SHIELD's efficiency is generally impressive, but sometimes it's a bit too slow. After taking cover, Tony Stark and his companion Ethan didn't have to wait long before reinforcements arrived.
"Hello, Mr. Stark. I'm Agent Coulson. I apologize for not reaching you sooner," Coulson greeted, extending his hand toward Tony.
"Yeah," Tony replied, nodding absentmindedly. The mission was only two days away, and he needed to finish the necessary equipment. He didn't have time for a long chat with Coulson right now.
As several others boarded the plane, Tony tilted his head and addressed Coulson, "Colson, right?"
"Yes," Coulson nodded.
"So, where are we headed?"
"The nearest military base has specialized doctors who can give you both a thorough examination."
"No need!" Tony quickly stood up, clearly against the idea.
"Going there would mean I'll have to undergo the task without my armor, and as a mechanic, that's the greatest humiliation."
"Change course," Tony demanded, "I need to go to Stark Industries first."
Coulson hesitated, taken aback. "But your condition..."
"I can't fix it, and the doctor you brought won't be able to either. Now, listen to me!" Tony cut off Coulson's attempt at persuasion, his tone leaving no room for argument.
At Tony's insistence, the plane changed direction, and they headed straight for Stark Industries.
Once aboard, Tony quickly called Pepper and arranged for her to prepare the necessary logistics.
He didn't want any reporters wasting his time, especially considering he'd just escaped a near-death situation.
"Ethan, when we get there, take the time to rest. If you need anything, talk to Pepper. I have some important matters to attend to, and I'll get in touch with you soon." Tony glanced at Ethan as he put down the phone.
"I understand," Ethan nodded, already suspecting that Tony was dealing with something beyond what he had initially imagined.
After deplaning, Tony wasted no time and immediately headed toward Pepper.
"Pepper, I need you to prepare some materials for me. I've sent you the list," Tony said without hesitation as soon as he saw her.
Pepper frowned. "You just escaped danger. Shouldn't the priority be to hold a press conference to stabilize the military's morale?"
Tony could sense the irritation in her voice. After his near-death experience, he was more attuned to her feelings.
He thought back to everything she had done for him and, in that moment, realized how much he owed her.
Turning to face her, Tony suddenly enveloped Pepper in a tight hug, much to her surprise.
"Pepper, I've troubled you in the past. Please help me out now. This is incredibly important," Tony whispered softly in her ear.
"Hmm..." Pepper muttered, her voice barely audible, but the gesture caused her complaints to fade away.
After a few moments, an assistant approached Pepper. "Miss Pepper, where will the press conference be held?"
"Cancel it," Pepper responded curtly, waving her hand.
Tony, now several steps ahead, waved back at her, and Pepper hurried to catch up.
Back in his workshop, Tony looked around at the familiar equipment with a grin. At last, he had access to the tools he needed.
Behind him, piles of materials were stacked high. Pepper had ordered double the amount, just to be sure they had enough.
After closing the workshop door, Tony entered "retreat mode," a state in which he could focus entirely on his work.
The workshop lights remained on for two consecutive days as Tony worked tirelessly. By the end of it, he had finally crafted the equipment.
This version of the armor was a smaller, more compact model. Due to time constraints, some of the more ambitious features couldn't be fully implemented.
Once he finished assembling the armor, Tony rubbed his tired eyes and glanced at the mission countdown. There were only a few hours left, which meant he could rest before the mission began.
Meanwhile, Qi Yun watched Tony closely. After circling the mecha twice, Qi Yun nodded in approval. If new recruits were equipped with this armor, the mission's success rate would definitely improve.
However, Qi Yun knew that replicating this mecha wouldn't be a worthwhile investment. They'd have to convince Tony to build more, and then Qi Yun could figure out how to acquire them at a discounted price.
With a snap of his fingers, Qi Yun disappeared, leaving no trace of his presence.
As the mission's start time drew closer, Tony was roused by Jarvis.
Rubbing his aching head, Tony stood up and stretched. "Jarvis, activate the armor."
Jarvis complied, and the suit separated into individual components, which then assembled themselves onto Tony's body via robotic arms.
"Jarvis, activate the room's scanning system and encrypt the data. Store everything from here on out," Tony ordered.
After the command, Tony accessed the armor's rating system, comparing it to his previous designs and inspecting the analysis files.
Mark 1 Single-Person Mecha (Reduced Version)
Height: 2.1 meters
Width: 0.8 meters
Length: 0.6 meters
Armament: Dual-barrel Vulcan cannon, laser launcher, micro-missile launcher, jet flight system
Energy Source: Enhanced micro-reactor
Shell: Reinforced special alloy
Combat Methods: Laser jets, Vulcan cannon, micro-missiles
Attack Power: 0-500
Defense: 100
Evaluation: Excellent for single-player combat, with medium endurance. The weapon system is somewhat bulky, but the intelligent assistance system is highly effective.
"It looks like a well-crafted piece, probably useful as a collectible." - Han Xiao
Rating: 33 points, Blue-level item (Note: Blue-level items score between 10-40)
Tony reviewed the armor's score and the design documents. He had a clearer understanding of how the scoring system worked for mechas.
He deduced that the main system likely rated based on the armor's performance, with scores adjusted according to various performance indicators. Based on his comparison, Tony estimated that his armor would receive full marks for intelligence, with potential bonus points. However, the weapon system and energy source would likely result in some deductions.
As Tony pondered the intricacies of the scoring system, the mission countdown reached zero.
With a final burst of energy, Tony and his armor disappeared from the Marvel universe.
A brief jump through time and space later, Tony found himself in another world.
The mission destination was Raccoon City, setting the stage for the start of the Resident Evil storyline. This was the part of the story Tony could participate in.
According to the rules, this challenge seemed to be appropriately difficult for Tony's current capabilities—though it was clear that his survival would depend on how carefully he approached the situation.