Washington D.C.
Senate Military Committee Hearing
Ten minutes ago
Outside the Capitol Building, a crowd surged.
Reporters, with their long and short lenses, surrounded the entrance, creating an impenetrable wall.
Flashbulbs popped incessantly, their blinding white light still noticeable even under the morning sun.
"Senator Stern! What are your thoughts on Stark Industries' armor technology?" A CNN reporter struggled to the front row, extending a microphone towards Stern, who was walking towards the entrance.
Stern paused, adjusted his tie, and wore the signature smile of a politician: "National security is not a game. Any weapon technology that could potentially threaten the safety of the public must be regulated."
"But Mr. Stark insists his armor isn't a weapon," the reporter pressed. "What do you think?"
Senator Stern's smile tightened slightly: "When a person can fly freely over New York in a suit of armor, and even engage in combat, it's hard not to define it as a weapon."
Not far away, Justin Hammer was surrounded by a group of reporters.
He was dressed in a well-tailored silver suit, his hair slicked back and gleaming, looking like a peacock displaying its feathers.
"Mr. Hammer, you're here today as a technical expert for the hearing. Do you believe the Iron Man armor should be classified as a military weapon?"
Hammer spread his hands dramatically: "My dear friends, do you even need to ask? Just look at those videos.
Repulsors, miniature missiles, laser cutting systems. If that's not a weapon, then my pen is a dove of peace!"
The reporters erupted in laughter.
Just then, the roar of an engine grew closer.
A silver-gray Audi R8 performed a beautiful drift, coming to a stop at the foot of the Capitol building steps.
The car door slowly lifted upwards, and Tony Stark stepped out, a carefree smile playing on his lips behind his sunglasses.
The reporters immediately turned their attention, swarming towards Tony.
"Mr. Stark! What preparations have you made for today's hearing?"
"It is said that the military wants to requisition your armor technology. Will you compromise?"
Tony took off his sunglasses, revealing his signature smirk: "Relax, friends. I'm just here for coffee."
He pointed towards the Capitol building, "I heard their Blue Mountain Coffee is good."
"Aren't you worried about your armor technology being nationalized?" a reporter shouted.
Tony shrugged. "First of all, the armor isn't a weapon. Secondly,"
He winked. "Secondly, no one can take it."
Escorted by security, Tony strode up the steps and into the Senate hearing room.
Reporters scrambled to follow, their cameras broadcasting live.
The hearing officially began.
Senator Stern stood at the podium and rapped his gavel. "The purpose of this hearing is to assess whether the Iron Man armor developed by Stark Industries poses a threat to national security, and whether it should be subject to military weapons control."
He turned to Tony, who was seated in the witness chair. "Mr. Stark, please state your position."
Tony leaned back in his chair lazily. "My stance is simple. The armor is my private property, just like my watch, my sports car. It just so happens it can fly and shoot lasers."
A murmur went through the hall.
"You're defying the Congress!" a senator shouted, slamming his hand on the table.
"That armor can easily destroy a city block!"
Tony shrugged. "My sports car can also kill people. Are you going to confiscate all sports cars?"
Senator Stern sneered. "Mr. Stark, please don't try to confuse the issue. We've brought in Mr. Justin Hammer, CEO of Hammer Industries, as a technical advisor."
Hammer strode towards the witness stand with exaggerated steps, holding a tablet.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he said, pulling up a video.
"This is the flight record of the Stark armor above New York. Speed exceeding Mach 5, with maneuverability comparable to a fighter jet."
He switched to another screen: "This is the energy reading of the Repulsor, capable of penetrating tank armor."
Finally, he played a blurred video: "And this was three days ago, a person in Black Armor, believed to be Stark's new partner, stopped a runaway truck with one hand. If this power were used for crime..."
Laughter erupted from the audience, everyone understanding that it was Superman saving people.
Tony rolled his eyes: "Hammer, your PowerPoint skills are better than your robots."
Senator Stern rapped his gavel to restore order: "We also have Colonel Rhodes here to speak as a representative of the military."
James Rhodes walked to the witness stand, his expression serious: "I must state that I am here in a personal capacity."
He glanced at Tony, "Tony is my friend, but as a soldier, I must consider national security."
"So, Colonel Rhodes," Senator Stern asked.
"Do you consider the Iron Man armor to be a weapons system?"
Rhodes hesitated. "From a technical standpoint, it does... look like a weapon, but it's more of an assistive tool..."
Justin Hammer immediately jumped in to interrupt him, "See? Even the military admits it's a weapon!"
Tony's face darkened. He turned his head towards the back door of the Senate hall, which was still empty.
Stern pressed on, "Mr. Stark, given the weaponized nature of the armor, the Senate demands that you immediately hand over all technical data and cease private development."
Tony took a deep breath and suddenly laughed.
"Interesting."
He said slowly, "The armor isn't actually my work."
Silence fell over the room.
"What do you mean?" Senator Stern frowned.
"I mean," Tony stood up, "the armor technology, including the Arc Reactor, comes from my partner, Mr. Superman."
As if on cue, the back door of the Senate hall opened.
Xiao Han strode in, a perfectly tailored black suit failing to conceal his perfectly proportioned physique.
He didn't speak, but the entire hall went silent, you could hear a pin drop.
"Sorry I'm late."
Xiao Han walked to the empty seat beside Tony. "Dealt with a few problems on the way."
Tony raised an eyebrow. "Like?"
"A gang fight in Los Angeles, and some terrorists trying to detonate bombs downtown."
Xiao Han sat down calmly. "I sent them to the Arctic to dig ice for a scientific expedition."
Tony's expression was strange. "Dig ice?"
Senator Stern suddenly stood up. "Superman! This is a Senate hearing, and we don't welcome irrelevant people!"
Xiao Han looked up at him, his golden pupils faintly glowing in the shadows. "Senator, according to the First Amendment, I have the right to attend any public hearing."
He paused. "Or are you trying to defend those criminals?"
Senator Stern's face cycled through shades of green and white before he finally slumped back into his chair.
The hearing continued, but the atmosphere had completely shifted.
When Justin Hammer tried to once again highlight the weapons capabilities of the armor, Tony cut him off directly. "Let me be clear. The armor is an assistive tool developed by Xiao, designed for rescue and to punish criminals. It's like a police officer's sidearm; it comes down to the person wielding it."
"Absurd!"
Senator Stern slammed his hand on the table. "Who can guarantee these technologies won't be misused?"
Xiao Han slowly stood up.
His movements were subtle, yet everyone present unconsciously held their breath.
"I guarantee it."
Xiao Han's voice wasn't loud, but it silenced the entire assembly hall.
"The armor is my creation, designed to protect the innocent. If anyone wants to take it..." His gaze swept across each of the senators.
"...they're welcome to try."
Senator Stern swallowed hard. "Are you threatening us?"
"Stating facts."
Xiao Han adjusted his cuff. "I respect the law, but I won't tolerate anyone using the law as a pretense for plunder."
He turned to the live broadcast camera, speaking directly to the American public: "I have no desire to destroy the world; I only want humanity to live in peace. But if anyone infringes upon my rights..."
Xiao Han didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood his meaning.
Audience Corner
Natasha Romanoff crossed her legs, her fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of her seat. "This guy is more interesting than the reports made him out to be."
Coulson pulled a mint from his inner suit pocket. "Considering he can probably catch a missile with his bare hands, I'd say he's being restrained."
"Fury will like him," Natasha said, narrowing her eyes. "Or is already figuring out how to recruit him."
Coulson folded the candy wrapper into a neat square. "I'm more worried about the consequences of the latter."
Their conversation was interrupted by a commotion as Xiao Han and Tony Stark simultaneously rose from their seats and left.
Senator Stern opened his mouth, but in the end, didn't dare to call for a recess.
The other senators looked at each other, their documents unconsciously creased in their hands.
One of the senators narrowed his eyes, planning to apply for the Anti-Superman Plan as soon as he got back to the organization.
Justin Hammer looked like a rooster with its neck squeezed, his face flushed red, but he couldn't make a sound.
Only Colonel Rhodes subtly breathed a sigh of relief.
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