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Coulson studied him for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"We know," Coulson said. "That's exactly why Director Fury is personally negotiating how to handle both your situation and Stark's."
He paused, then added bluntly, "Both of your situations are very bad."
"This isn't just about weapons anymore," Coulson continued. "It's about precedent. Two private individuals openly displaying technology that's generations ahead of anything the world's governments possess? That rattles people. Badly."
Ethan crossed his arms. "Let them rattle. I'm not responsible for their paranoia."
Coulson gave a thin smile. "Try telling that to Congress."
Storm spoke up, her tone sharp. "If they push too hard, Arasaka can simply withdraw its operations from U.S. soil."
"That would escalate things," Coulson replied calmly. "Sanctions. Investigations. Frozen assets. They won't say it outright, but they'll squeeze you from every angle."
Ethan let out a quiet laugh. "So it's pressure politics."
"Exactly," Coulson said. "Which is why Fury is stalling. He's framing this as a containment issue rather than an acquisition one."
Sharon lifted her head. "Meaning?"
"Meaning," Coulson explained, "they'll try to settle for oversight instead of ownership. Regulations. Monitoring. A few carefully worded restrictions."
Ethan's eyes narrowed. "And Stark?"
Coulson met his gaze. "Tony's situation is… messier. His tech is already public. Yours isn't."
"So he's the easier target," Ethan said flatly.
"Yes," Coulson admitted. "Which is why Fury is trying to keep your name out of the headlines as much as possible."
Storm frowned. "That won't last."
"No," Coulson agreed. "Which brings me to the next point."
He tapped the tablet in his hand. "In half an hour, there's an emergency closed-door briefing. Defense, intelligence, and a few very nervous politicians. Fury will present a temporary stance."
"And that is?" Ethan asked.
"That Arasaka technology remains proprietary," Coulson said, "classified as non-transferable civilian defensive systems—for now. In return, you cooperate just enough to keep them from panicking."
Ethan considered that in silence.
"Define 'cooperate,'" he said at last.
"Minimal disclosures," Coulson replied. "No schematics. No production methods. Just proof that your systems are genuinely meant to protect you."
He hesitated, then added, "Plus… you'll give them one weapon."
Ethan scoffed. "They'll want more."
"They always do," Coulson said evenly. "But this buys time."
Sharon glanced at Ethan. "Time is leverage."
Ethan leaned back, eyes half-lidded. "Fine. I'll play along—for now."
Coulson released a small breath of relief. "Good. We'll have an update once the meeting ends—about half an hour from now."
"Now, we wait," Coulson said.
They nodded.
After a moment, Coulson looked at Sharon. "While we wait, why don't you update me on your situation? I can see you've changed… drastically."
His eyes narrowed slightly. "Something tells me that's not dye or colored lenses."
Ethan nodded. "I always told her not to disturb me while I was working. She ignored that one day, and we had an accident—which ended up having a positive effect for her."
"What kind of positive effect?" Coulson asked curiously.
"Allow her to demonstrate," Ethan said.
Sharon calmly pulled out a handgun and aimed at her own hand.
Before Coulson could react, she fired two shots.
The bullets flattened and dropped to the floor.
Coulson stared. "…She's bulletproof?"
"And her hair is glowing?" he added, stunned.
"It's more than glowing," Ethan said calmly. "All the kinetic energy from the bullets is absorbed and redirected through her nervous system."
Sharon stepped to the side and fired a focused energy beam from her eyes into the wall.
The wall absorbed it completely—no damage, no scorch marks.
"She can now use energy-based ocular attacks as well," Ethan added.
Coulson slowly raised an eyebrow. "What exactly were you working on when this 'accident' happened?"
"Plasma weaponry," Ethan replied, tapping the table.
A hologram rose up, displaying a sleek handgun design.
"…I guess you really are way ahead of Stark," Coulson muttered.
Ethan shrugged.
"Can you build something similar for me?" Coulson asked. "Something like a stun weapon—powerful enough to knock targets unconscious?"
Ethan nodded. "That's doable."
They continued talking until Coulson's phone rang.
He stood, glanced at the screen. "It's Fury."
He stepped aside and took the call.
"Okay," Coulson said a minute later, ending it and turning back.
"So," Ethan asked calmly, "what's the final deal Director Fury got for me?"
"They agreed not to force Arasaka to manufacture weapons," Coulson said.
"That's good," Ethan replied, raising an eyebrow. "But I sense a 'but.'"
"There is," Coulson admitted. "As long as you help modify the Iron Man tech they acquired from Stark."
"And Vanko?" Ethan asked.
"They want him imprisoned, and his technology confiscated by the government."
"Tell them his tech was melted down by the red mist Violet released," Ethan said smoothly.
Coulson nodded. "We were already planning that. The arc reactor and the suit will be declared destroyed."
"So Stark has to give up one Iron Man armor," Sharon said slowly, "and Arasaka has to weaponize it?"
Coulson nodded. "That's the deal Fury cut with the government."
"This is the best deal we could get," he added.
Ethan nodded once. "That's acceptable."
"Good," Coulson said, standing up. "You'll be contacted by the military. They'll ask you to demonstrate weapons. Justin Hammer will be there too."
He paused at the door and glanced back.
"If you don't want that snake getting his hands on Stark's armor, I suggest you go all out. Show them the best weapons you have."
With that, Coulson left the room.
As the door closed behind him, Sharon looked at Ethan, who had fallen into deep thought.
"What do you think?" she asked.
"Well," Ethan replied calmly, "it's not a bad deal. I was expecting something much worse, but Fury managed to get us a fairly good outcome."
Sharon nodded. "He's most likely afraid of what would happen if your technology fell into military hands. History has shown that whatever tech ends up with authorities eventually leaks—into the hands of the mafia or other criminal organizations."
Ethan nodded in agreement.
"Besides," Sharon continued, her tone sharpening slightly, "I doubt Hammer can even match one percent of our level. Crushing that little egomaniac—who's riding entirely on his lineage—will be easy."