Chapter 52

  Arc 5 - Ch 5: Wreckage

  Date: Monday, May 30, 2011.

  Location: Stark Expo, Flushing, Queens, NY

  Tysoled into his seat ihe Stark Expo Hall betweeer Parker and Gwen Stacy. Today, Oscorp promised to unveil a revolutionary breakthrough that would ge the world. And Tyson had ied all his money o that things would go disastrously bad for the pany.

  Dr. Otto Octavius strode onto the stage with a presehat atention. As he reached the podium, the eager murmuring of the audience died down to an expet hush. Octavius gripped the sides of the podium and leaned forward.

  "My friends," he began, "today dawns a new era in , sustainable energy. An era where humanity's reach extends to the very power of the stars themselves!" The man spoke with the zeal of a true visionary. He stepped out from behind the podium and paced the stage. "For years, the greatest stifids have sought to harhe potential of nuclear fusion. And now, we stand on the cusp of this moal achievement."

  Tyson g his panions. Peter scribbled furiously in his notebook while Gwen watched with rapt attention.

  Octavius gestured grandly to the imposial monolith dominating the stage. "Behold, the Oscorp fusioor prototype! It shall be the crucible in which we fe a brighter future."

  The reactor thrummed to life on cue, emanating a haunting blue glohispers ruffled through the audience.

  "But how will you trol such a powerful rea?" a skeptical voice called out.

  Octavius smiled knowingly as if he had hoped someone would ask. "An astute question. Maniputing matter at the subatomic level requires tools of exceptional precision, durability, and trol."

  With a showman's flourish, he unveiled fleaming meical arms ed beside the reactor. Octavius reverently ran a hand along a segmented limb. "These beauties are equipped with a sophisticated artificial intelligehey shall serve as extensions of my genius and will. They will allow me to duct the delicate fusioion with all the trol and mastery of a virtuoso." As he spoke, he dohe harness, the servos csped as the arms ied with Octavious's body. Then, the arms came alive, rising and twisting with serpentine grace, weaving mesmerizing patterns in the air. The arms suddenly stilled and Octavius tapped the side of his head. "And have no fear. This inhibitor chip will ensure my mind remains the master and the mae the servant. There will be no HAL 9000 sarios unfolding here."

  The crowd chuckled, the tension broken. Octavius sobered and his voice dropped to a reverent hush. "My friends, the road ahead may be long. But today we take the first step into a brilliant tomorrow. A tomorrow where , abundant energy empowers humanity to reach glorious new heights."

  He raised his arms, both the anid the meical limbs, lifted in triumph, "I stand ready to be the herald of this new age. Will you stand with me?"

  The audience surged in a standing ovation, Tyson and his friends among them. As the appuse washed over him, Octavius basked with arms spread wide.

  The crowd collectively held its breath as Dr. Otto Octavius ehe fusioor. The mae thrummed to life, its lights pulsing like a livi. A miniature sun burst iehin the tai field, its brilliance casting the entire Expo hall in ahereal glow.

  Gwen stared, transfixed by the artificial star. Beside her, Peter Parker's camera clicked rapidly, immortalizing the historic event.

  On stage, Octavius threw his arms wide in triumph. "Behold, the power of the sun, tamed by man!" His voied through the hall, eg off the vaulted ceiling.

  Florious, shining moment, it seemed sce had achieved the impossible. The audieed into thunderous appuse. Gwen Stacy beamed with pride, though she hadn't worked on Dr. Octavious's project, after the fiasco with Dr. ors, seeing Oscorp succeed brought a smile to her face.

  But the celebration was cut short for Tyson as he felt a faint tug deep within his bohis wasn't metaphorical from his meta-knowledge whispering of the danger he knew was ing. It was a literal sensation. His adamantium skeletohe pull of the shifting magic fields before anyone else noticed.

  It began subtly. The sound of metal chairs scraping across the floor spread through the hall, causing the appuse to falter. fused murmurs rippled through the crowd as seats were drawn toward the stage. Octavius, lost in the euphoria of his success, seemed oblivious to the growing danger.

  Tyson leaned close to Peter, "Something's wrong. We o aow."

  Peter nodded, his eyes already sing for a discreet pce to ge into his alter ego. "I'll find a spot. you cover me with your illusions?"

  Peter slipped away into the shadows, his eyes sing the grand hall for a discreet pce to ge into his Spiderman outfit. Tyson grabbed Gwen suddenly in a bridal carry, causing the girl to let out a surprised yelp.

  "Things are going south, time to go," Tyson said urgently as he spriowards the exit, Gwen securely in his arms. Illusionary doubles of himself and Geared in the seats they had vacated, ensuring that to the outside world, it would seem as if they had never left. Gwen did not protest being whisked away so abruptly, trusting that the two heroes had good reason for suiting up. She khat if both Peter and Tyson were preparing then the danger was certainly immi.

  As Tyson dashed through the crowded aisles cealing Gwen with his powers, Peter slipped into a small maintenan he had spotted earlier while sg the yout. Moving quickly, he peeled off his civilian clothes to reveal the familiar red and blue Spiderman suit underh. After donning his mask, Spiderma back out into the main hall, climbing stealthily up the walls and ceilings to gain an aerial view. As he observed the room from this hidden vantage point, his spider-sense began buzzing in warning, firming that Tyson's intuition was correct.

  On stage, the fusioion began to spiral out of trol. The tai field flickered ominously, struggling to restrain the energy within. Arms bred, their shrill cries barely audible over the rising panic of the crowd. Octavius frantically maniputed the trols, but it was too te. The miniature sun had grown unstable.

  Metal began hurtling towards the rea. Finally realizing the dahe audience scrambled for the exits.

  Amidst the chaos of the retreating crowd, a figure red and blue swung into a. Spider-Man nded oage with the agility of an acrobat. His masked eyes took in the se, assessing the best course of a. Tyson, now fully ed as Mirage, stood at the edge of the stage, his metallic skeletoing him from getting closer. He focused his powers on guiding the fleeing crowd.

  Illusions of Mirage appeared around the pavilion. He shouted aured at the spectators, direg them away from the danger.

  Spider-Man leaped towards the fusioor, his webbing flying as he sought to tain the unfolding disaster. But the magic fields had grown to. Metal fragments pelted him from all angles, f him to twist and dodge with superhuman reflexes.

  Octavius, his face a mask of desperate tration, fought to shut down the experiment. His meical arms strained against the magic pull. The sun within the tai field had bee a raging inferno, its surface roiling with reds and es. The Expo hall began to tear apart, metal support beams groaning as they were wrenched from their ms. The ceiling buckled, raining dust and debris down upoage. Spider-Man webbed up the rgest pieces, preventing them from crushing Octavius and the reactor.

  Mirage felt the tug of the magic fields grow stronger with each passing sed. His skeleton vibrated within his flesh. Gritting his teeth, he pushed through the disfort.

  Octavius shouted desperately, "I 't shut it down! It's not responding!"

  Spider-Man nded beside him. "Keep trying, Doc! We'll buy you time!"

  The fusioion had bee an unleashed beast with an insatiable huhe miniature sun pulsed; its surfaow a blinding white that seared the eyes. Metal shrieked as it was ed, drawn into its heart, the magic pull strong enough to de down, molding it into the star's core. The noise was deafening, as the very foundations of the Expo hall shook.

  The magic field ed violently, its unseen force ing the metal frame of the enclosure around Rosie Octavius, Dr. Octavius's wife, shattering the protective gss. Shards flew toward her like deadly rainfall, but Mirage having been forced further from the artificial sun by its pull, leaped in front of her. He shielded her body with his own, the gss embedding itself into his back as he ed his arms around Rosie protectively.

  Spider-Man spun thick webs, creating barriers that protected the fleeing attendees from the relentless barrage of debris. He worked tirelessly to whisk person after person to safety. With each thrust of his arm webs shot out, resg an attendee from being harmed by the flyiallic debris.

  Dr. Octavius battled to stabilize the fusioion, his meical tentacles thrashing like the limbs of a maddened kraken. Two metal appendages anchored themselves to the floor, preventing the intense magic forces fring him into the budding artificial sun. The other two tentacles worked feverishly to tain the rea.

  But then, the miniature star fred with blinding iy, a burst of energy smming into Octavius's body. The force of the explosion hurled him backward, unscious. As he flew through the air, a piece of shrapnel found its mark. A surge of energy followed as the inhibitor chip on his spine was struck, sparking and fizzling out.

  Peter watched in horror as Octavius's unscious form began sliding toward the tai field, the limp tentacles no longer anchored to the ground. Spider-Maed quickly, firing streams of webbing to pin the unscious doctor safely in pce, preventing him from being drawn into the miniature sun.

  Oblivious to the ge in her husband, Rosie's eyes were wide with shock, her hands trembling as she looked up at Mirage proteg her and asked, "Is it over?"

  Mirage reassured her, "Not yet. Hopefully, we'll have it under trol soon. Quickly, get out of here." He ordered.

  Pushing himself to move faster, Spider-Man was a blur as he web-slung, across the hall, saving several more from being ed by the out-of-trol star on his way. He reached the power trols, his hands a blur as they worked to shut down Dr. Octavius's experiment. The device refused to shut down, fighting his every effritting his teeth, Spider-Maed to grabbing the thick power cords and pulling with all his strength.

  But the miniature sun only pulsed brighter. Its magic strength increased, dragging Tyson inexorably closer. Adamantium cws burst from Tyson's hands as he scrabbled for purchase, raking furrows in the ground. For a moment he held fast, anchored only by those iructible talons.

  A ghostly image of Tyson flickered into being beside Peter. "Spider-Man! I need your help! I'm being sucked in!"

  "That shouldn't be happening," Spider-Man quipped back, still wrestling the cables, "not unless you're hiding a big metal belt buckle uhat skintight suit. Just drop the jewelry and help me shut this thing down!"

  Then Tyson's adamantium cws tore free from the ground. Uo fight the sun's irresistible pull, he was dragged through the air. The illusion's shout matched Tyson's fear-filled admission, "My whole skeleton is metal! I need you! NOW!"

  Spider sense screaming a warning, Spider-Man spun to see Tyson hurtling toward the blindi of the reactor.

  Time froze, the moment stretg into ay as Spider-Man's enhanced perceptions took in every detail. With movements as precise as scalpel cuts, he fired weblines from both wrists. The silk strands shot across the room and adhered to Tyson's chest mere moments before the mutant would have reached the indest sphere. The webs stretched taut, fighting against the pull of the artificial sun.

  Tyson screamed, a sound more primal and animal than human. For a single heartbeat, he hung suspended, silhouetted against the impossible brightness. Then, with agonizing slowness, Spider-Man began to haul him back, muscles straining against the tremendous forces at py.

  But the rescue did not e without cost.

  As Tyson's ls slid free of the rea's grip, Spider-Man saw with horror that the tremendous heat had seared away his shoes, skin, and muscles. Only the metal bones remained from ao toes, glowing red-hot iermath.

  "Hold on!" Spider-Man anchored himself and pulled with every ounce of his prodigious strength. Tyson slid further away from the sun, inch by pain-wracked inch. The farther he came, the weaker the sun's pull became, the bance of forces slowly tilting. With a final mighty heave, Spider-Man dragged Tyson clear and hauled him across the room to colpse beside the trol panel.

  Spider-Man could only wat astonishment as flesh rapidly regeed over the glowial bones of Tyson's ruined legs. Muscle fibers, tendons, and skin flowed back as if time had suddenly reversed its flow. Tyson released another muffled scream as his body healed over the superheated adamantium endoskeleton. The stench of charred flesh permeated the air around him. But within seds, eaew yer of tissue that was formed was seared away, only to heal once more in an endless cycle eion.

  The healing acted to cool the metal and before long, Tyson stood before Spider-Man whole and unharmed, as if the horrific damage had never occurred. He did not even appear short of breath. Then with a ssh, Tyson effortlessly parted the cables that had resisted Spider-Man's prodigious strength. The reinforced bindings split before Tyson's talons like paper yielding to the cut of scissors.

  Spider-Man could only look on, shocked at the casual dispy. As the power cords severed, the room shuddered. A deep, resonant throb heralded the end of the catastrophe. The miniature sun began to colpse in on itself.

  The implosion of the fusioio a shockwave bsting through the hall, shattering gss and sending dust and debris flying outward.

  Mirage's illusions had guided the audieo safety. Most stood outside the Expo hall, their faces etched with awe and terror. Iermath, silence desded like a heavy shroud, broken only by the soft settling of dust.

  In the sudden sileyson quipped, "Guess you could say that I put my foot in it this time."

  Spider-Man groaned. "Leave the jokes to the professionals. You may have one of the most popur shows iy, but trust me, it's not because of the edy." He paused for a sed before asking, "You okay?"

  Tyson answered that he was fihough his top was torn his shoes were missing and his pants shredded from below the kh the fabric melted at the endings. His wounds had already knit closed.

  Spider-Man cocked his head, fusion evident even through the mask. "I didn't know you could heal like that. And I don't uand how the gravitational forces ihat star didn't crush your metal skeleton. And why do you have a metal skeleton anyway?"

  Tyson gave a casual shrug of his broad shoulders. "It's not just metal, it's adamantium. A nearly iructible alloy. I have other powers too. I'm surprised you didn't already know."

  "How would I know you had more powers?" Spider-Man asked, puzzled.

  "When we fought the Lizard at the high school, I used my cws and took on his appearance for a bit, remember?" Tyson said. "I pierced him right through with them."

  Spider-Man nodded slowly as the memory came back. "That's right, I do remember that now. At the time I thought it was just an illusion. I didn't realize that transformation was real." He shook his head in wonderment. "You probably don't realize this, but it be hard to separate what's real from what isn't when you're around."

  Tyson gave a nont shrug. "Yeah, I'll tell you all about my powers ter. Isn't it funny and ironic that I tell your backstory to the world, but I haven't told you mine? But for now, let's get Doc Ock out of this wreckage."

  Spider-Man nodded, casting his gaze around at the ruined hall. "Good idea. We've given this Expo crowd enough of a show for one day."

  As the dust began to settle, and the wail of the sirens pierced the air, the true scope of the experiment's aftermath became heartbreakingly clear. The demonstration area y in ruins. The attendees huddled together, some openly weeping, others shaking their heads in disbelief.

  As the heroes removed Octavious, the st of the injured from the wreckage of the pavilion, the crowd began g. But the appuse dimmed, repced by a hushed murmur as Harry Osborn pushed his way to the front, his face a thundercloud of anger and accusation. His eyes locked a searing gaze filled with pt onto Spider-Man and Mirage.

  "You!" Harry's voice cut through the air like a razor. "You two are responsible for this! Attag me, trying to tear down Oscorp!"

  The accusation huween them. Spider-Man stood firm, silent against the bitter words. But Mirage stepped forward, his voice cold as he retorted, "Oscorp's reputation is tanking all on its own. I'm getting pretty tired of fixing your pany's mistakes." A ripple of whispers spread through the crowd, some had pulled out cellphoo record the exge. Harry's face flushed crimson, his hands g into fists at his sides, the implication of inpetend failure striking a raw nerve. Mirage pressed on. "ime, maybe I should send Oscorp the bill. It's only fair don't you think? If I'm going to be a janitor, ing up your mess, you should put me on the payroll. " Harry's face burned an even deeper shade of crimson, his jaw g. Mirage pressed olessly, his voice ringing out clearly in the hush created by their frontation. "The least you do is say thanks. We saved your stists today and prevented your mistake from killing i people."

  Mirage folded his arms across his chest, staring down the smaller man. Harry worked his mouth soundlessly, rendered speechless by the verbal shing. His gaze darted between Mirage and Spider-Man, searg for a k in their united front. Spider-Man offered Mirage a subtle nod of support, a wordless affirmation of their shared stance.

  Mirage turo walk away, dismissing the young CEO.

  But Harry's hand shot out, grabbing his arm.

  Leaning close, Harry's voice was venomous. "We aren't finished."

  Mirage met his gaze unflingly, a challenge sparking in his eyes. "Says who?"

  With a shimmer of light, Mirage's form dissolved into a swarm of butterflies, slipping effortlessly from Harry's grasp. The delicate wings fluttered briefly before coalesg inte's solid form, a few feet away.

  The crowd's murmurs grew louder, it was clear their support y behind the heroes. Harry sehe shift iiment and took a step back. Mirage stood tall, arms crossed, a picture of unfppable calm in the face of Harry's barely tained rage. Without another word, Harry spun on his heel and stalked away.

  As the onlookers dispersed, Spider-Man and Mirage exged a weary ghey split, slipping away, leaving behind the fshing lights of the emergency vehicles and the still-unscious figure of Dr. Octavius. Oscorps hopes for heralding the future of sustainable energy y with the presentation hall, shattered ambition amongst the wreckage.

  — Rogue Rept —

  Tyson shut off his motorcycle, and the shrill ring of his phone repced the quiet left in the engine's wake. He fished it from his pocket, eyeing the unknown number. "Hello?" he answered.

  The voice that floated through the speaker was familiar, "Saw you on TV, nice work with the saves." Tyson's lips quirked into a smile as he reized the voice. "Hello, Nat, what I do for you?" he asked, leaning against his bike.

  There was a heartbeat of silence before she spoke again. "I'm calling on behalf of my boss. Tony Stark. He's throwing a birthday party tonight and hoped Mirage could make the trip out."

  Tyson's smile faltered, his hand drifting to his temple. The argument with the A Ohe previous night and how things were left with Illyana remained a fresh wound that throbbed with each thought. He wondered, half-seriously, if Stark's top-shelf booze could drown out his lingering sorrow, even for a little while.

  "Are you guys going to fly me out?" Tyson asked. He didn't fancy attending a party or social gathering. But seeing Nat again would make it worthwhile. It had been nearly two months sihe opening night of House of M, the st time she'd been in town.

  "Absolutely," Natasha firmed. But she quickly added a warning, her tone dropping, "Remember, I'm undercover. Keep that in mind if you e."

  Tyson mulled this over. "Would it be out of character for the eenage superhero to try to pick up the elder superhero's new, hot young assistant?" he joked.

  Natasha snorted in amusement. "I'll let Mr. Stark know Mirage will be attending," she said, the smirk in her voice was clear.

  The call eyson gnced around the quiet street, before dialing Felicia Hardy's number.

  "Tyson?" Felicia's voice crackled through the phone, etched into every sylble. "I saw you at the Stark Expo. Are you alright?"

  Tyson couldn't help but smile at her worry, "I'm fine, Felicia. Really," he assured her, hearing the soft rush of static that followed her exhale of relief.

  "So, are you headed back to the House of M?" Felicia asked.

  "I'll do the show," he said, "but after that, I'm flying out to California."

  Felicia's i was tangible even through the phone. "California? What's taking you out there?"

  "I got io Tony Stark's birthday party," he expined.

  "Look at you, climbing the social dder. It's about time you got out a little," she teased, "Need a plus one?"

  "Not tonight," Tyson replied. He paused, giving a moment of sideration before he tinued. " you tact our finance guy? There's something I o take care of before I go."

  "Sure, what do you need?" Felicia asked, all traces of humone, repced by the sharp focus of a businesswoman.

  Tyson leaned on his motorcycle, the leather seat creaking under his weight. "I'm sure Oscorp's stock is plummeting after this debacle. As soon as it looks like it's leveling out, sell the Oscorp puts. Then use all ains to buy puts on Hammer Industries."

  "Hammer Industries?" Felicia questioned, surprise c her voice like a spsh of paint on a bnk vas. "You think they're going to dive too?"

  Tyson remembered his enter in Washington. "It's guaranteed. I met Justin Hammer at the Senate hearing. And five the pun, but the guy is a tool."

  Felicia chuckled, "You got it, Tyson. I'll ha."

  — Rogue Rept —

  Bright spotlights danced across the grand facade of Tony Stark's mansion. The air was thick with the heady st of expensive perfumes, mingling with the pulsis of the DJ. Guests decked in an array of designers ranging from business casual to sharp tuxedos arrived in a stream. Tyson stood out like a bea. His Mirage e failed to to the accepted dress code.

  As he stepped iyson was impressed by the opulent mansion. Quite the feat sidering he spent the past year living in a five-star hotel. Heads turned as Tyson made his entrahe guests wondered, was it Mirage, or just an impersonator? He could practically feel their curious gazes prig against his skin.

  Natalie Rushman emerged from the sea of guests. She was a vision in a sleek, leopard-print dress that atuated her curves. Fiery dark red curls cascaded over her bare shoulders. When she smiled at Tyson, a glint sparked in her emerald eyes veying a hiddeh beyond merely seeing a superhero in e. That secret was shared only betweewo of them.

  As they embraced iing, Tyson leaned in close and purred, "Rawr" teasingly in her ear.

  Natalie responded by pyfully swatting at his chest, though she kept her voice low as she whispered back, "Undercover. Remember."

  He replied, "That was in character! I swear. Besides, illusions. Remember." Tyson parroted back at her, "Everyone else is just seeing us shaking hands and exging pleasantries. "They wouldn't notiything we did. We could…"

  Nat interrupted, rolling her eyes, "I'm gonna stop yht there." She grabbed his arm and guided him through the guests. "You should meet the boss," she said.

  Instead of Tony Stark, they stopped before Pepper Potts, the newly anointed CEO of Stark Industries. She wore a servative bck dress, radiating fidend authority. Tyson took in the way she ahe attention of those around her.

  "gratutions on your promotion," he said, extending his hand iing. Pepper's grip was firm, her smile warm and genuine.

  "Thank you, Mirage. It's quite an honor," she replied.

  They fell into easy versation, Tyson inquiring about Stark Industries, and Pepper sharing her vision for the pany's future. He listened ily, absorbed in the exge of ideas. As Pepper ulled away to speak with anyson was left adrift in the sea of guests. He wahrough the party, taking in the faces of industry moguls and celebrities alike.

  Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted, all eyes drawn to the entrance like moths to a fme. Tony Stark had arrived. His smile was electric, his stride fident, and his charm dialed up to eleven. "Wele to my little shindig!" he called out, his voice rising above the music.

  Stark worked the room, shaking hands, g backs, and trading quips. Guests cmored for his attention, their faces lighting up wheurned his charm their way. As the party kicked into high gear, Stark's ughter boomed, his antics being more and more eous. He was the life of the party, the guests feeding off his maniergy. His behavirew more erratic, more fmboyant.

  Tyson found himself with a gss of high-proof alcohol in hand. He drank like it was soda. His healing factor rehe effects short-lived, but he savored the momentary sting of the alcohol and the warmth spreading through his veins. It was o feel the buzz, however brief.

  Stark's voied over a microphone now, "I love you guys!" The guests cheered in respoheir adoration for Stark palpable.

  As the night wore on, Stark's as grew more reckless. He daop a table, his movements just a bit too unsteady, his ughter just a bit too loud. flickered across some faces, to be quickly masked by indulgent smiles.

  As the party reached a fever pitch, Tyson watched as the billionaire pyboy downed another drink, his ughter taking on a manic edge. Stark was using the noise and the alcohol to drown out his demons. Tyson's enhanced senses picked up on the subtle ges in Stark's heartbeat, the slight tremor in his hands. He reized the telltale markers of a man on the edge. He saw beyond the mask, beyond the bravado. He saw a man struggling with his mortality while grappling with the weight of world pea his shoulders. And thanks to his meta-knowledge, Tyson uood. For all his wealth and genius, for all his gadgets and armor, Tony Stark was just a man. A man trying to outrun his demons no suit of armor could shield him from. To find so the crowd's adoratioh the glitz and the gmour, beh the red and the gold, there was a man in pain.

  As the party reached its cresdo, Tyson stood on the periphery, a silent observer amidst the revelry. Stark raised his gss, his voice rich with unspokeion. "To the future!" he shouted, the words were a promise as much as a dedication.

  The guests echoed his toast. Tyson lifted his empty gss, the liquid had bee a victim of his healing factor and made a silent toast to a man too plex for most to uand.

  Tony moved through the crowd with the ease of a man who owhe pce, because, well, he did. Stark approached Tyson at the bar, eyes glinting with mischief, a woman trailing in his wake like a shadow.

  "Mirage, meet my new assistant, Natalie," Tony introduced, "She's only a few years older than you. You could learn a lot from her, maybe ect. You'd do well if she took you on as a mentor." He chuckled, relishing the moment.

  Tysoended a gloved hand, "You're even more beautiful in person than your voice suggested. I'd love to learn from you." his flirtation veiled an inside joke.

  Tony's grin widened, auro Natalie with an exaggerated wink. "You should see what this guy do," he teased.

  He wasn't just Tony Stark now; he was a showman, ready to give his guests something worthy of talking about. Raising his voice, Tony announced, "Mirage is pretty awesome, isn't he? How about a demonstration?" The suggestion ignited like wildfire, and soon, a chorus of partygoers ted Mirage's name.

  Amidst the cheers, Mirage raised his hands, signaling for quiet. "I know it's a party for Tony Stark, but how many of you think you really know Iron Man?" he asked.

  The response was a roar of approval, the crowd's excitement palpable. Without missing a beat, Tyson began weaving his illusion.

  The mansion around them fell away, and the group was standing in a mountainion of the Middle East. Tony Stark stood above the crowd his hands outstretched as he demonstrated the test Stark Industries on, the Jericho.

  The guests were instantly captivated. The tale of Iron Man's ins came to life, the images so real that the audience could almost believe they were standing alongside the genius as he structed his first suit of armor in a cave with a box of scraps.

  A half-hour passed as Tysoed a densed version of the events of the Iron Man movie. The narrative weaved a spell over everyone present. Gasps and murmurs of amazement punctuated the air. As the final image faded, the room erupted in appuse. Tyson bowed slightly, aowledging the praise.

  The buzz about Mirage's illusion show was cut short as Tony Stark, his Iron Man suit, climbed onto the stage, g loudly. The guests' attention so the armored figure, their versations shifting from the fantastical illusions to the teological marvel on casual dispy before them.

  Natasha let out a sigh that spoke volumes. "It's like babysitting a child," she muttered under her breath, her expression a mix of frustration and .

  el James Rhodes stepped up e wearing his military outfit, and offered a nod nition. "Saw you at the Senate hearing but didn't get the ce to talk to you," he said before asking, "Is Tony actually in the armor? Or is it another one of your illusions?" his tone was hopeful but edged with skepticism.

  Mirage firmed with a simple, "That's all him," and the resignation in Rhodes's eyes alpable.

  Rhodes's voice lowered, his words directed at Pepper. "Do something about him, or I will." His role as the dutiful el overshadowed his as a friend.

  Pepper grasped the gravity of Rhodes' threat as a military officer and made her way onto the stage. She took the microphoh a practiced hand and tried to defuse the esg antics.

  "Okay, let's it up," Pepper said, her eyes on Tony, who was still suited up as Iron Man, surrounded by a ring of excited partygoers. She whispered, "Tony, you just peed in the suit."

  "But it has a built-in filtration system. It turns it into water enough to drink." he insisted pyfully. He knew she was trying to end the party without ruining the mood. Pepper returhe microphoo the DJ with a tight smile that didn't reach her eyes. Her gowards Tony was filled with exasperation.

  Tony, not missing a beat, hijacked the moment. "Alright, everyohe party is over," he annouhough the pyful glint in his eyes suggested he was far from finished.

  "But for me," Tony tinued, "the party was over after Mirage's show. Now the after-party begins." His words were a cue for the real celebration, or perhaps the real chaos, to start.

  Pepper's smile faded as she watched Tony tinue showing off in his Iron Man suit. He used his repulsors, the energy beams fired from his hands, to bst objects tossed by the partygoers. Each time he fired, the objects exploded into pieces, sending debris flying dangerously close to the guests.

  Rhodes had enough.

  He turned ahe room without a word, his disappoi and frustration with Tony evident in his brisk stride.

  Natasha stood with her arms crossed watg the se that Tony Stark was creating. It iraling quickly, and her instincts as a were kig in. She turo Tyson, "Any ce you de-escate this?" Her voice held an edge ency to it.

  Tyson g her, a pyful spark in his eyes. "Yup!" he replied fidently. Natasha gestured, silently urging him to take a. He grinned, sensing an opportunity. "But it's going to cost you," he teased, mischief evident in his tone.

  Before she could ask what he wayson cut in. His expression softehe pyfulness repced with siy. "Another date," he said, not as a demand, but as someone asking for a ce. "No pretense, no spy games, no masks. Just us, getting to know each other… Truth or Strip is optional."

  Natasha's initial surprise shifted as she reized his ho i. "Fine. Oe," she agreed with a trace of warmth.

  As Tony aimed at another witle, Tyson made his move.

  When Tony's repulsor beam hit the bottle, in the pce of shattering gss, 2D words materialized in mid-air, reading "Great Shot!" A ical 'Womp-Womp' sound followed, and the room's mood shifted.

  The room darkened instantly, and a spotlight illumihe woman who threw the witles. Suddenly, a judge's podium with a robed figure appeared onstage as the woman's cocktail dress transformed into an e prison jumpsuit.

  "Wasting good wine is a crime!" decred the judge from the illusion as he dropped the gavel.

  The crowd erupted into ughter, the tension broken by the humorous dispy.

  Just as the illusion faded and the ughter began to subside, Rhodes re-ehe room. This time, he was wearing the silver Iron Man Mark 2 armor. Amplified by the suit, his voice rang out authoritatively, "Party's et out!"

  The atmosphere ged in an instant. Tony turo see his friend iher suit. Rhodes's stand to no room fument. The pyful air had vanished, repced by a sudden seriousness. The mood of the party shifted in a heartbeat.

  Suddenly, as if called forth by an unseen signal, dozens of Iron Man armors materialized around the room. Eae directed the guests with a calm authority. "Please make your way outside for the mai," the illusions announced in unison, their voices eg through the house.

  The guests, previously enthralled by the spectacle, now moved in an orderly fashion, guided by the illusionary armors towards the exits. The ess and efficy of the evacuation proved the ving nature of Tyson's powers.

  Before Natasha moved to joireating party-goers, she leaned in close to Tyson and whispered, "Do your best to keep it tained."

  Tyson shot back, "Do I get bonus points for that?"

  She didn't verbally respond, but the sultry look she threw over her shoulder spoke volumes. Then, she turned and hurried away, her stride carrying a deliberate sway, leaving a trail of her signature fideyson watched her departure, stirring anticipation within him. He remembered their st date. It was an evening full of surprises. The memory left him smiling and looking forward to their one.

  The visor on Rhodey's suit dropped and he said, "You don't deserve to wear that suit."

  Tony called out with a chuckle, "Hey DJ!"

  The DJ who'd been hiding in his booth area, popped into view and asked, "Yes, Mr. Stark?"

  Tony answered, "Give me a fat beat to beat my buddy's ass to." his words cracked towards the end as he broke out into ughter.

  The DJ fumbled for a moment before the beat of 'Another Oes the Dust' by Queen filled the room. Tony bobbed his head to the rhythm, his earlier carefree demeanor shining through the seriousness of the situation.

  Outside, the night had fallen. The party-goers, ushered to the wn a safe distance from the mansion by Tyson's illusions looked back at the near-empty house. With a final g Natasha's retreating form, Tyson refocused, ensnaring the crowd in his illusion. Though outside the mansion, they were treated to the view within, as if they'd never left the house. The image of the esg frontatioween Iron Man and the other armored man was clear for all to see.

  Rhodey, suited up in silver, approached Tony, ing his arms around the golden-suited Iron Man. It was clear this was no friendly hug. He demanded, "I told you to shut it down. Now!"

  The onlookers outside held their breath. Tyson couldn't resist adding his fir to the spectacle. He jured up a huge, floatihat materialized above the two batants. The words "Round 1! Fight!" fshed in bold letters, apanied by the iic voiceover from the video game Mortal Kombat. The effect drew a mix of ughter and cheers from the crowd outside.

  Tony's helmet visor snapped down with a sharp whir, signaling his readiness. He fired the repulsors on his feet, bsting backward with Rhodey still ging on. The pair smashed through the mansion wall, crashed through the steamy sauna oher side, and tumbled into the expansive home gym.

  The collisio Rhodey sprawled on the ground amidst the rubble, but Tony smoothly engaged his hand repulsors, steadying himself into an effortless hero's pose that oozed fidend style.

  Above their heads, a notification appeared, visible to both them and the audieside, deg "Iron Man - 1, Suit Thief - 0."

  The crowd erupted into a mixture of boos and appuse, captivated by the unfolding drama.

  The gym equipment y scattered. Dumbbells and medie balls were strewn across the floor. Tony strolled away from Rhodey. "Now put that thing back where you found it before someos hurt," his voice carrying signature nonce.

  Rhodey picked up a 45-pou pte and u like a frisbee. The heavy pte flew straight at Tony, striking him on the head with a resounding g. Tony stumbled, the blow catg him off guard. Unfazed, Rhodey reached for ae, again sending it hurtling toward Tony. This time, Tony leao the side, dodging the impromptu projectile. The weight crashed into the remains of the sauna's gss walls.

  A ic-style "Miss!" appeared beside Tony.

  Iron Man walked up to the weight bend with one hand, grabbed the barbell loaded with 225 pounds. He effortlessly hoisted it, shaking his wrist slightly, sending the two bottom ptes sliding off. Swinging the barbell with the ease of a baseball bat, he struck Rhodes, sending him flying into the boxing ring. The force of the blow made Rhodey crash against the opposite wall.

  The crowd outside gasped and cheered at the illusionary dispy. Iony hovered over to Rhodey, his movements a bit unsteady from his earlier drunkehat hadn't yet worn off.

  "Sorry pal, but Iron Ma have a sidekick," Tony slurred slightly, still maintaining an air of bravado despite his inebriated state.

  Rhodey was quick to retaliate. Pulling himself up with the help of the ring post, he tore out the metal post and swung it like a baton. "Side. Kick. This!" he shouted, each word punctuated with a hit against Tony's armor. The metalligs rang out, almost rhythmic.

  They grappled briefly over the ring post, each seeking to gain the upper hand. Then, with a sudden upward swing from Rhodey, Tony was sent crashing through the ceiling, leaving debris falling and a Tony-sized hole leading to the floor above.

  The ding of a bell from a boxing match rang, signaling the end of a round. The scoreboard blinked, updating to say, "Iron Man - 1, Suit Thief - 1."

  Rhodey propelled himself upward from the gym, following the path Tony had uionally created. H in the gap, he peered at Tony and called, "Had enough?"

  Below, iry room, Pepper roached by Natalie, "Miss Potts," she began, with urgency.

  But Pepper was quick to cut her off, her frustration boiling over. "Don't you 'Miss Potts' me. I'm onto you! Ever since you came here..."

  Her accusation hung inplete as the ceiling above them caved in, sending Tony and Rhodey crashing down in a tangle of armor and dust. The impact had Pepper throwing her hands up instinctively, a yell of surprise esg her lips. Natalie reacted differently, her body snapped into a bat-ready stance. Her eyes darted, assessing the situation ihan a heartbeat. But as the two suits disentangled, Natalie melted into the background.

  Happy began moving forward to get Pepper to safety. But before he took a step, Mirage swept in. He snatched Pepper from harm's way, dashing the short distao the crowd, and deposited her gently on the mansion's wn. She barely had time to process her abrupt relocation before Mirage dashed back toward the mansion, leaving a faint afterimage in his wake.

  Baside, the high-tech brawl tiony's fist ected with Rhodey, sending him sprawling across the kit. Pots and pans cttered in the wake of the scuffle. Rhodey tched onto whatever he could grab, which was the kit sink. He ripped it from the plumbing and with a grunt, he swung it at Tony. The metal sihe metal suit with a resounding g. Iron Man staggered, the force of the blow pushing him into the lit firepce.

  The onlookers outside were transfixed, eyes wide as the live drama unfolded on the illusion Tyson maintaihere were gasps and shouts, the crowd alive with adrenaline, spectators to a flione could have anticipated. Tyson had crafted an image that captured every detail, projeg the battle so that all could withe iy of the Iron Man showdown.

  Iony Stark, covered in soot, rose to one knee, his hand lifted with his repulslowing menagly. Across from him, Rhodey mirrored the gesture, his hand aimed and ready. Tension crackled in the air, thiough to touch. "Put your hand down," Rhodey anded, his voice firm.

  Tony challenged him, "You think you've got what it takes to wear that suit?" His voice held an edge, a taunt that filled the room as much as the heat from the firepce. Rhodes's responded quickly, "We don't have to do this, Tony." It lea as much as it was a warning.

  "You want to be the War Mae? Take your shot," Tony pushed, defiance clear in every word.

  Rhodey's voice rose, a note of desperation seeping through, "Put it down."

  But Tony was unyielding, prodding further, "You gonna take your shot?"

  The same demand came again, louder, "Put it down!" The words echoed off the walls.

  Tony's reply was a shout, "Now! Take it!" And with that, they both unleashed the power of their repulsors.

  The beams, one from each hand, shot out, colliding in a brilliant burst of light. The sound was deafening, the forimaginable as it tore through the room. A shockwave exploded outward, sending fragments of the once-grary room hurtling in all dires. The mansion seemed to hold its breath before the bst, then exhaled debris and dust in a wild, untrolled gasp.

  Tyson had thought ahead, his illusions had urged the crowd back far enough to eheir safety before the anticipated climax. When the repulsor beams collided, the light was blinding, a searing fsh that left afterimages dang in the eyes of all who wit. As visiouryson's illusionary scoreboard updated.

  The name suit thief was crossed out and repced with War Mae. The scoreboard read, 'Winner! War Mae!"

  Tony Stark, Iron Man, y in his battered suit slumped against what remained of the firepce. Rhodey, now the victor, activated his suit's repulsors. He took off into the night sky, leaving a trail in his wake.

  The onlookers watched as War Mae disappeared, their expressions held shod sadness, seeing their hero defeated. Tysohe illusion fade, the proje flickering out to reveal the true extent of the destru. Siletled over the crowd like a heavy b. But then, Mirage flicked his hand.

  The destru dissipated, and the mansion stood pristine, untouched, as though the furious battle had been nothing more than a dream... An illusion.

  The crowd was still, their eyes searg for the truth. None were sure if the mansion had beeroyed or the battle was real.

  A giant curtain stretched across the view, hiding the mansion. Words spun out, written in script, "Show's over folks." The cssie from the end of a Loounes cartoon filled the air, nostalgid oddly fitting.

  As the final note of the familiar music pyed, Mirage stepped out in front of the curtain.

  A spotlight that inated from somewhere in the sky shown down on Mirage.

  With a flourish, Mirage took a deep bow. The crowd erupted into appuse. Some cheered, hed, delighting in the ued eai.

  "I run shurly if you ever find yourself in New York," he announced, his voice carrying over the g crowd.

  With a dramatic gesture, Mirage pulled the curtain back to reveal Tony Stark. He stepped forward, waving to the crowd with a showman's ease, his face wearing that famous, charming Tony Stark grin. "Thank you for attending my birthday party. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a suit to go recim and a house to ," he said, his voice rich with the charisma that had charmed the world.

  Laughter and chatter bubbled up from the crowd as they started to walk away, the night's drama taking on the feel of a grand advehey could ret to friends for years to e. Amidst the dispersing crowd, Pepper Potts marched straight te and Tony, her face set in a look that meant business. "What was that?" she demanded, pnting her hands on her hips, her tone sharp and acg.

  Without a word, Mirage beed her through the curtain. Oher side, the truth y bare. The mansion was a wreck. Wires dangled, walls were scorched, and debris littered the once-immacute floors.

  Mirage spoke gently, a softo his voice that hadn't been there during his performance. "I was just trying to help you with damage trol and publicity," he expined, gesturing to the ruin around them.

  Pepper's anger melted into sadness as she absorbed the reality of the situation. Her eyes took in the destru, and she uood Mirage's ruse. It was all to keep the publiaware of the superhero chaos that had just ehe distant ughter of guests who had witnessed an 'unfettable show' was fading, as they left, oblivious to the true spectacle that had occurred.

  Iron Man once gleaming red and gold, was scorched and damaged. Tony's breaths were heavy. The mansion y partially in ruins; the entry room was unreizable. Bits of the ceiling dangled precariously, and the walls bore scars from the eruptioed when the repulsor beams had touched. Sparks from damaged wires flickered, and the smell of burronics lingered in the air. Tony's eyes sed the devastation, his face a mask of mixed emotions. The frontation was over, but the fallout was beginning.

  Outside each perso with their versions of the night's events. They walked away in groups, talking in hushed, excited tones about the shows Mirage put on, the story of Iron Man's in, and the csh of Iron Man and the War Mae.

  Behind the curtain, behind the illusionary facade, y the truth.

  Tony sat there, alone; his home and life wreckage.