The Invincible Iron Man #6

[fan4]

The Invincible Iron Man #6

Written by Timothy Eklund (rodan)
Edited by Aaron Martel (fan4)

Today, I attended my father’s funeral.

It was an inappropriately sunny day, for my father to be buried, but nevertheless, a large group of business associates gathered at the cemetery to mourn the passing of Howard Stark. Pepper was there, crying quietly in the back, in the arms of a grim-faced Hogan. I didn’t recognize many of the businessmen, but I could make out Hank Pym looking bored, and Abe Jenkins paying his respects. The priest droned on, and then Hogan got up for the eulogy. I didn’t really pay attention.

Afterwards, people kept coming to me and telling me how sorry they were for my loss. The only ones who really looked sorry were Hogan and Pepper, and they had already left.

I went home after the twentieth well-wisher.

Or rather, I went to my office. I sat at my desk in silence, thinking.

Had he known about this?

Did he see it coming? They had said his cause of death was “a sudden heart attack”. Can you predict something that “sudden”?

He had said he was “old and sick”. Did he suspect? Was that why he gave me the company? Why wouldn’t he tell me? I was off fighting “super-villains”, amputating limbs, even fighting giant robots, for Christ’s sake! While he was here, in New York, dying.

I should have been here. Right?

I did stop the Mandarin. Would he have wanted that?

Would he be proud of me?

I hope so. But that’s all I can do, hope.

Because my father is dead.

[fan4]

Today was the reading of the will. A large lawyer dabbed at his forehead with a handkerchief as he pulled out the document. He didn’t leave me much. I suppose the company was my big inheritance. I suppose he wanted to give it to me in person, maybe as a goodbye.

Who knows?

He left Pepper and Hogan a large sum of money each. Pepper cried some more, and Hogan just looked solemn.

That was pretty much it.

His big possession was the company, and he had already given that away; what did he have to give left? He’d even sold the house. There’s no way he didn’t expect it.

I guess what I should do is move on, act like he’d want me to, act like he did with mom.

I’ll keep the company intact and I’ll give up this silly “hero” business.

Or… not? What would he have wanted? Would he think I was insane? Would he be proud of me? I think... I think…

[fan4]

It’s been a month and I’ve barely left my lab. My old armor was mostly destroyed in the fight with the Mandarin, and I’ve been developing a replacement. I still can’t believe how basic the old armor had been, but then, that was on short notice, and I hadn’t exactly expected to be fighting any insane megalomaniacal villains with super-powers in it. This time I’m going all out. Iron Man will not just be a symbol of justice across the world; he will be a symbol of Stark Industries. Maybe I’ll even sell the armor to the army some day. Who knows?

I’ve got the repulsor rays, insulation, night vision, under-water breathing, extra plating, the old jet boots, and more.

It will be great.

He would be proud.

[fan4]

Tony Stark stood at the podium, looking better than ever. It had been three months since the death of his father, and the incident with the Mandarin. During the course of that time he had spent his days locked in his laboratory, developing a new invention, or at least an update of an old one. Today, he had washed and dressed himself up for the first time in a long while, and was ready to face the press. The sea of reporters was intimidating, but he wasn’t swayed.

Then the questions came.

“What’s your comment on the Mandarin incident?” barked a reporter.

“I think Iron Man did an excellent thing, stopping a known criminal, and I hope he can do many more such deeds in the future.”

“How has the death of your father affected you?” yelled another.

“Um… I think it hasn’t affected me, I think I can continue to make good decisions, and if anything, it has made me stronger.”

“The Mandarin was crippled in that incident. Do you have any thoughts on that?”

“I’m sorry it happened, and as a token of regret, we will completely fund the creation of artificial hands for the Mandarin.”

“What do you have to say about the use of Stark products in recent criminal activities?”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“For example, there was an incident in New Mexico where a pair of criminals used Stark Industries inventions to kill a large amount of people. What do you have to say about that?”

“I don’t believe it to be true, and if it does happen to be an actual problem, then it will be dealt with as soon as possible.”

“So, what have you been doing for the past few months?”

“Ah, I was hoping you’d ask that,” grinned Tony Stark, as some workers wheeled out a figure covered in a gray sheet. “I’ve been working on Iron Man’s problem. I’ve managed to figure out a way to get him out of his damaged suit, and move him into a newer, improved model. I give you, the new Iron Man!”

With that, Tony pulled the drape of the cart to reveal a gleaming figure. The reporters gasped. Standing there was a red and gold suit, gleaming in the light. “Iron Man himself couldn’t be here today, since he’s currently going through the procedure of separation from the suit, but I thought I’d unveil it a little early.” Tony Stark smiled, as the reporters went into a frenzy.

[fan4]

The next day, Iron Man soared through the sky. People in the street looked up at the amazing sight, and kids shouted in glee. “It’s Iron Man!”

Tony waved to the pedestrians as he flew low over the crowded streets of New York.

He felt great.

Eventually, he heard a scream, and soared into action. He found a mugger in an alley wrenching the purse out of a screaming woman’s hands. He landed in front of the dumbfounded crook. He let out a powerful punch into the gut of the would-be thief, who groaned and fell to the ground. Then he picked up the purse and returned it to the victim.

“Here you go, Ma’am. Be careful, and remember, support Stark Industries,” he said from behind the gold mask. Then he turned, and flew off with the thief in tow, heading for the police station…

[fan4]

Epilogue:

The Mandarin lay, not waking, in a military hospital. Since he was only convicted for the kidnapping, assault, and theft charges dealing with Stark, he was incarcerated in an American prison just outside of New York City.

Then he stirred, and the Mandarin awoke. He was confused, disoriented. His hands felt… strange. He lifted them to his face, and yelled in anguish and rage…

[fan4]

Elsewhere, in a crowded room filled with various contraptions and plans, an eccentric man was testing the fruits of his labor. He mounted the power tank to his back, and picked up the rifle. He aimed carefully, and then fired! His target, an ordinary safe, was reduced to a puddle of gray sludge.

“Excellent,” he said with a manic grin…

The end