DC Heroes in Marvel

Jonah Jameson turned on the TV and saw that every channel was broadcasting the same news.

The Black Gorge, located at the junction of Nevada and Arizona, had experienced a sudden earthquake, causing one side of the mountain to collapse. 

The tremor had a minor effect on the Hoover Dam, but nothing significant.

The news displayed images of the Hoover Dam after the earthquake. The side that once towered high had completely sunken, leaving a massive circular pit.

A group of troops stationed near the pit forbade outsiders from approaching but allowed reporters to take photos from a distance.

Most people around the world dismissed the event. There were no casualties in the earthquake! To them, it was just another natural disaster.

But Jonah Jameson saw things differently.

He was one of the few who knew the inside story. More importantly, he had learned something yesterday from the Secretary of Defense, John Keller. 

Inside the Hoover Dam, there was an alien that had fallen to Earth thousands of years ago.

Now, there was an earthquake. Coincidence? Not likely.

After all, why else would Batman and Cyborg visit the Secretary of Defense yesterday? According to Anton, they had run into some "minor situations."

Jameson scoffed at the understatement.

"It doesn't look like a small situation!" he muttered, recalling Anton's vague answers. It became clear that whatever Batman had to deal with alongside the Secretary of Defense was connected to this so-called "earthquake."

Even more concerning was Anton's comment yesterday: Batman was cooperating with aliens. The Justice League—or at least Batman—had something the aliens wanted. 

In exchange, the aliens were providing advanced technology to aid in the development of Wayne Enterprises.

"This world is becoming more and more incomprehensible," Jameson sighed, running a hand through his hair. He regretted knowing so much. The weight of knowledge was terrifying.

 "Ignorance is bliss," he muttered bitterly. Only now, in his later years, did he truly understand the meaning of that phrase.

Los Angeles

In his seaside mansion, Tony Stark met with his only real friend, Colonel James "Rhodey" Rhodes of the Air Force.

"Tony, you didn't call me here to show off your latest suit, did you?" Rhodey asked, eyeing Tony's casual attire. The faint traces of oil stains on Tony's clothes made Rhodey grimace in disgust.

"I'm cutting straight to the point," Tony said, ignoring the jab. His eyes locked onto Rhodey's. "What happened at the Hoover Dam yesterday?"

Rhodey frowned, caught off guard by the question. "What are you talking about?"

Tony leaned forward, his tone sharp and unyielding. "NBE-ONE, Batman, Autobots... Rhodes, don't tell me you don't know what happened there."

Rhodey's expression faltered.

Within the military, rumors about the Hoover Dam incident had already spread. It was no ordinary event, and the government's immediate involvement only confirmed its importance. 

Though there had been no direct combat, the military had gathered plenty of information, thanks to the ever-present politicians in the White House.

As a rising star in the Air Force and Tony Stark's trusted friend, Rhodey was privy to top-level intelligence. In fact, he had personally flown one of the first fighter jets dispatched to the site.

"Tony, how do you even know about this?" Rhodey asked, narrowing his eyes. "This is classified information."

Tony smirked. "I have my sources."

He crossed his arms, his tone shifting. "Rhodey, I'm very interested in those mechanical lifeforms. You must've found something in the rubble by now, right?"

When Tony mentioned "earthquake," his voice carried a deliberate weight, making it clear that he wasn't buying the official story.

Rhodey hesitated, glancing away before nodding reluctantly. "We did find something... but it's not as simple as you think."

Rhodey briefly explained the identity of the Transformers to Tony and then said, "Those Transformer corpses don't belong to the military. They're under the jurisdiction of Sector 7, an organization that ultimately reports to the White House. Whatever you plan to do, Tony, you'll have to deal with the politicians."

"Understood."

Tony stroked his chin thoughtfully. If this could be handled through the military, his good relationship with them and Stark Industries would make it a breeze. But going through the White House? That would be more troublesome.

Recently, many government officials had been pressuring Tony to hand over his armor technology for government management. 

They viewed his Iron Man suit as a tangible, reliable weapon—far more dependable than something like the super-soldier serum. The United States wanted to use the armor to bolster national defense.

Of course, whether it would actually be used for "defense" or as an "offensive" weapon was another story entirely. Regardless, those in power hoped Tony would relinquish control of his technology.

But Tony was unwilling.

The Transformers, however, piqued his curiosity. Tony believed he could use outdated armor tech—or even a full suit he no longer needed—as leverage to trade for one of the Transformers' corpses. 

It was an incredible opportunity; from Tony's perspective, the trade would be a steal.

He pondered carefully, weighing his options.

Suddenly, he winced in pain. His hand instinctively moved to his neck, and his expression shifted.

"Tony?" Rhodey noticed immediately. "You look off. Are you okay?"

"It's fine," Tony replied, though his brow furrowed slightly. "Let's wrap it up for today, Rhodey. I've got something to take care of."

Later, back in his lab...

Tony received the results of his blood test.

"Palladium poisoning..."

Standing in front of the mirror, Tony examined his reflection. His torso was bare, and his face darkened as he noticed the black lines spreading outward from his chest, where the arc reactor sat.

The realization hit hard, and his mood plummeted. What had been an intriguing day now felt like the weight of the world crashing down on him.

One Month Later – New York

At a Wayne Enterprises press conference, Jameson stood confidently on stage.

"Welcome, everyone, to today's press event," he said, smiling as he addressed the gathered media, business leaders, and officials. His tone was calm yet commanding.

"As we've been promoting, what Wayne Enterprises is introducing today is body regeneration technology—an epoch-making innovation. This is a miracle for the disabled, a true solution to physical impairments."

Jameson gestured to the side of the stage, signaling for someone to step forward. A man with fully intact limbs appeared. Though he looked slightly nervous, his face showed a mix of anticipation and excitement.

Behind Jameson, the large screen displayed an image of the same man, taken just one month prior. In the photo, he sat in a wheelchair, his legs completely missing. 

His expression then was one of hopelessness and despair—a stark contrast to the confident individual now standing before the crowd.

Gasps of amazement erupted from the audience as they connected the dots. The transformation was undeniable: this man had been reborn.

As the main demonstration began, the crowd buzzed with excitement. The implications of the technology became clear—it was not just theoretical; it was real.

Not everyone was pleased, however. Representatives from Oscorp sat in the crowd, their faces grim. In their eyes, this technology should have been their domain, their achievement. That the opportunity had slipped from their grasp was a bitter pill to swallow.

Jameson, however, remained unfazed. He knew that the development of limb regeneration technology would inevitably disrupt certain industries and rival companies. 

But for the Jameson family, it was a golden opportunity. The market was a vast and lucrative cake, and Wayne Enterprises was about to take the largest slice.

….

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