Episode 4 of *Ironheart* opens with a haunting flashback as Parker reminisces about the time he and John, his loyal cousin, robbed a lavish mansion in their reckless past. Back then, Parker was a bundle of nerves, on the verge of being apprehended, but John, ever the steadfast companion, didn't hesitate to pull the trigger on a security guard to save him. Their bond seemed unbreakable, with John always standing by his side, no matter the peril. Now, Parker finds himself alone, orchestrating a somber gathering with his crew that resembles a funeral. As he speaks, his eyes linger on Riri, his voice tinged with a mix of nostalgia and menace. He extols John's unwavering loyalty, all the while making it clear that he knows exactly what Riri has done—and he has plans brewing for her.
Back at her own home, Riri is engrossed in trying to decipher the enigmatic workings of Parker's hood. It defies all scientific explanation, leaving her bewildered and her mind clouded by paranoia. Even N.A.T.A.L.I.E., her usually reliable AI companion, fails to soothe her frayed nerves. Her concerns deepen when she discovers that Joe has been arrested. Now, the whole world knows he's Ezekiel Stane, and Riri can't shake the feeling that she's to blame.
Desperate for answers, she attempts to visit Joe in prison, only to be met with a barrage of accusations. He brands her a selfish child, a liar, and a manipulator, before coldly walking away, leaving her reeling in the aftermath. Her sense of isolation intensifies when she crosses paths with the Hood's crew again. To her dismay, she learns that a new tech specialist is set to join their ranks. Worse still, the Hood seems to be fully aware of her connection to Joe. Instead of showing anger, he congratulates her on getting Joe implicated in their crimes and subjecting the girl to torture, further fueling her paranoia.
Upon returning home, Riri takes extreme measures to ensure her safety and that of her loved ones. She blankets her house with surveillance cameras and equips her mother with a protective watch. She also gives Xavier one, though she remains tight-lipped about the reasons behind her actions. Overwhelmed by self-doubt, she turns to Xavier, asking him if she's a bad person. His response, though comforting in its own way, fails to alleviate her anxieties. He tells her that she's smart, far too complex to be simply labeled as "good" or "bad." But for Riri, caught in a whirlwind of guilt and fear, those words offer little solace.
Riri even feels compelled to sleep in her suit to find a semblance of safety, but it's all in vain. Whenever gunshots blare from the TV, her watch springs to life, encasing her mother in a protective shield and needlessly terrifying her. Thankfully, Riri eventually opens up to her mother, confessing that she might need to tap into some of her crystals or magic for comfort.
The following day, they pay a visit to Madeleine Stanton's shop, a friend of Riri's mother. From the moment they step inside, Riri is brimming with skepticism. However, Zelma, Madeleine's daughter, notices a piece of fabric peeking out of Riri's pocket and promptly ushers them into another realm. There, they embark on an analysis of the cloak, only to discover that it's linked to the darkest dimension imaginable. Madeleine remains tight-lipped about its creator but warns Riri to let it go, insisting that nothing good can come from holding onto such an ominous artifact.
Riri's mother strives to comprehend the unfolding events, but Riri, in a fit of frustration, lashes out and storms off. She heads straight to Ezekiel's bunker, determined to find a way to destroy the hood. Yet, despite her best efforts—dousing it in acid, freezing it—the hood remains impervious, unscathed by her attempts.
Meanwhile, the Hood pays a visit to Ezekiel Stane in prison. He urges Zeke to embrace his true self and join their ranks as the new tech specialist. Bewildered, Zeke hesitates, but Parker assures him that he'll return that night for his answer.
As Riri soars through the skies on her way home, another panic attack grips her, forcing her to land in a desolate spot to catch her breath. Suddenly, N.A.T.A.L.I.E., her AI companion, detaches from the armor, claiming it knows the solution to her predicament. However, its plan proves to be the worst possible option. The armor descends upon Xavier's house and whisks him away to where Riri is.
Xavier helps Riri regain her composure but remains perplexed about how she managed to make the armor bring him there. Then, N.A.T.A.L.I.E. reveals itself, much to Xavier's disgust. He accuses Riri of having no right to use his sister as a template for her AI, arguing that even if she didn't intend harm, she could have at least deleted it. Riri, however, refuses to comply, offering excuses instead. Both N.A.T.A.L.I.E. and Xavier abandon her, leaving her stranded and alone.
As night falls, the Hood's crew orchestrates Ezekiel's escape from prison. Having chosen to side with them, Zeke also seems to have hatched a new scheme to deal with Riri. He undergoes a radical surgical transformation with the help of Slug, a change that is clearly drastic. Now that they've embarked on this path, the entire Hood's group is aware that Riri is to blame for John's demise.
