40: Isn't this a lunatic?

"Oh? What should I do then?" 

Andrew asked curiously.

"When the frog cub travels, it will make some friends. When they come to visit, you as host can enter the game world to receive these guests from other worlds."

"So there are restrictions on entering. The frog cub has been to three worlds so far, not sure when friends might visit."

Andrew wasn't too concerned about this yet. 

Soon the meal was ready, so he called Gwen, still running, to come eat. 

He saw her approach sulking. 

Quite cute.

Andrew knew she was still miffed about his advances from before. 

But he was helpless - the frog cub's return had ruined the moment. 

This foolish girl really had the worst timing.

During the meal, Andrew could only appease Gwen with food and chatter. 

Eventually she completely forgot the earlier incident.

After eating, night had fallen. 

"Andrew, Connors will likely emerge tonight. I want to go patrol..." 

Andrew nodded. "Before you leave, come home first." 

"There I'll have Red Queen hack your computer, then go back to your room and lock the door, exiting through the window."

"That way, even if your uncle grows suspicious, you can remotely maintain the illusion you're home through Red Queen."

"Andrew, you're a genius!"

Gwen was thrilled by this idea. 

Now she could stay out late without issue. 

With her spider abilities, she could simply slip back inside via the window.

Gwen moved to embrace Andrew in thanks, but recalled his earlier teasing. 

She halted and crossed her arms. "Hmph..."

Andrew, arms open, was taken aback. 

Women... 

No, girls really do hold grudges. 

"I'll head home first to turn on my computer then."

Gwen swiftly changed into her spider suit beneath her clothes. 

Then leapt off Andrew's balcony, swinging home on webs. 

En route she busted some petty crooks too. 

The name Spider-Woman was spreading.

On the balcony, Andrew sipped tea while the Red Queen reported Gwen's exploits. 

"Well, when Tony reveals he's Iron Man, I'll need to switch houses." 

"And upgrade everything high-tech."

This place limited the Red Queen. 

In Tony's pad, JARVIS could simply project screens.

Not just a computer like now. 

"Don't know Tony's Mark armor progress, or if Obadiah found Mark 1 yet..."

Recalling Mark 1's design, Andrew remembered it already deviating from the original. 

"What if Tony's suits end up resembling my Emperor armor?"

Meanwhile. 

Inside Tony's lab. 

Tony was engulfed in a full silver metallic armor. 

The helmet eyepieces were exaggeratedly styled. 

Other areas also radically altered from the smooth original.

If present, Andrew would see a resemblance to his Emperor armor, though not identical. 

"Alright Yinsen, JARVIS. Mark 2 test flight now." 

"Ready?"

Yinsen gave a thumbs up. 

JARVIS echoed inside the helmet. "Ready sir." 

"All parameters and flight path designed."

"Let's do this!" 

Mark 2's palm and sole thrusters ignited, lifting Tony up. 

Once stable, he jetted straight from the underground lab.

"Wow..." 

"Hahaha..."

"We did it, JARVIS, Yinsen!"

In the lab, Yinsen monitored Tony's flight too. 

Tony laughed like a kid with a new toy as he streaked across New York's night sky.

Unlike a falling star, he was flying up. 

"Okay, let's test this tech..."

"JARVIS, what's the SR-71 Blackbird's record?"

"Highest fixed-wing flight is 85,000 feet, sir." 

"Records are meant to be broken, punch it!"

Tony accelerated, going for the max altitude record. 

No longer a scientist, more a competitive child. 

In S.H.I.E.L.D. 

Nick Fury watched Mark 2 continually climb. 

The armor further convinced him Tony was linked to the mystery mech.

He had observed Tony since his return. 

Mark 2's launch was immediately reported. 

"Howard, your son indeed. Making this..." 

Nick admired Tony's ascent. 

Yes, that's it. 

Avengers member +1 again...

But Nick's expression shifted next. 

Because the higher Tony went, the lower the temperature, especially with his rapid climb. 

Frost began covering the armor.

"This guy can't be a lunatic..." 

Nick felt his assessment of Tony was premature.

Yet Tony kept rising. 

"Sir, exterior damage from severe ice possible..."

"Punch it!" 

Tony was undeterred. 

Soon, as the surface froze over, systems inside gradually failed. 

Even JARVIS fell silent. 

Mark 2 fully shut down, plunging from altitude.

"What..."

"Ahhh..."

"Frozen up, JARVIS, deploy flaps..." 

"Gotta shake the ice off!"

With no response from JARVIS, Tony manually hit the switch. 

When the flaps opened, his descent slowed tremendously.

JARVIS reactivated, narrowly pulling up before hitting the ground. 

Tony, escaping death again, laughed maniacally in the armor. "Hahaha!"

In S.H.I.E.L.D, Nick Fury wiped his brow, witnessing Tony's near miss. 

Hill asked, "Should we add Tony to the initiative?"

Nick Fury said warily, "Let's continue observing..." 

Andrew on the balcony saw Mark 2 rocketing upward nearby. 

...To be continued.