Ada woke up screaming that morning. Everywhere she looked she saw the....creature she turned into. She quickly turned on the TV to get her mind off of the whole situation. But she instantly regretted when the Mandarin's voice filled the room.
"True story about fortune cookies," he started. "They look Chinese. They sound Chinese. But they're actually an American invention. Which is why they're hollow, full of lies and leave a bad taste in the mouth. My disciples just destroyed another cheap American knockoff. The Chinese Theatre. Mr President, I know this must be getting frustrating. But this season of terror is drawing to a close. And don't worry, the big one is coming..."
She switched it off quickly. She then scrambled for her phone. She quickly dialed the number she knew she could count on.
"Jackson?" she spoke quickly.
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"So, you turn into some sort of creature, but you have no idea how to control it and now you're freaking out because on top of that there's a terrorist around?" Jackson asked while they both waded in the water at the cove.
"Yeah," Ada sighed.
"Well...I'm sure that no matter what, you'll make it through," Jackson comforted.
Ada smiled at him. The two just stared at each other for a few moments, before they slowly felt themselves leaning in. Their lips feverishly brushed against each other, and then Jackson planted a hesitant kiss on her lips.
However, they were soon interrupted by Ada's phone ringing from the beach.
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"Why in the hell would you invite a terrorist to the house?!" Ada screamed as she went downstairs after her father.
"First off, it was a threat to him. Secondly, with the suits, myself, and you're...whatever it is, we'll be fine."
"Okay, I can't control my 'whatever it is.'"
"But we have JARVIS, so we're fine," Tony spoke as he sat down in a chair, while Ada sat on one of the tables.
She picked up a screwdriver and began to work on a small earpiece to where she could have JARVIS wherever she went. She put in the final piece and then plug it into the computer for JARVIS to upload into.
"I've compiled a Mandarin database for you, sir, drawn from S.H.l.E.L.D., FBI and CIA intercepts. Initiating virtual crime scene reconstruction."
The area around them slowly began to resemble the Chinese Theatre, while JARVIS showed Tony several articles. Tony stood and looked through them.
"Okay. What have we got here?" Tony mumbled. "The name is an ancient Chinese war mantle meaning 'adviser to the king.'South American insurgency tactics. Talks like a Baptist preacher. There's lots of pageantry going on here. Lots of theatre. Close."
It all went away. Tony then looked through the holographic image of the theatre.
"The heat from the blast was in excess of 3,000 degrees Celsius," JARVIS began to recreate the scenario.Any subjects within 12.5 yards were vaporised instantly."
"No bomb parts found in a three-mile radius of the Chinese Theatre?" Ada raised a brow.
"No, ma'am."
"Talk to me, Happy," Tony looked down at the recreation of Happy. "When is a bomb not a bomb? Any military victims?"
"Not according to public record, sir."
"Bring up the thermogenic signatures again. Factor in 3,000 degrees."
"The Oracle cloud has completed analysis," JARVIS brought up a map. "Accessing satellites and plotting the last 12 months of thermogenic occurrences now."
"Take away everywhere that there's been a Mandarin attack," Tony ordered.
A few disappeared, but a many still remained.
"That," Tony pointed. "Are you sure that's not one of his?"
"It predates any known Mandarin attack. The incident was the use of a bomb to assist a suicide," JARVIS brought up several articles.
"Bring her around," Tony waved as JARVIS brought the attack and it's information closer.
"The heat signature is remarkably similar. 3,000 degree Celsius."
"That's two military guys," Ada muttered as she took in the information.
"Ever been to Tennessee, Jarvis?" Tony asked.
"Creating a flight plan for Tennessee."
Suddenly, the door bell rang and echoed through the house.
"Are we still at ding-dong? We're supposed to be on total..." Tony slammed his fist on the table. "...security lockdown. Come on, I threatened a terrorist."
"Who is that?" Ada raised a brow.
"There's only so much I can do, sir, when you give the world's press your home address."
Ada stood and grabbed a gun.
"I got it," she loaded the gun.
"No, I got it. I've got all of the fun toys, remember? And I don't want you freaking out, killing a person, and going to jail."
"Fine," Ada put the safety on the gun. "But I'm keeping the gun."
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Ada hid next to the staircase while Tony went to confront the woman in his suit.
"Right there is fine," Tony spoke. "You're not the Mandarin. Are you? Are you?"
Ada peered around the corner to see a brunette standing there.
"You don't remember," she chuckled. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Don't take it personally. I don't remember what I had for breakfast," Tony stated.
"Gluten-free waffles," Ada came out of the corner. "They were disgusting. I hate gluten-free stuff."
"Ada, I told you to stay downstairs," he scolded.
"Okay, look," the woman interrupted. "I need to be alone with you, someplace not here. It's urgent."
"Normally, I'd go for that sort of thing-"
"Dad!" Ada shouted.
"-but now I'm in a committed relationship. It's..."
Several bags then were thrown from upstairs.
"With her."
"Tony? Is somebody there?" Pepper called as she began to make her way down the stairs.
"Yeah, it's Maya Hansen."
"Old botanist pal that I used to know, Barkley," Tony remembered her.
He turned to her and whispered harshly.
"Please don't tell me there's a 12-year-old kid waiting in the car that I've never met."
"He's 13."
Tony flinched.
"I have a brother?" Ada furrowed her brows.
"No," Maya shook her head. "I need your help."
"But, what for?" Tony interrogated. "Why now?"
"Because I read the papers and frankly, I don't think you'll last the week."
"I'll be fine," Tony assured.
"I'm sorry, with Happy in the hospital, I didn't know we were expecting guests," Pepper turned to Tony and Ada.
"We weren't," Ada mouthed.
"And old girlfriends."
"She's not, really..." Tony tried to convince. "No, not really. I-"
"It was just one night," Maya interrupted.
"Yep."
"That's how you did it, isn't it?"
"It was a great night."
"Yep. Well, you know. You saved yourself a world of pain."
"What?" Tony looked at Pepper.
"I'm sure."
"Oh my god, someone kill me now," Ada spoke loud enough so only she could hear it.
"Trust me. We're going out of town. Okay. We've been through this."
"Nope."
"Yep!"
"The man says no."
"Immediately and indefinitely."
"Honey..."
"Great idea. Let's go," Maya grabbed one of Pepper's bags.
"I'm sorry, that's a terrible idea. Please don't touch her bags," Tony looked at Maya.
"This is how normal people behave," Pepper began arguing again.
"I can't protect you out there."
"Is... Is that normal?" Maya asked Ada as she pointed at the bunny in the corner.
"Don't ask me. I just moved back here after being missing for 5 years."
"Sadly, that is very normal," Pepper asked.
"Yes, this is normal! It's a big bunny. Relax about it!"
"Calm down."
"I got this for you."
"I'm aware of that."
"You still haven't even told me you liked it."
"I don't like it."
"Oh my god, I really want to die right now," Ada groaned in frustration.
"I asked you three... You don't like it."
"We are leaving the house."
"Guys?" Maya tried to get their attention.
Ada looked to the TV to see helicopters coming for their house.
"That's not even up for discussion."
"Can we, um..." Ada stuttered.
"I said no."
"What?" Tony looked at Maya and Ada, ending his and Pepper's argument.
"Do we need to worry about that?" Maya asked.
The next thing Ada knew, an explosion went off and she was thrown back and into a wall. She felt her head hurt, but other than that she felt fine. She saw Pepper had been protected by the armor, while Tony laid on the ground a few yards away. Maya was unconscious. The roof started to crumble and collapse on Tony, but Pepper was there to save him.
"I got you."
"I got you first. Like I said, we can't stay here," Tony sat up.
Ada stood up, but when she looked down she saw her fingernails replaced with claws. She felt her canines start to grow in her mouth.
"Dad?" she called out.
He looked at her with wide eyes.
Another missile went off, splitting Pepper away from Tony and Ada.
"Move!" Tony ordered Pepper. "We're right behind you."
The two Starks ran forward, but the floor caved in before they could make it.
"Get her. We'll find a way around," Tony assured. "Stop stopping. Get her. Get outside. Go!"
Pepper picked up Maya and made her way out. Another missile went off, and the ground shook beneath them. Again it happened, and the two Starks fell to the ground and slid towards the glass windows. Tony was lucky enough to catch a beam, but Ada broke through the glass and caught onto the balcony.
"Sir, Ms Potts is clear of the structure," JARVIS notified.
Ada forgot about her earpiece, and she was thankful she had it. Ada leapt up and grabbed onto the beam Tony was. Tony made a hand gesture and the suit slowly came to him. Their attackers began to fire a machine gun at them. Tony crawled across the floor to get to his suit. Ada cried out in pain as a bullet pierced her left shoulder. She stood and hid behind the beam. More missiles were fired.
"JARVIS, where's my flight power?"
"Working on it, sir. This is a prototype."
Ada looked and saw the piano sliding towards her dad.
"Dad the piano!"
Tony looked at it and moved while it headed for Ada. She jumped out of the way, while Tony fired at it, causing it to take out one of the helicopters.
"That's one."
"Sir, the suit is not combat ready."
Ada ran for the fire place and hid in it. However, bullets quickly began to make their way towards it. Tony threw a device at another helicopter and fired at it, causing that one to blow up.
"That's two."
The helicopter flew into the house. Ada and Tony both jumped down into the garage. Ada looked around and saw DUMMY and another robot on the floor. She felt a growl escape her throat as anger bubbled inside of her. Two more missiles made their way into the mansion, causing all of Tony's suits to blow up. Ada clung on to a cable, while Tony fell with the rest of the house.
"Dad!" she cried out.
Tears fell down her face as she looked around her. She suddenly felt very weak and began falling herself. She collapsed into the water as blackness consumed her.