CHAPTER 99 — Iron Wings of War
Tony Stark stood alone in his workshop, the warm glow of the Arc Reactor lights reflecting off the metal surfaces around him. The place was cluttered the way only his lab could be, scattered tools, documents and drawings, holograms hovering in mid-air. In the center of the room sat the newest creation he had poured his focus into for the last two days: a gold-and-red jet pack, sized for someone far larger than a normal human.
It was built for Gaius.
Tony wiped a smear of oil from his palm onto a cloth and leaned over the jet pack, tightening one of the reinforced thrusters with a practiced twist. The machine was massive, far too large for any normal human to even lift, let alone wear. Thick armored plating wrapped around heavy internal supports, and wide heat vents lined the back, built to survive temperatures hot enough to melt steel into liquid.
He paused for a moment, reaching toward the workbench.
Two Arc Reactors sat there, both freshly assembled and humming with faint blue light.
Tony picked them up carefully and slid them into the protective casing along the jet pack's central spine. The reinforced housing locked them in place with a deep, mechanical click, like a vault sealing shut.
The machine hummed softly. Good sign.
"Thruster alignment… check," Tony muttered. "Power lines stable… heat vents okay. Okay-ish. Good enough."
He took a sip of his coffee.
And immediately regretted it, because
"Sir," JARVIS said, voice steady and polite as ever, "there is something you may want to see. It concerns the video you instructed me to conceal, I've found clips of it circulating on the internet. The live broadcast of Sir Gaius."
Tony nearly spit out his drink.
"How is that possible…?" Tony muttered. His first thought was Nick Fury. After all, Fury was the only other person who had copies of Gaius's live-broadcast missions, Tony had given them a USB containing them.
A holographic screen appeared above Tony's workbench. The YouTube interface loaded in a second. The title of the video sat there, glowing almost mockingly. The thumbnail showed Gaius from behind, towering, armored, unmistakable.
Tony's eyes widened.
Then he saw the view count.
Eight million.
"What, eight million, are you kidding me?" Tony grabbed the screen as if shaking it would change the number. "Who uploaded this?!"
JARVIS highlighted the channel.
ULTRAMARINE.
That was when it hit Tony. He knew that username.
"…Mindy?"
She was part of the Multiversal Chat. But she was from another world. Everyone in the chat was
Right?
He blinked several times.
"She's not supposed to be in my universe," Tony muttered. "Unless…"
Without another word, he immediately opened the Multiversal Chart.
A bright window opened beside the video.
Tony immediately typed:
Tony:@Mindy! You're from the same world as me. Why didn't you say anything?!
The message pinged across the chat.
A few seconds passed before a small icon popped up, Mindy's avatar, a cartoon version of herself sticking her tongue out.
Mindy:😜 I didn't want to bother you. And Dad said our problems are different from your superhero problems, so… yeah.
Tony pinched the bridge of his nose.
Of course she would say that.
He typed again, fingers tapping quickly.
Tony:Even then, you should've come to me. Come to Stark Building tomorrow with your father. I'll give you a gift.
There was a pause.
Then Mindy's reply popped up almost instantly.
Mindy:Thanks Uncle Tony!
Tony stared at the screen.
His mouth twitched.
Tony:It's Mr. Tony. Not Uncle.
Mindy:Hehe okay Mr. Tony.
Tony exhaled slightly and shook his head, genuinely surprised by the discovery. Members of a group chat could exist in the same world, something he had never considered, and therefore never investigated. The realization left him quietly stunned.
He knew their goal: to avenge Mindy's mother, who had died because of a ruthless drug lord. The man had framed her father, driving her mother to suicide while she was pregnant with Mindy. Fortunately, Mindy had survived, but her mother had not. Tony decided to help. He would upgrade their equipment, give them every possible advantage, and make sure they could succeed.
But now that he knew Mindy and her father were in his world…
He could help them. More than they realized.
He gave the jet pack one final look.
"Alright," Tony said quietly. "Let's send this thing off."
He placed his palm on the armored surface. A soft blue glow appeared.
[Sending package: Iron Jet Pack → Gaius]
A moment later, the system confirmed it.
Gaius walked down the long metallic corridor of the Oath of Rectitude
, boots echoing with each step. The ship was preparing for landing soon, and he needed to suit up. He was in his black undersuit, the fabric tight across his massive frame. Ahead, the arming chamber's doors waited.
Suddenly, a notification blinked in the corner of his vision.
[Tony Stark sent you a Package – Iron Jet Pack]
[Accept? Yes / No]
Gaius didn't accept it yet.
Not until he had his armor on.
Behind the message, the Multiversal Chat pinged again.
Tony:@Gaius, live broadcast now. I want to see you equipping it. Also… did your gold armor change from before?
Gaius replied without breaking his pace.
Gaius:No, it is still the same. I am not wearing it yet. I am walking to the arming chamber. It was in maintenance.
Tony:I see…
Another ping.
Tony:Then will you broadcast now?
Diana:Do broadcast, Gaius.
Saeko:We want to see it live again.
Gaius paused a moment.
He wasn't planning to stream anything until the mission began…
But the requests kept coming.
So he answered.
[Gaius has started live broadcasting]
In an instant, holographic projections popped into existence beside him, only visible to him, floating just above the floor.
Diana.
Saeko.
Tony.
Mindy.
Even Naruto, who appeared bright and cheerful in his orange clothes.
They followed beside him like curious spirits.
Naruto drifted closer to Tony.
"Hey Tony!" Naruto waved. "How are you doing?"
Tony floated up to him with a grin. "How am I doing? How are you doing? Still training with talking toads?"
"Yup!" Naruto nodded proudly. "I'm in Mount Myoboku right now! Grandpa Sage says I'm improving fast!"
Tony gave him a thumbs-up. "Good. Keep that up. You'll be Hokage one day."
"Of course I will!"
Diana smiled at the exchange. Mindy and Saeko waved at each other, and even Tony seemed in a lighter mood than usual, relieved to see that Naruto hadn't been affected by his teacher's death.
Gaius continued down the hallway.
The heavy doors opened with a hiss.
Inside, servitors and serfs stood ready. The room smelled of machine oil and incense mixed together. Gaius stepped onto the central platform.
"Shall we begin, Lord Captain?" one of the senior serfs asked respectfully.
Gaius nodded. "Proceed."
Four serfs lifted the massive left greave using steel hooks mounted on rails. They aligned it to his leg as if handling a sacred artifact. Gaius stepped into it, and heavy clamps locked around his shin and calf.
The right greave followed, locking into place with a firm metallic click. Gaius flexed both legs. The servos responded smoothly.
Naruto's eyes widened.
"That's so cool!"
Saeko nodded quietly. "Very… ceremonial."
Tony muttered, "This looks like a holy ritual."
Six serfs and two servitors moved forward pushing the torso piece suspended on a chain system. The golden chestplate gleamed under the chamber lights. They lowered it over Gaius, guiding it with careful hands.
The armor sealed with a deep mechanical hiss.
Internal systems powered on, glowing faintly through the etched lines of auramite.
Diana watched closely. "Is this how all your armor is equipped?"
Gaius answered simply, "It is tradition."
Indeed, it was a tradition, there were faster ways to equip oneself if needed, but since it wasn't required this time, there was no need to follow them.
Two serfs each carefully slid the arm pieces over Gaius's forearms, locking them into place. Fiber bundles and internal cables connected automatically. Purity seals were added with slow, practiced movements.
A senior serf approached, kneeling as he lifted the helmet with both hands. The helm shone like polished gold.
Gaius took it gently, placed it over his head, and sealed it.
His HUD flashed alive with clean data streams.
Mindy whispered, "This feels like watching a hero movie."
Saeko nodded at what Mindy said.
Gaius's armor didn't need an external backpack like standard Space Marine armor. Its power came from an internal core, closer to a Custodian's suit, humming softly with golden light.
When the system connected fully, the entire suit felt alive.
The ceremony ended.
The servitors stepped back.
Gaius stood tall, fully armored, every plate perfectly aligned, polished and glows.
Tony let out a low whistle. "This looks so holy I feel underdressed."
Naruto practically sparkled. "Gaius! You look awesome!"
Saeko smiled softly. "It's beautiful."
Diana nodded. "Tony is right."
Gaius simply stood in silence, armored and ready.
The notification still hovered at the edge of his vision.
[Package: Iron Jet Pack — Pending Acceptance]
END OF CHAPTER 99
~~~
If you're enjoying the story, want to read more, and want to support me in creating more, you can check out my Patreon here:
patreon.com/ZanderLee
Every bit of support means a lot and helps me keep writing!