"Betrayals"

Tony Stark (the adult version that is - Confused Steve) dodged another repulser blast from his teenage counterpart. 'This kids using full power repulsers, I still can't believe he killed Masque. I've got to take this fight outside SE, the damage this wanna-be me's done must already rate up into the millions, and if he hits the fuel tanks in the hanger then we can all say goodnight.' Iron Man cranked his repulsers up to full power and shot off towards the perimeter fence, the faux Iron Man hot on his heels. Seconds later they were over the fence and passing over some nearby woodland. After doing a quick scan to check the area was deserted and suitable, Iron Man slammed on his air brakes. Before faux Iron Man knew what had happened, he had already overshot. As he flew past, Iron Man hit him with a low level repulser blast, directed at his foot. The blow sent Faux - Iron Man into a spin, head over heels. Pressing his advantage, Iron Man set up a gravity pocket beneath his teenage counterpart, forcing him to the ground. Iron Man descended slowly towards his immobilised opponent, being careful to avoid the increased gravity pocket that he had set up. 'With an opponent as dangerous as this guy, I think it would be prudent to incapacitate now and ask questions later!' Tony thought as he loomed over the teenage Stark, charging up his armour's stun ray. Suddenly a mighty shadow engulfed both Iron Men. Tony looked up, and to his astonishment he saw none other than:-

"Fin Fang Foom!"

Distracted, Tony didn't notice the Faux - Iron Man force a hand up from the ground. The full power repulser blast struck Iron Man square on the helmet rendering him unconscious, or worse. As suddenly as he had appeared, Fin Fang Fum disappeared into thin air. Teen Tony struggled up from the ground, perspiration dripped off of his young face. A cocky look once again manifested itself on his face. He loomed over the prone Iron Man, gauntlets raised, preparing to administer the killing blow, the power visibly building up in the nozzles of the repulsers.

"No." a booming voice commanded. "I still have my uses for him." Teen Tony whirled to see Mysterio stepping out of the surrounding foliage.

"No!" Teen Tony argued, "I want my revenge. That was part of the deal."

"Not anymore." Mysterio calmly announced as he shot Teen Tony with a tranquilliser pistol. The tranquilliser took effect immediately and Teen Tony fell to the ground next to his adult counterpart. "Ha ha ha."

Mysterio laughed triumphantly, "All is going exactly as planned. Now all that remains to do is take both Tony Starks to my satellite for scanning. Once I have their appearances on record I can dispose of them and assume Starks position as head of Stark Enterprises."

"I think not." a voice from behind Mysterio announced. "As protector of Tony Stark, the real Tony Stark, I cannot allow it."

"Ah, Meredith isn't it?" Mysterio asked without turning round. "You pose no threat to me. On your way."

"Master." Meredith whispered into thin air. Almost immediately, the air hummed with energy, heralding the arrival of none other than Kang the Conqueror. Kang loomed over Mysterio menacingly before turning his attention to Meredith and the fallen Teen Tony.

"You are too important to my plans to be endangered. Be gone home." he commanded. On cue Meredith and the prone Teen Tony shimmered and vanished, transported by Kang's immense power. He turned his gaze on Mysterio once again. "Do not meddle in my affairs again." he warned. He turned and disappeared back into the time stream. As a parting gift he teleported Mysterio into a holding cell in the Stark Enterprises complex. Minutes later a jeep arrived at the scene of the battle. Jim Rhodes disembarked, along with a Stark security team.

"Lets get him in the jeep. He may need medical attention." Rhodes ordered the security squad.

Hours later, Tony came to in the infirmary, on the very same bed that Masque had laid just hours earlier. As his vision slowly focused, he made out the figures of Jim Rhodes, Mrs Arbogast and another female in a white gown, presumably a doctor, Tony reasoned. Suddenly it dawned on him, he wasn't wearing his face mask. "Everyone knows who I am!" he blurted, still groggy.

"Shhh." comforted the doctor. "You're okay."

"Yeah man, you suffered some pretty bad concussion." Jim explained.

"You're going to have to rest for a few days, take it easy like."

"But they….." Tony stopped in mid sentence as he saw that he wasn't wearing any of his armour.

"Can we have a moment alone please?" Jim requested of the doctor.

"Of course." As soon as the doctor had left Jim turned back to Tony.

"Its okay man, I got you out of your armour before you got here. No-one knows your secret. Everyone thinks both you and Iron Man were brought here for separate reasons, and Iron Man flew off just before he entered the infirmary."

"That’s a great relief, but you're still wrong. Someone does know of my identity. Mysterio."

"That could be a problem."

"Did he escape?"

"No, in fact he seemed to have turned himself in. We found him sealed in a holding cell on level 5."

"Strange. Are you sure it's him?"

"Positive."

"You know what we've got to do don't you?"

"Oh no. Don't even think it. I am not wearing the armour or dressing up like you. I don't do make up."

"You've got to wear the armour."

"No. I vowed never to wear armour again."

"You've got to confront your fears to overcome them Jim."

"No, no, no, no… oh man, you're not going to give up are you?"

"Nope."

"This is the last time man, no more."

Mysterio sat humming in his cell. There wasn't much else he could do, the cell was pitch black and made of carbodium. His melodies were suddenly interrupted by the hiss of the cell door. Smoothly and quickly, it retracted into the wall to reveal a lone silhouette. It took Quentin Beck's eyes a few seconds to adjust, but when they did he could make out the figure of Tony Stark. "The police are on their way Mysterio. Its all over for you. My security systems have disabled all your gadgets. There's no escape for you."

"I've heard that before. Tony, or should I say Iron Man. Ha ha ha."

"Oh yeah, there's someone else who wants a word with you." On cue Iron Man rounded the corner and entered the cell.

"What!" Mysterio shouted, amazed. "How, who, why."

"Just because the other Tony Stark was Iron Man in his reality doesn't mean I am here you fool. My prestigious bodyguard will be keeping a close eye on you from now on. Your career as a villain is over." With that Tony Stark and Iron Man turned and exited the cell, the door hissing into place behind them.

"You think he believed that?" Jim asked when the pair were in private.

"Did you see the look on his face? He believed it. Top notch performance handling the armour, you sure you won't make a come back?"

"Positive. This is the last time you'll get me in this coffin now this thing is over."

"I don't know, something tells me we haven't heard the last of this." Tony warned.