Once again, reality proves that any attempt at showing off is fleeting and comes at a cost. The two decided to head to the Middle East together to eliminate the terrorists.
However, transportation posed a significant problem. Tony had a private jet, but it was too conspicuous for this covert operation.
A Quinjet? Tony could potentially build one himself, but time was not on their side. With the terrorists still raiding nearby towns in Gulmira, they had to act fast.
Thus, Blake turned to S.H.I.E.L.D. for help again. Since Tony wanted to keep his armor a secret, they couldn't use official channels. So, late at night, two shadows appeared at the entrance of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Los Angeles branch. This wasn't the headquarters or a secret base with critical resources, and it was in the U.S., so security wasn't too tight. With the powerful security system, there weren't even night guards.
Blake quietly took out his ID and whispered to Tony beside him. "Are you sure you can erase the visitor logs and surveillance here? This is my work ID. I don't mind them giving me trouble, but I don't want to lose my steady paycheck."
Only when Tony gave an OK gesture did Blake place his ID on the sensor by the door.
"Beep beep! Insufficient authorization!" The sensor flashed red, and an electronic voice sounded.
"How is that possible?" Blake tried two more times, but it still showed insufficient authorization.
"Let me try!" Tony took Blake's ID. "Intern Agent, alright, cute newbie, let me give it a shot!"
"Beep beep!" Tony sighed, handing the ID back to Blake. "Have you ever been here before?"
"No!" Blake shook his head, bewildered. "I got the location from Natasha!"
"Congratulations on finding a good job!" Tony gave Blake a disdainful look. The armor's arm opened, and Tony pulled out a card connected to wires and placed it on the sensor.
"Good thing I was prepared. JARVIS, show this intern-unable-to-enter department what we can do!"
While S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Washington headquarters might have some elementary AI comparable to JARVIS, the branch here? Not so much! Amid Blake's curses aimed at Nick Fury, JARVIS broke through the security in less than ten seconds.
JARVIS took control of the nondescript building on the outskirts of Los Angeles through the network connected to the door lock.
Each S.H.I.E.L.D. branch is equipped with a Quinjet for rapid deployment. Luckily for Tony and Blake, no one had taken it for a mission. Sneaking through the fire escape to the rooftop, they soon took off in the Quinjet, heading directly to Tony's house on Malibu Beach.
Once suited up, they flew across the Pacific toward the Middle East.
"You know, during World War II, my father flew a plane with Captain America, crossing enemy lines to the enemy's rear, completing a rescue mission."
"I never thought that now, I'm flying a plane with another super soldier to fight terrorists!"
"But my father was just a pilot. This time it's different. I have this!" Tony knocked on his armor.
"Tony, you actually have many ways to combat these terrorists. If you intended to create the armor in Afghanistan to escape, what's the reason now? Is it just to eliminate the Ten Rings?"
Tony was silent for a moment before slowly speaking.
"My father once told me that to achieve peace, you need to wield the biggest stick. That was my philosophy for making weapons. But since Afghanistan, after that missile with the Stark name exploded beside me…"
"Sigh..."
Tony sighed deeply.
"I thought the weapons I created would bring peace to the world, but I didn't realize that the name Stark brought so much despair to so many. Before that missile exploded, I was lying there. I could see every letter of Stark clearly."
"But I couldn't see its meaning, only despair. I can't even imagine if someone else were in the same desperate situation, looking at the name Stark, what would they think…"
Tony's words left Blake momentarily speechless. Others might not know, but he did—Tony was right.
Take, for instance, Scarlet Witch and her twin brother Quicksilver, future Avengers. They once stared at a Stark-labeled missile for a few days.
"I used to just make sticks. Now I've created one of the biggest sticks in the world."
Tony pointed to his armor.
"I will hold it firmly in my own hands. This is my purpose now—to combat terrorists, eliminate war, and create peace, regardless of nations or politics!"
In a sense, early Iron Man and Black Widow were both atoning for their pasts. As the Avengers evolved, this atonement transformed into a sense of responsibility. Especially after the Battle of New York, when the Avengers took on the mantle of the world's protectors, they began to change.
"Tony, do you know why Nick Fury forced me to join the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division? Damn, curse that name!"
"It's because he has a plan—the Avengers Initiative. To form a team with members possessing extraordinary abilities, who can stand up when the world needs them."
Blake finished speaking and looked directly at Tony.
"It's a good idea. I don't know Nick Fury well, but I know that whether it's the CIA, the KGB, or MI5, regardless of their original purpose—"
"They all end up becoming tools of politics, to varying degrees!"
"If there's a need for someone to step up, I'll be there in my armor. But I don't want to be a sword in someone else's hand!"
Tony agreed with the Avengers Initiative but not with S.H.I.E.L.D.—that was Iron Man's viewpoint.
"Exactly! Tony, that's what I mean! We won't be someone else's stick; we'll hold the stick ourselves!"
Blake turned to Tony Stark.
This time, Tony pondered deeply for a while. Then, he suddenly looked up at Blake and said,
"Just like today?"
"Yes, just like today!"
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