CHAPTER TWO
No Going Back
"Pepper, where is that set of discs I can never find?"
"Which discs that you can never find?"
"The program 7835JAR."
"The Jarvis program?"
"Yeah, that one."
"I find that disconcerting, sir."
Tony glanced up when the disembodied English tone entered the conversation.
"You're a computer, Jarvis," he reminded him. "You can't be disconcerted."
"Well, since you have programmed me to understand the meaning of the word, and since you seem to have lost the program that enables you to upload me elsewhere, the situation matches the definition of the word. I am therefore disconcerted."
Tony chuckled, and he saw Pepper smile out of the corner of his eye. Wolverine, however, was not amused. The animal-like man paced silently back and forth on the hard floor of the workshop, arms crossed over his broad chest, while Tony and Pepper hurriedly but thoroughly tried to pack the essentials of the Iron Man technology. Hence, all of Tony's work tables were in complete disarray.
"It's over here Mr. Stark," Pepper held the set up.
"Good--pack that in, too," he gestured to the large padded cases lying open on the floor. Tony's brow furrowed. "Why do you still call me Mr. Stark?" he wondered, closing down one of his laptops, unplugging it and wrapping up the wire.
"Because you pay me," Pepper replied, bending down to disconnect several cords.
"You can call me Tony, you know," he allowed. "As long as we're...running for our lives and everything."
"Whatever you say, Mr. Stark."
"Faster," Wolverine cut in, shooting a glare at both of them. "Shut up and get this stuff packed."
Tony would have retorted, regaling this brute about the complicated nature of this technology and how much equipment they needed--but he had caught a hint of worry behind that steely gaze, and it silenced him. Whatever had the Wolverine concerned definitely had him concerned as well.
"How much room do you have in your trailer?" Tony asked the pacing man. Wolverine didn't look at him.
"Not very much. And the only things I've got in there right now are a cooler of food and three sleeping bags."
"Well, can you give me an estimate?" Tony pressed.
"What, like square feet?"
"Yes."
Wolverine's brow furrowed.
"I'd say ten by six by four, if I had to guess."
"You don't know?"
Wolverine's eyes narrowed.
"I don't memorize these things."
"Gentlemen," Pepper cut in. "Let's get back to work."
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
"Woah." Tony stopped short when he rounded the bend, almost dropping his bags, as he stared at the vehicle in front of him. "What's that?"
"It's a Ford pickup truck," Wolverine answered back, looking at him strangely. "Ever heard of it?"
"It looks like--"
"Yeah, I know," Wolverine cut him off as he walked past him, hauling four cases of computer equipment. "Like something Tony Stark wouldn't be caught dead in."
He was right. The truck was beat up, and its color was undiscernable--perhaps some sort of brown. A dingy pickup camper perched on the bed of the truck, and its windows were so dirty Tony couldn't see through them. Behind the truck was hitched a short, two-wheeled covered metal trailer that had too many dents in it to count. The truck was parked a good way down the road from the house, in a valley, so all of their luggage had had to be dragged.
Tony heard the wheels of the luggage Pepper was dragging scraping against the cement behind him, accompanied by the tapping of her high heels.
"Goodness," she commented. "It looks...cozy."
"It's called a low profile," Wolverine growled as he set down the cases. He opened the driver's side door and warily peered inside at the floor. He then reached under the dash and pulled something and the hood popped open. Swinging around, he tossed the screeching hood fully open and surveyed the engine.
"I hope your equipment doesn't weigh a whole lot," he muttered.
"It weighs a whole lot," Tony countered. Wolverine huffed and slammed the hood, but not before Tony caught sight of a few of the tubes inside--held together with what looked like duct tape.
"Great," he said under his breath. But Wolverine seemed to be preoccupied with other matters. He kept glancing furtively at their surroundings, and if even a bird fluttered, he would stop to listen. It was making Tony nervous.
"Listen, can you open the trailer so we can--"
"Shh," Wolverine held up a hand, gazing back up toward the house. His voice deepened and quieted. "Get in the truck.
"But we have to get these--" Tony began holding up one of the cases.
"Shut up and do what I say," Wolverine said in the same tone, still staring at the house. "I'll take care of the cases."
"Tony..." Pepper said hesitantly from behind him. He paused just a moment, watching Wolverine use a key to unlock the trailer and open the lid. Tony turned to Pepper.
"Get in the car and stay low," he instructed. "Here, put the cases down--I'll do it."
"But he said--" she started.
"I know what he said," Tony cut in. "I don't care."
Pepper bit her lip, her brow creasing, but she nodded, set the cases down and hurried to open the squeaking door of the truck.
"Stay low," Tony reminded her as she got in and shut the door. She nodded, and Tony picked up three cases and headed toward the trailer. Wolverine saw him.
"What are you doing?" he seethed. "I told you to get in the truck."
"Listen," Tony said through his teeth, shoving the case into the trailer and staring Wolverine down. "I survived the brutality and savagery of terrorist captors for three months, living in a cave and slaving over a forge. I also got out of that cave, killed all of them, and came back here to build this suit," he pointed into the trailer. "And fight more of these bad guys all by myself. You do not need to patronize me. You may be Wolverine, but I'm Iron Man, with or without the suit, and I am not sitting in that truck like a coward."
Wolverine's jaw clenched.
"Then hurry up."
Tony glared at him, but quickly turned and headed back to get the other cases. The two men swiftly loaded all of the cases, which nearly filled up the whole trailer, and Wolverine slammed it shut. Then they ran back up to the truck, Tony to the passenger side, and both leaped inside.
"What's the matter?" Pepper asked the instant that they slammed the doors behind them.
"We're getting out of here."
The words were no sooner out of Wolverine's mouth than the sky seemed to split. A deafening, bashing screech tore the air, followed by a ground-rocking, bone-quaking BOOM.
Tony whirled around in his seat to stare up in horror at his house.
His house, which was now consumed in a blazing, furious ball of blood-red flame and billowing smoke.
"Oh--" Tony breathed, the light dazzling his eyes.
Wolverine swore, started the car and threw it into gear. Tony and Pepper were flung back against their seats as the pickup's wheels squealed. They shot forward, the trailer lagging a moment before slamming into the back of them. Tony reflexively put an arm around Pepper's shoulders as debris began thudding all around them, occasionally striking the cab roof, hood and camper. Tony and Pepper flinched away as something took out the passenger side rear view mirror, scattering glass against the window. Wolverine sped up. The rough engine roared as they rushed down the hill. The roar of the fire towered behind them.
Finally, though, even that dreadful sound died away, leaving behind only the noisy engine, the clunk of the camper, and the hum of the tires on the road. Tony watched Wolverine's scarred hands slowly relax on the steering wheel. The brawny man leaned back, his shoulder brushing Pepper's. Tony took his arm from around her and shakily reached for his seat belt.
"Well," he swallowed and cleared his throat, clicking his belt. "I'm glad I brought a copy of Jarvis."
The other two glanced at him, but he stared straight ahead at the winding road. It was a very long time before anyone spoke again.
TBC
