Recap - Stark Towers is under attack: Scientist Supreme has Pepper, Tony's being chased by Technovore, and Emily's out-numbered by AIM soldiers.
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Technovore Part Three
Stark Towers - 19:04 PM
In the middle of Stark Towers' database mainframe, Pepper stands as she watches several AIM agents plug in their external devices and download all the information they can get a hold on (which they hope is everything). She would fight and get out of here but she is outnumbered and still has lingering thoughts about Technovore in the tower.
"Did you seriously break in just to hack Tony?" Pepper asks them, clearly not impressed. "You really couldn't do that from your own lair?"
"AIM is taking everything, Mrs. Stark," The Scientist Supreme responds. "I am in control now which means that nobody will come rescue you. We are the greatest collection of intellects and no match for Tony."
Pepper shifts all her weight on one hip and puts a finger to her chin in a mock thinking face. "I'm confused. How could you be the greatest if you're stealing from someone else? Wouldn't they technically be the greater one since you find their work worth taking?"
The Scientist Supreme towers over her. "You should be more respectful to the one who will destroy your family and company."
-o-
Emily isn't sure how she won that fight against those AIM agents but all that matters is that she did. She believes that her strategy of not knowing how to fight really threw the AIM agents off since they (and herself as well) had no idea what to expect.
Panting heavily, Emily begins walking away from the mess she left behind. Just like her unpacked boxes, some AI robots could deal with that. She's beyond exhausted, dehydrated, and worn-out. Using the stairs, Emily forces herself to climb up no matter how sore her limbs are. She knows that she has to put a stop to whatever is going on but her body isn't agreeing.
She wants to stop. She wants some water to cool down and hydrate her burning throat. She wants a bed to sleep in. But first and foremost, she wants her parents so she continues climbing.
-o-
Tony stands firmly on the top of the elevator car and ditches Emily's cardigan. Tony kneels down and pries open a panel. He slips in, expecting to find Pepper stuck inside but only sees her bags for Sofia. When he notices the opens door, he assumes that she got out. Tony walks out of the elevator and turns a corner, only to see some agents in those yellow jumpsuits who already see him.
Tony nods, recognizing where they're from. "Well, this makes perfect sense. Hi, AIM agents. You know, you could've booked an appointment with Pepper or simply knocked."
"Boss, we have a visual on an unarmed Tony Stark," one of the agents say into his earpiece.
The Scientist Supreme: Then shoot him -
Pepper: - Tony! Tony! They're going to blow the main reactor! To - !
On the spot, Tony freezes at the sound of Pepper's voice. He suddenly realizes that a Pepper didn't get out of the elevator, she was taken out by AIM.
"Pepper?!" He chokes out before becoming angry at what's now at stake. "Where is she?! Where is Emily?! I swear that if any of you have hurt them I will - !"
A mechanical roar is heard in the distance, not only cutting off Tony's threat but AIM's weapons. Technovore crashes through a wall and uses two of its tentacles to grip Tony's wrists and pin him to the floor. Tony struggles and attempts to resist but it's no use. Technovore's tentacles find their way into Tony's arc reactor and start to consume all his power. Tony screams in agony and pain as sparks shoot all around him.
-o-
Once Emily is on the floor above the basement, she notes how silent it is all around her. Still extremely exhausted, Emily slides down against a wall until she hits the floor. She breathes slowly, using her free hand to wipe the sweat on her face. As she touches her damp tank top, she seriously prays that it's drenched in sweat and not blood, even with the glowing arc reactor on her chest, it's still too dark for her to tell. However, when she touches it with her tongue and tastes salt, she classifies it as sweat. Relieved, Emily only wishes that she exercised more...or ever. Maybe then she wouldn't be as dead as she is now.
"Please, still be alive..." Emily mutters as some sort of prayer for her parents.
A noise in the next hallway over causes Emily to perk up in caution. She slowly stands up again in order to listen.
The Scientist Supreme: What's Stark's status?
"Which one?" The agent asks.
The Scientist Supreme: Just tell me all of them!
"Mrs. Stark is with you in the tower's mainframe, Mr. Stark is in the midst of being consumed by Technovore, and there is no visual on Emily."
The Scientist Supreme: What do you mean there is no visual?! Find that girl and get to the main reactor!
Emily whispers the last two words to herself. If the main reactor aka the tower's power source were to blow or be tampered with, the entire building would go down with. Then the word Technovore enters her mouth. She gasps and chokes back the idea of her father being consumed by whoever or whatever Technovore is.
That prompts Emily to run in the opposite direction.
-o-
Tony continues to scream the longer Technovore is on him. He feels his own vitals dropping as the creature thrives out of his arc reactor's energy.
Suddenly, he feels Technovore being ripped off of him. Relieved, Tony inhales but looks down to see some frayed tentacles in his chest, wiggling around. Someone he can barely see through his blurring vision kneels beside him and yanks the tentacles out. Tony screams in pain before blacking out.
"Tony, no!"
Stay Tuned - Will AIM successfully take over Stark Industries? Will Technovore find Emily?