Chapter 42: Stark and Yinsen
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"Make sure the checkpoint is clear before you follow me out okay." Stark is anxious. Program for the crude metal suit he's wearing is compiling. He barely manages to finish the suit before Raza's deadline today.
*BANG* "Open the door!!" Ten Ring members are trying to enter his compound. *BOOM* The trap on the door is activated, killing them. The explosion also alerted the rest of these people. The progress bar is only halfway, but the terrorist is closing in.
"We need more time!" Yinsen said while picking up an Ak-47 that falls from the terrorist body. He ran outside the room chasing the nearing terrorist away. "STICK WITH THE PLAN!!!" Tony yelled."YINSEN!!!"
A minute later the program is finally finished. The metal suit is breaking out of the cave. It is under heavy fire from the terrorist, but none of them can penetrate his armor.
Closing the entrance of the cave, Tony sees his friend lying down on the ground, riddled with bullets in his body, barely surviving.
Yinsen sees the metal armor. Although he is dying, he's very happy for his friend., "Stark" he calls.
Tony opens up his face armor and says to the guy. Come on, we got to go, Move for me."
"Come on, we GOT A PLAN, we're gonna stick to it!!" He tried but Yinsen said something he didn't understand.
"This is always the plan Stark." He has a peaceful look on his face.
"Come on, you can go see your family. Get up!"
"My family is dead, I'm going to see them now, Stark."
Yinsen sees Stark's unwilling eyes, "It's okay."
"I want this"
"I want this"
Stark tries to toughen up and smiles at Yinsen "Thank you for saving me"
With difficulty breathing, Yinsen said his final word in the cave " Don't - Don't waste your life, sir" His body became lifeless.
Tony is determined to get revenge!! For the torture!! For using his weapons!! For killing his friend!! He went out of the cave and started his massacre. He destroyed the weapons from the Stark industry that the terrorist has, and he flew out of the base before the massive explosion happens.
A military convoy that went to investigate the surrounding terrain because of Ryan's algorithms, hears the sound of the explosion. "Go in that direction!" The explosion was in the direction of one possible location that held Tony Stark.
They are too late, however. Stark at this time had already flown away and landed in the desert. It took a while before his friend Rod found him. "How was the fun-vee? Next time you ride with me".
Before the explosion, a strange man in a mask is looking at Yinsens body. Then, both of them disappeared from the cave.
…
One day later. Yinsen wakes up in a strange bed." Wait, what happened?" He was sure that he was dying. But now there's not even a trace of the wound?
"Oh you have woken up, the boss says you need to meet him after you wake up". He hears a voice talking to him. He looked around to see who was talking. But no one is there. All he can see is a cat.
Meowth, who sees the bald guy looking around, didn't wait for the latter to collect himself. "What are you looking for? Just stand up already. Let's go meet the boss". He sees the guy is having a surprised look on his face, but he thought it was because he is too handsome.
Yinsen, who is in shock because of a talking cat, now is following the cat from behind. Moving from the medical ward, he sees many marvelous things, like a dragon, a flaming horse, an android, and many more. " What kind of place is this?"
Meowth is leading Yinsen to the Great Hall, where the islander is having lunch, the boss is most likely to be there.
"Mia, if your test result comes back and you get a low mark, you cannot practice till you get it back up", the elf is reprimanding the kids. Some are so obsessed with training that they are forgetting other aspects of their life.
"Don't worry, I will get an 'A' for sure!!"Mia is confident about it. The elf just shook his head slowly. He already read Mia's test from her memory, it seems like she's gonna flunk the test this time.
"Boss, the new guy has woken up". Meowth led Yinsen to the elf. Mia is curious about the new guy on the island. She has seen someone other than the Deer God before. A black-haired doctor who greets people cheerfully and another guy in a robe will leave without saying anything. She asked "Deer God, is he also a guest?"
When the girls first come to the island, many of them have hatred toward men, but with time and therapy, it moves towards indifference. Very few have already accepted what happens and moved on. The fact that the Deer God is a man also helps them get through it.
"He is a guest for now, but maybe he'll not stay in the world for long." The elf replied to Mia. He walks over to the confused guy.
"Dr. Yinsen, I'm sure you'll have many questions. But have some food first, we'll get to it later". Yinsen nodded and sat down at the empty spot on the table. When everyone is ready, the elf snaps his finger.
At first, Yinsen thought its a buffet-style because the table was empty, but none of the people get up to bring the food. It was when the food appeared out of thin air that he understood it. "I'm in paradise, right? It's the only explanation!" He hopes for it, but then he deletes that thought from his mind.
The elf sat across from him, "You're not in paradise, you're still in the world." He picks some fruit from the table, ignoring his taken aback face of Yinsen.
Many of the kids are excited that the elf is eating with them. "It's very rare for the Deer God to eat with us. He is usually busy with work." While eating, the kids and the ex-widows will steal a glance at him.
The elf brings some food to his mouth, passing through the mask-like it's not there. It was a function of the mask that allows eating without taking the mask off.
Yinsen is weirded out by the unique way of eating. "Who are you?", he asked. One minute he's dying, another he is very healthy. It must be because of the guy in front of him.
"I have no name, you can call me anything." the elf says.
"Are you a god?" Yinsen hears the kids calling the guy Deer God before.
"That's what the kids call me" He has never claimed to be a god or will ever do.
"Why did you bring me here? Or save me?", Yinsen asked when the elf had no interest in answering his previous questions.
"I brought you here just to have a conversation with you".
Yinsen is in disbelief." No, he must have an ulterior motive." he thought in his heart. "What conversation do you want to have with me?", he plays along for now.
Even when talking, the man's hand didn't stop eating. The elf asked casually while picking up a grape. "Why did you die for Stark?".
The atmosphere in the hall becomes still. Many people who are talking while eating now become extremely quiet. Ryan who's in his house face-palmed himself. " That's not how you do it!!"
Ignoring the main body, he pops the grape into his mouth while waiting for Yinsens to answer. But it never comes. The other party is too stunned to speak" It seems like it's too soon to discuss this.
" Mia, Dotty, Sive! " He called the kids trio.
"Yes!!! " they answered in unison." After eating, bring Yinsen to his quarters, and show him around the island. "
He turns to Yinsen " When you are ready to talk, I'll be here. "
He left Yinsen to the kids. To be honest, he knows why because of the movie." Yinsen wanted to follow his family in death, that's why he would sacrifice himself. But the VampireKid's quest couldn't be solved by that. "
VampireKid: You need to save Yinsen from his death and ask him why he would sacrifice himself. You could only do it by conversation and any mind-reading attempt will fail the quest.
Reward: Rejuvenation magic. (up to 90 years)
The rejuvenation magic couldn't prolong one's lifespan. But it could make people look young again and they could live the rest of their life in peace without disease or pain that comes with old age. They could suddenly drop dead though.
The magic requires a medium, that is vampire blood from VampireKid world, not any vampire blood. Once cast, the person will rejuvenate to how they were when they are young. They will age normally and could be old again if their remaining lifespan is long, but for humans, that's impossible.
The quest is a hassle, that's why he didn't want to do it. But the reward is really good. To finish the quest, he needed to hear from Yinsen's mouth about why he'd sacrifice himself.
"...That's why, I'm shutting down the weapon manufacturing division of Stark Industry, effective immediately…"
Yinsen watched the news of Starks conference online. At first, he thought he's gonna be shut out from the outside world like a hostage. But he's free to do what he wants here. The masked men only asked him to not contact Stark. "You can do that in the future. No need to worry" is what the guy in the deer mask said to him.
In the few days that he's here, he asked the kids around the island about how they got here. And why did the masked man bring them here? He fears that they are held there against their will. Surprisingly, it wasn't as he expected. The kids and the people here choose to stay. The masked man is the one who repeatedly asked them to leave, to go back to the human world.
After getting confirmation, he asked if he could leave. "You can, I don't think deer god will ask anyone to stay. But it's fun here. You can ask him if you want to stay." Mia said. The trio decided that it was their responsibility to take care of the old man. After all, this is the Deer God's request.
Sive said," After this, the theater is showing a new movie, let's go wait in line". She is very excited to see the new movie. The elf makes a very good cinema. But only 100 people can watch at a time. She pulls Yinsen to go with her.
Yinsen became close with the trio as they thought he was very kind. Especially for Sive, the man becomes a sort of a father figure for her. He is everything she wanted in a father.
The old man is helpless. He can't reject the innocent girl's request." It seems like my conversation with the masked man will have to wait. "
…
Coulson has a headache. The new mission to brief and find out Stark's escape from the cave in Afghanistan is not hard, but it's a hassle to deal with the playboy and Stark industry.
He is in a black SUV, driving in the streets of New York. A notification appears on his phone. 'The mission is completed - B. W.'
Her mission in New York is completed. Coulson then asked her current location and swung by to pick her up. "Excellent job as usual", Coulson praised. The data for the mission is then sent to the headquarters. "So far, your mission record is outstanding. So what do you think about taking a break, Romanov?"
Natasha is confused by the sudden offer, but then her eyes turn serious."What do I need to do to earn it?" Unlike the original story, it's harder for her to adapt to Shield because people are wary of her. After all, the Widow's Revenge incident is too terrifying. She had to work several times harder to integrate into Shield, and now, she could use a rest.
Nick Fury had his eyes on her constantly. "It's until we know what is her connection to the superpower individual who destroys the Red Room". This matter is entrusted to Phil Coulson.
In the car, Coulson smiles slyly before he drives to the Clinton area in New York. He stops in front of a not-so-small clinic. "It isn't a mission this time. Just go in and have a medical checkup. If you can keep your identity until coming out of the clinic, then you can have one week off".
She is skeptical "What's the mission? And the target?" Shield has been using her for assassination and spying almost constantly. It's like she had never left the Red Room. The only thing that brings her consolation is that Shield is an official fair organisation that targets bad guys.
" I told you, it's not a mission, he's a friend of mine." Phil Coulson didn't want to treat the woman as disposable like Nick Fury told him to.
He told her several details about the guy to ensure her trial is fair. He watches her as she walks into the clinic. But less than five minutes later, he got a text message from Kai.
'Come in Coulson'
"Wait seriously." He is very puzzled."Did Romanov rat me out?"
Side story 4:
Older Ted Mosby is narrating this entire side story as he told the story to his children.
OTM: It was a usual day in Mclarens pub until your Uncle Barney brought a guy he bumped into earlier.
"Dude, nice suit. Is it cashmere?" Barney is in a suit store when he sees Kai, a renowned medical doctor who will drive him crazy later on.
"Yes, your suit is not bad either. But it'll be better for you to use…this tie instead" Kai hands a dark brown tie to Barney. "Yeah right, like there's any chance that I will miss…Oh my god, you're right!!"
Thus begin the friendship. Uncle Barney invited him to the pub while Marshall and I were drinking beer. "I will be your wingman!" Kai has never picked a girl up in a bar before, and Uncle Barney took that personally. "Let's play a game, Have you met Kai?"
However, it seems like Kai has no game whatsoever, or isn't interested in picking up girls, which makes your uncle Barney frustrated.
"Dude, you need to at least try. " It was then your Aunt Robin and Aunt Lily walked into the bar that made Kai interested. "Wait, Maria Hill?"
"No, Robin Sherbatsky. Who is Maria Hill? Also, who are you?"
"Dr. Kai Vera. I'm sorry I've mistaken you for a girl I rejected before." And that's it, kid. That's all Kai has to say.
"Alright woman, move along now, the man is busy "Barney is getting rid of the girls. It's men's night right now.
" Okay, new girl 10 O'clock, time to step up your game." But Barney didn't know, Kai already finished his game.
"You see Barney when I called Robin by the wrong name before, I was putting subconscious thoughts in her head, that a girl who looks like her has pursued me, but is rejected. "
"Now, without her knowing it, she will try to get my affection, to prove that she is better than that girl. All I have to do is wait."
Barney is in disbelief. "That won't work." It was this time that your Aunt Robin re-enters the pub.
"Hi, I am wondering if you'd like to get a drink with me?" Just like Kai said, your Aunt Robin is desperate to get his attention. Kai's behavior has hit her competitiveness and daddy issues all at once.
Kai leaves with Robin, leaving Barney's mouth open wide. "That man is a god!"
Ted Mosby's son: Dad, how is this any relevance to how you meet our mother?
Ted Mosby's daughter: It's been 5 years since you started telling this story, and not once has mum appeared in it!