Tally Marks

Chapter 14 - Tech Wars

The Avengers learned from Thor the next day of what had transpired the night before.  "He did what?" Bruce asked, clearly unsure how Loki would be able to take on almost an entire company of Asgardian soldiers.

"He just came into the training yard and according to Tyr, challenged everyone.  He was afraid he might have killed somebody.  He said Loki stopped when my Father appeared on the scene," Thor answered as they watched Tony get ready for his match.

"Your old man showed up and he stopped in his tracks?" Stark asked.  

"Tyr said that Loki went for Odin, but stopped before he delivered a possibly damaging blow.  I'm shocked," Thor responded.

"Yeah, I might have clocked your dick father too," Clint retorted before he winced.  His ribs were still rather badly bruised.  

"Please mind what you say.  I don't feel like scraping your paste off the ground after Thor is done with you," Bruce commented as Thor just looked at Barton.  

"I would not let you harm my father, Hawkeye.  I would have killed him myself for what he's done to Loki before you could even put an arrow to your string," Thor said ominously before he walked away.

"Creepy.  Never heard him talk about his father that way before," Tony stated.

"I know.  He's always been respectful towards his father and his decisions," Steve said.

"When it comes to Loki, Thor allows his judgment to be clouded," Natasha said in a matter-of-fact tone of voice.

"Well, if what happened to Loki happened to Loki, I won't fault him for being mildly pissed," Tony said as he adjusted his gauntlet and admired his armor one last time.  "So... how do I look?  Good enough to win today?" Tony asked.

"You look good enough for government work," Steve answered, knowing that Tony hated that phrase and always applied it to SHIELD.  As a result, Iron Man flipped Captain America off.

"Your opponent is apparently the one they call 'Iron Man'," the Grandmaster told Loptr as he studied the array of Sakaarian tech that had been presented him.  He grabbed a set of arm guards and slid them on, seeing the display that showed an array of weapons he could use.  He was also had a clear visor that was a functioning screen that could scan his opponent; gauging health, weaknesses, and his own armaments.  The Grandmaster watched with amusement as Loptr pulled out a disc.  He flicked his wrist and it came to life, the lasers around the rim humming mildly.  Loptr looked up at the Grandmaster as he flicked it again and it went quiet.  

"He won't be called Iron Man for long," was all Loptr said in response.

The trumpets blared, announcing another match, and Tony flew into the arena from above instead of walking through the tunnels below.  The people cheered for him and he was gracious, bowing and waving his hand to them.  "Is he always like this?" the Grandmaster asked the other Avengers.

"Every damn day," Steve grumbled, earning him a couple of looks from his fellow Avengers (since he cursed).  Tony raised his arms and got himself another cheer from the populace before the gates opened and his opponent approached.  

Tony watched as Loki (Loptr) walked into the arena, and immediately said, "Friday, scan his weapons and tell me what he's got."

"Certainly, boss.  Scanning..." Friday said.  That was two seconds before Loki flicked a switch and unleashed one of the discs.

"Shit!" Tony exclaimed as the laser disc went whizzing by him.  "Friday!"

"Scan complete, boss," the AI responded.

"Well, it's about time!" Tony countered as Loptr caught the disc as it came back and released a second one.  

"It only took me 2.5 seconds to complete me scan, boss," Friday pointed out sarcastically.  

"2.5 seconds was all he needed to try to kill me!" Tony snapped back as he fired a repulsor at him before arming a missile.  "Launch!" Tony commanded and the missile flew at its target.  Loptr saw it coming and waited for it to get close.  He was risking a lot and he knew it.  He waited before he sliced it in half, effectively killing it.  

"I would recommend that we change tactics, boss," Friday suggested.

"You think?!" Tony asked as another disc came his way.  Meanwhile, Loki watched the information closely on his visor display.  

He has a form of artificial intelligence giving him information and scans of my equipment , Loptr thought to himself.  He watched as Iron Man suddenly landed and both his hands came up.  He can't keep this fight long distance forever.  He's going to have to close the gap eventually.  And when he does, I'll have the advantage,  Loptr thought.  Tony unleashed the full wrath of his repulsor cannons, and Loptr did several flips to dance out of the way.  

"Damn it!  Remind me to use that ones that go after heat signatures next," Tony said.

"If you last that long in this fight.  Not that I don't want you to, of course," Friday told him.  

"Gee, thanks," Tony commented dryly as he tried to come at Loptr from a different angle.  However, Loptr drew laser guns and fired.  Tony was able to dodge most of them, but he got clipped by one of the bullets anyway.  He glanced down at the dent it made in his armor and frowned.  "Now that was just rude," he said, this time to Loptr.

"I don't remember us agreeing to certain rules of decorum before this fight.  I do, however, recall us trying to kill each other," Loptr rejoined before he released his morningstar.  Tony was completely unprepared for such an 'archaic' weapon to be unleashed on him, so he just kind of stood there.  It wrapped around his suit, and put another ding in it before Loptr took him off his feet.  

"What the f*ck?!" Tony exclaimed as he went flying and barely managed to get his rockets activated to balance himself out.  Loptr twirled the morningstar again and flung it out, catching Stark's hip and flinging him off balance.  He twirled around for a moment before he managed to regain his equilibrium.  "Now I'm pissed off!" he shouted as he let two missiles fly at Loptr.  Loptr saw the missiles approaching and darted to the side to avoid them.  However, they were heat seeking missiles and had locked on to Loptr's heat signature.  Loptr's screen gave him the details of the missiles and he knew that running away was not going to solve the problem.  Suddenly, Loptr stopped, turned, and unleashed his morningstar.  It caught the first one and he managed to send it off kilter into its partner.  They both exploded and Loptr turned to face Iron Man again.  Tony came flying in this time and a blade came out of his gauntlet.  Loptr brought a dagger of his own up and blocked the sword.  The two of them were looking each other in the eyes.