stern said.
Rhodey gave her an exasperated look, but she could see he was smiling despite himself.
She threw on her sunglasses and her heels clicked as she walked out of the room, head held high, to the sound of applause thundering behind her.
She knew it was far from over. But for now, she'd won.
She sauntered back into her Malibu mansion, exhausted, but invigorated. She might have won the case, but it wouldn't stop the Government from pressuring her into turning over the suit.
She knew logically that the entirety of the United States Government wasn't corrupt, but it didn't mean that they wouldn't keep trying to get her property one way or another.
"Wake up, Mommy's home," she grinned as the house turned on.
"Welcome home, Miss," JARVIS said to her, "Congratulations on the opening ceremonies. They were such a success, as was your Senate hearing. And may I say how refreshing it is to finally see you in a video with your clothing on, ma-am."
She laughed at that, "Who is teaching you all this sarcasm, J?"
"Who indeed?" JARVIS bemused.
"U!" she sighed, as the smoothie made it all over the walls, before knocking over the blender. "I swear to God I'll dismantle you. I'll soak your motherboard. I'll turn you into a wine rack."
U beeped sadly and she groaned. Curie, she was growing soft.
"You tried, baby," she said, taking the smoothie from him and stroking his arm. "How many ounces a day of this gobbledegook am I supposed to drink?"
"We are up to 80 ounces a day to counteract the symptoms, miss," JARVIS told her.
"Check palladium levels," she commanded, as JARVIS gave her the results.
Twenty-four percent. In the last few days.
She ripped the Arc Reactor out of her chest, as it smoked up and sighed, "God, they're running out quick," she said, as she put in the new core. She lifted up her shirt and saw black lines emerging from the device.
That couldn't be good.
"Miss Potts is approaching. I recommend that you inform her," JARVIS tried, but she quickly shut him off.
"Is this a joke? What are you thinking?" Pepper stormed in angrily, "What are you thinking?"
"Hey, I'm thinking I'm busy. And you're angry about something. Do you have the sniffles? I don't want to get sick," she deflected.
"Did you just donate entire modern art collection to the-" Pepper started as she followed Toni around the room.
"Girl Scouts of America," Toni beamed.
"Girl Scouts of America?" Pepper finished exasperated.
"Yes. It is a worthwhile organisation. I didn't physically check the crates but, basically, yes. And it's not "our" collection, it's my collection. No offence," Toni brushed her off.
Pepper was not amused, "No, you know what? I think I'm actually entitled to say "our" collection considering the time that I put in, over 10 years, curating that."
Toni dismissed it and Pepper pulled out a list on her StarkPad, "You know, there's only about 8,011 things that I really need to talk to you about. The Expo is a gigantic waste of time."
"I need you to wear a surgical mask until you're feeling better. Is that okay?" Toni said, somewhat seriously. She was already dying, she didn't need to die any faster.
"That's rude," Pepper coughed.
"There's nothing more important to me than the Expo. It's my primary point of concern. I don't know why you're against it. Think of all the girls and boys out there who will come and see something that motivates them to want to change the word. What's egotistical about that?"
"Stark Industries is in complete disarray. You understand that?" Pepper questioned her, and Toni stopped.
"No. Our stocks have never been higher. We've opened several new divisions and have made incredible progress. We've moved past being just a weapons company. We're so much more now," Toni argued.
"Yes, from a managerial standpoint," Pepper opposed her. "Okay, fine. My point is, we have already awarded contracts to the wind farm people. And to the plastic plantation tree, which was your idea by the way. Those people are on payroll and you won't make a decision"
"Everything was my idea. I don't care about the liberal agenda any more. It's boring. Boring. I'm giving you a boring alert. You do it," Toni said, turning to her friend, and saying the words she'd been trying to for the last month."
"I do what?" Pepper paused, looking back at her.
"Excellent idea. I just figured this out. You run the company," Toni said, hoping she'd get the hint.
"Yeah, I'm trying to run the company," Pepper raised a brow at her.
"Pepper, I need you to run the company. Well, stop trying to do it and do it," Toni told her.
"You will not give me the information in order to-" Pepper said, confused.
"I'm asking you to physically do it. I need you to do it," Toni said, trying to cut her off.
"I am trying to do it!" Pepper all but yelled.
"Pepper, you're not listening to me!" Toni shouted exasperatedly.
"No, you are not listening to me," Pepper said in a similar tone.
"I'm trying to make you CEO. Why won't you let me?" She said, and Pepper paused, looking stunned.
"Have you been drinking?" Pepper's first response was, which was fair, she supposed.
"Chlorophyll. I hereby irrevocably appoint you chairman and CEO of Stark Industries effective immediately. Yeah, done deal. Okay? I've actually given this a fair amount of thought, believe it or not. Doing a bit of headhunting, so to speak, trying to figure out who a worthy successor would be. And then I realised it's you. It's always been you. I thought there'd be a legal issue, but actually I'm capable of appointing my successor. My successor being you. Congratulations? Take it, just take it," Toni said, as Butterfingers brought over some champagne.
"No," Pepper said, handing her back the glass.
"No?" Toni said, in shock. "Why not?"
"Because I don't want your job, Toni. You've always been a good CEO regardless of what the press might think. Sure you get caught up in your work and sometimes forget the finer details of running a company but I don't think you're unworthy of the position," Pepper said, sitting her down. "Toni, you were one of the first female CEO's of a Fortune 500 company. You continue to change the world every single day, for the better. And there is no one more deserving of that job than you. I will not take your job from you because you are the best person for it, you continue to make the world shine and a better place. Do you know how many fan letters I get from young children for you? You're an inspiration to the world, regardless of what some stuffy men in suits think."
"Pepper," Toni said softly, "This job is dangerous. I have so many employees to think about. What if something happens to me as Iron Woman? I need someone to be in line to take the company in a direction worthy of its name. If you won't be my CEO, then be my COO. I haven't found anyone since Obie, and well you were always better at running all the operations anyways. And if something happens to me, I want you to take the company."
"Toni, I don't know what to think," Pepper said, looking at her carefully, "Are you okay? You would tell me if something was wrong, right?"
"Of course," Toni plastered on her press smile, "Don't think, drink. There you go. To Pepper Potts, my new COO of Stark Industries."
Pepper tapped her glass against Toni's and the two of them drank.
And later, when Pepper was gone, she asked JARVIS to leave Pepper the company. At least when she passed the company would be in safe hands.
A/N: It didn't feel right for Toni to fully sign away the company to Pepper given how hard she's worked. Yes, she believes she's dying, but Pepper wouldn't accept the company since she doesn't know that. This Toni has poured her heart and soul into proving her capabilities. But Pepper has worked hard too so COO felt like a good compromise. This story is going to slowly start diverging more and more from MCU, starting with a certain SHIELD spy we'll encounter in the next chapter.
