Iron Moon! – By DS Wynne
Disclaimer: "Sailor Moon", "Iron Man" and other properties belong to their respective owners.
Note: This is an alt-genre story.
Author's note: Sorry for the delay on this latest addition. Also, this chapter is transitional only, so it might be on the dry side. C&C are always welcomed.
Part 3
At a military proving ground, Tony Stark—multi-billionaire industrialist and genius—observes the proceedings.
"Tony, are you sure you want to do this?" asked Lt/Colonel Rodney Rhodes, who was attached to Stark as a military liaison, and who was also his close friend.
Tony turns to Rodney.
"What do you mean?"
"I know you wanted to work with Usagi one more time before she and her mother return to Japan…but don't you think that this is a bit much?"
At the moment, "Iron Moon" was putting the latest upgrade of her armor through the paces. And example of this is the first phase of the test: flight control during a combat situation.
"I don't know about that," Tony says, as he turns to face the monitors. "I just wanted to make sure that Usagi is taking care of."
"But with LIVE ordinances?"
"Look, Usagi proved herself capable of handling herself as a member of the Avengers. Yes, she is only…fourteen years old, but I have faith in her."
"Huh. Just make sure that the child welfare people don't get word of this."
"You know what Rodney? You can be a REAL killjoy."
"Hey, you pay me to be honest with you."
"I thought we were friends."
"We are, but I happen to be on the clock, so to speak."
"…"
"Sirs?" says a technician. "Iron Moon is making her approach."
"Thanks," Tony says. "At least SOMEONE will appreciate me."
Rodney simply rolls his eyes.
Meanwhile, Iron Moon is flying over the designated target. Her latest armor was white with pink trim, and was now vaguely feminine. Also, the armor was thinner yet stronger, thanks to latest design in micro-fiber technology.
"This is Usagi," Usagi says, as she spoke on a secured channel in her helm. "Um, what am I suppose to do again?"
"We're inputting the targets on your targeting system," says the technician over the line. "You're breathing and heart rate is elevated. You need to calm down, or your power output will diminish."
"I understand, control. I just want to make Mister Stark proud."
"Don't worry about me, kid," Tony interjected over the line. "Just do your best."
"Th-thanks," Usagi says, as she goes into her dive.
BOOM!
Her sensors immediately pick up a rattle, which indicates the discharge of a canon. Using the thought-controls within her helm, she immediately took evasive action. As soon as the cannon round began to zoom by, Usagi grabs it.
"Urgh!" Usagi says, as she began to spin around, as she used the momentum to send the cannon round back to the source-
BOOM!
RAT-TATATATATATATATATAT-!
"Ah!" Usagi yelped in surprise, as flying drones began their attack run on their designated target: Iron Moon.
Usagi immediately lifts to a higher altitude, avoiding the line of attack in the process. She then rotates to face the departing drones. She points her palms at the drones.
"Moon Beam Repulse-"
"Negative on that, Iron Moon," said the technician over the secured line. "The 'Moon Beam Repulse' will not work on your target."
"Blast," Usagi says to herself, as the drones began to make their approach again. She then scans the surrounding area. She notices some acute topological differences within the surface below her.
"Got it," Usagi says, having come up with a plan of action.
Without further delay, Usagi took off at a high rate of speed. Predictably, the drones followed in hot pursuit. Just as the drones were about to lock on their target again, Usagi changed direction. Now, she was flying straight down, and picking up speed. The drones changed direction in tandem.
"Come on," Usagi says, as she went for terminal velocity. If her memory was correct, then the ground was her only salvation…
"Iron Moon, pull up!" yelled the technician.
"I…I know what I am doing," Usagi replied.
The drones followed close behind until-
THOOM!
Usagi drilled straight into the ground. The drones crash into the debris field, as rock explodes upward.
"Usagi!" Tony says, as he taps into the communication system. "USAGI, come in-!"
THOOM!
From a hundred meters away, Usagi burst out of…a mineshaft.
"Usagi, come in!"
"I'm here, Mister Stark," Usagi says. "I was just taking advantage of the fact that there was a mind shaft to deal with the drones."
"I'm glad that you are okay, but don't pull stunts like that without letting us know. Alright?"
"Yes, Mister Stark," Usagi replied meekly.
"Usagi, come on back to base," Rodney says over the line.
"Of…of course," Usagi says, as she headed home.
Rodney turns to Tony.
"She is more than willing to prove herself to you, you know," Rodney says.
"That's what I'm afraid of, Rodney," Tony sighed. "Maybe returning home for a while will do her some good."
"And the armor?"
"Will keep it here for now," Tony says. "However, I'm going to put a teleporter node on it, just in case she needs it."
"Why would she need it in Japan?"
"I don't know…giant monsters, perhaps?"
"…"
Sometime later, Usagi is suspended over an anti-gravity platform, while mechanical arms work to remove the pieces for evaluation and repair. Usagi herself wore a black body suit that had sensors interwoven into it. However, the chest area had the exposed node that glowed a soft blue.
"Good job, Usagi," Stark says, as he and the rest of the team enters the receiving area. "You're scores actually improved."
"Th-thank you, Mister Stark," Usagi says. "Those video games you gave me helped me…"
"Hey, I'm glad I could be of help. Banner, what's the verdict?"
Dr. Robert Bruce Banner, also known as 'The Hulk', was doing a preliminary examination of the armor. Although Banner's primary background was in "nuclear physics", he also had expertise in other areas like biology, chemistry, engineering and psychology. Stark had hired Banner as supervisor in the "Special Projects Division", though mainly to keep an eye on him…and his green-skinned alter ego.
"The new design is holding up, Mister Stark," Banner says. "I'll have the analysis done on it before Miss Tsukino leaves."
"You can call me 'Usagi', Doctor Banner," Usagi says.
"O-kay, then," Banner says. 'Usagi' it is."
Usagi smiled.
"Usagi, when you're done, go see Doctor Blake to get your final check-up," Stark says. "And then get cleaned up…I want to take you and your mother out to celebrate your birthday."
"R-Really?"
"Hey, I want to make sure your last days here in the 'States a memorable one."
Later that night, Usagi is looking out of one of Stark's numerous penthouse windows. She could see the New York skyline, as the Moon rises above the horizon.
CLICK!
Usagi turns around to see her mother Ikuko entering her room.
"Honey?" Ikuko says. "Why are you up?"
"I'm just…nervous about…home."
Ikuko enters the room in full, and sits on bed, and motions Usagi to sit beside her.
"Honey, do you…want to stay here?"
"I…I do, but I want to see Daddy with you and Shingo," Usagi replied, as she sits next to her mother. "I'm glad that he were found safe and all, but…"
"I know, dear. But your father needs us, after being held…by those people. So, please, be a good girl, okay?"
Usagi nods her head.
Ikuko goes into the hug her daughter, before kissing her on the forehead.
"Get some sleep," Ikuko says, as she releases her daughter and gets up. "We have a big day tomorrow."
After Ikuko leaves Usagi's room, Usagi sighs. She then touches the node that was now in the middle of her chest through her nightgown. She could see the blue glow through the fabric. Usagi was glad that the node was small enough to hide, but she still felt like a freak…
A week later, Usagi found herself walking down the street towards her new school of "Crossroads Middle School". It had been a year since she was home in Tokyo, but, given all that she has gone through during the past six months, Usagi felt a weird sort of…disconnect. Sure, she remembered her old haunts like the Starlight Arcade and her old school, but it was like remembering watching a movie or television show. Her mother was concerned about allowing Usagi to walk to school by herself, but she needed to take her father Ken to therapy that morning. So, after dropping Shingo off to school, Usagi went about her way-
"YOWL!"
"Let's mess with that cat again!" says one boy.
"Yeah!" says his friend.
Usagi frowned. She immediately went over to the boys, where she could see them picking on a stray, black cat with a bandage on it head.
"What are you two doing?" Usagi demanded.
The boys looked at Usagi. One them stood up.
"What's it to ya?" the boy said.
"What's it to ME? I'm the person who's going to flatten you…AND your friend!"
At this point in her life, Usagi knew how to take care of herself, thanks to being taught "Basic Self-Defense" from her teammate, Captain America.
The boys, upon seeing the look of determination on Usagi's face, begins to back up…
"BOO."
"Ah!" the boys screamed, as they scattered.
"Humph," Usagi says, as she smirked. She then looked down at the injured cat.
"You poor thing," she says, as she reached over to touch the cat. She then looked at the bandage on the cat's forehead. "What's this…?"
As Usagi removed the bandage, the mark underneath glowed…then flashed.
FLASH!
"Huh?" Usagi exclaimed, as she held her hand over her face to avoid being blinded. When the light subsided, the black cat was gone.
"Huh," Usagi says. "Chuck it as one of those mysteries, I guess…"
As Usagi continues on her way, she is unaware that she was being watched…
Tbc.
Next time: "Mercury Rising".