"Well our ride is here Stark" Kenichi said
"Did you call it?" asked Stark as the chances of a private helicopter finding them were low.
"Yep, there is no way I am leaving my ass in this desert any longer" Kenichi stated
The helicopter landed and the trio sat inside, and only after it took flight did Stark sigh in relief.
_____________________________
The helicopter went straight to the Shinpaku Alliance base they had there, where the resident doctor did a health check up for Stark and Yinsen while also injecting a bottle of glucose in Yinsen, the doctor also wanted to give one to Stark but he rejected it and just asked them to call the American Military.
In 10 minutes a military helicopter came to take Stark, they also wanted to meet Kenichi and ask some questions from him but they couldn't find him, so they left with Stark.
Tony wanted Yinsen to come with him to America but Yinsen rejected him, saying that he wants to stay here and help his country. Because of which he decided to stay at the Shinpaku Alliance base since they are here to help, he could explain the situation them.
"You sure, you don't want to come with me Yinsen!" asked Tony once again before getting incide the plane to get back to America.
"I am sure Tony, but I hope that second chance you got, you don't waste it" Yinsen said"Just wait and see Yinsen, I won't waste it" Tony said after which he turned and went inside the plane.
__________________________________
California Military Base where a giant plane has just landed. Medical, Happy, and Pepper are waiting there. The ramp lowers and Rhodey helps Tony down.
" Watch it, coming up here." James said
"Are you kidding me with this? Get rid of them." Tony said seeing the medical team as he already got a check up once he doesn't wanna waste time at it again, Tony walks up to Pepper. "Your eyes are red. A few tears for your long-lost boss?"
Tears of joy. I hate job hunting." Pepper said
" Yeah, vacation's over." Tony said
Tony, Pepper, and Happy get into the car.
"Where to, sir?" asked Happy
"Take us to the hospital, please, Happy." Pepper stated
"No."
"No? Tony, you have to go to the hospital." Pepper said
"No is a complete answer. Moreover the doctors of Shinpaku Alliance were quite good so I really don't want to go." Tony said
"What about your personal doctor? He has to look at you." Pepper said
"I don't have to do anything. I've been in captivity for three months. There are two things I want to do. I want an American cheeseburger, and the other..."
"That's enough of that" Pepper stopped Tony before he could complete his sentence as she didn't want him to talk about those things.
"It..is not what you think. I want you to call for a press conference now." Tony stated
"Call for a press conference?" asked Pepper
" Yeah."
"What on earth for?" asked Pepper
"Hogan, drive. Cheeseburger first" Tony said ignoring Peppers question
_________________________________
Happy driving them up to Stark Industries HQ, where Obadiah is waiting with the press and their employees.
"Look at this! Tony. We were going to meet at the hospital." Obadiah said
"No, I'm fine." Tony said while eating his burger
"Look at you! You had to have a burger, yeah?" Obadiah asked
"Well, come on." Tony shrugged his shoulders
"You get me one of those?" asked Obadiah
" There's only one left. I need it." Tony replied
" Hey, look who's here! Yeah!" Obadiah said as he introduced Tony to the people who have come for the press conference.
" Miss Potts?" Agent Coulson called to Pepper Potts
"Yes." Pepper said
"Can I speak to you for a moment?" Agent Coulson asked
" I'm not part of the press conference, but it's about to begin right now." Pepper stated as she thought that Coulson was part of the press conference.
"I'm not a reporter. I'm Agent Phil Coulson, with the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division." stated Agent Coulson
"That's quite a mouthful." Pepper stated
" I know. We're working on it." Agent Coulson said
"You know, we've been approached already by the DOD, the FBI, the CIA..."
" We're a separate division with a more specific focus. We need to debrief Mr. Stark about the circumstances of his escape." said Agent Coulson
"I'll put something in the book, shall I?" Pepper said
"Thank you." Agent Coulson said
"Well, let's get this started, uh..." Obadiah said as he stepped back to let Tony take the podium.
"Hey, would it be all right if everyone sat down?" Tony said while sitting in front of the podium. "Why don't you just sit down? That way you can see me, and I can... A little less formal and... " Tony takes a bite of his cheeseburger as everyone sits, or squats, down
"What's up with the love-in?" asked James
"Don't look at me. I don't know what he's up to." Pepper said
"Good to see you." Tony said to the reportes
"I never got to say goodbye to Dad. I never got to say goodbye to my father. There's questions that I would have asked him. I would have asked him how he felt about what this company did. If he was conflicted, if he ever had doubts. Or maybe he was every inch the man we all remember from the newsreels. I saw young Americans killed by the very weapons I created to defend them and protect them. And I saw that I had become part of a system that is comfortable with zero accountability." Tony said
One of the reporters then asked the question "Mr Stark! What happened there?"
To which Tony replied "I had my eyes opened." He stands and moves behind the podium. "I came to realize that I have more to offer this world than just making things that blow up. And that is why, effective immediately, I am shutting down the weapons manufacturing division of Stark International until such a time as I can decide what the future of the company will be."
Everyone stands up in commotion.
"I think we're gonna be selling a lot of newspapers." Obadiah said Standing up beside Tony.
"What direction it should take, one that I'm comfortable with and is consistent with the highest good for this country, as well." Tony said and then leaves the stage.
"What we should take away from this is that Tony's back! And he's healthier than ever. We're going to have a little internal discussion and we'll get back to you with the follow-up." Obadiah said trying to minimise the damage but it was already done. Obadiah moves on a Segway, riding up to one of the Stark buildings. Happy leaning against a car outside. "Where is he?"
"He's inside." Happy stated
Obadiah goes inside to find Tony looking at the giant arc reactor.
"Well, that..uh... That went well."
"Did I just paint a target on the back of my head?"
"Your head? What about my head? What do you think the over-under on the stock drop is gonna be tomorrow?"
"Uh, optimistically, 40 points"
"At minimum." Obadiah said
"Yep." Tony voiced
" Tony, we're a weapons manufacturer." Obadiah said
"Obie, I just don't want a body count to be our only legacy." Tony stated
"That's what we do. We're iron mongers. We make weapons." Obadiah explained
"So did Gauche Industries but not anymore"
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