Chapter 12: Iron Man to the Rescue!
Chaos reigned as police and thugs clashed, filling the air with shouts and gunfire. Lucy and Thomas found themselves frozen, unsure of what to do. In the midst of it all, they wished Ronin could somehow be like Soldier 76, someone who could at least protect them in such a crisis.
Suddenly, Thomas recalled something his boss had mentioned that night. He quickly pulled out his phone, searching for the number.
"Calling 911 won't help! Can't you see the police are barely holding up?" Lucy said in frustration.
"It's not 911. This is the number my husband gave me. He said if things ever got this serious, the person on the other end could help."
With a glimmer of hope, Thomas dialed the unfamiliar number.
"Jarvis, hand me the shaped gun tip."
"Certainly, sir," Jarvis replied in his smooth tone.
Tony Stark grinned as he took in the blue, white, and black pulse rifle hovering before him. He'd always known he was a genius, and seeing his creation come together only strengthened that feeling. No matter how complex a firearm was, he could reverse-engineer it in days.
Stark attached the shaped gun tip to the pulse rifle, admiring the sleek build. He aimed at the wall and fired two shots. The blue bullets streaked through the air, embedding themselves precisely in the wall.
"Perfect!"
The pulse rifle's energy bullets, as seen in movies, were made from a mysterious energy source that didn't require magazines, making its internal design complicated. But that hadn't stopped Stark. With no access to this 'mystical energy,' he'd found a blue energy substitute, one similar in appearance but less powerful than the movie version. The rounds he developed had a caliber of 7.62mm, matching the firepower of an automatic rifle.
Given the timeframe, this was a remarkable achievement. Stark had spared no expense in materials, and each component was of the highest quality. The cost of this smart suit and rifle set ran into millions, crafted by one of the world's top engineers—himself.
The only downside was the bullets. If he could obtain the exact energy source used in the movie and refine the rifle further, he might be able to replicate the true pulse rifle's power. But that energy didn't exist on Earth; if it did, it would already be in military use.
Stark packed the hefty pulse rifle into a case that also contained Soldier 76's uniform. He added a gas mask and tactical eyepiece, though he knew the latter was just a lookalike—hardly the advanced HUD it seemed to be in the movies.
"This will have to do for now."
Stark stretched, reflecting on his conversation with Ronin. Ronin had said everything was set, and now all Stark needed to do was wait for him to deliver the "Iron Man" script.
"Sir, you have an incoming call from an unknown Manhattan number," Jarvis announced.
Stark frowned. How could a stranger have his private number? But he hesitated only briefly before answering.
"Hello, Mr. Stark," said the voice on the other end. "Ronin finished the first draft of your script. He asked that you reach Bright Star as soon as possible. If you're not there in three minutes, the deal's off."
Thomas had no idea who he was speaking to, but given the man's authoritative tone, he had confidence this person could handle any crisis. And the voice—something about it was familiar. Then he remembered Ronin had a professional driver who looked like a famous guy...
"Three minutes?" Stark mused, glancing at his Mark IV suit. "I'll make it in one, and Ronin will owe me two minutes."
Ending the call, Stark quickly donned the Mark IV, grabbed the Soldier 76 case, and soared into the night sky.
"Who was that on the phone?" Lucy asked.
Thomas scratched his head. "I'm not sure, but he sounded familiar. He said he'd be here in a minute. Doesn't seem believable, but let's hope he isn't like Ronin. We need all the help we can get."
"Agreed. God wouldn't joke with us right now," Lucy replied, closing her eyes in prayer.
Meanwhile, Stark was flying high over the city, his sensors picking up flickering flames and distant gunfire.
"Jarvis, where are we headed?"
"Your destination is Bright Star, sir."
"Wait—what?"
Descending rapidly, Stark called Thomas again. "Thomas, what's happening at Bright Star?"
"Wait, you know my name?" Thomas stammered in shock.
"Forgetfulness doesn't suit you. It's Iron Man—you really don't remember?"
Stark's arrival had an immediate effect. The struggling police rallied, and the once-fearful crowd cheered as Iron Man made his entrance, fighting alongside the officers and giving them the morale boost they needed.
"You're… Tony Stark!" Thomas's memory finally caught up. "Well, this place got hit by criminals—"
Iron Man landed in front of Thomas, cutting him off. He handed over the case with Soldier 76's suit. "Here's your equipment."
Stark turned to Lucy and smiled. "Miss Berrent, good to see you again."
"Mr. Stark, please—you have to help Ronin. He's in there!"
"Where exactly?" Stark asked, his tone serious.
"Bowen Hall," Lucy replied, pointing toward the illuminated building in the center of the plaza. All the external screens had been smashed, and no one knew what was happening inside.
Stark closed his faceplate and headed toward Bowen Hall, only to be attacked by a gang of thugs wielding chains and iron hooks. Brushing them off easily, he moved forward, clearing the path for the police to take control.
Back outside, Thomas held the case containing the Soldier 76 suit, feeling a thrill of excitement. He hadn't expected Stark to be so efficient.
"What's that?" Lucy asked, frowning at the hefty metal case.
Thomas put his hand on the case, feeling the smooth, cold metal beneath his fingers. He sensed the allure of the battle suit, and his eyes gleamed with newfound determination.
"Miss Berrent, I think Mr. Stark left this suit for me to handle the situation. I feel its power calling to me. I am destined to act! I... I am the embodiment of Soldier 76!" With newfound confidence, Thomas clenched his fist.
He proceeded to open the case with flair—until he realized he had no idea how.
"Huh… how do I open this thing?" Thomas examined the box, puzzled. There were no obvious buttons, no switches, nothing. He stood there, utterly stumped.
Seeing his frustration, Lucy, who had been on edge moments ago, burst out laughing. Thomas had just gone from a would-be hero to a hapless goof, her laughter breaking the tension of the moment.
"Hey, Mr. Stark! How do I open this thing?" Thomas called out.
Stark's voice came over the comm link. "Hold your thumbs on the bottom of each side of the case, slide them to the top, and then slide them inward until they meet. Easy, right?"
"Got it!" Thomas followed the instructions, and the moment his thumbs touched, the box emitted a soft blue glow. Lines of light traced across its surface, and with a satisfying "click," the case opened.
Back in the heat of battle, Stark yanked at an iron chain, flinging a group of thugs into the air. Thomas marveled at the sight, his earlier doubts about Iron Man's arrival vanishing.
With a determined expression, he peered into the open case, where Soldier 76's armor gleamed, practically begging to be worn.