The warehouse of Hammer Industries was empty, there wasn't even a noise in any of the rooms. Tony had gone in first to make sure there wasn't anything inside that was rigged to blow as soon as they came in, having Jarvis run scans. Rebecca followed in behind him despite his protests and made her way over to the room which she remembered opening her eyes to. There was nothing there either, not even a case from his weapons, it was all gone as if he knew they would be coming back and searching the place. What added to Rebecca's concerns was the fact that Lucas was no longer there either. The last time she had seen him he was unconscious on the ground just outside of the door where Ivan knocked him out, but now there was no sign of him.
The place was completely empty, and even the suits he was creating were gone. It slipped her mind for a moment until she really thought about where all of those suits had gone in such little time, but then she remembered an event that was being held in Queens that very night.
''The Expo.'' she looked back at Tony, concerned. ''Ivan made the suits for Hammer, and Hammer is presenting at the Expo, that's where he's taken them.''
''Hammer's going to present the suits for his army.'' Tony concluded, going straight to the main concern. ''I gotta get Rhodey.''
Rebecca seemed taken aback at the sudden shift, having no idea what Rhodey's part in this was. ''Rhodey? I thought you didn't want anyone else in danger.''
Tony was already walking back into the warehouse, determined to try and stop this. ''Hammer is using military tech for his presentation, Rhodey took my suit to the military and now Hammer has control of it, but Rhodey is the only guy who knows how to drive that thing. He's gonna be at the Expo.''
After Tony's brief outline, Rebecca finally understood where everything was in their puzzle. Ivan made the suits for Hammer who would be presenting at the Expo to launch his army, just like he told her he would back in Monaco when he asked her to make them. Ivan had told Rebecca too much though, thinking he would get rid of her before she could tell anyone about his little secret.
''Wait,'' she stopped him. ''They're not suits. Before I got out, Ivan told me he was just humoring Hammer, he wasn't going to make suits for him. They're drones. No one is inside them, they're controlled, like robots.''
''By why would Hammer...'' Tony trailed off, mentally answering his own question. ''He doesn't know. Ivan is the only one who knows...but he told you.''
''You need to find Rhodey.'' Rebecca told him seriously. ''He's going to be the only one in an independent suit, he can help us.''
Tony and Rebecca made their way over to the now huge hole in the warehouse wall. It was initially a smashed out window which they could both fit through one at a time, but in their rush it had crumbled far from a window. They made their way back outside, but Tony stopped on another rooftop before they went any further.
''You stay here.''
''Dad-''
''You can't be seen, okay? There'll be too many questions if you show up at the Expo. I need to go get Rhodey.''
For once, Rebecca nodded in agreement to his words, understanding the risk she would be taking wouldn't just affect her, but land her father in even more trouble with the government.
''Be careful.''
Rebecca had been hiding on a rooftop for a few minutes before she became anxious. If Ivan was controlling those drones at the Expo, everyone was in danger including Pepper who was attending. There was no point in following behind her father, it was too dangerous for many reasons, but there was no way she could stay here doing nothing while everyone else was doing something to help. She made a decision to head back to the Hammer Industries warehouse, searching absolutely everything for answers.
She was certain that when she and Tony first searched this place that it was empty, but something didn't seem right. Lucas had threatened Ivan with the fact that there was a security team upstairs that he could call down with a single click of a button, but there was no sign of anyone when they arrived. Rebecca walked around the warehouse, still in her suit in case anything happened, and she couldn't find anything. The room where Ivan was remained empty, but the stairs behind the room were where she was heading anyway.
As she reached the top of the stairs, Rebecca let out a horrified gasp at what she saw. There was three men, all dressed in black security uniforms, unconscious on the floor, blood surrounding their bodies. That's when her body went into panic mode and she used the applications in her suit to scan the room for anyone that may be inside. There was a significant focus on one of the cupboards in the room, and the door looked like it was wedged open by something big inside, so Rebecca walked over to investigate. The closer she got, the more anxious she was so see what was hiding, so she gripped the sturdy door and ripped it off the hinges.
''Stop!'' The person yelled, cowering inside of the cupboard and pointing a gun. ''Don't kill me!'' It took a few moments for Rebecca to see that it was Lucas, his expression terrified. He didn't know who it was inside of the suit, for all he knew it was Tony himself. ''W-where's Ivan?''
Rebecca debated whether or not she should answer him, but it was her only choice if she wanted answers. ''Gone.'' she told him, watching as his eyes scanned the room to make sure he really was out of sight. ''What happened?''
Lucas sat up, pulling himself out of the tiny space. ''H-he killed them. I woke up and he was...I pressed this button and these three came in, but he just killed them.''
''You woke up and he was...what?'' Rebecca asked.
''He was tearing this place apart.'' he told her, looking frightened at the memory. ''Going crazy, breaking everything, and then he set those...suit things up, but that's when I pressed the security button.''
Rebecca understood what had happened now. His anger at the fact that she had escaped and gotten away know exactly what he was planning to do had driven him into a rage, and these security guards had suffered his wrath. She didn't want to look over to the bodies again, she hated seeing what Ivan had done. This wasn't something little anymore, it wasn't about threats or words, Ivan had actually taken lives to get what he wanted. Rebecca knew he was a dangerous man, but this just proved something else. It proved he was prepared to do whatever it took to take down Rebecca and Tony, mercilessly killing innocent people who got in his way.
''How long ago did this happen?'' she asked Lucas, gaining his attention again as he continued looking around the room.
''I don't know, an hour ago maybe, I can't remember, I was dizzy.'' he explained, rubbing his head. ''Who are you, anyway?''
That was one answer she wasn't going to give him. ''I'm trying to help.''
''But who are you?'' he looked at her with curiosity. ''You don't sound like Tony Stark.''
Rebecca shook her head to tell him no, that's not who she was. ''I'm just looking for answers to stop this guy.''
Lucas nodded, but his eyes didn't move. He was analyzing the suit and who could be in it, his first thought being Ivan himself, but then he soon moved on to think it was Justin Hammer. After all, Hammer was obsessed with getting his hands on one of these suits, but the voice didn't fit either. It was a female's voice, there was no mistaking it, and Lucas then had it narrowed down to one name. The one person who knew how to make these suits without anyone's help.
''Rebecca,'' he spoke. ''It's you, isn't it?'' She didn't say anything after that, she knew there was no use denying it but there was no way she was admitting it either. He would have to assume things for himself. ''It is.''
''Where's Ivan?'' she asked.
''How did you even get out?'' he asked her with keen interest. ''There was no way you were supposed to escape. He was going to kill you!''
''I need to know where he might be, Lucas.''
''This is crazy. That can't be you...'' he shook his head in disbelief.
Rebecca was getting frustrated. ''Just tell me what you know, Lucas!''
''No way! If Hammer finds out I told you-''
Rebecca moved closer and grabbed his shirt collar, lifting him easily up against the wall thanks to the added strength of the suit. ''Do you really think Hammer cares about you anymore? He left you here to guard a maniac, fully aware that he was going to kill you as well. He doesn't care what you do anymore, for all he knows you're dead, and if you were smart you'd tell me everything you know right now before you pissed me off a little more, okay?''
Ben was sitting at Tony's desk, waiting for a word back from either of them, but as time went on he just become more and more anxious, he couldn't put up with it. He tried getting in contact with Tony, but he never answered and that only made Ben worry even more. He only just found out that Rebecca had a suit, the one that had scared him earlier when it flew out of the ground and through the wall on it's way to her. He had no idea why she would need one, but then again he wasn't sure of anything in their lives anymore. Even though Rebecca had warned him, he had been thrown into their chaotic life and he now realized why Rebecca gave him that choice when they first started seeing each other, but even though it was far from his usual routine of delivering pizzas, he wasn't going to back out now when things were a bit more complicated than usual.
Ben typed a few codes into the computer, and 10 minutes later he had finally hacked his way into Rebecca's system and was able to communicate with her, he hoped.
''Bec? Bec, are you there?'' he asked.
There was a pause, and Ben thought it wasn't working until he heard her voice. ''Ben? Hello?''
''Yeah, it's me.'' Ben smiled, happy to hear her voice. ''What's going on?''
Rebecca sounded out of breath. ''The Expo...he's gone to find Rhodey.''
''What's happening?''
''I gotta go find Ivan.'' she told him. ''He's planning to kill my dad, I know where he is.''
Ben jumped out of his chair. ''No, no, Bec you can't go alone! You know what this guy is capable of-''
''Yeah, I do, there's three dead security guards at Hammer Industries for proof.''
''Dead? He killed them?'' he asked, knowing the answer but in shock that this man actually took their lives. ''You can't do this.''
''I have to, Ben, I know what he's going to do.''
''How do you know? You could be doing exactly what he wants you to do!''
Rebecca sighed. ''I went back and found Lucas. He told me everything, and I know it was the truth because he's scared.''
''Lucas? The guy that has helped kidnap you two times now and was standing around waiting for Ivan to kill you only hours ago, that Lucas?''
''Yes, that Lucas.'' she told him firmly, knowing that Ben thought this whole idea was stupid of her.
''How can you trust that guy? He's probably sending you straight to him like Ivan would have told him to. Bec, please don't do this.''
''Ben, I have to. If I don't find him and stop him now he will kill my dad and I'm not letting him.''
''But if you go there now, by yourself...he'll kill you.'' Rebecca remained silent as Ben spoke, knowing everything he was saying was true but she was too determined to stop Ivan before he had his chance. ''Think about what you're doing.''
''I can't let him do it Ben...'' she told him in a calm voice, trying to let him know she knew what she was doing. ''I can try and stop it-''
''No! This guy is crazy, okay? He's not going to listen to you, he's not going to bargain with you, he's going to get what he wants like he always does. I'm asking you, please don't do this.''
Rebecca thought about it for a few moments, but her stubborn mind was set. ''I'm sorry Ben...if I don't do this and something happens I'll never get over it. I have to do this, I'm sorry.''
Ben slammed his fist against the desk. ''Bec, listen to me!'' he yelled, but the line was dead, she had disconnected their call. ''Bec? Dammit!''
There was no way he could continue sitting here while she was doing something so stupid and dangerous. She was going to get herself killed and he wasn't going to let that happen, he needed to find her. He turned around the to computer screen and noticed something pop up in the corner. Tony had his computers altered so that whenever there was something going on involving Iron Man, it would automatically play on screen for him to see. Ben opened the little box in the corner and it brought up live footage from The Stark Expo.
''It looks like Iron Man is appearing tonight after all, against the word of Stark Industries CEO Pepper Potts. Tony Stark's Iron Man arrived not too long ago and greeted the audience with in his famous metal suit.''
The reporter's voice stopped, and the audio went dead, but the footage was still live. Ben saw glass falling from the ceiling and Rhodey's suit shooting uncontrollably, the crowd running about in fear of what was happening. He looked at the screen in concern, trying to figure out what was happening but there was no use when the screen went blank moments later. Everyone was in danger, and he was still sitting in Tony's workshop. He stood up, grabbing his keys and rushing to the front door. He needed to do something, he needed to help someone.
Tony flew out of the ceiling of the Stark Expo, followed by Rhodey and a swarm of other suits that he had been informed weren't really suits. They were being controlled by Hammer, wherever he was. His earlier assumptions had been wrong about Rhodey though. He was the only one in the suit, but it wasn't independent from the rest like he thought, he was being controlled by Ivan as well, his suit targeting Tony as they flew.
Tony had managed to briefly explain to Rhodey what was going on, but they didn't have time to do anything about it before Ivan set off the suits to attack him. They flew into the skies, Tony trying to lose them as he had much more experience than they did and driving one of these things.
''Tony!'' Rhodey yelled. ''It won't stop shooting!''
''Ivan's controlling it!'' he told him. ''Just try and watch where you're going.''
''I can't control that either!'' he told him in return. ''Look out!'' Tony ducked just in time for a missile to fly past him. ''It's locked on the target!''
''What target?''
''You! He's aiming for you and I can't stop it!''
Tony cursed Ivan, who was making Rhodey's suit as well as all the rest chase him with bullets and explosives, but he continued flying, trying to take the danger away from the Expo where everyone was now evacuating.
Meanwhile, Pepper was trying to figure out what was happening. Those suits had just chased Tony out of the building and she wanted to know why. Natalie accompanied her through to the back control room where Justin Hammer was, trying to find out what was going on also. Pepper never liked this man, but the fact that this all happened while he was presenting something just fueled her hate toward him, knowing there was something of his doing behind all of this.
''What the hell is going on?'' Pepper asked as she walked in, seeing Hammer looking back at her.
''Listen, ladies,'' he looked back and forth between Pepper and Natalie. ''We're handling this, let us handle this, okay? We know what we're doing.''
''Doesn't seem like it, otherwise this wouldn't of happened. Now, what's going on?'' Pepper stood her ground.
Hammer rolled his eyes and whispered into one of the men's ears. ''We gotta get these bitched out of here.''
Since subtlety really wasn't one of Hammer's traits, both Pepper and Natalie glared at his as he looked up innocently, but Natalie took it one step further, sick of Hammer not giving them answers and treating them like idiots. She walked over behind Hammer, grabbed his arms and twisted them behind his back painfully.
''Tell me who's behind this?'' she asked, but he only made slight noises of discomfort as she tightened her hold on his arms. ''Who's behind this?'' she asked again. Pepper watched on, completely shocked at the lengths to which Natalie was going for answers.
Hammer squirmed in pain. ''Ivan!'' he shouted. ''Ivan Vanko.''
Natalie didn't loosen her grip though, not until she had her answers. ''And where is he?''
When Hammer finally answered her and told her his location, Natalie pushed him forward onto the desk with force, hitting his head against the hard surface before walking out of the room, knowing Pepper could handle things in here now that she had a much more important task ahead of her. Pepper watched her leave with a nod of the head, assuring her she was fine here, and she pulled her phone to her ear.
''Yes, hi,'' she spoke, and Hammer looked up at what she was doing. ''I need police at-''
''Oh honey, don't call the authorities, don't be stupid,'' Hammer whined, blocking her from getting past him to speak with one of the men working in the control room.
''Step aside,'' she told him firmly, holding the phone to her ear, awaiting a reply. ''Step aside.'' She walked over behind one of the workers at his desk and lowered her head to see the screen he was using. ''Tell me everything you know. Go.''
Hey guys, hope you had a happy new year! Also, I hope you enjoyed this chapter since I know it took me a while to update. I'm not a fan of this chapter, I don't know why, I just don't like it but I'm always so whiny anyway just ignore my rambling. Hopefully I'll have the next chapter up sooner than later. Please review! Thanks for reading.