17

After that, Peter had a rough day. First, he was taken to the hospital with Betty Ross, the beautiful doctor who had helped save him. There they documented all the bites on paper. After that, while Stark received a statement about the venomousness of spiders, Parker and his lawyer, a gaunt man with a predatory face and grey hair, went to the police with certificates and videos, where Peter took a statement. Next, they will interview all the witnesses themselves. In parallel, Ozcorp issued a tidy sum fine to Flash Thompson, as the spiders turned out to be very expensive and difficult to remove hybrids. The lawsuit against Midtown High School was decided to be filed when they returned to New York so as not to travel across the country, but the paperwork is being collected now. Stark interfered in this case to a minimum, putting everything on the shoulders of his lawyers. And they are such a bison, hardened in patent wars and attempts to convict Tony in all, even not committed by him, sins that even if Parker was guilty, he would be a victim. And with so much evidence, even yesterday's out-of-state college graduate could win a case.

After finishing this sudden case and turning the research over to Betty and Helena Cho, who was getting up to speed, Tony continued to present the new merchandise. He could have handed this responsible job to someone else, but he didn't want to. He liked the fame and the audience's admiration, and his very face was already a trademark. In a small presentation for the military at a closed range, Tony demonstrated armour shields made of vibration, which no anti-tank weapon could take. Neither cumulative nor sub-calibre, and even more so, high-explosive shells did not affect the crew. And the shields were only a quarter of an inch thick and added only three extra hundred kilograms of weight, while the same Abrams M1A2 weighs 62 tonnes.

- And how much are you asking for a complete tank conversion? - asked General Ross.

A grey-haired stout man in his sixties with a bushy moustache, who was Betty's father and had tried to capture the Hulk. He was not in his ceremonial general's uniform, as it was unnecessary, but in a business suit.

- Thirty million dollars,' Stark replied.

- 'That's too expensive. A new tank costs eight million,' Ross frowned and shook his head.

- That's if I give you kits. You see, the metal is very difficult to synthesise - and here Tony was not lying; just a little bit did not finish. He didn't want to sell just the ready-made sets of tiles. - It's a cost of technology. But if the conversion occurs in my factories, the cost of metal will be ten million. A virtually indestructible tank is worth it.

- Why such a difference? - asked Colonel Williams, commander of the tank regiment.

- It's a corporate secret," shrugged the billionaire. - By the way, I can provide the same services to cover aircraft, cars, bulletproof vests, helmets, and even military clothing with vibration. The latter will withstand small arms up to 12.7 calibre, albeit not completely.

- You promised not to make weapons. Are you breaking your word? - the general asked. He didn't like those who broke their word or even orders.

- Who's talking about weapons? - Stark raised an eyebrow.

By the way, he often pissed off the military with his defiant and disrespectful behaviour. But they tolerated it, as his weapons were the best.

- This is defence. I'm just a patriot who doesn't want to see our soldiers die.

- Commendable," Ross nodded. - Then how much can you supply the army?

- That's business talk," Tony smiled then.

He understood that even defence could be used as a weapon. The same tanks no longer evoke such horror with their invincibility as the Mark-I, which first entered the battlefield during the First World War. They've learnt how to fight them. They have composite armour, dynamic protection, active laser and fragmentation countermeasures. However, it never found a way against the usual uranium or tungsten scrap, flying at the speed of several matches, until now.

For this reason, this defence will be more psychological. What is the point of fighting an invulnerable enemy? By the way, the question was also raised whether Stark could make the same Iron Man suit with a hint of suspicion of him in this role. However, all questions fell away when Tony asked: "What would you do with a deserter in that costume if even I could make one?" And that is indeed another question. How do you stop a military man invulnerable to small arms and anti-tank weapons who flies faster than a fighter jet? What's to stop him from flying to the Chinese or Russians and selling it for a couple of billion or robbing banks? Lastly, Stark hinted that it was in their best interest not to piss off Iron Man, whoever he was, as they weren't likely to like the answer.

Another presentation occurred the evening after the contract was signed, with Dr Octavius agreeing to cooperate. Tony presented a transparent spray that, when applied to clothing, protects against rain, dirt... knives and pistol calibre bullets. As well as Starkglass augmented reality goggles and a Starkphone. Such a stir as a flying car they did not cause, and the public has a limit of surprise. However, the power of the most modern personal computer in a small frame an inch wide and six inches long, which slides into a screen and is capable of projecting three-dimensional holograms on top of it, expectedly did not go unnoticed, and a flurry of applause was guaranteed despite the price of two thousand dollars. However, given the parameters and a month's lifetime on a full charge, a charge in five minutes and absolute resistance to physical damage, it was not surprising.

There was a more sluggish response to the glasses, but this "sluggishness" was not dreamed of by other companies. They had to be worn at least once to realise their beauty. They were connected to "Starkfon" and cost 750 dollars, but not only that, they highlighted each passing person, if he is in open social networks and controlled by movements of the pupil or special gloves with feedback, so also indicated the route, signed reference information to buildings, businesses, cafes and other places of leisure and allowed you to play virtual games. Both with other people online or in a meeting, as well as solo. And it was after this presentation, when Tony got home and was relaxing in the hot tub, that he got a call from Phil Colson:

- 'Hi Phil,' Tony greeted the Shield agent, raising his fizzy drink.

It was lemonade, but you couldn't go into a hot tub with a glass, could you? It's disrespectful.

- Hello, Tony. I'm sorry to interrupt your rest after a hard day and congratulate you on the best Stark Expo in half a century, but this is urgent.

- Well, if I'm getting a call from the Deputy Director of Shields himself," Stark showed his awareness. - I told you, though. If it's you, it's okay. What's your emergency?

- It hasn't happened yet, but it might. What do you know about mutants?

- Gene X gives you a superpower or several. The process and nature of how and by what criteria they are obtained still need to be determined. It's not uncommon for them to be ugly or, conversely, dazzlingly beautiful. Abilities come in both strong and weak, with a gradation of strength and scale from epsilon to alpha and omega used in tight circles. Omega-level mutants are considered capable or potentially capable of wiping out an entire planet or at least a civilisation.

- That's right, you are remarkably well informed. When did you become an expert on mutants?

- I just read it on the Internet.

- Okay," Phil sighed, covering his face with his hand and realising that Stark was at it again. - The famous mutant terrorist Eric Lehnsherr, nicknamed Magneto, the leader of the banned terrorist organisation "Brotherhood of Mutants", using a machine he created, wants to turn all New Yorkers into mutants.

- What's the catch?

- Two things. Firstly, the machine doesn't work properly, and the mutations progress so fast that the DNA crumbles like a house of cards. Secondly, Charles Xavier, a doctoral candidate in genetics, biophysics, psychology and anthropology, and also one of the strongest, if not the strongest, telepaths in the world, as well as the headmaster of a school for mutants, has very strongly urged the Shield to stay out of it by sending in his X-Men squad. An unofficial squad of mutant peacekeepers.

- I take it they didn't make it?

- No, the fight is currently inside the Statue of Liberty, where the installation is located. My fighters are standing by, but I'm afraid they're either not gonna make it, or they're not strong enough.

- Okay, I'm on my way," Tony switched off the comms and apparated into the living room, drying himself off with a wave of his ring and summoning a suit.

By the way, the animatronics charms were not only allowed to put on the ex-armour but also strengthened blows and movements. In fact, Stark could have refused, but that would have been shortsighted. Not only had the Shield helped him greatly in licensing and selling Vibranium, but it was idiotic to ignore the threat to the multi-million dollar city where he was headquartered. Especially since he wasn't being pulled over for nothing. Finished, Tony activated the port key, finding himself on the roof of his skyscraper in New York. Even from afar, he could see flashes illuminating the night sky clouds. Stark did not approach the statue. He is not quite an idiot, having a metal body and armour to fly up to one of the strongest mutants in the world, commanding electromagnetic fields and metal, among other things?

Taking the bullet, Tony twisted the back, reducing the amount of matter transformed into antimatter. He didn't want to destroy half of Manhattan while saving the city. After the battle with the Destroyer, the question of developing such a feature came up independently. One only sometimes needed such excessive power, rather the opposite, seldom. Inserting the bullet into the railgun that had returned to its original size, Tony took aim. In the optical enchanted sight, he saw the battle on the head of the Statue of Liberty. A beastly-looking, muscular man with gorgeous black tanks, thick hair and eyebrows, dressed in a black jumpsuit with a gold-framed "X" on his chest and framed in gold, came out from behind the statue's crown. He attacked an older man in scarlet clothing with a cloak and helmet on his head in the back with metal claws extended straight from his hand.

The interface highlighted brief information on each. Stark had accelerated his perception to the limit, so he had time to read. The man with the claws was James Howlett, known as Logan and Wolverine. A mutant with super-fast regeneration. His images were up until the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In over a hundred years, he had not aged a day. A participant in almost every known war, including World Wars I and II and the Vietnam War. He was spotlighted as one of President Nixon's defenders during the introduction of the Guardians, created to fight mutants and the assassination attempt on him by the terrorist Magneto. At an unknown time, he was experimented on by introducing an unknown metal. The information could have been more sketchy, even for Jarvis' capabilities. Still, he could only get information if it was online. And it was extremely thoroughly wiped, so it was based on fragmentary and indirect information.

More was known about Magneto. He was a former prisoner of Auschwitz and a participant in the Caribbean crisis, during which he alone almost destroyed fifty ships of the USSR and the USA. He pulled an entire submarine out of the water during that collision and threw it ashore. After that, he organised the Brotherhood of Mutants, having disagreed with his former ally Charles Xavier, who was for peaceful coexistence with humans. By the way, Stark realised no "peaceful" coexistence could exist. Either people will destroy mutants, or mutants assimilate people, as the gene X is dominant and is located in additional chromosomes, whence it received its name. Unless people develop a substance that will switch off the mutant gene regions, making them infertile simultaneously... But that's the same as extermination, so it's not much of a difference. Eric himself was an advocate of radical action, considering, quite deservedly, by the way, mutants a superior race. "Ironic that a prisoner of Auschwitz adopted the views of his torturers, the Nazis," Tony thought.

But why deservedly so? Because, unlike the supposed superiority of the Aryan race, the mutants really did have supernatural powers. It was a difference greater than that between Australopithecus and Homo sapiens. Tony thought that people would find a common language and put the abilities of mutants in the service of society for the benefit and profit of all. To give rights to the same sexual minorities, to allow them to participate in their country's politics. But humans have always been characterised by intolerance of different people and fear of the unknown. Here, having a different opinion or being overweight could become a pariah, not to mention a different skin colour or spikes growing all over your body.

These thoughts flew like lightning through Stark's accelerated brain as he searched for the moment to fire. Finally, he found it. Magneto hadn't even turned behind him when suddenly Howlett flew backwards about three hundred metres and fell into the waters of New York Bay. It was foolish, having a skeleton made of metal, to attack the one who controlled that metal. Stark was also at risk, but at least he had a teleporter and a couple of trump cards. Tony smoothly pulled the trigger of the loaded railgun, releasing a deadly projectile that connected him with the enemy in a fiery line. He didn't count on luck, so he jumped after the shot for good reason. The white-hot bullet stopped in front of the back of Magneto's head. That wasn't all, however, as it almost immediately exploded like a defensive grenade. The shards of adamantium didn't penetrate Magneto, but he was stunned by the blast wave and thrown off the rig.

At the same instant, Stark released four flying adamantium blades behind his back. Protean enchantments allowed them to transmit electricity and mana directly from the reactor, and Thor's hammer enchantment allowed them to fly with the power of thought and release electricity shocks in a controlled manner. They unleashed a flurry of lightning, sending darkness hundreds of metres around them in a bright flash. At the same time, Tony turned up the heat with the repulsors, not holding back. The copper that made up the statue flowed from the heat.

- Not bad," came an older voice from the fire, filled with anger. - It's been a long time since I've been hurt like this. But don't you, Iron Man, think it foolish to fight me?

Tony tried to fly away immediately but couldn't. He was drawn and bound, not just his armour, but his whole body. Stark understood. He wasn't ready to fight mutants, much less Magneto - he'd been summoned too late by the Shield. There was only hope in what was at hand. While he was getting ready, even if it took him fifteen minutes, ten million New Yorkers would have been irradiated and dead by then. Even now, he wasn't in a desperate situation. One thought and the portkey would send him home. But what would happen to the humans? What would happen to his staff, to Pepper? Would he be able to save her? There was still hope, though. Stark brought the reactor up to maximum load. The armour creaked, but even Eric couldn't deform it. He could easily remove the helmet, thanks to its movable joint with the neck.

- Surprisingly, Tony Stark is iron, or rather, adamantium, like someone I know.

The fire had subsided enough that Magneto's burnt and scarred face could be seen. The metal armour and helmet saved him from most damage, but the exposed face played a cruel trick. The burns were horrific, and every movement of his lips tore the melted skin, oozing blood. His right arm was also hanging limply, blood dripping from it.

- I didn't know you were a fellow mutant, but you hurt me for nothing!

Stark's entire body was pierced by a monstrous pain. The lightning from Magneto's hands struck him in the face. That's why they didn't work on him - he could control them himself! Beyond that, every bit of metal in his body began to pull out of him, gathering into a ball in the mighty mutant's hand. Wounds healed, but new ones appeared, preventing him from using his abilities because of the pain. Tony no longer knew if he was screaming, as he couldn't hear or see anything in the ocean of agony and suffering. How much time had passed, the billionaire did not know; the very concept of time had disappeared for him. He would have lost his mind if not for the spirit of reason, which strengthened him and allowed him to concentrate on suppressing pain, which did not remove it at all, but allowed him to detach himself from it and the sensations of the body.

There was an explosion, and everything stopped, and Stark fell into a lifesaving oblivion.