DC: Becoming Doomsday in Marvel Universe

Obadiah would never have imagined that what looked like Rook Tanner betraying Tony, stealing his most important secrets to trade for cash, was actually all part of a scheme Rook and Tony had planned together to trap him.

In fact, Rook was miles ahead of Obadiah in vision. He had discussed everything with Tony in advance. It was even Tony who handed over the blueprints, and now, seeing the moment to close the net, Rook went a step further and asked Tony to build a small arc reactor.

Because Rook had a use for it. He planned to give it to Obadiah as a gift.

"Don't forget to make it a defective one, best if it only outputs half the energy and is prone to meltdown," Rook said with a sly grin, coming up with a deliberately bad idea.

The arc reactor's full name was the palladium arc reactor.

Why was palladium so crucial?

Because palladium could be used for nuclear fission.

Simply put, this thing was basically a nuclear battery.

Why could such a small device provide so much power? That's nuclear energy for you. It was a nuclear battery.

Just imagine what would happen if it suddenly melted down.

Even if it didn't match a nuclear bomb, it wouldn't be far off.

Even Tony was left speechless. This was New York, for crying out loud. Was Rook really sure about pulling something like this?

Tony certainly didn't have the guts for it.

Rook hadn't been wrong before when he said Stark Industries was holding a golden rice bowl while begging for scraps. Howard had paved the way thirty years ago. If only he were still alive, would guys like Obadiah or even Tony dare get in his way?

Tony was a genius, but even he had to step aside compared to his father.

But there was no use dwelling on what could have been.

It also became clear why Obadiah's people couldn't replicate it. This was something Howard had created while researching nuclear weapons, a nuclear reactor developed on the side.

It wasn't something that could be easily copied. Otherwise, the whole world would already be powered by nuclear energy.

Still, things couldn't be left as they were. Rook had made it clear that what he needed was for Obadiah to expose himself, to be the one to rip off the mask.

So Rook had helped him get the blueprints, advised him on building the Iron Monger suit, and now, all that was left was the final piece of the puzzle: the arc reactor.

Just give it to him. Tony could make one easily, and it was right there.

Tony didn't know whether to laugh or get angry. What made him feel worse was realizing that Obadiah wouldn't have guessed his every move was according to Rook's design. Even his next steps were being calculated.

"Won't he be suspicious?" Tony asked. With Obadiah's brains, he wasn't likely to be that clueless.

"Then let's show him what he should be worried about," Rook said casually, tapping on Tony's armor. "Remember those guys who ambushed you? You're not interested in a little payback?"

Tony understood. So even he was a pawn in Rook's game. He'd been roped into the plan.

But thinking it over, Rook wasn't wrong. That ambush in the desert had nearly killed him. How could he just let it go?

He saw what Rook was aiming for. Those attackers had likely been sent by Obadiah. If he showed up and crushed them with his suit, Obadiah would see firsthand just what the suit could do.

That would only make Obadiah more desperate, more obsessed with finishing his own armor.

But Obadiah couldn't crack the arc reactor problem. He was stuck, going in circles, unable to solve the energy issue.

No energy, no suit. The Iron Monger without power was just a pile of scrap.

Realizing this, Tony muttered, "Looks like you're out to scam him again."

Rook smirked. "I have to make a living, don't I? And hey, when Obadiah's gone, all his shares will go to you. You're the real winner here."

Gone?

Tony was startled.

Rook nodded without hesitation. "He has to die. And the Iron Monger's data has to be destroyed before certain people or nations get their hands on it. Do you have any idea what kind of chaos it would unleash? If your country got hold of this, the world would be finished."

Even as a newcomer to this world, Rook knew all too well how dangerous certain powers could be.

Especially Tony. He had gone to that desert to sell weapons to military top brass, but that area wasn't even part of his country.

They had stormed into someone else's backyard and caused endless chaos.

Rook didn't want to say too much, and this wasn't the place for it anyway.

Tony was no fool. He understood what was at stake. That was why he kept the Iron Man technology secret rather than handing it over.

A world of armored armies? That was a nightmare he didn't want to imagine.

"So he has to die," Rook declared Obadiah's fate on the spot.

From the moment Obadiah got hold of the Mark I blueprints and started working on the Iron Monger, his end was sealed.

That data couldn't be allowed to fall into the wrong hands. It was unthinkable.

Some might naively believe that exposing Obadiah's crimes and arresting him would be enough.

Don't kid yourself. What was Dr. Zola back in the day? Not only the Red Skull's right-hand man but also a top figure in Hydra, and yes, one of that regime's top minds.

And in the end, didn't SHIELD recruit him anyway?

Trust that system? You'd be better off trusting a pig.

(Since certain names and topics are sensitive, let's leave it at that.)

From the start, Rook had planned to lure Obadiah into his trap. He'd always intended to take not just his money, but his life.

Tony fell silent. Obadiah had been his father's friend, the man who treated him best after his parents died, a mentor and a friend.

And now, to find out the mole was Obadiah? That he had tried to have him killed?

Tony couldn't process it.

"I knew it," Rook said, seeing Tony's reaction. "That's why I didn't want to tell you at first. Look, just follow my plan. Don't think about the rest. I know you'll hesitate, so let him make the first move. Then you strike back."

"If Obadiah doesn't ask for trouble, no one will kill him. His fate is in his own hands."

Tony nodded. That was all he could do.

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