Chapter 17 - Confusion and Fear

Marcus stood in the dimly lit executive parking lot, the cool night air brushing against his skin as he waited for Pepper Potts. The strange energy he felt coursing through his body still pulsed beneath the surface, and with each passing minute, the weight of his new abilities settled deeper into his mind.

He had powers. That much was clear. But what those powers meant, what they could do to him, how they worked -was still terrifyingly unclear. The incident in Tony's lab had changed him, but he didn't know how far those changes went or what the long-term effects might be.

For the first time in his life, Marcus was scared of himself.

He had spent his whole career in the background, quietly fixing things, keeping the systems at Stark Industries running smoothly. Now, with powers that could disrupt everything, Marcus felt like a stranger in his own skin. Every subtle vibration of energy in his body made him question how much control he had... or how much control he was losing.

What if he couldn't stop it?

The parking lot remained eerily quiet. Marcus fidgeted with his hands, trying to push away the fear creeping into his mind. But the more he thought about what had happened in the lab, the more unsettled he became. That brief moment with the engineers earlier, it wasn't just an anomaly. It had felt real, too real. He hadn't just overheard their conversation. He had absorbed their knowledge.

He hadn't intended to. It had happened automatically, like his mind was reaching out without him even realizing it.

But what did that mean? Was he losing control?

Marcus ran a hand through his hair, trying to make sense of everything. It was more than just the physical changes, the surge of strength, the strange tingling in his fingertips. It was the way information seemed to flow into his mind, like his brain had become a sponge for other people's expertise.

For someone who had always valued his independence and self-reliance, the idea that his own identity could be overwritten by the knowledge and abilities of others was deeply unsettling. How much of himself would be left if this kept happening?

As he waited for Pepper, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, half expecting it to be Jen checking in on him, but instead, it was a message from the company's internal network. Another security alert.

Marcus frowned, opening the notification. It was a routine system check 'nothing urgent' but as he glanced at the data, a familiar feeling washed over him. The encryption.

His mind immediately recognized the pattern. Without even thinking, Marcus began to decode the information in his head, piecing it together like he had been trained in high-level cryptography all his life. It was the same encryption method Stane had been using in his covert communications.

Marcus paused, staring at his phone in disbelief. He had never learned how to decrypt data like this. He didn't have the skills. at least, not before the accident. But now, it was as if the knowledge was simply there.

He closed his eyes, panic building in his chest. This wasn't normal. He was gaining more than just strength or reflexes. he was absorbing knowledge at a frightening rate, skills he had never learned, abilities he had never practiced. And it was happening without his consent.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the parking lot, pulling Marcus from his thoughts. He quickly shoved his phone back into his pocket and turned to see Pepper Potts approaching. She looked tired, worn from the stress of Tony's return and the chaos that had followed his decision to stop weapons manufacturing.

"Thanks for meeting me," Marcus said quietly, his voice betraying his nervousness.

Pepper gave him a small, tight smile. "Of course. You said it was urgent."

Marcus nodded, glancing around to make sure they were alone. "It is. I've found something. Something about Stane."

At the mention of Stane's name, Pepper's expression hardened. She crossed her arms, her eyes sharp with suspicion. "Go on."

Marcus took a deep breath. He knew this was risky, bringing someone else into the conspiracy surrounding Stane. but he needed an ally. Someone with influence, someone who could help him expose the truth before it was too late.

"I've been looking through the company's security logs, and I've found encrypted messages, communications that link Stane to the Ten Rings. He's been working with them for months, maybe longer. I don't have all the details yet, but it's clear he was involved in Tony's kidnapping."

Pepper's eyes widened in shock, but she quickly regained her composure. "Are you sure? Stane? That doesn't make any sense."

"I know it's hard to believe," Marcus said, his voice low. "But I've seen the logs. He's been sending encrypted data to external sources, covering his tracks. I've traced it back to deals with the Ten Rings -arms shipments, contracts. I don't think Tony's kidnapping was random. I think Stane planned it."

Pepper looked away for a moment, her jaw clenched as she processed the information. Marcus could see the wheels turning in her head, her mind racing to make sense of everything.

"This is… a lot," she said finally. "But if you're right, we need proof. Solid proof. If Stane is really behind this, he's not going to go down without a fight."

Marcus swallowed hard. "I'm working on it, but I'm going to need help. I can't do this alone."

Pepper met his gaze, her expression serious. "I'll help you. But we need to be careful. Stane has connections, and if he finds out you're onto him..."

She didn't finish the sentence, but Marcus didn't need her to. He knew what was at stake. If Stane realized he was investigating, things could go very badly, very quickly.

As they spoke, Marcus felt the weight of his new abilities pressing down on him again. He didn't want to tell Pepper about the powers -not yet. It was too new, too confusing, and he barely understood it himself. But he could feel the energy inside him growing stronger, and he feared what might happen if it got out of control.

"What about Tony?" Marcus asked, trying to focus on the task at hand. "If Stane's still planning something, Tony's going to be a target. We have to find a way to protect him."

Pepper nodded, her eyes narrowing with determination. "I'll make sure Tony's safe. He's been distracted with his new projects, but I'll keep him in the loop as much as I can. But Marcus… you need to stay off Stane's radar."

Marcus knew she was right. He needed to be careful, needed to keep his distance while he gathered more evidence. But as he stood there in the quiet parking lot, with the strange new power humming inside him, he couldn't shake the feeling that things were spiraling out of control.

Pepper gave him one last look, her expression firm but sympathetic. "We'll get through this, Marcus. Just stay focused."

Marcus nodded, though the fear still gnawed at him. "Yeah. I will."

But as Pepper turned to leave, Marcus felt a cold knot of doubt settle in his chest. Focused on what? His investigation into Stane? Or the terrifying realization that he might be losing himself to the powers he never asked for?