Chapter Sixty-six: The Desperate Virus

On Christmas Day, every television channel in Los Angeles was hacked once more. The Mandarin reappeared on screen, demanding a call with the President of the United States. As soon as the President answered, the Mandarin, before the eyes of all viewers, shot and seemingly killed an oil company accountant, then threatened to kidnap the President himself.

Arthur watched the broadcast, thinking the Mandarin’s actor played his part quite convincingly, and the accountant who was “shot” was also quite the natural. Arthur recalled that the true villain was actually a scientist, who was in cahoots with the Vice President.

He called Rhodey, who took a long time to answer.

“Arthur?” Rhodey’s voice came through.

“Yeah, where are you, Rhodey?” Arthur asked.

“I’m with Tony. We’re in Miami,” Rhodey replied.

“Did you catch the Mandarin?” Arthur pressed.

“How did you know? We just found the Mandarin, and guess what? He’s just an actor, hired by someone else,” Rhodey said helplessly.

“I already know. And I know they’re working with the Vice President. They’re plotting to take out the President!” Arthur revealed.

“What? The Vice President is with them? Do you have proof?” Rhodey sounded shocked.

“They’re wearing your suit right now, heading to abduct the President. What more proof do you need? Tell me where you are—I’ll back you up!” Arthur insisted.

“Alright, we’re in Miami. They plan to make their move on a ship at the port!” Rhodey relayed their plan.

Arthur hung up. Miami, huh? I haven’t been there before!

...

Just as Arthur predicted, the criminals, clad in the Iron Patriot armor, hijacked Air Force One and took the President. Tony managed to reach the plane but couldn’t save the President, though he did rescue all the crew.

By the time Arthur arrived at the Miami port, night had fallen. He met up with Rhodey and Tony at the docks. Rhodey was genuinely glad to see him—finally, some reinforcements.

“What are you doing here?” Tony asked.

“I heard your house got blown up. Figured you could use a hand!” Arthur replied.

“I actually already have a plan,” Tony said.

“Well, here’s mine: I’ll go in and draw out all the enemies, Rhodey rescues the President, and Tony, you go save Pepper,” Arthur outlined.

“Not a bad plan. Although, my backup will be here any second,” Tony remarked.

“Let me guess, your suits? No wonder you said you’re broke—all your money goes into your hobbies,” Arthur quipped.

“Alright, enough talk. I’m going in. You two, act when the time’s right.” With that, Arthur strode off.

He walked openly onto the ship’s deck and was immediately spotted by the enemies, who now swarmed the deck in force. The attackers on the upper levels all opened fire on Arthur. With a flick of his right hand, he surrounded himself in a shimmering sphere of water—a water technique that made him look as if he were encased in a giant bubble. Bullets from every direction struck but could not pierce his watery shield.

...

While Arthur was under attack, Rhodey spotted the President, suspended in midair, still trapped inside the Iron Patriot armor. Tony, seeing pinpricks of light in the distance, exclaimed, “Finally, they’re here!”

“What is?” Rhodey asked.

“Look up!” Tony pointed to the sky.

“All of those?” Rhodey asked in disbelief.

Tony nodded. In seconds, more than thirty suits of Iron Man armor arrived, surrounding the ship.

Arthur and his attackers noticed the development. Even though he’d braced himself, Arthur was still stunned. How much money must all those suits have cost? Damn it, Tony tricked me!

“Jarvis, lock onto the Extremis heat signatures and annihilate them!” Tony ordered.

“Yes, sir!” With that, every suit launched an all-out assault on the enemy.

Arthur suddenly found things much easier. He’d hoped to show off, but Tony had stolen the spotlight. But these enemies were tough—superhuman strength and rapid regeneration. Yet Arthur was their natural nemesis.

With a sweep of his hand, the sea surged. A towering wave rose beside the ship, ominously poised but not crashing down—a strange sight. Arthur unleashed his power, and surging torrents of seawater crashed toward the enemies glowing red-hot with the Extremis virus.

Those struck by the water were blasted away by the immense pressure. Steam billowed off their bodies, as if red-hot iron had been plunged into cold water.

“Ha! Let me cool you off a bit!” Arthur called, sending wave after wave of water at the enemies.

Deprived of their heat, the Extremis soldiers fell, many finished off by Tony’s armors. Rhodey managed to rescue the President, donning the Iron Patriot suit and whisking him away to safety.

Tony’s suits were diverse—each with different weapons and some designed for utility. Tony himself suited up and rushed to the control room to save Pepper.

Arthur continued to command water jets, bombarding the enemies from afar—being a ranged mage was truly delightful!

He was in the midst of all this when Tony suddenly shouted his name.

“Arthur!”

Arthur looked up to see Pepper clinging desperately to a pillar, high above, about to fall. Tony, entangled with enemies, called for Arthur’s help.

Arthur shot into the air, reached Pepper, and caught her safely in his arms.

Tony, seeing Pepper rescued, let out a breath of relief. At that moment, the villain, Dr. Killian, stepped in front of Tony and, seeing Arthur fly off with Pepper, asked, “Arthur, King of the Seas? What’s he doing here?”

“You should worry about yourself!” Tony retorted, charging at Killian. Killian reciprocated, and as Tony dodged a punch, a suit flew in for him to don, and the two began grappling fiercely.

...

Arthur set Pepper down gently. “Stay here. I’m going to help Tony!”

Killian and Tony were locked in a brutal fight. Killian, shirtless, his body aglow with searing heat, moved with blinding speed. Suddenly, a massive jet of water smashed into Killian, pinning him against a rack, with Tony also knocked aside by the force.

“Arrgh!” Killian screamed in agony, steam hissing as his burning body met the icy seawater. The pressure was so great it collapsed the entire structure, sending Killian and the steel framework crashing onto the deck below.

“Why’d you hit me too?” Tony flew to Arthur’s side.

Arthur shrugged and descended to the deck, Tony following close behind.

“Tony!” Pepper ran to them as they landed. Tony shed his armor and embraced her.

“It’s over, Pepper. You’re safe now...” he comforted her.

But just then, a figure emerged from the blazing wreckage on deck—it was Killian, his body still glowing red-hot, unscathed by the fall.

“What a nuisance! Even that didn’t finish him off,” Arthur grumbled. He summoned his trident, and a surge of blue water energy shot into Killian, vaporizing him instantly in a cloud of steam.

“Done!” Arthur declared.

Holding Pepper, Tony said, “Jarvis, begin Operation Christmas Clean-Up!”

“Yes, sir!” Jarvis replied. The Iron Man suits in the sky detonated one after another, lighting up the night like fireworks.

Tony kissed Pepper, moved by the spectacle. Arthur watched from the side, taking 9999 points of emotional damage. Damn! If I’d known, I’d have stayed home for Christmas—it would’ve been much cozier!

“Cough, cough...” Arthur faked a cough to interrupt their moment.

“These fireworks are certainly unique and beautiful, but isn’t this a bit extravagant? Didn’t you tell me you were broke? So what’s all this, then?” Arthur demanded.

“Don’t sweat the details. If you want, I’ll make you a suit when we get back,” Tony replied generously.

That’s what I was waiting for. Arthur turned to Pepper. “You were injected with the Extremis virus, right?”

Tony looked anxiously at Pepper, who nodded.

“I’ll cure you. I promise!” Tony assured her, gripping her hand.

...

Afterward, the President ordered the Vice President’s arrest, and the “Mandarin” actor was also taken into custody. Tony began working on a cure for the Extremis virus in Pepper’s body.