20

The Stark Expo was supposed to be Justin Hammer's moment of triumph. He had spent months preparing, convinced that his army of steel soldiers would finally outshine Tony Stark and secure a massive military contract. But as the chaos unfolded, Hammer's confidence crumbled. The steel soldiers were out of control, and even the War Machine armor piloted by Rhodes was no longer responding to commands. Hammer's frantic attempts to override the system were useless; he was locked out, isolated from the very machines he had built his reputation on.

In that moment, Hammer saw his future slipping away. Not only would he lose the military contract, but his company's name would be forever tarnished by this disaster. The military would never trust Hammer Industries again, not even for a single bullet. For all his bravado, Hammer was a businessman first and foremost. He cared about money, not blood. Even in his rivalry with Stark, he had never truly wished Tony dead. He only wanted to win, to prove himself and secure his fortune.

But now, with everything spiraling out of control, Pepper Potts was already calling the police. Hammer's hands shook as he tried to salvage the situation, but it was too late. Natasha Romanoff, moving with the efficiency of a true professional, pinned him down and extracted Ivan Vanko's location with ruthless precision. Without hesitation, she left Hammer behind and sped toward Hammer Industries, determined to stop Ivan before things got even worse.

As Natasha's car sped past, John watched the chaos from the passenger seat of his own car, his gaze fixed on the rampaging steel soldiers. He could not help but marvel at the brilliance of Ivan Vanko. To take Hammer's steel suits and turn them into an army of autonomous steel soldiers required not just technical skill, but genius. In his own way, Ivan was every bit Tony's equal—a scientist with a mind as sharp as any in the world.

John's attention was suddenly drawn to a familiar face in the crowd. May Parker, desperate and anxious, was being jostled and pushed as she searched for Peter. John's eyes narrowed as he saw the fear in her expression.

"Park the car," John ordered calmly.

Ferdinand hesitated, eyeing the chaos outside. "Are you serious, boss? This is a war zone."

John's voice was steady, his gaze unflinching. "A good driver listens. Obedience is more important than cleverness, Ferdinand."

Ferdinand swallowed his protests and brought the car to a halt just beside May. As soon as the car stopped, John stepped out, his presence calm and reassuring amid the panic.

"Peter!" May called out, her voice trembling.

"Miss," John greeted her with a gentle smile. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"John?" May's relief was palpable. She grabbed his hand, her words tumbling out in a rush. "Please, help me find Peter. Use your… magic, if you have to."

John nodded, his expression softening. "Of course. You helped me once, so let me return the favor." He drew his wand, and with a subtle flick, whispered, "Accio Peter Parker."

Elsewhere in the crowd, young Peter—his face hidden behind an Iron Man mask—was also searching for May. Suddenly, he felt an invisible force tug at his collar, lifting him off his feet and pulling him through the throng. The adults nearby barely noticed; everyone was too busy trying to escape the chaos to pay attention to a child being whisked away by magic.

Within moments, Peter found himself safely in John's grasp. John rapped his knuckles on the Iron Man mask, grinning. "That's twice I've saved you, little Peter."

May let out a cry of joy and pulled Peter into her arms, hugging him tightly. She was shaking, her relief overwhelming. Peter, however, was oblivious to the danger, his eyes shining with excitement. "May, I just saw Iron Man! He was right there!"

"You shouldn't have left me, Peter!" May scolded, her voice stern but loving.

John leaned against the car door, watching the reunion with a small smile. "If you'd like, I can give you both a ride home," he offered.

May nodded gratefully. "Thank you, John. I don't want to spend another second in this mess."

She started to usher Peter into the sports car, but John stopped her, looking a bit sheepish. "Actually… there are only two seats. If you and Peter get in, where do I sit?"

He raised his hand, and with a wave of his wand, summoned a yellow taxi. The driver, looking bewildered, pulled up without quite knowing why.

May stared at John, half amused and half exasperated. "Are you serious?"

John nodded earnestly. "This car only has two seats, and I don't have a driver's license anyway."

May remembered their first meeting and finally understood why John had seemed so out of place behind the wheel. With a resigned smile, she bundled Peter into the taxi. The driver, still looking confused, hit the gas and sped off in the opposite direction.

As the taxi disappeared, John slid back into the passenger seat of his own car. Ferdinand, who had watched the entire exchange in awe, could not contain his admiration.

"Boss, you're a legend! From now on, you're my life mentor!"

Ferdinand swore to himself that if he ever had to choose between a beautiful woman and his own brother, he would make room for the beauty—just like John. That kind of calm detachment, that ability to make hard choices without hesitation, was the mark of a true leader.

John glanced at Ferdinand with a bemused smile. "You know there are only two seats, right? Or did you want to walk home?"

Ferdinand grinned sheepishly, then started the car and pulled away from the curb. As they drove, John caught sight of the wreckage of one of the Iron Soldiers and urged, "Step on it, Ferdinand."

"Right away, boss!" Ferdinand replied, narrowly missing an elderly man with a white beard who shook his fist and shouted, "Hey! This isn't Texas, you maniac!"

The old woman beside him tugged his arm. "Come on, Stan, let's go."

Ferdinand's driving was reckless but undeniably skilled. John complimented him, "You're a natural behind the wheel."

Ferdinand beamed with pride. "The Pierce family has always been good drivers. You should see my brother Roman."

"If he's as good as you, I might hire him too," John joked.

Ferdinand laughed. "Let's hope he doesn't show up. I don't need the competition."

"There's always room for another car, Ferdinand," John said, his tone light.

Soon, they arrived at the New York Ecological Park. Ferdinand looked at the massive glass dome and sighed. "If we'd had a place like this when I was a kid, maybe I'd have become a biologist."

John looked up, watching as the steel soldiers soared overhead, flames trailing in their wake. "Do none of these guys know how to use the front door?" he remarked as he saw more glass shattering.

He stepped out of the car and turned to Ferdinand. "Take care of the car. I want it spotless when I get back."

Ferdinand gave a confident salute. "No problem, boss. I'll treat her like a queen."

He watched John disappear into the park, then leaned against the car, admiring its sleek lines. "From now on, you're mine, baby," he whispered to the car, not noticing another armored suit streaking through the sky.

This time, there was a pilot inside. The suit crashed through the glass and into the park, sending shards flying everywhere. One particularly large piece of glass sailed through the air and embedded itself in the driver's seat of the sports car. Ferdinand's triumphant grin faded as he stared at the damage.

Inside the park, chaos reigned. Ivan Vanko's Iron Soldiers had failed, so he had come himself to finish the job. Black Widow, relentless as always, broke into Hammer Industries in a desperate attempt to stop him, but Ivan was already gone, his own suit propelling him toward Tony's location.

Unable to catch Ivan, Natasha rebooted the War Machine armor and sent Tony and Rhodes a message: team up and take down the rogue Iron Soldiers.

The battle was fierce. Tony, using a dazzling move that combined a 360-degree spin and twin laser cutters, sliced through the steel soldiers. Armor crashed to the ground, and the dust settled just long enough for Ivan to make his entrance.

The helmet of Ivan's suit snapped open, and he glared at Tony. "It's good to be back," he said, his voice cold.

Rhodes and Tony exchanged a wary glance. Tony muttered, "This doesn't look good."

Ivan unleashed his upgraded whips, crackling with electricity. He leaped forward, lightning arcing around him, his presence menacing.

Rhodes, determined not to be outdone, announced, "I'm going to use a special weapon on him."

Tony shot him a puzzled look. "What, your ex-wife?"

Rhodes shrugged, launching a missile from the War Machine's shoulder. The missile streaked toward Ivan, but when it struck his armor, it fizzled out with a pathetic pop and dropped harmlessly into the water.

Tony stared, incredulous. "Hammer's weapon?"

"Yeah…" Rhodes replied, embarrassment in his voice.

The failed missile left both men speechless. Tony realized he would have to handle Ivan himself, but even his firepower was not enough to penetrate Ivan's military-grade armor.

Ivan took the initiative, swinging his whips in a series of devastating attacks.

The first whip separated Iron Man and War Machine.

The second whip snapped the heavy machine gun off Rhodes' shoulder.

The third whip wrapped around Tony's leg and yanked him off his feet.

The fourth whip locked around War Machine's neck, nearly crushing it.

The fifth and final whip lashed out on both sides, blue lightning crackling as it entangled both armors. The electromagnetic interference was so intense that neither Tony nor Rhodes could break free.

Ivan stood over them, triumphant, his revenge within reach. Under the harsh glare of the electric light, he was only a heartbeat away from victory.

But Ivan had underestimated Tony Stark.

Even as they struggled, Tony and Rhodes managed to raise their hands and fire their repulsor beams at each other. The energy collided in a blinding explosion, the shockwave knocking Ivan back.

He tried to recover, his whips flailing, but Tony and Rhodes seized the moment. Ivan's suit, battered and sparking, could not withstand the combined assault. He activated his escape protocol, his helmet snapping shut as he launched himself skyward, disappearing into the night.

The battle was over, but the consequences of the night's chaos would ripple through New York for a long time to come.