Variant or Variants of the MCU?

Chapter 6: The Trials

Crowd:<laughs>

Tony: that is... that is... that's actually the most apt description I can make of it.

Stern: it's a weapon. It's a weapon, Mr Stark.

Tony: please, if your priority was actually the well-being of the American citizen...

Stern: my priority is to get the Iron Man weapon and medical device of Wade Stark turned over to the people of the United States of America.

Wade:<mumbles> in other words, your military.

Tony; well, you can forget it. I am Iron Man. The suit and I are one. You can't take away my son's medical device either. To turn over the Iron Man suit would be to turn over myself, which is tantamount to indentured servitude or prostitution, depending on what state you're in and that's not something I want to teach my son. You can't have it, neither thing.

Stern: look, I'm no expert...

Tony: In prostitution? Of course not. You're a Senator. Come on.

The crowd laughs as Pepper gives him the stink eye as Tony failed to make her laugh again.

Stern: I'm no expert in weapons. We have somebody here who is an expert on weapons. I'd now like to call Justin Hammer, our current primary weapons contractor.

Wade hates Justin Hammer as Justin always ignored him or always pushes him to the side when talking to Tony as if he doesn't exist.

Justin:<sits down>

Tony; let the record reflect that I observed Mr Hammer entering the chamber, and I am wondering if and when any actual expert will also be in attendance.

Justin:<laughs> absolutely. I'm no expert. I defer to you, Anthony. You're the wonder boy unlike your son. Senator, if I may. I may well not be an expert, but you know who was the expert? Your dad. Howard Stark. Really a father to us all, and to the military-industrial age. Let's just be clear. He was no flower child. He was a Lion. We all know why we're here. In the last six months, Anthony Stark has created a sword with untold possibilities. And yet he insists it's a shield. He asks us to trust him as we cower behind it. I wish I were comforted, Anthony, I really do. I'd love to leave my door unlocked when I leave the house, but this ain't Canada. You know, we live in a world of grave threats, threats that Mr Stark will not always be able to foresee.

Wade:<mumbles> as if you could.

Justin: thank you. God bless Iron Man. God bless America.

Stern: that is well said, Mr Hammer. The committee would now like to invite Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes to the chamber.

Tony: Rhodey? What?

Rhodey walks in as Tony stands up and walks to him.

Tony: hey, buddy. I didn't expect to see you here.

Rhodey: look, it's me, I'm here. Deal with it. Let's move on.

Tony: I just...

Rhodey: drop it.

Tony; all right, I'll drop it.

Stern: I have before me a complete report on the Iron Man weapon, compiled by Colonel Rhodes. And, Colonel, for the record, can you please read page 57, paragraph four?

Rhodey: you're requesting that I read specific selections from my report, Senator?

Stern: yes, sir.

Rhodey: it was my understanding that I was going to be testifying in a much more comprehensive and detailed manner.

Stern: I understand. A lot of things have changed today. So if you could just read...

Rhodey; you do understand that reading a single paragraph out of context does not reflect the summary of my final..

Stern: just read it, Colonel. I do. Thank you.

Rhodey: very well. "As he does not operate within any definable branch of government, Iron Man represents a potential threat to the security of both the nation and to her interests." I did, however, go on to summarize that the benefits of Iron Man far outweigh the liabilities.

Stern: uh... uh... uh...

Rhodey: and that it would be our interest...

Stern: that's enough, Colonel.

Rhodey: to fold Mr Stark...

Stern: that's enough.

Rhodey: into the existing chain of command, Senator.

Tony: I'm not a joiner, but I'll consider Secretary of Defense, if you ask nice. We can amend the hours a little bit.

Stern: I'd like to do go and show, if I may, the imagery that's connected to your report.

Rhodey: I believe it is somewhat premature to reveal these images to the general public at this time.

Stern; will all due respect, Colonel, I understand. And if you could just narrate those for us, we'd be very grateful.

Wade just shakes his head and roles his eyes.

Rhodey: let's have the images. Intelligence suggests that the devices seen in these photos are, in fact, attempts at making manned copies of Mr. Stark's suit. This has been corroborated by our allies and local intelligence on the ground, indicating that these suits are quite possibly, at this moment, operational.

Tony; hold on one second, buddy. Let me see something here.

Tony points his transparent phone into the screens and started to hack them.

Tony; oh! Boy, I'm good. I commandeered your screens. I need them. Time for a little transparency. Now, let's see what's really going on.

Stern: what is he doing?

Tony; if you will direct your attention to said screens... I believe that's North Korea.

Tony puts a video of a mech suit that you will see in the movie with slim legs and bulky body falling and malfunctioning as it fired everywhere and blood splattered on the camera.

Stern: can you turn that off? Take it off.

Tony; Iran.

Some jet like thing crashed into the ground as Justin tried to disconnect the TVs but couldn't.

Tony; no grave immediate threat here. Is that Justin Hammer? How did Justin Hammer get in the game?

The video showed Justin in front of a really close rip off of Iron Man as the legs worked so far.

Tony; Justin, you're on TV. Focus up.

The video show the pilot try to twist the suit a little only for the whole body to twist 180 as Justin finally disconnected the TVs.

Tony; wow. Yeah, I'd say most countries, five, 10 years away. Hammer Industries, 20.

Justin: I'd like to point out that the test pilot survived.

Stern: I think we're done, is the point that he's making. I don't think there's any reason...

Tony: the point is, you're welcome, I guess.

Stern: for what?

Tony; because I'm your nuclear deterrent. It's working. We're safe. America is secure. You want my property? <points to Wade> our property? You can't have it. But I did you a big favor. <stands up> I've successfully privatized world peace.

Tony puts two peace signs up as the crowd stands up and claps as he gestured Wade to follow.

Tony: what more do you want? For now! I tried to play ball with these ass-clowns.

Stern: fuck you, Mr Stark. Fuck you, buddy. We're adjourned. We're adjourned for today.

Tony:<puts his shades on> okay. you've been a delight.

Tony and Wade walk out.

Tony: my bond is with the people. And I will serve this great nation at the pleasure of myself. If there's one thing I've proven it's that you can count on me to pleasure myself.

They both leave the committee as Wade was glad this was over but he felt as the worse was yet to come.