Chapter 1

A group of men, dirty and sweaty were sitting together inside a dank cave set up with temporary lighting strung throughout. They'd just returned from their morning drills out in the blazing sun and were looking to vent their frustrations after being yelled at to keep doing better. Some carried guns, others had knives and all had the dangerous glint of fanaticism in their eyes as they focused on their current choice of entertainment.

An emaciated young woman was being pinned to the dirt floor while one of them jeered and poked and prodded at her. Sometimes he'd use his knife, other times he'd use his hands to grope her roughly through the ragged clothes she was wearing.

She was already covered in cuts old and new which were overlapping a rainbow of bruises but there was still a rebellious look in her eyes as she lay in the dirt. A smack, then a thump as she was picked up and then tossed back into the dirt. The man who'd been prodding her wiped spit off his face while his comrades laughed.

*0*0*0*0*

All I knew was pain. There was so much pain; it overlapped almost to the point where everything was numb with pain. My throat was raw from screams that no longer could be heard and sometimes, when my voice returns it takes me a while to realize I'm the one screaming.

Before I found myself on the ground surrounded by these monsters I had felt the darkness creeping in from the sides of my vision but then there was a pinch in my neck and a burning sensation in my veins which chased the darkness away from the edges of my eyes. The only reprieve I had from the pain was taken from me as I was tossed to this new patch of dirt floor.

I had no strength left to move with and I lay in the heap I had landed in. Someone was prodding at me and then roughly grabbed my upper arm and hauled me up into the lap of some dirty man. He held my chin tightly so that he could see my face and with what little strength was left in me, I spit in his face.

He slapped me hard and I could taste blood in my mouth as I fell to the ground once more. He yelled while other voices laughed and finally the blackness overtook me.

*0*0*0*0*

In another area which was a part of the same vast network of tunnels and caves was an area that had been made into a fairly large cell and inside were two men bustling about as best they could on weary legs and empty stomachs.

One was an olive skinned man native to the land. He was in his late forties with thinning hair and broken wire frame glasses perched atop a thin nose. His nose was crooked like it had been broken and put together too many times but he was clean shaven and clothed in a shirt, jacket and shoes that would have once passed as business casual attire. Now the clothes were stained brown in places with dried blood and dirt and there were small tears and threads all over. He'd introduced himself as Yinsen.

The other man was younger, a bit shorter, American and perhaps in his mid thirties. His hair was dark, thick and long enough to reach just below his ears. He had no glasses, a crooked nose or other permanently damaged features on his face. Only dirt, grime and superficial cuts and scrapes decorated his features but unlike the other man who had a light jacket, he was not attired for the cold of the cave and donned only a sleeveless shirt and ragged pants with strips of cloth wrapped around his feet where shoes should have been.

There was a glow in the shape of a circle shining a blue light through the thin fabric of the undershirt. His feet were bare to discourage any attempt at running away but for the rags wrapped around them to keep sharp rocks from piercing the skin. One could tell by looking at the man that although not muscular he had been fit and taken good care of his body. Now, there were dark circles under his eyes which only emphasized the frightened and skittish look in them and his once trim physique was now gaunt from lack of proper nourishment. He didn't need to introduce himself as everybody on base seemed to know who he already was.

He was weary in mind and body but getting ready for what would no doubt be another nightmare riddled sleep after a hard day of working on a weapon called the 'Jerico missle' for his captors. There was a small, flashy, glowing electro-magnet inserted into his chest, he called it an arc reactor as it worked on the same principal as a larger one he had created at a factory his company owned back in the United States. The arc reactor was newly installed and shining brightly in his chest, it's purpose was to keep pieces of shrapnel imbedded in his chest from moving and getting into his heart.

The attack which resulted in his capture had be fast and violent and he'd almost died like the others in his vehicle but his cell mate and practicing futurist doctor had jury rigged a car battery and rudimentary electro magnet during a painful surgery to keep him alive. He was glad not to be lugging the car battery around but wasn't sure yet if he was grateful towards his cell mate for saving his life or cautious. He was Tony Stark. Millionaire, playboy, genius and now prisoner. He didn't know who to trust or what to do yet but a plan had come together in his head.

Only a day ago he'd been demonstrating his company's latest weapon, TheJerico Missile to the American military in what was described as a 'hot zone', meaning an area of active fighting and war. At the time, he thought nothing of it. He'd thought himself invincible and untouchable in arrogance due to his wealth and perceived power. He'd been proven wrong in a split second when the vehicle he'd been in was attacked.

Those who now held him captive had used an RPG to blow up the vehicle he'd been in and as a result he had been left with a chest full of shrapnel that should have killed him.

Yinsen, as he told the story to Tony had been captured from a nearby village called Gulmira and forced into the service of the terrorists that were now holding them. He had performed surgery on Tony to remove what shrapnel he could but the pieces he couldn't remove due to lack of proper facilities and tools were left alone. Instead, the man had carved a hole in Tony's chest and roughly implanted an electro magnet powered by a car battery deep into the newly made cavity. Unfortunately, the car battery powering the magnet had been only loosely attached by wires that were prone to falling out and causing excruciating pain during interrogations with their captors. The 'operation' had been theoretical and Tony had been the first recipient of such a device.

Tony shuddered as memories of searing pain came to him because the surgery had been performed without anesthesia or pain killers of any kind. The plate in his chest still ached where skin met metal.

His captors wanted weapons. Tony had designed them and pitched them to the Army. The terrorists knew that given the right tools he could manufacture a set for them as well. Tony wasn't going to give them the weapons but made them think he would. He had asked for supplies and was surprised when everything he'd wanted was produced except for a computer.

With the supplies, instead of creating weapons he first fashioned himself a new electro magnet. One with a self-contained power source that wouldn't short out on him and had no loose wires that could be painfully caught on anything.

He'd been lucky that the previous setup had lasted long enough for him to create the miniaturized arc reactor. Only minutes after waking, he'd been taken to another area and tortured until he agreed to create weapons for his captors. His head and upper chest had been shoved under icy water and held until he thought he'd die. Drops of water had created sparks as they sizzled on loose wire ends and caused painful electrical burns along his chest.

*0*0*0*

After a week, the cellmates had become closer in their shared terror and captivity. Under the guise of working on weapons, Tony revealed to Yinsen what he was really creating from all the supplies that had been provided by holding up a number of pages which had seemingly random lines and scribbles strewn about with graphite.

Carefully, Tony had placed one sheet on the other, and then another and another until a picture formed. The plans were kept on multiple sheets that needed to be properly layered to show the schematics and Yinsen was left in awe of Tony's intellect. The man hid himself behind the mask of a playboy billionaire but moments like these showed that he was smarter than he let on and Yinsen agreed to help the man with his crazy escape plan.

Tony once again asked his jailers for a computer but they again refused. He had insisted that he would need it to program the missile and after bashing him in the face with the butt of a rifle the troupe of foot soldiers had left the cell chortling.

Tony's face was throbbing as he pressed it into the hard but cold ground which provided some relief but he desperately needed the computer or his plan would fail.

The blue glow and gentle hum of the generator was lulling him to sleep when he heard the first screams.

Yinsen was having a cup of tea and nearly spilled the scalding liquid onto his hands while Tony sat up quickly, eyes wide and looking in the other man's direction for answers. Yinsen looked to the door with a strange look on his face, Tony followed suit looking a bit frightened wondering what was going on but also confused by the look of hope on his cell mate's face.

He had already been in the cave for a week by his guess, Yinsen a few weeks longer but the caves had always been quiet for the duration of their stay so far, save for the usual shuffle of the guard's feet.

The screaming went on for only a few seconds but it felt much longer to the pair in the cell as they shuddered and paled at the high pitched female voice bouncing off the walls and ringing in their ears. Screams changed to shouts and then screams again until there was a yell from an unknown man, cruel laughter from another and the screaming stopped abruptly. A chill ran up Tony's spine while he wondered if he would be the one screaming next.

Both men stared at the door as they heard noises on the other side, not daring to look at each other to see the fear mirrored on their faces.

There was some scuffling outside the door and before either man could stand in their usual stance with their hands behind their heads a bundle was literally thrown into the room in Tony's direction from some nameless guard while another held a gun on them. Tony jumped up quickly from his cot to catch it before it fell; quickly realizing it was a person.

The leader of the terrorist cell came in pushing the guard aside. He spoke indicating that Yinsen should translate.

"The girl is a gift to you for all the work you've done so far. Although not pure, she is quite enjoyable and I strongly encourage you to partake in using her. Should you not want her I will take her back for she is still feisty and I will enjoy taming her."

Yinsen felt sick translating the words of his captor. Tony was obviously going to decline the gift, already walking the bundle back toward the guards. Without thought Yinsen hastily spoke loudly in English first then in Arabic.

"He will accept your gracious gift. Many thanks for your thoughtfulness and generosity." He didn't miss the surprised look he was getting from all the eyes in the room especially Tony. Before any argument could be made their captors closed the door and shuffled away.

Livid, Tony turned to Yinsen ready to rip him a new one his arms still full with the unconscious or possibly dead body.

"What the hell are you doing? I may be a play boy but I hardly think this is the time or place for me to get my jollies with some prostitute!"

Yinsen turned to him glaring at Tony's casual use of the word prostitute. "She is not now, nor has she ever been a prostitute!"

Yinsen looked at the girl being held in Tony's arms and although he'd suspected he knew her, was still surprised to see her. Last time he'd seen her was when he had treated her, days before Tony was brought to the caves.

She'd suffered many injuries, internal and external. Some had been superficial and others not so much, requiring stitches with a rusty needle and non-medical thread from a spool. Due to the use of improper supplies combined with the lack of basic hygiene products and no access to clean, running water, many of her cuts and injuries had quickly become inflamed and infected despite being treated. When he'd been brought to treat her a second time, she had been fighting a fever and antibiotics had not been provided as he'd requested after examining and treating her the first time.

He hadn't spent much time talking or getting to know the girl but he had been touched by her genuine concern for him and found she was well educated and surprisingly kind to him given the situation. He'd been teaching her the Arabic language during their visits to take her mind off the injuries she'd sustained and the pain he was causing her as he did his best to treat her.

She had been bright and eager to learn and he found himself wondering how she'd ended up in these caves but knew better than to ask. Being held captive in the caves wasn't the place to share stories or commiserate over how they ended up there. Better to stay quiet or if permitted, make idle chatter about nonsensical matters. Better not to connect with anyone or care for another person. The tiniest slip of the tongue could be used against you as leverage to gain another's freedom and you never know who can be trusted. Many in the caves were desperate to leave, although few if any ever would leave alive.

Tony looked at Yinsen, surprised with the man's defense of the girl and, instead of dropping her as he'd initially planned, he slowly lowered her to the floor, his arms feeling suddenly heavy. "Do you know this girl Yinsen?"

Yinsen sighed and came a bit closer to Tony hoping he was mistaken about her identity. His blood ran cold as his fear was confirmed. "I have had the pleasure of spending some time with her here prior to your arrival. She was captured not long before me and I was told to keep her alive if I myself wished to live. She is from North America I think, but she was taken from my care before I learned much about her. I accepted her on your behalf only to keep her away from our captors. We will deal with any issues as they come."

Tony took another look at the girl, only now noticing she was wearing the tattered remains of clothes that could be from any mall back home. Not that he'd ever needed to go to a mall since Pepper took care of his shopping but he wasn't stupid.

He frowned at how the clothes were hanging off her emaciated frame; she obviously had not been eating as well as him during her capture and that was saying something.

He glanced over at the pot hanging over the embers of the fire and recalled the last time Yinsen had spooned something out of the pot it had been salty and a bit sour and looked like it had already been eaten and digested once before. The doctor had assured him it was the best he was going to get and he'd need to eat to keep his strength up. Tony had eaten the substance but had fought his gag reflex the entire time.

He turned his attention back to the unconscious woman on the ground in front of him and then to Yinsen. The man was obviously concerned for the health of the newest occupant in the drab cave as she bled on the dirt floor from numerous cuts and scratches. Both men hoped that was the extent of her injuries but whether they would admit it or not they knew there were most likely others and it was a small blessing that she had not regained consciousness.

After the quick look Yinsen indicated that she should be moved to the cot. There was only one in the space they were sharing so if one of them slept, the other kept watch or slept on the rocky ground. Deciding it was the best course of action at the time, Tony braced himself and stood up with the girl in his arms, trying to be gentle, his features softening as he looked at the youthful face under all the cuts, scrapes and bruises.

His peace while looking at her was short lived however because just as he took his first step he saw stars as the now conscious girl in his arms punched him in the face! There was no doubt that he would have a black eye tomorrow.

She wiggled free from his grasp and fell to the floor in a heap before gathering herself and fleeing to crouch by the door staring warily at the two men, eyes unfocused.

*0*0*0*0*0*

I was frightened at first and then disappointed to be awake again. I didn't even know how it was that I hadn't already died. The human body certainly was much stronger than I'd given it credit for and I sometimes thought that was unfortunate for me.

I tried to move once I awoke but quickly realized I was being held in someone's arms. A man's arms. I did my best to escape knowing it was futile but refusing to be passive just the same. No matter what these monsters did I would never just let them have their way. I was going to make them regret ever having taken me and maybe if I got lucky one of them would kill me so I could finally rest.

After a brief struggle and a blind swing at what I hoped was the man's face I was surprised when he actually dropped me in a heap onto the ground. I crawled away quickly and when I found my way blocked I curled up against the wall blocking my way.

I was surprised to find myself being carried since I was usually just dragged by the arms from place to place. What was going on here?

*0*0*0*0*0*

"Ow! What the hell was that?! "Tony instinctively tried to bring his hand to the injured eye but Yinsen gently held it in place looking at Tony's hand and arm.

After getting over his shock Tony followed Yinsen's gaze down to his arm and paled at the amount of blood he saw. A quick mental check confirmed he wasn't injured so the blood was probably the girl's. He was no doctor but even he knew that was bad.

He stepped toward the girl swiftly and arrogantly without thinking. He was tired, constantly on high alert and frankly just wanted to get things back on track. "Hey I'm no doctor but you shouldn't move around like that if you're hurt. Let me get you to the cot and Yinsen can check you out."

Before he could touch her, the girl lashed out and kicked him in the shin with the heel of a bare foot.

"Ow! Again! Do I look like a punching bag to you? OK, maybe I do since I've recently had the pleasure of spending some time with our gracious hosts but seriously, ow! "

"Tony, you do not look like a punching bag but she has no doubt been frightened by her recent ordeal and you, like our captors are a man."

*0*0*0*0*0*

I had expected a beating after hitting the man holding me but it never came. The man crouched down in front of me and spoke but my ears were ringing, my head was spinning and I couldn't make out the words.

As the man approached me I started to shake from a fear that was consuming me and a lashed out without thinking and struck him in the leg with my foot.

Had I been rescued? If that was the case, why was I still in the caves? Was I being taken to a gurney? My eyes darted around the space quickly and I was disappointed to see that a rescue had not taken place. The men in front of me looked ragged and worn but otherwise unharmed. I didn't have my glasses but the one man looked familiar and I did my best to speak through the haze of pain I was feeling now that the ringing in my ears had quieted a bit.

*0*0*0*0*0*

Tony's shoulders dropped and he turned to Yinsen for guidance. Before more could be said between the two, a third voice chimed in. It was shaky and hoarse from the earlier screaming but clear enough.

"Is that you Yinsen?" She squinted in the dim light of the cave, trying to see the man.

Yinsen turned to face the girl, tried to get a little closer to better assess her condition when she raised her arms in defense.

"Don't come closer! Please. Just stay where you are." Tears were now running down her face as she trembled in fear. "I know you won't hurt me like they did but stay back. Please!"

*0*0*0*

I was relieved to see the doctor named Yinsen again. I don't remember much of our time together but he had never hurt me and although he'd been brusque at first he'd been kinder later. He'd taught me some Arabic and patched me up as best he could at the time.

I wanted to stop the fear that was swallowing me up but my body shook with fear despite my efforts to stop and tears of frustration ran from my eyes.

*0*0*0*

Her pleas pierced their hearts and Tony having never been in a situation such as this was trying to hide behind the arrogant playboy facade he used back home. He was failing miserably, but damned if he wasn't going to try.

The woman took a couple of deep ragged breaths in an attempt to calm down and finally was able to speak. "I want to die. Just leave me here in the dirt; I don't deserve your help and I don't want your pity, either of you. I'm just being kept here to be used but if either of you cares even a little you'll let me die."

Yinsen crouched where he stood and looked her in the eyes. "I know you are in pain, both physically and emotionally but if you die my life will be forfeit. Our captors have seen it fit to task me with keeping both you and Tony alive."

The girl knew Yinsen was an honorable man and he wouldn't come closer to her, even near death without her consent. Looking into his eyes she saw the unsaid. He would forfeit his life if she really wanted to die. She took another ragged breath and spoke.

"I won't let you die because of me but..." She looked at Tony, wary and ill at ease, her voice trailing off...

"Tony will not harm you, he is an arrogant but decent man and we are working together to forge an escape from here. Tony glared at Yinsen quickly as the man blurted out their biggest secret but he was ignored. Let me help you and we can talk more later. Can you walk to the cot over there?" Yinsen pointed to a ragged and stained cot a few feet away.

She looked at Tony, then the cot. Steeling herself she slowly stood, bracing her hand against the rocky wall behind her. She took one step and collapsed in pain, her already pale face looking almost green. "Give me some time, I'm a fast healer, I'll manage in a bit." More tears came down now, no longer silent but accompanied by heart wrenching sobs.

*0*0*0*0*0*

I'm so angry at myself for getting into this situation. This should never have gone so far, I should have ended things earlier before they got to this point and now it's too late.

I could feel tears still running down my cheeks but now it was from the severity of the pain I was feeling and I felt shame that I couldn't hold myself together or even walk a few feet unassisted. I was in pain and felt as though the room was spinning like a carnival ride.

My heart thudded so hard in my chest I was certain the sound could be heard by the men in front of me. I couldn't breathe properly and was feeling a cold sweat coming on when I thought about being trapped in here with two men.

I don't even remember what I'd recently done but given some time I should be able to have enough strength the reach the cot. Either I would heal or die. Neither seemed to be a favorable outcome in my current situation but before I could think further on the subject the younger man, Tony as Yinsen had called him approached her again.

*0*0*0*0*0*

Tony stepped forward slowly, crouching a few feet from the girl. "I've got work to do and I need some rest. If you promise not to hit me I'll get you to the cot so I won't need to worry about you dying there." She stared at him with narrow eyes, not at all happy about his proposal.

"C'mon, the ladies back home tell me they love my arms, why don't you give 'em a go?"

Yinsen glared at Tony for his crass attitude but remained silent. For all his womanizing ways the man had no idea how to be around a woman.

*0*0*0*0*0*

I looked at the man who was speaking carefully. Was he really telling jokes in this situation or had I lost my mind? I didn't know what was going on and I trembled as he approached me but something in the man's eye's put me at ease and I felt my lips turn up into a smirk. I may have been delirious as well because I thought I heard myself giggle as well.

*0*0*0*0*0*

Oddly the girl actually smirked at Tony and giggled. Maybe she was delirious but just like that the tension in the room broke and Tony easily picked her up and strode to the cot. She still trembled a bit but seemed to be doing her best not to struggle or try to hit Tony again.

"Please keep your arms and legs in the car at all times until the ride comes to a complete stop." Tony prattled on as he carried her to the cot in a surprisingly gentle hold while taking large and graceful strides that should have been near impossible given the rags on his feet and the rocky cold ground beneath them. She seemed to calm down in his arms, enjoying his warmth surprising both men and herself with the reaction.

Tony deposited her on the cot gently not wanting to hurt her further. He was about to walk away when she spoke in a voice forced past the pain, this time without the terrified tremor. "If that was a ride I want a refund." She was grinning despite her aches and seemed to enjoy the flirty banter.

Going with the flow Tony fell into a jovial rhythm. "Sorry no refunds, but I can make it up to you later." He winked at her grinning face, noticing how it was transformed by the small grin she bared and hunkered down near her head to keep her distracted while Yinsen examined her.

*0*0*0*0*0*

I was now laying on the cot and the room was spinning even more in this position and I did my best to focus on the man speaking to me. He held my hand as Yinsen patched me up. I tried to lay still for him but I know I was shaking with the effort to keep calm and my breaths were coming out short and rapid.

The man squeezed my hand to get my attention and he'd say something asinine to garner a reaction from me.

*0*0*0*0*0*

They went on like this for a while, Tony holding her hand and providing warmth and support when things became painful for her. He learned that she was born and raised in the good ol' USA but had dual citizenship and currently resided in Canada. Yinsen had basic medical supplies, but no painkillers other than basic antihistamines and ibuprofen.

Once Yinsen was done she turned her grateful eyes to him trying not to let him see how much pain she was in. She wouldn't be bleeding to death and that's what mattered now. Yinsen did the best he could under the circumstances and hopefully her wounds wouldn't become infected again.

She then turned to look at Tony, and met his eyes briefly to convey her thanks.

Tony nodded to the woman and let go of her hand. He gazed at her face as his eyes took in her features. He didn't know why but when he was with her he felt a strange warmth in his chest and it had nothing to do with the arc reactor there.