I'm on a roll! I know how to end it now. It's just the question of getting there. I don't own anything.
Chapter 21
Rhodey sighed and leaned back. He'd put two and two together. He knew what Sarah was talking about. She probably assumed, just as he did, that they ran off to get married in Vegas then continued to a honeymoon somewhere in the Caribbean.
Sarah came through the ceiling again and landed softly on the couch. Her wings were gone as soon as her feet touched to floor. "What time is it, Jarvis?"
Jarvis sighed. "It is now 11:24 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, Miss Stark. Maybe you should purchase a watch."
She smiled and stood. "Maybe Tony'll get me one as a late birthday present. He still hasn't come through with his promise."
"I'm sure he will, Miss Stark."
She sighed and shook her head. "You're car's outside, right?"
Rhodey, unsure if she was still talking to Jarvis or not, asked. "You're talking to me, right?"
She rolled her eyes. "Why would I ask Jarvis that?"
He shook his head. "Just checking. Yeah, why?"
"You're going to drive me to the press conference." she started toward the door.
"Sarah, it's not until one." he protested.
"Hey, I didn't say we were going strait there. Besides, you want me to fly there?" she raised an eyebrow, knowing that he'd agree with that in mind.
He sighed. "I swear it's like I'm talking to Tony sometimes." he stood and opened the door. "The way you negotiate."
She shrugged. "It happens...but mostly I act like myself."
"I wonder what that's like." they headed toward the car.
Sarah shut the door. "You'll find out soon enough." she walked briskly ahead of Rhodey then stopped suddenly. He expected to bump into her but instead she passed right through him. He didn't feel any change, just uncomfortable.
He turned around. "That's kinda weird. It feels...like something's out of place when you do that."
She smiled at him. "Now, you know. Come on, we don't want to be late." she started forward.
"We won't be late when we're hours early. Why can't Hogan drive you?"
"You trying to get rid of me?"
"No. I'm just wondering..."
"It's his day off. Come on!" she pulled him toward his car. She didn't wait for him to let her in. She passed through the door and settled herself in the passenger seat.
Rhodey shook his head and climbed in. He shut the door and started the engine. "You know, it's normal to open the door."
She smiled at him. "For as long as you've known me, when have I been normal?"
He pulled out of the drive and headed toward the highway. "Where do you want to go?"
"Nowhere in particular..." She pulled something out of her jacket pocket. It looked like a small ear piece.
"What's that?" he tried to keep his eyes on the road but couldn't help glancing over at Sarah.
"This is sort of a communication device. Jarvis's program is on here so I can talk to him whenever I need to." she looked up and saw him trying to drive. She smiled. "You know, I installed auto drive on your car. If you just tell it the destination, it'll take you there."
"Was this Tony's idea?" he watched her carefully. Sarah was pushing and turning various knobs like there was some secret code.
She shook her head. "I wrote it myself...actually, I think he installed it the last time he was in here..." she opened the glove compartment and pushed a button hidden on the roof of it. "Let me check with Jarvis..." she picked up the ear piece and inserted it in her ear. "Jarvis?"
"Yes, Miss Stark?" she could hear him crystal clear in her ear. Rhodey could only hear her side of the conversation.
"Yeah, could you activate Rhodey's auto drive program?"
"Most certainly, Miss Stark. What's your destination?"
"Just...where ever the conference is held."
"Destination set. Commencing auto drive." his voice came from somewhere inside the car as well as in the ear piece.
"Rhodey, let go of the wheel."
He reluctantly lifted his hands. The wheel kept turning slightly, compensating the car's weight and keeping it on the road. "That's...cool."
Sarah nodded. "You can back away from the pedals. It'll take us there."
Rhodey moved his feet back. "You know, we're going to be impossibly early."
"It's better than being late." she pulled off her jacket and began to unbutton her shirt.
"What are you doing?"
She smiled at him. "Relax. I figured I might catch a few crooks while we have the time." she pulled her shirt of completely. Underneath was her Miss Morph suit.
Rhodey sighed in relief. "Nice work by the way. It's all over the news."
She slipped off her jeans. "Yeah, well, I'm a classic hero. Tony only deals with big things. I on the other hand..." she put her hair up in a ponytail. "deal with robberies and fires but...occasionally..." she let her hands change color, resembling her gloves. "I deal with the big stuff too." the ear piece disappeared. He couldn't tell it was there.
"How are you doing that?"
"Doing what?" she looked over at him. "Oh, the ear piece. Well, since it's inside my ear, it's easier to alter it. Usually, I have to stretch my skin over something to change it."
"That's...a mental image I didn't need." he shook his head.
"I know it sounds disturbing but you can't even tell it's happening. The only way you would know is if I told you." the car automatically exited the highway. "We're getting close. Jarvis, could you slow us down?"
"I can only slow within the preset safety limit, Miss Stark." Jarvis said from some hidden speaker. Rhodey could her him too.
She rolled her eyes. "Did Tony mess with the program?"
"He made a few changes for your safety. Speed limits for fast speeds as well as slow-"
"Jarvis, just slow us down or pull us over in some abandoned alley."
"I don't think an abandoned alley is the safest place-"
She sighed in exasperation. "Set new destination. Stop us at least six blocks away from the conference building."
"Destination set. May I ask what your planning to do, Miss Stark?"
"Just putting some bad guys in the slammer. Thanks, Jarvis." the car pulled over at a buffet.
"You're most certainly welcome, Miss Stark."
She smiled and created a mask on her face. She stood up in her seat, ducking slightly.
"Sarah, where are you going?" Rhodey asked.
"I'm not Sarah, I'm Miss Morph and you know what I'm doing. Don't worry I'll be back in time for the conference. If you're hungry, you can eat here. Otherwise, just wait in the car. If you have any questions, ask Jarvis."
She shot up through the ceiling, spreading her wings. She flew up high, making wide circles. "Jarvis, has there been any criminal activity nearby?"
"I believe there has been several-"
"Never mind, Jarvis. I've just found something." she dove down toward the suspects.
Sarah landed softly and looked around. The alley was dark, despite the afternoon sun. The criminals didn't notice her entrance. She moved stealthily up behind the two fugitives.
The woman that they had trapped was scared out of her mind. Her face was pale and she clutched her handbag like it would somehow save her. She looked around wildly, trying to find something to protect herself with. She hadn't noticed Miss Morph.
Sarah decided that this was her only chance. She stood up straight and spoke with no hint of fear in her voice. "So...boys. What were you planning to do after you've gotten this far, huh?"
The three thugs turned around. "Who are you?" one asked, obviously the leader.
"Let's shed some light on the subject." she let her body produce a bright glow.
The criminals had to cover their eyes. She stepped forward into a patch of sunlight and extinguished the light.
The other pointed a shaky finger in her direction. "M-miss Morph. Do you know what she did to the last group?"
The leader laughed. "That's just rumors. She probably has some high tech device that produces the light."
Miss Morph shook her head and smiled at them. "Explain this." she let her hands be consumed by flames. She jumped up and over them, putting herself in between them and their victim.
"Hey, Marcus," the one that had pointed her out before spoke. "let's get the hell out of here!"
The leader, Marcus, shook his head. "You can go but I don't think she'll hurt us."
Miss Morph shook her head. "You seem confident, Marcus." she drew out his name and charged forward. They drew out their guns but she knocked them out of the way before they could use them. She pinned them both against the wall and used a piece of metal to attach them to a dumpster. She stepped back and brushed off her hands. "They usually pick up the garbage in an hour." she turned to the woman. "You okay?"
She nodded, still tense. "T-thank you."
"You're welcome. Spread the word. I'm a good guy." she launched herself up into the sky.
Rhodey sighed and leaned back. "Jarvis, do you know when she'll be back? She's been gone for almost half an hour."
"Miss Stark will return when she's ready, Colonel Rhodes."
The car shook suddenly and Sarah appeared in the passenger seat. "Jarvis, take us to the conference. We should make it just in time." she began her transformation from Miss Morph to Sarah Stark.
The car pulled out and started toward the road.
"Have fun?" Rhodey asked.
"Maybe. It was too easy." she pulled on her jacket and let her hair down, shaking her fingers through it. She slipped on her tennis shoes and shoved her boots under her seat. "How do I look?"
Rhodey studied her. "Presentable. Can I drive? It's annoying me."
She nodded. "Go ahead. Jarvis, disable auto drive."
"Auto drive disabled." he spoke through the ear piece.
Rhodey looked at Sarah and placed his hands on the wheel. He gently pushed on the gas pedal and drove up to the building.
Sarah pulled out her ear piece and shoved it in her jacket pocket.
He cut off the engine and looked over to Sarah. "You ready?"
She sighed and looked out at the crowd of reporters. "As I'll ever be."