The moment the machine successfully roared to life, the cave's crude electrical circuit short-circuited. The entire holding cell plunged into absolute darkness.
Inside the Mark 1, Tony Stark flexed his metal fingers, the mechanical whirring echoing in the dark. "Gentlemen," he said, his voice muffled by the iron mask, "prepare yourselves to witness the latest breakthrough from the genius inventor, Tony Stark."
With a heavy, metallic thud, Tony took his first step toward the cave exit. Each stride carried the immense weight of the iron suit, vibrating through the stone floor.
Shiranui Hayate watched the billionaire show off with a dry smile. He signaled Pakkun to follow, while Yinsen, seeing everyone leaving, scrambled to keep pace.
As the group reached the mouth of the cave, they were met by a pair of eyes the size of lanterns—cold, reptilian, and utterly merciless. The hundred-meter body of the Blue Snake and its house-sized head were enough to make anyone's blood run cold.
If it weren't for the structural support of the armor, Tony's legs would have buckled. Yinsen wasn't so lucky; the sight of the titan sent him straight to the ground, his knees giving out instantly.
The Blue Snake lowered its head, its voice a low, vibrating hum. "Lord Hayate, the task is complete. No further enemies have appeared."
The snake clearly understood that those walking out with Hayate were not targets; otherwise, the "iron can" would have been flattened by a tail-swipe the second it emerged.
Hearing the monster address Hayate as "Lord," Tony realized this wasn't some freak of nature, but a subordinate of the man standing next to him. He glanced at Pakkun, then back at the serpent, thinking: This guy must be a maniacal biologist.
Hayate smiled at the summon. "Good work, Blue Snake." He then reached down to help Yinsen to his feet.
Once Yinsen realized the behemoth was an ally, his racing heart began to steady, and the strength slowly returned to his limbs.
Tony flipped the switch on his helmet, the faceplate snapping up to reveal his face. He stared at the carnage of the camp and the massive snake. "Buddy, your snake is cool. That scale... it's unimaginable."
"However," Tony adjusted his stance, "it's time for the world to see my latest invention. Mind asking your pet to clear some space?"
Hayate didn't mind. He was actually quite keen to see the Mark 1 in action up close. "Blue Snake, wait for us on the ridge."
The snake inclined its massive head. "As you wish, Lord Hayate." With a powerful surge, it burrowed into the earth and vanished within seconds.
Seeing how obedient the giant was, Tony's desire for a Ninja Hound of his own only intensified. He slammed his faceplate shut and began his demonstration. Steel fists, iron legs, integrated missiles, and even the flamethrowers—Tony put the Mark 1 through its paces.
Hayate watched with genuine enjoyment. This was better than any 3D or IMAX experience he'd ever had. The deafening explosions and the searing waves of heat were spectacular, even if the lack of live targets made it a bit less "engaging."
Finally, Tony activated the flight stabilizers in his arms. "You seeing this?" he shouted as he blasted off into the sky. "My suit is flying!"
His triumph lasted barely three seconds. The thrusters sputtered and died, the armor began to disintegrate in mid-air, and the billionaire went into a freefall toward the dunes.
"Aaaaaah—!"
With a resounding thump, Tony plowed headfirst into the desert sand. Fortunately, the internal dampeners and the soft dunes saved his life. Tony stripped off the helmet, looking at the scattered debris of his suit, and grinned. "Not bad."
Yinsen, horrified by the crash, went running toward the impact site.
Hayate lingered by the camp for a moment. He looked at the unexploded ordnance lying around—crates of missiles and shells stamped with the Stark Industries logo.
Maybe these will come in handy one day, Hayate thought. With a wave of his hand, he swept the crates into his system inventory.
He then joined Pakkun at the edge of the crater where Tony was struggling to climb out with Yinsen's help. "Tony," Hayate laughed, "that was a great performance. Quite the giant skyrocket."
Tony's face stiffened. "Hey! That was flight. Flight!" he barked. "It wasn't a skyrocket show. Don't think I don't know what a skyrocket is just because I've been in a cave."
Hayate laughed and reached down, pulling Tony out of the sand with a single, effortless tug.
Tony dusted himself off, eyeing Hayate with surprise. "Brother, you've got some serious strength." He looked Hayate up and down; the man was well-built but didn't have the bulky, "meat-mountain" muscles one would expect from a power-lifter.
Tony didn't dwell on it. He looked out at the vast, empty desert. "Alright, how do we get out of here?"
Now that the billionaire had shed the remains of the armor, Hayate asked, "I'll arrange transport. But do you want to pack these pieces up?"
Tony looked at the scorched, twisted parts of the Mark 1 and shook his head. "Forget it. I can build something better once I'm home."
"If you're abandoning it," Hayate said, "do you mind if I keep it?"
Tony waved a hand dismissively. "Suit yourself."
Hayate nodded. He had just decided to start a trophy room, and the Mark 1 was the perfect first exhibit. "Pakkun, find all the pieces."
Pakkun's nose went to work. He sniffed out every scattered bolt and plate, even those buried deep in the sand, and brought them back.
Hayate pulled out his satellite phone and dialed a number. "Prepare a private jet straight to New York. Have the car that dropped me off yesterday meet me at the extraction point."
Once Pakkun had piled all the parts in front of him, Hayate made no attempt to hide his abilities from the two men. With a simple wave, the pile of iron vanished into thin air.
One relevant follow-up question: Since Hayate is now shorting Stark Industries, how do you think Tony's public return and his "new direction" for the company will affect Hayate's financial gamble?