＊＊＊

Sunil Bakshi was a very ambitious man, it was the main reason he'd joined HYDRA, when the opportunity presented itself, well that and the fact an offer like that tended to be fatal to those who said no, of course. Sunil was pragmatic enough to know that while he was an efficient and competent individual, he was not a creator, nor a leader, he knew his limitations. So what else could he do other than attach himself to an ascendant power.

Ruling was still ruling even if one had to be subservient to someone else, or so Sunil saw it. He did not have such unbendable pride that he couldn't see the advantages in being the number two, instead of the one in charge.

When he'd heard the rumors around HYDRA that Justin Hammer was discreetly looking for a personal assistant, one that would be working as his right hand in the world of business and beyond - was it any wonder he decided to hedge his bets and make himself available. It would place him in a position of considerable influence - and look good to his master's in HYDRA as well. So whether HYDRA would succeed or not, he'd still be in a good position either way.

He'd read the file they had on Justin Hammer, he might not be high up in HYDRA, but he was clever and determined. It wasn't overly difficult to clone the file system at the one HYDRA base he was aware of, even HYDRA falling to the simple ploy - walk in like you belong, act like you're honestly terribly busy and on important business, you won't receive a second glance. Worked like a charm. No one stopped him or even asked what he was doing there outside of his regular debriefs.

Probably wouldn't have worked as well if he wasn't already HYDRA, but it was a moot point, since anyone not in the know, quite literally didn't know where to go.

Except what he'd found in the files he'd nabbed, had described an easily impressed blue blood industrialist with both an ego issue and an inferiority complex. One likely to have tantrums, and one who went through staff like others went through underwear.

Mercurial, hard to work with, squeamish and hands off.

Not… Really the impression Sunil had gotten when he'd met Hammer himself. The man had been assertive, cold, and completely in charge of the situation from the first second of the encounter. He'd somehow recognized Sunil! He was but a footnote in HYDRA currently, somehow Hammer was not a HYDRA head with an emplaced fake file - as had been Sunil's first thought when he'd recognized Sunil. But then how had he recognized him, if he wasn't HYDRA? It was maddening to not have the answers.

The thought that he was HYDRA - didn't exactly lessen when Hammer ordered his subordinate to paralyze him. That was very in line with HYDRA behavior, after all. Very efficient as well, which Sunil could appreciate, although not particularly enjoy, as it was done to him. Being a prisoner in his body was a new experience for him, one he was not keen to repeat.

Hammer had been in control of the situation completely, had read Sunil like an open book to a frightening degree, and possessed an impressive amount of information. When he so casually revealed that HYDRA was SHIELD, something Sunil wasn't even aware of, having been recruited directly into HYDRA, and nowhere near trusted enough for something of that magnitude yet. It had intrigued Sunil, made him want the position even more, even though it seemed unlikely in the position he was now in. In retrospect so much of the last year made sense viewed under the lens of SHIELD being compromised.

The ability of Domino was scarier than the woman able to paralyze him with a gesture. Sunil now faced the choice of needing to betray either HYDRA or Hammer, if he wanted to survive. Not a great prospect for a long life, either way. As Hammer was the one that could actually check if he was loyal everyday, the choice wasn't difficult. It helped that Hammer seemed strangely unconcerned with Sunil continuing on as a HYDRA operative. Another oddity he cataloged in his mind for further study. The file they had on Hammer was just so off… At this point he had to assume Hammer had somehow placed the file within HYDRA to throw off the trail of his actions by having the organization not think very highly of him.

An act in itself that would take considerable skill for an outsider, or considerable influence in HYDRA, either through money or blackmail.

He'd been given a chance to prove himself, and with the metaphorical sword hanging over his head, Sunil did not intend to fail. Hammer or HYDRA, he would not lose, he would not die. He would make himself useful.

Hammer had given him a barebones file on his target, Kevin Thompson. An enhanced now calling himself Kilgrave. An enhanced capable of complete mind control. As long as the subject remained in close contact with him. If Sunil had only found this out before meeting Hammer, this find alone would have promoted him within HYDRA.

If Hammer could harness this enhanced… Sunil might have picked exactly the right man to work for after all…

Sunil had been SAS, before the… Incident, so even the capture of someone capable of mind control didn't overly concern him - it was just an added parameter to the mission. He'd quickly put the money Hammer gave him to use, into action. Both in contacting a HYDRA affiliated mercenary team capable of the capture - and a dark web group that specialized in finding people, for a tidy sum. Freelancers, but ones that were very good at what they did. Through his old contacts in SAS and MI5 he knew how to contact them. The British government had sometimes utilized them to help their forces find potential terrorists before they could implement their plans.

It had taken him over two weeks, each day spent learning more about Hammer industries, preparing himself for the role - as he had no doubt he would succeed in his task. And if he spent the rest of his black budget on asking that same black web group to find as much as possible on the names Domino and Phantazia… Well, that was only due diligence.

He needed to be sure of his potential rivals after all.

In the end, it had been anticlimactic, mind control abilities or not. They'd found Kilgrave, the enhanced having taken over a rich playboy's mansion where he was using his entire family for his amusement. As there was no time limit, Sunil coldly kept the team watching and not interfering in Kilgraves depravities - of which there were many. There were too many unneeded risks in sneaking up to the mansion - too many chances Kilgrave could cotton on and take control of his mercenaries if they got close and he noticed. That possibility was why none of them knew who exactly was paying them for the job in the first place.

Any trail if Kilgrave won the day - would lead to HYDRA, not Sunil nor Hammer. Sunil did not intend to fail, so the precaution was likely unnecessary.

They'd waited and waited, until finally Kilgrave exited the mansion, on his way elsewhere, five days after they found him. His playthings were broken beyond repair. Which is how they'd tracked him down to this city in the first place, the man leaving a trail of broken people behind.

Kilgrave had no chance to utilize his ability when a team of men fired tranquilizer darts into his back, popping out from their hiding places, firing before Kilgrave was even aware of the danger. Out of range enough that his ability shouldn't be able to affect them taking the shot. Which proved correct.

They had the unconscious man in a van, bound, gagged, and on an IV to keep him in a medical coma, within two minutes of the man exiting the gates of the manor.

Sunil did not know what exactly Hammer wanted with such a man, the possibilities were endless for such abilities. But he had proven himself, now.

He picked up his phone, having just received the confirmation that their captive had arrived at the safe house Hammer had arranged. A hidden basement of a derelict warehouse in Philadelphia. With the press of a button he placed the call.

The phone picked up on the other line.

"Sir. We have him." He reported.

＊＊＊

Justin Hammer allowed himself a small pleased smile as he put his phone down. Not only had Bakshi proved himself, giving him that assistant he needed to free up more time for himself, but he now had Kilgrave.

He couldn't do much with the man, yet. So he'd remain in a medical coma until his plans came into a more fruitful phase. He hadn't wanted the man running loose until then, so this worked out just fine. What if he'd run into the man one day, if he remained free? No, a mind controlling sadist had needed to be taken off the board for his safety, and everyone's he supposed, not that they mattered compared to him. He glanced at his guest, giving him a megawatt smile, "Apologies Aldrich, you know how it is, business never ends." He said smoothly.

Aldrich Killian didn't answer, just glared at him impotently. The man was honestly quite rude.

When Killian had continuously rebuffed his polite enquiries to meet, well, Justin had to insist. Really it was his own fault. The man who'd one day create the Mandarin debacle and who'd blackmailed the vice-president of the United States, had an ego even larger than Justin's. Perhaps even matching that of Tony Stark himself. Of course he wouldn't come for a meeting, he was too self important and focused on his plans for Extremis.

Which also told Justin that Killian already had a financial backer. So Killian and his plans worked their way up higher on his to do list.

Because unluckily for him, Justin had a few plans of his own. And vastly more wealth and knowledge in which to implement them.

"I believe we were discussing where exactly you've hidden away your little think tank currently? And the location of Maya Hansen?" Justin asked cooly, leaning back on the couch of his private jet, a glass of scotch in hand.

Really, Killian had himself to blame, if he'd come to the New York office on his own, none of this unpleasant business would be needed, he'd just need to cooperate and accept Justin as his superior, take the funding on offer and go about things Justin's way. And well, that's where the snag was, he supposed.

Killian wanted it his way only.

Justin wanted it his way only.

One of them was going to be very disappointed. Considering their position right now, it wasn't going to be Justin. Well… He was still slightly disappointed, he'd expected some sense of sanity from his fellow Tony Stark hater, not a rabid animal incapable of realizing his situation.

"I'm not telling you anything, it's my invention!" Killian snarled, eyes almost bulging out of his head, where he sat on the chair opposite Justin's couch, limbs and neck all tightly clamped to the chair with metal bands, allowing him no movement.

Phantazia was on a different assignment, so he couldn't utilize her lovely paralyzing abilities today. The classics worked just as well however. Mayhap even better, as Killian could feel it, and struggle, yet not gain an inch, feeling more hopeless and exhausted for every moment. Luckily it was 2006 and he wasn't a fire breathing monster quite yet. Justin would never have let that onto a plane of his, captured and restrained or not. Risk management was more of an important skill then any of his engineering skills nowadays. Especially with how crazy the MCU would become.

"Your invention? Surely not, it's Maya Hansen's work, with a little help from a drunk Tony Stark that kickstarted this all, you just happened to…" Justin searched for words, shrugging in the end with a condescending smirk, 'Be there." He chuckled snidely, "Might as well have been Osborn or anyone else, you just happened to pass by and picked up an asset."

Killian was practically frothing at the mouth at the casual disrespect, making Justin feel all the more pleased that he'd decided to go the strong arm route with this fool, instead of buying him and using him. He'd be a disaster in the making, Extremis would just make his character flaws more dominant as he'd double down on himself. Like the man had enough good qualities to double down on, he was a deluded egotistical maniac.

"He might actually die from spontaneously combusting if you keep riling him up, boss." Domino said with an amused glance at the struggling Killian, the lady of luck sitting next to Justin on the couch, flipping through a fashion magazine.

"He makes it so easy." Justin said with a mocking shake of his head, "Just watch," Justin turned to Killian again, "Tony Stark - while drunk - advanced Extremis more than you've done with a whole team and millions of dollars."

Killian roared, enraged, fighting his restraints, veins bulging on his neck, his countenance a deep red from all the exertion and anger he was putting out. "Tony Stark is a disease!" He wheezed out, the restraint cutting his airflow.

"He could practically be your twin." Domino said with a teasing smirk, briefly looking up from her magazine.

Justin scoffed, offended. "Tony Stark is an absolute mess of a human," He said, a disgusted frown on his face, "He is inferior to me in every way, but I do not act like a spoiled child just at the mention of his name."

"Uh-huh." Domino said, engrossed in her magazine.

Justin gave her an annoyed look, he was not obsessed with Tony Stark… He wasn't!

"You're interrogating me! Stop talking about Stark!" Killian spits out, hair disheveled, his countenance one of rage and disbelief.

Justin clicked his tongue, annoyance rising, "What a precious princess," He mocked, taking a slow sip of his scotch, watching the AIM founder. "Can't even handle not being the center of attention even now, asking to be interrogated more." Justin shook his head, one eye twitching in irritation. "How on earth could this one ever be a possible rival to Stark." He grumbled, dissatisfied with how one note Killian was.

"Stop saying his name!" Killian growled. Pushing so hard against his neck restraint he managed to choke himself, coughing and spluttering as Justin watched on, unimpressed.

This could have been him. This kind of pathetic one note mind, fixated on revenge. How very disappointing. He'd had plans for Killian, ones that were now defunct. The man was of no use. Except the information he held.

"Since you're so eager, "Justin sighed, putting away his scotch, "Where is Maya Hansen? Where are AIM's labs? Not the official fake one, the unofficial one? Be a nice fellow and share, since you are so talkative…" Justin waved to their surroundings casually, "Replacing the carpet on a jet is a complete pain in the ass, do you have any idea how much the staff will bitch and complain if we have to do that?"

Not that Justin cared, he'd probably just buy a new jet.

"Just cut his dick off, always works on making men talk." Domino said idly, continuing to flip through her magazine as Justin and his security detail all stared at her. Killian for the first time looked something else then enraged. He finally had a look of fear on his face.

"Wow!" Justin said, leaning away from Domino slightly, "Okay, Domino, not needed, okay!" He complained, "You're scaring my guys, here."

Domino raised an unimpressed eyebrow, "Why are they worrying? They have nothing worth cutting off anyway." She said with a sweet smile, daring them to argue with her. Some of the men were shuffling nervously at her look.

Justin laughed, shaking his head, amused despite the annoyance that was Killian."We keep being side-tracked, no one's cutting off anyone's dicks, okay, that's just not kosher." He eyed Killian thoughtfully, the man's eyes rolling in his head as he strained to break his restraints again, grunting at the effort. "At least not unless I'm out of the room first." He amended, Killian seemed the stubborn sort.

Over the past two weeks he'd finally assembled a proper security detail, former special forces types, the ones who knew to keep their mouth shut, men willing to do anything for the amount of money Justin provided. Their families would be taken care of no matter what, college, careers, etc. Justin would provide for them. And the same principle of carrot and stick worked there too, the men were well aware that Justin could also go after their families in a heartbeat if they tried anything. Or his subordinates could, if he died due to their incompetence or betrayal.

Fear shouldn't be the first avenue used by a leader, but it should always be in his back pocket, ready and waiting to be unleashed. They wouldn't betray him, and they got rich for simply following him around. Everyone wins.

Justin checked his watch, they were still a few hours out, he sighed, "He keeps being very unresponsive to my questions, it's rude, he doesn't answer my calls, then I wine and dine him on a private jet…" He sighs dramatically again, "Break his fingers, let's start there." He ordered his men.

He leaned back, and picked up his scotch again, as the noise inside the jet picked up dramatically.

A few hours later they landed at their destination.

He had to hand it to Killian. He was an utterly annoying and simple man, but he didn't give up easily. Although it moved along briskly still, probably Domino's presence ensuring every hit, or break, was done in the exact way to draw as much information out as possible from the man.

Probably for the best that he never came to the New York office in the first place and had to be hunted down instead. His sudden disappearance worked so much better now - when Justin wasn't officially the last person to see him alive.

He placed a call as he walked down the stairs, exiting his jet, Domino a step behind, his security detail already having secured the landing site."Bakshi, I'm sending you details on a location with scientists and data I need, take them all, scrub the place of anything in regards to their research after, and destroy it."

The man still had the team that took Kilgrave, he could just redirect them to this new task. Perhaps they were worth simply putting on retainer. At least until his own security team was more capable of both protection and striking at his enemies.

Justin listened to the reply, idly watching as a trunk was carried off the plane, much heavier than it was supposed to be. "No, take the carrot approach with Hansen, she's desperate to complete her work, she'll follow willingly. If the others aren't…" He watched the trunk, humming idly to himself, "Well, only Maya and the data is important, use your best judgment." He hung up, getting into the awaiting limousine.

Maya might not be able to do it on her own yet, but she could work on it, until Justin had someone able to finish it off, someone that could perfect it, without creating living bombs. Not that the imperfect Extremis couldn't have its uses as well…

God bless America, there were plenty of veterans available desperate for the chance to regrow a limb, Maya would have all the test subjects she needed.

Justin wouldn't be fool enough to let them out though. They would remain test subjects. He did not need the attention from one of them blowing up and attracting SHIELD.

This would be a secret until he was ready to unveil it all. He wasn't a short sighted fool like Killian.

Although dangling a cure for his daughter's limbs over the future vice-presidents head had been inspired, something he'd have to think about. Even if he bought Ellis, an insurance policy wouldn't be too out of bounds.

That way if Ellis stopped playing ball…

Justin would win, either way.

＊＊＊

Soon enough the limousine brought them to their destination, an exclusive little restaurant in Seoul, South Korea.

Justin walked in, with Domino flanking him, waving off the proprietor as he already spied his quarry, nervously fidgeting at the table he'd booked. Well, one of his minions booked anyway. Justin didn't deal with the peasants - that's what he had people for.

"Helen Cho, how nice to meet you, I apologize if I'm a bit late, a negotiation went a little sideways and took some extra time to resolve." Justin said warmly, grasping the young South Korean woman's hand, and kissing it softly, smiling charmingly as she blushed cutely at him.

"I'm early, so no apologies needed, Mr Hammer." She said nervously, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

Justin sat down opposite of her, while Domino stood behind him, eyes going around the locale lazily. "Call me Justin, Helen. Is it alright if I call you Helen, sweetheart?" At her nervous nod, he continued on, "This is cozy, right? I hope it's alright?"

The restaurant only seated ten people, it was small, but hideously expensive and exclusive. It didn't even have a menu, the chefs simply cooked masterpieces from whatever they felt like that particular day. Only a customer's allergy could deviate their random creativity. Although they tended to lean heavily on seafood.

The entire locale was dedicated to the sea, the walls and even the floor were see through bulletproof glass. The entire restaurant was surrounded by water in the walls and floor, corals, sand and the sea creatures living in it, frolicking through their life, all seen by the customer. The restaurant did not have much lighting, the flickering lights shining through the water around them casting much of the place in shadows, a nice cozy spot, like he'd said.

Helen giggled slightly, covering her mouth with a hand, "This place… It's amazing, but probably costs more than my entire tuition and doctorate to eat at."

"Good thing you're on a scholarship then." Justin said cheekily, making the girl giggle again, "Although obviously as I'm the one that asked you here, dinner is on me, so enjoy it, no matter the outcome of our little chat."

Helen Cho would become the world's most renowned geneticist. She was currently still finishing her doctorate. Ripe for the plucking. Whether for her cradle technology or if she could assist in finishing Extremis. Or any number of projects he had in the air - she would be an incredibly valuable asset. It helped that she was cute as a button as well. Justin did approve of eye candy scientists. A nice departure from old hairy men. Like so many women in the MCU, Helen Cho could do modeling if her day job started to bore her. It was a great world to be a man in.

"What… Is this about, exactly?" Helen asked, brimming with curiosity.

"A guy can't just invite a cute girl out for dinner, eh?" Justin said charmingly, eyes twinkling as he met hers.

She blushed, but held the gaze steadily, "Billionaires usually don't invite me out for dinner out of the blue, no." She said, a warm mischievous tilt to her lips.

Justin leaned back slightly, giving her a once over with a rakish smirk on his face. "Well, that's certainly their loss, my dear."

"Oh my god." Domino whined in exasperation behind Justin, low enough only he could hear. Justin ignored her, the woman was fine with torture? Yet some light flirting made her complain, it better not impact the meeting and give him bad luck. He was determined to recruit Helen. She was very high up on his list of necessary assets.

"As for why I'm here, other than your delightful company, of course. Let's enjoy this dinner before we get to business." Justin suggested warmly, getting a short agreeing nod from the still red cheeked young woman in front of him.

Justin was no Thor, but some flattery from a rich handsome man did have the ability to put a young woman in a good mood, the food would hopefully increase her positive view of this get together. It was costly enough. He ordered a bottle of Chateau Lafite 1869 to pair with their meal, a fine wine would also help woo his quarry, and when she'd undoubtedly google it afterwards, she'd be impressed he spent a quarter of a million dollars on wine for their meeting. She'd join up, he would refuse any other possibility.

It spoke for just how exclusive this restaurant was - that they had a wine cellar that held that quality of wine.

They chatted easily during the dinner, Justin asking about her doctorate and Helen continuously trying to tease out the information on why this meeting was happening in-between bites. A natural curiosity about all things was a good habit in a scientist - and obviously Helen Cho had it in spades.

Finally, every morsel was devoured, and Helen sat attentively, gaze fixed on Justin.

"I'll make it as simple as possible, Helen." Justin said casually, dropping his napkin on his now empty plate. "I want to recruit you for my new BioTech company. I want to change the world, and I believe you're the key."

"M-me? I'm not even finished with my doctorate yet." Helen said, looking very flattered and a little overwhelmed. Even if she had to suspect I was here for such a reason - not many other reasons for a meeting like this.

Justin smirked suavely, "Unlimited funding, baby! State of the art labs," He winked at her, "You can play to your heart's content," Seeing her very interested look, he continued on, "You can hire your own staff, pick anyone you like. Work without limitations to push science as far as you can go." He told her, letting the silence stretch after, making it clear he'd be willing to go pretty far for her.

Helen looked a bit shell shocked, biting her lip in thought, her eyes flickering to Justin's before she seemed to fall into deep thought. No doubt weighing pro's and con's in her mind. Justin had made sure there wouldn't be many con's. He was confident. Domino being here was just the extra 'lucky' push to orientate things his way.

Finally, she met his gaze, "So… Unlimited funding?" She asked, breathily, leaning forward, eyes glittering in excitement.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

"Anything you want, baby!" Justin winked, a salacious smirk on his face. Flirting with such a gorgeous woman wasn't exactly a hardship.

"Gross." Domino interjected again, turning away, snickering, when Justin sent her a look.

"Don't listen to her, sweetheart, she's just jealous." Justin said, smirking at Domino's audible scoff behind him.

Helen smiled.

Justin almost regretted he wasn't more like Tony Stark, just for a moment.

"Smiling is good," He said, lifting his glass of ridiculously expensive wine, "Smiling means yes, yes?" He inquired, smirking self assuredly.

"Yes." Helen said, her smile widening, her blush back again. "I accept!"

Two hours later…

Domino slid down on the couch next to him, the private jet already leaving South Korea. Justin glanced at her, snorting softly, "Out with it, you obviously have something irreverent to say, as usual."

Domino smirked, resting her chin on one hand, the other playing with his tie, "You could have gotten her panties off like that," She snapped her fingers, "Kind of surprised you didn't," She trailed a finger down his chest, "Billionaire older man, giving her all that she's ever dreamt of, wining and dining her in the most expensive restaurants, flying out just for her…" She chuckled, a teasing tilt to her lips, "A young inexperienced woman like that, she'd be all over you," The fingers stopped their teasing trail, Domino grinning as they clenched into a fist - as she punched him lightly in the shoulder, "And not completely awful looking either!"

Justin rubbed his shoulder, giving her a dark look, "I thought your exact words, actually - were 'Gross'." He pointed out dryly.

Domino laughed, resting her head against the back of the couch, a small smile still playing on her lips, "I was just teasing, and you, boss, are avoiding the question!"

"What question?" Justin asked, secretly pleased his subordinate was opening up slightly, and comfortable with teasing him, as annoying as that would no doubt become. He'd need her loyalty in the coming years.

Domino smirked gleefully, "Why didn't you 'Hammer' the cute Korean girl, who by the way, was definitely up for it?"

Helen Cho had indeed lingered slightly at their goodbye, seemingly waiting for the opportunity for anything else to be said, or an offer to spend the night, she hadn't been hard to read.

Justin rolled his eyes, "She's barely legal, to begin with." He defended himself. It's not like he was an idiot, it was pretty clear that Helen Cho was swept off her feet due to his interest, and his promises to fulfill her every scientific dream.

"Because legal is usually something you're so concerned with Boss…" Domino snorted, visibly amused, eyes briefly moving to the spot that had once held Aldrich Killian. Her eyes returned to his with an eyebrow raised challengingly.

"Point taken," Justin said dryly, polishing his glasses to give himself a minute to think, he himself wasn't entirely sure why he hadn't taken advantage of the opportunity.

Perhaps it just reeked too much of Tony Stark, he intended to be better than the man, in every conceivable way. Except perhaps in risking his life flying around fighting aliens. He could keep that. While Justin, before his new outlook on life - had not been celibate by any means… He had also not been the cad Tony Stark was, and is. Perhaps if Helen Cho had not been someone he intended to utilize hard, in his business going forward. He'd be interested in using her in other ways.

"I suppose the barely legal part is not as much a detriment as the fact I am counting on her for quite a lot of future work, sex might complicate that." Justin finally answered Domino, and himself, on why he hadn't pushed for anything more. Helen Cho would literally be the foremost expert on genetics in the world. To jeopardize that because she was cute was simply insanity. If he wanted to get laid, he could probably line up a queue of shallow beautiful women - hungry for the rich and famous.

Money, Power, Fame. It was all sought after by everyone, and it would attract gold diggers everywhere. So it wasn't like he was hurting for prospects, or in any rush. He'd get his fun as soon as he got the more important things squared away.

Domino pouted like a petulant child, "Boss, that's so boring, it's always business this, business that, with you, live a little!" She protested. "Fuck hot Korean chicks!" She added, putting her hands together like a prayer.

Justin glanced at her, slightly disturbed, "You're literally the luckiest woman alive, why are you so focused on this? You'll stumble into your own 'hot Korean chick' " Justin made quotation marks with his fingers, "If that is what you want."

The universe would literally make it happen. Justin didn't know if he was happy or dissatisfied with the power being nowhere near as strong in affecting him and his surroundings, as it was for her personally. On one hand, things would always work out, on the other, the insane degrees at which that power sometimes manifested would irritate Justin immensely. Also, it would be too easy. He wouldn't even have to try anymore. Whatever passive effects he got right now from their partnership, was already ridiculously beneficial as it was.

Domino rolled her eyes, huffing in disappointment, "This isn't about me, boss, you gotta stop and smell the roses once in a while, you know?" She tilted her head, a playful smile on her face, "Or the cute college girls."

"I'm not smelling anyone, Domino. As for the future, in regards to women… We'll see, maybe I'll get lucky." Justin joked, gaining another eye roll from his subordinate.

"That is getting less and less funny with time." She muttered, crossing her arms, leaning back, pouting.

＊＊＊

The next two months were a whirlwind of activity. Justin continued with his aggressive purchasing strategy - although mostly outside of the United States at the moment due to Stark's interference. His purchases would ensure he would be ready to hit the ground running, even if they'd be idle for the next two years. It also bought him a lot of goodwill and clout with the governments of the countries he was investing in. Something he wasn't shy about taking advantage of.

It allowed Justin to continue to build safehouses and underground off the book labs and factories, underneath land and buildings that were officially something completely different. It worked for SHIELD and HYDRA, it would work for him.

Not being a complete idiot, he bought out a minor construction company that operated in half a dozen countries, reincorporating it as Hammer Construction Ltd. He fired everyone that had even the hint of a stable and good life, he didn't need them - expertise could be taught. Loyalty was bought easiest from desperation. The construction work would take longer, using his own company that would need to start almost from scratch with personnel. But he'd be able to actually keep things in house, and ensure loyalty. He instructed the managers he put in charge of the hiring process to find the downtrodden, the ones with no future, the ones on the edges of society. Especially minorities who had no trust in the government.

Justin would offer them work, well paid work. The education to make them able to perform it. Housing if needed, healthcare. He'd lift them out of the dirt. And it would take longer, yes. It would cost him at least quadruple the amount to achieve - rather than just continuing on normally, and that was probably underselling the cost heavily. But these people that would make up Hammer Constitutional Ltd. They'd be his. They'd know who raised them from misery and despair, who safeguard them even still with good wages and homes. They'd be loyal. They wouldn't talk. Exactly what he would need from a construction company that would need to grow rapidly to manage what would come. Because Justin would not allow anyone from the outside, to have any part in his more sensitive businesses.

While he was at it, he set up the bare bones of what he would need for the future. Creating companies that barely existed in anything but name yet, starting a slow, staggered hiring process for talent. They'd be paid for simply research for the next little while, but again, he would take the extra cost and eat it right now, to drag in the absolute ability to print money in two years.

First off the list, HammerTech. Knowing the technology of his own future as well as that of the MCU, plus knowing several very intelligent people in this reality he could snatch up… He foresaw himself crushing the likes of Apple, Samsung, Sony and the like, and creating a future where Stark wouldn't be able to dominate the consumer electronics market, because HammerTech would beat him to it. He'd start now, spending the money to launch satellites into space, making things ready for his own (eventual) 5G network across the globe, for when the H-Pad and H-Phone would hit the markets, followed by the H-watch and similar modern innovations (HammerPhone was unfortunately not as cool as a StarkPhone for a name, so H-Phone it was, or should he say, would be.) He'd be aided by the abilities of his most important future recruit - even without being a genius of the level of Stark, he'd have the people and capabilities to advance ahead of his competition then - other than Stark, but he'd be in Afghanistan once the time to release everything arrived. He'd have months of catch up to try and recoup and catch HammerTech, and that's without having the suppliers, the factories, the staff - the training and knowledge in place and operational for that tech - unlike him, who would have everything ready to go by then. By the time Stark caught up and released an equal, or better, product. Hammer would still have a dominant market share and a more widespread network that Stark would need a year or two to attempt to match.

And that's if he had enough time to dedicate to it, which considering Stane, the stop of weapons production and sales, the beef with the government, SHIELDs involvement and his palladium poisoning. Justin projected it would take over five years for Stark to catch up - and by then he'd never fully dislodge HammerTech from the top position. Although he'd be able to make better, more expensive phones, HammerTech would hold the market for the majority of actual people that could afford a regular level of tech.

The likes of Stark would immediately understand what he was doing once the first satellite went up of course, but that was okay, he couldn't possibly understand exactly what Justin could achieve - couldn't know what cards Justin had, to achieve what Stark would think he wasn't capable of. And he'd underestimate him anyway, especially as HammerTech would hardly be operational yet. It wouldn't be ready for two years, probably a little later even. His best recruit would only be available in that tiny window two years from now, and that would give Justin the advantage in the consumer electronics market, and so many more advantages that he could only shudder at the possibilities.

It was a good thing he didn't answer to any other shareholders, his liquid capital would practically be non-existent in two years, all spent with nothing apparent to show for it. He'd actually have to sell some assets to ensure he could pull it all off in time, if the plan remained the same. To anyone on the outside looking in - he wondered what they taught about his nonsensical moves…

HammerEnergy was rather evidently going to be the company which would dominate the energy market. For now, it was simply building a HQ, hiring people that would be making connections and plans - but not much else until it was showtime. He'd no doubt confound Stark and others in the market about what on earth he was doing with this company. Let them think he'd gone crazy, it gave him more room to maneuver.

HammerSec was fairly self explanatory. It would not make him money, as he'd be basically paying himself through his own subsidiaries. It would allow him to craft what in essence would be his own private army, one to fully protect all his facilities and people. He might not be able to do much if Iron Man drops out of the sky on one of his facilities - except rake him over the coals in the media as well as politically. But his own security company would ensure regular thugs as well as SHIELD and HYDRA ones, could not just waltz in and steal from him, or kidnap his people.

There was no use in gaining such minds as Helen Cho - if he'd just lose them as soon as the world cottoned on how bright she really was.

HammerBioTech had already recruited its most important employee in said Helen Cho, his promises of unlimited funding for her ideas snatching her up immediately. Once he'd be sure whether she can be fully trusted, he'd induct her into the extremis formula, if not the actual test subjects part - no need to upset the nice and good scientists - with the behind the scenes work. He already had feelers out for other scientists he knew were going to be useful. He'd eventually fold Extremis under its umbrella once it was viable for consumers. Well, a weaker version anyway. He wasn't going to let people become superpowered across the world. The healing aspect however… He'd make a killing even if it didn't approach the complete regeneration of Iron Man 3.

Even an almost completely watered down Extremis would have him completely own the pharmaceutical market on his own. No need for all these pills anymore - Extremis is there to help with what ails you.

He'd already recruited Dr. Wilfred Nagel. Well… 'recruited' because he was HYDRA, so he'd been forced to kidnap the man to ensure secrecy of the project. He'd turned out to be amenable to his situation when he found out what he'd been kidnapped for, and the kind of resources he'd be working with. Although only having just begun working on the super soldier serum - this was the man that recreated the serum, but was blipped away, forcing him to finish it in 2023-24 instead of 2018. He was currently 12 years younger then the man he would be when he recreated the serum - he obviously had the ability, so Justin had him taken. It was unlikely HYDRA would care, as he was a rather low level scientist on the project at this time.

While not interested in being a superhero, or in the spread of them - the supersoldier serum would be a valuable asset to have in his back pocket. And might be worth taking just for the health benefits and to be less squishy - even if he had no intentions to personally fight as much as a single alien.

This arm of his business was why he'd sent Phantazia on a little trip those months ago - even before he had Nagel.

＊＊＊

2 months ago, while Justin Hammer was on a private jet with Aldrich Killian.

Eileen arrived at her destination in Baltimore, four men from the new security detail following along, their two cars coming to a stop right in front of their target's residence.

They were all wearing FBI gear, their coats visibly blaring out their affiliation in bright yellow letters. Trying to hide what you're doing when you're up to no good just draws attention in these kinds of neighborhoods, approaching in broad daylight as something official, and people will only remember the badge and uniform. Not the people wearing them. Eileen had been taught about such things by Mystique, she wasn't a novice, in any manner.

Although no longer part of the brotherhood, she still had the skills. Something that had made her a very well paid mercenary - even more so now that Hammer had hired her.

Even as she walked up to the door she could see doors closing and windows shuttering all down the street. No one wanted any part of the government's attention.

The activities today might not even get reported at all. All the better for Eileen and her boss.

She rapped her knuckles on the door, affecting the bored voice of an official doing a routine job, "FBI, open up!"

There was only silence for minutes, even after a repeated request. Eileen nodded to her team, two of them silently going out back, to ensure there were no quick escapes.

"FBI, if you don't open the door, we're coming in!" She warned, adding a tone of annoyance to the bored officiating voice she was using. Just routine business, nothing special, just wanna talk, etc etc, fall for it you old coot!

"I'm coming, leave my damn door alone," A voice called out angrily, sudden shuffling heard inside, within a minute several locks could be heard being undone, each with deliberate slowness, then the door opened just a smidge, an older black man peering out distrustfully. "Whaddya want?" He bit out, showing no inclination that he'd let them in.

Eileen immediately paralyzed him, pushing the door open with a smirk, as the old man fell down on the floor with a loud thud. She winced slightly at the mental strain she suddenly suffered under, apparently super powered people were a lot more difficult to paralyze, she felt like she'd just finished a day working out. Weird, she wasn't as affected doing the same to mutants, so what was different?

She might have to ask her boss to let her conduct her own experiments on the man, she hadn't had much chance to experiment as a mercenary - when your life was on the line, you did the tested and true if you wanted to live.

She stepped in over the body, his eyes staring ahead in impotent rage and fear. The two men in the back were breaching through the back door at that moment, having heard the thud. Eileen immediately sent them to scour the house for any witnesses. A broken back door was no matter, perhaps it would even add to the confusion of what happened this day should anyone investigate.

Her men returned quickly, shaking their heads, nothing, as she'd suspected.

"Well that was easy, wasn't it, Isaiah?" Eileen said, crouching down, meeting his eyes with a crooked smirk. "And the best thing is… No ones going to even miss you." She ran a hand across his cheek, "A black supersoldier, who knew?" Her boss was very well informed, indeed. She'd have to warn Erik, who knows what information Hammer had on him.

And she'd have to keep an eye out… Because he might send Mystique to snoop, and whatever her feelings for them, she was Hammers for as long as he kept his end of the deal, so she wouldn't allow any spies, she would do her job, she had pride in herself, she would not allow any exceptions.

Her men put handcuffs on the paralyzed man, standing him up, dragging him out to the car, imitating an arrest. Once inside the car, they injected him with enough drugs to drop even an enhanced like him, and Eileen could finally let go, rolling her shoulders, "Almost felt like I went through it myself." She muttered, displeased.

Luckily Hammer was giving her plenty of opportunities to practice. Although she probably wouldn't get another super soldier. She'd have to ask really nicely for this one.

"Let's move out, no chances. Eyes on him, all the time." She barked, the cars setting in motion. She'd be on high alert until they got their target put away somewhere nice and cozy.

It would be a familiar setting for Isaiah Bradley.

＊＊＊

4 months later…

Justin was fairly annoyed, it had taken over four months to track this man down. He supposed he'd still managed decently as there were certainly other people tracking him with more vicious intent. And with better resources - as much as it galled him to say.

It was still incredibly annoying. Just as the man himself.

"Little Hammer! Been awhile, hasn't it boy?" Ulysses Klau called out cheerfully, a bib around his neck as he slobbered all over a bucket of crawfish, potatoes and corn.

Quite the difference from his meeting with Helen Cho in every aspect.

"The deep south, Klaue. Really?" Justin said disdainfully, wiping down the picnic table seat with a handkerchief, before sitting down opposite of the man, already annoyed with his smug smirk and filthy beard. Justin detested sloppiness.

Klaue guffawed, "Mate, ain't no one looking for me here, just a bit of a vacation, you see." He noisily sucked out the juices from the head of a crawfish, before offering it to Justin, an earnest look on his face.

"You've got to be kidding me." He said flatly. Rejecting it outright. Domino earned his ire by not being able to suppress a giggle behind him. Justin closed his eyes briefly, and took a deep breath, "Do we always need to do this song and dance, Klaue?"

Klaue looked at him innocently, "Not much of a dancer, mate," He pointed a crawfish at Domino and Phantazia, leering suddenly, "Unless it's horizontally, you willing to trade?" He gestured to the dark haired male mercenary who stood guard over him.

"Hardly seems a fair trade." Justin said dryly. He could feel Domino's eyes staring into the back of his head. Relax, woman, like I'd trade the golden goose, he scoffed internally. Phantazia on the other hand, seemed to be coldly amused as Justin glanced back at her, he'd expected her to be the offended one.

Klaue's eyes widened dramatically, "Hey, now? You not a poof? Learn something new everyday, ain't I always saying that, Marcus?" He slapped his guard on the butt, hard, the man had no reaction to it. "He's got those nice and firm buttocks for you, Hammer." He winked, an inviting smile on his face. Frowning when Justin wouldn't react, "I read you all wrong, Hammer, not often I do that." He chewed noisily on a piece of corn, drawing a wince out of Justin. "Whaddya want then? Another load of weapons fell off a truck, huh?"

"I'm here to make you an offer." Justin said cooly, trying his best to keep his actual cool. He absolutely loathed this man. Unfortunately he was very good at his job, which is why Justin had always used him as the go between for those 'lost' shipments of Hammer industries weapons going to less savory hands.

He'd never had the 'pleasure' so far, of meeting the man out the back of a whorehouse in the deep south. There was nothing about any of that sentence that made Justin happy.

Unfortunately the United States had borders leaky as a sieve, and criminals like Klaue could easily walk in and out whenever they pleased. And Justin would likely never find the man in any place that had an ounce of class anyway. But really, the deep south.

"I thought you said you weren't a poofter? Heh," Klaue joked, nudging his guard, "Mates gonna make me an offer I can't refuse, aye?"

"Can you take this seriously for one moment." Justin ground out between gritted teeth. Well aware of the clear amusement radiating off Domino and Phantazia behind him, they both took too much joy in seeing him irritated, lately. How he wished he could just order the damn man paralyzed and rip what he needed from his head.

Klaue bit off a crawfish head, spitting it out, eyeing Justin seriously, "But I don't take you seriously, Hammer, boy." He said slowly, leaning forward, a dark grin on his face, juices running down his beard. "Word is, you're going crazy, blowing all your dough on nothing."

"Does it matter as long as you get paid?" Justin said irritably, straightening his suit, feeling very out of place, especially with Klaue wearing only boxers and a filthy t-shirt. He pitied the whores - even they should get better standards than this.

"Suppose not." Klaue grunted, amusement shining in his eyes. "Long as you can still pay now, mind!" He pointed towards Justin with a potato, "I don't do IOUs." Klaue seemed surprised at seeing the potato in his hand, before shrugging, wiping it on his shirt before taking a big bite out of it.

Justin leaned forward, trying to mask his disgust with a look of anger. "How about fucking Tony Stark so bad, the pretentious man whore won't be able to sit down for a decade, that get your tiny limp dicks attention?" He sneered, glaring at the man. "Speaking your language enough now, you savage?"

Klaue laughed, spreading his arms wide, "My boy! All grown up now and everything. Brings a tear to my eye." He mimed wiping his eyes, drawing a twitch out of Justin. "Still say you're a poof, all this talk about fucking Tony fucking Stark." He chuckled, before slamming a hand down on the table, his mood suddenly switching, Klaue sneering furiously, "Money, that's what matters, money! If Tony Stark gets fucked that's a damn side benefit, but don't try and 'manage' me, boy. You can pay, and we'll play, or you can't…" Klaue smirked, eyes hard, "Ah, well. Let's hope you can pay, aye?"

Justin was well aware of the over a dozen men Klaue had around this locale. They would be useless if the man started something. Justin had something much more useful than bullets and muscles.

"You're exhausting." Justin said, after a moment of silence, "I'm here to make a deal, one that's pretty beneficial to you, actually."

"Oh, now you see, when people talk like that, what they really mean is they're gonna bullshit me." Klaue told his guard, shaking his head. His eyes finding Justin's again, a spark of anger in them, "I don't like bullshit, Hammer…"

"You love bullshit," Justin fired back with a sneer, he put his own hand on the table, grimacing as he felt something sticky, "You should listen to my offer before you cry about it."

Klaue laughed, "True, I do love some BS between mates," He grinned toothily at Justin, "So… Mate, enlighten me!" He spread his arms again, sticking his chin out, "You've got my undivided attention."

"I want all your Vibranium." Justin began, only to get cut off by Klaue.

"Not with the way you've been sinking your cash reserves, you can't afford it." Klaue said bluntly, his eyes narrowing, *What's your scam here, eh? These two ladies gonna what? Rough me up? Peg me?" He looked thoughtful for a moment, "I might go for that, just this once." Winking at Justin's subordinates.

"I don't want it now." Justin said, now beyond irritated, "In two years I'll have the ability to practically print money, I'll have the president of the United States as my bitch by then, I can get you money, weapons, a pardon even, if you want it." Justin slammed his hand down on the table, inwardly shivering at whatever sticky mess now covered his hand, that's what he gets for trying to imitate Klaue, "I can get you fucking diplomatic immunity even, if I push hard enough, even those Wakandan war dogs can't get on your ass easily then."

Probably… They were a little crazy about Vibranium.

Klaue leaned back, putting both his hands on his stomach, "You're more well informed then you were last time I saw you, boy." He glared at Justin, "I don't like that very much." He snorted suddenly, showing off his teeth in a vicious grin, "And I don't deal with idiots, you're offering me maybes and possibilities, what kind of fool, do you think I am!?"

"Like I said… I don't want it now. I just don't want you selling any of it until I buy it in two-three years. And I'm willing to compensate you, just for holding onto it until then." Justin growled out, having to resist the urge to have the man in front of him shot. The worst part was knowing the majority of it was an act, Klaue knowing exactly how to play someone, to make them give up more than they wanted. Even with it being an act, it still infuriated Justin - just as Klaue meant it to.

"Compensation is my favorite word, now use some other nice words, like what am I getting, exactly? To piss off any other potential customer?" Klaue said, eyes intent, now that they were down to the actual negotiation.

"An entire ghost production factory, the materials for two years of production. It's off the books, no government knows it exists, you'll have to staff it yourself, but you'll have free Hammer weaponry to sell for years to come." Justin had used this factory specifically for when he wanted to sell to people he'd go to prison for selling to. In a few years the weapons would be obsolete anyway - once he got really started - so it was no big loss.

"And I only stop selling Vibranium for two years, eh?" Klaue said, stroking his beard, looking tempted.

Justin had offered this exactly because he knew how hard it would be to turn down. Klaue would make tons of money having his own hidden production factory. The ones he usually used tended to be very temporary, and he eventually lost money on having to abandon them when Wakanda sniffed too closely.

"Three years." Justin countered, just in case he had a slow start in his technology revolution.

"Throw in a night with one of the ladies too, aye?" Klaue suggested with a dirty grin. The fact he'd stopped being such an argumentative asshole, indicated to Justin that he was going to accept. Not that any of them would even entertain his other suggestion.

"I somehow think they're not interested." Justin replied, eyes cold. "Do we have a deal, Klaue?"

"Alright, fine, I'll do it, if you can give me that factory within the month, I'll do my end of it." Klaue laughed, a pleased smirk spreading across his face, "I still say you'll be bankrupt before you can ever afford my Vibranium, boy!"

"We'll see," Justin said icily. "Phantazia, do it."

"What the fuck!" Klaue roared, as he was suddenly paralyzed from the waist down. "Kill them!" He snapped out to his men. Absolutely furious.

His guard snapped into attention, raising his assault rifle, but unluckily he slipped on one of the potatoes, slamming his head into the picnic table on the way down, knocking him out completely.

The only other two guards that were in immediate sight dropped their weapons, making exclamations of shock as their arms simply hung limply down their sides.

Before anyone else could react, or come running out of the whorehouse guns firing. Klaue regained feeling in his body, the black arms weapons dealer raising his hand to stop his men from firing, not that they could. His fiery eyes on Justin's. He didn't look so happy anymore. No more jokes or stupid hillbilly acts.

"Just a bit of a demonstration." Justin said, standing up, taking out a handkerchief to clean off his hand with a grimace, "If you fuck me on this, I will find you, and I'll let you live, as a paraplegic."

"Guess you have grown up, boy." Klaue growled, a hint of wariness on his face, and some measure of respect. "I still feel like it might be worth just shooting you right now…"

Justin just sneered at him, "Try it then… Do not make me come for you. Hold up your end, Klaue." He threatened, before he turned and walked away. He didn't even flinch as Klaue executed Marcus, the closest guard that had slipped and knocked himself out, roaring about his incompetence, calling for his other men to hurry up and pack up. He gave it a 50/50 chance the man would follow through on his promises. At least with the factory, he'd be able to find the man to extract his prize if he failed to hold up his end to keep all of his stock for Justin.

"What an unpleasant man." Phantazia muttered as she fell into step with him, Domino covering their rear just in case, guns out and ready.

Justin grunted, dissatisfied with that entire experience. "Once we have his Vibranium, he's no use to us alive."

"Oh, something to look forward to!" She replied, a pep in her step.

"Let's get out of here before someone fucks a cousin," Justin ordered, completely done with the whole day. Fucking deep south.

Fucking Klaue.

＊＊＊

"Sir, you wanted me to notify you if Justin Hammer did anything else, and I'm quoting you sir, 'Stupid and unusual'.

Tony Stark frowned, as he turned away from the schematics of the new missile he was working on, "What's up, Jarvis? What's the lazy man's poor imitation of myself up to?"

Jarvis presented everything to him on his screen, there was a lot of information, "I was not able to attain anything but basic information about these new corporate entities that drew sirs attention months ago, it would appear there is no information on them available. I was able to ascertain that Justin Hammer has now spent over 5 billion dollars in the last quarter on them, however I am yet to find a reason why."

Tony hummed thoughtfully, "Little Justin is playing it safe, probably only storing it on a closed system, no internet access. Unusually competent of him." He flipped through the holographic files, taking in all the information available at a glance, "Did I go on a bender and conveniently forget about sanity, Jarvis?"

"Yes, but that was yesterday, sir." Came the dry reply.

Tony would have made a joke of some kind, but he was stuck in the puzzle of what kind of drug Hammer was on, because none of this made sense. He was bleeding money but appeared to not be actually doing anything with it. From a business standpoint it was madness. If he was investing, then by now there should be a sign of something happening. Jarvis not finding anything was not something Tony was used to. Hammer was usually boring and predictable, what was going on?

"Jarvis, keep digging into Hammer, my business senses are tingling." Tony said, pushing the matter away, Jarvis would find whatever it was eventually, he had some wonderful science to do. It was not like Hammer was a threat to him anyway. He just couldn't get on his level. And the man might have had a psychotic break or something, the way he was running his business right now.

"That might be the lack of sleep and the uppers that you're feeling, sir."

"Don't be sassy with me, Jarvis, I'll ground you!" Tony called out, taking a sip of coffee, before violently retching, that had not been coffee in that coffee cup!

"Sir, that is motor oil, it is not a beverage." Jarvis said drolly.

"Shut up Jarvis."

＊＊＊

Justin picked up the phone, back in his office after months of traveling across the world. It was time to set the stage for conquering the world. Not the plebeian way, with arms and blood and out in the open for all to see and take a stand against. No, he'd do it the proper way, with money, favors and blackmail, visible still, certainly - but only a fraction of what really would be going on to be seen on the surface - the rest buried in the shadows.

The call is picked up on the other end after a few rings, "I don't usually accept anonymous calls, this better be important…" A smooth voice answered on the other end, only a hint of annoyance filtering through.

"Randall, how is my favorite chief of staff!" Justin said with faked cheer, leaning back in his chair, "How's governor Ellis doing? A little birdie told me he might be looking to upgrade…." He tsked loudly, "I'm a little bit hurt you're calling me of all people anonymous…"

Absolute silence meets him from the other end of the line, Justin rolled his eyes, a chief of staff should be more adaptable and on the ball then that, he'd never make it as White House chief of staff with that reaction time."Randall, come now, no need to be shy." He drawled, "You don't become chief of staff for a governor with presidential ambitions and not know my number."

He was constantly being bombarded by staffers from this politician and that one, all vying for his money or a possible investment in their area to drum up votes. For all that he was a weapons manufacturer, even the most hardcore liberal Democrats that demanded the constitution be revised to ban guns - still came begging, hat in hand. Something he'd always found amusing. He couldn't care less which side of the aisle someone was on, as long as they could be used.

Justin would have preferred going with another candidate for president, to be honest, Ellis was just not a very inspired choice. But somehow the man did win, twice. In the midst of alien invasions and SHIELDRA and everything else. So Justin would have to make do. Trust America to continuously elect the worst person running - a charming societal trait. He'd take a run himself if it just didn't sound so absolutely tedious.

Imagine having to be polite to little shit holes like Sokovia, for appearances and diplomacy - when they could simply say do what we say, or else - waving a big stick. And see them fall in line, well the government anyway, rebels all over don't really seem to have a mindset able to predict consequences.

"This is my burner phone, Hammer. You shouldn't have this number." Came the sharp and reluctant reply. Justin rolled his eyes, welcome to the real world, he thought sarcastically.

"A burner phone, Randall? Someone's being naughty." Justin mocked lightly, swiveling in his chair, already bored with this conversation.

A deep sigh was heard over the line, "What can I do for you, Hammer?"

Justin put his feet up on his desk, one hand typing on his laptop, sending instructions to Bakshi, so that he wouldn't die of boredom while having to deal with political drones. "I hate to be cliche, but it's more of what I can do for you. Or specifically, the governor." Justin answered, leaving it enticingly open ended.

"Governor Ellis has not made a decision on whether to run for the presidency." Randall droned out, well practiced, very well rehearsed. So utterly boring.

"That's a dying shame," Justin drawled lazily, while rolling his eyes, even people that didn't follow politics knew he was going to run, they were just wasting donors' time by pretending otherwise."I was going to put together a little superPac. As a friendly favor, to help the good man along."

"....What exactly are we talking about here?" Randall said slowly, trying to remain aloof, but Justin could practically hear him salivating already. Poor people were so predictable. Wave some dollar bills in front of them and they'd immediately put on a performance.

Congress was nothing but a very high paid strip club.

He would have done the same, working the shitty jobs he and in another life, pride only took you so far, after all. And now he could take advantage of those levers even better having both sides of the coin. He had better understanding of how to manipulate and understand people now, not that politicians counted amongst those hard to figure out.

Justin continued to type instructions to Bakshi, only half paying attention to the phone call, "Oh, I figured 100 million…" He paused to let that sink in, a smirk developing on his face, "To start."

"What do you want, Hammer? Even in the White House we wouldn't be able to give you contracts ahead of Stark, that's a non-starter." Randall said bluntly, the lure of the money was not enough to completely scramble his political acumen. Dumping Stark, as he was right now, was not politically viable right now in a NRA controlled Congress. Sure they called themselves Republicans, but the NRA wrote the checks. And they really liked Stark weapons, and of course the military industrial complex owned about as many congressmen as the NRA did, or more - as there was much overlap - and they were all in Stark's corner as well, for now.

They'd be all his soon enough, and he wouldn't even have to lift a finger. Stark would hand them over to him on a silver platter.

Justin chuckled wryly, "Randall, Randall," He clicked his tongue, amused, "Not everything is about Stark." He chided, "The man will spiral eventually, and one day you'll come begging for me to take over SI's weapons contracts."

Justin could practically hear the silent skepticism on the other line. "You're hurting my feelings here, Randall." He drawled, glancing at the laptop monitor, typing a quick answer, "I'm willing to bankroll your man into the big chair, I'm a reasonable man, here."

"The governor is a reasonable man as well, Hammer." Randall said slowly, "What exactly do you have in mind, if not weapons contracts?" The brass tacks of politics, what do you want? and what can I get? Justin loved it, because it made people so easily bought.

"I have a little interesting thing, that is going to be a very big thing." Justin said measuredly, "The patent office can be so boorish however, wanting plans, specs and all of that proprietary information that I just can't have floating around."

"You want to spend 100 million so that Ellis can give you a patent?" Came the disbelieving voice on the line.

Justin was sure his predatory smile came through in his voice, as he replied, "Randall, I'll completely revamp the energy sector with this, I can't have anyone touch the tech, either a competitor or anyone capable of hacking into the patent office, it needs to stay in house."

There's a sharp indrawn breath, with silence for a few minutes, before the chief of staff of the future president of America answered. "Hammer… I need to know that you're not full of shit on that…"

"If you've got investments in the oil industry, I'd suggest divesting, now." Justin said smugly, "I'm spending my entire fortune and the future of the company on this, Randall." He continued seriously, "I'm absolutely sure. And Ellis can reap all the benefits…" Justin let that trail off for a moment before finishing, voice hard. "If you play ball."

He needed an executive order that would put his patents under his own supervision only - due to national security - with his company allowed to enforce it. That way no one could touch it, or steal it, unless they got it from him. And he'd certainly make that a foolhardy venture. More difficult than breaking into the patent office certainly. It would also allow him to go after anyone using the tech… Or make them pay him for the pleasure (The look on Stark's face alone…) Either way, having the president's ear afterwards would still be useful as well - he'd certainly find something for the man to be of use for.

"I'll have to speak to him… I personally don't see an issue in your request." Randall said carefully, "It's certainly within a president's capabilities, and wouldn't draw too much negative attention. We'd just place it under the umbrella of national security." He mused out loud, seemingly more attuned to the idea the more he thought it out. "I'll get you an answer by tomorrow, Hammer."

"Don't wait too long, I'm a friendly guy, you know? "Justin said casually, "I can be friendly with someone else too. I need a president, not necessarily your president." He'd offered the carrot, but the best way to not be taken advantage of, is to demonstrate you have a stick ready at any time as well.

".... Understood," The answer came begrudgingly, almost like the man disliked being threatened, why was he even in politics? How did Ellis win with such an inflexible man as his chief of staff? "Just make sure you can deliver, or we'll both look like fools…" Randall said with an undercurrent of discomfort, obviously still harboring some skepticism.

Justin looked to the monitor, where the glowing words of his executive assistant's latest reply shone.

I've found Ivan Vanko.

Justin grinned widely, "Don't worry, the delivery of my vision isn't in any doubt."

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