They all breathed a sigh of relief when Tony successfully created a viable new element. Tony then used the new element to make another arc reactor. Loki and Pepper helped him transfer the new arc reactor and felt a weight lift off their shoulders when the transfer was successful. Energized, Tony completed plans for the Stark Expo.
"This is going to show once and for all that I'm more than some weapons designer. Maybe once people see all the benign stuff I'm planning, including the arc reactor as an environmentally friendly source of energy, they'll back off. Don't give me that look, Loki, I know that's unlikely but a guy can dream. As it is the Expo will be a spectacle," Tony commented excitedly.
"Loki and I know how you love making those," Pepper interjected dryly.
"Ouch Pepper. Come on we don't want to risk being late. Wow that felt weird to say because that's usually your line," Tony mused.
Pepper gave Loki one of those looks and Loki's lips twitched upward. The three of them went outside and Happy drove them to pick up Agent Romanov. The four of them sat in relatively comfortable silence. SHIELD providing Tony's father's belongings, and continuing to provide Agent Romanov, had won cautious trust. Loki knew that she would be leaving soon: Tony's arc reactor was working well so far and she was probably only staying to make sure it passed some sort of trial period. Loki decided to make the most of her remaining time to continue having their enjoyable verbal bouts.
They arrived at the Expo and separated. Pepper and Romanov went to oversee logistics while Tony dragged Loki off for some last minute fussing over the exhibits. The four met back up to welcome arriving guests. Tony led everyone inside and made a speech about the expo. It made some vague references to his father, but was mostly focusing on the legacy Tony wanted to leave. Loki approved. Tony wanted to be remembered as someone who made the world better and not as a warmonger. He was Iron Man, but he was more than that. He and Loki were already working on how to make an arc reactor which could power a new tower Tony was starting to plan in New York. The bottom floors would be reserved for a new headquarters for his company. The upper floors would be for Tony, Pepper, Loki and guests.
After Tony's speech the expo attendees went in different directions to take in the expo. Loki stood with his friends, an appellation which he had decided to give to Agent Romanov on a cautionary level, and watched people walk around. He looked up, frowned and squinted.
"What are those," he wondered.
"What is it Loki," Pepper asked curiously.
His Aesir eyes could detect specks which were coming ever closer.
"I can see some things but I do not know what they are," he answered.
"They aren't on the agenda so it can't be anything good," Tony said and rushed for his armor. As he did so the specks showed themselves to be drones. Loki could make out the Hammer Corporate insignia.
What is that fool thinking?
The answer became apparent when Hammer's creations started to fire on the expo and into the crowd. Loki, thinking the three of them could be prominent targets, decided to risk an invisibility spell and dragged them into the nearest building. Pepper was already on the phone with JARVIS and security. She looked over at Loki and Agent Romanov.
"Tony's started engaging the things but there too many of them," she told them.
"I can go to Hammer's company and try stopping them from there," Agent Romanov suggested.
"Do it. Tell Happy to take you," Pepper ordered.
"On it," Agent Romanov confirmed as she left.
Loki looked at Pepper. He was glad to see she was still wearing the bracelets he and Tony had given her. He could hear explosions and people screaming. It made his stomach twist. This was to be Tony's night of triumph. This was supposed to be about peace! These people came here out of hope and curiosity and they're being injured and possibly killed. Tony can't do this alone.
"I have an update. Mr. Rhodes has shown up in some armor the U.S. government has commissioned based on what they've been able to observe of the Iron Man armor. He is helping to destroy the drones," JARVIS informed them.
Two on one versus many. It might still not be enough. I have to do something.
"Pepper with the bracelets, and the invisibility spell on us, you should be safe. I have to help Tony and Rhodes," Loki declared.
"Loki that could mean revealing yourself," Pepper advised.
"I enjoy my secrecy, but this is an attack on Tony. Plus, my secrecy isn't worth these people's lives. They are our guests which entails a duty of protection."
"We should at least try to hide so you won't give yourself away," Pepper suggested.
Pepper was a true shield sister. He smiled.
"Agreed. Let's find a roof and I'll keep us invisible," he told her calmly.
It seemed straightforward. Tony and Rhodes would get most of the drones and Loki some before Agent Romanov shut the drones down. Unfortunately, what was that old saying about plans not being worth anything once battle began?
"Mr. Rhodes's armor has been taken over by an outside agency and he is attacking Mr. Stark. My sensors also detect another combatant inbound," JARVIS said.
Loki's mind put it all together with crystalline elegance. Rhodes's armor was commissioned by the U.S. government. That could mean that Hammer's company could be one or the only company to build it. Hammer would not be smart enough on his own to build functioning armor. I know that is the case because Tony showed me that gruesome video of a failed Hammer armor prototype. Those drones are also Hammer tech and they perform way too well for that fool's limited intelligence. He must have gotten help. Who would be better than someone else who has come up with a working weapon and hates Tony? Hammer broke Vanko out of prison. Hammer you fool. Whatever your original plans were Vanko has preempted them. Hammer would probably be smart enough not to actually attack civilians. Vanko, on the other hand, is completely insane. Agent Romanov, I hope you fight and can deal with computers as well as you speak. Tony and I will be too busy trying to contain Rhodes as well as destroy the drones and Vanko to hack into them.
The drones had destroyed the expo's cameras, so JARVIS couldn't show him any footage except for that from Tony's suit cameras. This meant Loki had to stand up so that he could see the drones. He kept the invisibility spell so he could destroy the drones without being seen. He fired as quickly and accurately as he could.
"Agent Romanov has been successful in giving Mr. Rhodes control of his armor. She is working on the drones now," JARVIS commented.
"I hate to admit it, but we can't evade owing SHIELD for this," Loki murmured to Pepper.
"I have to agree," she concurred.
Loki ran out of drones to destroy.
"JARVIS report," he commanded the AI.
"The last of the drones have been destroyed. Mr. Stark and Mr. Rhodes have engaged Vanko. Agent Romanov has left Hammer Corporation and is inbound."
"I should help them," Loki told Pepper.
"Tony wouldn't want you risking yourself Loki."
Loki opened his mouth to retort when JARVIS broke in.
"Vanko has been defeated. Mr. Rhodes has extracted himself from his armor which seems to have more than a few areas needing improvement."
Loki snorted.
"Pepper, I believe JARVIS is proud of Tony's superior accomplishments."
She laughed.
"He should be. Let's find the others and clean up this mess," she said with a lot of relief.