Inventor, businessman, ladies' man, and super hero. Gravely injured by an act of industrial sabotage, billionaire genius Tony Stark saved his own life by designing a life-sustaining shell - the hi-tech armor that transformed him into the invincible Iron Man! Today, the world thinks Iron Man is an employee - Tony Stark's personal bodyguard - and in this dual role, he faces corporate intrigue and super-powered menaces. He is a modern-day knight in armor, fighting injustice wherever it rears its head.
The Invincible Iron Man 2.0 "Man At War"
Scripted and Plotted by "Magnificent" Michael Edwards
Edited by Gary "G-Thing" Jones
Scowled at by the D-hate Cru
Note: Iron Man is the sole property of Marvel Entertainment. These stories are written for fun and not profit. Hope you enjoy them.
Seattle, Stark's private estate...
Deep inside the depths of Stark's personal lab, a lone light shared a silent vigil. Ever watchful of whatever dangers or intruders that may try to break in and steal the secrets of one of the most brilliant minds of mankind. As Anthony Stark, the owner of the estate came down the steps from a fresh shower; the luminescence from the security scanners bathed him in its queer light. After a few moments, the security program recognized its weary creator and granted him access. Stark ran a delicate hand across the smooth touch-tone monitor and waited for its feminine audible response.
"Accessing Stark Personal Log...Entry 2314."
"Run."
"My latest effort on finding a cure for the mysterious Ironhorse computer virus has failed. As of this recording, most of the western states are without power and are slowly boiling into a panicked hysteria. The virus's origins are still unknown. The most likely conclusion is that whoever created the deadly computer virus was indeed a genius of an unsung caliber. He has created a program that acts as a self-aware artificial intelligence programmed with survival instincts, pre-programmed mission objectives, and adaption sub-routines. Every time the anti-virus programs attacked, they end up faltering under the virus's adaption ability. I must find another way to get rid of this viral program before innocent lives are lost."
"Computer, new personal log entry 2315 -- initiate," Stark said as laid out a pair of clothing.
"Whatever you desire Tony, darling."
"It's 2420 hours and after a refreshing shower I'm ready to begin in earnest, with hope that the results will be more rewarding this time. Iron Man's time in and out of armor has been divided between patrolling the western area and seeking an end to this digital madness. "
Stark slipped into a comfortable pair of black slacks and a white pocket T-shirt. He brought up the cyberspace probe, which showed the virus in action. His eyes widened with horror as he saw how massive the Ironhorse had grown in the short span of time. It was now roughly entrenched in every program save his own systems. Stark realized that his probe would quickly become a carrier to send the virus into his systems so he quickly terminated the connection. After a few quick keystrokes, the probe detonated leaving no other trails for the virus to follow or so he thought. A quick analysis on his computer systems showed a mild contamination in his systems.
"Damn, it must have piggy backed along the probe's self-destruct frequency!"
Stark got up and started shutting everything down save his armor was which self-sufficient. Its powers systems ran solely on a beta pulse generator crafted after his latest experiments in creating a new sufficient energy source for the world. A momentary look of sour defeat glazed his sleep worn features. He tried to think of another way to combat this new menace, but came to realize he needed insight from the creator to find a cure.
Mewing over this temporary defeat, the tired inventor retreated to his private bedroom to engage the problem again in the early morning. Upon departing, his computer systems came to life and started an extensive search on Stark's background through his own personal records. Weird symbols appeared on the touch-tone monitor and Stark's very own fingerprints were used to hack into his armor's shield basin. The shield basin was a cybernetic crept that was used to store the armor as well as prevent it from being tampered with outside of Stark himself. The shield basin's own encryption codes rejected the variable passwords and went into complete shutdown mode to prevent viral corruption, leaving Stark effectively armor less.
The next afternoon...
Awaking the next afternoon, the refreshed armored adventurer had quickly found that he had overslept. Despite how good it felt to be well rested, he wanted to get an early start on finding the creator of the Ironhorse virus. Swiftly climbing out of bed, Stark put on the clothes he laid out before retiring last night then made his way downstairs. Yet, what awaited him below was extremely shocking as he found his entire lab had been reduced into spare parts for some kind of morbid construction that was being done on his workbench. As Stark drew close, he recognized the form of half way completed Ultron resting on the workbench. Making a quick decisive action, he silently made his way across the room to the shield basin were he attempted to access his armor, but found it locked. Pressing his thumb to the finger print reader, Stark hoped to access his armor because it looked like he would need it.
"Halt," came an emotionless command.
Stark turned to find the Ultron standing upright on its own legs. Its chest was still incomplete and it barely had any working functional weapons. Stark eased against the shield basin, letting it complete its scan while he stared eye to electronic eye with a monster of his friend's creation.
"What are you doing here, Ultron? I thought you were destroyed...not that means much concerning you."
"I require sanctuary."
"You're joking? You have to be."
"I am not."
"You think that for one minute that I will give you sanctuary after everything you have done?"
"...No. I had anticipated your reluctance which is why I have brought a bargaining chip."
"You can't bribe me Ultron! I'd rather see you scraped for ev..."
Stark paused as Ultron showed him his digital essence. The billionaire genius couldn't believe his very eyes, for right in front of him was the proof that Ultron was a living being albeit mechanical one, and from he could discern this twisted mechanical life form. Stark turned away with his thumb still on the scanner. His head cocked to the side as Ultron sat himself back down on the bench.
"This...changes nothing. You're not alive so it doesn't matter if you die."
"I understand your reasons for wanting to see me dead. Not that I condone them."
"You bastard! What do you get to condone? You have killed countless people and committed atrocities that will cause nightmares for god knows how many generations!"
"..."
"You have nothing to say for yourself, do you?"
"My only goal is to eradicate humanity and replace them with machines who will not have such impurities that mankind does. Is that not a task worth fighting for? You and the Avengers fight battles that never end. Countless lives are lost and damage is wrought. However, with us machines we are simply incapable of such violent emotions. We only do what is logical."
"The ever mighty infallible. You are full of shit, Ultron."
Ultron cocked his head trying to understand the meaning just as the shield basin opened. Ultron rose quickly and deftly, but it was not fast enough to halt the transformation that took place. Energy swirled Stark's form as the collapsible pieces of his armor were transited from the shield basin into place around his body. The energy field constricted and drew the pieces together to form the hi-tech armor that made Stark virtually invincible. A full readout on Stark's retina let him know that all systems were highly active.
"So, do we fight now Ironman and you end my twine existence? Is this the destiny? To die at my lowest ebb?"
"I won't kill you yet until you tell me how to stop the Ironhorse virus."
"I have nothing to do with that virus."
"What?"
"How do you think I could create a virus that is tearing me apart?"
Stark paused for a moment before mentally activating his armor's AI.
"System diagnostic -- full scan on armor mainframe and that of Stark computer systems in unspecified Ultron unit."
"Processing...mild contamination in all available armor systems. Ultron unit possesses severe contamination to all Stark incorporated systems. Require system purge and reboot before commencing."
"..."
"As you can see. I am dying from the virus that has now enter your armor's systems and not too long from now I will cease to exist."
"I'm not entirely convinced of your innocence. You could have tainted yourself as a way to get something from me."
"You know better than most that my only goal is mechanical perfection. There is nothing you have that I require."
"I guess this means we have come at a in prompt passé understanding."
"Yes we have."
"Just understand one thing Ultron. Once we are finished, I'm going to turn you to scrap."
"As I would expect of you. But do not be surprised of my actions should we succeed."
The two went to work on the dilemma before them. One of the world's most brilliant minds teamed up with the most brilliant artificial mind. Together they hoped to stop a virus that if not impeded, would bring the world crashing down on its ears. Side by side, they were enemies with conflicting goals, but together they were a force to be reckoned with.
After countless hours of research and trial and error experiments using cobbled parts of Stark's armor and Ultron's cyber ware. The two were ready to start their first run of the anti-virus program they developed. Stark sat aside what was left of his armor and waited for Ultron's diagnosis.
"The program is ready," Ultron said.
"You realize that your digital essence will be reformatted and you could end up a blank slate."
"I am aware of that eventuality."
"I can happily say that I won't miss you."
"The feeling is mutual. Let us begin."
Stark switched on the small device and Ultron's entire system flushed with a purple light as the anti-virus program reached out through his system and into the internet to eradicate the Ironhorse virus. At first, it seemed to have no effect, but then slowly the virus began to crumble under the complex assault. Stark watched as his systems hummed to life and the symbols disappeared from his touch-tone monitor. As he turned to face Ultron, the mechanical monstrosity's hand clasped his throat and started to squeeze tightly.
"It seems our joint effort has worked. Congratulations are in order for the help you administered. With out your aid I would not have been able to halt the virus that entered my system when I attempted to enter the Pentagon database."
"Urk…you are responsible. I knew it," Stark said he gasped for whatever remaining breath he had.
"Yes and no. I was attempting to infiltrate your country's database and unleash their nuclear arsenal on the Russians."
"With their counterattack wiping us out as the attack takes them out."
"Indeed. However, there was a virus designed to ward off such an approach after Vision's stunt. The virus merged with a portion of my artificial conscience and developed into an out of control epidemic. Now that I have no need for you I shall kill you quickly."
Stark clenched his gloved hand into a fist thereby activating the failsafe he had installed into the anti-virus's program that the recovering Ultron had yet to notice. The mad robot let him go and started to pulsate brightly.
"Consider yourself terminated, Ultron," Stark hissed with his hoarse voice while he rubbed his throat.
Ultron's robotic form melted into slag right before the ironclad champion and with the defeat of the virus and his former unlikely ally. Stark breathed a sigh of relief.