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Chapter 39 - The Corvus

Later that evening, the Doctor, Legate and Logan were walking down the hallways of the Doctor's ship. They walked into the hanger and Legate pressed the hatch to open the door on his ship.

They all heard a crash from Tony's room. Curiously, they all walked over to find Tony, showered with clean clothes on, tossing a damaged screen out of the room. He had created a pile of damaged items in the wide doorway.

The Doctor spoke, "I thought you were going to bed?"

Tony looked up and shook his head. "I know I wouldn't be able to sleep until I knew how bad this is. So far, it's not looking bad at all. I've destroyed one suit, fucked up another one really good, and need to copy some more screens in here."

Legate picked up a table and tossed it out of the room into the pile Tony had created. "Add a table to that list."

Tony laughed. "Right. Hell, hey Logan. I didn't know you were here." They shook hands.

Logan smiled, "It's nice to see you, Tony. Legate told me you had a bit of excitement down here."

Tony put his hands on his hips and nodded his head. "Excitement. Yeah. We'll call it that."

The Doctor nodded. "Just pile up whatever you can't use and we'll put it in the transporter matrix."

"Matter to make matter. I love this shit, John." Tony looked at them. "Where are you guys going?"

The Doctor smiled, "Come with us. You'll like this."

Tony dusted his hands off and joined them.

They all climbed aboard Legate's ship and took a seat. The large hanger door opened to show the blackness of space. Several large asteroids sat several hundred meters away from them. Legate and the Doctor sat in the pilot and co-pilot seats and navigated the ship out of the Asclepius. Logan and Tony sat behind them.

Tony looked around. "So, are we aiming for an asteroid? Is that what we're doing?"

Logan laughed.

The Doctor shook his head as he looked at the monitor in front of him. "No. We're looking for something."

Tony nodded, "What? A little green man?"

The Doctor shook his head. "Nah. There's not any Vinvocci out here."

Legate laughed and mumbled, "Cactus people."

Tony turned and looked at Logan. "What? People that look like a cactus?"

Logan chuckled, "I don't know. Nothing surprises me anymore. Oh, I wanted to thank you again for my book."

Tony sat back and smiled proudly. "Helping with your love life?"

Logan smiled sheepishly, "Well, yes. She's made me some notes herself. I'm also taking this class."

The Doctor and Legate both stopped looking for Poltious' ship and turned around to look at Logan.

Logan smiled, "Wow. Guys. You need to take this class! It will change your life. And the homework is….brilliant."

Tony sat back and looked smug. "I don't need to take a class, kid. I have that entire thing figured out. I've never had any complaints."

Legate chuckled, "I've taken that class. Well, one like it. It is really good. I'm glad you are doing it, Logan."

Logan blushed and laughed. "It's something."

The Doctor had went back to looking at the screen, "The class on lovemaking, huh? See, I'm curious about this tattoo."

Logan shook his head. "Tattoo? I don't have a tattoo."

Tony laughed, "Oh, that's right. I had forgotten about that. Ginger mentioned you have a tattoo, Legate?"

Legate closed his eyes tightly and mumbled, "Well, shit."

Logan laughed, "Hey man, I didn't say anything."

Tony rubbed his hands together in excitement. "Oh, this is something good! What is it? What have you done?"

Legate rolled his eyes and shook his head, "It's….. really nothing."

Logan laughed. Legate looked back at him and Logan cleared his throat. "So….. you lot met Ginger, huh? She's nice. Don't you think?"

Tony pointed at Logan. "Yeah. But, you're changing the subject. What is the deal with this damn tattoo?"

Legate shook his head as he reached up to press a few buttons. "Summus is sending a probe out to see if it will help us locate it."

The Doctor smiled as he pressed a few buttons overhead, "You know in certain cultures, it is the custom for the life mates to get tattoos rather than to exchange rings. Rings are only an Earth custom. Well, and a handful of other places."

Tony held his hand out. "You're saying Legate has a wife someplace?"

Legate rubbed his face. "Damn it, John. How the hell do you figure this shit out?"

The Doctor smiled his 1,000 watt smile at him, "I'm clever."

Tony was laughing under his breath. "Well, shit. Legate has a woman-"

Legate shook his head. "No. Legate doesn't. And keep this to yourself. Poltious doesn't know-"

The Doctor looked shocked, "Your father doesn't know!?"

Legate closed his eyes tightly and groaned.

Logan smiled, "The way he explained it to me is that they didn't work out. They were on ummm… Albea? Is that how you said it?"

The Doctor laughed, "Albea! You got married on Albea?"

Tony waved his hands, "Whoa. Earth boy not following. What-"

"It's like Vegas." The Doctor explained.

Legate nodded his head. "We woke up the next morning, and decided to go our separate ways. So, it's not…. An actual life mate promise. Just a..."

"One night stand with a good story." Tony filled in and laughed. "Yeah, I have a few of those. But, I never got married. I don't think I did."

Logan laughed, "And the best part is, he doesn't know her name."

Tony looked impressed, "Must have been a beautiful woman."

Legate nodded. "She was. I think she was Albean. She looked like it."

The Doctor laughed, "Oh ho ho! I have the most interesting bunch of Quauhtin in the universe. Wow! No wonder Summus kept you lot on a tight leash. Quauthin gone wild. Damn."

Tony rubbed his chin, "You know, you can get that tattoo removed. That gel that John gave me took one off that I had."

Legate looked surprised, "Yeah?"

The Doctor nodded, "Yeah, it's not made for that. But it will work. That way you don't run the risk of Poltious seeing it. What the hell would he say?"

Legate shook his head. "Something like, 'Lenox wouldn't do something like this. What were you thinking?' You know, something…. Snarky."

The Doctor shook his head and laughed. "This is nuts. When did you do this?"

Legate bit his lip. "It was a long time ago."

Logan added, "Yeah. A really long time ago."

The Doctor pointed at him, "No, it's not. I've seen you without your shirt on when we play football and you are surfing. This happened recently."

Legate shook his head.

The Doctor smiled, "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me. I'm not going to say anything."

Legate sighed, "Alright, John. Recently."

Logan laughed. "Just tell him, Legate. Geez."

Legate rubbed his face. "Logan was fine there on Andromeda. Summus had filled up his schedule with all sorts of stuff. So, hours after you left, so did I."

Tony laughed, "That's the reason you were back so early."

The Doctor shook his head, "And here I thought it was because of me passing out."

Legate pointed at him. "It was. I was told about that on my way back to Andromeda, but just came back to Terra instead."

Tony pointed at him, "Would something like this toss him out of the Guard?"

The Doctor shook his head. "Nah. Well, maybe 400 years ago-"

"Or if Summus found out-" Legate insisted.

The Doctor nodded, "Or if Summus found out. He's from that time period. But, nah. Not anymore."

Tony sat back and crossed his arms. "I could go to Vegas and get married."

The Doctor looked at him in surprise, "You really didn't catch her name?"

Legate shook his head. "No. I met her in a bar there. Got drunk, woke up with the tattoo."

"What the hell where you drinking?"

Tony laughed, "Something I need to try."

Legate pressed another button. "I don't even remember."

Tony chuckled, "I'm impressed, Legate. How old are you?"

"Old enough to have known better."

Tony smiled and crossed his arms. "Yeah, the best looking ones, I never caught their names, either."

The Doctor asked him, "Speaking of names, Pepper's name. Her name isn't Pepper, is it?"

Tony looked seriously at him, "Well, what's wrong with Pepper?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "Nothing-"

Legate smiled, "It's a spice. It's not a name."

Tony countered. "Ginger is a spice. And John is upset that she doesn't have red hair-"

"John is upset that he doesn't have red hair!" Legate pointed at the Doctor.

Logan laughed, "Tony. You don't know what Pepper's name is?"

"And you do?"

Logan smiled, "Of course I do. Her name is Virginia. Her birthday is May 18th, and she's from-"

Tony held up his hand, "Hold on, kid. How the hell do you know this about my girl?"

"Everyone knows. I'm surprised you don't."

Legate pressed a button and mumbled, "He used to have a bit of a crush on her."

Logan blushed and rubbed his face. "Well, yeah."

Tony laughed, "Shit. John, this is the best ride I've ever taken."

The Doctor laughed. "Now, when she gets pissed at you, call Logan to figure out why."

Tony ran his hand through his hair. "What am I talking about? She's pissed at me now."

The Doctor pressed another button as he looked at the screen. "Send her flowers. What sort does she like?"

Tony looked at Logan.

Logan smiled, "Easter Lil-"

"Easter Lilies! Right. I knew that."

Legate laughed.

Tony pointed at Logan, "I have your number, Stalker. I'll use it. You can help keep me out of trouble with our girl."

Logan laughed. "Sure, Tony."

The Doctor rose up in his seat. "Is that it? Peaking out just there."

Legate slowed the ship down and looked out of the main window. "That's her! Wow. How in the hell did he get her into that tiny cavern?"

The Doctor shook his head. "Let's hope we can get her out of that tiny cavern. Damn. Poltious is a hell of a pilot."

Tony rose up and looked through the main window. On the side of the asteroid was a ship that was barely visible. "That looks … familiar."

Legate laughed, "She's a Laterus. From the Luta System. You know, with pink oceans. They don't make them anymore. He loves that ship. I'm surprised he's left her out here as long as he has."

The Doctor sat up and pressed a few buttons on the console. "Do you think she would have a self destruct on her?"

"I would expect one."

The Doctor nodded, "Right. Let's dock with her and check it out."

They swung the craft slowly closer to the ship and the sudden bump told them they had reached her. The Doctor stood up and walked to the back of Legate's craft and pressed a few buttons. He read a panel and nodded, "Well, that's good news. The life support still works. There is a code."

Legate nodded as he joined him, "Maria. It was my mother's name. That's what he uses for everything."

Tony looked surprised, "Really?"

The Doctor typed it in and the top hatch of Legate's ship popped open. He jumped up into the tunnel and pulled down a ladder. Lights blinked as they turned on from their long slumber. "And let us see what we have here."

He climbed up the ladder and twisted a lever on the side of the wall. Tony climbed through the floor right after him. The lights blinked to life. Tony looked around and nodded his head. "This looks just like…."

The Doctor walked over to a large panel in the big round room to press a few buttons. "The Millennium Falcon. Yes. It was modeled after this sort of ship."

Tony shook his head. "Wait…what?"

Legate was the next one through the floor. He stood up and looked around with a smile on his face. "Wow. She still smells the same."

The Doctor smiled without looking back at him. "It's like returning home, huh?"

Legate nodded, "Oh yes. I learned to fly with this ship. She saved our entire family. Well, pre-Lenox days family."

Tony asked, "How old was Lenox when your Mom died?"

Legate shook his head. "Just a few months old. I barely remember it. She's in a lot better shape than I expected."

Logan came through the tunnel in the floor. Legate offered him a hand, "Welcome aboard the Corvus, my friends."

As he said that, the computer system turned on. "Welcome aboard, Legate."

He smiled, "Ah, she's still on. Brilliant!"

Tony looked surprised, "A.I.?"

"She's more like a flight assistant. Corvus, disable all lock-outs and warm up the engines. We're taking you back to Poltious."

"Disabling all lock-outs and warming up the engines."

Legate joined the Doctor at the large control panel. "John, you think you can get her out of this cavern?"

He scratched his head. "That's what I'm looking at. Looks like if you go straight out, you'll miss the wall by 28 centimeters. Did he have the shielding off on her?"

Legate laughed proudly, "Most likely. Gosh, I wonder how bad the damage is?"

The Doctor pointed at another screen. "Well, she can't make it far. These cells need charging. Get her off of the asteroid and we'll have the tractor beam bring her in the hanger."

Legate nodded. "That sounds doable. Which one do you want to fly?"

The Doctor pointed at him, "Yours. This one is DNA coded."

Legate groaned, "Damn it. Forgot about that. Lucky we brought me along."

The Doctor laughed and pat Legate on the shoulder. "Tony, come back with me. Logan, stay here with Legate in case he needs another pair of hands."

Logan held his hands out. "Why I came!"

Tony watched the Doctor disappear back through the tunnel and followed him. As soon as they were both inside of Legate's ship, he pressed a few buttons to shut the door to the tunnel.

The Doctor sat down in the pilot's seat and pointed at the co-pilot's chair. Tony took a seat and looked out of the window. He heard the unmistakable sound of them separating from the ship.

The Doctor spoke, "Good. Legate has the engines back online. Well….one. The other one seems…kaput."

Tony watched as the front of the ship in the cavern seemed to change from a dark grey and into shiny silver. He pointed at it, "Did that ship just change color?"

The Doctor smiled, "Yes. That's what has kept it from being detected. It blends in with its surroundings."

"Your ship did that. You said it was a Chameleon circuit, right?"

The Doctor smiled at the mention of his TARDIS. "Yeah, she did. Hers was a bit different though. Wait, when did I tell you about that?"

Tony rolled his eyes, "We were drinking. But, yours changed its complete appearance, right?"

The Doctor continued to look out of the main window. "Yes. She would turn into something to blend into wherever we landed. A rock. A tree. A Police Box. Poltious' ship can just change colors of the hull to blend in, or disappear."

"Are you sure Poltious and Legate aren't pirates? They have some serious tech on their ships."

"Illegal tech. I won't sugar coat it." He told him as he moved the ship further away from the cavern. "Right. Legate wants me to stay here." He pressed a series of buttons and held his finger on top of one, ready to press it.

Tony noticed, "And what's that?"

"I can transport them both out if he hits the wall. The hull might be compromised. I'm not sure what to expect."

Tony noticed a funny look come across the Doctor's face.

"You alright, John?"

He looked back at him, "Yeah. I thought I heard Lewis."

"Maybe he's getting better."

Legate's voice could be heard over the speakers. "Do you read us?"

Tony pressed a button, "Yeah, man. We hear you."

Legate's voice laughed, "Cool. That still works. We're getting all sorts of readings, John. Stand by in case I need a rope."

The Doctor looked surprised. "You have a tow rope on this?"

"Of course I do. Why wouldn't I?"

The Doctor shook his head. "Right. Wow." He looked back at Tony. "This ship is full of surprises."

Tony chuckled, "Like her captain."

"That's very true." He smiled proudly.

They watched as Legate slowly moved the Corvus out of the cavern. The Doctor kept his finger trained on the button that would transport them out. Tony leaned up in his seat and watched the ship move slowly. As he began to see more of it, his eyes got larger. "That even looks like the Millennium Falcon! How the hell did he get that into that tiny cavern?"

The Doctor chuckled, "I have no idea. I wouldn't have done it. Hell, I didn't want to even take it out. Legate is probably sweating bullets at this moment."

"The pucker factor is high." Tony insisted as they continued to watch more of the ship appear.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to Tony, Poltious' ship was clear of the cavern. He shook his head. "I'd say 97% of that ship was inside of that cavern. You?"

The Doctor smiled, "This is something. Poltious is one hell of a pilot."

"How long did that take to get her out?"

"11 minutes and 47 seconds."

Tony nodded his head. "And he did it in just a few minutes, masked by an explosion. Damn."

Legate's voice came over the speaker. "I believe I have it, John. I'm moving towards the ship. Licis has the beam ready."

Tony pressed the button, "Got it."

The Doctor pressed some buttons and moved the ship underneath the Corvus. "I'll stay just behind him in case he has a problem. I'd rather see him go in from out here, than in there."

Tony nodded, "Makes sense."

The Doctor took his hand off of the transport button. "Right. Well, this will take a bit. Let's chat."

Tony looked confused, "About what?"

"You seeing things."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Shit. Nevermind about that. I've had a shower, and a big ass bowl of soup. I'm fine. I feel like a damn cry baby looking back at that-"

"It's just you and me here-"

"Sorry. Not my type."

"Talk to me. What do you feel like you saw?"

Tony crossed his arms and looked back at him.

The Doctor raised his eyebrows at him. "Well?"

He bit his lip. "John. I really feel that I'm losing my damn mind. I would have never said anything about this shit before."

"So, now you have. Let me help."

"What? You're a damn psychologist or some shit now?"

He turned in his chair and pointed at himself. "I'm a Time Lord. I'm older than even your entire species. I saw the beginning of this universe and several others-"

"Are you trying to impress me? Is that what this is?"

The Doctor dropped his head and groaned, "Tony! What did you see?"

Tony rubbed his face. "I thought I saw an atom. Like for an element. I was washing it through your computers to find out which one it was. It wasn't able to detect anything. I'm telling you John. Losing my fucking mind."

The Doctor smiled and quickly rubbed his face. Tony noticed, "That. Now what the hell is that?"

"Nothing."

"You have the worst poker face I've ever seen in my damn life! That is what I saw, isn't it?"

"You weren't supposed to find it in this order. You have found it backwards."

The ship moved slowly above them. A flash of blue light surrounded the Corvus and then she moved towards the hanger on the Doctor's ship. Legate came across the speakers, "And we're in the clear."

The Doctor pressed the button, "I'll celebrate when we have the latch down."

Legate laughed, "Copy that."

Tony was still processing what the Doctor said, "So, it is an element."

"I shouldn't tell you this, but yes. Howard Stark worked on a project during World War II. A….umm…. item from another world…..was found by Germany. They were using it to make weapons way beyond what Earth should even see today. Howard Stark saw it as a way to produce clean energy….similar to the arc reactor. He began closely researching the object as he believed it to be the key to limitless, renewable, clean energy. During the course of his study of the object, Howard theorized a new element structure that could partially replicate the energy of the item."

"Then why didn't he create it?"

"He was limited by the technology of his time. He was unable to create the element for himself and instead left the blueprints for the element hidden in a model of the Stark Expo fairgrounds for you to discover. His research notes are clearer on this. I've got a man looking for them now."

Tony shook his head. "Phhhh…. That's a good story, John. How much of that is even true?"

"Every word!"

Tony rolled his eyes. "I doubt that."

"Why would I lie about this?"

"My old man? Hiding something in the open for me to find that like? Why wouldn't someone else take that information-"

"Who says someone else hasn't?"

Tony sat back and sighed. "Well, that changes the ball game. Why the hell would he do that?"

They sat and watched the ship dock inside the hanger. The Doctor turned his chair. "Licis is looking over everything on the bottom before they set her down. Just to be sure."

Tony nodded. "This is just some shit. Where are you getting this information?"

"Licis just told me-"

"No, jackass. About this element and Howard Stark?"

"In the other Dimension, we didn't know one another. Things happened and you ended up having to find a replacement for the arc reactor that was inside of your chest. Another man brought this to you, but he was killed in this Dimension, so you never met him."

"So you are taking his place?"

He shook his head, "That's the last thing I want to do. This man was in charge of something I don't want any part in."

Tony laughed at his friend. "There is so much more to that story. I really need to get your ass drunk."

"That I really can't tell you. I shouldn't tell you this. But, you feel so certain that something has gone wrong with your head that if I don't say something, you will become fixated on that. Tony, nothing is wrong. You are fine. PTSD, but that shouldn't surprise you."

Tony nodded his head. "Nah, I know about that. I sometimes dream I'm back in the cave and I wake up…well, just like I did on the ship. I see the insurgents standing in front of me. I'm still asleep and they are there. I worry….I'll hurt Pepper, thinking she's them."

"It's a real possibility. That's probably why you sleep better when you are on the ship."

"We've started sharing a room…back in New York. She doesn't know, but I come up here and sleep after she falls asleep. I have always woke up before her, so she doesn't question it."

"You worry you will fall asleep though. With her."

He nodded, "This entire thing with me and her…..it's so…..new. And that fucking Happy went and kissed her. Did I tell you about that shit?"

"What? The bodyguard?"

"Oh yes. I had a meeting with him that I've missed. I was planning on punching him."

"She's not said anything to anyone about you two dating?"

"I'm not even sure that's what it is, man."

The Doctor sat back and counted on his fingers. "You are pissed someone is kissing her, you are sleeping with her. Well, having sex, and watching her sleep, taking her to dinner, sharing a bedroom, that sounds like dating…or at least… togetherness. In some cultures, that's marriage-"

"Hold on! It's not that. Whoa."

The Doctor laughed at his friend's reaction. "Quite right. Never rush something you want to last. You're doing just fine."

Legate came back over the speakers, "And we have the latch down!"

The Doctor smiled and pressed the button, "That's great news. Now, let's get to work to fix her."

"Making a list now. I wish we had brought Timon." Legate laughed.

The Doctor pressed some buttons and started to fly back to the ship.

Tony rubbed his chin in thought. "So, this element. It replaced the Palladium?"

"As I remember, you tried to patent it as 'Badassium'. You ran into some legal issues with that."

Tony crossed his arms and laughed, "Okay. I'll keep at it. I know a place to look for those notes. The old man had a safety deposit box. It's probably in there."

"Really?"

Tony nodded his head. "Yeah, he sure did. He had several. He said he didn't trust anyone with some of that research. I remember him taking me to this bank when I was about…. I don't know…. Ten, eleven. He was pissed about something and put notebooks, film reels and all sorts of stuff in there. He told me to remember where it was. I would need it one day for something I would work on with him. I remember he made me repeat that I would finish whatever was in there."

"That's probably it then"

"Who is looking for this stuff? One of your ghosts?"

"Nah. Your friend….Rogers."

Tony rolled his eyes. "That guy? Does he even know what he's looking for?"

The Doctor sat down the ship in the hanger and pressed a few buttons to turn it off. "I really don't think so. I was very vague with him. But, if you think you know where it is, I'll ring him and tell him not to worry about it."

Tony nodded, "I'll call him. I need to call Pepper, too. Explain where I am. I might need some help with that."

He smiled, "I'll catch your head when it rolls down the hallway."

Tony laughed, "And reattach it. Yeah. Thanks."

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