In the workshop, Tony was making improvements and conducting research on the Iron Man suit. Of course, after a period of development, the main issue that remained was... the paint job. In front of Tony, three Iron Man suits were quietly placed on the racks.
"Mr. Stark, Miss Potts is here" JARVIS suddenly announced.
Tony was still tinkering with the energy cannon mounted on the mechanical arm attached to his right hand. Hearing JARVIS words, he muttered to himself.
"What's Pepper doing here? Didn't Raiden say she was with them?"
Then, Tony casually said to JARVIS.
"Tell Pepper to wait upstairs for a bit."
"Sorry, sir, she's already on her way down" JARVIS replied.
"What?!" Tony exclaimed in shock, jumping up.
"Didn't I tell you to keep everyone out of the workshop?!"
"Miss Potts has an access card... sir, you gave her the highest clearance" JARVIS calmly explained.
"Shit! JARVIS, I'll definitely remember to upgrade your system next time!" Tony grumbled, frantically trying to remove the mechanical arm from his hand, but after a few attempts, he realized it wouldn't come off. And that wasn't even the biggest problem—the real issue was how to hide the three Iron Man suits in front of him!
"JARVIS, where's Pepper now?" Tony asked, looking around for something to cover the suits.
"Miss Potts is in the corridor. She'll enter the workshop in 45 seconds, but in 20 seconds, she'll be able to see everything inside through the glass walls you designed" JARVIS replied.
"Fuck!" Tony cursed under his breath, then decisively ordered "Activate the fire suppression system."
"Yes, sir."
...
Pepper stormed in from the entrance, determined to find out what Tony had been up to in the workshop for the past month. But as she walked through the corridor and approached the workshop, the scene inside made her panic.
"Tony? Tony! Are you okay, Tony?" Pepper called out, jogging over and tapping on the glass.
Inside the workshop, dry powder filled the air as the fire suppression system on the ceiling activated. The thick powder made it impossible for Pepper to see what was happening inside.
Pepper hurried to the door, frantically swiping her access card, but perhaps due to her panic or improper use of the card, the workshop door refused to open.
"Bang!"
Suddenly, a mechanical arm burst through the dense powder, slamming against the glass wall.
"Oh!"
Pepper stumbled back in fright.
"Thud!"
Tony emerged from the powder, pressing himself against the glass.
"Tony? Tony, are you okay?" Pepper quickly stood up and asked.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Just a minor issue with the experiment" Tony replied, waving through the glass with a smile.
"What's that thing on your right hand? It looks so familiar" Pepper pointed at the mechanical arm attached to Tony right hand.
"This is just a flight stabilization device, completely harmless" Tony said, raising his right hand. However, the mechanical arm, still in the experimental improvement phase, was accidentally activated by this movement, and a powerful energy wave shot out from the palm.
The immense recoil sent Tony tumbling backward.
"Ah!"
Pepper gasped, covering her ears. This reminded her of where she had seen this before—it was the last time at Tony house, on the bullet-riddled Iron Man suit he was wearing...
This mechanical arm was identical to the one on that suit.
Pepper, visibly annoyed, swiped her access card to open the workshop door and said to JARVIS.
"JARVIS, turn off the fire suppression system and activate the ventilation system!"
"Yes, Miss Potts" JARVIS replied. In JARVIS settings, Pepper priority was second only to Tony.
"Oh," Tony got up from the floor, looking somewhat flustered as he spoke to Pepper "I really didn't expect the flight device to be so powerful. Maybe we should go upstairs and sit for a while."
Pepper remained silent, coldly staring at Tony.
The workshop ventilation system was extremely efficient, clearing all the dry powder in just a minute. Three unpainted Iron Man suits came into Pepper view.
"What are those?" Pepper demanded, pointing at the suits.
"That..." Tony was at a loss for words.
"Didn't you say you weren't making weapons anymore?" Pepper pressed, shaking her head.
"Those aren't weapons!" Tony immediately retorted. "They're just... alright, alright, Pepper, I admit it. I need your help," Tony said, shaking his head.
"I need you to go to the office for me, hack into the mainframe, and retrieve all the recent shipment records."
As he spoke, Tony pressed a button on the mechanical arm, and a USB-like device popped out from the side of the wrist.
"This is the decryption chip. You'll need it to access the mainframe."
Tony handed the chip to Pepper, who took it. He then turned around and continued.
"It might be in the administrative files. If not... they might have hidden it in a concealed drive. You'll have to start searching from the smaller serial numbers."
"Retrieve these files? What are you planning to do with them?" Pepper asked, looking at the Iron Man suits on the rack.
"Same as last time" Tony said, turning his head to look at Pepper.
"Same as last time?" Pepper stared at Tony. After a moment, she pointed at the suits and asked, "I'm asking you, what are those things?"
Tony glanced at the suits and then, nonchalantly, said to Pepper.
"Tools. They're just tools. The company is involved in shady dealings now. I need these to stop them. I need to find my weapons and destroy them."
Tony fiddled with the instruments in front of him.
"Tony..." Pepper looked around, forcing a smile. "You know I'd do anything to help you... but if you're planning to do that again, I can't help you." Her tone gradually grew firmer and more resolute.
"I don't have anything else for you to do—no art gallery openings, no profits, no contracts. Just this task, that's all!" Tony said, staring at the electronic screen in front of him, where data about the Iron Man suit flowed continuously. After speaking, Tony turned around and locked eyes with Pepper, softly adding.
"That's all..."
"Is that so?" Pepper nodded gently, pausing briefly before resolutely saying "Alright then, I quit."
With that, Pepper tossed the decryption chip onto the table and strode decisively out of the workshop.
Her turn was firm, her words were resolute, but only the tears that fell as she turned away remained as tender as ever...
-------------------------------
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