Chapter 25 : Revelations
[Author note : New Iron lad squib chapter. Returning to work on Monday... Which means I won't be able to continue posting as many chapters on Patréon. I promise 1 chapter of each story for now and I'll see if I can post more but... After work I'm usually tired and lazy so, don't count on it too much. I also want to thank my patrons Rayshawn, Salo, Salokin, Terrence and Monsieur Moustache ! You guys are the best !
In other news, there's few more world building chapters before (the start of the end) of the Harry Potter arc (battle of Hogwarts, incoming !) At the time I'm writing this post, I finished chapter 34 and the battle has been more or less going strong since chapter 29... I'm hoping it'll take only a couple more chapters but... Not sure. I do hope you'll like it ! Obviously, things have changed slightly compared to the original story, and I try not to focus much screen time on the boy-who-lived (he's not my MC !)
If you're interested in my stories or want to encourage me, please check out my Patréon : https://www.patréon.com/user?u=66371596 (replace the é by a normal e) or look for Cathbel on their website
KoSP : 8 advanced chapters
The Squib who became Iron Lad... In DC : 8 advanced chapters
AoH : Prologue + 6 chapters (exclusive)
MoH : 8 chapters (Exclusive)
VOG : 6 chapters (exclusive)
Enjoy and please tell me what you think of it !]
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The aurors' superiors were currently dressing them down for having lost not one, but two persons of interests. The fact that they were portkeyed away even through the building's wards, or that one of them wasn't truly here didn't matter to them. In fact, the latter might have been worse…
« It was our chance to study the most advanced piece of technomancy from Stark Industries and you let it pass through your fingers ! » The director of the Aurors office, Malistair Hobbs admonished.
« Sir, with all due respect, our Unspeakables can barely make heads or tails of the M-phones… You really expect them to understand how the armor works ? Much less replicate how it was made ? » The African-American, David Nash asked as respectfully as he could.
« Besides… We aren't the ones who designed the wards of the interrogation rooms. You might want to have a conversation with the goblins for that one. » His partner, Antonio Sanchez, retorted, with less respect and more annoyance. The annoyance however, was more due to the fact that they indeed lost them when they had them.
Just as Mister Hobbs was gearing up for another shouting round, his secretary suddenly barged in. Despite feeling awkward, she delivered her message with an urgent tone :
« Sir, you have to see this ! It's on the no-maj's news ! »
* * * * *
Lois Lane was looking at the young face of Edgar Stark, or Ned, as he seemed to prefer being called with some surprise. Though she hid it pretty well. She was not expecting the hero to be this young, despite how his voice sounded.
« Edgar Stark… If I'm not mistaken, you are a programmer and you've also made a small fortune on the market. How did you meet John Henry Irons ? And what made you decide to become a Super-Hero ? »
« Well… » Ned looked a little uncomfortable as he started talking. « First, I'd like to apologize to the public and miss Grant… The first time I met mister Irons was during the Invasion of Metropolis. And, we didn't exactly have much time to talk… »
« That would mean… » Lois started.
« That mister Irons didn't help in the designs of my armor. Prior to the invasion, we'd never met, had never been in contact whether by mail or other means. In fact, he probably had never heard of me. »
« Why the lie ? » Clark asked.
He was confused as well. Unlike the rest of the world, he'd known the truth but the charade had always puzzled him. The young man in front of him was brilliant. Maybe even beyond that if what Steel had told him was any indication. The fact that Steel's armor was his life's work and that Ned Stark had created something similar, if not better in about a decade was… mind-blowing.
« At the time of miss Grant's interview, there were… circumstances that didn't allow for me to take credit for my own work. Unfortunately, I am unable to share what those circumstances are. Suffice it to say that, those same circumstances having evolved since forced me to divulge my identity to the public. » Ned let a short silence pass before he replied the second question Lois had asked and that was left unanswered. « As for what made me want to become a Super-Hero… In an ideal world, I would never have. It's scary and every time I'm in a fight, I think I'll die. But, as I said before, I believe that if I have the power to help people or change things for the better, I have to do it ! Moreover, this world… is filled with unspeakable dangers ! Your city is still recovering from Brainiac's invasion, the Metahumans numbers are increasing, weird, inexplicable problems pop up around the globe, not to mention global warming… Even if some people believe it doesn't exist. To be totally honest, if I donned the armor, it's more for myself than for anyone else. Sure, I like helping and saving people and I'm glad when I do ! But the main reason why I build the armor… » He paused and shrugged : « … I'm pretty sure what I'm about to say will not make me popular and it will probably make me sound like an alarmist. But it's the truth… In the last few decades, the problems I've mentioned have been exponentially increasing. Some say it's because of Superman's presence and I disagree, but it is a fact that they are indeed increasing. So, the reason why I've build the armor. Why I became Silver Lad… is to prepare for the future. To train, become better, improve my armor… So that, when the time another big problem like the invasion, or several smaller but still dangerous problems happens at the same time, I'll be ready ! »
As Jimmy listened to the interview and snapped his pictures, he couldn't help but admire the young man. Ned Stark was probably as old as he was. And like him, he didn't have superpowers… He wasn't an alien supercharged by the sun or simply with a superior physiology, he hadn't won the Metahuman lottery either ! Unless his obvious disgustingly high intellect was a power, but Jimmy doubted it. No, Ned Stark was normal. Like him ! And yet, he decided to help people, even despite his fears. It truly was inspiring !
After a short silence where the people lost themselves in their thoughts, Lois, who used the time to think of a question asked :
« You designed your armor yourself, then ? Impressive ! And might I say, not something people would expect from a programmer, nor for someone having made his fortune on the stock market for that matter… Where did you learn… that ? »
Ned smirked easily.
« That's an easy question, Lois ! I'm a genius ! » He chuckled and continued : « But more seriously, the armor's been and still is a work in progress. Every time I face a difficult situation, every fight and every save, I learn something new. I have new idea on gadgets or options that would help me in the future. But, how did I make my armor ? Well… That'll have to remain a secret. Suffice it to say that I spent a few long years smithing in order to study the art of armor making. Then I add to revise the techniques to adapt them to this day and age. After all, there was a reason why they became obsolete… They couldn't stop a bullet. »
« But your armor can ? » Jimmy interjected, excitedly.
Lois glared at him while Clark gave him a wry smile. While Jimmy drooped his shoulders, looking like a wilting flower, Ned nodded :
« It can take a reasonable amount of punishment. I mean… I won't say it makes me a Man of Steel, or that it makes me invulnerable… It can be destroyed. » In a lower voice, he added : « Or the wearer can take damage inside… Metallo did a number of me. »
The interview continued for a while until Clark asked another question :
« So… What's next for Ned Stark, now that you've outed yourself as a… Vigilante ? »
« I feel Vigilante is not the right word when it comes to me… I mean, the word is usually used for people whose identity is unknown. I'm more of a concerned citizen. In the state of New York where I live and mostly operate from, citizen's arrests are permitted by the law… As for what I'll do next… I guess I'll make myself available since I'm sure the authorities will want to talk to me, now. I have to make this clear here, however : my armor and all the technology I designed for it will not be for sale ! I will not participate in an arm's race to kill our fellow men and women of the world ! I. Am. Silver Lad. » He said the last part emphasizing each word.
* * * * *
« The lad's gone bonkers ! » Ron Weasley was, once again, the first to speak. And as usual for him, he said the first thing that came to his mind.
Harry shook his head :
« It looks crazy but… I mean, this guy's a genius, right ? He must have thought things through… »
The golden trio were all clustered together on a bench in the great hall, reading the issue of the Daily Planet Hermione's parents had sent her. They thought, with reasons that her daughter and her friends might be interested in this article, since the Silver Lad had participated in the conflict a few years back.
Hermione frowned as she admitted uncertainly :
« It feels a little like… a desperate move. As if Stark was pushed into a corner. Maybe MACUSA's connected the dots somehow and he had no other way than to reveal his identity to the muggle world ? »
« But… How would that help ? He's just putting the Statute in danger. »
« Not really. The muggles think it's technology, which it kind of is… Only it uses magic. And as long as they don't get too close or can't get their hands on it to study it, the Statute will be safe. But it does put a target on his back. Not only MACUSA will pay attention to him, now the muggles will too. And I'm pretty sure they'll do anything in their power to obtain his armor, no matter what Stark says. »
« Like I said : he's gone bonkers ! »
* * * * *
« This is Cat Grant here with John Henry Irons, or as most of you might know him better… Steel ! Tell us, mister Irons : how do you feel about the recent revelation of the young Edgar Stark that it was not, in fact, your technology that was used to design his armor ? »
« Well, miss Grant. To be honest, I'm a little relieved. I was never comfortable with attributing myself the credit for the work of such a brilliant young mind. And besides… » He added with a chuckle in his voice. « … His color scheme is a bit… too flashy for my tastes. »
« So, you're saying that… What he said was true ? But why the lie ? »
« I don't really know. After your interview, I had a chat with the young man where he revealed that his situation was complicated and people couldn't know that he designed the armor. The truth is, I still don't really know why he did this… I just felt like I had to help him out a bit. »
« Does that mean that your relationship as Mentor/mentee was also a lie ? »
« At first, yes. But, as you know, we have indeed started to work together a number of times. So, in a way, it became the truth. »
« Will it continue ? Now that the truth is out there ? »
« Well, I don't see why not ! The young Stark and I have learned to work well together. And like he said… The threats we face nowadays aren't things that any one man or woman can face on their own most of the time. Saving the world is a… commitment, as well as a full time job. »
On the next question, the listeners could hear the smile in the reporters voice :
« Ned Stark has admitted to always improve upon his designs and his armor… Will John Henry Irons let himself be one upped by a young man ? »
Steel burst into easy laughter.
« Ha ha ha ! No, miss Grant ! I will not let him take the lead. In fact, I'd say that it's something that, everyone dealing with technology has to do : always improve, design, create. I, too, am working on… something to get better. Unfortunately, this'll have to be a secret, for now ! »
* * * * *
The world knew. Both sides of it. And now, Ned, as well as his family, would have to face the consequences of this new reality. And although Ned was a little afraid, he was also excited for what would come in the future.
Now back in his workshop, he spoke out loud :
« I think it's time for another log… »