Winning the Sports Festival got me noticed. It got those ignorant eyes to finally look at me and see what they are missing out on. Now they see I am just as much of a deserving candidate to be in the hero course as those who are currently enrolled right now, but the difference between me and them is how far I am willing to go to prove it, to claim that seat, and to keep it. Call me selfish because I believe I deserve that spot, but if I didn't believe I wasn't entitled to a chair, I wouldn't be busting my ass off to prove it. Tony helped me get started but now I have to do the rest. I have to learn how to build Arc Reactors, manufacture and repair suits, design new weapons, and maybe even create A.I's. It's time to take the next step in my future, but first, I have to meet another person. Another Marvel Hero who's currently alive.
I spent two days relaxing at home to recover from my injuries and to calm my mind. I didn't notice it, but I was carrying heavy levels of stress with me when preparing for the Sports Festival. I wanted to go to Tony's lab and start designing new weapons or upgrading Version I, but Tony prevented me from doing so as he instructed me that I needed a calm mind to think clearly or I might end up doing something ridiculous. Those days were nice. I gave Sprocket much-needed maintenance work, spent quality time with my parents, texting or calling Mina and Midoriya whenever I could, and at night, socializing with Tony on subjects that had no connection with any hero topics.
The third day was spent differently. Tony had asked me to go to the lab after breakfast, so I did just that. Currently, I am in the elevator heading down to the lab. I'm curious about what is going to happen, but I hope it is something good.
The elevator stops and opens its doors. I walk out to the lights on the ceiling coming to life and lighting up the room. "Tony," I yell out and head to the center of the room, "What did you want to discuss with me?"
"I hope those two days off were spent well because it's back to work for us," Tony says over the intercoms, "You did well in the Sports Festival and managed your abilities with Version I without looking like a numbskull."
"Well, I did have some training," I say as the centerpiece opens up and Version I rises.
"Not to mention nearly killing yourself," Tony reminds me of a crucial transgression in our relationship. "But that is beside the point. Now it is time to move on to the next step. Building a new, and repairing your suit."
Finally! The fun part begins!
I start to laugh giddily with absolute joy. "Oh, I have been waiting for this moment for a long time!" I run up to Version I and examine the exterior of it. It looks just fine to me, but that may be because of the lack of damage it took.
"Quit looking at the suit for there is nothing wrong with it," Tony tells me as the suit breaks down into nanites and climbs up my body to fuse itself into my goggles. "As you know, one of the greatest qualities of being Iron Man was my ability to adapt to any situation. That was because for every experience I had with baddies or even allies, I always built a suit or a weapon that was meant to counter them like the Hulkbuster. We had built weapons designed to oppose certain Quirks and had training simulations to help you strategize. That's easy because you could have built those weapons given enough time. But what if you needed a special suit to defeat one of them? You would have lost because you were underprepared, and that is a situation I would not like to see you in if your life was on the line." I hear a whirring sound behind me as I turn around and see an entire engineering lab with various tools, rolls of blueprint paper, sketching utensils, and just anything an inventor needs.
I squeal with sheer happiness and run to the lab to check it out. "Oooooh! There are so many tools! So many different types of equipment! Oh, look, a multiuse appliance!" I grab the device and click a button. The implement is made of nanites as it switched between a hammer, each type of screwdriver, drills, saws, a torch, and many other tools. "This thing is awesome." I stare at this masterpiece and want to take it home.
"It stays here, Hatsume."
"Awwwwww…"
Tony chuckles at my disappointment. "I built my first suit in a cave with the help of a friend, but it wasn't high tech. Just scrap metal put together. When I got home, that's when the real fun began. I built Model II then Model III, and then the rest. I had to invent my suits so I never had help from a mentor or anyone of my intellectual level. You have a gift, and that is me. I designed these suits so I know them to the smallest Philip screw. Not all of my suits are made of nanites, and that is because nanites are not in mass production. They take time to build, and I'm still working out kinks on them. Your Version I is made up of nanites because it's an emergency suit only. Unlike me, I had to wait for the nearest suit to arrive whenever I was in danger. I made yours be made up of nanites because I want you safe. I decided on that option when you were almost sexual assaulted and murdered in the alleyway. Don't expect another nanite suit for a long time."
I lean against a chair and sigh contently that I have protection now, "Model 50 is made up nanites, right?"
"No." Tony pulls up a screen that shows the Model 50 Armor. "Model 50 is actually a suit made from symbiote DNA. It has the same qualities as a symbiote minus the living conscious and hijacking. Of course, you know how powerful this suit is and what it can do. It is my most powerful suit and the only one that government never got their hands on."
"Wow…" A symbiote suit? That is mighty impressive, "Where is it now?" I ask curiously.
"Not telling you," Tony answers, "That's top-secret."
I can live with that, "Okay."
I walk to the crafting table and rip a large sheet of blueprint paper from a roll and staple it onto the empty wooden platform. "Hmmm." I ponder about how I want my newest suit to look like.
"What are you doing?" Tony asks me.
"Thinking." I quickly reply.
"You don't even know what you're doing," Tony responds.
"I don't know how to build it, but that doesn't mean I don't know how I want it to look or what I want it to have installed." I know what I want and how I want it to look. I was thinking of going with a different color pattern, but I like it so I might just change the design of the suit. As for the weapons, I was thinking of replacing the temperature reactor and instead of having it as a weapon it can just be apart of the suit like the repulsor blasts. In its place, I would like a Pulse Bolt. Instead of the usual ray it fires, I want it to be a copy of my pistol and fire just bolts of plasma that can vary in power. The longer it is charged, the more damage it does, and the best part is that it will not explode if it is damaged.
"Fine. Do that first." Tony says to me.
I smile lightly at the comment, "Yes, sir!"
"Oh, and before I forget," I look up to the ceiling since I can't see Tony's holographic form, "You should rebuild pistol. That was neat little invention you whipped up. It could come in really handy."
He liked one of my inventions. He's never complimented on one of them aside from Sprocket. I must be in Heaven right now!
"I will do that soon, Tony!" I brightly return to him.
"Kid, calm down." Tony tells me, "It was just a compliment."
"From you!" I give him my reason. Tony sighs and leaves me to my brainstorming.
The third day passed quickly and I got some nifty ideas that need testing. I stopped designing my suit and rebuilt my pistol, but with better qualities, so it doesn't break again. I added an electrical feature to it so I can use it as a taser. I'm thinking I might add in a freeze shot too. Okay, I might make it an elemental gun like a Borderlands weapon.
Right now, I am back at U.A high school. It was raining in the morning so I came to school by car thanks to my father. I was told by Power Loader that I will start to attend Class 1-A after the internships because my schedule needs to be fixed to work around my current lessons. I would have been able to attend today, but they are creating hero names and that is just a waste of time to me. I already know my hero name and so I don't need to waste time thinking of it. It was an 'at the moment' kind of thing, but it worked for me.
Iron Maiden is the name I will go by forever, and the band 'Iron Maiden' will be my official band like how AC/DC was for Iron Man.
Right now, I am in my homeroom class at sitting at my desk around my classmates. They all wanted to see the suit, and I showed it to them. They were marveling at the sight of it, including Power Loader. All of them asked me how did I construct it and I just told them it was a home project I was working on since I was little.
"You must have had a lot of time on your hands, or your parents are birth a gifted student." Power Loader said, "Anyways class, we have to get a move on so take your seats." All of us go to our tables and I exit out of the suit. "Now, as support students, we have our internships too. Companies will reach out to you and ask for you to intern there. You can choose where you want to go to, but remember that you'll be competing against other students from other schools. Your goal as a support student is to invent an invention that will blow away the competition, and I'm not just saying that because you're at U.A. I'm saying that because that's what you need to do to cement your future. Of course, you have other opportunities in the future, but if you make a splash now, your career will look bright."
Power Loader grabs a remote and clicks a small button on it. The projector above us turns on and begins to warm-up. "I know what your thinking, everyone will want to go after Hatsume because of her suit, and you are not wrong. However, don't let that discourage you. You're all here because you have a passion to be the best inventor. Hatsume set the bar for all of you, and now it is your job to surpass her. Yes, it will be difficult, but nothing is impossible."
"He kinda made you the enemy, you know?" Tony snickers in amusement.
"I noticed," I mumble back
"Hey, take it in. You're the gold standard now."
I shrug off Tony's words and focus back to Power Loader. The project lights up and the screen appears behind Power Loader. Everyone had a number between a few hundred, but that was nowhere near to my numbers. Mine was in the ten thousand areas, nearing a hundred thousand. Power Loader looked to the screen and did a double-take at my numbers. The class looked to me as I was paralyzed by the high numbers.
"Uh-huh." Power Loader simply said and let out a small laugh. "Damn, Hatsume. You have high numbers. I'm going assume that is because Pro-Heroes are reaching out to you too."
"Pro-Heroes?!" I shout with excitement.
"I know you're excited, but tone it down." Power Loader clears his throat, "But yes, Pro-Heroes. You defeated Todoroki, Endeavor's son, to advance to the finals and ultimately win the Sports Festival so seeing that Pro-Heroes want you to intern at their facility shouldn't be a surprise." Power Loader walks to his table and grabs a stack of papers. "Everyone has their own packet. Review your choices and choose where you want to intern at. Sorry to say that you only have today to choose, but that is why I had a few class sessions dedicated to looking at the history of each company and what they specialize in as well as famous alumni and most notable invention produced from them. The packets summarize what you know so your history is refreshed."
Power Loader then turns his eyes to me. "Hatsume. Since you have a lot more to go through, you have until tomorrow to choose. You will be a last-minute addition to any offering company or agency, but I don't think they'll mind."
Power Loader grabs the packets and started to pass them out to everyone, "Review your choices students, and choose wisely because you will be stuck there until your internship ends. You want to choose a place you know you'll succeed. If none of the companies interest you choose one that is nearest to your skillset or practices a subject that you want to try out. Companies like diverse employees, so don't be afraid to admit that you are new to the field. They'll be glad to train you."
When I get my packet handed to me, I feel Power Loader looking down to me. "Hatsume," I look up to my teacher, "That speech you gave at the Sports Festival, it reminded me of why I am a support teacher here at U.A. I wanted to inspire all of my classes that they can become heroes too if that's what they truly longed for. Words can not express how honored I am to have you in my class. I know you'll change the world when the time comes." Hearing Power Loader say that brings a bright smile to my face. Power Loader smiles genuinely in response, "Just remember to take things one day at a time and try not to blow yourself up." Power Loader then loses his smile, "Or my lab."
I snicker in response, "No promises."
Power Loader chuckles, "If you decide to go with a Pro-Hero Agency, I'll send you to Class 1-A so you can depart with them." Power Loader informs me and continues his routine.
The rest of the school day went by pretty fairly aside from the paparazzi. I got so overcrowded at one point that I put on the Iron Maiden suit and flew away. I got in trouble, but I was let off easy because of my situation. I was kinda disappointed that I didn't find Mina nor Midoriya today. I guess they are trying to decide where they want to intern at that their too busy so whatever.
I arrived back home with many different thoughts running through my head that nighttime came like the speed of light. It was past bedtime and I was trying to sleep, but I couldn't because of my decision. There were so many people to choose from, including several Top Ten heroes such as Ryukyu, Edgeshot, Mirko, Gang Orca, and even Endeavor. That last one surprises me.
"Hey, kid, your mind still racing?" I look at my computer desk and see Tony sitting on my chair.
"Yeah." I place my hands under my head and look up to the ceiling. "There are so many to choose from, and I only have tonight to say where I am going."
"You're lucky they gave you the extra time. There are so many different Pro-Heroes to choose from." Tony gets up and walks around the room. "But I know none of them strike your fancy."
"None of them are engineers or inventers. Some of them are great, even legendary like Edgeshot, but they don't have the factors I am looking for." I say with a large sigh, "I knew this wouldn't be easy, but I didn't think it be for that reason."
Tony places a hand on his chin in thought for a moment. His eyes look to me as he claps his hands. "I have an idea."
I sit up and look to him, "You do?"
"Yeah, but it might take some time." Tony walks back to the computer and fizzles out, "I haven't personally talked to the man, but I know he is something special. He was a robotics prodigy, and he graduated high school at the age of 13. Never attended U.A because he was never aiming to be a hero until an event changed his life, and then he became a part-time hero."
My mind sparkles in fascination over this hero, "Wow! Who is he?"
"I don't know. All I know is that Wolverine ran into him at some point when he was older, and that's how the Avengers came into contact with him. This will be the first time I look up his information." Tony explains to me, "You should go to sleep. I'll take care of the rest."
I lay back down on my bed and close my eyes. I don't know when I fell asleep, but I know it took a long time because I kept moving around in excitement about meeting this 'robotics prodigy'.
The following day, I was sent to meet up with Class 1-A. Everyone was nice to me, and I got to ride with Mina and Hagakure on the bus to the train station while Midoriya rode with Uraraka and Iida. During the ride, I grew curious about who Tony set me up with. I was hoping to have some answers when we arrived, but I was only given an address from Aizawa. Everyone was carrying their hero costumes in briefcases along with traveling cases with their items. That's a one-up I have since my costume is made of nanites. All I needed was just a backpack since I don't need much other than clothing and personal hygiene.
"Remember, you aren't allowed to wear them in public." Aizawa said to us, "Don't drop them or anything."
"Yessir!" Mina cheerfully replied.
"It's, 'yes, sir,' Mina. Speak clearly!" Aizawa said in annoyance.
Mina's attitude drooped, "Yes, sir…" I giggled slightly at her antics.
"Make sure to mind your manners with the heroes at your internships." Aizawa walked away, "Away with you lot."
"Yes, sir!" Everyone but me replied.
I look around to find Midoriya so I can say bye, but I see him and Uraraka running off already in the same direction. I feel kinda sad that I won't say goodbye to him, and I don't know why, but I feel rather bothered that Uraraka is with him
"Hatsume!" Mina runs up to me hugging her briefcase, "Who's agency are you going to?"
I look to Mina and forget about Midoriya for now, "A hero who was a robotics prodigy back in his day. He's retired now and was only a part-time hero."
Mina looks curiously at me, "Is that so? Well, I hope whoever he is will help you and make it a fun experience." Mina set her briefcase down before wrapping me in a hug, "I'll miss you girl!"
"It's just a week." I hug her back.
"Yeah, a week without teasing you and whatnot."
We break off the hug. I turn around to go to my station, but I jump slightly and let out a welp as I feel a sharp smack across my rear. I turn around to see Mina grinning at me mischievously, "The hell Mina!?"
"It's kinda firm, and it bounces too. Ooh, la la." Mina laughs as my face heats up.
"Mina shut it or I will kill you!" I shout with my hands at my sides.
"Oh stop being like Bakugo." Mina laughs more as I huff and turn away. I can feel her rolling her eyes at me, "Oh you can hit me back if it makes you feel better."
I turn my head back to her, "Why'd you do it in the first place?"
"I thought it would be fun, and it was." Mina giggles, "Not my fault you have a bubble butt."
"Bye, Mina." I walk away from my best friend and head to my station. I turn around to see her walking to her train. I take this moment to run back to her and get revenge by swinging my hand across her butt. Mina lets out a rather cute squeak and looks back as I am running away and laughing.
"Hatsume you chicken! Get back here!" Mina shouts to me as I enter my train station to head to my internship location. It takes a couple of minutes to enter my train, but I get to my seat, and luckily, no one sitting next to me.
"Where am I heading to?" I mumble so no one can hear me.
"To Kamino, Yokohama." Tony replies, "That is where he resides. He's quite old and is retired, but I believe he's currently the best option right now."
"Retired? Old?" I groan lightly, "So no hero work?"
"I didn't say that you big baby." I sense annoyance in Tony's voice, "I wouldn't have chosen him if it would be a waste of time."
"Who am I going to meet anyways?" I've been pondering this for a while, and I want to know now.
"Let's just say this: He's someone from my generation."
I feel my heart thump in my chest. I'm meeting another Marvel Generation hero? And this one is still alive?! There's only a few left in the world, so meeting him is a big deal! Ooooh, I can't wait!
It took about 3 hours to get to Kamino, but when the train stopped, I immediately grabbed my belongings and sped off the train in a hurry.
"Okay, where am I going?!" I ask whist I speed walk through the station.
"Follow these coordinates, and they'll lead you to his house." A few nanites go over my left eye and a map is shown.
"Yeeeees, sir." Without wasting another moment, I take my luggage and follow the coordinates.
It didn't long to find the house since it was a twenty-minute walk. When I arrived, the house looked fancier than the average home. It had a fresh coat of paint, a healthy green lawn with a tree in the middle, a gate that leads to the front door, a garage, and a few flower bushes around it. I walked through the gate and knocked on the hunter green door.
The nanites disappear into my googles as the door opens up to reveal an older man somewhere in his late 60's or early 70's. He wore jeans, a grey jacket over a blue button-up shirt, and white running shoes. His hairstyle reminded me of Midoriya's of how messy it was, but his hair was black. His eyes were rather big and oval-shaped with brown irises and black rectangular eyelashes.
"Well, well, well. So this is the young lady the great Tony Stark was pestering me about last night." The old man laughed with a soft hearty tone, "I'm surprised he's asked me to teach you, but I guess it makes sense given most of the Marvel Generation heroes are in the US."
"Wait," I blink a couple of times, "You know his secret?!"
"He probably lied and said no one knows he is alive on the internet, but that's just it, a lie. Truthfully, only a select few of us know across the world about him living online. I'm the only one in all of Japan who knows." The old man explained as he steps aside, "Come inside Miss Hatsume, we have much to talk about."
I walk inside the house and turn to the elder, "Excuse me, but Tony never told me who you are."
"Really?" The old man questions, "I shouldn't be surprised, that geezer couldn't remember my face even if his life depended on it."
"Not true, jackass." Tony appears next to me with his arms crossed. The old gentleman looks startled for a moment but quickly turns into attraction as he curiously studies Tony.
"Wow! You look like a stuck-up businessman." The older fellow chuckled and made his way into the living room. Tony and I followed him. The old man has a cup of water in his hands and drinks from it. "So, you want me to teach this kid?"
"Yes, I do." Tony sighs, "I would prefer Reed Richards or Peter Parker, but they're in the US currently. You were the only one in Japan right now so I'm forced to go with you."
"You make it sound like it's a bad thing." The old man rolls his eyes.
"You never really matured as a person. You still keep that child attitude of yours. Not to mention you were never a full-fledged hero so your experience isn't as valuable as theirs." Tony shook his head.
"And what's wrong with that? A hero's gotta learn that they shouldn't take everything so seriously or they lose that fun side of themselves." The older man drank more water from the cup. "Plus I was a great hero. I didn't make the top 100 on my lonesome, but with my team, we sure made top 20."
I put my hands in front of me, "Wait, hold up," I say, "Just who are you exactly? You never answered that."
"Right." The old man threw his glass cup in the air. I was about to catch it, but a horde black beads suddenly appeared from under my feet and grabbed the cup. They traveled into the kitchen where they put the cup in the sink and came back to form a chair for the old man to sit on. The beads moved him around as they reminded me of nanites. The beads took him into the living room where the elder looked to me with a smile.
"My name is Hiro Hamada, and I am the creator of Nanite Technology."
I'm sorry this chapter is short; I didn't know how to continue it. Plus, it's not a major event so back to the shorter chapters.
Also, who was surprised I added Big Hero 6's Hiro Hamada into the story? Not a well known Marvel character even after the movie and TV series came out. I was thinking of Spider-Man and Reed Richards, but then I had to think of what their business was in Japan and couldn't come up with one. That's when I remembered Big Hero 6 and immediately thought of Hiro. Hatsume's second mentor, Hiro Hamada.
Next time on 'Iron Maiden'
Hatsume: Hiro Hamada? I never heard of you.
Hiro: I'm not surprised. I was with a team most of the time, we were called, 'Big Hero 6.'
Hatsume: Big Hero 6? I heard of them!
Hiro: You remember us? Well, I'll be damned. Alright kid, let's get started! First lesson: DODGE!
Hatsume: Ow! I wasn't ready!
Hiro: Villains don't care! You have to be ready for any- ah crap you're bleeding!
Tony: What the hell, Hiro?! I said train her not kill her!
Baymax: Hello, I am Baymax.
Hatsume: That is one puffy, adorable, and huggable marshmallow. I want one.
Hiro and Hatsume: Next time on 'Iron Maiden!' Hatsume's Internship! Who is Hero Killer: Stain?!
See ya next time!