The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind It (Part Four)

"Friday, report the armor's exact damage."

Tony Stark sat on the ground without a shred of dignity, gulping down air as he struggled to steady himself.

"Sir, the left leg thruster has sustained level-three damage. Thruster efficiency is down to thirty-seven percent. The right—

"Armor integrity protection is at seventeen percent...

"More importantly, my preliminary assessment suggests your spleen may have ruptured when you were struck by a blunt object. I recommend immediate medical attention. Shall I plot a route to the nearest hospital?"

Tony Stark gave a rueful smile. A little injury meant nothing. He was lucky to have survived that attack at all.

Before he could ask Friday to plot a route, Nick Fury cried out beside him, his face stricken. "Tony, track those three Helicarriers! If I'm right, Ultron's hijacked every one of them!"

"What? Ultron? How... how is that possible?" Tony Stark's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Anything's possible."

Fury seemed unwilling to explain his theory. "Go!" he roared. "We have to find him before he does any more damage!"

Tony Stark's face fell. He had taken much of the force of the attack to save Fury and the other two. Even the Mark 45 Armor's tough titanium-alloy shell was deeply dented and torn in places.

He had no obvious external injuries, but his organs had clearly taken a beating.

There was no time to rest. Fury's warning brought the gravity of the situation home to him. Fighting through the pain, he pulled himself together, flew the Mark 45 Armor into the sky, and began searching for the three Helicarriers.

"Friday, run a thruster diagnostic and give me maximum power!"

The impact from the falling boulder had badly damaged the armor's thrusters. Their exhaust flickered erratically, slowing him down and sending him along a crooked flight path.