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December
Year 2 |
Iron Man fires another round of pulse bolts at Firepower. "You're working for Hammer! Admit it!" Iron Man says, barely able to control the anger boiling through his veins as he faces his foe in the skies above unending miles of Russian snow.
Firepower unleashes a barrage of missles at the Golden Avenger. "Sure. He was willing to supply me with a new armor, after the Army drummed me out for our last encounter!" (all the way back in Iron Man #231 - Matt)
Iron Man executes a complex evasive maneuver that allows him to avoid Firepower's missiles. However, Iron Man recognizes that the missiles are radar guided and acts appropriately. Selecting his defensive menu on his onboard computer, Iron Man activates his chaff program - sections of his guantlet open, unleashing a flurry of bits of aluminum, designed to throw off radar. "This will render my radar useless as well, but I don't need it for my systems!" Iron Man thinks as he decides to take the old-fashioned approach: he flies straight at Firepower and slugs him.
"Then tell me - why is Hammer waging war on Stark Enterprises? Why did he destroy my plant in Canada?" (he's referring to the events of two issues ago - Matt)
"In Canada? We didn't attack anything in Canada. Besides, you started this. You blew up Mr. Hammer's facility in Birmingham, England!"
Iron Man pauses. "No I didn't. Wait a minute - this looks like a setup. Someone's playing both sides for fools."
"That may be," Firepower agrees. "But that doesn't change the fact that the main reason I took this job was so I could get a piece of you!" Firepower unleashes a flurry of proximity bombs.
Iron Man tries to avoid them, and even though the chaff is causing the bombs to be less precise than they normally would, the explosions still buffet our hero about. "Some minor systems damage, but the suit will hold," Iron Man thinks. "Sometimes I wonder how even I can afford to keep this thing running after the things I put it through."
"There's no need for this, Firepower," Iron Man says, even as he fires his repulsors at his foe. "Some third party is responsible for this. Perhaps we can even work together to discover who it is."
"Are you crazy?" Firepower queries as he tries his lasers. "I don't care about that. I'm here to humiliate you. That's enough for me."
Iron Man only half-heartedly tries to dodge the laser blasts - he knows that they're well below his refractory coating's tolerance range. "I've got to get rid of this idiot. Perhaps this calls for something a little different."
Iron Man rockets past Firepower, leaving the dissipating aluminum cloud behind him. Pressing his jet boots to their maximum, Iron Man leaves Firepower far behind.
"Come back here, you coward!" Firepower yells as he desperately tries to catch up.
"He's nowhere near as fast as I am," Iron Man thinks as he looks back at his pursuer. "The distance between us is increasing - which means it's the perfect time for this!" Iron Man aims his gauntlets at Firepower and unleashes his pulse bolts. "My pulse bolts increase in power the further they travel," Iron Man thinks. "Which means that by the time they strike Firepower, they should be quite devastating."
Firepower, traveling at full speed, is unable to avoid the oncoming bolts. Iron Man's prediction is soon proven true - the pulse bolts create extensive damage to Firepower's outer structure, and causes several system failures that render the armor inoperative. Firepower begins to panic as he plummets to the ground, but Iron Man quickly swoops down and catches him.
"Alright Firepower, we've had our little fun," Iron Man says. "Now you're going to tell me where I can find Justin Hammer. And no playing around, or I'm going to leave you here in the middle of a snowbank."
Justin Hammer reclines in his leather chair, enjoying the warmth of his fire and the taste of his wine. He glances around the room, taking in the beautiful paintings adorning the walls. He reflects that it's nice to have a little place to go and relax every once in a while. Slowly, he turns his head towards the door to his study as he hears some sort of disturbance. The study's oak doors burst of their hinges and fly inward. Iron Man enters carrying the limp form of Firepower.
"Greetings, Iron Man," Hammer says as he rises from his seat. "Can I get you some sort of refreshment?"
"No thanks, Hammer," Iron Man replies curtly. "I'm here purely on business." Iron Man deposits Firepower on the floor. "Nice hydroplane, by the way."
"You know I only buy the best," Hammer answers. "Now, what sort of business did you wish to discuss? Some sort of threat, I presume."
"No, Hammer. We're being played for fools. Mr. Stark didn't destroy your Birmingham plant, and I know you didn't destroy his plant in Canada. It was a setup. Someone wants us at each other's throats."
"Not a hard task to accomplish, eh?" Hammer says with a smirk as he sets his wine glass on his desk. "And who set our respective firms at each other's throats?"
"I don't know for sure," Iron Man says, "but I believe it's a person of our mutual acquaintance. A fellow by the name of the Ghost."
"Yes, he does seem a likely candidate," Hammer agrees. "He does have a history with both of our companies. I suppose Mr. Stark wishes a truce to defeat our common enemy."
"As much as it pains me to say this," Iron Man nods, "yes."
"And in financial news today, Stark Enterprises CEO Anthony Stark and Hammer Industries head Justin Hammer announced that the two companies would be working on a joint venture."
"What the hell?!" the Ghost exclaims as he leaps from his chair and stares at the television screen. He sees a sight he never thought he would see: Tony Stark and Justin Hammer shaking hands at a press conference. He scrambles to turn up the volume on his set.
"What that venture might be is still unknown, but word is Stark and Hammer are currently ironing out the final details at the Four Seasons in New York."
"Wait a minute, wait a minute," the Ghost says. "This can't be. I had them at each other's throats. There's no way they would come together, unless... unless they know they've been set up. They may even realize I did it. It's a trap. Sorry, boys, but the Ghost is too smart for you."
The Ghost switches off the television and smiles. "No, they'll have to try better than that." The Ghost's smile fades as he further ponders the situation. "But on the other hand, I probably will never have another chance to have both of them in the same place at the same time. With the figure- heads eliminated, the corporate bodies will crumble easily."
Later, at the Four Seasons:
"Are you certain I can't offer you a drink?" Justin Hammer says as he looks at his armored companion.
"No thanks, Hammer," Iron Man says as he silently continues his sensor sweep. "Still no sign of the Ghost," Iron Man thinks, "not that I necessarily expect to detect him."
"You never did tell me why you're guarding me and not your employer," Hammer says suspiciously.
"Other arrangements have been made for Mr. Stark," Iron Man says impatiently. "Now if you don't mind..."
Suddenly the room goes dark.
"What the devil?" Hammer asks, desperately trying to peer through the blackness.
Iron Man remains still, activating his infared sensors. "No, nothing," he thinks. "I didn't think I'd be able to pick up the Ghost, but I can keep an eye on Hammer. If the Ghost acts as I expect him to..."
"Gakk!"
"Yep," Iron Man thinks as he sees the area around Hammer's neck disappear from his infared picture, "just as I thought. Now I'll activate the targeting computer to fire a pattern around Hammer - I just hope he's got enough sense to stay still."
Iron Man's repulsors blanket the air around Hammer. Iron Man hears a cry of pain from the Ghost, followed by an indignant, "What the hell do you think you're doing?" from Hammer. Iron Man immediately switches on the light in his unibeam and catches a quick glimpse of the Ghost holding his rib cage before he again fades from sight.
"Head towards the door!" Iron Man orders Hammer. As soon as Hammer nears the door, Iron Man deactivates his unibeam. "I can't give my position away," he thinks. Hammer slams the door behind him, and Iron Man activates his broadcasting system, emitting an ultrasonic sound designed to damage human hearing.
"GAHHH!" the Ghost screams.
"It sounded like he was following Hammer out into the hall," Iron Man thinks. "I've got to follow him." Iron Man bursts through the door and scans the hall. Near the window at the far end, he sees Hammer cowering before an unseen foe. Iron Man emits his localized electromagnetic pulse (last used in Iron Man #345 - remembering the good old days Matt). The e-m pulse knocks out all electrical systems within a half-mile radius, including Iron Man's armor, the Ghost's cloaking systems, and unfortunately, all the lights in the Four Seasons. Iron Man sees the Ghost's silhouette materialize in front of the moonlit window.
"Good job, Iron Man," the Ghost congratulates his foe. "You get the victory once again. But you should know that the Ghost will win the war!" Before Iron Man can react, the Ghost dives out of the window to the street below. Iron Man moves to the window as fast as he can, but his armor is stiff from the lack of power, and by the time he reaches the window scant seconds later he can find no sign of the Ghost.
"Well," Hammer says as he gets up and dusts himself off, "that takes care of that. I assume Anthony will be paying for the damages to the hotel?"
"Of course," Iron Man replies. "But beware. This isn't the last we'll hear of the Ghost."
Next Issue: Beginning the long awaited crossover with The Mighty Thor! Tony goes to New York to check on the construction of SE's new facilities, but the Warhammer crews unearth a mysterious artifact that has ties to two old foes of our heroes! It's action and drama as only MV1 can deliver!
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