chapter 3: Strategic Maneuvers

Chapter 3: Strategic Maneuvers

The military transport plane hummed around me, medical equipment beeping in steady rhythm with the arc reactor's pulse. They'd insisted on monitoring equipment for the flight, probably more to study the reactor than out of concern for my health. I let them hook up the basics - heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels. Anything more invasive had been shut down with what I hoped was Tony's characteristic mix of charm and authority.

"Your vitals are stabilizing," the flight medic said, checking a display. "But that device in your chest..."

"Is proprietary Stark technology and not up for discussion." I managed a tired smile to soften the words. "But yes, it's keeping me alive. That's all anyone needs to know right now."

Rhodey sat across from me, pretending to work on his laptop but watching every interaction. He'd been doing that since the rescue - observing, cataloging every response, every gesture. Looking for his friend in this changed man they'd pulled from the desert.

"We land in two hours," he said, finally closing his laptop. "The meeting's set up. Military brass, intelligence agencies, everyone who needs to be there. And..." he hesitated, "I made the call about Pepper."

My heart rate spiked enough for the monitor to notice. Rhodey raised an eyebrow but continued. "She'll be there. Officially as Stark Industries' representative, but..."

"But really to make sure I'm okay," I finished. "That I'm still me."

The words hung between us, heavy with unspoken questions. Was I still me? The irony almost made me laugh.

"Tony..." Rhodey leaned forward, lowering his voice. "What happened in that cave?"

I closed my eyes, remembering scenes I'd only watched on screen but now had to live. "They had my weapons, Rhodey. Not just a few. Warehouses full. Missiles, bombs, everything with my name on it." I opened my eyes, meeting his gaze. "Someone's been dealing under the table, and I'm going to find out who."

"That's why you wanted all the agencies in one room."

I nodded. "The Ten Rings isn't just some random terrorist group. They're well-funded, well-armed, and they knew exactly who I was. Someone wanted me dead, and they used my own weapons to do it."

The plane hit turbulence, making the medical equipment rattle. I used the moment to study Rhodey's reaction. He was smart - smarter than the movies sometimes showed. Would he connect the dots to Obadiah too quickly?

"The board won't like an investigation," he said carefully.

"The board works for me, not the other way around." The words came naturally, Tony's arrogance fitting like a well-worn mask. "And speaking of the board... what's Obadiah been up to while I was gone?"

"Keeping the company stable. Stock took a hit when you disappeared, but he managed to prevent a complete nosedive." Rhodey's tone was neutral, professional. "He's been pushing hard on the Jericho contract."

Of course he had. The same missiles I'd refused to sell, the ones that had nearly killed me. The ones Obadiah was probably already arranging to sell to the highest bidder.

The medical monitor beeped again, and I forced myself to relax. One game at a time. First, convince everyone in that room that I was Tony Stark. Then worry about Obadiah.

"Sir?" The pilot's voice crackled over the intercom. "Ms. Potts is on a secure line."

My heart rate spiked again. Damn monitors.

"I've got it in here," Rhodey said, reaching for a phone. He paused, hand on the receiver. "You want privacy for this?"

I shook my head. Having Rhodey here might help sell the performance. "Put her on speaker."

The line crackled, and then... "Tony?"

Pepper's voice hit me like a physical force. In the movies, you could appreciate their chemistry, their history. But hearing her voice, having to be the man she'd spent years working with, protecting, maybe even loving... the responsibility was crushing.

"Hey, Pep." I tried to channel every scene I'd ever watched, every interaction between them. "Miss me?"

A sharp intake of breath. "You..." Her voice cracked slightly. "You complete *ass*. Do you have any idea..."

"I know." I cut her off gently. "I know, Pepper. I'm sorry."

The line went quiet for a moment. When she spoke again, her voice was steadier, professional. "The meeting is arranged. Military, FBI, CIA... even some agency I've never heard of. Something about strategic homeland..."

"SHIELD," I said, then immediately regretted it. Too soon. That knowledge came later in the timeline. "I mean, that's what it sounds like. Strategic homeland something."

"You'll need to change before the meeting," she continued, apparently not noticing my slip. "I have a suit ready, and the medical team can..."

"No medical team," I interrupted. "Not yet. Just you and Happy picking me up. The rest can wait."

"Tony..."

"Please, Pepper." I let some of the exhaustion show in my voice. "I just... I need it to be you."

Another pause. "Okay," she said softly. "We'll be there."

The line went dead, and I leaned back, closing my eyes. Rhodey was quiet for a long moment.

"You really have changed," he said finally.

I opened my eyes, looking at him. "You have no idea."

The rest of the flight passed in relative silence. I dozed fitfully, trying to organize my thoughts. The meeting would be crucial - not just for establishing my cover, but for setting up the investigation into Stark Industries' weapons deals. I needed to plant the seeds of doubt about internal corruption without pointing directly at Obadiah. Not yet.

The plane touched down with a gentle bump. Through the window, I could see a familiar car waiting on the tarmac. Happy stood by the driver's door, and next to him...

Pepper.

She was a statue of professional composure in a perfectly tailored suit, but I could see the tension in her stance, the way her hands clasped her ever-present tablet like a shield.

"Ready?" Rhodey asked, helping me disconnect from the monitoring equipment.

I looked down at my borrowed clothes, at the arc reactor glowing through the fabric. "No," I said honestly. "But when has that ever stopped me?"

The cargo door lowered with a hydraulic hiss, revealing the California sun. Standing at the top of the ramp, I took a deep breath. Time to become Tony Stark.

For real this time.