Nolan forced himself to steady his breathing.
His body hadn't fully recovered yet.
Even with the exosuit, he was still gasping for air.
This wasn't Tony Stark's arc-reactor-powered armor.
It was only a mechanical exoskeleton, relying mostly on the strength of the human body inside it.
And worse this was just an empty shell, stripped of most of its auxiliary systems.
Two Alpha Slayers followed closely at his side.
Though Unit One was damaged, as a close-combat killing machine, it couldn't be disabled so easily.
One leg broken? Then the other three would carry the fight.
Nolan's gaze locked on the overpass less than five hundred meters ahead.
That was where the assassin was hiding.
But between them lay an open field.
His combat suit was strong, but he couldn't be sure the joints could withstand another sniper shot.
"Slayer One, go!"
At his command, the battered machine burst from cover.
It moved fast and low, but a gunshot cracked through the air.
Sparks burst from its armor as the bullet struck.
Though it hadn't hit the joint directly, the already unsteady Unit One lost its balance.
A few more shots rang out in rapid succession.
Within seconds, Slayer One was down, its systems completely offline.
Even though Nolan had paid a fortune for these system-forged machines, they were not invincible.
The assassin frowned slightly.
He had assumed Nolan Lock would run.
But the deployment of Unit One made it clear Nolan had chosen to fight, even to kill him.
Without hesitation, the killer snatched up a pistol and fired.
The bullet curved in an impossible arc, striking the steel just beside Nolan's cover.
Hidden behind the beams of the overpass, Nolan froze. A thought struck him.
"You're from the Brotherhood?"
"Oh? You actually know about the Brotherhood." The man sounded almost amused.
"Damn it…" Nolan cursed under his breath.
Of course he knew.
They were lunatics who killed according to the Loom of Fate.
And worst of all they could make bullets curve.
That alone was enough to make him wary.
He couldn't wear armor forever. Sooner or later, his weakness would be exposed.
"Was it the Loom that sent you after me?" Nolan asked again, needing confirmation.
"The Loom of Fate?" The man chuckled. "Seems you know a lot. But no, this is just a side job. I needed money, someone paid. Simple as that."
"So, just for money…" Nolan's voice eased slightly.
If that was all, then there was no need to hold back.
"Slayer Three attack!"
At his shout, the assassin stiffened.
A chill crawled up his spine as a wave of killing intent surged behind him.
He dove and rolled instinctively.
"What when did it get here?"
His blood ran cold.
Another Slayer stood behind him.
These steel beasts were impossibly stealthy.
But Slayer Three did not care for his fear.
The killer raised his pistol again.
As a Brotherhood assassin, his curved shots could terrify even the bravest.
The bullet struck home, blasting through one of the machine's joints. Sparks rained down as the Slayer staggered.
He was about to press the attack when a sharp whoosh cut through the air.
Nolan.
He had never removed himself from the fight.
And while the assassin focused on the robot, Nolan was already upon him, clad in a seven-million-dollar combat suit.
"Die!" Nolan roared.
This kill would be his own.
His rage poured out.
"You bastards really think I'm some weak prey you can crush at will?"
His elbow smashed down hard against the killer's neck.
The Brotherhood assassin's eyes widened in shock and fury.
How could this boy, not yet twenty, fight with such ruthless strength?
For the first time, regret clawed at him.
He should never have taken this contract.
But regret was meaningless now.
Nolan's expression was hard as stone.
It was his first time taking a life with his own hands.
Awkwardness was inevitable.
Yet instead of nausea, he felt only a rush of satisfaction.
Enemies… it was best if they stayed dead.
With the killer down, Nolan glanced at the battered Unit Three.
It was time to go home.
But first, he needed to retrieve Units One and Two.
Even if their systems were destroyed, the materials alone were worth salvaging.
That armor, able to withstand sniper rounds, was forged from rare alloys.
But just as he stepped down from the overpass, sirens wailed.
Police.
Already here.
Nolan's face tightened.
He had no choice but to abandon the ruined Unit Two in the distance.
This Brotherhood assassin had already disrupted too many of his plans.
"Damn it…"
At the docks, George Stacy arrived with his men, stepping out of patrol cars.
The call had reported a gunfight at the port.
But by the time they arrived, it was over.
"Confirm the casualties," Stacy ordered.
It didn't take long before an officer reported back.
"Captain, the bodies have been identified. They're all board members of Lock Corporation."
Stacy's brow furrowed.
"Lock Corporation? Could it be someone saw signs of revival in the company and came to wipe them out?
But then… why wasn't Nolan Lock targeted?
No, wait. He already survived one assassination attempt."
Stacy considered the situation.
He knew Lock Corporation well.
Their K-01 robots had revolutionized factory production lines.
Then something caught his eye.
In the distance what looked like a mangled machine.
He stepped closer.
"What is this…"
The wreckage was unmistakably robotic, but unlike anything he had ever seen.
To him, it looked like a monster.
Yet it explained the brutal carnage.
Hostile corporate warfare.
But who had access to technology this advanced?
Could it be… Stark Industries?
Stacy thought of the infamous playboy, Tony Stark.
Perhaps it was time to pay Stark Tower a visit.
He made up his mind.
The very next morning, at S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, Agent Phil Coulson received the report.
Their mandate was to investigate the unusual and the extraordinary.
A robot massacre under their watch demanded immediate attention.
By the end of the day, Coulson personally collected the machine remains from the police station.
George Stacy was displeased, but powerless.
He couldn't exactly wrestle it back.
But he wasn't done yet.
If he couldn't keep the robot, then he would investigate Stark directly.
Meanwhile, Tony Stark had no idea.
Thanks to Nolan, he was about to face some very inconvenient trouble.