Tony's gaze locked onto James, his voice strained and labored, "Oh… oh…"
"Me?" James raised an eyebrow, confusion etched on his face. "What's wrong with you? Are you trying to challenge me before you kick the bucket?"
"Oh… err…" Tony finally managed to articulate a word, his clarity slowly returning.
James, sensing the urgency, filled a chalice with water and handed it to him. "Drink up. You can't go off to the great beyond on an empty stomach."
After gulping down several glasses of water, Tony coughed and sputtered, but he looked slightly revived. Yet, James couldn't shake the sense of dread that lingered. The chalice was no cure for the micro-shrapnel that plagued Tony's bloodstream. Deep down, he knew Tony was still teetering on the edge of life and death.
Tony wiped his mouth and frowned. "What kind of water is this? It smells… odd."
James smirked. "What? Does it taste funny? Maybe I should charge you for it next time!"
"Not the taste," Tony shook his head. "It's just… a strange sensation."
"Must be a magic elixir," James teased, striking a mock royal pose. "How about a deal, Mr. Stark? A chalice like this for just $9,998? A steal, right?"
Tony chuckled weakly, "The price is good, but it's not exactly the time for sales pitches."
James tucked the chalice away, a smirk still on his face. "Just remember, the price goes up after today, and I'm not desperate to sell it."
Tony's expression shifted as he recalled the pressing matters at hand. "Mr. Shang-Chi, regarding the war, the U.S. did have its flaws at the start, but ultimately, we helped restore peace. Please don't disregard our contributions."
"And you might not know this," he continued, "but Stark Industries' weapons division was formed after the Pacific War escalated. So any claims about selling weapons to invaders don't apply here."
"Also, my father assisted in efforts abroad before he passed," he added, his voice tinged with regret. "I agree with you on not supplying weapons to terrorists. But my hands are tied. Many in the company don't share my vision and would prioritize profit over ethics, and some even wish me harm. So we should be allies in this."
Shang-Chi stood still, arms crossed, contemplating Tony's words. James realized that the water he had offered earlier had perhaps bought Tony a little more time, a small act of kindness for a man who had once been an international friend.
"Listen, Mr. Stark," James urged, "let's focus on what matters—getting that micro-reactor up and running to save you first."
"Time's running out," Tony replied, hastily moving to a nearby console. He pressed a button, and a compartment opened to reveal a shiny new micro-reactor.
With a sense of urgency, Tony retrieved the reactor and began installing it. His confidence seemed to surge as he worked.
"Wait, you had another one?" James questioned, puzzled. "I don't remember a third reactor in any of the films. Did you foresee this happening?"
"It's a long story," Tony sighed, "but thanks to you, I realized the first reactor wasn't powerful enough for the test flight. I had a backup ready, but I didn't think I'd need it today."
James couldn't help but feel the weight of this moment. "So, I'm rewriting history now, huh? Just call me the butterfly effect."
"Jarvis was shut down by Obadiah," Tony said, urgency in his tone. "I need to get him back online."
Just then, Colonel James Rhodes burst into the room, looking disoriented. "Tony! Where are you?"
"Who are these people?" he asked, glancing around at the unexpected company.
"It's not important," Tony replied, already focused on restarting Jarvis. "Where's Pepper?"
"She's going after Obadiah," Rhodes said, concern etching his features.
"Not enough people!" Tony exclaimed, moving quickly to the operating platform. Jarvis whirred to life, and the mechanical arms began assembling the Iron Man suit around Tony.
"Now, that's the coolest thing I've ever seen," Rhodes remarked, watching in awe.
Even though James had seen this process countless times, witnessing it firsthand was still breathtaking. The mechanical choreography was mesmerizing, though it lacked the dramatic flair of the movies.
Once dressed in the suit, Tony stepped away from the console, determination in his eyes. "We need to move."
But before he could take another step, Shang-Chi stepped forward, blocking his path with an iron rod. "I'm not convinced by your resignation. If your solution is to create more powerful weapons, then I can't let you leave."
Tony stared at Shang-Chi, caught between annoyance and admiration. "Just a moment ago, you wanted to let me die, and now you're stopping me from saving lives? Seriously?"
James interjected, stepping between them. "Mr. Stark, you go ahead. I'll handle this."
Tony's thoughts raced. "No, James, you shouldn't—"
But James was resolute. "Trust me; I've got this."
Tony hesitated, then nodded, knowing he had to focus on the mission ahead. As he made his way to the exit, he couldn't shake the feeling that the stakes were higher than ever.
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