Los Angeles, Secure Location
Arthur stood before the floor-to-ceiling window of a penthouse suite, looking out over the sprawling, glittering expanse of Los Angeles. He had flown in the morning after the gala, a necessary trip to manage the delicate negotiations surrounding a very expensive "bird strike." The final encrypted confirmation of the anonymous donation to the Air Force had just come through. A tablet on the table beside him played a grainy news report from Gulmira. A silver blur descending from the sky, followed by explosions. Surgical, targeted destruction.
He watched the footage, the raw power on display, and felt a familiar, cold knot of inadequacy. He was a manipulator of markets and laws, but in a world where men could fly and level a terrorist camp in minutes, what was he? He mentally called up his own status. The familiar, clinical numbers appeared in his vision.
[Strength: 15.5]
[Agility: 15.2]
Useless, he thought, frustration cutting through his composure. What does 15.5 even mean? Can I take a punch from a man like that? Can I outrun an explosion? These are just numbers on a screen. They're abstract. I need a practical scale. Something I can actually use.
As the thought solidified, the display in his vision wavered. It shimmered, the numbers blurring and stretching like melting code. The entire interface dissolved into a cascade of light before snapping back into place, reformed, refined, and instantly more intuitive.
[SYSTEM INTERFACE]
► PROFILE
* Name: Arthur Steele
* Title: Legal Prodigy
* Core Stats:
Physical:
Strength: Tier 2 (Conditioned Athlete)
Endurance: Tier 2 (Conditioned Athlete)
Agility: Tier 2 (Conditioned Athlete)
Mental:
Intelligence: Genius
(Scale: Average → Smart → Gifted →
Genius → Unfathomable)
Charisma: Influential
(Scale: Average→Persuasive →
Influential→Commanding→
Charismatic)
Abstract:
* Luck: Favorable
(Scale: Normal → Favorable →
Fortunate → Auspicious)
Skills:
* Passive: Legal Insight, Persuasion.
* Active: Financial Acumen.
* Combat (Capped): Intermediate
Hand-to-Hand
Weapons
Evasion
Marksmanship.
► SYSTEM TOOLS
* Scan Target: Analyze a person, object, or document.
* Scan Area: Scan surroundings for threats.
* Absorb Data: Instantly learn from compatible sources.
* Inventory: Access Subspace Locker (Active).
► ASSETS
* Net Worth: $22.9 Billion+ (Live)
* Safe House Network:
*Global Map (Active). Biometric Access Integrated. (58 Locations Total)
Standard Caches (50 Locations):
Basic provisions, utilities, secure
short-term shelter.
Specialized Assets (8 Locations):
Advanced facilities for specific strategic
purposes.
* The Hub (Hell's Kitchen):
[UNLOCKED & ACTIVE]
Role: Primary Residence &
Operations Base.
Facilities: Pocket Dimension Training
Room (Exclusive), Medical Bay,
Secure Comms Hub.
* Specialized Asset 02: [LOCKED]
* Specialized Asset 03: [LOCKED]
* Specialized Asset 04: [LOCKED]
* Specialized Asset 05: [LOCKED]
* Specialized Asset 06: [LOCKED]
* Specialized Asset 07: [LOCKED]
* Specialized Asset 08: [LOCKED]
► INTEL
* Key People (Updated):
* Primary Target: Tony Stark
(Status:Ally)
* Watchlist:
Pepper Potts (Friend)
James Rhodes (Ally)
Happy Hogan (Ally)
Matt Murdock (Friend)
Foggy Nelson (Friend).
* Timeline Status:
* Current Event: Iron Man Protocol
* Alerts: None. (Monitors for major timeline risks).
► Host's Plans
* Current Operations:
* Project Phoenix: Takeover of Stark Industries. Status: Phase 2 Complete.
* The Aegis Initiative: Covert Foundation. Status: Operational.
* Planned Operations:
* [CLASSIFIED]
* [CLASSIFIED]
► SYSTEM LOG
(An archived list of all past notifications and updates.)
A slow, appreciative smile touched Arthur's lips. Much better. He focused his intent on the new 'Physical' stats. System, provide parameters for the Tier classification.
Instantly, a small, unobtrusive window materialized in his peripheral vision, displaying the requested information.
[PHYSICAL TIER CLASSIFICATION:]
[Tier 1: Human Baseline - Standard civilian capabilities.]
[Tier 2: Conditioned Athlete - Peak athletic training; highly skilled operative.]
[Tier 3: Elite Operative - Upper limits of natural human conditioning.]
[Tier 4: Apex Human - Pinnacle of non-enhanced human potential.]
[Tier 5: Enhanced Potential - Transcends documented natural human limits.]
[Tier 6: Super-Soldier Standard - Represents the benchmark for stable, high-level human enhancement (e.g., Serum).]
So, Tier 2 puts me roughly on par with a well-trained agent, but still well below the true elites, Arthur mused. Good to know. A frown creased his brow. Wait. He focused his intent again. System, my combat skill proficiency is capped at Intermediate. How is progression to higher Physical Tiers possible under these parameters?
A new notification appeared, clinical and direct.
[Current combat skill caps reflect designated operational focus: Strategic Influence. Physical Tier progression via conventional training methods is restricted. System parameters and user potential are subject to recalibration upon encountering extraordinary existential threats or critical nexus divergences.]
So, basically, don't worry about it unless I'm about to die or break reality? Comforting. Arthur mentally dismissed the classification window and the main interface. A secure message notification flashed briefly on his terminal—confirmation from GNN: Strategic narrative shift initiated.
Stark Industries, R&D Division (Section 16)
Obadiah Stane stormed through the high-security doors into the Section 16 lab, his face a mask of barely controlled fury. A nearby monitor displayed a GNN broadcast: "STARK OUSTED: BOARD MOVES AFTER CEO SHUTS DOWN WEAPONS DIVISION." An analyst spoke earnestly: "...some insiders are suggesting this wasn't just about the stock price, but a power grab by elements resistant to change..."
Stane slammed his fist onto a nearby console, rattling tools. "Turn that garbage off!" The screen went blank. He felt the walls closing in— financial drain, Steele's legal blocks, the media assassination.
He found William Riva, the lead scientist, hunched over the Iron Monger schematic. "Report," Stane barked.
"Mr. Stane, sir... we've analyzed the telemetry from the... uh... incident in Gulmira. The power source Tony Stark is using is..."
"Is off the charts," Stane finished for him, his voice dangerously low. "Way beyond anything we've been able to achieve."
"Yes, sir," William agreed, shrinking slightly under Stane's glare. "Our reactor... it's just not powerful enough. We can't miniaturize it successfully."
Stane rounded on him, his voice suddenly exploding into a roar. "TONY STARK WAS ABLE TO BUILD THIS IN A CAVE!" He slammed his fist onto a nearby console, rattling tools. "WITH A BOX OF SCRAPS!"
William flinched. "Well, I'm sorry, sir. I'm not Tony Stark."
The fury seemed to drain from Stane, replaced by a cold, dismissive contempt. He straightened his tie, his expression hardening. He looked from William to the inert bulk of the Iron Monger armor. His path was clear. Rage and desperation solidified into action.
Arthur's Penthouse, Los Angeles
Arthur stood before a holographic display showing the rapidly deteriorating financial positions of the Stark Industries board members. Red numbers bled across their portfolios. Secure video conference windows blinked, waiting.
"JARVIS," Arthur said looking at the Laptop interface calling for the AI.
"Can you please confirm the activities of the board"
"Confirmed, Arthur," JARVIS replied.
"Multiple board members are attempting simultaneous liquidation of remaining assets through back channels. Panic levels are critical following the CEO removal, sustained media pressure, and Phase Two capital depletion."
[PROJECT PHOENIX]
[PHASE 3: THE BOARD MEETING SHOWDOWN (REMOTE EXECUTION)]
[Trigger: Board panic sell-off attempt post-CEO removal & media pressure.]
[Action: Arthur Steele, acting as legal proxy for Tony Stark, initiates secure contact with individual board members.]
[Action: Leverage financial distress (Phase 2) and potential legal exposure (media narrative). Offer immediate buyout of remaining shares at current depressed market value.]
[Desired Outcome: Board forced to liquidate at a loss, transferring final controlling interest to Tony Stark. Stane completely isolated.]
"Initiate contact sequence. Peterson first," Arthur commanded.
One by one, the video windows activated. Arthur saw the faces of desperate men – Peterson, Michaelson, Gable. Their bluster quickly crumbled under the weight of their losses and the subtle threat of public exposure Arthur's questions implied. His offer wasn't generous; it was a lifeline they couldn't refuse.
"The terms are non-negotiable," Arthur stated calmly to the final board member on the call, Mr. Henderson. "Current market value. The transfer documents are ready for your digital signature."
Henderson, looking years older than he had at the gala, just nodded numbly and signed.
"JARVIS, confirm final share transfer."
"70% of targeted shares secured, Arthur," JARVIS confirmed. "Controlling interest in Stark Industries now rests majorly with the Stark-controlled entities established under Project Phoenix. Phase Three is complete."
"Checkmate," Arthur murmured, dismissing the display. He poured himself a fresh scotch.
Stark Industries, Stane's Office
Stane stared at his own terminal, the confirmation messages flooding in. Sale Approved: Peterson. Sale Approved: Michaelson. Sale Approved: Gable. Sale Approved: Henderson. They had sold. All of them. To Stark. To that smug lawyer Steele. They had folded, panicked by the losses he engineered and the media pressure he likely orchestrated. He was cut off, isolated.
The cold resolve shattered, replaced by pure rage. He looked at the Iron Monger schematic, then thought of the glowing heart Tony wore so casually. His power source. His legacy.
Arthur's Penthouse, Los Angeles
Arthur was sipping on his scotch, celebrating the Phase 3 completion.
His phone rang – Pepper's number. He answered immediately.
"Arthur? It's Pepper," her voice was frantic, strained. "Stane is behind everything, the weapons, Afghanistan... he was dealing with the terrorists! I tried calling Tony to warn him, but he's not answering his phone! I'm really worried something happened!"
Arthur froze, the pieces clicking into place with horrifying speed. Stane, cornered by Phase 3, financially ruined, his crimes exposed by Pepper... Tony, unreachable... The arc reactor. Stane needed the power source for his own suit.
"Pepper, where are you now?" Arthur asked, his voice dropping low and urgent, already moving towards the door.
"I'm... I'm still at the office. Coulson is here, the SHIELD agent."
"Good. Stay with him," Arthur commanded. "I'll handle Tony."
"What? How...?"
"No time!" Arthur barked, sprinting towards his car. "I'm heading to Malibu!"
He was in the Bentley, the engine roaring, tearing through LA traffic. He knew where the backup was. 'Proof that Tony Stark has a heart.' He'd seen it on the workbench.
He screeched to a halt in front of the Malibu mansion and burst through the front door, sprinting down to the workshop.
He found Tony on the floor, skin gray, breath ragged, the cavity in his chest dark. On the workbench, just as he'd remembered, sat the glass case. Arthur smashed it, grabbing the sputtering, older reactor.
He dropped to his knees beside Tony. "Tony! Stay with me!" His hands, surprisingly steady, fumbled with the wires, remembering the sequence from the device's design, guided by Tony's barely audible gasps. He fed the connection down into the raw cavity and slammed the old reactor home.
The device flickered, caught. Pale light pushed back the gray. Tony gasped, color flooding his face. Alive.
Arthur collapsed back, adrenaline leaving him trembling. He was alone in the ruined workshop with his barely conscious friend.
Tony looked up at Arthur's grim, steady gaze. "He took it," Tony rasped, hand weakly touching the device. "Obie... he took it."
A/N.
So, I have changed the system interface to be more simple , Thank you for the suggestion Calvin. I have tried to intergate it in the story and not seem abrupt the best I could.
And now we are approaching the end of the Arc, I have some interactions planned in the coming chapters which will clarify Arthur's place in the MCU after the events that have transpired, hopefully you will like it.