PREVIOUSLY IN IRON MAN: Spymaster had stolen a laser device from Stark Solutions. While Iron Man had been searching for Spymaster to return the device to its original owners, which happens to be Stark himself, Spymaster had used the laser to wreak havoc on the city at large. Iron Man has been defeated by Spymaster and the villain has aimed the explosive laser device on Iron Man's armour...

New York City

"I wonder who is the man behind the mask?" Spymaster asked Iron Man a rhetorical question as he pointed Stark's laser device at Iron Man's head.

"My guess is that you won't be around to find out.' Iron Man retaliated by firing his jet thrusters at Spymaster's chest propelling him backwards against an old abandoned building's brick faced wall. In the meantime of the action, he dropped the device.

Iron Man stood up, the blast barely hurting him, and picked up Stark's laser device. "The day won't come by when I can't handle a two-bit crook like Spymaster. A man and his gun is thus defeated."

Police sirens wailed and the boys in blue finally arrived on the scene. Several cops exited their black and whites and approached the golden Avenger.

"Are you all right?" one cop asked.

"I'm fine. Nothing that my jets couldn't handle. I don't think that Spymaster will be going anywhere soon."

"Yes, he is. He's gone."

"What?!?" Iron man yelled at the top of his lungs, stunned at Spymaster's escape. "Where is he? Where the hell is he?"

"We were hoping you could tell us."

"Sorry, I have to be going now. Stark keeps me on a very short leash." With that said, Iron Man flew above the throng of people, heading back to Stark Solutions.

Stark Solutions

Dressed in his business suit, Tony Stark had arrived at his home base by way of Iron Man's jet thrusters and was now in the sub basement of his lab. He opened his safe and had put the laser device in it. He locked the safe and was gretted by his entourage of workers, Happy Hogan, Pepper Potts, and Jim Rhodes.

"Whassup, boss?" Rhodey said, as the three people entered the room. "I take it you took care of Spymaster. We all saw it on the news."

A slight smile crept up on his mouth below his moustache. "Yes, I did. But not completely. He escaped while the police came and I got my laser back."

"Too bad," Happy said. "But I'm sure he'll turn up. By the way, me and Pep have good news for ya."

"I'm listening," Tony said.

"We are going to remarry."

A bigger smile appeared on all their faces.

"Congratulations," Tony said. "This is like déjà vu all over again."

Jim Rhodes extended his hand and shook Happy's. "Congrats, Hap. But I hate to be a damper of your good tidings, but when did this come about? I know that you two kids have been deciding this for a while, falling in love all over again, but when did you decide this?"

Happy was about to answer, but Pepper stayed his hand. "I'll handle this, baby. It happened when Happy was put in the hospital by MODOK. We just realized how much we cared for each other. And that this time nothing will ever tear us apart."

"And Tony," Happy said, inclining his head to his friend. "I would like you to be the best man."

"I would be honored and it would be my pleasure."

"Thank you, Tony. You don't know how much this means to me."

"I think I have a nasty feeling."

And the four friends, all happy at the news, exited the sub basement of the lab to go to main office upstairs.

Tony had called Anastasia Swift the next morning to set up a date. He wanted to make amends with her, since she was willing and he parted company with her so abruptly.

"Tony, I'd love to go out with you," Ana said. "When would you like to go?'

Tony smiled. "How about right now? I could bring my limo around and pick you up."

"Oh, Tony, that's great."

"Hang loose, sweetheart. I'll be around."

Tony and Ana hung up the phone at the exact same time.

Stane Offices in New York

Obadiah Stane sat at his desk within his offices. He was deep in thought. He had been in hiding for some time now. he was an old enemy of Anthony Stark and his alter ego, Iron Man, back in the day. Now he was planning his next move to destroy his most hated enemy.

"Iron Man," Stane breathed, "has always eluded me. But now times are different. Now I shall destroy him, but he shall not die by my hand alone but by the hand of my agent Spymaster, the master saboteur. Soon, he shall arrive in my office and then our plan will begin anew.

"It was I who had planned the theft of Stark's laser device and it was I who had planted within the Spymaster's brain the idea of attacking Iron Man in person and the hapless citizenry of New York City."

Without knocking, the door to his office opened and Spymaster clad in his military costume entered. He didn't look pleased.

"You're not smiling, Spymaster," Stane said to his agent of destruction. "So I have to assume that your mission was not a success."

"What, you don't have a television? It was all over the news."

"What happened?" Stane whispered, annoyed at him.

"Well to put it bluntly, he kicked the crap out of me but I escaped, obviously. He also got Stark's laser device back."

"Regrettable but understandable. But we can defeat him again. I mean, you can. Down in the basement, that is where I keep my new and improved weaponry. Go there and get whatever weapons you like and destroy Iron Man. And this time I want no more failures."

"Mr. Stane, it would my pleasure."

After a nice dinner and a good movie premier, Tony Stark had his chauffeur drop Anastasia Swift at her apartment at another part of the city.

"I had a lovely time tonight, Tony," Ana said as they both walked to her doorstep.

"So did I, Ana. I hope that we can do it again sometime without our previous complications."

"I know what you mean."

Suddenly, a figure appeared seemingly out of nowhere, and approached Tony Stark. Ana screamed at the top of her voice and Tony turned around as the man grabbed the lapel of his jacket.

Spymaster punched Tony in the stomach, sending him sprawling backwards against the steps. "What... do you... want, Spymaster?"

"What I want, my dear Mr. Stark, is Iron Man. If you don't bring him here now, I'll kill your lovely girlfriend here."

"You sadistic animal!" Tony screamed and shouted clutching his stomach where Spymaster slugged him. "You'll never get away with this."

Spymaster charged at Tony Stark, lifted him up by the lapels of his jacket and hurled him into the street. Tony landed right beside the limo where his chauffeur parked it. He was still in pain but he had to fight back, change into Iron Man.

He opened the backseat of the vehicle and reached for his attache case. He opened it and unfolded his suit of armour. He held his helmet and looked into its dark, emotionless, vacant eyes.

"This is something that only Iron Man can handle," Tony whispered as he donned the costume.

Once the armour was on his person and he had shed his outer clothing, Iron Man stepped from the back of the limousine and quickly approached Spymaster and almost taking hostage Anastasia Swift.

"Let her go, Spymaster!" Iron Man ordered, deepening his voice to denote authority and something not to be trifled with. "Or you'll learn to regret it."

"Or what? You'll beat the living crap out of me, like you usually do. I've heard that same song and dance before, Iron Man. This time I hold the trump card. This is the deal. Either you take off your armour right now or I kill your sweetheart."

"Not on your life, buster!" Ana said, as she kicked Spymaster in the balls. I'd like to hear you carry more threats now, Ana thought, now that you'll be singing with a high voice.

Spymaster collapsed on the ground clutching his groin. "Now, I gotta admit that hurt but I'm not one to balk away from a challenge. Y'see, the girl dies, now."

"Anastasia, run! Now!!"

But Iron Man's warning came too late as Spymaster removed a gun from its holster and pointed it at Ana's breasts. Pointing one lone finger at his enemy, Iron Man trained a pencil-thin laser at the gun. The gun exploded and Ana was saved.

"As a second rate villain, you're really lame, Spymaster!" Iron Man said as he used his iron fist to knock him to unconsciousness.

Ana rushed over to embrace her savior. "Thank you, Iron Man. I was so scared."

"I know. But you did quite fine on your own. That kick to his balls was unexpected."

'You know me, Iron Man, I hate men that are all hands."

"I'll fly back to your apartment."

"No thanks, I rather go with Tony in the limo-waitasec, where's Tony? Spymaster threw him against the limo and then, you came."

" Just as I was arriving, I saw him cross the street to that phone booth and call the cops."

"Typical of men, all cowards."

"I think he's coming back right now."

Iron Man let his jet thrusters hurl him into the sky and in seconds, he was just a light in the sky. Ana started to walk back to limo when she saw Tony Stark sneak up behind her.

"Are you all right?" Tony asked, genuinely concerned.

"Yeh, no thanks to you. Iron Man had to save me. IT would not look good on my resume as a super model that a super hero had to save him. Super models and women in general are so empowering these days that a woman should be able to handle herself against a common mugger."

"But, Spymaster is no common pickpocket-"

"Anyway, why couldn't you save me and-"

Iron Man may have stopped a threat to his business and his lady partner, but Tony Stark suffers.

Another day in the life of a super hero.