A week had passed...
The turbulent and chaotic America had finally calmed down.
Though the nation was still shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere, with people occasionally taking to the streets to lay flowers and candles for the innocent victims of the bombings, and television stations broadcasting the sensational funeral as if everyone was momentarily immersed in grief.
But time would heal all wounds. The world did not exist for any one person, and life had to go on, whether in good or bad shape.
Even if they had lost family members or a national leader, the trajectory of life did not stop turning for anyone...
...
The sky was azure and cloudless on this day, and the morning sun felt warm against the skin...
On the lawn of Umbrella, Maya Hansen pushed Pepper, who was seated in a wheelchair. The two outstanding women chatted, seemingly getting along quite well.
"Your ex-girlfriend and current girlfriend are together. Why are you just standing there watching? Go join them." Sean walked onto the transparent corridor and leaned on the railing with his hands, a smirk forming on his lips.
It was rare to see the usually suave Tony Stark looking so frustrated.
"You did this on purpose, didn't you? You just had to put Maya and Pepper together!" Tony grumbled.
Over the past few days, he had endured no shortage of sarcasm and ridicule from Pepper, who had dredged up all his past romantic escapades.
This was inevitably awkward for the once-prolific playboy. Not everyone was willing to confront their own reckless past.
"Extremis was Dr. Maya Hansen's invention. It's only logical that I entrusted Pepper to her care," Sean shrugged, his tone innocent.
Only heaven knew if he was secretly laughing inside, waiting for the drama to unfold...
Tony was left speechless, turning away in irritation. He blamed it all on that bastard Killian. He had injected Pepper with Extremis.
If not for sheer luck allowing her to endure the agonizing genetic transformation, the brilliant Pepper Potts might have exploded into a fireball.
Even now, the thought sent a chill down his spine. There were too few people in this world worth cherishing, and losing Pepper, the one who had always been by his side, was a pain Tony didn't know how he could bear.
A week had passed since the terrorist attacks by the Ten Rings and the Mandarin. Having summoned the entire Iron Legion, Tony engaged in a fierce battle with Killian's Extremis-enhanced soldiers aboard a cargo ship off the coast of California.
To be honest, this was likely the most dangerous fight Iron Man had ever faced.
After undergoing the Ultimate Soldier transformation, Killian had evolved beyond human limits. His physical capabilities were elevated to terrifying levels. He could even dodge repulsor blasts at point-blank range.
Moreover, his regenerative abilities were formidable. As long as his heart or brain remained intact, he could heal rapidly. The extreme heat he generated allowed him to spew flames capable of melting metal, and he dismantled several Iron Man suits barehanded, leaving Tony almost defenseless.
"By the way, I'm sorry I couldn't save the president," Sean said, lowering his eyelids, his tone somber.
"It's not your fault. No one could've expected those bastards to just blow up the plane," Tony waved it off.
The Ten Rings had destroyed Air Force One, killing President Ellis and all the Secret Service agents aboard. The incident was dubbed America's second '9/11', shocking the world and plunging the nation into mourning, much like the assassination of Kennedy.
Vice President Underwood immediately assumed office, formally moving into the White House and swiftly reorganizing the cabinet.
With rapid responses and deft maneuvering, he stabilized the country's turbulent situation. Not long ago, at Arlington National Cemetery, he had delivered a grief-stricken eulogy, declaring this a trying ordeal for America. He vowed never to yield to terrorists and called upon every citizen to bravely unite and overcome the crisis.
The speech was met with widespread acclaim, with many believing that under this new president's leadership, America could dispel the dark clouds of terrorism and welcome long-awaited light.
Sure enough, the Ten Rings were soon dismantled. The mastermind, Aldrich Killian, was killed by Iron Man, while Trevor Slattery, the actor who played the Mandarin, was arrested and sent to prison, joining Tony's old 'friend', Justin Hammer.
With the perpetrators punished, the public's fury was vented, and the once-overwhelming outcry gradually subsided.
Life returned to normal, and aside from the country having a new leader, everything seemed back to the way it was...
"All of this... the root of the mistake was me," Tony murmured, gazing at the verdant lawn, a flicker of regret crossing his face, "I created Killian, and he, in turn, created the Ten Rings and the Mandarin. That prank in 1999... might have been one of the biggest mistakes of my life."
Over the past days, he had been reflecting on his past. His once-arrogant and abrasive personality had indeed hurt many people. Pride might be a Stark family trait, but excessive cruelty was a bad habit he needed to shed.
"Tony Stark engaging in self-reflection? Now that's rare," Sean chuckled, lightening the heavy atmosphere.
It seemed the self-centered Iron Man was undergoing a transformation, maturing and bidding farewell to his former playboy persona.
"Before he died, Killian said something strange... He said the Mandarin would avenge him, and he said it in Mandarin. But the Mandarin doesn't exist. There's no Ten Rings either." Tony was puzzled.
He had investigated everything. After graduating, Killian had founded A.I.M., dedicated to building a scientific think tank. He had long received investments from mysterious unidentified organizations, but tracing the leads only led to offshore shell companies, with no way to track the real flow of funds.
The only notable detail was that Killian had once visited China and was fond of Eastern culture. Beyond that, there were no other useful clues...
"Do you really think the Mandarin exists? That actor playing him is sitting quietly and obediently in prison. I heard he's even become something of a celebrity," Sean patted Tony on the shoulder reassuringly, "Find yourself a good therapist. Your anxiety is severe."
"Maybe you're right." Stark nodded.
He, too, thought he might be overthinking it. The nightmare was over, the crisis resolved, and the chapter closed.
Though Iron Man hadn't saved the world in the end, at least the Ten Rings had been destroyed, and the mastermind had faced justice.
In a way, Tony had done all he could. Even if some had still been hurt along the way.
But as Sean had said, they weren't omniscient saviors. They couldn't play the role of God.
"Pepper said you took a sample of Extremis?" Sean asked casually, "Don't go experimenting with dangerous things."
"I have my own ideas," Tony replied vaguely.
Killian's Extremis had given him inspiration. The power of the Iron Man armor alone wasn't enough. He needed to become stronger.
At the very least, he hoped that when the next crisis came, no one else would have to suffer...