Chapter 6
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Surprisingly, it did not take long for the reporters to be there and trying to get into the tower.
Any possessions Salem left at the school had been brought to the tower and were now on Tony's floor. She went up there to get dressed as soon as Pepper gave her the order, a press meeting would happen within the half hour and Salem didn't want to meet them in workout clothes.
As she calmed down, her hair returned back to the blue black that looked almost like liquid ink going down her back.
She had a duffel bag of clothes on her shoulder, one which she gripped the straps tightly in her hands.
The elevator of the tower was quiet as she rode down to the bottom floor, quickly finding that the bottom had been overrun by reporters and journalists, all trying to get a comment from staff or researchers or scientists.
Tucking a pair of black circular sunglasses on, Salem strutted through the crowd as they realised who she was. They swarmed her like wasps, standing around her like they were ready to sting. They were loud in their asking of questions, standing too close with microphones, recorders, cameras.
When one came too close, she imagined the battery of it bursting like a balloon, and it did in the reporter's hands.
It made a loud bang and almost silenced the whole crowd but only for a second.
"Excuse me, I am speaking!" Salem could see her dad try and get to her, but the crowd turned to him. He put his fingers to his mouth and whistled. "Excuse you all. Let her pass and we can get this all sorted."
The crowd parted like the red sea and allowed her through, though they stayed on her heels like hellhounds. They shouted questions, loud enough to make Salem flinch as they stepped too close with a camera which flashed in her face.
Tony shoved it out of the way, grabbing Salem by the arm and leading her to the SUV waiting for them outside.
She was surprised when Tony got into the back of the car with her.
She knew he didn't like being in the back of a car. Tony only ever drove himself places unless he was absolutely plastered, and even then only a very few people could take the wheel.
Happy was in the front.
Tony turned to her, sitting on her left as he tugged the seatbelt across her to clip it in for her. "Are you sure you didn't post anything? Pictures? Videos? Whatnot?"
"I'm sure," Salem said calmly. "I don't post stuff on my social media about you, or Pepper, or Happy, or anything that could trace me to the Stark name. The only things I post about Stark Industries are the phones and whatnot when I get a new whatever."
"Are you completely sure?"
She gave him a dark look to which he just huffed and rubbed his hands down his face.
"I think Pepper's made a media conference for tomorrow," Tony said. "We're going to the compound while I try to find out how this leaked. FRIDAY…"
He began his search with the help of FRIDAY while Salem rolled her eyes and went to do her own search with the help of LILITH.
To find the source of the article, LILITH went to the first mention of Salem being Tony's daughter, so it searched through facial recognition until it found a picture with Salem and Tony.
It was a picture from the mini compand centre created on the island, taken when Salem stood next to Tony with the phone between them. It was taken from a distance and from an angle that suggested the person didn't want to be seen.
From what LILITH said, it was taken by Anna and was supposed to be published if anything happened to her or if she didn't stop the interaction within the next twelve hours.
"Found it," Salem swiped the picture to the left, sending it to her dad's phone screen before he blew it up so both of them could look at it. "Anna took it while we were at the island still. Made it so if she didn't stop it, it automatically got sent to every major news centre in the western world. Guess this solves that."
This time Tony gave his daughter a surprised but impressed look. "How'd you do that?"
Salem flicked her own forehead once. "I'm a genius too."
Tony made a face. "Fair point. FRIDAY, is that intel correct?"
"It is, boss,"
"Well done,"
She just squinted a little before putting her earphones in for some quiet. It was less quiet and more rock music to just numb her racing mind for a little while.
She needed some time to herself that didn't include her mind trying to figure several hundred things out all at once.
How the sound in the back left wheel, so faint and almost completely undetectable, was the sound of one loose knut.
How the way her father's shoulders sat told her he was stressed and unsure and nervous.
How she watched out the tinted windows at the passing people, seeing each and every fault in the design of the city that could prove dangerous or sometimes fatal.
How the sky changed shade by shade, almost undetectable to all eyes but hers as they glowed a slight purple as she watched the sky turn brighter and clearer.
Salem paused her music. "Happy, stop by that store. I want a drink."
"Are you sure?" Happy looked back through the rearview mirror to Tony who just nodded. He stopped the SUV a couple metres away from the front, watching as Salem was like a fox on her feet and quickly got into the store without making a sound besides closing the door.
"Thanks," She got back into the car with two drinks, a bright green Monster Energy can for herself while she passed the RedBull to her dad. "You look exhausted and you like these. They didn't have coffee and you don't like the canned ones."
"The canned coffees are an abomination to the name of coffee," He said, opening the can while he saw Salem struggle to get her finger under the tab. He swapped the cans, taking Salem's Monster and undoing the top for her before handing hers back and taking his. "Thanks. I needed this. Hey, hey, slow down! You'll choke."
She grinned at that, putting her thumb to the open tab and creating a seal. Digging her ring into a part of the bottom of the can, she put the hole up to her mouth and took away her thumb from the top.
While keeping her eyes connected with her father, Salem shotgunned the energy drink within seconds.
"Well," Tony said, trying not to laugh before sipping his Redbull. "You're not having mine."
Happy shook his head as he drove on.
)()()(
The press conference was the next day, and that meant Salem actually had to dress up in something that wasn't jeans and a band tshirt.
She settled on a deep burgundy red silk button down tucked into a pair of black leather trousers, her leather jacket had been slipped on before she even thought of leaving. Her dark hair went down in inky black waves, a touch of eyeliner to accent her eyes and a bit of lip gloss. Duke hid in the long hair, hiding on her shoulders and acted as more of a necklace or scarf than an animal.
She had her dark circular sunglasses on, hiding her eyes from the public and she and Tony walked onto the small platform before the reporters.
Even Tony Stark was dressed up smartly in a Tom Ford suit. It was mainly black with a dark red shirt and navy tie.
Pepper wore a deep navy shirt with a black pencil skirt as she addressed the crowd first.
Salem's leather boots, Tony's polished shoes, and Pepper's pointy heels all had red bottoms.
Tony smiled as he stepped up to the microphone, he tapped it before grimacing at it. "Yeah, I don't like microphones in my face. Let's make this quick and easy."
"Tony, no," Pepper gave him a pointed look which said to not argue.
He frowned but nodded once.
"Right. I know there's been a leak—"
"Does that mean the leak is true?"
"Are you going to argue against what the picture shows?"
"Is it true?"
"Salem Andria is your daughter?"
"Is she your daughter?"
Multiple cameras flashed brightly as the reporters jumped closer to the platform, making sure to get every single angle as best they could as they tried to record everything that was said.
There was a reason Salem kept her sunglasses on, she knew how bad camera flashes could be when there are many of them.
Stepping towards her dad, she untucked the sunglasses from the inside pocket of his jacket and handed them to him. She knew cameras flashed even more as she did so, but she didn't care.
Tony nodded in thanks and put them on. "Right, you'd all be quiet, I might be able to explain."
The room silenced and the camera flashes slowed a little.
"This," He gestured to her next to him. "Is my offspring, the seed of my loins, my love child, my daughter, and heir."
The picture taking increased tenfold as Pepper gave out a shuddering sigh at Tony's antics. Tony just laughed as Salem tried to not snort at him and his jokes.
"So it's true!"
"You have a child?"
"How old is she?"
"When was she born?"
"Who is her mother?"
"Where is her mother?"
"Why did you hide her from the public?"
"Did you intend to have a child?"
Salem stayed silent, letting him answer.
"Yes, I do have a child and this is her," He said, smiling. "She's fifteen, turning sixteen in November. Born in two thousand. I hide her from the public because I know what's it like to be in the eye of the media being my father's son. I thought it more dangerous for her to be known than hide until she was older. I planned to announce her when she was eighteen."
"Where is her mother?"
"That's a rather personal question," Tony said, gesturing for Salem to take the question.
Salem stepped forward, she smiled in the way a Stark did, half I know something you don't, and half I know I'm better than you. "My mother abandoned me when I was born, but she named Dad before she left."
"How do you know she's your daughter?"
"Dad had a DNA test done when he found out about me," She said. "I got half my genes from him, but all the genius."
"Mr Stark, did you intend to ever have a child?"
Salem stepped away from the microphone, keeping a seat and a half behind her father with her hands carefully clasped in front of her.
"I, ah," Tony started, hesitating as he answered. "I never wanted children, actually. Never intended to have them. With the way my dad sent me away to boarding schools, I didn't want to end up like him with his parenting. I kept her out of the public eye so it wouldn't burden her."
And to keep me out of your way as you built Stark Industries back up, Salem thought. She kept a hard face on, forcing a smile onto her lips as slight tears welled enough to make her eyes watery.
"Did you ever think of giving her away to nannies while you worked?"
Tony laughed. "I tried that. Even as a baby, she didn't do well with strangers looking after her. Only four people could keep her in line, and that was a difficult feat."
"Have you thought of sending her away to boarding school? And if so, which ones?"
"She was in boarding school until recently," Tony said. "Decided to take her out. Didn't think it was good for her anymore."
"Did having a daughter interfere with being an Avenger?"
"Nope," He said. "If anything happens to me, she would go to her Godfather. I've got this whole plan if anything happens, and no, I won't disclose it."
"What is her name?"
"Sabrina Andria Stark,"
"So she is a Stark by name?"
"Yes, but she likes to go by Salem instead of Sabrina," Tony said.
"Why?"
"She just prefers it, like how I prefer Tony to Anthony,"
"Where is her mother?"
"Why did she leave Miss Stark in your custody?"
"Will she get Stark Industries when she turns twenty-one?"
"No clue, no clue, and yes,"
"Will she take over when you retire?"
"Will she improve SI or do something drastic to change it?"
"Will she get your money?"
"Is she smart enough to take over SI?"
"Is she capable of improving SI?"
"Is she capable of living up to the Stark name?"
"Will she live up to the Stark name?"
With each new question, it seemed like the reporters doubted her before they even got to know her.
Salem slid off her sunglasses as she stepped before the microphone, Tony letting her as she tucked the sunglassed on top of her head.
"Look, I am Salem Andris Stark," She began, hands on the edge of the podemium. She had to stop herself from crushing it within her grip. "Whether I am allowed to take over SI when I turn twenty-one or when my father retires is up to him. Being a Stark has nothing to do with money because a Stark can build an entire empire from nothing like Howard Stark did. Don't question my abilities of being a Stark when you only see the results."
"What can you do? Your father built a circuit board at age four, and a motorbike engine at age six."
"You want to hear my accomplishments?" Salem said, anger in her voice but she hid it so it only showed an inch of rage in her eyes. "I was almost eight when I built a robot, a functioning, hydraulic arm robot that used a small-time AI that recognised voice commands."
"Did you create the AI that was used?"
"No, the AI I used was already programmed into another robot that my father made before I made my own. I made a duplicate of it, and changed it around a little,"
"So you didn't make an AI?"
"I didn't make an AI at age seven, I made one when I was fourteen and scared there was going to be another Ultron situation," Salem snapped out. "I created my own AI at fourteen years old. From scratch, I created an artificial intelligence that's sole purpose is for my safety and to help only me. I created LILITH for the sole purpose of not having another Ultron situation."
"LILITH? What does it stand for?"
"I can explain," LILITH's english voice came from around them, startling many people including Tony. "Hello, I am LILITH, Loyal Intelligent Learning Instruction Teaching Hardware. I programmed for Salem Stark's use only, unless otherwise stated."
"Do you intend to create other AIs like it?"
"Does it have similar capabilities to JARVIS and FRID—"
"Right, I think that's enough," Tony stepped in, putting his hand on the microphone. He turned to Salem, whispering angrily, "We're having a conversation after this."
Salem's stare was cold and calculating, something that reminded Tony of his father and so it made him pause.
"You're not taking LILITH away from me, she's the only thing I've got left that's worth anything," She said, sharply turning around and quickly walking over to Pepper who ushered her out of the room.
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There was a reason why she said LILITH was the only thing that she had left.
She was in the mansion when the Malibu home got destroyed. Young and still naive to her powers, Sabrina Stark was in the basement during the explosions.
She always trusted her instincts since she was young and so when she had a bad feeling that told her to go upstairs, she did so. Finding her father talking to another woman who she didn't know, Sabrina watched as Pepper chucked a couple bags from upstairs down to the ground floor.
There was two huge teddy bear bunny things next to the stairs as Pepper walked down and
"I've got your bags too, 'Rina," Pepper said, walking over to Sabrina.
"No, no, no," Tony said, coming over quickly. "You're not leaving. You're not taking her either. I can't protect you out there!"
The other woman asked about the bunny things, shrugging it off when the adults said it was a normal thing.
The TV screen turned on, showing a news picture of the Malibu mansion which just made the hairs of Sabrina's neck stand on their ends.
The two adults argued as the other woman pointed the TV out.
A missile was headed for the mansion.
When the explosion happened, Sabrina didn't move from where she stood near Pepper and Tony, even as the three adults went flying due to the pressure of the explosion.
Sabrina was almost unaffected by the explosion, besides for her hair which went with the direction of the wind. Her feet were planted on the ground almost like concrete kept her in place.
She watched as Tony glanced to his daughter, looking in surprise as she was alright before turning to Pepper. He made the suit go onto Pepper, protecting her as she landed.
Sabrina ran to her dad as soon as he landed on his back on the ground.
As she kneeled by his side in fear of everything around them, Pepper in the Ironman suit was over them in a split second as a piece of the ceiling fell on top of both Starks but it never hit them.
The broken piece of ceiling hovered in place as Sabrina yelped in fear and burrowed herself into her dad's chest, the light of the arc reactor bright and comparable to the colour of her closed eyes.
She wanted to be somewhere safe.
Sabrina opened her eyes, finding herself in the basement again with U and Dum-E next to her.
She was confused. What happened?
"JARVIS, what's happening?" She asked, fear lining her voice. "Why am I down here again? Where's Dad and Pepper?"
"Your father has sent Miss Potts out with Miss Hansen, and they are out of the structure," JARVIS said. "I have informed him of your location and he advised me to use Protocol Little Star. Please brace yourself, ma'am."
"Wha—" Sabrina could barely get the words out before she was encased in a suit that was compatible with her size.
It wasn't coloured so it had the grey colour of metal, but it fit her quite well. The helmet let her see out of it, and showed a little circle that moved as JARVIS spoke, but she had none of the fancy stuff that her dad's suits had.
This was an evacuation suit that was for emergencies only.
"No, we can't leave U and Dum-E!" She said, reaching out before she was forced into the air by JARVIS powering the suit. She didn't have control in the suit, it was to get her to safety and only that.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, protocol dictates I get you to safety before anything else," He said. "To either Miss Potts, Mr Hogan or Colonel Rhodes."
As JARVIS maneuvered the suit out of the building, Sabrina watched in horror as one of her creations was destroyed by missiles.
If her father didn't become a hero, didn't become Ironman and get all of his enemies, perhaps she could have had the one thing that she knew she made that made her father proud?
Why did her father have to become a superhero figure? Why did he have to have so many enemies that what she created couldn't be safe? Why couldn't he be a normal dad?
He was Tony Stark.
He didn't have time for her as she grew up, so she found ways that would encourage his interest in her.
U was one of them.
And now U was destroyed.
One of Sabrina's first and only links to her father was now destroyed.
How could she make another without feeling like she was betraying herself?
The only reason she would create another robot, machine, or somehow build something useful, would be for her benefit and no one else's.
While she was her father's daughter, that wasn't the only thing she was.
Salem Andris quickly came to her after this, going by this name to distance herself from her father and everything he did that prevented them from being a family.
Why should she try and when he didn't?
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