Son of Iron Man

If you're wondering, this story will have three parts: one had them in highschool; this one has college and the third will be adults.


Chapter Fifteen: Mark Two

It was Summer and the New Avengers were on break from college. A year had passed, during which time many things had changed. Emily was now fully recovered, while Mothi and Magni had been deemed worthy again and allowed to return to Asgard. The biggest change of all, however, was that the new facility had begun construction. Today was the day it officially opened. An island in the ocean, the facility had been designed to fulfil their every possible requirement. It was inescapable except by air. The facility was the very best, designed by the Starks themselves.

Toby flew over their new airspace in his new suit, which looked very similar to his old one except with more weaponry and a device that would resist the world's greatest hacker. Behind him flew a heavily armoured transport helicopter containing a drugged Dustin and Ricardo, as well as a quinjet containing the Avengers. They both landed on the two helipads, where Toby fetched Dustin and Lupin carried out Ricardo. Emily walked beside Toby in a new costume of her own design. She had ditched the cape but still wore the same top. In place of the long leggings she used to have, she now wore shorts that were just as tight and ended far above her knee. She didn't do modest. Ben walked beside Lupin, still wearing the same costume. Spider-Man was a symbol, and not one to be easily changed. The only change was that his lenses now had a HUD. Ty wore jeans and a T-shirt, while Katie wore something similar, now owning her own clothes. A soft wind blew. Toby, carrying Dustin over his shoulder, pressed a button at the end of the helipad and a bridge extended from the opposite side of a deep gap. It clicked into place and the team walked across. The door to the main building slid upward as they approached and they found themselves in a kind of lobby.

"Let's get these two into the cells," Toby said. He turned right into an elevator big enough for everyone and pressed the button for the third floor. Emerging from the elevator, the team found the nearest exit and took it. Outside, they crossed another bridge into a smaller building. They walked toward the door, but were interrupted when a man walked out they stopped, none of them recognising him.

"Who are you?" Toby asked. "What are you doing here?"

"You have something I need," the man responded in a deep, monotone voice. Toby had a feeling he meant the captives. He put Dustin on the floor and stood in front of him, holding out his right hand and extending shoulder mounted missile pods.

"You'll have to go through us," he said. Around him, Emily turned to diamond as Ben adopted a fighting stance. Lupin dropped Ricardo to the ground and Ty stepped back, guarding Katie.

"Gladly," the man said. He took a staff which was attached to his back and flicked it, extending the weapon. Suddenly, there were five of him all leaping toward them at once. Toby flew at one while Ben kicked another. Lupin hit a third while Emily blocked a fourth. The fifth hit Tyler to the ground before knocking Katie out. They all seemed solid as the original. The fight continued, but the newcomer kept multiplying. With Ty out of action, even Lupin couldn't hold out against them indefinitely. Suddenly, all but one of him disappeared alongside Hammer and Ricardo. The remaining one smirked before disappearing.

"NO!" Toby shouted, running over to the point where he had been and checking he wasn't invisible.

"What on Earth was that?" Ben exclaimed.

"That was a year's peace coming to a crashing end!" Toby said frustratedly. He shouted something incomprehensible and kicked the floor. He took a moment to compose himself. "Sorry... is anyone hurt?"

"Katie and Ty are out, but they'll recover," Emily reported.

"And are you alright?" Toby asked, walking over to her.

"I'm fine. I wish you'd stop worrying so much, though," Emily said.

"I almost lost you once before. I won't let that happen again."

"And that's sweet, but I'm fine."

"Sorry to interrupt this fine moment, but Katie and Ty will be needing some rest," Ben interrupted.

"Right, yes," Toby agreed. "I'll send you a map of the facility; their rooms will be marked."

"Aren't you coming?" Ben asked.

"The security cameras are equipped with thermal sensors. If that guy's still here, I might be able to catch him," Toby justified. He then turned away as the team prepared to carry the downed members away. "JARVIS, download the security footage from about five minutes ago and apply a thermal filter," he instructed. The HUD filled with footage from the prison complex in shades from blue to white. He played it in fast forward. Suddenly, a humanoid shape appeared from nothing and walked out of frame. The image shifted to the bridge, where the team stopped walking. The heat signature of the man multiplied and after a minute the signatures disappeared entirely. "Hmm..." he said thoughtfully. Unless the man had turned off his internal heat, he really had disappeared. He raised his faceplate and looked around. "Well, that's annoying."


In Asgard, a mighty feast was being held in honour of the sons of Thor. The god himself was sat at the head of the long table with his sons either side of him. Everyone in Asgard was in attendance for the kingly feast.

"So then we called out to the Knight, he turned and I knocked him out!" Mothi finished his story for the umpteenth time. Everyone roared their approval.

"One punch!" Magni added.

"See, I told you that you would be better off for a trip to Midgard," Thor told them.

"Aye, father, and never was a truer word spoken," Magni agreed. The feast was interrupted when a shout went up. It was Heimdall.

"Hel, daughter of Loki, has left Asgard," he informed them. "She heads for Midgard." Thor stood up suddenly.

"Hel shows all the signs of following in her father's footsteps. She must be stopped," he announced.

"Let us go, father," Mothi said, himself rising.

"Aye, we would be proud to serve Asgard," Magni agreed.

"Hel is powerful; are you sure you're ready?" Thor asked of them.

"Of course, father," Magni said confidently.

"I wish for you to speak with your friends in Midgard to guarantee their aid," Thor told them.

"Of course, father," Mothi said, however Magni caught a subtle wink. They had no intention on getting help.

"Good. Heimdall, take them to the Bifrost," Thor said, missing the secret exchange between his sons. Mothi and Magni left the feast, led by Heimdall. The feast continued without them.


Back on Earth, Toby, Ben and Emily were sat in the facility's lounge area, which was a near match to that of Stark Tower. While Ty and Katie slept, the other three took the opportunity to catch up. Meanwhile, Lupin had gone outside to explore the forest Toby had built the facility around.

"What's college like?" Toby asked. As the heir to Stark Industries and a genius, he had elected to skip college and focus fully on his duties as Iron Man. He had been working with Lupin, who for obvious reasons had also stayed. Emily had wanted to stay for him and Ben had wanted to stay on as Spider-Boy, however they were not in his position and as such had gone to college. Before the opening of the facility, the team had had time for only a brief greeting; this was their first opportunity for conversation of any length.

"It's... OK," Ben said.

"Kind of boring without you, though," Emily added, and Ben nodded. Ben had a sofa to himself, while Toby sat on another and Emily lay her head on his lap, the rest of her body stretched out along the seat.

"Now, be fair: everything is boring without me," Toby chuckled. "But it's not been easy without you guys either. A whole city to protect and my only ally a talking wolf." They all laughed.

"Well, we're all back together again, now," Ben said.

"Yes, and already two of our teammates have been taken out of action," Toby replied, his tone serious. "Who else is worried about this new guy, whose name and abilities we don't even know? Day one and he's just sauntered into our new facility and taken two of our worst enemies."

"Actually, I was wondering why you're here instead of tracking him," Ben said.

"What is there to track? He just appeared and disappeared. None of us recognised him and his face doesn't match with any database. It's as if he's some sort of ghost," Toby explained. "I've already tried everything."

"Did we ever remove the tracker on Ricardo?" Ben asked thoughtfully. Toby looked hopeful for a moment, but that was swiftly extinguished.

"Yes," he said sadly, "we didn't think we'd need it again." They all descended into silent thought.

"Well, there must be something we can do," Emily said at last.

"Of course there is, but for the life of me I can't see it," Toby said frustratedly.

"You'll think of something," Emily assured him, pushing herself up and kissing him. "Oh, I've missed that."

"I haven't," Ben said uncomfortably.

"Hey - on that topic: you and Katie?" Emily asked. Ben blushed under his mask.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he insisted.

"Come on! She's the one person who knows your identity."

"She didn't-"

"No, she still didn't tell me. Speaking of which - when are you going to trust us?"

"It's not that I don't trust you, it's just..."

"Go on..."

"I... don't know how to explain it."

"Go on," Toby said pointedly. "It's been long enough." Ben sighed and put his hands to his mask.

"Only you guys can know," he insisted. They both nodded. He took off his mask.

"Ben Parker?" Emily exclaimed. Ben nodded. "How come you were so bad at dodgeball?" Toby and Ben laughed. Emily looked between them, connecting the dots. "You knew?" she asked accusatively.

"All along," Toby chuckled.

"So it was just me?"

"Ty, too."

"Even the wolf knew before me?"

"He knew before I did," Toby said. Emily went to say something, then fell silent.

"Are you OK?" Ben asked.

"Just a little shocked." At that moment, Katie walked in, a little weary. She looked from Ben to the others.

"Finally!" she cried.


So, those are the seeds of part two planted. Join us next time as we water those seeds and see what grows.

Until next time, true believers!