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 "King of the Hill"
Tibet…
The Mandarin sat in his throne with his fingers steepled under his chin. His eyes were filled with driven hatred and contempt for the being that was shown before in the trans-dimensional scanner. His teeth gnashed as he thought about the many times he had been humiliated by the golden avenger known as Iron Man and each time Iron Man left him defeated. Mandarin scowled and waved the trans-dimensional scanner away and cupped his chin with his right hand.
"How can I defeat that accursed avenger? Every time I make a move towards him he is one step ahead of me."
A figure walked with in the presence of the Mandarin and bowed before him, "Master, let me deal with him."
"No, it is too important to my plans for you to interfere. Leave me be."
"As you wish."
The figure left the Mandarin's presence in a poof of black smoke.
---
Guilt ate away at Tony Stark's heart like disgusting parasite. It bred and grew with each disturbing call he received on the account of the Excelsior's failure. His hand trembled as a bottle of scotch just lay out of his reach, but he steeled himself and bit his lower lip. However, the thirst slowly eroded his moral and he reached out for the bottle just as Pepper came in. She ran across and slapped it away from him.
"My god! Tony what are you doing!"
Tony shifted nervously in his chair. His heart hammered in his chest like a beat to a drum. He couldn't look at her. The way he was feeling, now it was something very few could understand. Even her.
"L-leave me alone, Pepper. I need time to myself."
"Oh no, your not hitting the bottle again," Pepper said as she wagged a finger in his direction. "It nearly killed you last time. I won't let that happen again."
Tony licked his lips. His breathing became deeper and his face became very flushed. Pepper walked over and brushed the back of her hand against his forehead.
"Tony, are you okay?"
"C-chest…hurts."
"Oh no! Not again! Oh god – what do I do?"
"Hand me…my nitroglycerines."
"Where are they?"
"In my desk…drawer."
Pepper got them out and slipped one under Tony's tongue. She then unbuttoned his collar and opened a window.
"My god Tony are you trying to drive Happy and I nuts?"
Tony shook his head as the nitroglycerine took affect and his heart slowed to a normal beat. He started to rest more comfortably in his chair and he regarded Pepper with a worn look.
"You know better then I Pepper that the fault of Excelsior's failure lays on my shoulders and mine alone. If it wasn't for me they would be alive now."
Pepper shook her head, "Your not the cause of the Excelsior's failure. It was the aliens."
"Maybe so, but if only I was there as Iron Man to safeguard them. I--"
"Enough, Tony. Your beating yourself up over something you couldn't have predicted or controlled."
"Perhaps – your right."
"Do you need anything while I'm here?"
"No. I just want to be alone."
"All right," Pepper said as she left.
Stark walked over to the slender attaché case that resembled the one he had used years ago, but never could any one suspect what lurked beneath its leather exterior. With a press of a simple stud located near the latch, magnetically propelled platelets flew from the attaché case and surround the multi-billionaire Tony Stark. Upon stretching himself out the platelets mold together into the most powerful armor ever designed. Iron Man flew through the hidden silo contained in his private office. Through the clear blue sky, the golden gladiator soared while his mind wandered on the lives he was unable to save. A grim and hard expression lay underneath the mask of iron that concealed one of the most brilliant men alive.
---
The Mandarin watched as Iron Man flew through the sky toward some unknown destination. Pressing a switch on his control panel, the armored avenger disappeared from sight and reappeared right before the debacle villain. Iron Man's eyes focused on the Mandarin with deep-rooted hatred. He clenched his fists and started toward the mad conqueror.
"Do not take another step Iron Man for I have sealed your fate. With a switch of this lever your armor will be your downfall."
"Your bluffing and I have had just about enough out you mister."
Iron Man strode another step when Mandarin flipped the switch and suddenly as if his own armor had come alive. The greatest hi-tech hero of them all was at war -- with himself.
"Hahah! I told you fool! Now watch as your own armor destroys you!"
The hi-tech adventurer struggled with all of his might to resist whatever was causing his armor to go haywire and attack him. His own mental programs were unresponsive and even his patented chin toggle was useless to whatever had taken hold of his fantastic armor. Iron Man racked his brain to try to figure out what could affect his greatest invention when he peered upwards and saw device that he instantly recognized.
"Y-you created a modified version of my synaptic response controller. That's how you're controlling my armor."
"Yes you witless dolt! Only the brilliant mind of the Mandarin could harness the powers of your own science to defeat you. While I had once forsook technology I know realize that it has and always was my greatest advantage against you!"
Realizing there was but only one chance. The golden avenger shuts down his greatest creation's neural interface and activates its automatic subroutines in hopes that the Mandarin would not be suspecting the special surprise that would be fore coming. Instantly the armor ceases its attempt to damage itself and made its way toward the Mandarin who backed away with disbelief.
"I-it's not possible! My plan was fool proof!"
"You should have made it idiot proof. The games over Mandarin and its time for yours truly to take out the trash."
"You dare try to come at me? The Mandarin? I will destroy you!"
"Is that fear I hear lacing your voice? I thought you were made of sterner stuff."
The Mandarin charged at Iron Man and the golden gladiator sent the villain rocketing backwards into his control panel. The Mandarin picked himself up and dealt massive karate chops that could shatter boulders, but barely did they faze the invincible champion of liberty. Iron Man continued to come at the Mandarin despite his powerful blows and the wondrous powers of his ten rings. With every step, the hero took his hated foe's resolve started to waiver. Finally, after having enough the Mandarin seemingly surrendered.
"Surrendering already?"
"Of course not fool!"
The Mandarin kicked a hidden trap lever next to his foot and Iron Man was hurdled down below in the direction of the maw of a very familiar foe. Putting full thrust into his boot jets Iron Man stopped his descent and gazed down at Ultimo. The greatest creation the Mandarin had ever conceived. The large android fires its heat beams at the golden gladiator and if it weren't for the amazing protective field that gave the armor its flexibility and strength. Iron Man would surely have perished.
"Well it looks like Ultimo remembers me fondly enough."
The giant android roared and tried to climb up the shaft, but it was far too narrow for its bulk. It fired another intense blast of its heat beams and this time Iron Man fired back with his repulsor rays sending the beam back at Ultimo doing damage to the android's eyes.
"Sorry big fella, but I don't feel like being a fried fillet."
Using the full thrust of his boot jets Iron Man rocketed back up the narrow shaft and caught an unsuspected blast to his chest. Reeling from being careless in returning to his fight with the Mandarin, Iron Man had only a hairbreadth of a second to dodge the next blast. A quick gaze at his internal power readout sends the Avenger into worry. He quickly realizes the fight must end quickly and now.
"Is that all you got Mandarin?" Iron Man said. "I have taken better from the likes of Namor and the Hulk."
"Bah you insufferable dog! I shall destroy you one way or another!"
"Well I ain't getting any younger."
"You and your witty bravado will not save you!"
Mandarin fired his impact beam and Iron Man dodged it while he flew toward the Mandarin. With a timed repulsor blast, he sent the villain slamming into the console again. This time Iron Man had him as the Mandarin was unable to move his leg.
"N-no, back away! Away I say!"
With a press of the same, switch that brought the iron clad hero to his hidden fortress. Iron Man found himself where he started. He gazed around and started back on his flight path content that he had just let loose all of his pent up grief and frustration on a foe truly deserving it.
---
Later.
Pepper and Happy walked in to see Tony all dressed up and ready to go. His hands were in his pockets and he was smiling for the first time in a week. He shook Happy's hand and hugged pepper.
"What has you so spruced up, Boss."
"Well let's just say I had a run in with an old friend and it helped me relieve all that tension I had, Happy."
"That's good," Pepper said.
"So are you two heading out?"
"Yeah, this lunk head bought us tickets to the Wizards game and I wanted to go to Opera."
"Hunh. Well have a good time."
"Were are you going, Boss?"
"That Happy would be the question of the night. Let's just say a very sexy astronaut just hit the jackpot."
"Go git'em Tony," Happy said.
"I fully intend to."
"You think Tony will be all right Hap."
"I'm sure he will Pepper. Now c'mon we have a game to see."
"Ugh. The things I do for you."
"Hey we made an agreement remember."
"Yeah. Let's just go."
