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October
Year 1 |
Looming over Iron Man is the green, armored form of the Titanium Man. This Titanium Man's armor is identical to that of the original, at least in its outward appearance. "I have brought you here to meet your fate, little one," the Titanium Man announces. "Prepare for your destiny!"
The Titanium Man raises both fists in the air and smashes down at Iron Man. Iron Man leaps back and manages to avoid the blow, but the force of Titanium Man's fists striking the floor creates a small shockwave, momentarily throwing Iron Man off balance. Before he can recover, he is blasted from behind by the Unicorn. As Iron Man lies on the ground, he ponders the situation. "Even if this is the Unicorn, his 'Other' can't be the original Titanium Man. I'll have to figure this out later - it's time to take the offensive!"
Iron Man's boot jets roar to life. Taking advantage of the building's high ceiling, he flies over the Titanium Man and the Unicorn and activates his repulsor's random firing sequence, aiming at the floor. "The debris flying through the air should confuse my two playmates," thinks Iron Man. Locking onto the energy signature from the Unicorn's power horn (the same one he was tracking last ish - Matt) Iron Man launches himself at his foe. Through the flying rubble, Iron Man streaks down towards the bewildered Unicorn. The force of impact is enough to knock the Unicorn unconcious. Iron Man turns to see the Titanium Man, unaffected, striding towards him through the cloud of dust.
"You prove nothing besting a foe with a fragile mind. I have waited for this day for some time, Iron Man. You will find my intellect to be more than a match for you." From his gauntlets, the Titanium Man unleashes pulse bolts much like Iron Man's. Iron Man reacts quickly and avoids the main force of the blast, which destroys the wall behind him. However, the shockwave is powerful enough to send Iron Man flying across the room. He slams into the far wall and hits the ground. The Titanium Man is there in an instant, and proceeds to thrash Iron Man about like a rag doll.
"I know what you're thinking," says the Titanium Man as he continues to pummel Iron Man. "You're thinking, who is this man and how did he get this magnificent armor? Well, I shall indulge your curiosity, hated one. My name is Nikolas Federov. I was one of the scientists who developed the original Titanium Man. My genius allowed the Titanium Man to become a reality, but only I saw the full potential for such a magnificent creation! My superiors imprisoned me for disagreeing with their short-minded goals, but an ally saw to my release! He supplied me with the materials to build an even better armor and put it to greater use! The Soviet system failed because one man did not have absolute rule - with this armor, I shall correct that!"
The Titanium Man slams Iron Man to the ground one final time. "I can't believe I've taken such a beating!" thinks our hero. "Repair systems are up and running - my defensive systems are at 65%, but offensive systems are still at 80%. The Titanium Man's underestimated me! I'd better play 'possum for a minute, though, so I can find out what he's got up his sleeve."
Iron Man slowly turns and rises into a crouched position. He sees Titanium Man walking toward him, brandishing a bazooka-sized weapon (just picture something Kirby would have designed). "Now, Iron Man, you will witness the newest example of my genius! Farewell, vile one!" Titanium Man aims at Iron Man. Iron Man attempts to dodge, but it is too late.
FFZZAAAPP!!
In New York, a youthful figure suddenly appears in an alleyway, and immed- iately falls unconcious.
In Los Angeles, Felix Alvarez and Jen McAllister are poring through files in Felix's office at Stark Enterprises. "This report for the shareholder's meeting tomorrow has been hell to put together. I'm glad we're almost finished," says an exasperated Jen.
"Well, it will all be worth it tomorrow afternoon," replies Felix. "You know, I haven't had time to review the records, but my assistant tells me there actually shouldn't be a large number of shareholders at the meeting. Apparently, a considerable portion of the stock was purchased by one man."
"Who?"
"I'm not sure. Like I said, I didn't have time to look myself and my assistant couldn't remember the name when I asked. We'll go look it up as soon as we finish."
Felix's intercom buzzes.
"Yes?"
"Mr. Alvarez, one of the stockholders is here. He says he'd like a tour of the facilities before the meeting tomorrow."
"Just a moment." Felix switches off the intercom and turns to Jen. "We'll finish this up later. I'll give our stockholder a quick look around."
Felix steps outside. Waiting is a slender, older, elegantly dressed man. "Hello," the man smiles. "I'm Justin Hammer."
The Titanium Man stands, holding his recently discharged weapon. "No! It cannot be!"
Iron Man gets up to his feet. "If the Titanium Man's weapon was supposed to make me nauseous, it worked. Can't let on, though," he thinks. "I'd say your tinkertoy's a disaster, Titanium Man," he asserts with as much strength as he can muster.
"I was in New York during Onslaught! I took readings of the effect in Central Park! My weapon should have recreated what happened to you and the other heroes! You should have been telepor- Ugh!"
Iron Man takes advantage of Titanium Man's confusion to blast him with his repulsors. He then rips off a section of the floor and hurls it at the Titanium Man. The Titanium Man rises, but Iron Man fells him with a blast of pulse bolts. "I've got to keep him reeling, I can't let him take the offensive again." Iron Man's Unibeam severs a section of the ceiling, and gravity sends it crashing on top of the Titanium Man. Suddenly, Iron Man is struck from behind.
"Have you forgotten me?" taunts the now-concious Unicorn.
"Not at all," replies Iron Man, who promptly returns fire. His blast misses, however. "I'm feeling another wave of nausea... getting slightly woozy. What did Titanium Man's weapon do?" Iron Man has no time to wonder further, because the Unicorn has launched a counter attack. Iron Man dodges most of the blasts, but takes a few hits. "I'd better widen my beam... I'm not sure if I could hit anything even with the computer the way I feel." Iron Man's wide blast glances the Unicorn, but ruptures a tank of the sleeping gas (like the Titanium Man used on Unicorn last ish - mellow Matt) stored against the wall behind Unicorn. The Unicorn is knocked out, but Iron Man activates his plexiglass shields in time to prevent the gas from affecting him.
He turns to the spot where the Titanium Man had fell. "He's gone! It looks like the Unicorn was enough to distract me while he made his getaway. Whatever he zapped me with has really affected me - I should have noticed him leaving. At least he left his weapon behind. I'll take it back to the States with me and have it analyzed. I wish I didn't have that meeting tomorrow... that's the last thing I need right now."
If only Iron Man new how true that was. Meanwhile, at a nearby safehouse, the Titanium Man ponders. "I should not have failed - but I did! However, as long as I am free, I am not defeated. The Unicorn was an effective tool, but to deal with Iron Man, I need a powerful ally! Justin Hammer was useful in providing me with the materials I needed in exchange for information, but he does not share my dreams. Wait! I know someone who would be perfect! Someone who wants to impose his will on the earth, who also bears a great hatred for Iron Man! I must contact him, and convince him to work with me. Then when I no longer need him, I shall eliminate him. But first I must find... the Mandarin!"
Next: The Hammer Strikes!
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