~Malibu Port, Seaside Villa~
A large crane was in operation, its steel boom removing collapsed precast concrete slabs and load-bearing columns one by one, while workers in hard hats cleared the rubble...
The basement that once displayed Iron Man suits and housed the Ultron program's development was now littered with debris and shrouded in dust. The massive explosion had destroyed the entire workshop, causing incalculable losses.
Based on the basic production cost of an Iron Man suit, each armor cost tens of millions of dollars. When equipped with full weaponry, energy drives, and artificial intelligence, the expenditure easily reached hundreds of millions. By that measure, the Mandarin's cruise missile had essentially blown up a small gold mine.
Amid the ruins of the seaside villa, the foundation suddenly trembled. The cleanup crew heard the dense sound of interlocking gears as, under J.A.R.V.I.S.'s control, lights flickered on in the deeper underground space. Then, over twenty Iron Man suits soared into the sky.
This was Tony's envisioned Iron Legion. They were remotely controlled by J.A.R.V.I.S. for multi-threaded and coordinated combat. Each suit had unique features tailored for different combat environments.
This insane approach to warfare was essentially burning money for fun, something only Iron Man, backed by the entirety of Stark Industries, could afford.
It perfectly illustrated the timeless truth that with enough money, one could indeed do as they pleased...
....
Upon realizing Killian's true target was the president aboard Air Force One, Tony hastily called Sean...
The moment the call connected, the sound of violent explosions and chaotic gunfire erupted from the other end.
<...The Mandarin's a fake! Killian's the real mastermind! Their target is the president!..>
Tony said quickly.
"Your timing is impeccable," came the sarcastic reply, "I was just about to tell you that Killian is on a Roxxon Oil tanker off the coast of California. Oh, and bad news... Pepper is in their hands."
The sound of rapid gunfire punctuated the conversation. Tony's heart raced at the news of Pepper's capture. He knew Killian was the real mastermind, and there was no telling what the man might do if pushed to desperation.
<...Can you handle the president?..>
Tony sounded uncharacteristically sheepish.
Iron Man had always prided himself as the superhero who saved the world, but when forced to choose between the President of the United States and his girlfriend, he wouldn't hesitate to pick the latter.
"Of course. I've been considering a career change to superhero lately," Sean said mockingly, "Iron Man gets to rescue his girlfriend while I deal with terrorists... Honestly, S.H.I.E.L.D. should just fire you and give me your spot on the Avengers."
<...Fury would probably love that...>
Tony sighed in resignation.
He knew this was asking a lot. The Ten Rings terrorists were all injected with Extremis. Even in his Mark-series armor, victory wasn't guaranteed.
<...I'm sorry. I really can't find anyone else. It's too late to contact S.H.I.E.L.D., and Rhodey has been captured too. I have no backup left...>
Tony rarely adopted such a humble tone. This was one of the few times in his life he'd been reduced to such a state.
Who would have thought the arrogant Iron Man could ever be brought to this point?
"Wow. Tony Stark apologizing... I recorded that. You don't mind if I post it online, do you?" Sean chuckled.
Having finally gotten his hands on blackmail material against Iron Man, he wasn't about to let it go. This would make for excellent entertainment during idle chatter.
<...You should be glad you're not standing in front of me right now!..>
Tony snapped, his earlier guilt evaporating instantly.
Sean didn't press further. After reassuring Tony that he'd handle Killian and rescue his beloved girlfriend, he decisively ended the call.
The smile faded from the young man's face as he held the immobilized Iron Patriot armor...
Ten minutes ago, Killian's men had brazenly infiltrated Air Force One wearing this very suit.
"Sorry about that. Had to take a call," Sean said with a faint smile, "Now... care to tell me where the president is?"
Eric Savin, a retired soldier and survivor of the Ultimate Soldier experiment, remained silent.
The Iron Patriot's mechanical arm swung up and slammed down with brutal force.
He had painstakingly eliminated the president's security detail. His plan was to use the Iron Patriot armor to 'airlift' the president to Killian, then blow up the plane and parachute to safety.
"You hijacked Air Force One, took it off the radar of the Presidential Airlift Group at Andrews Air Force Base, disabled the black box... all so you could operate freely." Sean continued speaking casually as he effortlessly snapped the gold-titanium alloy mechanical arm in two.
An opponent of this caliber couldn't even hold his interest.
The entire armor disassembled and peeled away as Savin ejected from the back with a roar...
His skin split open with dark red glowing patches, veins burning like fire, forming an intricate spreading web across his body.
His severed arm regenerated visibly amid clear agony. His crimson eyes locked onto Sean with unprecedented ferocity.
The air temperature spiked abruptly as Savin charged forward, his flaming fist hurtling toward Sean. The distance between them was so close, there was almost no room to evade.
Pumped with Extremis, Savin was brimming with confidence. He had tested his full-power punches multiple times. Even punching through thick steel plates was no challenge. No matter how strong his opponent was, they were still flesh and blood, right...?
The thought flashed through his mind just as excruciating pain shot from his knuckles straight to his brain. Savin's eyes widened as if he'd seen a monster.
The force that could punch through steel struck Sean's chest, only to leave nothing but a burnt hole in his white shirt. The powerful recoil alone left Savin reeling.
"Are you here to be funny?" Sean asked impassively.
He raised his hand, clamped down on Savin's right arm, and yanked outward violently.
*Riiip!*
With a sickening tear, the muscular arm separated from the body.
"I'm taking you down with me!" The insignificant underling's face twisted with madness.
Realizing his predicament (that he couldn't win), he resolved to drag his opponent to hell with him.
Savin channeled all his energy. The dark red patches on his skin flared like leaping flames, spreading from his core to his surface at an unprecedented speed.
Sean curled his lip. A faint golden glow flickered around him as he erected an impervious force field.
*Boom!*
A muffled explosion rang out, and then it was as if a rain of red burst forth!
Mangled limbs exploded outward. Warm blood mingled with pulped flesh before the 3000-degree Celsius heat vaporized everything, leaving only a wisp of smoke.
"Meaningless bravery." Sean offered his critique before striding toward the conference room.
Soon, he found President Ellis hiding under a table.
The leader of the nation looked thoroughly disheveled, his face was etched with lingering fear...
President Ellis recognized him immediately, "Sean Cyphers... Seeing you is such a relief!"
He had once awarded Sean and Curtis Connors the National Medal of Science at the White House, even praising the young man as America's brilliant rising star.
"Mr. President, I need your help," Sean said with a faint smile, the yellow gemstone at his palm glowing softly, "America will remember you."