Years Ago
Flickering images sat upon the lone view screen in the room. News of the apparent suicide of Obadiah Stane was definitely top news. Yet most stations buried it under fluff and pieces about the Avengers battle and Tony Stark’s bodyguard Iron Man saving the day. Stark and his armor plated goon had been at the plant where Obadiah’s life had ended. Russian roulette was a lose-lose when one used repulsor technology. That the great Obadiah Stane would go out in such a pathetic way was disgusting to say the least. It set the stomach churning. All thoughts of it were wiped away. The way of death didn’t matter. What mattered was who was behind it. It was always Stark. The man had a penchant for sticking his nose where it didn’t belong and a habit of not just rolling over and dying when it was time. The man was as bad as a cat.
The sound of hammer upon thick armor echoed through the room. A strong arm swiftly raised and brought the tool down over and over. Within moments the metal was shaped and finished. An iron mask stood staring back, slits to breathe and eye holes staring back.
Settled upon a table, the mask remained as eyes moved to the large piece beside it. The front compartment lie open revealing the cramped control pod within. The armor was archaic in design, mirroring the first suit of one Tony Stark, everything else in the room years and years ahead. There was no arguing with the classics though, and the armor of the Iron Monger was indeed a classic.
Dropping the hammer upon the table brought a loud clang. The Iron Monger armor was fine, but it was what was across the room that was the greatest prize. Red and gold in its splendor. A forgotten piece of equipment lost during the numerous battles over the years. With the right tools and backwards engineering it would be the ultimate weapon to end Stark’s reign. The news cycles themselves would be delicious. What better way to take down a man like Stark, then through his own technology? A sheet was thrown over the gleaming Iron Man armor as all work went back to the Iron Monger. It was not time for the plan, but soon enough it would be. Tony Stark would die.
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Stark Solutions Penthouses, New York
Now
The surprise hardly lasted as the Iron Avenger was set upon from all sides. Cold blasts of ice ran from raised hands as Blizzard stayed off to the side. Iron Man whipped around and caught the blasts with heated energy from the gauntlets upon their hands. Waves of radiation condensed into a blast, intercepted by a red, white, and blue disc. Ricocheting off the wall, the disc returned to its owner’s red gloves ready for another use. The star spangled Avenger rubbed absent mindedly at the still sore throat from Iron Monger’s grip. The iron clad enemy stood in the center of the room stuck looking between Stark and his supposed alter ego.
“No…it is a trick.” The plan had been simple. Rush into the room and kill Stark and anyone with him before the Billionaire could get a hold of his armor. It was factored in that the man would be too out of it in despair to even consider finding the suit. They had been right. Until Iron Man seemingly still appeared. It was confusing to say the least.
“This should be mildly entertaining.” A long glance at the armor he once wore was all Stark spared before moving back towards the bar on the other side of the room. The stench of booze wafted off him as he moved, causing the Iron Man to stare at the man before a slight shake of the head could be seen from the armored head.
“Finish them all now!” Iron Monger roared as they raced forward, slamming hard into Iron Man. The two armored figures clashed hard, sending a loud crash reverberating through the room. Windows exploded around them as did the glasses and bottles at the bar.
With a slight curse Stark turned back, clearly agitated. With a purposeful stride the man began heading for the elevator across the room. Blasts of radiation and ice sailed over his shoulder as the two villains continued battle with Captain America.
The glowing form of Living Laser, the man once known as Arthur Parks, sprung up in Stark’s path. Before the villain could speak or attack a repulsor slammed into him and sent him flying. None of it was really noticed as Stark entered the elevator. “There has got to be some booze someplace in this building.”
The ding of the descending elevator caught all their attention. “Damn it!” Iron Monger shoved the struggling Iron Man away. There was no time for heroes or stooges in suits. If there was a person. It could very well be another one of Stark’s remote controlled contraptions. Either way there was no time to dwell upon it. The target was escaping. The leader wouldn’t be happy. “We have to get Stark now!”
Donnie Gill nodded as his gauntlets turned towards the elevator instead of Captain America, leaving Chen Lu to deal with the WWII hero. A thick layer of ice coated across the two doors till it was solid and had weakened the structure. “All yours boss.”
Thundering footsteps sounded as Iron Monger began dashing across the room, the elevator doors their target. Ice and metal shards flew as the large suited villain was now in freefall through the shaft, a shattered door behind them.
The sound of metal on skin sounded as the hefty patriotic shield slammed into Radioactive Man’s head and sent him out for the fight.
“We have to save Stark now!” As the Avenger raced at Blizzard, his comment was aimed at Iron Man.
“You got it.” The voice was garbled and full of static. There was no way to tell who it was, if it was a person. It didn’t matter as they were gone and headed right for the shaft. Without another word Iron Man was headed right down after their foe.
“God speed.” Steve muttered as he took Blizzard down with two well placed punches and a kick to the chest.
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The freefall through the shaft went about as one could expect. The air whipped at the armor as Iron Man’s sensors began to zero in on the elevator and the falling Iron Monger far below. The thud of the large armored figured below hitting the lift echoed for all in the building to hear. The servos and other machinery within the armor groaned and whirred as they ripped through the almost tin foil like roof of the lift. As Iron Man came closer it was easy to tell no one was within. Stark had already vacated the transport.
With a growl, Iron Monger dropped into the lift and began searching frantically for their quarry. Before they could react Iron Man slammed into them and both were driven through the floor of the lift and back into freefall.
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Meanwhile above Stark wandered down the hallway, oblivious to the fight headed towards the bottom floor of his building. A room loomed at the end of the hall. All he knew was that he had to enter it. There was a voice compelling him too. As the door creaked open a lone light illuminated a seat and a table as well as another slightly elevated seat across the room. The table was occupied by various spools or string and wood and half finished puppets of every shape and size.
Stark settled into the seat as another figure moved in the darkness. Strings dangled from their fingers as a smaller figure seemed to dance on the floor before them. As the door slowly closed across the room, Stark slumped forward in the seat as if he passed out. The figure laughed gleefully as they moved back towards a far wall. The picture upon the wall rose up to reveal a small video screen. The empty screen filled with static and then solidified to show a dark outline of a person, their features obscured by darkness.
“You have done well, Stark is contained? Your control is complete?” The voice rumbled from the screen.
“Very much so. Stark is completely my puppet. Even Captain America was fooled by our ruse.”
“Very good. You have done well Masters. I look for a report again tomorrow. Don’t screw this up.”
The image faded as Phillip Masters, the man known to the world at large as Puppet Master, rubbed his hands together as a loud cackle filled the room.
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The two mechanical enhanced figures plummeted through the shaft till they hit the bottom. The resounding crash reverberated through the buildings very foundations. Iron Man rose on top, staring through the mask at their fallen foe. Before the hero could consider the fight over a large fist filled their eyesight and sent them flying through the lift door and through a few more walls.
Employees and visitors scattered as the battle emerged into the lobby. Metal pounded on metal as they staggered through the room. Desks and artwork were demolished. Glass windows shattered from the reverberations of the impacts. A couple of innocents were sent flying as they happened to be caught right in the middle.
“Give it up stooge! Stark will die! You’re nothing but an imposter or a computer program. You’re no match for Iron Monger!”
“Give it a rest already. You sound like an old cartoon villain.” Gold and red plated fists slammed into the chest of the villain, sending them off balance and into a wall across the way.
A growl echoed within the massive helmet, as Iron Monger tried to pull themselves back to their feet. That was the only opening Iron Man needed. Powerful repulsor beams slammed into the back of the armor and drove it through the wall and out into the streets. As the armored foe struggled, the triangle icon upon the armored Avenger’s chest began to glow before unleashing the powerful Uni-Beam. The bright beam slammed into Iron Monger and drove them straight back into a line of parked cars.
The villain sagged as Iron Man paused and took a deep breath beneath the helmet. From above there was a crash and then the Crimson Dynamo hit the ground hard. Moments later the forms of Blizzard, Radioactive Man, and the Living Laser joined the first as Captain America descended to the streets.
“Job well done Iron Man…at least I assume that’s who I’m speaking too.”
A metallic covered hand sheepishly rubbed at the back of the red and gold helmet. “I suppose you could say that.”
“Hmm well perhaps we’ll have time to speak of this later. Tony Stark is still missing, any clue as to where he is?”
“Yeah, just one. Hang on.” Before the living legend could protest, he was hefted into the air and the two heroes blasted off right back for the building.
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“Come now Stark, we have much to accomplish.” Grinning widely, Puppet Master moved towards the door of the dark room. His puppet industrialist followed close behind without a word.
The door handle turned and as Masters moved to exit the large red, white, and blue shield slammed into his chest. The small man fell backwards and dropped the host of dolls that were in his hands. The one of Tony Stark was buried under the rest. A groan came out as his eyes raised to find Iron Man and Captain America standing over him. Tony still stood silently behind as the villain tried to scramble away.
“No…not possible! You were taken off the board!”
One of the dolls was thrown right at Iron Man, and it was allowed to bounce off the armor with no attempt to deflect it. “Your game is over Masters. We’re taking you in.”
Grabbing the smaller man by the arm, Steve yanked him up. While Masters was taken care of, Iron Man dug through the dolls till the right one was found. With a concentrated blast from the repulsor it was destroyed. The second it was Tony became unsteady upon his feet and gazed at the other two. “Either I was under mind control or I’m really smashed cause I feel like two tons of crap.”
“Umm a bit of both actually.” The smile wore of the Billionaire’s face as he stared at the armor that was once his. “The Puppet Master forced you to drink while under his control.”
“So much for sobriety.”
“Tony…”
“It’s all right Steve. I’ll…I’m fine. It wasn’t of my own will. No harm, no foul. Besides I’m free now. That’s all that matters.”
As the two men focused their attention upon the only unknown in the room, Iron Man moved backwards and out the door. Within seconds they had burst through a window and in a flash of boot jets were gone into the sky.
“So much for that help I guess.” Grabbing Masters tighter, Captain America led them towards the door.
The three figures moved towards the door with Masters continuing to struggle. With a sidelong glance at Tony over Master’s head, Steve waited. The man seemed not willing to say anything so he spoke instead. “So, you going to tell me who’s under that armor now?”
With a thoughtful glance at the broken window and then his friend, Tony shrugged. “Steve, if I knew I’d tell you. I’ve been wondering the same thing myself. Trust me Steve; it’s a mystery I intend to get to the bottom of myself.”
Epilogue
Not a sound came as the large van moved along the road, their dangerous cargo quiet in the hold. With the villains that attacked Tony Stark rounded up, they had been placed in separate vehicles for transport. There would be no risk of all escaping together. The lonely truck that left last carried the most dangerous and the only one they had yet to identify. The helmet wasn’t able to be removed, leaving the identity of the Iron Monger a mystery till they could get them to the Raft and open it up.
As the truck bounced along, the chained and deactivated Iron Monger sat stoically. Within the armor, the operator waited and counted down the time. It was only a matter of time before someone came. They were too important to the upcoming effort to allow in prison. Tony Stark would fall soon enough, and they planned to be there for the main event.
“Probably should have brought a can opener for sparky back there.”
“Don’t think they make ‘em that big, Jimmy.”
The two guards laughed as they suddenly watched the very road before them explode, sending hot debris into the air. As the bits of road slammed into the windshield and hood, the van swerved to the side. The smoke rose from the ground as several figures moved forward.
Their bodies were covered in a patchwork of materials mostly resembling Iron Man’s armor. Mixed in with Stark’s technology were some other armored hero and villains pieces. The gold and red of Iron Man’s usual was interspersed with darker red and grey and even black pieces.
The armored figure let off two more blasts in the form of missiles, which upon impact obliterated the front half of the prison transport. Pushing through the steaming and burning metallic wreck, they dragged Iron Monger from the wreckage. “Awaken my Iron Monger. You’re work if far from over.”
Power surged through the second armor, and the large villain rose up and flexed. “Those bastards damaged my armor. All power was lost. Iron Man and Stark were in the field. It wasn’t a remote armor though. Someone else is flying the suit.”
“Interesting. Another player has entered our game. You were face to face with Stark, are you still willing to do what must be done?”
A hiss of smoke rose as the helmet of Iron Monger rose up to reveal a strained and handsome face with a crop of dirty blonde and close shaved hair. Setting the helmet aside, Happy Hogan crossed his arms and allowed a sinister grin to cover his face. “I’m more than ready. Tony Stark is a dead man. Guaranteed.”
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Next: They mystery of Happy Hogan, Iron Monger, the patchwork Iron Man, and the brand new Iron Man unfolds in an arc that could only be called “Who Is The Iron Man?”