Elektra looked at Dave, her eyes filled with questions. "Why did you save us? You didn't have to. You never considered we could've been involved in your father's death?"
Echo, having stopped crying, also turned to him, waiting for an answer.
Dave paused briefly. "No, neither of you were involved. It was Bullseye who killed my father, and he's already dead," he replied, his voice calm and distant. Then he stood up. "As for why I saved you two? I just felt like it," he said with a shrug as he began to leave the room.
"You two can return to your lives, if you still have anywhere to go. Or, if you want a purpose, join SHIELD—it's your choice," Dave added as he left.
As he walked down the hallway, Dave reflected on Elektra's earlier question. 'At first, I wanted to take advantage of them,' he thought, 'but after that little session with Trish, I got control over myself, and my desires were tempered.'
He glanced at his hand, which still held a faint trace of demonic energy, a red mist curling from his palm. Clenching his fist, Dave willed the energy to disappear. 'I need to control this... or I'll end up consumed by it,' he thought, realizing how the demonic energy was amplifying his negative tendencies more than he anticipated. Trish was only a temporary solution, but what if she wasn't around? He feared he might do something he'd regret.
"I have Dante's experience, but I'm not him. I don't have his mindset, his discipline," Dave muttered under his breath, frustration creeping into his voice.
"I need to learn how to control this," he resolved, setting a mental goal to master the demonic energy coursing through him, to prevent it from taking over him and lead him to an accident.
****
"It will be ready soon," Tony mumbled as he continued working on the miniature Arc Reactor. Yinsen assisted him, carefully handing over tools, while Fury's agents discreetly ensured no suspicion arose among the terrorists, keeping them distracted whenever one became curious about Tony's work. They had been led to believe he was focused on building the Jericho missile, unaware that something entirely different was in progress.
As the day approached when the reactor was almost complete, tension grew. In a nearby room, the terrorist leaders debated Tony's true intentions.
On one side, Fury's agent insisted, "He's making the weapon. Just be patient." But on the other side, a terrorist holding the blueprints kept shouting, "Which part of this is the missile? Where's the rest of it?"
The growing tension caused the leader to become suspicious. He stood up and ordered his men, "Strip the room. I want to see everything Tony Stark is working on."
As the terrorists prepared to storm Tony's workshop, Fury's agents quickly relayed the situation, activating their contingency plan. They moved swiftly, coordinating in secret to ensure Tony received any assistance needed if things escalated. The clock was ticking, and the operation was on the verge of falling apart.
Back in the workshop, Tony and Yinsen worked with silent urgency, fully aware that they were running out of time. The Mark I armor was ready, and as Tony suited up, Yinsen initiated the activation sequence. But just as it was powering on, the door burst open, revealing a group of armed terrorists.
Without hesitation, Yinsen swiftly hit the hidden explosives they'd planted earlier, causing a blast that momentarily disoriented the terrorists but confirmed their worst suspicion—Tony wasn't working on a missile.
The terrorists began to swarm inside, but Yinsen acted fast. Glancing at the monitor, he saw the process was still ongoing—there was time left before the Mark I suit was fully activated. Taking a deep breath, Yinsen surveyed the room, watching the terrorists slowly closing in.
He turned to Tony, determination in his eyes. "I'll buy you time," he said resolutely.
"No, stop! It'll activate any second!" Tony yelled, but it was too late. Yinsen had already grabbed the AK-47 and dashed out of the workshop. His gunfire echoed through the hallways as he fought to hold back the terrorists, buying Tony precious seconds.
Outside, Fury's agents slipped through the chaos, efficiently taking down terrorists who were distracted by Yinsen's sudden attack. They moved quickly, clearing out the remaining opposition.
But Yinsen's bravery came at a cost. As his magazine emptied, he became vulnerable. A single shot rang out, and Yinsen fell to the ground, a bullet lodged in his chest. The agents cursed under their breath, knowing they had been too late to save him.
Inside the workshop, Tony heard the gunfire stop. His heart sank, knowing what that meant. But in that moment, the suit fully activated with a low mechanical hum.
"Yinsen" he mumbled as he moved.
Suddenly, a loud, mechanical thudding echoed through the room. The terrorists froze, their eyes widening in terror as Tony, fully armored in the Mark I, stepped forward. The clanking of his armor reverberated through the room, signaling that the tables had turned.
Tony lifted his mechanical arm and fired, taking down the remaining terrorists with precision. As Fury's agents saw the armor, they retreated, knowing their work was done.
After eliminating the last of the terrorists, Tony turned to Yinsen, who was struggling to stay conscious. "Hold on, I'll take you out of here," he said urgently. But Yinsen stopped him, his voice weak. "Didn't I tell you? I'm going to meet my family."
"They're dead! Now let me go to them!" Yinsen said as his hand fell limply to the ground.
Looking into Yinsen's fading eyes, Tony felt a surge of anger and sorrow. "No, don't leave me now," he pleaded, but Yinsen simply smiled weakly. "It's time."
As Yinsen's eyes closed for the last time, Tony's resolve hardened. He turned toward the cave entrance, where a group of terrorists was preparing to fire at him. With a grimace, he charged out as the terrorists opened fire, emptying their magazines in his direction.
When the dust settled, Tony stood unharmed, the armor absorbing the impact of the bullets. He cracked his neck and said, "My turn."
With a swift motion, he activated the flamethrowers built into his suit, unleashing a torrent of fire upon the terrorists. The flames roared to life, engulfing the attackers and illuminating the entire camp.
Tony swiftly assessed the weaponry around him, targeting every explosive and firearm. He destroyed everything in sight, ensuring that nothing could be used against him again. Once he was satisfied that the area was thoroughly obliterated, he activated the flight system of his armor and took off into the night sky, leaving chaos behind him.
****
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