As Rhodey and Arthur blasted through the sky in their suits. Arthur felt almost like a kid again. He was ready to make Rhodey proud. With his help, Arthur quickly mastered the flight capabilities of the suit. He maneuvered around Rhodey in his somewhat bulky War Machine suit. Arthur breached a nearby cloud and performed a backflip back down into it.
"Damn showoff." Rhodey said through their in-suit communications, and laughing with Arthur. "You're doing great kid. You've almost mastered the whole flying thing. Tony would've liked you, maybe almost as much as Peter."
"I'll make you both proud yet, Rhodey." Arthur said
"Well tell you what, I'll be proud when we get to the weapons training, and speaking of which, I'm gonna land back at the cabin, meet me whenever you're ready." Rhodes said.
Arthur assured his mentor that he wouldn't be long, the continued to fly around the seemingly endless blue sky. After a while he decided it time to return to the cabin. He told Brianna to set course for Stark cabin.
Arthur landed on the concrete of the driveway feet-first with a metal clank.
"Well what do ya think Rhodey? I learn pretty fast huh?" Arthur said with a laugh.
"Yeah, you learn fast that's for sure. But can you use those weapons?" Rhodes said.
"Set me up Rhodey. Let's do this!" Arthur said.
Rhodey has set up a mock scenario for Arthur to test his newfound weaponry. Arthur jumped right in, firing blast after blast, missiles flying and punches connecting.
"I'm impressed, kid. The suit is yours, if you want to upgrade it or repair it or anything. Just come back here, at least until we get you a workshop made. I got one last gift for you to." Rhodey said he walked off and cane back shortly after with four blueprints.
"These are the plans to build three new suits. The Mark XVII, the "Heartbreaker" as Tony called it. It can be made as a whole different suit or upgraded from the Mark XI. The Mark XXIV, is a separate upgraded suit from the Heartbreaker, pretty much this is gonna be your heavy hitter, or your tank. Details in the blueprints. Now finally, one of Tony's favorites, the Mark XLVI." Rhodey said handing three blueprints to Arthur.
"Thank you Rhodey. I'll make them one day. But what about the last one?" Arthur asked.
"Well, at first I was gonna give it to you but, I figured that you'll get the suit when you're ready." Rhodey said. "Sorry son."
"I understand, well, I don't exactly have anywhere to go. I used everything I had to get here."
"Tell you what, you can stay here until Pepper comes back, then we'll see what she says, and within a few months the New Avengers facility should be done in Pennsylvania." Rhodes said, looking at his student.
Two weeks later.
Arthur was in the workshop, welding and repairing the Mark XI. Rhodey was out of the cabin in a meeting with S.H.I.E.L.D. about who was going to lead and recruit for the New Avengers. Then at a moments notice red flashing lights went off and sirens alerted Arthur to a television screen. The screen showed a headline from a newsflash. It stated that an unknown assailant was destroying uptown New York. The only footage that was shown was of a white silhouette. Arthur looked at his suit. He thought for a moment. It didn't matter how long he was training, people were in danger, and he was not going to stand by.
Arthur put down and turned off everything in the workshop, he jumped into his suit and took off through the exit tunnel designed for armors. He got out into the sky and wasted no time preparing.
"Brianna, you there?" Arthur asked his A.I.
"Yes sir, what do you need?" She responded.
"Run a systemwide diagnostic check, make sure everything in the Mark XI is working perfectly."
"It will be done." She said, moments passed and Brianna came back, stating that every system was nominal.
"Ok I need you to do me one more thing, Bri." Arthur said.
"Yes, Arthur, what is it?"
"Call Rhodey for me."
Arthur looked ahead of him and on the horizon he could see the outskirts of New York. Just then he heard Rhodey answer the phone.
"Uh, hey buddy, so did you see the news?" Arthur said.
"Yeah I saw what's happening in New York, but I can't leave this conference, and you still don't have enough time under your belt." Rhodes said firmly.
"Yeah about that..." Arthur said.
"Arthur you are not ready yet, you turn around and get back to the cabin." Rhodey said.
"I'm sorry Rhodey but I can't. I don't know who or what that is, but I do know that it's hurting people. And I'm not gonna stand by and let that happen." Arthur said then abruptly ending the call.
Arthur reached the city by now. He could see buildings on fire and a path of wanton destruction. He looked in one of the buildings and found a young boy trapped in a room by debris.
"Hey buddy!" Arthur said getting his attention. The boy immediately started crying and begging for help.
"Hey, hey, hey. That's what I'm here for, I'll have you out in no time." Arthur assured the child.
Arthur pulled the rebar and concrete apart long enough for the boy to crawl through. Arthur picked him up and flew in to the ground. The boy gave him a smile through his tears. However it was briefly lived, he looked over Arthur's shoulder and ran away screaming in fear.
"Well, well, well." A woman's western accented voice said. "Ain't you just the cutest little thing. Being the hero and saving lives."
Arthur turned and saw another Iron Man suit, not too dissimilar from the Mark XLV, however this one was white with red accents and lights.
"Oh I'm sorry did I scare you?" She said.
"Sorry Rattlesnake Kate but I ain't here to shoot the breeze, especially with your, colorful, way of talking." Arthur come back with.
"The name is Deadlock, boy. You'd be wise to remember that, else I might have to put you down." She said.
"If anyone is getting put down today it's you Penny Dreadful." Arthur said.
He raised his arm and fired a missed at her. She dodged it and watched it crash into a nearby building.
"My turn." Deadlock said with venom in every syllable.
She flew down at Arthur and he flew up, meeting her mid-flight.