"Pandemonium for Trask Industries tonight folks, as inventor Boliviar Trask, has gone missing during a vicious attack that has left several dead and more injured-" The background footage cut away to show the scene of the factory. Smoke still billowed from the control tower as emergency services tackled fires and cleared rubble.
"-After what appears to have been an attack to distract the Sentinel Prototypes and security, the prototypes appeared to fail and the systems shut down. The main offices exploded." G.Gordon turned to face the new camera as the angle changed. "Since the attack we have been receiving continued and escalating reports of Trask technology and software shutting down or malfunctioning without warning all across the globe. In the interest of public safety several airlines have cancelled and grounded all flights until backup systems are in place and activated-"
Gordon paused as he put his hand to his ear and turned away fron the camera. "And now we go live to a statement from Trask Industriesr."
The visual switched to that of a podium in a hangar. A spokesperson stood there, specks of dust and what was possibly blood on his usually pristine suit. A bandaid on his temple.
Given the go-ahead off screen, The man shuffled his cards awkwardly. His usual attempt at charm and charisma that had made him a meme all over the internet, absent. "Good Afternoon-" His voiced was cracked and broken as if he had been shouting. "-due to the severity and the changing nature of events I will be reading from cards [i]only[/i]-" He stared down the camera. An unusual forcefulness about him.
"-I ask that you all keep your questions for another time. At approximately twelve hundred hours, local time, the War Machine suits were active in an Artificial Intelligence flight test. Several assailants interupted the test and engaged in combat with the prototypes. The prototypes were successful however shortly after the control tower hosting myself, Tony Trask and several others was caught in an explosion. At this time Tony Trask is still missing, his body not found amongst the dead-" He coughed, clearing his throat. Reaching for a glass of water his hand raised it, unsteady.
Sipping from the glass he placed it back, clearing his throat once again before continuing. "Since the explosion many of Trask Industries, Enterprises and Technologies systems and software has been shutting down. As of yet, we cannot find the cause but are urging caution in the interest of public safety. As soon as I am done here, I will personally be overseeing our efforts to track down the cause of the system malfunction-"
Hammer continued with muted sound as he shrunk on the screen till he was in a small box hovering in the studio. "System Malfunction? Is that really the best Hammer and the Pee-Arr people at Trask can come up with? System Malfunction?! Planes grounded, peoples cellphones and work computers shutting down."
Godfrey twisted as he turned for the camera, a smug look on his face. "Now I'm no expert, but when one of the smartest men in the country goes missing making the next innovation in defensive technology for our boys in the military, and all his computer systems mysteriously start shutting down well-" He shrugged. "-well I'd be getting the C.I.A involved. Don't forget, Obadiah Stane is still hospital bound, in a coma after he was shot. Now if this isn't espionage, then I guess my word means nothing."
"There was a time I thought staying inside the system was the way to enact change, but science and advancement suffers on the whim of politicians, bureaucrats and the one percent-" The man stroked his moustache, then chuckled to himself before turning and placing a hand on his patients chest.
"No offense intended ofcourse my dear boy. You are but a symptom of the sickness."
The man picked up a remote, hitting the on button a wall of monitors activated. They showed a man made of stone trying to put out a flaming trenchcoat in New York, one in blue in red lifting up an overpass in metropolis, one with a flaming skull dispensing the most raw justice imaginable and various other superheroics and natural abilities.
"I've seen the future. You're on the right path, but the world of the Mutant is only part of the problem-" The screens changed. War, strife, politics, poverty. "The human condition has become cancerous. I have seen the future, and with your help I can change it."
Turning back around he walked very deliberately over to the bed his guest was restrained on.
"What do you say Trask, care to save the world?
Boliviar winced as the tape that had held his mouth closed was forcefully ripped off. He leaned forward and spat. "You talk too much, go to hell.