"Peter/Tony is a smart guy. I just need to use his existing plan to lure Obadiah into the trap, then improvise based on how things unfold."
Batman in the Batcave and Tony Stark on the top floor of Stark Industries thought this at the same time.
They didn't sit down to hash out a plan like ordinary people would, dragging it out for hours. Instead, after simply agreeing to use the miniature arc reactor in Tony Stark's chest as bait, the two of them went their separate ways to handle their own tasks.
Tony casually had Happy wait in the lobby on the first floor of Stark Tower. He himself headed down to the basement, staring at the massive arc reactor glowing with blue light.
He didn't specifically tell Happy to keep it a secret. On the contrary, he deliberately arranged for Obadiah to see Happy first thing upon arrival and learn through him that Tony was down here with the arc reactor.
"I announced the shutdown of the weapons division. Obadiah is bound to make a move. He might contact the board to vote me out again, or he might not be able to hold back and go deal with the weapons Stark Industries has already produced but hasn't sold yet."
"I need to use the miniature arc reactor to draw his attention."
Tony stood in front of the enormous arc reactor, silently mulling over his strategy.
Ten minutes later, Obadiah rushed back from the press conference. Spotting Happy lounging idly in the Stark Tower lobby, he cut straight to the chase:
"Where's Tony?"
Happy pointed downstairs.
"Tony's with the arc reactor."
Obadiah clapped Happy on the shoulder and hurried into the elevator, punching the button.
In front of the massive arc reactor, Tony Stark stood with his back to Obadiah, his facial expression unreadable.
"Tony, you were too reckless," Obadiah said without bothering to hide his arrival—just as Tony hadn't hidden his presence here. "Even if you're the largest shareholder in Stark Industries, shutting down the weapons division is something you should have discussed with the board first. At the very least, you should have talked it over with me."
Tony Stark didn't turn around. During his time in that Middle Eastern cave, he had learned to conceal his emotions. Right now, there wasn't a trace of excess expression on Tony's face.
"Sorry, Obadiah."
Obadiah stepped up beside Tony Stark, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him as they both gazed at the arc reactor.
"Your disappearance already tanked Stark Industries' stock price. Your return was finally starting to bring it back up, but what you announced at that press conference… I'm afraid the stock is going to drop again."
"Any corporate transition comes with a stock dip. It's unavoidable," Tony Stark said.
"We're weapons manufacturers. Now you're announcing we're not making weapons anymore?" Obadiah shook his head. "What direction do you want to pivot to?"
With that, Obadiah glanced at Tony Stark and saw his eyes remained fixed on the arc reactor. Unable to hold back, he ventured a guess:
"You're not planning to keep messing with this thing, are you? We've spent over a decade proving it's not viable as a profit center for the company."
Tony Stark pulled his gaze away and looked at Obadiah.
"But I've found a new direction."
As he spoke, he unbuttoned his shirt, exposing the miniature arc reactor glowing in his chest.
Obadiah's eyes were instantly drawn to the blue-white light emanating from Tony Stark's chest. His first reaction was:
"Tony, you carved a hole in your own chest and embedded this thing in your body?"
Obadiah's face was full of concern.
"I need it to keep the shrapnel from reaching my heart," Tony Stark said, re-buttoning his shirt.
"I see." Obadiah straightened Tony's clothes for him. "So our next pivot is energy? Relying on this little gadget you developed in the cave?"
"Maybe," Tony Stark said. "But it has a flaw. The palladium it uses produces a unique radioactive decay that severely shortens the reactor's lifespan."
Obadiah nodded, encouraging Tony Stark to continue.
"I need to develop a second-generation arc reactor as soon as possible. The new design is extremely complex. I'll need access to the company's highest-level labs and resources," Tony Stark said.
"How can I help you?" Obadiah asked, intimately draping an arm around Tony Stark's shoulders.
"I need you to ensure my safety," Tony said. "I need a security protocol where all operational access to reactor-based systems is bound to the core in my chest."
"That will keep you safe?" Obadiah didn't quite follow the twists and turns of the idea.
"Yes. It will sustain my life with the reactor in my chest, prevent the core technology from leaking out, and make sure no one can even attempt to replicate it."
Obadiah frowned. He didn't argue with Tony Stark's request but asked instead:
"Tony, when you escaped from those terrorists in the Middle East, you relied on this thing too?"
Tony nodded. He knew he had cast the bait. Now it was just a matter of waiting for Obadiah to bite.
Batman switched off the listening device. He now understood Tony Stark's plan.
He was using his own life as bait hidden behind the reactor, waiting for Obadiah to take the hook.
Batman didn't act immediately. He knew Obadiah needed time to bite; rushing now would ruin everything.
Dressed in a dark suit and not returning to the Batcave, he drove straight to Oscorp.
Using the identity of "researcher Clark," Batman entered Oscorp Tower without alerting anyone and took the elevator directly to the top floor.
In the office that once belonged to Norman Osborn, Harry Osborn was chatting amiably with two scientists.
Seeing Batman arrive, Harry Osborn immediately stood up and gave him an enthusiastic hug.
"Peter, let me introduce you. You're already very familiar with Professor Miles Warren. This one you probably haven't met yet."
Harry Osborn gestured toward the scientist sitting with Professor Miles Warren—a man with long black hair and a strikingly melancholic aura.
"This is Michael Morbius, a genius in biochemistry and a Nobel Prize winner."
Batman's current identity was Peter Parker. Staying expressionless and silent wouldn't fit the role, so Batman gave Professor Morbius a slight nod.
"This is Peter Parker, my best friend. I'd do anything for him."
Harry Osborn's introduction of Batman was just that one sentence, but it clearly made Professor Morbius's eyes flicker. He stood up on his own and extended a hand to Batman.
"Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Parker."
Professor Miles Warren had been smiling quietly from the sidelines the whole time. Seeing Professor Morbius shake hands with Batman, he stood as well.
"After Professor Connors left, Harry urgently needed a biology expert to helm the company."
"I felt one wasn't enough, so I recommended Professor Morbius, another expert in the same field of biochemistry."
Harry Osborn pulled Batman over to the sofa and personally poured him a glass of water.
"I want to join Oscorp not just to contribute my knowledge," Morbius began. "It's more for myself."
Professor Miles Warren nodded and picked up where he left off.
"Professor Morbius suffers from a rare blood disease. He hopes that while working as a scientist at Oscorp, he can also research a cure for his condition."