Tony opened his eyes, seeing lockers and smoke. Hearing the Tong talking about a hostage he knew they had Pepper. He moved his hand to his chest, searching for his backpack, "Put the hostage in the truck." The Mandarin's voiced boomed out. Pepper, Tony thought, He pressed the button on his backpack to activate the Iron Man armour. By the time he had got out from under the lockers the truck was driving away, the school assumed Tony had been taken with Pepper, so when Iron Man chased the truck it didn't spark anything up.

"Gene! Let me go! "Pepper screamed, Gene really hated her upset.
"Are you immune to knock out gas or something?" He questioned, Pepper shot him a 'you dubass' look, "Considering you know what I go through do you need to ask?" Pepper was the one who always seemed to be captured to get to Tony/Iron Man/The Tong/The Mandarin and Gene. He was still in love with Pepper and he was hurt to see her so scared, "Pepper, are you scared of me?" he asked, the look on his face was one of terror, "I am not scared of YOU Gene." Gene sighed in relief, "I hate you, there's a difference." She followed. She might as well have stabbed him in the chest.
"But..." he was cut off when Iron Man was firing at the van, Pepper smiled then looked over at Gene, "Thanks to my BOYFRIEND I never have to worry." Pepper sneered. Gene gasped, Boyfriend? "You and Tony are, but what about, Pepper you can't!" He yelled.
"Well why not!" Pepper cried, Gene was a real ass sometimes, well most of the time,
"Because I love you!" Gene moaned. Pepper gasped as the Tong attempted to hide her in a bag. When Pepper was nearly completely in Gene asked, "Say the same thing, and this all goes away, I'll even spare Stark." Pepper looked Gene square in the eye, the next statement hurt them both, but none the less it was true, "You're second best to Tony, always have, always will be and that's ALL you will ever be."

Tony was mad now, "C'mon! Open up! Pepper! Are you in there?" Pepper heard Tony and her head shot around, "Tony!" she smiled. Gene shoved her head in the bag.
"TONG! Leave to hideout and bring the girl!" The tong nodded and kicked the door down; Stark wouldn't shot with Pepper in the bag, thought Gene. He still couldn't get Peppers words out of his head, "You're second best to Tony...always will be." Suddenly Gene heard a noise,
"Can pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars, I could really use a wish right now wish right now..." it was Pepper's ringtone, Gene picked up the phone to see Tony Stark flashing on the caller ID. He flipped open the phone,
"Pepper, are you ok? We need to get you out of..."
"Hello Tony."
"Khan." This was the first time Tony didn't use his first name, but he knew any trace of his friend was gone now. "If you wan't to see Pepper ALIVE again I suggest you stop firing," Gene smiled. Then you could no longer hear the high pitched noise of his lasers, "Very good, Stark. Now fly back to the academy and walk out as Tony, you fail to do this it will be the last call you get from Pepper." Tony's brow furrowed, "Then at least let me talk to her!" Gene sighed,
"Fine, Say Hello Pepper!" Pepper gasped when she was partially let out of the bag,
"Tony? Tony! Whatever you do just keep firing trust me Gene won't hurt." Pepper squealed as gene used the ring that controlled water around her head, she fought to get the globe of water off of her but couldn't, she wasn't breathing and passed out. Gene removed the globe of water from her head, "WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER!" Tony yelled down the phone,
"Ah, ah, ah! Tomorrow academy, Tony walks out, Tony gets phone call about Pepper. That's the deal," Gene explained,
"And if I refuse?"
"Pepper won't be waking up." And with that the line went dead.