Chapter 31: Fire works

--------------------------------- 5/31/10, Stark Expo, Biodome----------------------

Tony: "I'm Sorry Buddy. Had to thin out the herd. What's your 20?" A minnie omnitrix symbol can be seen there and just as he clears the globe he hears a Robotic voice.

??: "You look like you could use some help. So I thought I'd lend you a hand."

Just as Tony was about to respond, Rhodey tackles him from behind and they crash into the Biodome. But as they fall Rhodey notices that his screen went white with a strange symbol in the center then he gained full control of the suit the moment he touched the ground.

Tony: "Who are you and thanks I guess." Tony said questionably. Already noticing that Rhodey was back in control of his armor. Then begins to order Jarvis."Jarvis, find out who this is."

???: "I gave you your friend back. But you should get ready. The drones are on the way."

Tony: "Who are you and how did you get on this channel?"

???: "Just call me 'Upgrade'. I'll be taking care of the people. So get all the drones." The voice said and then a familiar person was seen on his HUD.

Natasha: "You got your best friend back."

Tony: "I got some help. Nice to see you, Agent Romanoff."

Natasha: "Well done on the new chest piece. I am reading significantly higher output and your vitals all look promising." The image on his screen showed Agent Romanoff looking up at him.

Tony: "Yes, for the moment, I'm not dying. Thank you."

Pepper: "What do you mean you're not dying? Did you just say you're dying?"

Tony, surprised that Pepper heard the conversation, rushed to explain.

Tony: "Is that you? No, I'm not. Not anymore."

Pepper: "What's going on?"

Tony: "I was going to tell you. I didn't want to alarm you."

Pepper: "You were gonna tell me? You really were dying?" Pepper said, exacerbated.

Tony: "You didn't let me."

Pepper: "Why didn't you tell me that?"

Tony: "I was gonna make you an omelet and tell you."

Natasha: "Hey, hey. Save it for the honeymoon. You got incoming Tony. Looks like the fight's coming to you."

Tony: "Great. Pepper?"

Pepper: "Are you okay now?"

Tony: "I am fine. Don't be mad. I will formally apologize…"

Pepper: "I am mad!"

Tony: "…when I'm not fending off a Hammeroid attack."

Pepper: "Fine."

Tony: "We could have been in Venice."

Pepper: "Oh please."

Tony after ending the call, walks over to Rhodey who was still on the ground as his systems rebooted. He then taps on Rhodey's helmet.

Tony: "Rhodes? Snap out of it buddy. I need you. They're coming. Come on, let's roll. Get up."

Tony then helps Rhodey off the ground. Rhodey's helmet opens up and he begins to speak.

Rhodey: "Oh, man. You can have your suit back."

As the two prepare for their fight with the drones, Damien has helped people evacuate. While everyone was distracted, he was even able to get two droids sent to Star Labs after disabling their little surprise ment for Tony.

Damien: *Now that the authorities are here, and most of the people are gone, I should make sure the blasts won't do permanent damage.* After thinking that, Damien went all around the park to make sure that all the down drones, and their components, were away from structural supports. He wanted to make sure that they were far enough from important parts of buildings and other areas to not cause permanent damage to the park and its artifacts. After he finished securing the area and making sure that Pepper was the only one left in the blast zone, Damien prepared to move and watch the action. The palms of his gauntlets and the soles of his boots began to move as if alive and made repulsors that Damien used to fly to a rooftop out of sight. Watching through all the cameras, and the feed from Tony's and Rhodey's helmets. Watching the entire fight between the two and the drones. Ending in the explosion of Vanko's new suit and the start activation of the explosives in the drones scattered around the Expo.

Tony, noticing that Vanko rigged the drones, rushes off to save Pepper. He manages to grab her and fly up just before the drone near her explodes and takes her to a nearby roof.

Damien takes a picture of that moment and sends a copy to Jarvis for Tony to see later.

Damien: *Nothing beats fireworks after all the excitement.* Damien thinks as he flies off in Camouflage, unseen and undetected by anyone.