James Rhodes was sitting amidst the sun, with his fellow soldiers. They surrounded Bolivar Trask, Secretary of Defence, giving talks about his planned "Operation Desert-Sweeping", a plan to use vibrations to sense for hidden warheads in deserts related to Al Qaeda. Trask was behind the Sentinel program, which was currently in development under as many wraps as possible.

"...and so, gentlemen, Desert-Sweeping should provide us with numerous defence resources. Gone is the need for operatives out there in combat."

They clapped politely.

"Now, any questions?"

"Yeah. Where do I fit in to this?"

They turned. Rhodes got up and walked over to his friend, Tony, kneeling in the sand while encased in a chunky, cumbersome metal suit. He laughed, before collapsing at his feet.

"We need a medic!"

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He stirred one more time before bursting up from his makeshift bed. He noticed that all the wires were still, thankfully, present. His friend James, or 'Rhodey' as he called him, was standing across the way from him, looking away.

"Thanks for keeping me plugged in."

Rhodey turned to him.

"What the hell happened?!"

"Uh, basically I was kidnapped, hit by grenade shrapnel which embedded itself so close to my heart that this electro-magnet is keeping me alive then built an iron suit, escaped, trekked here and started this talk. Satisfied?"

"What happens if that magnet fails?"

Tony dragged his index finger across his throat, making a "Squich" sound and lolling his eyes. Rhodey sighed.

"You can't just walk around with a magnet in your chest for the rest of your life."

"I know. Listen, is Trask still here!"

"Yeah, I think."

"Yo, Bolivar!" Tony shouted, giving a nod to Rhodey as the bald head of Bolivar Trask entered the room.

"Ah, Stark, you're awake."

"Am I?! No way!"

"What idiocy did you call me in for?"

"Two things. I need the arc reactor schematics I gave you before you left."

"Ok...and?"

"As from now, our military contract is over."

He smiled cheekily at the two agape people.

"You can't just cancel it Stark!"

"Yes I can so I will. Go find another monkey, Trask. And while you're at it, make sure you look over Adrian Toomes's work. He seemed smart."

Trask and Rhodey walked to the door.

"Don't forget my reactor stuff!"

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Tony walked outside, having replaced his magnet with a more powerful miniature arc-reactor. It'd been a pretty messy, death-defying task that had brought him to the brink of vomiting, but he'd overcome his troubles. The reactor was meant to act quicker and more efficient than the magnet, plus with more style. He tapped Rhodey on the shoulder and smiled.

"When we getting home?"

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Justin Hammer was justifiably upset when he learned of the survival of Tony Stark.

"One job," he screamed, pushing his thick glasses back up his face, "one job and you blow it! I knew I should've gone for the other guy!"

The trio remained silent, and held their heads down.

"It wasn't our fault, boss."

"Yes it was! I tell you to kill Stark, you end up in gang warfare while he gets away! Just...just get out!"

They filed out awkwardly. Hammer sighed. This added to the stress of both Octavius's presentation on spider DNA, and the whole government thing. He was planning to join in with the idiots out in Congress, to be perfectly bigger than usual. To do this, he would have to be top of his market. And to do this, he would have to kill Stark.

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Tony still couldn't stop thinking of the suit he'd built, how ingenious it was. He was thinking of mass developing them for others. But, now that he was without a military contract (happily) and without a friend outside of Happy, his bodyguard, his butler and to a lesser extent Pepper, his PA, it seemed like a distant dream destined to die.

He could build his own. But he wouldn't have a use for it, even if it would make a great party piece. His train of thought was unceremoniously cut off when he was interrupted by his butler, Jarvis. Jarvis had been there since day one, guiding Tony's dad Howard.

"Excuse me sir, but welcome home."

"Thanks, Jarvis. Nice to be home."

"Permission to hug, sir?"

"Permission most certainly granted."

As they embraced, a tall, red-headed woman in a business suit walked in.

"Oh, you're back." she sighed.

"C'mon, I know you're glad to see me."

"I'd be more glad with a military contract and less media buzz right now. People are saying you were abducted by aliens, that you were brought to a new Atlantis, and even that you were brainwashed and sent into the wilderness by the Government."

"Y'know, I was thinking of joining Twitter, getting my ideas across. I reckon I could at least get a million, maybe two million followers."

"Could you take this seriously?"

"I most certainly am. I saw what could be made of Stark weapons, when I was kidnapped. And it terrified me. It broke me, so hard I never thought I'd be fixed. So, before you start telling me to take this seriously, just imagine that."

He stormed out and down a hidden staircase, which led to his private workshop.

"Don't worry Miss Potts. I'm sure it's only a phase." Jarvis murmured, fleeing slowly to complete other duties.

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Hammer was weary when it came to hiring. His confidence couldn't be shattered, but his attention and attitude could. So, when the medium-built, thick faced man who had spoken to him on the phone arrived, he was fearing a bust-up.

"So, you exist. Was worried you were a fake voice for a while."

"No, Mister Hammer. Otherwise, I wouldn't have wasted your time."

"Course not...you wouldn't exist so you couldn't- never mind that. You're sure you can take down Stark?"

"Of course. One of the best marksmen around."

"You seem detached. That's great."

"In this business, you can be anything but loving."

Hammer handed his guest a paper folder, full of details about Tony. The man got up to go.

"Thanks, mr? I never asked you for a name..."

"Just call me Coldblood."

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Twelve hours later, Tony emerged from his shop. He was greeted by Jarvis in the kitchen.

"You seem to have been hard at work, sir."

"You tell me. I've been building a suit, I suppose you could call it that."

"How interesting, sir. May I ask what it is for?"

"Display, tomfoolery, and a little bit of picking up chicks. And just in case, weapons systems."

"Hm. Well, I doubt you'll need to use it sir."

"I d-"

There was a distinct sound. The obvious tone of smashed glass. Tony and Jarvis looked at each other, nodded and sneaked slowly into a cubby hole. They were brought down in an elevator to the workshop.

"Doors, lock!" Tony commanded, before walking confidently towards a metal armour.

"What are you playing at, sir?"

"Suiting up, Jarvis. Time to test this baby out on the classic home invader scenario!"

He stepped onto the feet of the suit, which began a process of slotting and sliding metal pieces. After about three seconds, Tony was enveloped in the full shebang. His face, now a golden-cum-red mask with glowing blue eyes, was emotionless.

"Iron Man, test flight one now in session."

He saluted his friend, before exiting through the elevator. Time to fight, it would seem.