Chapter 97: Scheming Senator
Chapter 97: Scheming Senator
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As of this chapter, the patreòn is 6 chapters ahead at chapter 103. I'll be writing 1 or 2 more chapters today. /AlienWarlord
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After dropping the bomb that Tony was being called to appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee, the woman who called herself Marshal walked out after some more flirtatious words from Tony.
"Excuse me..." She says as she passes Peter and MJ on her way out, which alerts Tony and Happy another visitor.
Peter removed the spell that got them past the guards after getting backstage, so they weren't as stealthy as before.
"Who's there?" Happy asks, annoyed that so many people have somehow made it past security.
"Hi..." Peter takes the lead and walks in with MJ following close behind.
"Let me guess. You snuck in as well?" Happy says, getting a nod from both teenagers.
"Don't tell me you have a subpoena for me as well? What's next? Does the Supreme Court want something too?" Tony jokes, but the annoyance from his last guest's gift was clear to see.
"No, we just came to meet you. Maybe get an autograph, but it seems you have more to worry about than us." Peter acts like a fan, hinting that they heard the earlier conversation.
"Yeah, tell me about it..." Tony says as he looks at Peter weirdly for a moment. "Do I know you?"
"No, I don't think we've met." Peter says with a shake of his head, hiding his shock at how Tony somehow noticed him. "I've been on the news a few times though, so maybe you saw me there."
"Really? What for?" Tony asks curiously.
"I made a popular mobile game." Peter says with a shrug.
"Don't act like it's not a big deal." MJ says, joining the conversation. "He made Candy Crush."
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"Ned helped..." Peter shrugged again, not thinking that Tony would care so much about a random mobile game.
"Really? My assistant is addicted to that game." Tony says with an impressed nod. "Whenever I annoy her, she opens Candy Crush and ignores me."
Everyone knows Candy Crush after all. It's the most popular mobile phone game in the world. Even Tony has played the game here and there during times of boredom.
"Well, it was nice meeting you." Peter says as he and MJ make their way toward the door. "We know that you're busy so we'll leave you alone..."
As they were about to leave because Peter didn't feel like risking Tony figuring out that he's Spider-Man any longer, not that he would really mind at this point in their friendship, Tony called out and stopped them in their tracks.
"Wait!"
Peter turns, thinking that Tony may have figured it out.
"You two wanted autographs, right?" Tony says as he grabs some headshots of himself, which were made for this type of occasion. "Here..."
Signing the two photos that made Tony look like a member of a boy band, they took a picture each and left with a quick thank you.
"Nice kids." Happy comments when they were gone.
"Yep..." Tony says as he snatches the subpoena papers from Happy's grasp. "How far are we from D.C.?"
"D.C.? 250 miles."
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-Next Day, 7 AM-
Although the Senate Armed Services Committee blindsided Tony by serving his subpoena only one night before he was required to attend the committee meeting, that didn't slow down the media from attending as well.
Tony, Pepper, and Happy arrived just in time, which prompted every camera to turn their way as they entered the committee chambers and took their seats in front of a panel of high-level government officials.
At the head of these government officials was Senator Stern, a senator from Pennsylvania and a covert member of Hydra.
Using his position, Stern is the leading force behind everything happening today. His goal is to convince the American people that Tony Stark is a threat to their safety. Ultimately leading to Tony handing over his Iron Man suit, intending to use it to mass produce power armor for Hydra.
As soon as Tony took a seat, he didn't show a speck of respect for the committee before him. Rather, he took out his phone and started playing Candy Crush, flirting with Pepper every once in a while as well.
"Mr. Stark, could we get started please?" Stern says as he tries for the 10th time to get Tony's attention away from his phone. "Mr. Stark. Please..."
"Yes, dear?" Tony looks up from his phone and answers the senator.
"Can I have your attention?" Sterns asks in exasperation.
"Absolutely." Tony says as he finally sets down his phone.
"Do you or do you not possess a specialized weapon?" Sterns asks.
"I do not." Tony replies with a smirk that digs straight into Sterns' soul.
"You do not?" Sterns replies with an air of disbelief.
"I do not." Tony repeats with an uncaring shrug. "Well, it depends on how you define the word weapon."
"The Iron Man weapon, Mr. Stark..." Sterns finally states what he is after.
"My device does not fit that description." Tony replies with a shake of his head.
"Well… How would you describe it?" Sterns asks.
"I would describe it by defining it as what it is, Senator." Tony says, knowing that this dance they were having was annoying the senator and loved every minute of it.
"As?" Sterns asks, seething on the inside.
"It's a high-tech prosthesis... That's actually the most apt description I can make of it." Tony explains with a smirk.
"It's a weapon, Mr. Stark." Sterns states plainly and clearly.
"Please, if your priority was actually the safety and well-being of American citizens..." Tony starts to rant but Sterns speaks over him.
"My priority is to get the Iron Man weapon turned over to the people of the United States of America." The senator says but before Tony could rebut, the large wooden doors of the committee chambers swung open.
"Does that mean all Americans would be able to buy their own Iron Man suits? Do you want to place them in gun stores next to the M4s and Desert Eagles?" Peter says as he strolls into the room, dressed head to toe in a lawyer-like suit over his spider attire.
The cameras that were once on Tony and the Committee members panned over to show Spider-Mans arrival to all who were watching.
"Yo." Peter greets his friend as he walks over and takes a seat beside Tony.
"What are you wearing?" Tony asks incredulously as he eyes Peter's suit up and down.
"What?" Peter says as he fixes his collar and tie. "I thought you could use some representation."
"Pfft, how did you even know this was happening?" Tony laughs, thoroughly entertained.
"The Spider has many little birds that sing all sorts of tunes..." Peter references the show he has been watching lately.
"Game of Thrones?" Pepper asks from the side.
"Yeah, I've been watching with my girlfriend recently." Peter reveals as he turns to Tony. "I saw some of your Expo last night on TV. Did you refer to yourself as a phoenix personified or was I dreaming?"
This whole conversation was being transmitted around the room for everyone to hear, as many in the room laughed at Peter's question.
"As much as we all love Game of Thrones, we should get back on track." Sterns tries his best to get everyone back on topic, saving Tony from answering an embarrassing question.
"You're right." Peter nods and turns his attention back to the senator. "Tell us more about how you want every American citizen to be equipped with Iron Man suits."
"That's not what I want..." Sterns tries to clarify but Peter cuts him off.
"But it's what you said, Senator." Peter says as he leans back in his chair. "Just to be clear, you don't want the Iron Man suit turned over to the people of the United States of America?"
"No..." Sterns says through gritted teeth.
"Then why did you say so?" Peter says with a smug look under his mask. "Was that all this was about? Can we leave now?"
"No, I merely misspoke." Sterns refuses as he takes a deep breath. "What I meant was to have the Iron Man weapon turned over to the American Government."
"Oh, I see..." Peter says with an understanding nod. "Give me a moment to speak with my client."
Peter turns to Tony and doesn't bother to lower his voice as he speaks for all to hear through the microphone.
"Is it a no or a hell no?" Peter asks, causing Sterns to brow to crease in anger.
"Hell no." Tony says with a smirk.
"I'm afraid my client would have to decline." Peter says as if he were heartbroken to turn the man down. "Tony Stark is Iron Man. To turn over the Iron Man suit would be to turn over himself. He just couldn't do it."
"Look, I'm no expert in weapons but we do have somebody here who is an expert. I'd now like to call Justin Hammer, our current primary weapons contractor" Sterns says as the doors open for a second time.
A/N: 1512 words
[DONT FORGET MY STONES! Or else...😤... please...🥺]