Bruce cringed as the warehouse door slammed shut. Scarlett refused to speak after he foolishly pushed her about her fear of what happened to her while she was with Killian. He couldn't figure out what to say or how to make things right. Maybe the truth would be a good start? "I am sorry, Scarlett," he stated. She pushed out her lower lip and turned up her nose. He sighed. "I'll make it-"

"Sir," Jarvis cut him off. Bruce held the bridge of his nose as he tilted his head skyward. "Mr. Stark cannot be reached at this time, but I can send a message if you would like."

"Scarlett isn't really a prisoner, Jarvis."

"Shall I alert-"

"No! Listen to me!" Bruce balled his fist digging his fingernails into his palm. "She got away from Aldrich Killian's office. He experimented on her, and she's..."

"She is not like you, is she, sir?"

"Yes and no." He relaxed his hand. "She doesn't turn into a rage monster, but she does...explode."

"Explode? Sir, that-"

"I don't like this conversation," Scarlett interrupted. "Tell Stark Extremis works very well. My platelets have been reinforced through a few birth defects and Maya Hanson's serum, so I don’t burn so easily. "

"Yes-"

"Oh and warn-" Scarlett stopped as the monotone beep filled the room. "That's rude."

"Power failed." Bruce shrugged as the line silenced. "What we're you going to warn him about?"

"Killian took the serum. He's another successful experiment." She nodded toward the phone. "Use that to order me some sesame chicken."

"It's late." Bruce smiled. "No one is open."

Scarlett glared before she shrugged off her shirt. "I'm going to sleep then. Please, have food here when I wake up! I'm still starving."

"There will be food, but I probably won't be." He smiled as she faced him with wide eyes. "I have to work, remember. We'll get you some clothes of your own when I get off tomorrow."

---

His fingers tapped the space bar impatiently. “A little higher!” The news van producer he’d sworn to secrecy was by far the biggest idiot Tony Stark had ever met, but desperate times called for desperate measures. “I said higher!”

He logged into his e-mail checking for signs of Jarvis, he wondered how Bruce was doing with all this too. After all, Tony knew he was like a brother to the prestigious Dr. Banner, and every news article and television station in America declared Tony Stark dead. One new e-mail; it loaded quickly since there were only words in the document. “Banner has a woman who claims to be an Extremis experiment. She wanted to warn you that Killian-“

“Killian is behind Extremis, I know!” he hissed as the connection blared to life. “That’s high enough!”

He hacked into AIM Tech and found the secret videos. Men and Women’s limbs regenerating though a painful heating process before they exploded. “Bomb’s not a bomb when it’s a misfire.”

Tony’s disposable cellphone rang as he drove down the dark highway trying to find his way back to Pepper. “Hello,” Harley, the little boy helping Tony, answered.

“Hey, Harley. Give me a full report.”

“Yeah, I’m still eating that candy. Do you want me to keep eating it?

Tony nearly rolled his eyes. “How much have you had?”

“Two or three bowls?”

“Can you see straight?”

“Sorta.”

“That means you’re fine. Give me Jarvis.” Shuffling sounds fluttered in the receiver. “Jarvis, how are we?” Tony asked as he heard a metal clank against the phone.

“Fine, sir. I seem to do quite well for a stretch and then at the end of the sentence I say the wrong cranberry.” Tony’s face crunched with confusion. “And, sir, you were right! Once I factored in available AIM downloading facilities I was able to pinpoint the Mandarin’s broadcast signal. Sir, Dr. Banner also wanted me to tell you he captured an experiment, but he revised his story to say she escaped.”

“Escaped? What do you mean, Jarvis?” Tony raised an eyebrow. “Wait forget that, tell me more about the Mandarin now, I’ll deal with Bruce’s issues when Pepper is safe!” He took a deep breath. “What are we talking location wise? Far east Europe, North Africa, Iran, Pakistan, Syria; where is it?”

“Actually, sir, it’s in Miami.”

Tony shook his head as he tried to figure out Jarvis’ puzzle. “Okay, Kid, I’m going to have to walk you through rebooting Jarvis’ speech drive, but not right now.” He took a deep breath. “Harley, where is he really? Just look at the screen and tell me.”

“Um, it does say Miami, Florida.”

This case riddled Tony more and more with each new detail. “Okay, first thing’s first. I need the armor. Where’re we at with it?”

“Uh…it’s not charging.”

Tony slammed on breaks as his heart sped up and his thoughts began to spin. He pulled to the side of the road causing dirt and dust to fly. He needed air. If he could only catch his breath? “What do you mean not charging?”

“Actually, sir, it is charging, but the power source is questionable. It may not succeed in revitalizing the Mark 42.” Jarvis corrected.

“What’s questionable about electricity?” Tony gasped. “Alright, it’s my suit- I can’t- I’m not gonna- Oh, God, not again!” Tony quickly opened the door gasping for the cool winter air. The brisk chill lacing his skin with goose bumps.

“Tony?” Harley waited for an answer, but all he heard was Tony’s crazed panting. “Are- Are you having another attack? I didn’t even mention New York!”

“Right, and you just said it by name while denying having said it!” He slid down the car until he was sitting on the ground, pulling his knees to his chest.

“Okay, um…uh-“ Harley tried to think of anything as he bit his knuckles.

“Oh, God, what are we gonna do!”

“Just breath,” Harley suggested. “Really, just breath. You’re a mechanic, right?” he asked.

“Right,” Tony answered, a little less panicked.

“You said so!”

“Yes, I did,” Tony’s breath slowed more as he turned his head towards the open car door.

“Why don’t you just build something?” Harley shrugged.

Tony stood before he looked toward the phone. “Okay,” he stated while getting back into the car. “Thanks, Kid.”

Tony Stark may not have had his weapon of choice, but he was going after the Mandarin with guns blazing. All he had to do was make a pit stop and then he’d be on his way to saving the only thing that mattered to him. Pepper Potts had to be safe!

Notes

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