"Jarvis, analyse all surveillance footage and identify the robbers' possible escape routes," Tony commanded, his voice reverberating inside the Mark IV armour.
"Yes, sir," responded Jarvis immediately.
The artificial intelligence worked remarkably efficiently, rapidly processing various monitoring data to track the school bus after it evaded police pursuit. Within seconds, Jarvis had calculated the most probable route.
Tony soared through the sky with the armour's thrusters at full capacity. Under Jarvis's precise navigation, locating the abandoned school bus with its flat tire didn't take long. The teachers and students huddled nearby, visibly shaken but safe.
After learning that four armed robbers had taken a young boy hostage and fled into a nearby grove, Tony immediately set to work. Using the armour's advanced sensory capabilities, he analysed the tire tracks and cross-referenced them with traffic camera footage, quickly determining the robbers' vehicle and route. Within minutes, he had located the warehouse where they had taken refuge.
The stark difference between the AI's capabilities and traditional police methods was evident. While law enforcement would have required hours of manpower to conduct the same search, Jarvis had accomplished it in mere minutes.
"Scan the warehouse structure and determine the number of occupants," Tony instructed, hovering above the dilapidated building.
Despite his combat readiness, Tony refrained from immediately storming in with blazing repulsors. The presence of a hostage demanded caution. Instead, he utilised the armour's sophisticated scanning systems to assess the situation.
"Sir," Jarvis reported after a moment, "there are five individuals inside the warehouse—four adult males and one child." There was a pause before the AI continued, "However, I'm detecting no life signs from the four adult occupants."
"What?" Tony's expression transformed into one of surprise and concern.
With a controlled burst from his repulsor, Tony blasted the warehouse door open and stepped inside, the armour's heavy footfalls echoing in the silence.
The scene that greeted him was gruesome. Blood spattered the walls, four bodies lay motionless on the floor, and scattered dollar bills drifted in the stale air. The silence was absolute, disturbed only by Tony's mechanical movements.
"This... who could have done this?" he muttered, surveying the carnage.
"Oh? The police arrived quicker than expected," Jerry commented to himself as he heard the commotion outside his makeshift prison.
He rolled off the rickety bed where he'd been lying with his eyes closed, listening intently to the sounds of intrusion.
"This might look strange," he realised, considering his situation.
An eleven-year-old boy kidnapped by four dangerous criminals should by all rights be terrified, not composed and calculating. Jerry's calm demeanour would certainly raise questions.
After brief consideration, he withdrew his wand and pointed it at himself, whispering, "Fluidus Nasi."
A subtle, magical light touched his face, and immediately, his nose began to run. The Mucus Charm was working, though Jerry had intentionally reduced the magical power to produce a milder effect than usual.
Tucking away his wand, he vigorously rubbed his eyes until they reddened, creating the appearance of someone who had been crying. He arranged his features into an expression mixing fear and distress.
Perfect, now he looked like any normal, frightened child who had endured a kidnapping.
Moments later, the wooden door to his room burst open. A tall figure in gleaming battle armour stepped through the threshold.
"Iron Man!" Jerry exclaimed, genuine surprise breaking through his fabricated distress.
He had expected police officers, not a superhero. The iconic red and gold armour was unmistakable, even to someone who had only recently entered this world.
"That's right, kid. The one and only Iron Man," came the mechanically filtered voice, surprisingly gentle. "You're safe now. Come here, and I'll take you home."
Jerry hesitated momentarily, then wiped his nose with his sleeve. "Iron Man, that's so cool!" he said with childlike wonder that wasn't entirely feigned.
"Yes, very cool," Tony agreed. "And if you're good, I might even send you a miniature model of the suit."
Instead of leading Jerry through the main warehouse area, which had a grisly scene, Tony raised his armored hand and fired a precise repulsor blast, creating an exit directly through the wall of the small room.
"Jarvis," Tony instructed as they stepped through the improvised doorway, "contact the police search teams. Send them this location and all recording data from our entry until now."
After that, Tony carefully lifted Jerry and activated his thrusters, soaring toward the abandoned school bus's location.
"What's your name?" Tony asked as they flew at a moderate pace.
"Jerry," the boy replied.
"Did you hear anything unusual while you were held captive?"
"Just some gunshots and yelling."
"Yelling?"
"Yeah. 'Idiot,' 'bastard,' 'bit—'"
"Alright, that's enough," Tony interrupted. "Better to forget those words."
Jerry switched topics seamlessly. "Are you really Iron Man?"
"Unless someone stole my suit when I wasn't looking."
"Will you really give me a model?"
"Of course. Expect delivery first thing tomorrow morning."
The conversation continued naturally, with Jerry playing the role of an ordinary, curious child, while inside, his mind worked on other matters.
"I definitely need to get myself a broomstick soon," Jerry thought, watching enviously as Tony navigated the skies easily.
The freedom of flight was a universal dream, and Jerry was no exception. Fortunately, as a wizard, he had access to his own methods of achieving this dream.
The most convenient magical means of flight was the broomstick. A standard model like the Nimbus 1000 could reach speeds of approximately 100 miles per hour, about 160 kilometers per hour. Superior models could achieve even greater velocities; the Nimbus 2000 and the famed Firebolt could exceed 200 kilometers per hour.
With sufficient magical strength, one could even master the Flying Charm, transforming into a streak of light without requiring any magical implements.
Of course, even the fastest broomstick couldn't match the velocity of Tony's armour, which Jerry had heard could reach supersonic speeds. But wizards had alternatives for long-distance travel; Apparition, Portkeys, and Floo powder could transport them instantaneously across vast distances.
Mindful of Jerry's safety, Tony maintained a moderate speed. Nevertheless, it took almost an hour to return to where the school bus had been abandoned. By now, the area was swarming with police vehicles, their lights painting the surroundings in red and blue.
When Iron Man descended from the sky with Jerry in his arms, the assembled officers and the few remaining civilians let out a collective gasp.
"Jerry! Oh, thank goodness you're alright!"
Most students had been sent home under police supervision, but Teacher Bailey had steadfastly refused to leave until she knew Jerry was safe. Though only in her mid-twenties, she had proven herself remarkably responsible during the crisis.
On the school bus, she had stood up to protect her students, volunteering herself as a hostage. When Jerry had taken her place, she had been devastated. If anything had happened to him, she would have carried that guilt for the rest of her life.
"Ms. Bailey, I'm fine... really, I'm fine!" Jerry managed to say before being enveloped in a tight embrace.
The young teacher's relief manifested in kisses planted on his forehead and cheeks, leaving Jerry momentarily stunned. Ms. Bailey's enthusiastic display of affection, combined with her rather generous physical attributes pressed against him, left the boy simultaneously embarrassed and aware of certain unexpected benefits of maintaining his childish appearance.
As Tony watched the reunion with a mixture of amusement and relief, he couldn't help but feel satisfied with the rescue mission's outcome, though the mystery of what had happened to the kidnappers lingered in his mind.