Chapter 1
第一章
“Is my bow tie straight? Tell me my bow tie is straight,” Tony said with a groan. Standing around shaking hands and saying, “Great to see you!” to people I don't even know is hardly my idea of a good time, he thought. I'd rather armor up and throw down with the Crimson Dynamo!
“我的领结是正的吗？告诉我，我的领结是正的。”托尼抱怨道。他想：“站在那里和我几乎不认识的人握手，说‘很高兴见到你’，真不是一件享受的事。我宁愿全副武装，去打倒绯红机甲。”
Happy Hogan, Tony's bodyguard, let out a loud sigh. “You aren't wearing a bow tie, Boss. Remember? You said you didn't want to look like me.” Happy fidgeted in his tuxedo, nervously fixing his own crooked bow tie.
托尼的保镖，哈皮·霍根，大声叹了口气，说道：“老板，你并没有打领结。还记得吗？你说你不想看起来和我一样。”哈皮穿着燕尾服坐立不安，紧张地摆弄自己的歪领结。
“Right, right. So, remind me why I agreed to come to this thing?” said Tony. Just then, a voice thundered through the ballroom's public-address system.
“是的是的，所以，请告诉我，我为什么会同意做这样一件事？”托尼说。就在这时，舞厅的公共广播系统中响起一个声音。
“Welcome, everyone, and thank you for attending the inaugural benefit for the Holistic Plan for Tomorrow!” The crowd of well-dressed partygoers burst into applause as a large hologram of an older man appeared in the center of the room.
“欢迎大家，感谢各位莅临‘明日整体计划’首届效益大会！”一幅巨大的老人全息图出现在房间中央，衣着考究的人群爆发出掌声。
“While I am sorry that I am unable to attend in person, I wanted to thank you all for coming. As you know, the Holistic Plan for Tomorrow—H.P.T.—is dedicated to opening new doors for the future. With your generous donations, we will create a world the likes of which no one has ever seen!”
“抱歉我无法亲自参加此次聚会，但我要感谢你们的到来。众所周知，明日整体计划——H.P.T.——致力于为未来打开新大门。得益于你们的慷慨捐助，我们将会创造一个前所未见的世界！”
The hologram's voice and face belonged to the mysterious Elton Traggeore, a reclusive billionaire who was the president of H.P.T.
全息画中的声音和面孔属于一位隐居的亿万富翁，H.P.T.主席，神秘的埃尔顿·特拉戈雷。
“Hey, he's a rich guy, just like you,” said Happy, laughing. “Do you know him?”
“嘿，他和你一样，是个有钱人。”哈皮笑着说，“你认识他吗？”
“It's not like there's some rich-guy club, Happy,” said Tony, rolling his eyes. Happy raised an eyebrow. “Besides, no one's ever met Elton Traggeore.”
“哈皮，并没有什么富人俱乐部。”托尼翻了个白眼。哈皮挑了挑眉。（托尼接着说道：）“此外，目前为止还没有人见 过埃尔顿·特拉戈雷本人。”
Before Happy could reply, he and Tony heard a familiar voice. “Mr. Stark?”
哈皮还没来得及回答，他和托尼就听见一个熟悉的声音。“斯塔克先生？”
Turning around, Tony found himself face to face with Agent Phil Coulson, a member of the top-secret organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D. Coulson smiled at Tony and Happy, gesturing toward the ballroom's exit doors.
转过身，托尼发现自己正对着绝密机构神盾局的特工菲尔·科尔森。科尔森朝托尼和哈皮笑了笑，同时指了指舞厅的出口。
“I know that smile,” said Tony with a sigh. “That's your ‘I'm smiling but I'm not really smiling’ smile.”
“我知道那个微笑，”托尼叹了口气说，“这就是典型的‘皮笑肉不笑’。”
“Would you mind coming with me?” asked Coulson. He pointed once again to the exit.
“你介意和我一起去吗？”科尔森问道。他再次指了指出口。
Tony nodded for Happy to stay as he and Coulson walked out of the ballroom and into the long, crowded entrance hall. Tony spoke quietly. “So what does S.H.I.E.L.D. want with Mr. Doesn't-Play-Well-with-Others?” asked Tony. “You guys lose the Hulk?”
托尼对着哈皮点了点头，示意他留下，他和科尔森一同走出舞厅，走向长而拥挤的门厅。托尼轻声说着：“所以，神盾局想从难相处先生这里得到什么呢？”托尼接着问道：“你们失去了绿巨人浩克？”
Coulson looked at Tony. There was no longer a smile on his face, forced or otherwise.
科尔森看着托尼。他的脸上已经没有笑容了，甚至连勉强的笑容都消失了。
“No,” replied Coulson. “Black Widow and Falcon.”
“不，”科尔森回答道,“是黑寡妇和猎鹰。”
“Wait, what? Really?” said Tony loudly. People in the hallway turned his way suddenly.
“等等，什么？真的吗？”托尼大声说道。门厅里的人们突然看向他。
Coulson looked down at the ground and whispered, “We have a . . . problem at Outpost 13.”
科尔森看着地板，低语道：“13号哨所……出了点问题。”
To the public, it was known as U.S. Science Foundation Outpost 13. The scientists there, tucked away in the wastelands of Antarctica, claimed to be studying astronomy and surveying the vast shelves of ice. In reality, Outpost 13 was home to an ultra-secret S.H.I.E.L.D. research lab.
对外，这是美国科学基金会13号哨所。这个哨所的科学家们藏在南极洲的荒岛上，自称是在研究天文学，观察巨大的冰架。但事实上，13号哨所是极端机密机构神盾局的实验室。
And that research lab was currently testing a marvelous new device . . . invented by Tony Stark.
该实验室最近正在测试一个由托尼·斯塔克发明的神奇新设备。
“Define ‘problem’, ” said Tony, his curiosity piqued.
“来谈谈是什么问题吧。”托尼说，他的好奇心被激起了。
“We hadn't received a transmission from Outpost 13 in over a week—but then one came. They kept repeating the words monster and help. Director Fury sent Black Widow and Falcon to investigate, but we haven't heard from either of them in forty-eight hours.”
“我们有一个多星期没收到13号哨所的信号了——但是随后传来一个信号。他们不断重复‘怪物’和‘帮忙’这两个词。弗瑞局长派黑寡妇和猎鹰去调查，但是48小时过去了，我们还没有收到他们任何一人的消息。”
Tony stared at Coulson. Falcon and Black Widow were his friends. They were also forces to be reckoned with. Now they were missing. . .
托尼盯着科尔森。猎鹰和黑寡妇是他的朋友。他们同时也是不可忽视的力量。现在他们失踪了……
“I'll go,” said Tony. “I can get there faster than anyone.”
“我会去处理这件事。”托尼说，“我可以比其他任何人更迅速地到达那里。”
“Not just you. You and Captain America. You'll rendezvous with Steve Rogers at approximately—”
“不仅是你，美国队长也会去。你将会和史蒂夫·罗杰斯会面，大概在——”
Before Coulson could finish, Tony headed toward the parking lot, where a STARK INDUSTRIES vehicle waited. As Coulson picked up his pace in pursuit, Tony opened the trunk of the shiny red car.
科尔森话还未说完，托尼就已经赶往停车场，那儿停着一辆斯塔克工业的汽车。当科尔森不断加快步伐追赶时，托尼打开了那辆亮红色汽车的后备箱。
“I hear you, Coulson,” said Tony, without looking back. “You have really loud shoes.”
“我听见你了，科尔森。”托尼头也不回地说道，“你鞋子的声音真的很大。”
“Mr. Stark, it's vital that you combine your efforts with Captain America,” said Coulson as he approached. “This is more than one Avenger can handle . . . even you. We sent both Black Widow and Falcon—two of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s best—and now they're MIA. You'll need Rogers on this.” Coulson shifted his feet uncomfortably. “Maybe even the Hulk.”
“斯塔克先生，你应该和美国队长合作，这很重要。”科尔森走近说道，“单靠一个复仇者是无法解决这件事的，即便是你。我们派出了神盾局最好的两位队员，黑寡妇和猎鹰，现在他们都失踪了。你现在需要罗杰斯。”科尔森别扭地动了动脚，“也许你还需要绿巨人浩克。”
Without warning, various pieces of metal flew from the trunk toward Tony, attaching themselves to his hands and feet. Within seconds, Tony was encased in a nearly impervious suit of armor.
没有任何预兆，各种大小的金属片从后备箱飞向托尼，贴附在他的手脚上。仅仅数秒，托尼就穿上了一套无懈可击的盔甲。
“The research being conducted at Outpost 13 . . . if it should fall into the wrong hands . . .” said Coulson. He glared at Stark, as if he knew exactly what the genius inventor would say.
“实验是在13号哨所进行的……如果落入了坏人之手……”科尔森说道。他盯着斯塔克，就好像他完全知道这个天才发明者要说什么。
“I know all about the research, Coulson. They're using my technology. And if Widow, Falcon, or anyone else is hurt because of me, it's my job to make things right.”
“我很清楚这个研究，科尔森。他们用的是我的科技。如果黑寡妇、猎鹰或者其他任何人因我而受伤，我有责任处理好这件事情。”
Where there once stood a billionaire inventor now stood the invincible Iron Man!
一秒之前站在这里的是亿万富翁发明家，而现在是无敌的钢铁侠！
As the armor powered up, Tony's mind raced. Years before, he had become Iron Man when he realized STARK INDUSTRIES' technology could be used to hurt others. He had since dedicated his life to helping humanity. And now he was faced with a situation where all his efforts could be undone.
随着盔甲起动，托尼的思想开始活动起来。数年之前，他意识到斯塔克工业的技术可以用来伤人，他便成了钢铁侠。自此之后，他发誓要竭尽全力保护人类。而现在他正面临的处境会让他所有努力白费。
“Mr. Stark, wait!” yelled Coulson, but his plea was ignored.
“斯塔克先生，等一下！”科尔森喊道，但托尼没有理会他。
“The right hands will make sure the wrong hands don't get away with anything. Tell your boss not to worry. It's nothing Iron Man can't handle!” With that, he activated his boot jets and blasted into the night sky.
“正义之手将不会让坏人逃脱。让你老板不要担心。没有什么事是钢铁侠解决不了的！”说完这些，他发动喷气机，飞向夜空。
