[center][h2][COLOR=red]I R O N M A N[/COLOR][/H2] [img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/520041678032207887/756015896140578826/Logo.png[/img][/center] [COLOR=red][indent][sub][I]Stark Tower, New York City[/I] - [I]Present Day[/I][/sub][sup][right]Issue 1.01.01: Never a Dull Day[/right][/sup][/indent][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][sub][B]Interaction(s):[/B] [I]None[/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Previously:[/b] [I]None[/I][/right][/SUP][/indent][/color] [color=f49ac2]"We are five minutes from the grand unveiling. Now is not the time to start drinking."[/color] Tony leaned back in his chair, looking out the window while dressed in a red suit. Clutched in his hand and half drunk was a glass of scotch, coming from a bottle that Tony had already forgotten the name of. It was probably something fancy, knowing the kinds of things people sent him. His bloodshot eyes traced over the rest of the New York skyline leading out towards the bay, the red veins more of a sign of his lack of sleep than anything. Tony turned his gaze back towards Pepper, who was sporting a matching red jacket and skirt. She had the same look she always had towards him these days: frustration. He raised an eyebrow at her, flashing the usual smartass grin that seemed to be permanently glued to his face when around her. [color=red]"My mouth was dry. I needed something to drink-"[/color] [color=f49ac2]"There's this magical drink called water, Tony. I know you're aware of it, because you always had me stock overpriced bottles of it in the fridge right behind you."[/color] Pepper shook her head as she held up the tablet that she held in the crook of her arm, tapping away at the screen. [color=f49ac2]"I had JARVIS double check the energy readings and run a practice test this morning-"[/color] [color=red]"JARVIS, run the numbers again."[/color] Tony quickly downed the rest of his drink as he stood up, walking over towards the window as he looked down at the street below. The area right outside of the Tower had already been sectioned off for the big event. The press trucks were assembled, and the reporters were already taking their seats. From up here, they looked like ants. For a moment, a thought crossed through Tony's mind. [color=red][i]Is that what he thinks of us?[/i][/color] A disembodied voice cut through the awkward silence. [color=gold]"Sir, all readings indicate the reactor is stable. Do you need anything else, sir?"[/color] Tony shook his head, walking back over to his desk and tapping on the glass covering. The desk lit up, revealing an embedded monitor setup with security footage covering all the building entrances and the reactor room. [color=red]"Just keep me posted if there's any irregular chatter coming from the NYPD or the SHIELD detail."[/color] Pepper rolled her eyes. [color=f49ac2]"If anything happens, Rhodey can take care of it."[/color] Tony shook his head, walking past her and towards the elevator. [color=red]"And if Rhodey doesn't, JARVIS is going to keep the engine running in case he needs backup."[/color] As if on cue, a large boom echoed from somewhere in the city. Tony turned his gaze out the window, his eyes falling upon smoke coming from the Brooklyn Bridge. In his ear, a familiar voice began barking orders. [color=silver]"Air support, get me eyes on the bridge. What are we looking at?"[/color] [color=gray]"From the looks of it... we're looking at AIM units on the bridge. And some sort of... cannon? Moving in for a closer... no, pull up, pull-"[/color] Tony and Pepper watched in horror out the window as they saw the quinjet approaching the Brooklyn Bridge get struck down with a large blast of blue light from the bridge. Tony turned his gaze towards Pepper, who simply sighed. [color=f49ac2]"I'll use one of the usual excuses."[/color] Tony nodded, walking away from the elevator and towards the stairs behind the bar. He pressed down on the communicator in his ear. [color=red]"Sorry to barge in Commander, but this looks like a job for our mutual friend."[/color] Tony could practically see his friend hanging his head in defeat. With the silent acceptance, Tony moved his finger away from the communicator, speaking out loud. [color=red]"JARVIS, is the Centurion in the chamber?"[/color] [color=gold]"Of course, sir."[/color] Tony walked up to the top of the stairs, which led to a small landing. To the left was a set of sliding glass doors that led out to a small landing platform. To the right, however, was a sliding cylindrical door that opened to reveal the front half of the suit. Tony walked up into it as if it were second nature, lifting his arms to fit into the outstretched figure of the suit. As his feet slid into the boots, the chamber began spinning as metal arms lowered themselves to stitch up the armor. Within seconds, the silver and red metal plating locked in around him. By the time he was facing the sliding glass doors on the other side, the suit had closed in around him and the faceplate slid down. It always took a moment until the display inside the helmet, but the red and blue display lit up to provide data accompanying the panorama view to match what his vision would show. The Iron Man lifted both of his feet out of the footholds in the chamber, and walked out onto the launch pad. Tony lowered his hands to his sides with his palms facing downwards, and the repulsors on his legs and feet activated to launch the Iron Man into the air. Tony flew down low, weaving in between the skyscrapers of Manhattan as he approached the Brooklyn Bridge. He could hear screaming and police sirens, the wails of ambulances approaching and shouting on megaphones. All of it sort of blended in together at this point as the Iron Man raced towards the terrorists. And within but a few moments, Tony began making his main approach as he flew over the highway directly towards the bridge. His HUD began automatically marking the terrorists, little parts of his screen zooming in to confirm the beekeeper-like hostiles. And, of course, part of his screen zoomed in and held on a large metal truck that had a large cannon on top of it. The interior of the cannon began glowing blue, and Tony squinted his eyes as he heard something faint in the audio mix coming from the internal speakers. [color=red]"JARVIS... isolate the audio coming from the cannon."[/color] [color=gold]"Right away, sir."[/color] Almost instantaneously, all the sounds of New York were stripped away. The roaring winds and thunderous sounds of his repulsors launching him forward were stripped as well, leaving a single sound. A familiar whining sound that Tony had first heard years upon years ago. His eyes widened. [color=red]"That's... a repulsor cannon?!"[/color]