01x11 - Beginning Of The End

[bunniefuu]

Stark, Zodiac's not done.

Their real plans
are only just beginning.

You've got to stop them.

Yinsen, you have my word.

I'll take Zodiac apart
with my bare hands if I need to.

The long and tense
stand off between the SDF

and the t*rror1st group
occupying the Arc Station

has finally come to an end.

The breakthrough came
when Minister Kuroda offered

himself in exchange
for the hostages being held.

It was a bold and dramatic move.

Some would say, heroic.

Meanwhile, questions and
doubts surround Stark Industries

and the company's CEO.

Some critics are
even going so far as

to speculate whether
Stark himself may have ties to

the t*rror1st group
known as Zodiac.

Minister Kuroda, I have to
commend you on your courage.

Your timely and
selfless gesture defused

what could have been
a dire situation.

On behalf of Stark Industries,

let me express my thanks.

Don't be too hasty, you may
just find your gratitude misplaced,

Mr. Stark.

Things have become... complicated.

In what way?

There seems to be
a general consensus

that at the very least
you've been careless

about the reactor's security.

- That's absurd!
- No, it's not.

Considering my history,
it's not at all unexpected.

If you want to investigate,
go ahead.

The Arc Reactor is an open book.

Yes, of course.

Personally, I have faith in you.

Which is why,
it pains me to have to do this.

Captain Sakurai!

Sorry, Mr. Stark.

Would you please come with me?

What the hell's going on?

I apologize for this,
but as I said, it's complicated.

You see, it's... well,
these allegations that

you yourself are in
fact a member of Zodiac.

Now, that's absurd.

You can't possibly believe that!

Of course,
I don't credit these rumors.

But until we've had
a chance to clear your name,

I'm afraid, you'll have to
remain in the custody of the SDF.

For your own good,
more than anything.

Wait a minute!

If anyone's gonna clear my name,
it's gonna be me!

- Stark.
- What?

This is one time when you'll
just have to trust us to handle it.

I'm gonna do everything
in my power to help.

I'm positive, we'll get to
the bottom of this in no time.

I want to talk to the US embassy,
right now.

You have that right.

You're damn right, I do!

It's him all right.

They've got Tony Stark locked up
in the back of that thing!

We've just had it confirmed!

Right now it appears that Tony
Stark is being forcibly escorted

out of his own facility
in the custody of the SDF!

Mr. Stark.

Unbelievable!
What in the world is going on?

Why would they want to arrest him?

Driver.
Take the next exit up ahead.

- Sir? - Nothin to worry about,
just a little detour.

But, sir. Those weren't
the ministers orders.

I'll take full responsibility.

Okay.

Now you've got me
breaking the rules.

See, what you've done?

Yeah, my heart bleeds for you.

So just where is it
you're taking me, anyway?

My home.
Why, do you have other plans?

Okay, Nagato.

Would you tell me what
we're doing here? Exactly?

I believe, in you're country
it's called, “getting schooled”.

A crash course in the
Japanese way of thinking.

And I'm going to be your teacher.

I think, I've had enough of the
Japanese way of thinking for one day.

Okay. Lesson one:

how to run away from your opponent!

You do that well.

Sometimes the wisest
course is to hold back,

to take your time,
and find your opponent's weakness.

You dismiss it as cowardice,
but we call it strategy.

The Japanese mindset at work, huh?

There's something
to be said for that.

But what you call weakness,
I call a setup.

Your way isn't the
the only way, you know.

We Americans have
a few ideas of our own.

Not quite as refined as yours,
but they seem to get the job done.

That's cheating.

But... But how...

No!

Colonel!
The whole base has lost power.

Can we operate on the backup?
- Do we have any?

- Negative, sir.
- Attention!

Primary power systems are inactive!
Code red!

Security breach! Repeat: Code red!

Security breach!

Zodiac alpha team reporting in.

Proceeding to target.

Sir, non of the SDF
faces are responding!

What the hell!

This SDF base and everyone in it are
now under our the control of ZODIAC.

Make a move and you'll be shot.

Come to order!

We will now open the floor
to debate on the question of

Stark Industries
and the Arc Station.

Order! Any member who has
anything to say will be recognized.

Oh, gimme a break, chief!
This story is mine!

Let me at least try to find out where
Tony was taken and why they're...

Forget it!

You've already got a story,
the hostage situation!

- You were an eyewitness, remember?!
- Oh my God, it can't be, no way!

I know, I know, but come on,
that's yesterday's news.

- This is hot! - At least six
airborne missiles have struck

the Diet Building. The
number of casualties is unknown.

It seems clear that this
is yet another t*rror1st attack,

this one aimed directly
at the government itself.

We are Zodiac.

Your government is no more.

Your Special Defense
Forces have been neutralized.

And as you can see,

we control your media
and communications.

This country is now in our hands.

Our first demand is the immediate
release of our comrade-in-arms,

Tony Stark.

If he is not released,
at once and unharmed,

there will be consequences.

We will put a b*llet in
the brain of every single hostage

if he isn't freed.

What do you say to that, Stark?

Someone's going to a lotta
trouble to make me look bad.

You don't really think, I had
anything to do with that, do ya?

But why would they...?

Minister Kuroda, are you all right?

Yes. For the moment.

But I'm sure they'll be
coming for me any minute now.

Before they do,
I'm issuing you my final order.

I will never hand Stark
over at least not alive.

Execute him, now.

But sir...

Setting aside the
legality of that order,

we don't know for sure
he's even part of this...!

I think, it's fairly clear.

It should be to you, too.

We've been caught asleep
at the wheel, Captain.

And now we're paying for it.

Stark has been
planning this all along.

And now we've provided him with
the means to do whatever he wants.

Hey buddy!

You might want to take cover, now.

What was that?
Answer me! What's going on?

Captain Sakurai, are you all right?

Captain! Captain,
can you hear me are you there?

- Yes sir, I'm here.
- What the hell happened?

It was a timed expl*sive.

Stark is gone. He's escaped.

Dammit!

If that doesn't convince you,
nothing will!

I'm reinstating your clearance.

Armor up and take Stark out!

But sir! What about their
threat to k*ll the hostages?

Those hostages are
members of the SDF.

They knew the risks involved
when they signed up.

They put their lives on the line
because they love their country.

How about you?
Do you love your country?

If so,
it's time you start proving it!

Sorry, Nagato.

But I'm gonna take a
slightly different approach.

Consider it a lesson in
the Tony Stark way of thinking.

Go for Stark.

Yeah, I'm all right. And I'm free.

Now all we have to do is
find out who's setting me up.

Tony, something seriously wrong
is going on with the Arc Reactor.

And I can't explain
how it happened.

Get to the point.

Somehow someone
broke into the core.

They're re-routing
all the reactor's power.

Find out how they're
getting in and block them.

I can't!

The system shows no security
breech, it's not a hacker.

I've tried every kind
of bypass and workaround.

I can't stop it, Tony.

We have to.
Who has access to the system?

There's no one else who
knows the system like I do.

Tony, I'm the only
one who could've done this.

What are you trying to say.

I wish, I knew!

But It... I think, I might.

- Calm down.
- Oh, Tony.

What is it?

A sudden spike in the output.

Whoever it is...

...their energy consumption
just jumped tenfold.

And there's no way to take
the reactor offline, I've tried!

So, where's all the energy going?

- Try and get a fix on where
it's being diverted to. - Right.

Tony, I've got the location.

Somewhere in Tokyo Bay.

I'm transmitting the exact
coordinates to you now.

Put down the phone and
step away from the console.

Chika. What's going on?

Nothing I can't take care of.

Chika!

They put their lives on the line
because they love their country.

How about you?
Do you love your country?

If so, it's time
you started proving it!

Wha...?

Iron Man!

What's he doing?

Sakurai!

Don't do it, Sakurai!

We're wasting time!

If you want to fight somebody
so bad, help me fight Zodiac!

First Japan, then the world.
Is that it?!

Really!?
Who's feeding you this garbage?

You won't fight, coward?!

I think, someone once told me:

It's a wise man who knows when
to hold off and take his time...

...and exploit his
opponent's weaknesses.

What did I tell you?

Zodiac!

Think about it. Why would
I've been taking Zodiac mechs

out if I was one of them?

Look, I need your help.

I'm transmitting coordinates now.

There's someone
siphoning energy from

the Arc Reactor and diverting
it toward Tokyo Bay.

You need to find the source
and get us some answers.

I'll handle this, you get moving!

All right.

I'll trust you this time.

But so help me, Stark.
I swear, if you're lying to me!

Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Whatever. Just go, willya?!

These are the coordinates.

It's being diverted under the bay.

Right near the Aqua-Line!

There!

What is that?

Welcome to the future.
The command center of Zodiac.

Allow me to introduce you to
your replacement.

The next stage in our
technological supremacy.

Process.

You're being phased out.

I sincerely regret that it had
to end this way, my dear captain.

No, it's...!

No, it can't be!

Impossible!

Okay, this could be going better.

Oh, crap!

Fine. Two can play at this game.

Minister Kuroda, why?

Why are you doing this?

I wouldn't have to be doing it...

...if you'd loved your country enough
to k*ll Stark when I told you to.

I meant, how could you join Zodiac?

Why, sir? It's insane!

Our nation is diseased.

It's on the brink of collapse.

But I can pull it
back from the edge.

I can save it.

I have the strength to do
what must be done!

First Japan.

Then the whole world!

You're mad!

And all this time, I looked up to
you and obeyed your every command.

I admired you.

And for that,
I'll give you one last chance.

Swear allegiance to Zodiac,
Captain.

And I'll spare your life.

Traitor!!

You really think
I could ever do that?!

- No.
- No, you're not man enough.

But I want you to know, Sakurai,

that I always thought
of you as a son.

Fool! What have you done?!

Good.

Better this way.
Two warriors, face-to-face.

Fighting to the death.

Disappointing.

I thought,
you'd be a worthy opponent.

You're done.

Alright. It's working.

Her power's running low.

There's only one little problem.

So's mine!

Sorry. Looks like, you lose.

Was it something I said?

Stark.

I'm here, Captain.

What is it? What did you find out?

I found...

I can't hear ya.
You're breaking up.

I found out... who's
behind this whole thing.

Minister Kuroda.

Kuroda!?

Yeah. The old man's one of them.

He's Zodiac.

Tony, I'm done.

That's it.

What the hell are
you talking about?

I still need your help!

Wish I could, believe me.

What? No.

Hang in there!

Sakurai signing off.

Sakurai?

Sakurai!!