Ultimate Iron Man

After breakfast, Tony shifted his focus to the task at hand. Set up his new lab again. He spent the entire day tinkering and rearranging everything in the basement. It was almost noon when he finally finished. He stretched his arms, satisfied with the result. His new lab looks clean and ready for action. His next plan was to prevent his parents' death. Now that he knows the Ultimate and MCU realities are merged together, he had to improvise his plans. There was only 1 week left until Howard and Maria's assassination date. It could be either Hydra or the Mandarin Industries... And there might be a possibility that it might be both.

Instead of getting hyper, he remained calm and collected, focusing on what he could do now.

Tony wanted to make an armor, but one week was too short and then there was the Arc Reactor. With whatever resources he had access to, it wouldn't be hard to create a suit, but there were too many eyes around him. Then there was the matter of testing. He couldn't exactly just get up and fly whenever he wanted.

Right now, he sat down before his computer, "Hermes. Hack into Mandarin Industries."

Over the years, Tony upgraded his AI to be the best one. The AI code was so complex that no one could hack into it or trace it back and there was no system that Hermes couldn't infiltrate. It can bypass any security system. Not to mention the backdoor access to Pentagon and S.H.I.E.L.D. servers.

"Yes, Sir," A holographic display of blue orb appeared, floating above the table.

The AI hacked into the database of Mandarin Industries and began to gather all the data available. Tony didn't want to just interfere with their operation. He wanted to know every single thing about them without raising any red flags.

"Alright, Mandarin," Tony muttered. "Let's see what you're hiding."

The screen was filled with Mandarin International's encrypted servers. The Ten Rings organization had grown beyond its historical roots, adapting into a shadowy corporate empire. The AI bypassed multiple firewalls and finally gained control of the company's mainframe.

"Sir," Hermes said. "I've accessed the mainframe."

...

Mandarin International Files:

• Project Iron Blade: A covert operation targeting key industrial leaders across the globe. Howard Stark's name was flagged under the "primary threats" category, listed alongside Stark Industries' most valuable patents.

• Assassination Window: December 16, 1987. Confirmed operational.

• Operatives Assigned: [Classified]

...

Tony clenched his jaw. "So, they're planning to take out Dad in a week."

He opened another file labeled Sleeper Hydra Assets, which revealed a disturbing overlap. Mandarin International had been collaborating with remnants of Hydra to strengthen their global operations. The partnership seemed tentative but deadly, they covers each other's asses, increasing espionage capabilities.

"Hydra and Mandarin, working together? That's new." Tony frowned. "Guess everyone's teaming up these days."

He realized that intervening would require finesse. Mandarin's assassins were notorious for their precision, and any overt action would alert them. Moreover, if Hydra's operatives were involved, they could retaliate with overwhelming force. Although his intervention before has weakened Hydra's power, they still have a large network.

He leaned back, running a hand through his hair. He had one week to outmaneuver two of the deadliest organizations in the world. His parents' lives and perhaps the future of Stark Industries depended on it.

"Arg!" The headache came back. Tony took out the bottle from his pocket and swallowed a pill, waiting for it to work. After a few minutes, he sighed in relief as his headache slowly faded away.

He rubbed his forehead, "Well, I guess, I'll go all out."

Tony knew he couldn't go out and fight or create armor without his father asking him dozens of questions. He wanted to ask Hank Pym for the favor he owned but decided not to because if something goes wrong and Pym dies, the future will change drastically and he'll lose his chance to get his hands on the Pym particles formula that only Hank knows. So, he was going to use the best thing he has─Hacking.

In a world where technology is evolving every day and big industries are using more technology, hacking into them would be like stealing from a kid's toy box.

"I am so gonna fuck you both up that you wouldn't even know what the hell is going on after I am done with you all," Tony muttered darkly. But his stomach suddenly rumbled and he was reminded that he hadn't eaten anything since morning. He looked at the watch. "Ah! Crap. It was already past 5 and he missed lunch."

With a heavy sigh, he got up from the chair and went upstairs.

-----

"Ah! Mom! You cooked my favorite!" Tony smiled as he saw a steaming lasagna on the table. Maria smiled back. "Come, sit down."

Tony sat down and started eating his food, savoring the taste of homemade lasagna.

"How did you know I would come up right now?" He asked his mother as he ate.

"I just know," Maria said as she looked at him with a knowing smile. "How was the lab? Is it to your liking?"

"It's perfect. I'll need to tweak some things here and there but it's just what I needed," Tony replied.

Maria nodded. "That's good to hear. Are you working on anything in particular?"

"Just some blueprints for a prototype robot I'm thinking of," Tony replied casually. "Nothing too fancy."

"Hmm," Maria hummed. "I saw your three robots, they look nice."

"Oh, Dum-E and U? They're my assistants." Tony chuckled. "They're a bit clumsy, but they help me out in the lab. And the humanoid one is Elena."

"Elena?" She asked, looking at her with curiosity. "Don't tell me..."

"Ah! Hell no. That's not it. Don't even think about it. It's not like that. ELENA. aka, Emotional Learning and Enhanced Neural Algorithm. Elena is an AI and that humanoid robot is the body she is using."

"Oh, that's a relief," Maria said as she breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought you made a robot girlfriend or something."

"Mom!"

"What?" She asked innocently. "I'm just worried about you, dear. You've been all busy with only work and experiments. Do you even have a girlfriend? Did anyone catch your eye at MIT? Forget that, do you even have friends?"

Tony rolled his eyes. "I don't have time for romance. There's too much to do. And don't worry, I'm fine. I have plenty of friends at MIT."

"How many?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Sigh!" He scratched the back of his head. "Fine. One friend, Rhodey. You remember him, right? I told you about him last month."

"Yeah, I remember. And I meant other than him? I mean, c'mon, Tony. You can't always stay a loner. You need to go out and meet new people and make new friends. Don't be so cold and aloof."

"Mom. I'm fine. Besides, I have my whole life ahead. But right now, I am just going to focus on work and improving myself. I don't have time for girls or any distractions. And who knows, maybe I'll find the right one when I am old and gray." Tony smiled.

Maria sighed and said, "You are impossible. Always ready with excuses. But fine, do what you want. Just know that I don't want you to become what your father was in the past. Too much work, stress, and alcohol, and you already know the yelling... So, take a breather when you can and try to enjoy life a little bit out of your own world."

Tony nodded. He knew that Maria was worried about his future and the path he was going to take.

"Not to worry, mom. I'll keep it in mind," He said with a smile.

...

[Night]

Later that night, Tony returned to his lab, recharged and ready to execute his plan. His parents were safe upstairs, unaware of the storm he was about to unleash. He sat before his computer, the holographic displays illuminating the dimly lit basement.

"Hermes, time to go full throttle. We're hitting Hydra and Mandarin where it hurts the most."

"Understood, Sir," Hermes replied, its voice calm yet purposeful.

Tony cracked his knuckles and leaned forward. "First target... Hydra. Let's expose their dirty laundry."

Hermes swiftly infiltrated Hydra's encrypted servers. Over the years, Tony had developed unique algorithms capable of penetrating even the most sophisticated firewalls. Hydra's extensive network began unraveling before his eyes—secret bases, covert operations, and high-ranking operatives' identities were now at his disposal.

"Focus on their new bases and upcoming plans. Make it look like Mandarin leaked the information to governments worldwide," Tony instructed.

One by one, Hydra's clandestine facilities were exposed to intelligence agencies across the globe. Locations of hidden bases in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and South America were sent anonymously to MI6, the CIA, and every other available government network. To add fuel to the fire, Hermes fabricated evidence suggesting that Mandarin International had betrayed Hydra, feeding these agencies the information.

"Let them tear each other apart," Tony muttered, smirking.

Next, he turned his attention to Mandarin International. Hermes hacked into their financial systems, uncovering widespread tax evasion, offshore accounts, and funds funneled into illegal activities. Tony redirected damning evidence to international regulatory bodies, including the IRS and Interpol.

"Let's make their tax problems everyone's business," Tony smirked.

The media was next. Hermes anonymously leaked a cache of financial documents to trusted journalists, painting a vivid picture of Mandarin's corruption. The headlines were already writing themselves: "Mandarin International: Corporate Empire or Criminal Syndicate?"

"Now, for a little extra chaos," Tony said, his eyes gleaming. "Hire the best foreign assassins. Make it look like Mandarin's internal factions are eating each other alive."

Using anonymous accounts, he contacted mercenaries from Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia. They work for money, so Tony rerouted Mandarin's money to them. Within hours, coordinated strikes took out key Mandarin operatives, sowing paranoia and mistrust within their ranks.

By dawn, the world was in chaos. News channels buzzed with reports of exposed Hydra bases, Mandarin's financial scandals, and escalating violence within the Ten Rings organization.

In Eastern Europe, Hydra agents were raiding suspected Mandarin facilities, convinced of their betrayal. Mandarin's forces retaliated, believing Hydra had orchestrated the leaks and assassinations. The two shadowy organizations were now locked in a covert war, their resources stretched thin.

Tony watched the chaos unfold on multiple screens, sipping a cup of coffee. His smirk was one of satisfaction.

"Hermes, monitor the fallout. I want to make sure this keeps them too busy to even think about targeting Dad."

"Of course, Sir. Preliminary reports indicate the destabilization has exceeded projected outcomes. Hydra and Mandarin are now prioritizing each other as threats."

Tony leaned back, rubbing his temples. "Good. But keep digging. If either of them tries to regroup, I want to be ten steps ahead. Oh, put a big bounty on Mandarin while you're at it. Make sure it comes from the East."

"Yes, Sir," Hermes replied.

Tony sighed, glancing at the time. "It's 6 AM. I need a nap."

He stood up, stretching his arms. Then he walked over to the couch and collapsed onto it, letting sleep claim him.

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[Read over 16 advance chapters] [No double billing]

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