Marvel Cybernetic Girl

Chapter 17: 17 The Performance Begins



— On the seventh day since entering the Ten Commandments gang's cave base

Once all the preparations were complete, the first-generation MKI Iron Man suit finished its final round of testing.

It was time.

"Ready to go," it said.

Tony Stark stepped onto the support rack holding the Iron Man suit and began the process of suiting up.

"Alright, let's do this!"

Tony looked at Yin Sen and Kagura Hitomi, who had been helping tirelessly over the past few days. "I've lived more than fifty years, and I've never been this excited in my life."

Yin Sen stepped forward, helping Tony assemble the suit. "We're going to succeed, right?"

"Definitely, we will," Tony nodded. "Once we're out, you can go find your family. They're in Gemila Town, right?"

"Yes, that's right," Yin Sen smiled, though his expression was a little complex.

"The power system's rechecked, and all the software's installed, Mr. Stark," Kagura Hitomi called from the table, her fingers flying over her laptop's keyboard. "Starting the boot sequence now."

While assisting Tony with the suit, Kagura also discreetly transferred the data she had hacked and downloaded into a USB stick. This data was valuable, both to Tony Stark and to Kagura herself.

"Only ten minutes until they bring the food. We're running out of time," Yin Sen said nervously while using a portable screwdriver to attach armor panels.

"Don't worry, everything's going according to plan," Tony reassured. "When they come with the food, that'll be our cue to move. Just stay calm, my friend."

"Right, and the escape route—let's go over it one more time."

"Walk 41 steps from the door, then turn right when you reach the door. Take two more intersections without any forks, then turn right."

"Great, as expected from Tony Stark."

"The startup's ready, just waiting for the suit to power up."

Kagura Hitomi finished the final steps on her laptop, then pulled out the USB stick and slipped it into her pocket.

"Good work, Hitomi. Now, come help me," Yin Sen called out. "Can you handle the left-hand drive system and the left foot armor?"

"Sure," Hitomi said, quickly moving to Tony's side to assist.

"Sorry, Miss Kagura, these dirty, tedious tasks should've been our responsibility," Yin Sen apologized.

"Not at all," Hitomi smiled. "Don't underestimate girls, you know."

"I'll buy you a cheese burger when we're out," Tony added.

Hearing this, Hitomi's golden eyes flickered slightly, but she quickly brushed off any complicated emotions. "Haha, just a cheese burger?"

"My favorite! I highly recommend it," Tony grinned. "I'll try to make you like them too."

"Alright, I'll reluctantly give it a try," Hitomi laughed, finishing her work. "Okay, it's showtime now, Mr. Stark."

The Iron Man suit was fully assembled, and the power to the room was shut off. The once brightly lit room suddenly went dark.

As the surveillance cameras rebooted, Kagura's electronic camouflage also failed.

From this point on, there was no turning back.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Yin Sen!"

"Knock, knock, knock!"

"Stark!"

"Open the door!"

"Wow, they're punctual," Tony joked. "Okay, as planned, you two hide, and stay safe."

"Mr. Yin Sen, over here," Hitomi said, pulling him to the cover behind a room partition.

While Tony, fully suited in the Iron Man armor, stood ready, Hitomi's primary concern was now protecting Yin Sen.

After all, if he made it out alive, she would earn a 10QP point reward.

The holographic UI blinked quickly, two red scanning boxes locking onto the source of the knocking at the door.

[Armed Militia, Threat Level: Low, Hostile]

[Armed Militia, Threat Level: Low, Hostile]

Even without her full set of skills, this basic scanning and detection system was already incredibly advanced, easily surpassing any current single-unit reconnaissance system.

"Yin Sen! Open the door!"

Seeing that there was no response after repeated knocking, the intruders grabbed the door handle.

Boom!

The explosive device attached to the back of the door was triggered the moment it was opened. The blast sent the two militia members flying, instantly killing them.

"Not bad, right? After all, this is what I do," Tony quipped, "Shame about our breakfast, though."

"You're still thinking about that awful food?" Hitomi scoffed.

"Hey! That was military rations made by Stark Industries. I thought it was fine," Tony retorted.

As they spoke, the noise outside grew louder.

With the explosion heard, the Ten Commandments gang immediately went into battle mode, armed militia members wielding various Stark Industries weapons rushing toward them.

"Just like we planned, huh?" Tony said, stepping forward in his Iron Man suit. "Let the show begin."

...

The first wave of three armed militia members stormed into the cave room, but it was dark and silent inside. Two Ten Commandments members lay dead on the ground, which made the newcomers hesitate.

"Move! Move! Find Stark!"

They urged each other on, cautiously entering the room, none daring to make a rash move.

"Looking for me?" Tony's voice suddenly rang out from behind them, followed by the mechanical sounds of the suit's arms moving.

Thud!

A metal fist slammed into one of the militia member's forehead, snapping his neck instantly. The poor man was thrown several meters, crashing into the rock wall with a sickening thud.

The remaining two militia members opened fire in panic, unleashing a barrage of 5.56mm rounds. The bullets sparkled harmlessly off the suit's metal plating.

Before they could empty their magazines, the two men saw a massive steel monster standing in front of them.

The monster raised its arms and pressed a button in its palm.

Bang! Bang!

Powerful compressed air blasted the two men out the door, crushing their ribcages with the extreme pressure difference. They were dead before they could even scream.

"Wow, this compressed air cannon works pretty well," Tony commented.

"Right?" Hitomi walked out from behind cover, hands on her hips in pride. "It was my idea, after all."

"Alright, stick close to me. Remember, only after I clear the resistance can you come out from the back," Tony instructed. "There's only one Iron Man suit, so I'll handle all the fighting. Got it?"

"Got it," Hitomi nodded. "Mr. Yin Sen, please stay close to me."

The sounds of mechanical movement were deafening.

The heavy footsteps sent a chill through the room.

Iron Man is on the move!

 


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