š HEAR YE, HEAR YE, BRAVE SOULS! šāØ
š„ Let the drums of destiny roar as we welcome our newest LEGENDARY adventurersā¦ āļø Buddyschlym! āļø and āļø Moran! āļøšā”ļø Our journey just leveled UP with their arrival!
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The whir of machinery and occasional sparks illuminated the workshop as Tony leaned back in his chair, exhaustion evident in his posture. He rubbed his temples and let out a deep sigh. The long hours of tinkering on the Mark III suit had taken their toll.
"Alright, I'm calling it," Tony declared, pushing away from his workstation. "I need a break."
Seph looked up from his own work, raising an eyebrow. "You? Taking a break? Must be serious."
"Funny," Tony said with a smirk.
Seph nodded. "Go. I'll finish up here."
Tony paused, studying Seph for a moment. "You sure? We've still got some tweaks to make."
"Positive," Seph replied. "I've got it under control. Go get some rest before you keel over."
Tony rolled his eyes but didn't argue. He headed toward the stairs, mumbling something about ungrateful employees as he went.
Once Tony was gone, Seph turned back to the Mark III suit, his eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and determination. He could feel a thrill coursing through him.
Working on cutting-edge technology like this wasn't just a jobāit was a passion he'd never had the chance to fully explore during his mercenary days.
"Alright, let's finish this," Seph muttered to himself, grabbing his tools.
By the time he was done with the Mark III, the suit gleamed under the workshop lights, its enhancements and tweaks completed. Seph stepped back, admiring his handiwork. But his mind was already racing with ideas for something greater.
"JARVIS," Seph called out, wiping his hands on a nearby cloth. "Let's talk new suits."
JARVIS's calm voice filled the room. "I must remind you, Mr. Seph, that any alterations or new designs require Mr. Stark's approval."
"Yeah, yeah," Seph said, waving a dismissive hand. "But hear me out. What I've got in mind isn't just an upgradeāit's a game changer."
There was a brief pause before JARVIS replied, "I'm intrigued. Please elaborate."
Seph began sketching designs on the holographic display, his hands moving quickly as he spoke. "First off, let's start with automatic deployment and assembly. None of that is standing still while pieces lock-in. I'm talking about a fully portable module that assembles mid-air. It could be a compact pod or even a wrist-mounted launcher. The suit comes together seamlessly in under two seconds, wherever I am."
"Ambitious," JARVIS acknowledged.
"Next," Seph continued, enlarging the diagram to show flight systems, "Flight. Boost the propulsion systems with upgraded stabilizers and variable thrusters. This thing needs to handle quick turns and rapid ascentsāno more clunky maneuvering. Think low-altitude dogfights and high-speed evasive maneuvers without breaking a sweat. I'm adding extended-range capabilities too, with an upgraded fuel mix for longer flights and better control in tight spaces."
The holographic suit began to evolve, its silhouette sleeker but still grounded in Stark's original aesthetic.
"Now weapons," Seph said, eyes lighting up. "We keep the wrist repulsors, but let's refine the targeting system for quicker lock-on. Add an auto-adjusting kinetic impact modeāharder punches, stronger blasts depending on what we're hitting. For ranged combat, compact missile pods in the shoulders with variable payloads: EMPs, incendiaries, and good old-fashioned explosives. Nothing over the top, just versatile."
"Your pragmatism is noted," JARVIS replied.
"But I'm not stopping there," Seph added, zooming in on the chest. "How about a compact uni beam with controlled energy output? Perfect for short bursts to take out barriers or precise hits in a pinch."
JARVIS's voice betrayed a hint of surprise. "Your ideas are impressively well-rounded, Mr. Seph."
"That's why you keep me around," Seph quipped, adding the finishing touches. "Now for the tech upgrades. Integrated AI assistants for real-time combat analysis... And everything routed to a HUD with improved clarity, even in extreme conditions."
He leaned back, admiring his work. "Oh, and let's reinforce the armor with a titanium-alloy hybrid. Lightweight, durable, and heat-resistant for when things get messy."
JARVIS's tone grew contemplative. "Mr. Seph, while I remain duty-bound to remind you of Mr. Stark's protocols, I must admit this design is... extraordinary. Highly practical, yet sophisticated."
"Exactly," Seph said, crossing his arms. "Tony loves to show off too much so he should be ready for anything.Ā
JARVIS hesitated, a rare occurrence. "I suppose it would be... uncharacteristic of me to interfere with such an effort. Very well."
With JARVIS on board, Seph got to work. The new design was sleek, stylish, and packed with features that outclassed the Mark III by over 200%.
By the time he was finished, even JARVIS couldn't hide his astonishment.
"This exceeds all expectations," JARVIS admitted. "Mr. Stark will undoubtedly be impressed."
Seph smirked. "Told you."
----
Upstairs, Tony unbeknownst to what was happening downstairs, stepped into the living room, stretching his arms as he made his way to the sofa. The house was eerily quiet, the usual hum of activity noticeably absent.
"Pepper?" He called out, but there was no response.
Shrugging it off, Tony sank into the sofa and pulled out his phone. He had just begun dialing Pepper's number when he felt a sharp sting on his neck.
"What theā" Tony started, but his words were cut off as his body went numb. His phone slipped from his hand, clattering to the floor.
Obadiah Stane stepped into view, holding a paralyzing device. "Sorry, Tony. Nothing personal."
Tony's eyes widened in shock and anger as Stane knelt beside him. "You've always been the golden boy, haven't you?"
Stane sneered. "Well, not anymore."
Reaching down, Stane opened Tony's shirt, revealing the arc reactor embedded in his chest. With a cruel smile, he ripped it out, ignoring Tony's strained gasp of pain.
"This is mine now," Stane said, holding the glowing device triumphantly. "And you? You're done."
As Stane turned to leave, he suddenly froze. Standing in the doorway was Seph, his expression cold and unyielding.
"Going somewhere?" Seph asked, his voice dangerously calm.
Stane's eyes darted around, searching for an escape, but Seph's presence filled the room with an oppressive weight.
"You," Stane spat. "You don't know what you're messing with."
"Neither do you," Seph replied, stepping closer.
Stane pulled a gun, aiming it at Seph, but before he could fire, Seph moved. In a blur of motion, he disarmed Stane, twisting his arm with a sickening crack. Stane cried out in pain, but Seph didn't stop. A swift kick sent the larger man crashing into a table, splintering it beneath him.
"You messed with the wrong people," Seph said, his tone icy.
With Stane incapacitated, Seph quickly returned the arc reactor to Tony's chest, securing it in place. Tony's breathing was shallow but steady as the device powered back on.
"Take it easy," Seph said, his voice softer now. "You're gonna be fine."
Tony took a deep, shuddering breath, his eyes fluttering open. "What... happened?"
"Stane happened," Seph replied. "But I took care of it."
In the corner of the room, Stane groaned, attempting to crawl away. Seph grabbed a nearby cable and tied the man's hands and feet, ensuring he wouldn't get far.
As Tony regained his strength, he looked at Seph with a mixture of gratitude and amazement. "Remind me to give you a raise," he said weakly.
Seph chuckled. "I'll settle for a thank you."
Tony managed a faint smile. "Thanks."
--- ā¦ ā¦ ā¦ ---
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