— Tony Stark's Mansion, Underground Workshop
Aldrich Killian's attack on Tony Stark's mansion had been thwarted.
But the battle was far from over.
If the first strike fails, a second and third will surely follow.
No one knew where Killian found the audacity to challenge Iron Man head-on, but since he had chosen to stand against Tony Stark and Kagura Hitomi, there was no other choice but to crush him completely.
After ensuring Pepper Potts and Maya Hansen were safe, Kagura and Tony Stark descended into the underground workshop, ready to locate Killian and the Mandarin using their combined resources and eliminate them.
"Mr. Stark, I've been wondering... what exactly are you afraid of?" Kagura asked as she seamlessly integrated Rhodes Island Industries' 'Argos' system with Stark Industries' 'Oracle' cloud network.
"I'm afraid of a lot of things, Hitomi," Tony sighed.
"Aliens, Asgardian gods, interdimensional threats... all this insane stuff. And me? I'm just a regular guy hiding inside a tin can." He paused, his gaze drifting into the distance.
"The only reason I haven't completely broken down is because I have people I need to protect. I can't lose Pepper. I can't lose Happy. And... I can't lose you, Hitomi."
"You'll never lose me, Mr. Stark," Kagura smiled. "I've had military training, remember?"
"Thank you... for always being there when I need it most."
Tony managed a faint smile. "But I'm scared, Hitomi. Scared that one day, I won't be enough. That the Avengers will fail. That Griffin will fall. I can't let that happen."
"Mr. Stark, you don't have to bear this burden alone," Kagura's voice softened.
"This world isn't yours to protect single-handedly. The Avengers are a team. So is Griffin. And you have me. Trust your allies. Trust me."
"Just look at what we've done here."
"With Oracle's data processing and Argos' intelligence system, we've pinpointed the Mandarin's signal source and tracked down Killian's Extremis soldiers within three minutes."
"Neither of us could've done that alone."
The Oracle cloud system, and Stark Industries' supercomputing network had access to global intelligence system, from government agencies to private servers.
Combined with Rhodes Island's unparalleled surveillance network and Kagura's sharp instincts, Killian and his men had nowhere to hide.
"You're right," Tony admitted, watching the real-time data analysis unfold.
"I would've fallen apart without you, Hitomi. You've done so much—cooking me that amazing Chinese dinner, defending my home with Rhodes Island's tech... You're the one who made me believe... I'm not fighting this war alone."
He looked at her with genuine gratitude. "Thank you, Hitomi. I owe you one. Again."
"Hehe, you're making me blush," Kagura chuckled, scratching her head. "As long as you've snapped out of your anxiety, it's all worth it."
"I'll try my best," Tony replied, swiping through the holographic report. "The results are in. With Oracle's data and Argos' field intelligence... we've identified two locations."
The massive holographic map of the country projected onto the workshop floor, rapidly zooming in on the marked locations.
"The Mandarin's primary activity is in Miami, with a 98.27% accuracy rate," Kagura pointed to the first marker.
"As for Killian, based on Argos' tracking and intel from my 'Red-Clad Twin-Blades Informant,' he's operating around Washington, D.C."
"Washington?" Tony frowned. "Looks like Killian's aiming for a big headline."
"Specifically, the military airbase in D.C.," Kagura noted. "Could he be planning to hijack some high-profile targets?"
"Bingo," Tony opened a new holographic window.
"In 17 hours, high-ranking members of the World Security Council will depart from D.C. for Sokovia to handle Chitauri remains. Killian will likely strike then."
"Sokovia, huh?" Kagura raised an eyebrow.
The infamous 'Sokovia Incident' hadn't happened yet, as this was late 2012, but fate seemed to be aligning.
"Alright, I'll head to Miami to handle the Mandarin. You take care of the big shots in D.C.," Tony suggested.
"Miami will probably be a straightforward takedown, and I can call in the Iron Legion if needed. But be careful, Hitomi."
"Got it. Let's stick to the plan," Kagura agreed without hesitation.
She knew the so-called Mandarin was just an actor, so Tony wouldn't face much resistance. The real battle would be in Washington.
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