Chapter 12: Dogfight

Chapter 12: Dogfight

Iron-Man and company are continuing to follow the previously emitted energy signals. Though this signal hadn’t pinged in a while, Tony was still confident that if they headed in the same direction they’d eventually run into it. That being said he knew that if they didn’t find something soon then his confidence may be misplaced.

“Yo tin man!” Dante radioed. “Making any progress or we just having a nice Sunday ride?” He asked blazing from the ground with Trish and Gamora.

“Tin Man still… hope that one doesn’t stick.” Tony whispered just before a distress signal read across his visor. “Rhodes!” Iron-Man yelled as he hit his thrusters and blasted through the sky, adjusting his course ever so slightly, Morrigan staying right on his tail as best she could.

“What’s the rush Tony?” Trish asked.

“It’s Rhodes! His distress signal just went off a few clicks from the direction we were heading. I’m in pursuit now!”

“Whoa I don’t know. It’s been over a day right? His signal just now going smells bad to me.” Dante said as Gamora agreed.

“It seems like a trap, and Tony’s about to spring it.” She said before contacting Tony. “Iron-Man please wait for us! This feels like an obvious deception!”

“I know! But I can’t risk the chance that Rhodey needs me!”

And with that Iron-Man didn’t let up. He maintained his course as he flew over jungle and backroad, the sights blurring by him as he tried to make to his friend as quickly as possible. He then realized that Morrigan, the sultry succubus was still with him. Looking both determined and nervous, Morrigan’s eyes held that determination, yet her hands were shaking at the same time. Tony was starting to feel guilty.

“You know they’re probably right about the trap…”

“I’m aware love.” Morrigan said plainly.

“What I’m saying is you can wait up for the others if you want.”

Morrigan sped up even further until she and Tony were flying side by side. She leered over at him with a smirk. Tony looking back at her just had to hope she could see his appreciation past his mask through his nodding gesture. But despite his gratitude he couldn’t help but ask…

“Thanks but… why are you going through all of this for me? I mean, you don’t even know me?” Iron-Man asked as he looked back at her.

“Hmm.” Morrigan sounded. “It’s your essence of man…” She said as she whimsically placed her thumb and index finger against her chin.

“My essence of man?”

“Admittedly hard for you to grasp being a human of a different world and all I’d imagine. To put it simply, I’m a succubus. I thrive a certain… vitality of man…” Tony then smiled with a faint blush. I’ll leave it a that for now… I think he gets it. Morrigan thought to herself.

“I see. That’s actually a one track mind my record player is familiar with. That and the band AC/DC.” Iron-Man said as Morrigan chuckled, leaving it at that.

Morrigan and Tony left that conversation with a better understanding of why Morrigan seems so enamored by him. And despite the fact that Tony was willing to accept that reasoning he knew there was more to it than that. Morrigan Aensland had a certain nobility about her. As well as an honor. She’d taken a liking to Tony Stark and had the strength, bravery and resolve to see his battle through from by his side.

Now only a few miles away two warriors lay in waiting. One in a blue trench coat with a blue handled katana clipped to his side, and another with a fiery aura. A woman in a red suit with the insignia of a phoenix. It was Vergil and Jean Grey. Both ready with a fiery determination to meet their foes. The sky began to grow dark as storm clouds overtook the land. A light drizzle of rain came down on the two as a pair of red lights glowed between them, War Machine’s helmet. The distress signal.

“The signals straight ahead!”

The two flew down wind, descending rapidly as both Iron-Man and Morrigan landed abruptly, obliterating the earth beneath their boots a mere twenty feet from the signal. Who… who are they? Iron-Man thought as they stood before the villains. It was then that Tony looked at the two powerful foes standing before them, and then at War Machine’s helmet. What did they do to Rhodey!? He thought angrily as he clenched his fist tightly in anger. The paintjob scrapping off between his fingertips due to the force. His faceplate opening up so he could meet his assailants face to face. Tony’s eyes were fierce.

The two villainous warriors looked back. Vergil gripped Yamato, his otherworldly blade tightly. They’re strong! That succubus carries great demonic power. And the human more than wears the highly advanced suit of armor… Yet, he wields it. Vergil thought as slowly unsheathed Yamato. He then shared a glance with Jean Grey, the Phoenix. Regardless. Her power is sufficient on its own. Vergil felt this to be true. Both pleased with the assurance of victory, yet disgusted in the belief that his own power didn’t stack up.

Tony stepped forward confidently “Where’s War Machine!?” He asked, demanding an answer. Silence was all he was met with. “Not willing to play ball!? Why not, it’s America’s past time!” He shouted, his serious attitude just barely cutting through his snark.

“Careful Tony…” Morrigan said with an extended hand. “They’re power is unsettling.” She said with a bit of a frog in her throat. Tony put his guard up in response.

“Why tell you anything human?” Vergil said stoically. “You won’t live long enough to do anything with the provided information.” He said as he readied his blade.

“So there’s information?” Tony’s faceplate lowered and locked in, “I’ll get you to cough it up then!” Tony yelled as he prepared to charge.

“I’d like to see you try you filthy r- AH GAH!” As Vergil retorted Iron-Man thrusted forward, going from 0 to 100 in a split second. Punching Vergil in the gut with all his might. Vergil both interrupted and coughing.

Pissed, Vergil slashed reflexively as Iron-Man blocked with his left arm. Confident the blade would simply bounce off Tony was left shocked as he jumped back. He looked down at his gauntlet and to his surprise, it had been sliced right through. A small cut momentarily visible on his arm before the nanomachines began repairing his suit. Morrigan wasn’t kidding! I’ll have to be careful.

“You’ll pay for that human!” Vergil yelled as he began to charge an attack with Yamato.

“Morrigan! Take flight!” Tony yelled as both he and Morrigan blasted into the air. “They can’t follow us! We’ll attack them from the air!” Tony thought when suddenly glowing blue sword slashes began flying at the pair.

“An aerial attack!” Morrigan yelled as she and Tony narrowly dodged each and every one of them. “Tony!?”

“I’m alright!”

It was then that the two of them saw a bright hot flash of light. It was the Phoenix. And it was flying right at them. Tony immediately knew what it was. It was what attacked War Machine earlier. “Missiles!” Tony yelled as Morrigan nodded. The both of them began firing a barrage of missile fire towards the flaming bird. *BOOM-BOOM-BTOOOM-BOOM* The explosion was massive! But ineffective, the Phoenix kept coming.

“I’ll draw it away!” Morrigan yelled as she began flying upward, still firing upon it.

“NO!” Tony yelled as the Phoenix followed after her.

Iron-Man began to pursue when he noticed something. A gray winged beast with a blue aura and spiky skull was flying right at him. It barreled into him, winding him despite his armor as he spiraled and rolled midair.

“What the hell!?”

“Hell is right!” A now Devil Trigger enabled Vergil yelled as he fired a blue fireball.

As the blue blaze flew towards him, Tony redirected his power into his shields. Thankfully this was enough to safeguard from the attack. Vergil smirked as he darted in for a full on melee. Punching and kicking Iron-Man. Knocking him through the air like he was playing pinball with his metal body.

“What’s the matter tin man! Can’t fight back!?” He said with glee as he pummeled our hero.

Tin Man! Iron-Man became enraged due to the reminder of Dante’s smart remarks. He then used his propulsion systems to stop midair as Vergil flew at him. Redirecting power into his right arm gauntlet he threw a massive right handed punch the hit Vergil square in the face. The half demon flew back as saliva flew from his open jaw and blood from his busted lip. He wiped the blood from his lip surprised.

Meanwhile Morrigan had directed Phoenix away from Iron-Man when suddenly she stopped to face her opponent. It was to her surprise that the Phoenix had done the exact same. If nothing else, an honorable move. As the two floated silently in the air, the dark clouds continued to loom overhead. And then as both of them were making full eye contact, a flash of lightning ripped through the air above them.

“Just what is your contract?” Morrigan asked the silent warrior.

“…”

“You’ve made nary a peep since confronting us. Yet you let the weaker one do the talking. And I sense nothing from you, more notably no malicious intent…” Morrigan said.

“…” The Phoenix remained silent before reigniting the flames around when suddenly thunder roared, accompanying the previous lighting.

“I don’t think I can win this…” Morrigan then whispered to herself.

It was then that the Phoenix rocketed towards the brave succubus as Morrigan charged right back. Contorting parts of her body the succubus attempted slicing and drilling through flames surrounding Jean Grey while changing the physical shape and properties of her body to try and achieve this, but it was not successful. Then in one bright flash of light, Morrigan was cooked. Her red, steaming body descending rapidly to the ground while unconscious.

*FLASH-FLASH* Iron-Man and Vergil kept fighting as Tony hit him with as many propulsion blasts as he could with little effect. Vergil would then fire off blue bursts of energy with slashes from his Yamato. Each hit wasn’t as powerful as a direct sword slash from Vergil, however it would still tear into his armor and mess with his internal systems.

Tony was out of breath and his suit in bad shape. He hovered in a defensive stance as he waited for the nanomachines to make their repairs. Buying time. Then as hope seemed lost, it was completely consumed as the Phoenix returned making the color escape Tony’s face from within his helmet. No… not Morrigan too. He felt helpless as he lowered his guard.

“Well… I guess that’s a wrap…” Tony said, defeated.

Vergil smirked as he lunged for the kill. It was then that just before the strike *CLASH!* Rebellion met Yamato in an epic struggle. Two half demons, Dante & Vergil clashing inflight. Both in a state of Devil Trigger activation. The Phoenix just watching from the sidelines as was Iron-Man.

“BROTHER!” Vergil yelled angrily.

Brother!? Tony’s mind cried out.

“Give it up Bro! You can’t win against us all!” Dante yelled.

In a moment of confusion Vergil looked to the ground below, and there he saw it. The cavalry had arrived. Not just Trish and Gamora either. Spider-Man, Ryu, Chun-Li, The Wasp, Amaterasu and of course the INCREDIBLE HULK as well. Vergil’s eyes leered as he grew weary. His shocked look turning into a twisted smile.

“It would seem you caught us brother, fair and square.” Vergil said as he lowered his sword. “But let me ask you, how do you intend on capturing me, and saving you friend?”

“What?”

In that moment. The Phoenix fired a blast at Tony the acted as an EMP. The power in his armor shut down as he began to fall. Vergil and Jean Grey began flying away with tremendous speed as Dante hovered there conflicted. He knew someone on the ground could likely catch him but ultimately he didn’t want to leave it to chance. He had to let his brother go. Dante then swiftly swooshed in and saved the falling Iron-Man. Then as he landed he prepared to fly off after Vergil but his arm was grabbed by Iron-Man with what little power it had left.

“What are you doing!?”

“Don’t fly after him…” Tony said weakly. “We have to find Mor-Morrigan…”

“But I can’t just let him get away.” Dante replied.

“You’d only be killed in vain.” Iron-Man said. And then as Iron-Man looked up at Dante, his faceplate expressionless. “Besides he won’t get away, I planted a nanomachine on him during our fight. It’ll lead us right to him…” He said.

In the meantime, laying in a field nearby. Morrigan Aensland clung to life as her gripping hands clung to the shrubbery of the bush she had fallen into.