A makluan's oath

Chapter 3: World of fire

"Gene?" Tony asked trying to get Gene's attention. "Gene!" Gene finally being brought back to reality. "Are we keeping you up?"

"Sorry. What were we talking about?" (Gene)

"The Mandarin, and why he wants the Makluan rings." (Tony)

"Right. Now I remember." (Gene)

"We know the original Mandarin was some kind of Chinese boogeyman." (Rhodey)

"I won't ask what that is." The makluan said as he narrowed his eyes at the thought of such a creature.

"He hid the rings around the world as a big test." Rhodey continued.

"And this new Mandarin. He's after the rings. He had one the first time we saw him." (Tony)

"Two, you mean. He had two the first time we ever saw him, when Ultimo came after us." (Rhodey)

"Is that what your calling the guardian who attacked the city? How cute." The makluan spoke with a little bit of a mocking tone.

"Right. That's what I meant." (Tony£

"Hmm. You sure about that." The makluan began to press before stopping when Gene shook his head.

"But, uh, you said you thought he was wearing my dad's ring. The one that Stane stole." (Gene)

"Yeah... that's what I said." Rhodey looked at Gene. "You didn't get anything else about the Mandarin on wall in the temple of Wisdom?"

"I was a little preoccupied with saving your life, after you passed out." Gene pointed out.

"Knocked out." He corrected him.

"Whatever you say, Rhodes." (Gene)

Pepper begin to laugh, "Gene, be nice. So... to sum up, we're in the dark about everything."

"I would say I know but then again I'm currently not with my true master so..." The makluan muttered.

"Well we know that the Mandarin doesn't know where the rings are either. If he did, he'd just go get them. Luckily we've got a map to the next one." (Tony)

"Any luck with that?" Gene chipped in.

"Well... no. It's pretty confusing compared to the last one. I've had my computers analysing it for weeks now." (Tony)

Gene got up saying, "Call me when you figure it out. Then we'll go after it together." He checked his watch saying. "Listen I have to go back to my step father's shop, there's a buyer coming in to look at a statue." He pointed at the reptilian. "Are you coming?"

"But of course, Master Gene Kahn." The makluan responded following behind him.

"I just thought a few seconds ago he wasn't your master." Rhodey pointed out.

"I never said no such thing." The makluan argued back.

"Oh! I'll walk you out!" Pepper got up and begun walking.

"Later, Gene!" He said his goodbye before saying. "Pepper never walks me out."

"You live here, idiot." It was then that they heard a loud roaring laugh echoing around them. "I'm betting it was the overgrown lizard."

"Speaking of doesn't he need a name." (Tony)

"Hmm. Perhaps we can talk to Gene he'll have to give him a name otherwise he'll never accept it from us." (Rhodey)

"Ah yes the oh so great Gene Kahn." They broke off laughing.

Time skip
The makluan walked in as tall as ever with his claw like feet seemingly tapping the ground with every step. Only when he walked in did he notice that Gene was on his phone.