Iron Man: Ultimate Upgrade

The roar of the engines in the military plane echoed in Tony's ears as he sat back, Yinsen beside him, both of them staring out of the windows into the endless sky.

Yinsen's eyes were wide, his gaze darting from the windows to Tony and back. He had witnessed Tony use the suit's full capabilities, along with an uncanny ability to merge materials in ways no normal human could. The destruction Tony had left behind was nearly impossible to grasp.

Tony could sense Yinsen's curiosity, but the older man hadn't spoken much since their escape. Everything had happened so quickly that Yinsen was still processing it. Deep down, Tony knew Yinsen was trying to figure out exactly who—or what—he was dealing with. A mutant? A machine? Or something else altogether?

Tony kept his eyes on the sky, his mind churning with plans. After rescuing Yinsen, he felt responsible for helping the man get on his feet. Stark Industries was the obvious choice.

"Yinsen," Tony finally said, breaking the silence, "what's next for you? You've been stuck in that cave for so long. You deserve a fresh start."

Yinsen hesitated, then looked at Tony. "I... I don't know what to think. What you've done—what you've become—is beyond anything I imagined. But I was just trying to survive, Tony. I never asked for this."

Tony allowed himself a small smile. "Neither did I. But it's where we ended up."

Yinsen's frown deepened. "How do you handle it? That power inside you. You didn't just build that suit—you became something else. What are you, Tony?"

Tony turned to Yinsen, his expression somber. "What I've become is partly my own creation—my intelligence, my abilities, and something I didn't ask for. Now I'm in control, and no one's taking that away from me again."

New York

The plane began its descent toward the familiar skyline of New York City. Tony could feel the weight of the world awaiting him there. People had assumed he was gone or possibly dead, but here he was, returning home. And he was no longer the man who had been captured in the desert.

After the plane landed, Tony shook Rhodey's hand firmly. "Thanks for everything, buddy. I owe you one."

Rhodey smirked and patted Tony's shoulder. "Try not to pull a stunt like this again, Stark."

Tony chuckled. "No promises. We'll catch up soon."

Rhodey left to handle the debriefings, leaving Tony and Yinsen to take a waiting car. The ride to Tony's mansion was quiet. Yinsen stared at the bustling streets and towering buildings, clearly in awe.

When they reached the Stark estate, the gates swung open to reveal Pepper Potts waiting by the entrance. She looked torn between relief and frustration as she walked quickly toward Tony.

"Tony ! You—" she began, then stopped abruptly when she saw Yinsen. Her expression softened.

"Surprised?" Tony said, giving her a teasing grin.

Pepper let out a breath, her posture relaxing a bit. "You have no idea how chaotic things have been. The company, the media, your stocks—everything's been in an uproar since you disappeared."

Tony reached out to gently tap her chin up with his finger, his voice turning light. "Aw, you missed me."

Pepper rolled her eyes, but a slight blush crept into her cheeks. "Don't flatter yourself too much. I'm just relieved you're not lying in a ditch somewhere."

Tony laughed, shooting her a quick wink. "I'm glad to see you too, Miss Potts."

He turned and gestured to Yinsen. "This man saved my life. I want him settled in the U.S. Give him a meaningful position at Stark Industries, make sure he has everything he needs."

Pepper nodded right away. "Of course, Mr. Yinsen. We'll arrange everything for you."

Yinsen bowed politely. "Thank you, Miss Potts."

Tony patted Yinsen's shoulder. "We'll talk more later, okay? Get some rest."

As Yinsen headed inside with one of the assistants, Tony lingered with Pepper for a moment,he gave Pepper a roguish grin. "You know, you really do look good when you're worried about me."

She shook her head, but he caught a slight smile before she turned away. "You're incorrigible, Tony. Come on, let's go inside. You've got a lot to catch up on."

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After a quick shower and a change of clothes, Tony slipped into his bedroom. He lay back on the bed, hands folded behind his head, staring at the ceiling.

He had two primary goals: strength and power. Strength could grow indefinitely through his enhanced body and continually evolving technology. But real power—the kind that changed nations—required more than personal might. It called for influence.

He needed full control over Stark Industries.

Right now, he held around forty percent of the company's shares. Too many board members and investors held sway over decisions. If he wanted to shape the future on his terms, he needed to literally own it.

He needed more shares.

A plan began to form in his mind, one that would guarantee his dominance over the company that bore his name. If he was going to remake the world into the image he now envisioned, he had to start at the top.

Yet his ambitions went beyond corporate strategies. He wanted to push his suit and his abilities far past their current limits. The Mark II was a fine start, but there were other advanced technologies waiting to be tapped—technologies that could make him nearly unstoppable.

He remembered his past life's memories about Wakanda. He knew exactly what lay hidden there: advanced technology and Vibranium, the versatile metal powering the Black Panther's gear. If he could obtain even a fraction of Wakanda's nanotech and Vibranium, his armor would become legendary.

Leaving his bedroom, Tony headed down to his private lab. He called out, "Jarvis."

A calm, computerized voice responded, "Yes, sir?"

"Pull up all available information on mutants," Tony said.

"Right away, sir," Jarvis replied.

An hour later, Tony examined the data. Trask Industries had begun developing Sentinels to capture and control mutants. It was only 2008, and these mechs were still prototypes, barely viable against powerful mutants. Yet the concept behind them was intriguing. If they involved genetics from Mystique, who could shapeshift, or Rogue, who could absorb abilities, Tony wanted that data for himself.

He understood the world he lived in was an alternate timeline. Events like a Cuban Missile Crisis involving mutants hadn't happened here. But the factions still existed: Magneto's Brotherhood, promoting mutant supremacy; Sebastian Shaw's Hellfire Club, gaining influence through politics and wealth; and Charles Xavier's X-Men, defending a more hopeful vision of coexistence.

If Trask was truly researching the integration of Mystique's or Rogue's genes into Sentinel prototypes, Tony needed to see it firsthand. Merging his Upgrade ability with such adaptive DNA could take him to a whole new level.

With a satisfied grin, he shut off the holographic display. Tomorrow, he would begin acquiring more shares to secure complete control of Stark Industries. Not long after, he would venture onto a bigger stage—exploring Wakanda's secrets and studying Sentinel technology for hidden advantages.

He knew the world wasn't ready for his plans. That was too bad for them. As Tony drifted off to sleep, he let a triumphant feeling wash over him.

He was alive, free, and more powerful than ever. And he intended to enjoy every minute.