The Iron Man - Chapter Three

After his semi-successful trip to Nottingham University Simon Kennedy contacted James Watt at the Anglo-Force mansion via his car-phone.
    “I’m very sceptical about this Simon.” said Watt. “You agreed that you wouldn’t interfere with our membership recruitment.”
    “But it could solve two problems.” said Kennedy. “Dr. Reid is looking for funding for his group and you are looking for new members.”
    “I’m still not sure. Although I know Paul and Marvel Boy, and I’ve worked with Supercop in the past, I know almost nothing about Daniel Reid.”

    “Trust me, Jim. Anglo-Force could benefit greatly from his talents. He could be a great asset to you.”
    Suddenly a red light flashed on Kennedy’s control panel.
    “I’m going to have to go Jim.” he said. “Something’s come up.”
    Kennedy put the phone down and switched on his video communicator. An image of General Billiar appeared on the screen.
    “What is it General?” asked Kennedy.
    “A major crisis looming.”
    In the Anglo-Force mansion Star Man and Colossus One sat in the monitor room. A few seconds later Watt raced in.
    “What is it?” he asked.
    “Something big sir.” said Colossus.
    “It’s massive Jim.” said Star Man. “Coming in at a speed of mach two.”
    “What is it?” asked Watt.
    “It’s not a normal aircraft.” said Colossus. “The design is more one of a giant robot.”
    “A giant robot?” said Watt.
    “Hang on.” said Star Man. “I’m picking up something on air force radio.”
    “Put it on the speaker.”
    The speaker began to crackle.
    “Red alert! Red alert! This is a priority one alert! U.F.O. coming in from Eastern Europe, heading towards Johnson Air Force Base. Stop it at all costs!”
    “Johnson Air Force Base was destroyed by the Galactic Empire.” said Star Man. “They haven’t got round to rebuilding it yet.”
    “You’d better check it out.” said Watt. “You two take the sky-jet, along with Amarus. Keep a frequency open at all times. If you need back up just shout.”
    Star Man and Colossus got out of their seats, and on their way to the hanger they collected Fire-Master. A few minutes later and one of the sky-jets was in the air.

    Johnson Air Force base was a total ruin after the attack by the Galactic Empire’s TIE fighters. Since the attack all personnel and equipment had been transferred to other bases. In the skies above the base the Iron Man appeared. After World War Two the Iron Man had had several targets programmed into his computers, and he was to attack them if ever war broke out. One of the targets was Johnson Air Force Base. When the Iron Man was accidentally activated by Burns and Lethbridge-Stewart it’s original programming kicked in, and it flew over the air base to destroy it’s first target. Hovering in the sky for a few minutes it landed on the ground to survey it’s surroundings and to prepare to destroy it’s first target. If the robot could feel surprise it certainly did as it surveyed it’s surroundings. It did not know what to do because the base had been destroyed. Suddenly it’s monitors picked up a radio signal, and in the sky above three Tornado fighters appeared and began to swoop low in preparation for an attack. But before they could attack the Iron Man raised his huge hands and fired repulser beams. The beams hit two of the aircraft’s engines. The aircraft spun out of control and plummeted towards the ground. Luckily the pilots managed to escape before the aircraft hit the ground and burst into flames. The third aircraft, however, flew behind the Iron Man and fired two rockets. The Iron Man detected these and took evasive action. The robot again raised it’s arm and another repulser blast took care of the third aircraft. The Iron Man observed as the pilot ejected and floated safely to the ground. It seemed that he observed took long as a nova blast from Star Man ripped into it’s back. The Iron man turned around and stared at Star Man as he unleashed another blast, this one aimed at the Iron Man’s head. The huge robot reeled from this attack, and it was then attacked form above as it was hit from Fire-Master with the air of a fire burst. Amazingly none of these attacks had any effect on the robot. The Iron main raised his arms in the air and fired a wide repulser beam which struck both Star Man and Fire-Master. Both of them slumped to the ground.
    The Iron Man was about to take to the skies once again when it saw the sky-jet piloted by Colossus One in the air above. The jet swooped low and blasted the ground around the enemy with a massive energy burst. This appeared to shake the Iron Man slightly who again raised his arm and fired another repulser blast. Colossus just managed to avoid the blast as it hit empty air. The robot then raised his other arm, and this repulser blast found it’s target. Just as the blast hit Colossus ejected from the cockpit and landed safely on the ground nearby. As he took off his parachute the Iron man began to move slowly towards him, his huge metal hand extended in front of him. A repulser beam hit the ground just in front of Colossus and sent him flying back ten feet. It was then that Colossus activated his communicator.
    “Colossus One to mansion. We are down. The Iron Man is attacking.”
    It was when he heard this that the Iron Man stopped. He seemed to look into the sky as his radio detector suddenly picked up the frequency that Colossus was transmitting on. He looked back at Colossus as he received another transmission.
    “Understood Colossus. We are preparing to send reinforcements.”
    Suddenly the Iron Man took off.
    “Colossus to mansion. The robot has left. It’s taken off again.”
    “In the mansion monitor room White Knight looked at the screen.
    “He’s heading this way Jim. He must have picked up our frequency and decided to follow it. At his current speed he’ll be here in three minutes.”
    “Looks like the new mansion defence system will get it’s best workout yet!”
    Watt and White Knight set about their task. Within a minute they had set up their latest weapon - a force field made of energy. Then the second line of defence was put into operation - laser blasters. All of this had been made possible thanks to Muir Industries, and a certain android.

    The Iron Man flew in the air at maximum speed. His computer brain seemed to be working overtime, trying to devise a new battle plan. He soon came into view of the Anglo-Force mansion. It was then that he finalised his plan of attack. He quickly analysed the building’s defences. After a few seconds he extended his arm and fired a repulser beam just strong enough to disable the force field. In the monitor room Watt and White Knight were surprised.
    “That force field was the best technology money could buy!” said White Knight.
    “Don’t start crying now!” said Watt. “Ready the laser blasters!”
    Two hatches on the roof began to open, and a few seconds later laser blasters began to appear.
    “Open fire!” ordered Watt.
    White Knight switched on the blasters, and each fired a barrage of blasts at the incoming Iron Man. Amazingly the blasts just seemed to bounce off his huge metal body.
    “What the hell is that thing made off?” said White Knight.
    “The sensors say adamantium.” replied Watt. I’m adjusting the blasters to compensate.”
    Watt keyed the adjustments into the computer, and the blasters fired more bolts of laser energy. These also hit, and appeared to have some of effect. One blast ripped into the Iron Man’s leg and he began to spin around in the air. It seemed that one of his flight engines had been damaged. His computer mind told him to land, which he did. He looked down at his leg, but realised he had to do something about the blasters if he was to survive. So he raised his hand and targeted the laser blasters. Two blasts later the blasters were destroyed.
    “That’s even more weaponry gone up in smoke!” said White Knight.
    “We haven’t got time to worry about that now!” said Watt. “We’ll have to try the hands on approach.”
    White Knight looked down at the sensor panel. A shocked look appeared on his face.
    “Bad news, Jim.” he said. “Looks like he’s launching a bloody nuclear missile!”
    White Knight turned round, but Watt was already gone. Outside the Iron Man looked motionless as the small nuclear rocket hatch opened on his chest. A second later and the rocket was launched, and it hurtled towards the building. Suddenly the rocket change course, and suddenly shot upwards. Watt had managed to grab hold of the rocket an at in incredible speed. Mere seconds later Watt, as well as the rocket, were in outer space. Then, with his incredible strength, Watt hurled the rocket into the empty void of space where it could do no harm. He then did a U-turn, and soon re-entered Earth’s atmosphere.
    Meanwhile on the ground White Knight raced out of the building with Excalibur in his hand. The Iron Man just seemed to stare at him as he raced towards him. White Knight ran towards the Iron Man’s damaged leg. When he neared it he raised his sword and brought it down on the leg. There was a huge clanging noise as metal sword met metal leg, but the metal sword seemed to have no effect on the metal leg. The Iron Man looked down at White Knight. He then held his right hand out and moved it to a position above White Knight’s head, but instead of firing a repulser blast this time a long metal cable came out of the palm of his hand. The metal cable spun towards White Knight and grabbed hold of him around his legs. The Iron Man pulled him up into the air and then spun White Knight above his head. After a few seconds the Iron Man released the cable, and White Knight was sent flying through the air.
    The Iron Man observed his latest piece of handy work. He observed for too long as Watt suddenly swooped down low and connected with a mighty blog on his huge metal jaw. The Iron Man turned his head to face Watt and just seemed to stare at him. Then, a few seconds later, two repulser blasts came from the Iron Man’s eyes and hit Watt, sending him flying through the air. Once again the huge robot seemed to observe delight in his handy work. Once again he observed for too long as a blast of energy ripped into the robot’s back. The Iron Man turned around to see Star Man hovering in the air in front of him. The robot fired a repulser blast, but Star Man managed to dodge out of the way. He then fired another blast of his own, again hitting the huge target which was standing in front of him. This attack had been aimed at the Iron Man’s damaged leg, and he seemed to reel from this attack slightly, and he again looked down at his injured limb. While the robot did this Star Man launched another attack at the robot’s leg. The damage got greater this time. The Iron Man’s computer mind was working overtime, trying to devise a new strategy to overcome this continuing onslaught. In the space of a few seconds he had it. The new strategy was, in fact, quite simple. The Iron Man focused all of his remaining energy and directed it into one huge blast aimed directly at Star Man. The tactic worked. Star Man was sent flying backwards by this attack. He fell to the ground when he struck a nearby tree. He was unconscious.
    Suddenly the Iron Man froze. He seemed to lose all of his energy in the attack on Star Man. Obviously this knew tactic had backfired on him. All of his systems shut down, totally drained of energy. It was then that Watt, white Knight, Fire-Master and Colossus arrived on the scene. There were amazed to find the Iron Man motionless in front of them.
    “What happened?” asked Watt.
    “My sensors detect no energy reading from the robot whatsoever.” said Colossus. “All of his systems have ceased to operate.”
    White Knight then saw Star Man lying nearby. He rushed over to him. Colossus was not far behind.
    “There is a massive energy reading in this area.” said Colossus. “The robot obviously used all of his remaining energy in an attack on Star Man.”
    “We may be able to achieve something here.” said Watt. “Colossus, could you use your systems to interface with those of this robot? We may be able to access his files and find out what he was doing here.”
    “I can try, Captain.” said Colossus. “If you could give me a proverbial ‘leg up’.”
    Watt took hold of Colossus and flew him up to the robot’s huge head. They soon found the hatchway, and a few seconds later they were inside the control room. Colossus sat himself down at the main control panel and spent the next few seconds looking at the controls.
    “These controls have been modified over a number of years.” he said. “But it should be easy to access the robot’s memory and to determine why he attacked us.”
    Colossus began to operate the keyboard. Suddenly there was a loud explosion as the robot began to shake. Watt looked out of the window.
    “Bloody military idiots!” said Watt. “They’re attacking a lifeless robot!”
    There was another explosion as a second mortar shell hit the robot. Both of the shells had been aimed at the Iron Man’s damaged leg, and because of the damage the leg was now very unstable. Watt and Colossus only just managed to get out before the robot crashed to the ground. As soon as they were outside the first thing they saw was a tank firing at the wrecked Iron Man’s body, and General Billiar standing nearby giving orders with the help of his small radio. On seeing this watt rushed over to him and confronted him.
    “Are you bloody mad?” he screamed. “We managed to disable that robot, and we were about to find out why he did what he did. Now you’ve ruined everything!”
    “I was following the orders of the Defence Minister, Captain Watt.” said Billiar. “And you have no right to interfere in military matters.”
    “It becomes our matter when they attack our buildings.” said Watt.
    “It was a military matter as soon as it left Sylvania.” said Billiar. “You may have defeated Saruman and his forces but you left toe clear-up operation to the United Nations, and that means the military.”
    An angry look appeared on Watt’s face.
    “Easy, Jim.” said White Knight. “Striking a General could do serious harm to your image!”
    “Screw my image!” said Watt.
Watt walked over the tank and picked it up with one hand. He began shaking it violently until all of the soldiers had fallen out. He then hurled it high up into the air. It became a wreck as soon as it hit the ground.
    “You’ll pay for that!” said Billiar. “I’ll go straight to Simon Kennedy!”
    “You do that!” said Watt. “And you tell him what you were doing on private property! White Knight, see these ‘gentlemen’ off the grounds.”
    Watt stormed away as White Knight made sure Billiar and his men left the mansion grounds. As Watt walked towards the mansion he saw a figure in the distance. When Watt got near to him he introduced himself.
    “Captain James Watt? I’m Doctor Daniel Reid. I believe Simon Kennedy spoke to you on the telephone about me.”
    “Not now.” said Watt. “Come back later.”
    “But we have a lot to discuss, Captain.” said Reid. “I watched you as you and your friends dealt with the threat of that giant robot. I believe that I could work with all of you quite well.”
    Watt turned to face Reid. A smile appeared on his face.
    “Come in, Dr. Reid.” he said. “Maybe we do have much to discuss.”
    The two entered the mansion. Each of them knew that they could solve each other’s problems. Could this be the beginning of a beautiful relationship?