**Tony**

I wanted to shoot at Whiplash, but severe chest pain forced me to lie limply on the ground.

"Warning. Power at 15%."

"Yes, I know. I can feel it," I barely felt like I'm alive.

I held my chest, trying to get up. With difficulty I was able to stand on my feet, and Rhodey continued firing rockets.

"I'm not finished with you yet," I used the rest of the energy shooting from my repulsor.

The enemy flew away from Rhodey. I used the time to escape.

"You will not escape me," the enemy threw five bombs onto my armor.

Still, I could not do anything. The armor was not able to execute any commands. The whole armor was wrapped into his whips electrifying me.

"This is the your end. Goodbye, Iron Man."

5… 4… 3.. .2… 1

And again the bombs exploded, throwing me in the air. I fell into the water, and behind me flew Whiplash.

"Tony!" shouted Rhodey.

The image is blurred. I did not want to panic, but I could not breathe underwater. Unfortunately, I started to panic.
I held up my neck as I fell to the bottom. I did not hear anybody. Only thing I see is Rhodey pulling Whiplash's head. I do not believe he did it.
A mechanical body fell into the water along with the separated head. My eyes slowly closed, but I could see War Machine, when he put his arm in to pull me out.

"Warning. Critical state. Armor seriously damaged."

That was the last thing I heard before I was filled with darkness.

**Rhodey**

I fished him out of the water. I still had hope that he will be okay, but when I saw the destroyed armor, the sparkling implant along with the severe wounds on his body, I had to take Tony to the hospital. Getting out of the Arctic will take some time, but I have to save him. I do not regret what I did Whiplash. He deserved such a fate.

"Tony, you'll be fine. Please, hold on."

I took him in my arms and flew as fast as possible. I felt that it was very bad with him.

"Computer. What is the state of armor?"

"Armor severely damaged. Power is 5%."

"Not good. Full power to engines!" I redirect all the power to boots.

"Warning. Detected serious damage the implant of the heart. The device will stop working"

Come on, Tony. Hold on. Just a little bit. Please do not die.

**Pepper**

I was prepared for training. After leaving the bathroom, I went into the room where I recently packed into the bag. Agent Hill was already waiting for me. On the floor laid a mattress. I had to take off my shoes so as not to get it dirty. The agent was already in attack position.

"It is time for continued training. I'll teach you the simple punches and a couple of blocks. Ready?"
"Yes. Here we go"

I stood on the mattress, preparing the arrangement hands. One curled into a fist, and the other one I used as a shield to block punches.
The movements were fluid. I was standing correctly, and without hesitation my hand made the first attack. The agent, of course ducked.
Before long, I noticed that she was holding my wrist, easily toppling me.

"Lesson one. Vigilance. Nothing should distract you. Operate off of instinct," she gave me a hand, so I could get up.

I tried to adjust to her advice. I did everything according to its recommendations, but she, each time, was faster than me.
One blow blew down me to the mattress.

"Please try again. Focus and do not get distracted."

Another approach. Now it needs to succeed. I tried to listen to her steps, to know when she would strike at me. Maximally, I strained my ears.
When I sensed that she was coming, suddenly I turned around and grabbed her wrist. I was able to knock her on the mattress. Success.

"Good job, Pepper. Now just repeat and we can proceed to the next section."

I nodded. I took a break. I sat on the bench and browsed on my phone to see if nobody called me.
Suddenly I got an anonymous message.

"You will die the same way as he."

What's that supposed to mean? Another threat from Whitney? I ignored this message and returned to training.

"Okay, now what?" I forgot what I had to do.
"Repeat this movement and we can move on," reminded my mentor.

The last time I went on a mattress, occupying the position. I did what I did previously
I strained to hear, and I predicted the move. Without any problem I grabbed her wrist, knocking her backward.

"Great. You got it mastered."

After her words, I received another text message. Also from Anonymous. It was the same content, but instead of words it had written about Tony. It makes me angry and upset. I began to fear for his life.
I chose the number for Tony. He does not answer. I tried to connect with Rhodey. There was no signal. He ignored me, too. My hands were shaking. The agent immediately noticed it.

"What happened?" she asked, surprised by my behavior.
"It's nothing. We will let training continue," I threw an uncertain answer.
"Are you sure?" she wanted to make sure.
"Sure," I clicked to delete the message.

**Rhodey**

Before entering the hospital, I took off his armor. My armor automatically sent back to the armory. Still I held him in my arms. Nervous, I ran to the hospital.

"I need a doctor! Help me!" I cried out for help.

Around the corridor came running two doctors. One was a woman in a white coat with a barely visible printed white eagle. And to her right was a man in a green surgical gown. He immediately ran to the stretcher. I tried to explain to her what had happened. Just what do I tell her?

"His heart stopped beating. We have to take him to the operating theater," the doctor pressed a stethoscope near his implant.
"No. Not that. Save him, please!"
"It will be okay, Rhodey" I heard that she was talking to me by name.

How does she know my name? It's not important. Later I will talk to her. Now it is important that Tony was alive. That's all that counts.
I waited a long time for some information, and then suddenly someone came with a wounded FBI agent. What happened to them? Wait… is that Pepper's father?
Fortunately he was not injured. I walked over to him. I wondered why the computer does not detect it. It may actually be broken down?

"What happened, Mr. Potts?"
"It was terrorist attack. One of them was wearing a bomb and blew himself up, injuring the rest around."
"Terrorists?" I was shocked, because I should help, and I didn't know anything about the attack.
"We tried to negotiate with him, but he was too stubborn to agree to any conditions. I somehow retreated and conducted the action away from this madman," he threw quickly his own anger.

When Tony get better, I'll tell him about computer repair in the armory. That can not be, we do not know of such a threat. It could become even more harm, but well, at least Pepper's father was fine.

"And you, Rhodey, what are you doing here?"

And he began uncomfortable questions. Normally, if I heard these questions from my mother.

"I came to pick up something and ..." I rubbed my hands.

I can not lie. He will review me thoroughly.

"Tell the truth, I'll tell Roberta about your little secret," he insisted, threatening to reveal the secret.
"Okay. You know everything, Mr. Potts, but please do not talk Pepper. I do not want to worry her unnecessarily. She should focus on the training, right?" I asked for secrecy.
"So what really happened?"
"Tony had an accident. Please do not tell her. She will be hysterical."
"I do not like to lie to my daughter, even as I have to. Roberta does not know about you, but Pepper I should say this to her," he pulled out the phone to call her.