After replacing the palladium power core, Tony seemed to have returned to normal, but Rhodey had also noticed that something had been wrong with him earlier.
Just thinking about having a palladium power core that was smoking and charred installed inside his body made Rhodey shudder.
How long had Tony been doing this already?
"Colonel Rhodes, it seems Tony's physical condition needs further observation. I think he needs to get some proper rest."
Oaks glanced at the pile of monitors beside them. The information displayed on them concerned Ivan Vanko, the man who had attacked Tony in Monaco.
He quietly reminded Colonel Rhodes:
"In Tony's current state, there's nothing you can do...
Please stall for a few more days. We need to ensure his health first before discussing anything else, don't we?"
Rhodey instinctively wanted to say that he would find a doctor, but recalling Oaks's earlier performance, he fell silent for a moment and gave a slight nod.
"I'm counting on you, Oaks... S.H.I.E.L.D. truly has hidden talents everywhere. Even an environmental consultant is extraordinary."
S.H.I.E.L.D. stood behind Oaks, and Rhodey had heard that S.H.I.E.L.D. possessed certain special technologies that seemed almost unbelievable.
For example, the stealth fighter technology that even the U.S. Military coveted.
Thinking back on the strange details in Oaks's file, Rhodey had no choice but to reassess this "friend's friend."
"Don't worry, I will. At Tony's birthday party in a few days, you'll see a different him."
Naturally, Oaks was not foolish enough to explain in detail that he was not actually a subordinate of S.H.I.E.L.D., merely a collaborator.
If he had not been worried that Rhodey would misunderstand and think S.H.I.E.L.D. meant Tony harm, Oaks would not have minded using Nick Fury's name to make the military settle down.
Rhodey looked at Tony, who