"You like to show off, don't you?"
"What can I say? it is a gift"
Seeing 42 Iron Man suits flying in the air and attack the incoming forces was sure a sight to behold, I will not lie.. it was exiting, but even if I want to stay and see the battle with my own eyes I have thing to do first.
"While you distract them, I will go to fetch your friend"
"Mhm? what are you talking about?"
I briefly explained Colonel Rhodes circumstances, I coudn't see his face, but I am pretty sure he was angry.
"So try to not destroy the ground during the fight..."
After a brief moment, he threw something to my direction.
"What is this?"
"It is an ear plug, so that we can communicate, tell me if you need any help"
As soon as he finished he flew into battle.
-----
Inside the underground facility, I was making my way through, it was extremely easy seems like all the men where outside, suddenly as if fate itself was trying to prove me wrong I came across an armed guard.
He pointed the weapon against me, but as soon as he saw my eyes turn orange and the sword glowing he panicked and threw it on the ground raising his arms in surrender.
I don't know why , but I was a little bit disappointed and looked at him in confusion.
"look man, I don't even want to work here, they are all strange.."
I looked at him in bewilderment for just a second before bursting out laughing.
"AHAHAH!!...Sorry I wasn't expecting that... tell me where Iron Paitriot is and you can go..."
He was more than happy to collaborate.
-----
"Stark, I know where Colonel Rhodes is, how is the battlefield? need help?"
"Umf... Yes? Well no, there are a lot of freaks but I can handle them.."
"Hey you are hurting my feelings...Are you sure? you seem tired?"
"umf, no I am fine, just a little workout, that's all..if you are worried get my friend out of there and join me.."
"Very well, one of the guards told me they were able to shut down the iron patriot's suit.."
"War Machine's suit" he said resolutely
"mmh? yes, sure..I was thinking how is that possible? shouldn't have security misure against it?"
"urgh..yes, they have either breached it or had access to a backdoor...if I have to bet I would choose the latter..."
I see that's probably the Vice President work, if i remember correctly he was helping Killian with the hope to heal his daughter...
"So how can I reactivate it?"
"mmm two way, one is to reset everything and change the security protocol ...the other one is faster and more direct...distroy everything that seems like a PC"
"Oh..easy"
-----
The underground facility wasn't big so I soon found what I was searching for, I could here some voices inside and recognized one of them.
A grin surfaced on my face.
"Sorry Tony, seems like i win"
"Wait, what?"
I stormed the room, I started by destroying the door. Three figure were inside: a man who was operating a PC, Rhodes who was fully awake, still inside his suit and was trying his best to not surrender and finally Aldrich Killian.
I would have expected him to go outside to battle or at least to flee, but he stayed behind trying to complete his plans...arrogance there is no other way to explain this, he was so sure to win that he didn't even bothered.
A mistake, i will make sure, he will have to pay dearly.
I ignored the other guy completely, a wrong move, but my anger clouded my judgement, then I jumped towards Killian, my anger was difficult to hide at this point.
He was fast to react and dodged my blow, unfortunately the only thing my blade met and cutted were some stone and cables.
"Behind you!!" Rhodey called, he was still stuck, but his armor was starting to turn on.
The other guy was trying to tackle me. I jumped dodging him, Killian thinking that I couldn't move midair threw me a steel pipe with all his strength, but to everyone surprise a burning magic cicle appeared under my boots giving me footing.
I was able to perform a double jump this way, dodging the blow, the pipe ended to hit the PC station destroying it.
That was a technique that I copied from Mordo, by inscribed some runes on my boots, it gives great manuavrabibilty to its user, obviously I coudn't let it go.
That move somehow stopped the fight.
"Arthur Penn, it is good to see you in full health...you are full of surprise, aren't you?"
"Hello boss, how is business going?"
"never been better.." he said with a confident smile.
"Are you sure about that? I know that you are short of Researcher...tell me how can you ensure your men loyalty if you can't give them the virus they need anymore?"
I could see the doubt growing in the eyes of Aldrich's guard.
Aldrich was afterall a smart person, he quickly understood that I played a role in Maya disappearance.
"mmm... so you did something to her, don't you? it doesn't matter I have still enough of it and all the datas. I can teach others how to create it..."
"Do you have it for every single one of them? you know that without it they will die, right?"
I could see his man losing the will to fight, he was probably doing this to survive, I kinda pity them but unfortunately there is no mercy on the battlefield.
"What is he talking about?"finally he asked to his boss.
"I see what are you trying to do Arthur, someone of them will die, why would I care? sacrifice are made for the greater good... enough talking..now die"
All this time Aldrich was focusing [Extremis] on his throat and as soon as he finished speaking a breath of fire came off his mouth.
I was quick to notice the change and protected me and Rhodey with my Golden Fleece.
" you lied to us!? are we only "sacrifices" in your eyes??" the guard was losing his mind in anger and jumped on Killian during his attack.
At the same time Rhodes was finally free from his bindings, he didn't wasted any time and opened fire on both with his machine gun.
When the dust calmed down we where surprised to see Killian still standing, he was hurt that was undeniable, his lava like skin and missing leg was a valid proof.
The other guy was unfortunately dead.
"AHAHAHA! you can't kill me I am The Mandarin, I am a legend.."
"Even Gods can die, you are nothing special.."
The Golden Fleece was shining in brilliant light, I pointed it in his direction.
A streak of light was shot soon after ending his miserable life.
"What the hell was that?" said James Rhodes.
"That was obliviously a Counter"