Chapter 13 - Arc Reactor

The ripple effect of Tony Stark's announcement spread like wildfire through Stark Industries. The shock and disbelief that followed his decision to halt all weapons manufacturing shook the very core of the company. Stark Industries' reputation, wealth, and global influence had been built on the back of military contracts and advanced weapons. And now, in a single statement, Tony had torn it all down.

Marcus felt the tension grow throughout the building as the news sunk in. Employees whispered nervously about what the future would hold—how Stark Industries would survive without its most lucrative division, and what it meant for them. But Marcus's thoughts weren't on the chaos around him. He was focused on Tony.

Something had changed in Tony while he was held captive. The man who had returned was not the same brash, larger-than-life figure Marcus had watched from a distance before. This Tony was more introspective, more driven by something deeper. And whatever it was had been forged in that cave.

As Marcus returned to his desk, a stream of notifications pinged across his screen. Most were system-wide updates following Tony's speech, but one email stood out among the others. It was a company-wide notice:

Tony Stark will be personally overseeing projects related to energy innovation and technology development in the coming weeks.

Energy innovation. Marcus's mind flashed back to the brief flashes of media footage of Tony's return. He had looked weak, tired—understandable, given what he had endured—but there had been something else. Something on his chest.

The vague reports had mentioned that Tony had survived thanks to some kind of life-saving device, but no one knew the details. Marcus, always drawn to technology and invention, couldn't help but feel a growing curiosity about what had kept Tony alive in the middle of the desert for so long.

What had Tony built in that cave?

Later that day, Marcus logged into the private server linked to the development labs, scanning through project files and reports. Tony's lab was a restricted area, accessible only to a handful of trusted employees, but Marcus had system access to monitor the digital infrastructure surrounding the lab. It wasn't enough to see the full scope of what Tony was working on, but the keywords he came across raised questions.

Arc Reactor.

It was the first time Marcus had seen those words. From the limited information he could access, it seemed like Tony had developed some kind of miniature energy source—something powerful enough to keep him alive while he was in captivity. Marcus wasn't an engineer, but he understood enough about energy systems to realize the potential implications of such a device.

A portable, self-sustaining reactor? That could change everything.

His curiosity piqued, Marcus spent the next few hours digging deeper into what little information he could find about the Arc Reactor. Most of it was locked behind layers of security that even Marcus couldn't bypass without raising red flags. But what little he could access suggested that Tony had taken this technology further than anyone at Stark Industries had thought possible.

The Arc Reactor wasn't just a tool for survival -it was a revolution in clean energy.

Marcus leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. Tony had always been a step ahead of everyone else when it came to innovation, but this? This was on another level. If Tony could perfect this technology, Stark Industries could shift from being a weapons manufacturer to becoming a leader in energy innovation. It would be the ultimate transformation.

But then a darker thought crossed Marcus's mind. Obadiah Stane.

If Stane had orchestrated Tony's kidnapping, it was because he saw Tony as an obstacle. Stane wanted control of the company, and Tony's decision to shut down the weapons division only made Stane more vulnerable. The Arc Reactor could be the key to Tony's survival -but also his undoing.

Marcus knew Stane wouldn't take Tony's sudden shift in direction lightly. He could already sense the growing tension between Tony and the board of directors. They had made their fortunes off the weapons industry, and Tony's decision threatened their entire business model.

As Marcus sat at his desk, staring at the flickering screen, the pieces began to fall into place. Stane was losing control. Tony's return, and his newfound focus on energy innovation, had thrown everything off course. Whatever Stane had been planning, Tony's return was the unexpected variable.

But what if Tony's invention -the Arc Reactor- was the reason Stane had wanted him out of the way?

Marcus's mind buzzed with possibilities as he connected the dots. Stane had the resources, the contacts, and the motivation to orchestrate Tony's kidnapping. If Tony had been developing the Arc Reactor before his capture, Stane might have seen it as a threat—a technology that could make the weapons division obsolete. Stane had built his career, his wealth, on the defense industry. The Arc Reactor would be a disruption he couldn't afford.

The more Marcus thought about it, the clearer it became. Stane wasn't going to let this go. Tony's decision to stop manufacturing weapons and focus on energy would only escalate things. And if Marcus had learned anything from his investigation, it was that Stane wasn't the kind of man who let go of power easily.

As Marcus clicked through the latest system reports, a new sense of urgency settled over him. He had to get closer to Tony. He had to understand more about the Arc Reactor and what Tony was planning next. If Stane saw this as a threat, he wouldn't sit idle for long.

And Marcus knew that time was running out.

He typed a quick message to Jen Riley, asking her to meet up after work. He needed to discuss his next steps. If he was going to continue digging into the conspiracy, he couldn't do it alone. But more than that, Marcus needed to figure out how to protect Tony. And himself.

Because one thing was certain, Stane wouldn't let Tony's plans succeed without a fight.