Chapter 14 - Sight, Theme 091
Series: Tight Coupling
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1080
Disclaimer: Not mine, all Marvel's.
Summary: And if there was one thing that the new and improved Tony hated above anything else, it was being in the dark.
Holy 102 reviews Batman! (Sorry, wrong superhero.) I can only say that the response to this story has been simply wonderful and I thank everyone who has reviewed for their very, very thoughtful words.
I can then, only apologize for the delay in posting this chapter and the shortness of it. I participated in NaNoWriMo last month, but am finished now and will do my best to get back to updating regularly. That being said, I'm off to visit all the parental units over the holidays, so we'll see if I get access to a computer.
Once again, thank you very much to everyone who has reviewed. You really inspire me to keep going!
Chapter 14
Tony continued to adjust the panels long after Pepper had disappeared upstairs. When they were finally working to his satisfaction, he emerged and walked over to his main computer station.
He sat down in his chair and drank from the cup that had once held a cold power shake and now just held lukewarm sludge. He downed it anyway and stared at the white note that had come with the specs from earlier.
Number is the ruler of forms and ideas, and the cause of gods and demons.
Tony leaned back in his chair and exhaled slowly.
It was referring to math that was sure. Tony leaned his head to the right to crack the joint a little. The fact was math had always come easy to him. But it was essentially a means to an end, an application, a tool even. The theory had interested him for about a month of so when he was younger, then he discovered robotics and theory was just too boring compared to actually touching things, building things. He had never considered the implications of it. The idea that 'math was everywhere' was an obvious one to him, just not something he was particularly interested in.
What interested him now was that someone had sent his assistant not a simple anonymous gift to then give to him, this person had sent them a clue.
And if those glasses were a clue, then this message was a warning. And if this message was a warning, that meant that something big was already in play.
And if there was one thing that the new and improved Tony hated above anything else, it was being in the dark. He'd been living with his eyes half closed for far too long. His hand clenched around the glass. That was not happening again. He put his hand and pressed lightly on the arc reactor and felt the thrum of energy in his fingertips. He looked at the note again and his fingertips pressed harder.
The second thing he truly hated was the idea that someone would stoop to using his assistant as a messenger.
"Jarvis, has the Spice Girl project been established?" Tony called out.
"Yes sir, the final adjustment was made while you and Miss Potts were conversing," Jarvis replied. "May I say again sir, that the title of this project was particularly uninspired?"
"No, you may not," Tony said. "You may however, show me the finished product."
The screens in front of him immediately displayed the view of the living room, the front of the mansion with a familiar Audi parked in front, a detailed GPS map with a red dot showing the subject was at rest and the front of an apartment building with a doorman currently letting someone inside.
Tony focused on the view of his living room. Pepper was currently sitting on the couch with her legs curled underneath her. Her brow was furrowed and she was making little notes in the margins of the document she was studying. Every now and then her bare feet rubbed one against the other.
"Sir, I'm not altogether sure that Miss Potts would appreciate you observing her like this," Jarvis interrupted Tony's revery.
"I'm absolutely sure she would not," Tony said minimizing the view of his living room and standing quickly. "But, that's just too bad. Get the suit prepped for a run."
"Yes sir," Jarvis said. "Whatever you say, sir."
"Hey, remember sarcasm is the lowest form of humor," Tony said going into the small alcove to change into his body suit.
"Well, I suppose you would know best sir," Jarvis replied. "You are aware that Miss Potts is waiting for you to join her?"
"Yeah, I am," Tony said coming out with his black body suit trousers on and pulling his top over his head. "Send her home Jarvis. I'll look it over later."
"Yes sir," Jarvis said. "What excuse should I use?"
"This is Pepper, Jarvis," Tony said holding his arms out to have the suit attached. "She's already heard all of them. Tell her the truth. I'm going out flying."
"Of course," Jarvis said.
Tony focused on the suit attachment and called for the coordinates of the latest possible Stark Industries weapons cache he'd found earlier in the day. Once the suit was attached, Tony shot out of the the garage and into the sky. His display showed his current location and the estimated time of arrival and distance to the location.
A smaller GPS map in the lower corner of his display showed the red dot signifiying his assistant began to beep it's way home.
Tony burst into super sonic as the dot left his driveway.
Meanwhile...
"It's done," the smooth voice said over the phone.
"I thought I asked you not to call me directly."
"Relax. I know how to bypass being recorded."
"For your sake, I hope so."
"I have to say, when I was approached for the job, this wasn't what I had in mind."
"Well, considereing what you're being paid, I don't know that I'd complain."
"Oh, I'm not complaining. Just the opposite. This was a delightful challenge."
"We've been talking too long. Get back to work on the original project. This was just a side venture. Don't forget that."
"Certainly not."
"I mean it. You were hired..."
"I was hired because of my skills and my mind. And because you need them. Don't forget that."
There was a pause, then the same voice continued.
"You came to me. Never forget that."