Thanks, Danrilor, for all your reviews. I hope you enjoy the second part of this story.

Part II of IV: Defeat

The Constrictor hid on the top of the tower. He had told the Mandarin of Iron Man's approach and almost all of the members were coming out from their places to confront the superhero.

Stark was worried. Where were the workers? And what was that leaping at him from the tower? Then he knew. The attacking figure missed him but caught his waist with his right pair of coils. He did not electrify his squeezing weapons, since Iron Man could charge the electricity right back at him.

Iron Man fired a repulsor ray, knocking his foe out of the air. Constrictor saved himself by wrapping his coils around the Star Plant flag post. Iron Man went further down for a better look. A blurry figure raced towards him, easily dodging shellhead's repulsor blasts. When he got close enough, he delivered a powerful double-kick, sending the modern knight flying.

Iron Man was not hurt much by the fall and got right back up. Unfortunately, Blizzard and Mr. Hyde rushed out of a building, the former freezing the Avenger right in the air. The Porcupine fired a grenade out of his bulky suit, which blasted the ice covering and sent Iron Man crashing down onto a roof with scratch marks.

Mr. Hyde, anticipating the fall, had climbed onto the warehouse roof and charged at the hero. He mercilessly pounded his foe. Tony Stark couldn't fire his repulsor rays since he was getting confused by the constant beating and the growing pain. Mr. Hyde grinned as his right fist smashed into Iron Man's helmet again and again.

Finally Iron Man managed to blast the human monster back and turned on his jet boots, smashing his enemy backwards off the roof. When they landed, shellhead got back up and made a run. He wasn't a coward. He just knew that it was pointless drawing out the battle. His armor was dented and scratched and his electronics were busted.

He started to run, surprisingly outrunning Hyde and Constrictor. He made it into the warehouse he had crashed on. Pursuing him was the Scorpion, who destroyed several objects by swinging his tail at Iron Man. Stark ran deeper into the warehouse, where he found the main power generator for the building. He blasted it with his repulsor ray and all security cameras monitoring the warehouse and the lights went off, covering the place in darkness.

The Avenger hid as the Scorpion searched for him. The wicked villain eventually gave up and left. Iron Man tried to signal the other Avengers for help, but his belt had been broken by the Porcupines grenade. He started to rest, dreading the next few hours.

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Blue energy swirled around the earthquake device. The Mandarin sat at the controls as the machine was lifted to the sub-levels of the plant. He threw a switch and rumbling was heard.

A train was going along at a fast pace when suddenly the earth split open, causing the transportation to fall downwards. The people screamed and the surrounding forests seemed to be swallowed up.

Mr. Hyde cackled. The Mandarin had used a small setting to test the earthquake device, and it worked quite well. He picked up a telephone and called the mayor. Someone picked up the phone at the other end.

"Hello? This is the mayor speaking.'

"Hello, mayor. I'm afraid that you're going to have to give over your city, unless you want the city of New York to be engulfed in an earthquake."

"Huh? Who is this? I'm in no mood for pranks."

"You speak to the Mandarin. Now do you believe me?"

There was a long pause.

"I-I'll think about it. Just give me 24 hours."

"That is fine. Oh, if you send any superheroes or soldiers, I will automatically unleash the earthquake device." He set down the phone and made a smile.

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The Scorpion and the Porcupine were having lunch. The former could eat with his full costume on, but the Porcupine had to take his mask off. Alexander Gentry looked at the Scorpion and asked a question.

"Were you once in the Masters of Evil?"

"Yea, the third one with Egghead. Whirlwind was there too. Mr. Hyde joined the next group. This is the second time for him, Constrictor, and me. Now I have a question. Why did the Mandarin hire a loser like you?"

Gentry's face reddened as he snapped back. "I'm not a loser. I took out the Beast easily. I just lose when I'm teamed up with a bunch of clowns."

"Are you calling me a clown?"

"No."

"Good, because I don't think you want to be found with your face gashed opened." With that the two fell silent, eating their sandwiches.

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Stark peeped out of the crack in the basement window. He could see Jim Rhodes driving back. Don't get near here, Jim.

Rhodes stepped out when an icy ball destroyed his car. The man ducked for cover as metal flew all around the place. "What's going on here?" The Blizzard continued shooting at him, but Rhodes disappeared into the same warehouse as Stark. The Mandarin wasn't going to be happy about this.

Rhodes was surprised by Iron Man. "Tony? What's going on? I didn't have my radio on."

After explaining the situation, Iron Man pointed towards a vault. "You know the combination. That's where the War Machine suit is. I need your help." Rhodes opened the vault. "Thanks, boss."

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The Mandarin paced furiously. "You let another man escape into that accursed warehouse? That's it. Send in all of our men except for you, you bumbling fool. I want those two to be rid of!"

As the Blizzard went away to pass the orders, the Mandarin looked at the earthquake device. "12 hours, my friend. 12 hours."