Justin Hammer felt like a lucky man. Someone had bailed him out (he had a feeling he knew who), and on the same day someone else had pulled strings to get him amenity.

Or at least he thought it was amenity. It was whichever one gave him protection from the law.

He sat in a conference room, waiting for an old friend. He entered, slightly balding with prominent features.

"Ah, Norman. Long time no see."

"I've got no time for pleasantries Hammer. I didn't get you out of hell to just chitchat."

"What am I out for?"

"As the man who has fought against Tony Stark in your market and repeatedly lost, I thought you may like a chance to win. Take a look at this."

He turned on a TV, which displayed images of a man in an iron suit.

"This thing one of those Japanese gameshows?"

"This is Iron Man. We believe if you can recreate this, you'll run Stark into the ground."

"This OsCorp stuff?"

"No. This is part of the Iron Patriot Initiative."

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Tony relaxed outside as a familiar face approached him.

"Did the other pirates mutiny?"

"I'm not here to joke, Stark." replied Nick Fury, sitting next to him.

"What's up now? Giant dog from Nirvana?"

"Something bigger. Justin Hammer has just been pardoned, released and granted an unusual amount of freedom. We think he's going to try and at least run you into the ground."

"I'm waiting for the bit about National security."

"Well, word is he's got someone looking for you. Hitman, goes by the name of Unicorn. Known also as Milos Masaryk and Aaidan Blomfield."

"Unicorn?"

"He wears a kind of laser beam device on his forehead, powered by his jaw. He grits it, and the pressure causes this- Look, you just need to know that he's coming. And that Iron Man needs to remain a separate entity from you in the public eye."

"Only one person besides you and Banner knows. Kid, called Peter Parker."

"Parker is currently in a police station waiting guidance from yours truly."

Fury got up.

"S.H.I.E.L.D has a couple of projects coming up that may need your guidance. So, keep alive and you could have government protection."

"Or you could have Iron Man protection."

"I guess."

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The Unicorn was a title handed down from individual to individual, held in the same tier as royalty.

This particular incarnation was just a face, a new look for the age-old figure. The role had also diminished in importance over the years. Once it was the title of a warrior, now it was one of a measly hitman.

He approached the home of Tony Stark, well aware of the previous attempt at a hit and what had happened to the previous hitman. But he learned from another's mistakes, as he always did. He simply walked right into the garden, just like he always did on hits.

And he found an unusual ornament.

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"Y'know, everyone knew you were coming here. I was gonna get you a beer, but I wasn't sure if you drank or not."

Tony looked at the man who wanted to kill him, and couldn't help but chuckle. In front of him stood a figure clad in almost bondage-quality leather, with a red glass cone with tufts of wires sticking out strapped to his head. He wore fingerless gloves too.

"What, cat got your tongue? Come on, My Little Pony! At least tell me I'm doomed!"

The Unicorn clenched his jaw.

"Oh, I heard about this one. You control that little cone of yours with your teeth, right? So that's why you don't talk."

A beam fired at Tony. He walked out of the way.

"Y'see, I'm very spry. I wonder if you are too."

He fired a shot. The Unicorn flew backwards, and fell unconscious. Nick Fury stepped into the garden, something which Tony didn't expect.

"Lemme guess. You guys-"

"-needed him down? Not a chance. Whoever he was, we didn't lure him here. I only came here to ask permission for something. Dr Hank Pym, needs access to the Iron Man schematics. We're thinking of creating safety measures inspired by it."

"Only if I supervise."

"Done."

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Hank Pym was a tall man with brown-blonde hair and no sign of stubble. He wore a labcoat, which trailed down to just before his shoes. Tony walked into his lab, getting a wiff of smoldering metal.

"So, Pym."

He turned.

"Oh, Stark. Welcome. I heard you met Bruce recently, how's he doing?"

"He's calm."

"Good."

Tony took off his sunglasses.

"So, I hear you've made something with my tech. Mind if I look?"

"Well, I've got a head made. For a security measure."

He dumped a silver head on the table in front of him. It had a gaping mouth, slanted eyes and long rods, one on each side of the head.

"You got a name for it yet?"

"Nope."

"How 'bout something dumb?"

"Like what?"

"I dunno, what about Ultimo? Nah."

"Nah."

"I know...how about Ultron?"

"Ultron...I like that. Ultron it is."